Showing titles in Society

'What is life?' asked the poet Shelley, and could not come up with an answer. Scientists, too, have not solved the puzzle. Yet biographers and obituarists continue to corral lives in a few columns, or a few hundred pages, aware all the time how fleeting and elusive their subject is. In Lifescapes, the acclaimed biographer and obituarist Ann Wroe reflects on a career spent pursuing life: a process, as she sees it, not of chronological narration but of trying to seize souls.

Seven public talks, including 'Does self-knowledge come through searching? - 16th July 1949' and 'Relationship has significance only when it is a process of self-revelation. - 17th July 1949' and more.

Back in August 2006 I visited Goa, India. A trip that affected my outlook on life, views on my country, and my attitude towards others of all backgrounds. In 2015, I finally decided to put down in writing all the experiences encountered on my journey, not least my admiration for India, it's people, and it's culture.

Looking across a fascinating range of situations both familiar and unfamiliar, serious and light-hearted, Bullsh*t Comparisons is a ground-breaking guide to the role of could-be-true but misleading comparisons. It is illuminated by examples spanning the globe from university league tables, to childhood rivalries, politicians' tawdry analogies, the FIFA World Footballer of the year award and Chinese neo-colonialism in Africa.

What happened to the American Dream? In A Love Letter to Suburbia, Diane Alisa takes readers on a compelling journey through the rise of suburbia and its consequences on American life. With heartfelt reflections and practical insights, Diane confronts the disillusionment many feel living in suburban sprawl. She explores how car dependency, corporate control, and disintegrating community values have eroded the sense of connection and purpose that once defined American neighborhoods. But this is not a story of defeat.

This collection brings together history, science, philosophy and comedy to explore our age-old search for meaning. We live in an age of self-improvement and self-examination - lifehacking, wellbeing, self-care, mindfulness retreats - but this seemingly very modern phenomenon is a pursuit that...

With far-reaching implications, this urgent treatise promises to revolutionize our understanding of what it means to be human in the digital age. We used to say "seeing is believing"; now googling is believing. With 24/7 access to nearly all of the world's information at our fingertips, we no...

From the New York Times-bestselling author of How Not to Be Wrong—himself a world-class geometer—a far-ranging exploration of the power of geometry, which turns out to help us think better about practically everything How should a democracy choose its representatives? How can you stop a...

Im Leben ist irgendwann vieles entschieden: wen wir lieben, wo wir arbeiten, wie wir wohnen. Manche sind froh, angekommen zu sein – andere fürchten, festzustecken in einem Leben voller Routinen, und fragen sich, ob es das schon war. Wie finden wir neue Lebensziele, wenn vieles erreicht ist? Wie gehen wir damit um, dass sich die Zeithorizonte langsam verengen und einige Züge mittlerweile abgefahren sind? Philosophisch fundiert und voller Bezüge aus dem Alltag denkt Barbara Bleisch nach über Lebenserfahrung, Leichtigkeit und Gelassenheit.

Drawing from extensive psychiatric expertise and historical examples, Meerloo explores the vulnerabilities of the human mind to external influences, shedding light on the profound impact of social dynamics on shaping beliefs and perceptions. With profound insights into the roots of mass hysteria, indoctrination, and ideological fanaticism, "Delusion and Mass Delusion" remains a timeless exploration of the complexities of human psychology and societal behavior.

An entertaining and insightful homage to Tom Hanks, America's favorite movie star, from the New York Times bestselling author of the cult sensation The Tao of Bill Murray. Niceness gets a bad rap these days. Our culture rewards those who troll the hardest and who snark the most. At times it...

Discover a new understanding of self-help and a better means to help yourself through the surprising histories behind some of society’s best ideas for living well Trying to become a better person, husband, and father, Matthew Israel always found the latest self-help trends captivating—but...

A timely guide on how to live—and think—through the challenges of our century drawn from the life and thought of political theorist Hannah Arendt, one of the twentieth century’s foremost opponents of totalitarianism Don't miss Lyndsey Stonebridge in the PBS American Masters documentary...

Un inteligente análisis de uno de los males contemporáneos: aquel que sufre el Homo agitatus. Merecedor del XI Premio Málaga de Ensayo. En este audiolibro, Freire sostiene que, si la sociedad ha adoptado las hechuras de un carnaval perpetuo, detenerse a pensar es una buena...

If François Rabelais were alive today, he would not be “problematic” — he would be impossible. His books would not be debated, contextualized, or gently criticized; they would be reported, flagged, algorithmically buried, and ceremoniously uninvited from public life. Rabelais laughed too loudly, ate too much, spoke too freely, and trusted the body more than moral panic. That alone would be unforgivable. Cancel culture, for all its modern vocabulary, is an old story.

Klickzahlen, Fitnesstracker, Bestsellerlisten, Politikerrankings: Unsere Gesellschaft ist besessen von Scores. Der Philosoph C. Thi Nguyen deckt auf, wie Scores zu einem der prägendsten Werkzeuge unserer Zeit geworden sind – und warum wir dringend ihre Wirkungsweise verstehen müssen. Nguyen demonstriert an lebensnahen Beispielen, dass diese scheinbar harmlosen Zahlen uns tatsächlich dazu verleiten, fremde Werte unhinterfragt zu übernehmen. Wenn aber in unserer Beziehung zu unserer Gesundheit, unseren Jobs oder Lieblingsbeschäftigungen nur noch Scores zählen, verarmt unser Leben.

La tesi di Murgia è che l'odio possa essere una virtù, dipende da come lo pratichiamo. Per esempio, con Odio gli indifferenti Antonio Gramsci ha mostrato che, se riconosciuto e disciplinato, questo sentimento non è per forza distruttivo. Passando dalle maledizioni sarde ai salmi biblici, da Grazia Deledda alle lettere di san Paolo, Murgia smonta i nostri pregiudizi e rivendica il diritto di odiare – specialmente i prevaricatori, i prepotenti, tutti coloro che non credono nella responsabilità collettiva del bene.

Governor General's Award-winner Michael Harris explores the profound emotional and intellectual benefits of solitude, and how we may achieve it in our fast-paced world. The capacity to be alone--properly alone--is one of life's subtlest skills. Real solitude is a contented and productive state...

Illuminates the far-reaching harms of believing that natural means “good,” from misinformation about health choices to justifications for sexism, racism, and flawed economic policies. People love what’s natural: it’s the best way to eat, the best way to parent, even the best way to...

A Journey Through Time by VentureNest Books is a comprehensive guide that explores the Enlightenment era, a pivotal period that reshaped thought, governance, and society. The book addresses common questions regarding the Enlightenment’s influence on modern democratic principles, the significance of key philosophical texts, and how historical scientific advancements continue to resonate today. Listeners will gain insight into how the Enlightenment transformed societal structures and intellectual discourse, learning about the ideas of influential philosophers whose concepts remain relevant.