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The Meaning of Things: Applying Philosophy to Life
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Author, journalist and philosopher AJ Grayling's new book The Meaning of Things: Applying Philosophy to Life is a collection of short, self-contained essays or sketches, which began as contributions to the Guardian's "Last Word" column. Like Alain de Botton in The Consolations of Philosophy Grayling is concerned with the application of philosophy to everyday life. However, he is less concerned with what a particular great philosopher might say about particular problems than with human vices and virtues and matters pertaining to the human condition.
The book is divided into three sections. Part 1 deals with the "Virtues and Attributes" of Tolerance, Mercy, Civility, Courage, Hope, Loyalty and Love; part 2, "Foes and Fallacies" is concerned with some of the things considered to be enemies to human flourishing such as Racism, Speciesism, Hate and Depression; and the final part, "Amenities and Goods" focuses on such themes as Reason, Excellence, Art, History and Leisure. The structure of the book and the arrangement of the topics works well so although the pieces are self-contained--allowing one to dip in and out randomly--one gets a sense of continuity if you read it cover to cover.
Opening with Montaigne's salutation "Reader, lo a well-meaning Booke", The Meaning of Things is reminiscent of Montaigne's Essays in form, content and spirit. Grayling has a reverence for classic liberal humanist virtues and a deep conviction that philosophy has an indispensable role to play if we are to live what Socrates called "the considered life": that is, a life "enriched by thinking about things that matter--values, aims, society, the characteristic vicissitudes of the human condition, desiderata both personal and public, the enemies of human flourishing, and the meanings of life". A book such as this is unusual and refreshing because it aims to edify the reader and is written without a trace of cynicism or irony. Grayling is a champion of Enlightenment values, a defender of high culture if you will but who writes for a popular audience without moralising. Peppered with nuggets of philosophical wisdom and written with clarity and economy, the book succeeds in showing how philosophically informed thinking about the things that matter can help us become better people and better citizens of the world. --Larry Brown --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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I find the clarity of his thinking so refreshing. (Pam Ferris )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an ideal introduction to many philosphical concepts and will give you a fresh perspective on everyday issues such as truth, religion, travel, loyalty, love, racism, etc etc. With 61 'meanings of things' in all, I found this book to be great piecemeal reading. Each concept taking about 5 pages to complete, which makes for the perfect bedside book.
One of the best aspects of this book is that it is written such that you can read it in any order you wish. Each concept is a unique section taking between 2 and 10 pages, which allows the reader to delve into whatever tickles their fancy at a particular time. I ticked off the table of contents as I read the sections and highlighted interesting sentences from each concept during my first read. I have since skimmed through my highlights several times, which makes for a quick refresher of the issues that were of particular interest to me.
I am the type of person who likes to know a little bit about a lot of things, and this book caters for exactly that sort of reader. If this fits your profile, then get this book now. If your interested in delving into the depths of philosophy, then this is probably best to give a skip. Grayling is doing a great favour to us all by packaging philosophy in an organised, piecemeal, and easy to understand manner that wont have you sleeping by the end of the first 10 pages.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm sure any reader of this book will take away some favourite sections. For me, the consecutively-placed entries on Betrayal, Loyalty & Blame were exemplary juxtapositions of those complementary topics.
I would also recommend the entry on Racism.
Given the brevity of the articles, sure they can't give you an in-depth discussion on the topic, but its just deep enough to get one thinking about the topics.
I think this would be an excellent 'pocket-book' to dip into for anyone in their late teens trying to come to terms with the world.
Having read this book, I've moved directly to reading Graylings follow-up book, The Reason of Things.
Only disappointment - no Bibliography, so when Grayling frequently quotes other Authors / Philosophers, I don't know where to go to for further reading.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Philosophy is an odd subject in that the popular conception of the subject is strongly at varience with the philosophy taught in Anglo American universities. You see this in those cultish advertisements for philsophy classes you find in London tube stations. Pandering to a need among much of the population for some philosophical guidence in life. For better or for worse, modern Anglo-American philosophy is not much to do with that at all. This has created a vacuum into which a huge number of new agist pseudo clap trap has happily inserted itself.
I think Grayling's books are best seen as a way of addressing this need. I think reviewers such as the single negative reviewer below miss the point if they are expecting hard philosophical arguments. Of course you can do no more than skate over a subject such as morality or virginity in the few pages Grayling devotes to each topic. But that is OK. There are many books available to those interested in a more in depth analysis. These thought are meant as no more than opening thoughts on an issue, from a smart and well read author, designed to get people to think avout these issues in a clear headed way. Grayling leans quite heavily on his understanding of history and Greek philosophy as an antidote to the modern analytical style of philosophy. I found his treatment of the many facets of love and romance particularly thought provoking.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bookreview The meaning of life
A small handy book that you can dip into for a few minutes, from time to time. Some articles enclosed need more than one read and the book can be put down and the article re-read... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Ray
What Use Is Philosophy?
To those who ask the question "What use is philosopy?" perhaps one answer would be to give them a copy of this book. Read more
Published 17 months ago by starrymessenger
What a gem
One of the most insightful works I've ever read. Extraordinary in its simplicity and wisdom. A must-read for anyone with an interest in understanding the curiosities and... Read more
Published on 8 April 2010 by summitscape
For what it is worth...
I will begin this review by stating that this is not something that I normally do, though I am aware that this is similar to a Daily Mail reader saying 'Now, I am not a racist... Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2010 by Frank Chalk
grayling can do better.
i first heard of grayling when he used to write a column in the saturday times. i dont think it was specifically meant to be about classical philosophy, but thats what he ended up... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2010 by cartman
The Meaning of Things.
This has to be one of the wisest and most elequently written little books anyone is ever likely to come upon. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2010 by Mr. J. Duffy
More rant than philosophy
The book is a series of short newspaper articles on a variety of topics. The book is interesting but the articles consist often of setting up a straw man that is then to be... Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2007 by Mike in Lilleshall
Shockingly poor and naive....
If the catchy title caught your eye and you are expecting to find informative essays with thought provoking and original content....don't buy this book. Read more
Published on 7 July 2006 by Alexander Humboldt
Whats going on? Well...
This work has tremendous virtue as an aproachable and fairly broad intoduction to themes of philosphy. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2006 by Republicara
Something for everyone!
This is a great book. For me it's the best out of the authors series. The small sections which are actually essays make this book fantastically easy to pick up anytime and read and... Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2004 by "blazedace"
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