Product Description

'Human genius has done much, and promises much, in the way of removing the mystery from many things in our world; at the same time it recognises and honours the mystery in things too.' In this collection A.C. Grayling extends the range of his previous two books to show how much understanding people can gain about themselves and their world by reflecting on the lessons offered by science, the arts (including literature) and history. Covering subjects as diverse as Jane Austen's EMMA, the Rosetta Stone, Shakespeare, the Holocaust, quantum physics, Galileo, and even alien abductions, A..C. Grayling's latest collection is a rich source for reflection and contemplation over the mysteries of life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #155908 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
"It is no disrespect to either author to describe AC Grayling's latest work as a thinking person's Schott's Miscellany." WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY "Anthony Grayling is a philosopher by trade but he's also a latter-day Renaissance Man, as this collection of his journalism shows." SUNDAY TELEGRAPH "Fast becoming Britain's philosopher of choice... Certainly more of substance and merit than a mountain of Paulo Coelho." THE HERALD "In covering the fields of art, history and science, Grayling's thoughts sweep over a vast landscape of knowledge, offering an alluring glimpse and encouraging greater study on the reader's part. How refreshing, ultimately, in this age of dumbing down, to be asked to learn and inform oneself without a hint of condescension." THE IRISH TIMES

THE HERALD
"Fast becoming Britain's philosopher of choice... Certainly more of substance and merit than a mountain of Paulo Coelho."

About the Author
Anthony Grayling teaches philosophy at Birkbeck College, London and is a Fellow of St Anne's, Oxford. He reviews frequently in the Financial Times and has a regular column in Prospect and The Times

Customer Reviews

A lovely collection of thought-provoking vignettes
As with Graylings other collections of thoughts, this is a lovely collection of vignettes.

Most articles run to 2-3 pages, giving enough introduction to understand the topic, and appreciate the observations being presented.

There are 3 themes : Arts (23 articles), History (14 articles) and Science (18 articles)

The topics are many & varied, my favourites ranged across :
Art : from Modern Architecture to Shakespeare;
History : from Heritage to the English Revolution;
Science : from Knowledge to Alien Abductions.

Another cherished volume to join the Grayling collection.

4 stars, but only just....
Alas, not quite up to the excellent standards set by this book's twopredecessors - The Meaning of Things and The Reason of Things. Some ofthe early pieces meander rather, whilst also seeming just a little toorecondite for the general reader. A shame, because one of the bestthings about Grayling's previous books in this series is theiraccessibility.
Nevertheless, the second and third chapters (which make up two thirds ofthe book) - Aspects of History and Spectating Science - are mostlyexcellent, with some particularly good pieces at the end on philosophy'smost fashionable conundrums - consciousness, cosmology and genetics.
All in all, still well worth the price, and Grayling's prose is as tautand incisive as ever.

The mystery is why anyone would buy this
This book is dull, dull, dull- it is meant to be philosophy but is just editorial instead, nowhere does it explain why his opinions are any more valid than anyone elses. As it droned on I lost interest. Yawnerama.