Customer Reviews

Being Human: Core Readings in the Humanities

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Everyone interested in the philosophy of science, psychology, or what it means to be human should read this book. Written to guide the President's Council on Bioethics through the intense ethical dilemmas presented by biotechnology, from life-extension to genetic enhancement, these excerpts of literature were selected to provide material for reflection and guidance for those who will have the power to change what it means to be human.

I use this book as a textbook for a philosophy class and a general humanities class. It is neatly organized and the readings are manageable. This is not a book I would read cover-to-cover, although you certainly could. The book is organized around three core sections and then subdivided into more specific themes. The main sections are Natural Imperfection and Human Longing, The Human Being and the Life Cycle, and Living Well. There is a great cross section of literature including, poetry, short stories, essays, and excerpts from novels and plays such as War and Peace, King Lear, Buddenbrooks, Anna Karenina, Peter Pan and Tuck Everlasting. Each selection is preceeded by commentary and study questions by the editor, Dr. Leon Kass. The book was put together by a committee of doctors appointed by President GW Bush and focuses on biomedical ethical questions. It would be useful for any medical student or anyone interested in exploring just what being a human being means.

I bought it for a class... so I guess it's a textbook...

But it's full of great excepts from literature on the subject of life. I like to pick it up sometimes and just read random parts of it. Poems, short stories, long stories, etc. One of my most interesting textbooks and I like it. A good thing to have on one's shelf if they occasionally want to read a small aount of really powerful philosophy on life, but don't want to read Socrates or Aristotle. Just good normal literature... :)

When I ordered the product, it was not clear that it would take 3-4 weeks to deliver. This should be made very explicit.