The Heart of Things: Applying Philosophy to the 21st Century [Hardcover]

A. C. Grayling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2006

Everyone wishes to live a life that is satisfying and fulfilling, in which there is achievement, pleasure, and respect. One of the fundamentals to living such a life is to reflect on the choices we make. In this new collection, A.C. Grayling invites the reader into a conversation with ideas. From personal questions about happiness and the quality of life to wider public concerns, such as war and democracy, these essays provide a springboard to thought and the exploration of what is best about the human heart and mind.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The cause of the emptiness and dissatisfaction plaguing many Westerners, distinguished British philosophy professor Grayling laments, is a lack of thoughtful reflection, something he aims to correct with these brief essays, presented so as to gently nudge readers into pursuing the philosophical discourse that Grayling promises will fulfill them. Touching on down-to-earth topics like money, marriage, infidelity, jurisprudence, as well as large ideas like the relationship between art, society and civilization, Grayling expertly summarizes the arguments of great thinkers and provides contemporary examples-such as the current obesity epidemic as it relates to self-restraint and the patronizing attitude of the United States toward less powerful countries in his treatise on empire-in discussing his themes. Grayling's strong opinions on contentious subjects like religion ("If only all the gods in whose name people currently kill one another would cremate themselves and thus liberate mankind from the bane of religion") and monogamy (having multiple partners, he contends, "widens and deepens experience in an area whose health is essential to the life well lived") might prove disagreeable to some readers, but his declarations are designed to incite conversation. This collection is suitable for readers beginning to explore philosophy and will undoubtedly pique their interest in the many great thinkers and texts referenced throughout.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"There ought to be more general philosophy books like this. Short chapters that openly ponder questions without intending to resolve them. AC Grayling has perfected the art of a philosophical vignette." THE HERALD "He is a philosopher engaged in what he rightly praises, adding value to life... Here is a book worth talking to." -- Ted Honderich, THE GUARDIAN "... an elegance of style, a sense of humour, and the ability to juxtapose serious musings with wise and wacky facts... and you have an easily digestible form of philosophy." TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT "Grayling is never silly, he has a wonderful fund of apt quotations... Grayling makes one ruminate." THE LITERARY REVIEW

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0297848194
• ISBN-13: 978-0297848196
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,977,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the Best Work by Grayling, June 21, 2009

By 

D. S. Heersink "D. Stephen Heersink" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Heart of Things (Paperback)

A. C. Grayling is a "professional philosopher," and those of us that enjoy all that professional philosophy bring us are easily happy with this and his other books.

BUT, this book, like a series of publications storming the citadel, are not of the "professional" arcane nuanced kind. These short essays go directly to most of our practical concerns, without the arcane language of epistemology, axiology, praexeology, ontology, and more sophisticated subjects.

BUT don't think this material "light weight." It's merely accessible, in ways that professionals get tongue-tied using the Greek fundamentals. Following the success of Robert Solomon's corpus, Grayling is more succinct, just as valuable, and even more accessible.

Maybe, now, we can engage metaphysics of psychology, religion, superstition, voodoo, and chiropractic -- with the hard facts, the known classical values, and even upend the "traditional biblical moral values" and all the hypocrisy with humanistic values. If any two philosophers can, Solomon and Grayling are it.

So, are the other (supra.) reviewers out of it, or simply opposed to humanistic values of knowledge. Read Grayling and discover the answer for yourselves.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Starting points for thought, July 21, 2006

By 

P. Stearns "stearns" (tx) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Heart of Things (Paperback)

Grayling discusses various universal and contemporary issues. In the process, he applies the insights of various philosophers (as well as his own).

His short discussions (more than 60)are excellent initiators for discussion or journal writing. About half also offer interesting and unique insights to build on.

IN some entries, he takes more definite positions which will cause agreement or disagreement. Each entry is an excellent impetus for discussion, but none give a very thorough analyses of any one issue.

Also, beautifully written in parts..

8 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing title and table of contents and author, but..., June 10, 2006

By 

John N. Magana Jr. (Tokyo) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Heart of Things (Paperback)

Quick opinion...

I am about to throw this book away due to water damage and lack of redeeming value, but I just thought I would come in here and see what other people have written. To my surprise, nothing yet. So it is my duty to give you a quick opinion.

I took this book on a camping trip hoping that a series of short essays with an intriguing title by a distinguished author would provide me with some subtle insights that I could have allowed to percolate in my brain as I wandered about amongst the trees.

However, after cracking the book open, I was disappointed to find, not subtle philosophy, and not poetic insights, but very average and individual mental meanderings. I will crack the book open again and find you one....

...Well, nevermind. They are too long, and if I just type a paragraph in here, you will think I am simply taking something out of context.

My basic point, is that the essays do not seem to be grounded in anything universal - be it facts, logic, or emotion. The essays play as the dignified ramblings of an old academic sitting in a well furnished room and a scotch in his hand. The statements are beautifully appointed with the words and phrasing of a very literate man, but are either inconclusive or obvious. My world is not enriched by the compelling logic of an interpretation I have never heard before... or by historical facts I didn't know before... or by a poetic insight. Lot's of meaningless sentences like:

"From the ubiquity of resurrection myths in the world's religions, it is obvious that the life-and-death question of the vegetation cycle provided one of mankind's earliest impulses to superstition." (121) ... Proof? Evidence? ... Explanation of what exactly you mean??

"The truly just war would be the war of ideas which ended by rooting out the greed, stupidity, superstition and ignorance which lie at the ultimate roots of all human conflicts. Only in that utopian dispensation will it be possible to beat swords into ploughshares and shell casings into scales of justice. Until then people will fight; sometimes, with justice, for freedom and life." (142) OK! I think I agree! I think I learned nothing! I think I probably understand what you mean, but I am not 100% sure.

Do not think that I had to look hard for these sentences. This book is filled with them. These kinds of statements are what the essays are made of.

I am writing my first book now. Maybe someday, my reputation will be such that a book of every dignified rambling my brain had over the period of a year or so could actually get published.