The Little Book of Philosophy
An Introduction to the Key Thinkers and Theories You Need to Know
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
The Little Book of Philosophy
Buy for $9.45
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Anne Flosnik
-
By:
-
Rachel Poulton
About this listen
If you want to know your Socrates from your Sartre and your Confucius from your Kant, strap in for this whirlwind tour of the highlights of philosophy. Including accessible primers on:
- The early Ancient Greek philosophers and the "big three": Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
- Key schools of philosophy and their impact on modern life
- Insights into the main questions philosophers have explored over the years: Who am I? What is the meaning of life? Do I have free will?
- Practical applications for the theories of Descartes, Kant, Wollstonecraft, Marx, Nietzsche, and many more.
This illuminating little book will introduce you to the key thinkers, themes, and theories you need to know to understand how human ideas have sculpted the world we live in and the way we think today.
©2021 Summersdale Publishers Ltd (P)2022 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
-
Philosophy Simplified
- Discover the 10 Most Iconic Thinkers, Their Key Concepts, Theories, & Ideas Simplified
- By: Philosophy Simplified
- Narrated by: Deedee Ash
- Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 23
Discover the lives, beliefs, and theories of the 10 most iconic philosophical figures in history with this comprehensive and engaging book.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Infantile and repetitive
- By Scott Quinby on 04-27-23
-
Lessons from Critical Thinkers
- Methods for Clear Thinking and Analysis in Everyday Situations from the Greatest Thinkers in History
- By: Albert Rutherford
- Narrated by: Russell Newton
- Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 107
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 91
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 90
Do you want to ask smart questions like Socrates or be an out-of-the-box thinker like John Stuart Mill, and rational like Descartes? These people have at least one thing in common: They were great critical thinkers of their time, and their shared wisdom lived through the centuries. Lessons from Critical Thinkers provides intellectual power to engage with and participate in effective critical thoughts, arguments, debates, reading, and reflection drawn from methods in the history of philosophical cognitive development.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Two thumbs up!
- By John on 05-02-19
-
The Story of Philosophy
- The Lives and Opinions of the Greater Philosophers
- By: Will Durant
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 19 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,848
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,495
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,479
Durant lucidly describes the philosophical systems of such world-famous “monarchs of the mind” as Plato, Aristotle, Francis Bacon, Spinoza, Kant, Voltaire, and Nietzsche. Along with their ideas, he offers their flesh-and-blood biographies, placing their thoughts within their own time and place and elucidating their influence on our modern intellectual heritage. This book is packed with wisdom and wit.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fantastic and insightful book
- By ESK on 01-25-13
By: Will Durant
-
Ikigai
- The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
- By: Héctor García, Francesc Miralles
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,719
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,164
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,140
Bring meaning and joy to all your days with this internationally best-selling guide to the Japanese concept of ikigai - the happiness of always being busy - as revealed by the daily habits of the world's longest-living people.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Not insightful but inspirational
- By A. Yoshida on 02-27-18
By: Héctor García, and others
-
A Brief History of Western Philosophy
- Unraveling the Secrets of Time, the Mind, and Existence
- By: Dominic Haynes
- Narrated by: Jeff Bower
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 28
The impact of the Western culture and way of life can be observed in almost every corner of the planet, but where does it come from? Within this audiobook, you’ll meet the thinkers of the West, from the Greek giants and early theologists to the German idealists of the early 19th century–and beyond.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
So much knowledge
- By sanchezmacott on 04-25-23
By: Dominic Haynes
-
The Denial of Death
- By: Ernest Becker
- Narrated by: Raymond Todd
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,827
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,474
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,451
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1974 and the culmination of a life's work, The Denial of Death is Ernest Becker's brilliant and impassioned answer to the "why" of human existence. In bold contrast to the predominant Freudian school of thought, Becker tackles the problem of the vital lie: man's refusal to acknowledge his own mortality. In doing so, he sheds new light on the nature of humanity and issues a call to life and its living that still resonates more than 30 years after its writing.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Not for the closed-minded
- By Yhatze on 05-27-17
By: Ernest Becker
-
Philosophy Simplified
- Discover the 10 Most Iconic Thinkers, Their Key Concepts, Theories, & Ideas Simplified
- By: Philosophy Simplified
- Narrated by: Deedee Ash
- Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 23
Discover the lives, beliefs, and theories of the 10 most iconic philosophical figures in history with this comprehensive and engaging book.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Infantile and repetitive
- By Scott Quinby on 04-27-23
-
Lessons from Critical Thinkers
- Methods for Clear Thinking and Analysis in Everyday Situations from the Greatest Thinkers in History
- By: Albert Rutherford
- Narrated by: Russell Newton
- Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 107
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 91
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 90
Do you want to ask smart questions like Socrates or be an out-of-the-box thinker like John Stuart Mill, and rational like Descartes? These people have at least one thing in common: They were great critical thinkers of their time, and their shared wisdom lived through the centuries. Lessons from Critical Thinkers provides intellectual power to engage with and participate in effective critical thoughts, arguments, debates, reading, and reflection drawn from methods in the history of philosophical cognitive development.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Two thumbs up!
- By John on 05-02-19
-
The Story of Philosophy
- The Lives and Opinions of the Greater Philosophers
- By: Will Durant
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 19 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,848
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,495
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,479
Durant lucidly describes the philosophical systems of such world-famous “monarchs of the mind” as Plato, Aristotle, Francis Bacon, Spinoza, Kant, Voltaire, and Nietzsche. Along with their ideas, he offers their flesh-and-blood biographies, placing their thoughts within their own time and place and elucidating their influence on our modern intellectual heritage. This book is packed with wisdom and wit.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fantastic and insightful book
- By ESK on 01-25-13
By: Will Durant
-
Ikigai
- The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
- By: Héctor García, Francesc Miralles
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,719
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,164
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,140
Bring meaning and joy to all your days with this internationally best-selling guide to the Japanese concept of ikigai - the happiness of always being busy - as revealed by the daily habits of the world's longest-living people.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Not insightful but inspirational
- By A. Yoshida on 02-27-18
By: Héctor García, and others
-
A Brief History of Western Philosophy
- Unraveling the Secrets of Time, the Mind, and Existence
- By: Dominic Haynes
- Narrated by: Jeff Bower
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 28
The impact of the Western culture and way of life can be observed in almost every corner of the planet, but where does it come from? Within this audiobook, you’ll meet the thinkers of the West, from the Greek giants and early theologists to the German idealists of the early 19th century–and beyond.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
So much knowledge
- By sanchezmacott on 04-25-23
By: Dominic Haynes
-
The Denial of Death
- By: Ernest Becker
- Narrated by: Raymond Todd
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,827
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,474
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,451
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1974 and the culmination of a life's work, The Denial of Death is Ernest Becker's brilliant and impassioned answer to the "why" of human existence. In bold contrast to the predominant Freudian school of thought, Becker tackles the problem of the vital lie: man's refusal to acknowledge his own mortality. In doing so, he sheds new light on the nature of humanity and issues a call to life and its living that still resonates more than 30 years after its writing.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Not for the closed-minded
- By Yhatze on 05-27-17
By: Ernest Becker
-
Meditations
- A New Translation
- By: Marcus Aurelius, Gregory Hays - translator
- Narrated by: Roger Davis
- Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 214
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 186
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 186
A series of spiritual exercises filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behavior, Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. With bite-size insights and advice on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity and interacting with others, Meditations has become required reading not only for statesmen and philosophers alike, but also for generations of readers who responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Did not like the narrator
- By bilbo0316 on 06-10-24
By: Marcus Aurelius, and others
-
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self
- Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution
- By: Carl R. Trueman
- Narrated by: Carl R. Trueman, Rod Dreher
- Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 795
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 706
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 698
Since the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision in 2015, sexual identity has dominated both public discourse and cultural trends — yet no historical phenomenon is its own cause. From Augustine to Marx, various views and perspectives have contributed to the modern understanding of the self.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best book I read in 2021 by far
- By Jfree on 12-18-21
By: Carl R. Trueman
-
The Right Side of History
- How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great
- By: Ben Shapiro
- Narrated by: Ben Shapiro
- Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7,989
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,104
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,046
America has a God-shaped hole in its heart, argues New York Times best-selling author Ben Shapiro, and we shouldn't fill it with politics and hate.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
As an atheist
- By Benjamin on 03-27-19
By: Ben Shapiro
-
Philosophers
- Classical and Modern Critical Thinkers with Steady Morals
- By: Nelly Vortex
- Narrated by: Ric Chetter
- Length: 3 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 50
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3
In this audiobook on philosophers, several fascinating thinkers will be covered. Their inspiring and debatable thoughts will give you new insights in life and death and in ethics and morals. First, the political philosophers John Locke will be explored. Mr. Locke was the libertarian who said something when things appeared to go in the wrong direction.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Very good
- By Anonymous User on 05-06-20
By: Nelly Vortex
-
Philosophers
- Religious and Political Thinkers from Past Centuries
- By: Nelly Vortex
- Narrated by: Ric Chetter
- Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 97
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 46
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 46
Have you ever wondered what great philosophers from the past have thought of? What were their ideas, perspectives, and insights on life’s events? Look no further, as you will learn about four deep thinkers in history who have paved the way for others to learn and to ponder life. The four philosophers discussed in this book include Thomas Aquinas, David Hume, Desiderius Erasmus, and Baruch Spinoza.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent
- By Anonymous User on 03-18-20
By: Nelly Vortex
-
Homeschooling 101 Philosophy for Kids and Teenagers
- Historical Philosophy as a Way of Life & Parental Guidebook for Youth to Embrace Social Skills, Logical Thinking to Become Intelligent Adults
- By: Loria Lacerda
- Narrated by: Whitney Grace
- Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 32
“A thinking mind is an active mind” they say. This book is meant for general consumption, specifically for children and teenagers between the ages of seven to 16. This book was inspired by you, yes you! And it aims at clarifying and making their minds ready for the outside world as they grow. It is an avenue for youths of these ages to put on their thinking caps and questioning spirits so they can know more about the world they live in. This book has many benefits, resources, and qualities to add to their lives, as well as impact to make in their daily lives.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Interim review
- By Margaret on 03-25-21
By: Loria Lacerda
-
The Enlightenment
- The Pursuit of Happiness, 1680-1790
- By: Ritchie Robertson
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 40 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 269
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 217
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 217
This magisterial history - sure to become the definitive work on the subject - recasts the Enlightenment as a period not solely consumed with rationale and reason, but rather as a pursuit of practical means to achieve greater human happiness.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The quickest 40 hour audio book I’ve listen to
- By Joey Caster on 04-02-21
-
The Closing of the American Mind
- By: Allan Bloom
- Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
- Length: 14 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 585
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 437
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 427
In one of the most important books of our time, Allan Bloom, a professor of social thought at the University of Chicago and a noted translator of Plato and Rousseau, argues that the social and political crisis of 20th-century America is really an intellectual crisis.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
VERY IMPORTANT WORK!
- By Douglas on 06-29-10
By: Allan Bloom
-
Hegel
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Peter Singer
- Narrated by: Christine Williams
- Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 77
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 71
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 71
Hegel is regarded as one of the most influential figures on modern political and intellectual development. After painting Hegel's life and times in broad strokes, Peter Singer goes on to tackle some of the more challenging aspects of Hegel's philosophy. Offering a broad discussion of Hegel's ideas and an account of his major works, Singer explains what have often been considered abstruse and obscure ideas in a clear and inviting manner.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great introduction
- By I'm all ears on 02-17-22
By: Peter Singer
-
Mastering the Stoic Way of Life
- By: Andreas Athanas
- Narrated by: Eric Colvin
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 43
Mastering the Stoic Way of Life: Improve Your Mental Toughness, Self-Discipline, and Productivity with Ancient Stoic Wisdom will quickly become your go-to guide on your journey to a stoic life. Not only will you learn the fascinating history of stoicism and its greatest teachers, you will also encounter practical examples and real-world situations that will allow you to apply the ideals of stoicism even in today’s society.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Mastering your own Stoic Way of Life
- By CowboyBill on 05-09-21
By: Andreas Athanas
-
How to Save the West
- Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises
- By: Spencer Klavan
- Narrated by: Spencer Klavan
- Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 188
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 171
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 169
It has been proclaimed many times, but perhaps never more convincingly than now, when every news cycle seems to deliver further confirmation of a world gone mad. Is this the endgame? Author Spencer Klavan is a classicist, with a Ph.D. from Oxford, and a deep understanding of the West. His analysis: The situation is dire. But every crisis we face today, we have faced before. And we can surmount each one. Klavan brings to the West’s defense the insights of Plato, Aristotle, the Bible, and the Founding Fathers to show that in the wisdom of the past lies hope for the future.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Spectacular! A must read!
- By M.A. on 02-15-23
By: Spencer Klavan
-
Between Past and Future
- Eight Exercises in Political Thought
- By: Hannah Arendt
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 54
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 41
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 41
Hannah Arendt's insightful observations of the modern world, based on a profound knowledge of the past, constitute an impassioned contribution to political philosophy. In Between Past and Future, Arendt describes the perplexing crises modern society faces as a result of the loss of meaning of the traditional key words of politics: justice, reason, responsibility, virtue, and glory. Through a series of eight exercises, she shows how we can redistill the vital essence of these concepts and use them to regain a frame of reference for the future.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Just stunning
- By Peter Stephens on 02-26-18
By: Hannah Arendt
Related to this topic
-
The History of Philosophy
- By: A. C. Grayling
- Narrated by: Neil Gardner
- Length: 28 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 124
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 102
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 101
The story of philosophy is an epic tale, spanning civilizations and continents. It explores some of the most creative minds in history. But not since the long-popular classic by Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, published in 1945, has there been a comprehensive and entertaining single-volume history of this great, intellectual, world-shaping journey.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A much needed update to Bertrand Russell's classic
- By Michael on 06-27-20
By: A. C. Grayling
-
Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization
- By: Samuel Gregg
- Narrated by: John McLain
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 158
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 142
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 140
This sharp commentary on the rise and current decline of Western Civilization touches on historical moments - including the building of early universities in the Middle Ages and the American Revolution - and figures - including Augustine, Acquinas, Edmund Burke, and Adam Smith - that exemplify the faith-reason synthesis at the heart of Western Civilization, as well as the modern villains that threaten to destroy it.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent description of the current state of the West
- By Terryn on 10-24-19
By: Samuel Gregg
-
Deep Thought
- 42 Fantastic Quotes That Define Philosphy
- By: Gary Cox
- Narrated by: Richard Mitchley
- Length: 7 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 39
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 35
As Douglas Adams points out, if there is no final answer to the question "what is the meaning of life?" 42 is as good or bad an answer as any other. Indeed, 42 quotes might be even better! Gary Cox guides us through 42 of the most misunderstood, misquoted, provocative, and significant quotes in the history of philosophy, providing witty and compelling commentary along the way.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best philosophy intro ever
- By Fabian on 04-14-18
By: Gary Cox
-
Philosophy: 100 Essential Thinkers
- The Ideas That Have Shaped Our World
- By: Philip Stokes
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 114
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 93
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 93
This engaging and accessible book invites the listener to explore the questions and arguments of philosophy through the work of 100 of the greatest thinkers within the Western intellectual tradition - covering philosophical, scientific, political, and religious thought over a period of 2500 years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Unpretentious, honest, with a big picture
- By Mike S. on 05-29-17
By: Philip Stokes
-
How to Save the West
- Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises
- By: Spencer Klavan
- Narrated by: Spencer Klavan
- Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 188
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 171
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 169
It has been proclaimed many times, but perhaps never more convincingly than now, when every news cycle seems to deliver further confirmation of a world gone mad. Is this the endgame? Author Spencer Klavan is a classicist, with a Ph.D. from Oxford, and a deep understanding of the West. His analysis: The situation is dire. But every crisis we face today, we have faced before. And we can surmount each one. Klavan brings to the West’s defense the insights of Plato, Aristotle, the Bible, and the Founding Fathers to show that in the wisdom of the past lies hope for the future.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Spectacular! A must read!
- By M.A. on 02-15-23
By: Spencer Klavan
-
The Monk and the Philosopher
- A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life
- By: Jean-Francois Revel
- Narrated by: David Shaw-Parker
- Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 40
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 39
Twenty-seven years ago, Matthieu Ricard gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism - not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters. Years later, this project was born, and Richard met with his father, Jean-Francois Revel - a French philosopher who became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. At an inn, these two profoundly thoughtful men explored questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The dialogues themselves proved tranquility is attainable.
- By Mingster on 05-16-19
-
The History of Philosophy
- By: A. C. Grayling
- Narrated by: Neil Gardner
- Length: 28 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 124
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 102
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 101
The story of philosophy is an epic tale, spanning civilizations and continents. It explores some of the most creative minds in history. But not since the long-popular classic by Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, published in 1945, has there been a comprehensive and entertaining single-volume history of this great, intellectual, world-shaping journey.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A much needed update to Bertrand Russell's classic
- By Michael on 06-27-20
By: A. C. Grayling
-
Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization
- By: Samuel Gregg
- Narrated by: John McLain
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 158
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 142
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 140
This sharp commentary on the rise and current decline of Western Civilization touches on historical moments - including the building of early universities in the Middle Ages and the American Revolution - and figures - including Augustine, Acquinas, Edmund Burke, and Adam Smith - that exemplify the faith-reason synthesis at the heart of Western Civilization, as well as the modern villains that threaten to destroy it.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent description of the current state of the West
- By Terryn on 10-24-19
By: Samuel Gregg
-
Deep Thought
- 42 Fantastic Quotes That Define Philosphy
- By: Gary Cox
- Narrated by: Richard Mitchley
- Length: 7 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 39
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 35
As Douglas Adams points out, if there is no final answer to the question "what is the meaning of life?" 42 is as good or bad an answer as any other. Indeed, 42 quotes might be even better! Gary Cox guides us through 42 of the most misunderstood, misquoted, provocative, and significant quotes in the history of philosophy, providing witty and compelling commentary along the way.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best philosophy intro ever
- By Fabian on 04-14-18
By: Gary Cox
-
Philosophy: 100 Essential Thinkers
- The Ideas That Have Shaped Our World
- By: Philip Stokes
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 114
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 93
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 93
This engaging and accessible book invites the listener to explore the questions and arguments of philosophy through the work of 100 of the greatest thinkers within the Western intellectual tradition - covering philosophical, scientific, political, and religious thought over a period of 2500 years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Unpretentious, honest, with a big picture
- By Mike S. on 05-29-17
By: Philip Stokes
-
How to Save the West
- Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises
- By: Spencer Klavan
- Narrated by: Spencer Klavan
- Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 188
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 171
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 169
It has been proclaimed many times, but perhaps never more convincingly than now, when every news cycle seems to deliver further confirmation of a world gone mad. Is this the endgame? Author Spencer Klavan is a classicist, with a Ph.D. from Oxford, and a deep understanding of the West. His analysis: The situation is dire. But every crisis we face today, we have faced before. And we can surmount each one. Klavan brings to the West’s defense the insights of Plato, Aristotle, the Bible, and the Founding Fathers to show that in the wisdom of the past lies hope for the future.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Spectacular! A must read!
- By M.A. on 02-15-23
By: Spencer Klavan
-
The Monk and the Philosopher
- A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life
- By: Jean-Francois Revel
- Narrated by: David Shaw-Parker
- Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 40
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 39
Twenty-seven years ago, Matthieu Ricard gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism - not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters. Years later, this project was born, and Richard met with his father, Jean-Francois Revel - a French philosopher who became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. At an inn, these two profoundly thoughtful men explored questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The dialogues themselves proved tranquility is attainable.
- By Mingster on 05-16-19
-
Irrationality
- A History of the Dark Side of Reason
- By: Justin E. H. Smith
- Narrated by: Jeff Harding
- Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 33
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 33
Discovering that reason is the defining feature of our species, we named ourselves the “rational animal”. But is this flattering story itself rational? In this sweeping account of irrationality from antiquity to today - from the fifth-century BC murder of Hippasus for revealing the existence of irrational numbers to the rise of Twitter mobs and the election of Donald Trump - Justin Smith says the evidence suggests the opposite.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A good brain workout
- By ThomasC on 04-09-19
-
The Mind That Is Catholic
- Philosophical and Political Essays
- By: James V. Schall
- Narrated by: Tim Lundeen
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 41
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 36
James V. Schall is a treasure of the Catholic intellectual tradition. A prolific author and essayist, Schall readily connects with his readers on sundry topics from war to friendship, philosophy, politics, and to ordinary everyday living. In his newest work, The Mind That Is Catholic, he presents a retrospective collection of his academic and literary essays written in the past 50 years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Profound Insights
- By Considerable on 10-17-14
By: James V. Schall
-
Between Past and Future
- Eight Exercises in Political Thought
- By: Hannah Arendt
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 54
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 41
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 41
Hannah Arendt's insightful observations of the modern world, based on a profound knowledge of the past, constitute an impassioned contribution to political philosophy. In Between Past and Future, Arendt describes the perplexing crises modern society faces as a result of the loss of meaning of the traditional key words of politics: justice, reason, responsibility, virtue, and glory. Through a series of eight exercises, she shows how we can redistill the vital essence of these concepts and use them to regain a frame of reference for the future.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Just stunning
- By Peter Stephens on 02-26-18
By: Hannah Arendt
-
The God Argument
- The Case Against Religion and for Humanism
- By: A. C. Grayling
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 210
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 193
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 190
What are the arguments for and against religion and religious belief - all of them - right across the range of reasons and motives that people have for being religious, and do they stand up to scrutiny? Can there be a clear, full statement of these arguments that once and for all will show what is at stake in this debate? Equally important: what is the alternative to religion as a view of the world and a foundation for morality?
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating Topic Made Mind Numbingly Dull
- By m.emery on 06-17-15
By: A. C. Grayling
-
Seven Types of Atheism
- By: John Gray
- Narrated by: James Langton
- Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 73
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 62
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 59
For a generation now, public debate has been corroded by a shrill, narrow derision of religion in the name of an often vaguely understood “science.” John Gray’s stimulating and enjoyable new book, Seven Types of Atheism, describes the complex, dynamic world of older atheisms, a tradition that is, he writes, in many ways intertwined with and as rich as religion itself.
By: John Gray
-
Irrational Man
- A Study in Existential Philosophy
- By: William Barrett
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 82
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 68
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 65
Widely recognized as the finest definition of existentialist philosophy ever written, this book introduced existentialism to America in 1958. Irrational Man begins by discussing the roots of existentialism in the art and thinking of Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal, Baudelaire, Blake, Dostoevski, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Picasso, Joyce, and Beckett. The heart of the book explains the views of the foremost existentialists - Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Sartre. The result is a marvelously lucid definition of existentialism and a brilliant interpretation of its impact.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
heady
- By A. Antine on 07-28-22
By: William Barrett
-
A Thousand Small Sanities
- The Moral Adventure of Liberalism
- By: Adam Gopnik
- Narrated by: Adam Gopnik
- Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 182
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 158
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 156
A Thousand Small Sanities is a manifesto rooted in the lives of people who invented and extended the liberal tradition. Taking us from Montaigne to Mill, and from Middlemarch to the civil rights movement, Adam Gopnik argues that liberalism is not a form of centrism, nor simply another word for free markets, nor merely a term denoting a set of rights. It is something far more ambitious: the search for radical change by humane measures. Gopnik shows us why liberalism is one of the great moral adventures in human history.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Erudite and entertaining!
- By D. A. Vail on 05-20-19
By: Adam Gopnik
-
The Enlightenment
- And Why It Still Matters
- By: Anthony Pagden
- Narrated by: Robert Blumenfeld
- Length: 16 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 127
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 111
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 112
One of our most renowned and brilliant historians takes a fresh look at the revolutionary intellectual movement that laid the foundation for the modern world. Liberty and equality. Human rights. Freedom of thought and expression. Belief in reason and progress. The value of scientific inquiry. These are just some of the ideas that were conceived and developed during the Enlightenment, and which changed forever the intellectual landscape of the Western world.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
A thorough political tract rather than history
- By Jacobus on 03-08-14
By: Anthony Pagden
-
The Enlightenment
- The Pursuit of Happiness, 1680-1790
- By: Ritchie Robertson
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 40 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 269
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 217
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 217
This magisterial history - sure to become the definitive work on the subject - recasts the Enlightenment as a period not solely consumed with rationale and reason, but rather as a pursuit of practical means to achieve greater human happiness.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The quickest 40 hour audio book I’ve listen to
- By Joey Caster on 04-02-21
-
The Hedgehog and the Fox (Second Edition)
- An Essay on Tolstoy's View of History
- By: Isaiah Berlin, Henry Hardy - editor, Michael Ignatieff - foreword
- Narrated by: Peter Kenny
- Length: 2 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 31
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 27
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 27
"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." This ancient Greek aphorism, preserved in a fragment from the poet Archilochus, describes the central thesis of Isaiah Berlin's masterly essay on Leo Tolstoy and the philosophy of history, the subject of the epilogue to War and Peace. Although there have been many interpretations of the adage, Berlin uses it to mark a fundamental distinction between human beings who are fascinated by the infinite variety of things and those who relate everything to a central, all-embracing system.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The Fox Who Tried To Be A Hedgehog
- By Rich S. on 12-14-21
By: Isaiah Berlin, and others
-
The Case for God
- By: Karen Armstrong
- Narrated by: Karen Armstrong
- Length: 16 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 438
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 324
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 327
Moving from the Paleolithic age to the present, Karen Armstrong details the great lengths to which humankind has gone in order to experience a sacred reality that it called by many names, such as God, Brahman, Nirvana, Allah, or Dao. Focusing especially on Christianity but including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Chinese spiritualities, Armstrong examines the diminished impulse toward religion in our own time, when a significant number of people either want nothing to do with God or question the efficacy of faith. Why has God become unbelievable?
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great recasting of how God should be interpreted
- By John Doyle on 02-18-11
By: Karen Armstrong
-
Fools, Frauds and Firebrands
- Thinkers of the New Left
- By: Roger Scruton
- Narrated by: Rory Barnett
- Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 134
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 114
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 113
From one of the leading critics of leftist orientations comes a study of the thinkers who have most influenced the attitudes of the New Left. Beginning with a ruthless analysis of New Leftism and concluding with a critique of the key strands in its thinking, Roger Scruton conducts a reappraisal of such major left-wing thinkers as E. P. Thompson, Ronald Dworkin, R. D. Laing, Jurgen Habermas, Gyorgy Lukacs, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida, Slavoj Žižek, Ralph Milliband, and Eric Hobsbawm. Scruton delivers a critique of modern left-wing thinking.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Deconstructing the New Left
- By Wayne on 01-17-20
By: Roger Scruton