The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from the World's Great Intellectual Traditions

By: Jay L. Garfield, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Jay L. Garfield

What is the meaning of life?

It's a question every thoughtful person has pondered at one time or another. Indeed, it may be the biggest question of all - at once profound and universal, but also deeply personal.

We want to understand the world in which we live, but we also want to understand how to make our own lives as meaningful as possible; to know not only why we're living, but that we're doing it with intention, purpose, and ethical commitment. But how, exactly, do we find that meaning, and develop that commitment? How can we grasp why we are here? Or how we should proceed? And to whom, exactly, we should listen as we shape the path we will walk? This comprehensive 36-lecture series from a much-honored scholar is an invigorating way to begin or continue your pursuit of these questions, and it requires no previous background in philosophical or religious thought.

It offers a rigorous and wide-ranging exploration of what various spiritual, religious, and philosophical traditions from both the East and West have contributed to this profound line of questioning, sharing insights from sources that include ancient Indian texts, such as:

• The Bhagavad-Gita
• Foundational Chinese texts like the Daodejing and the Chuang Tzu
• Classical Western texts, such as Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics and Marcus Aurelius's Meditations
• Modern philosophers and writers like David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Leo Tolstoy
• The unique perspectives offered by Native Americans, in this case, the Lakota Sioux medicine man and writer, John Lame Deer
• More recent and contemporary philosophers, such as Mohandas Gandhi and the Dalai Lama

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2011 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2011 The Great Courses

Prime examples of meaningful life Philosophically

The lecturer gives an amazing overview of the meaning of life from early Greeks to modernity. Each set is historical and then philosophical by turn. The ways of thinking of our lives are ably and interestingly compared by the lecturer. I was often thrilled by the parallels between the ideas. This is an excellent series for philosophy that isn't overwhelming (mostly).

Well done

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I do, and I have. For the person who is looking for a thoughtful and well presented survey of philosophical traditions, this book is ideal.

What did you like best about this story?

The theme was presented consistently across diverse philosophical traditions across the centuries.

What about Professor Jay L. Garfield’s performance did you like?

Professor Garfield's passion for the topic is obvious in his presentation of the different traditions. He is even handed in his assessment and his personal biases were not obvious. I really liked his selection of readings from the texts and his appreciation for the artistic beauty of the writing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No way - it took weeks. Even though I was very interested in the subject matter, I listened one lecture at a time and would at times repeat lectures if I felt I hadn't absorbed the material.

Any additional comments?

This book was a great fit for me. I found it enlightening and thought provoking, and the presentation by Prof. Garfield was well done.

One of the best...

I really enjoyed these lectures by professor Garfield. The information presented was insightful and delivered in a clear and concise manner. Dr. Garfield is passionate about the subject matter, so if you're looking to gain an introductory understanding of the meaning of life from the many angles of world's greatest philosophical traditions, this is a wonderful place to start. Highly recommended!

Enlightening

Professor Garfield articulates "life's big question" in a poetic, passionate manner. This was my favorite Great Courses installment by far.

Captivating!

No single answer which is great. Lecturer is interesting and challenging and thoughtful to me.

Rich and Rewarding!

If you've ever pondered the meaning of life, this great course is for you. The material is well presented and very engaging.

comprehensive and well structured presentation

many people commented that the course lacks emphasis on christian and islamic thoughts and focuses too much on buddhism and daoism. i respectfully disagree. in my opinion the course is well structured and balanced. the course first lays a good foundation of four roots of pre-modern philosophy thoughts. since both christain and islamic thoughts have semitic roots so lack of coverage on christian and islamic thoughts is in my opinion justified. also some reviewers complained about the lecturer’s leftest bias when selecting post modern materials, but the leftest anti-theses complement the lectures on hume, kant and mills modernity ideas because they serve as critiques of these modernity ideas and thus enable the audience a better understanding of both the modern and post modern ideas.

Facinating, Captivating

Really, really good narration. Learn religion and philosophy while listening to a captivating story like narrative. I listened to it twice. Best I've understood world religions after studying them as a hobby. #religioushistory #philosophy # #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Superb! the lectures are interesting and fun

If you could sum up The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from the World's Great Intellectual Traditions in three words, what would they be?

The material is interesting and the lecturer superb. I really enjoyed listening.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from the World's Great Intellectual Traditions?

The connections and comparisons of different view points

What about Professor Jay L. Garfield’s performance did you like?

He is knowledgeable, has a sense of humor and is very animated.

loved it

the content was interesting, and the narrator was warm, funny, and engaging.
I have a deep aversion to preachy academic narration, and faced no such problem here. It's clear that the author loves his work in both research and teaching - his enthusiasm comes through and makes the book a joy to listen to. thank you!