The Choice Of Hercules Pleasure, Duty And The Good Life In The 21st Century

Author: A C Grayling

Stock information

General Fields

  • : $23.00 AUD
  • : 9780753824436
  • : Orion Publishing Co
  • : Weidenfeld & Nicolson
  • :
  • : 0.165
  • : November 2008
  • : 198mm X 129mm X 14mm
  • : United Kingdom
  • : 22.99
  • : September 2008
  • :
  • :
  • : books

Special Fields

  • :
  • :
  • : A C Grayling
  • :
  • : Paperback
  • :
  • :
  • : English
  • : 170
  • : 184
  • :
  • :
  • :
  • :
  • :
  • :
  • :
  • :
Barcode 9780753824436
9780753824436

Description

Duty or Pleasure? This was the legendary choice which faced Hercules and which pre-eminent philosopher AC Grayling uses as the starting point of this masterful book. He shows us how much more people can understand about themselves and their world by reflecting on today's moral challenges. Above all, he explores the idea that certain demands and certain pleasures are necessary, not just because of their intrinsic merits but because of what they do for each other. The Good Life or the good life? With exceptional clarity and unrivalled prose, Grayling addresses the everyday ethical choices which confront us all. First publishd 2007.

Promotion info

Anthony Grayling's books have established him as the book trade's serious philospher of choice His acclaimed collections of essays have sold over 100,000 paperbacks He receives excellent reviews: 'He is a philosopher engaged in what he rightly praises, adding value to life...Here is a book worth talking to' Guardian 'A C Grayling has perfected the art of a philosophical vignette... Each chapter is a finely balanced portion of information, analysis, allusion and often profound reflection written with graceful authority' The Herald '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' TLS 'Grayling is never silly, he has a wonderful fund of apt quotations... Grayling makes one ruminate' Literary Review 'You could do far worse than spend an evening or three in the company of this book. Like good conversation, it engages you in a flow of topics without ever pausing long enough to bore' Independent Grayling's thoughts sweep over a vast landscape of knowledge, offering an alluring glimpse and encouraging greater study on the reader's part. Refreshing' Irish Times

Reviews

"persuasve and strangely consoling" OBSERVER "an important, thought-provoking, kind and life-enhancing book... general philosophy at its accessible best" TIMES "an admirably sensible book, soemtimes stirringly written" -- Nicholas Lezard GUARDIAN "An enriching and thought-provoking read, it will leave you wondering about what a good and happy life really is." GOOD BOOK GUIDE

Author description

Anthony Grayling teaches philosophy at Birkbeck Colleage, London and is a Fellow of St Anne's, Oxford. He reviews frequently in the Financial Times and has a regular column in Prospect. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.