Wisdom Series

From the sacred texts of Judaism: ancient and lyrical reflections on the meaning of life, faith, and humanity. The Wisdom of the Kabbalah: Handed down in the oral tradition for thousands of years and transcribed in fourteenth-century Spain, the Kabbalah is the classical expression of Jewish mysticism. This collection draws from the main work of Kabbalah—Sepher ha-Zohar, or The Book of Splendor.   The Wisdom of the Talmud: Developed in the Jewish academies of Palestine and Babylonia, the Talmud is the rabbinical commentary on the Torah. From man’s purpose and miracles, to marriage and wellness, to consciousness and community, the Talmud considers the practice of faith on a daily basis through a changing world. This approachable guide explores how interpretation of the Torah has informed Jewish life for thousands of years.   The Wisdom of the Torah: In Hebrew, the word Torah means instruction, and for thousands of years, the Torah has provided instruction in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The inspirational selections in this collection include some of its most powerful and poetic passages, such as “The Poems of King David,” “The Parables of King Solomon,” and “The Love Songs of King Solomon.”  

A comprehensive selection of his quips, aphorisms, and wit One of the most well known personalities of his day, Oscar Wilde charmed and beguiled readers and audiences with his eloquent and biting observations, his smart quips, and the witticisms peppering his own speech and the speech of his characters. The Wisdom of Oscar Wilde collects both his best-loved quotes and longer excerpts, revealing a man wise to human nature and his times, and never shy with his searing comments on men, women, art, behavior, children, politics, youth, and a range of other topics. Drawing from his plays, articles, reviews, speeches, letters, and other works, this definitive volume is an entertaining immersion into the world of this charming genius.    

  An invaluable introduction to the leading French intellectual of the twentieth century The Wisdom of Sartre offers key excerpts from the eloquent French writer, playwright, and philosopher’s masterpiece, Being and Nothingness. From this collection, readers will discover the strongest themes in his early philosophical work: an ontological account of what it means to be human, and the role of perception, knowledge, and consciousness in the practical demands of life. Sartre’s view that man’s freedom is a unique source of both misery and pleasure and that the question of which will prevail depends on man’s awareness and commitment to his freedom is both thought provoking and timely.  

Follow the renowned novelist’s journey to his own peace Leo Tolstoy was born to an aristocratic Russian family, became a world-famous influential novelist, and then chose to lead the simple life of a peasant. Dating from this last part of his life, Tolstoy’s influential book, What I Believe, takes readers along on the path to a life modeled literally on Jesus Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount” and the teachings of the Gospels. In revealing and frank essays he reimagines a faith without dogma, centered solely on Jesus’s doctrine of love, humility, and self-denial. This collection of chapters from What I Believe includes examinations of Resist Not Evil, Judge Not Thy Neighbor, Letting Go of Fear, and Allowing Forgiveness.    

Reverence for Life—Albert Schweitzer’s pivotal philosophy Musician, physician, humanitarian, and philosopher, Albert Schweitzer was a twentieth-century Renaissance man who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his “Reverence for Life” philosophy. The Wisdom of Albert Schweitzer explores this core philosophy, which inspired one of the world’s great humanitarians. While traveling in Africa, Schweitzer recognized that all living creatures have a will to live and believed that through a “reverence for life” mankind had an ethical imperative to aid in the welfare of all living things, including the environment. His words have remained an inspiration for generations of humanitarians and environmentalists.

An intriguing look inside the mind of the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci stood on a bridge between medieval thought and the modern mind. In this selection of entries from his dozens of coded notebooks and unpublished manuscripts, his unending curiosity in the universe and deep knowledge come through in his energetic style. The self-educated da Vinci developed a philosophical system that set him apart from his contemporaries and marked him as the oracle of a new age, and his vivid imagination and straightforward writing style capture the reader’s attention whether he is writing about his scientific analysis, his opinion of necromancy, discoveries in nature, or the nature of man. Accompanied by a thorough introduction, The Wisdom of Leonardo da Vinci unveils the man’s deepest thoughts and musings and proves why he remains an intriguing and enduring figure.   

Beyond the Little Red Book: China’s revolutionary leader and his philosophy In this collection of essays, China’s Chairman Mao Tse-Tung explains the interpretation of Marxism-Leninism ideology that became known as Maoism. This philosophy fueled the Chinese Revolution and the massive social and economic changes Mao instituted as the nation’s leader. From examining the way contradictions can cause great shifts within a society, to the necessity of guerilla-based revolution, Mao mixes his philosophical positions with the history of the Chinese people. Featured works include Relation Between Knowledge and Practice, Between Knowing and Doing, The Universality of Contradiction, The Place of Antagonism in Contradiction, China’s Historical Characteristics, The Politics of New Democracy, The Economy of New Democracy, The Culture of New Democracy, and more.This collection offers a detailed insight into the mind of the most important figure in twentieth-century Chinese history.   

  Discover the origins of Buddhism and its tenets from the seminal texts Drawn from the sacred books of Buddhism, this collection reveals the insights and beliefs at the heart of the world’s fourth-largest religion. Siddhartha Guatama, a sixth-century Hindu warrior prince, renounced the world in his search for the meaning of life and became the Buddha, or “Enlightened One,” while meditating at Bodh Gaya.  From that moment forward the Buddha sought to share his own enlightenment with all of mankind. Through the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the Buddha taught followers to let go of desire and worldly attachments in order to alleviate suffering while embracing practices of meditation, mindfulness, and right conduct. Covering the birth and death of the Buddha, as well as the major tenets of Buddhism, including karma and the middle doctrine, The Wisdom of Buddha offers a profound view of the Buddhist religion and its founder.  

A collection of wise words on solitude, simplicity, nature, and life at Walden from the leader of the transcendentalist movement.  In excerpts collected here from his most important works, Henry David Thoreau documents his experiences in nature and the wisdom he finds in his explorations of sound, reading, solitude, and other aspects of leading a simple life at Walden. A fearless individualist, Thoreau explored not only poetic naturalism but also a number of ideas that were groundbreaking for his day, including civil disobedience and environmentalism. This introduction to one of America’s great thinkers shows that as an essayist and poet-philosopher Thoreau remains a relevant voice in the never-ending quest of man to understand his place in the natural terrain.    

  Celebrate one of the world’s greatest collections of pure literature In Hebrew, the word Torah means instruction, and throughout thousands of years this collection of writing has offered just that—instruction in the central beliefs of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But by observing the Torah, or the Hebrew Bible, as a collected work of multiple authors spanning generations, the modern reader can look beyond its fundamental instruction. The Wisdom of the Torah concentrates on the Hebrew Bible as a book of philosophy and literature and offers some of its most powerful and poetic passages, including “The Poems of King David,” “The Parables of King Solomon,” and “The Love Songs of King Solomon.” In these works, readers find many lyrical and timeless reflections on what it means to have faith and to be a member of the human race. This ebook features a new introduction, image gallery, timeline of the Torah and Judaic history, and index of the Books of the Torah.  

Uncover the tenets of Islam through the words of its founder. This compelling examination of the life and sayings of Muhammad offers the modern reader both a historical context for and a spiritual guide to the principles at the heart of the world’s second largest religion. Drawing on the Koran and the Sunnah, this collection of quotes is organized by topic from A to Z and provides a window into the eloquence, practicality, and ethical fortitude with which Muhammad preached to his followers. Covering a diverse range of topics, from marriage and civic charity to the individual’s relationship to God and the afterlife, the Prophet’s words dispel misconceptions about the history of the faith, its leader, and its core beliefs. With footnotes, a glossary of terms, scriptural citations, and a timeline, The Wisdom of Muhammad is essential reading for anyone who wants to have a true understanding of Islam. “The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.” —Muhammad This ebook edition features a new introduction and image gallery.

An invaluable guide to Freud’s terminology and work. Repression, ego, analysis, neurosis—the language of psychology permeates our modern vocabulary. The brilliant observations of Sigmund Freud form not only the basis for psychoanalysis but also much of our current understanding of the human condition. This essential and approachable guide offers an A-to-Z glossary of terminology defined in Freud’s own words, including his diagnostic and treatment recommendations as well as his well-known works, including dream interpretation, the Oedipal complex, and the practice of psychoanalysis. This ebook features a new introduction, image gallery, and index of the Hebrew alphabet.

  How a great American president communicated a changing worldview What made Franklin Delano Roosevelt an effective leader? His policies and decisions changed our nation’s and the world’s history. But more than his skill as a savvy politician and progressive thinker, FDR’s ability to directly and eloquently voice his thoughts on national concerns, social change, and humanity spoke to and reached the hearts of his people. In this selection of quotes drawn from his speeches and papers, FDR’s observations and opinions cover everything from faith, war, and peace, to religion, freedom, and the very definition of what it is to be an American. Essays include “The Four Freedoms,” “We Belong to Many Races,” “True Education,” “The Rights of the Common Man,” “Dynamic Democracy,” and “Government with a Soul.”  

  Discover the ancient wisdom and historical influence of a cornerstone of Judaism The Wisdom of the Talmud presents a thorough history and overview of the Talmud, the rabbinical commentary on the Torah that was developed in the Jewish academies of Palestine and Babylonia. From the close of the Biblical canon to the end of the fifth century, Jewish scholars studied the scripture and worked to develop—and debate—supplementary understandings of the Torah’s directions on a variety of topics. From man’s purpose and miracles, to marriage and wellness, to consciousness and community, the Talmud considers what it means to practice faith on a daily basis and through a changing world. This book is an essential and approachable guide for understanding how interpretation of the Torah has guided Jewish life for thousands of years. This ebook features a new foreword, image gallery, and list of proverbs and sayings of the rabbis.  

An A-to-Z compendium of Russell’s writing One of the great minds of the twentieth century, Bertrand Russell explored philosophy, mathematics, and a variety of other intellectual, political, historical, and social issues in his lifetime. In this indispensable and easily accessible guide, drawn from his books and essays, readers will find Russell’s fundamental principles, from objectivity to ontological arguments to logical certainty, in his own words. Russell also explored topics such as war, evil, and the purpose and goal of human existence. Russell’s intellect transcends time and remains a relevant source of inspiration and thought today.  

Be the Change. Drawn from Gandhi’s own words, this collection shares one man’s philosophy that changed world history.   When the Indian people, inspired by the words of Mahatma Gandhi, overthrew British rule, they proved that great political change could exist without violence. Revered both as a saint and a master politician in his native country, Gandhi proffered a philosophy that combined Thoreau’s doctrine of civil disobedience with many Hindu beliefs. A comprehensive introduction to this influential modern thinker, The Wisdom of Gandhi recounts his deeply held views on a variety of topics, including passive resistance, self-discipline, democracy, and even well-being. This is essential text for the history and political reader, as well as anyone looking for words to inspire change.  

  An A-to-Z guide to the mystic poet’s maxims and aphorisms An early twentieth-century Lebanese-American writer, Khalil Gibran instilled his poetry and art with his experiences in both the East and West. This selection of quotes, maxims, and aphorisms is drawn from such poems as “Secrets of the Heart,” “Spirits Rebellious,” and “Broken Wings,” as well as from his autobiography and essays. Gibran’s words express a strong spirituality and mysticism and his voice offers a direct and at times optimistic view of the brotherhood of man. Addressing everything from love and death to Jesus, motherhood, and nature, Gibran’s wisdom remains thought provoking and inspirational.  

Discover the beliefs and lessons of Islam’s sacred text The Koran, the sacred text at the heart of the second-largest religion in the world, is regarded by Muslims as the exact word of God as revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Representing the ultimate authority on almost every issue related to Muslim life, the Koran’s lessons and parables offer the faithful moral and spiritual guidance. In The Wisdom of the Koran, readers will discover a selection of key chapters such as “The Night Journey” and “The Cave,” footnotes to convey context and meaning, as well as several stories from Judeo-Christian history. This invaluable anthology is an excellent step toward greater understanding of one of the finest pieces of Arabic prose and the Muslim faith.

  A Persian poet’s masterpiece While better known in his time for his mathematical and astronomical works, eleventh-century Persian philosopher and poet Omar Khayyam is best known today for his romantic poetry collected in the Rubaiyat. This selection presents 365 of the approximately 1,000 quatrains, translated from the original Persian. Khayyam’s poetry draws readers in with its lush imagery and timeless observations on the human experience and the metaphysical mysteries of our world. As wise and intriguing as they are beautifully crafted, Khayyam’s verse has inspired much Western art and literature.  

  Hundreds of sage observations from China’s most revered scholar Teacher, politician, philosopher, and student, Confucius offered wisdom and aphorisms on a variety of topics that transcend borders and time. Whether considering his own life, human nature, or a society’s responsibilities, Confucius’s teachings emphasize personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, and sincerity. He aimed to effect social and political reform, and left a legacy of wisdom that remains true today. Organized by topic and accompanied with contextual footnotes, this collection of quotes, sayings, and lessons is often as entertaining as it is educational.  

A stunning collection of ancient wisdom featuring powerful insights from five of the world’s most influential religions. The Wisdom of the Torah is an instruction in the central beliefs of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But by observing the Torah, or the Hebrew Bible, as a collected work of multiple authors spanning generations, the modern reader can look beyond its fundamental instruction. In these works, readers find many lyrical and timeless reflections on what it means to have faith and to be a member of the human race. The Wisdom of the Talmud presents a thorough history and overview of the Talmud, the rabbinical commentary on the Torah that was developed in the Jewish academies of Palestine and Babylonia. From man’s purpose and miracles to marriage and wellness to consciousness and community, the Talmud considers what it means to practice faith on a daily basis and through a changing world.  In The Wisdom of the Koran, readers will discover a selection of key chapters such as “The Night Journey” and “The Cave,” footnotes to convey context and meaning, as well as several stories from Judeo-Christian history. This invaluable anthology is an excellent step toward greater understanding of one of the finest pieces of Arabic prose and the Muslim faith. The Wisdom of Muhammad is essential reading for anyone who wants to have a true understanding of Islam, and offers a compelling examination of the life and sayings of the Prophet. Covering a diverse range of topics, from marriage and civic charity to the individual’s relationship to God and the afterlife, the Prophet’s words dispel misconceptions about the history of the faith, its leader, and its core beliefs. The Wisdom of Buddha, drawn from the sacred books of Buddhism, reveals the insights and beliefs at the heart of the world’s fourth-largest religion. Covering the birth and death of the Buddha, as well as the major tenets of Buddhism, this collection offers a profound view of the Buddhist religion and its founder. These five volumes from Philosophical Library’s groundbreaking Wisdom series are available in one volume for the first time.

  A survey of the influential—and prolific—modern philosopher In dozens of books, magazine articles, and essays, George Santayana infused his philosophy with exquisite language, wit, and subtle humor, prompting one authority to state that he “writes philosophy more beautifully than any other thinker since Plato.” The Wisdom of George Santayana makes accessible both his ideas and his oft-quoted aphorisms on a variety of subjects including naturalism, creative imagination, and spirituality without dogma. Organized by books and essays, and highlighting key words and themes, this compilation is an excellent introduction to the man and his work.  

  An A-to-Z reference of the great social reformer’s own words Among modern philosophers, few have had a greater impact on history than Karl Marx. Now this easy-to-use introduction to the nineteenth-century theorist breaks down his work into definitions of his terms and concepts, including Bourgeois State, Classless Society, and Freedom of the Press. Accompanied by an insightful introductory essay that puts the included excerpts from his works in context, The Wisdom of Marx is essential reading for an understanding of the man whose work incited far-reaching social and economic change.  

  Hundreds of sage observations from China’s most revered scholar Teacher, politician, philosopher, and student, Confucius offered wisdom and aphorisms on a variety of topics that transcend borders and time. Whether considering his own life, human nature, or a society’s responsibilities, Confucius’s teachings emphasize personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, and sincerity. He aimed to effect social and political reform, and left a legacy of wisdom that remains true today. Organized by topic and accompanied with contextual footnotes, this collection of quotes, sayings, and lessons is often as entertaining as it is educational.  

An A-to-Z compendium of Russell’s writing One of the great minds of the twentieth century, Bertrand Russell explored philosophy, mathematics, and a variety of other intellectual, political, historical, and social issues in his lifetime. In this indispensable and easily accessible guide, drawn from his books and essays, readers will find Russell’s fundamental principles, from objectivity to ontological arguments to logical certainty, in his own words. Russell also explored topics such as war, evil, and the purpose and goal of human existence. Russell’s intellect transcends time and remains a relevant source of inspiration and thought today.  

  An A-to-Z reference of the great social reformer’s own words Among modern philosophers, few have had a greater impact on history than Karl Marx. Now this easy-to-use introduction to the nineteenth-century theorist breaks down his work into definitions of his terms and concepts, including Bourgeois State, Classless Society, and Freedom of the Press. Accompanied by an insightful introductory essay that puts the included excerpts from his works in context, The Wisdom of Marx is essential reading for an understanding of the man whose work incited far-reaching social and economic change.  

An inspirational anthology that draws on sacred texts to provide essential insight into Islam, one of the world’s great religions. The Wisdom of Muhammad: This compelling examination of the life and sayings of Muhammad offers the modern reader a guide to the history and principles of the world’s second largest religion. Covering a diverse range of topics, from marriage and civic charity to the individual’s relationship to God and the afterlife, the Prophet’s words dispel misconceptions about Islam and its teachings.   The Wisdom of the Koran: Representing the ultimate authority on almost every issue in Muslim life, the Koran’s lessons and parables offer moral and spiritual guidance to the faithful. In this essential guide, readers learn about key chapters such as “The Night Journey” and “The Cave” as well as several stories from Judeo-Christian history.  

  Explore the third of the great literatures in Judaism While many readers may have heard of Kabbalah in recent years, how many understand the origins and unique perspective of this collection of Jewish mystical beliefs? Handed down in the oral tradition for thousands of years and transcribed in fourteenth-century Spain, the Kabbalah is the classical expression of Jewish mysticism. This collection draws from the main work of Kabbalah—Sepher ha-Zohar, or The Book of Splendor—and offers insight into the great body of Hebrew literature that sprang up and grew parallel to the traditional writings of rabbinical literature. Written in the dialectic style as a commentary to the Torah, the Kabbalah examines man’s mystical union with God in thoughts of wisdom and deeds of kindness through a symbol-laden examination of the God before creation. A mix of ethics and mysticism, Kabbalah’s wisdom is frequently imparted through gematria, or a symbolic language based in numbers that correspond with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This ebook features a new introduction, image gallery, and index of the Hebrew alphabet.  

  Celebrate one of the world’s greatest collections of pure literature In Hebrew, the word Torah means instruction, and throughout thousands of years this collection of writing has offered just that—instruction in the central beliefs of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But by observing the Torah, or the Hebrew Bible, as a collected work of multiple authors spanning generations, the modern reader can look beyond its fundamental instruction. The Wisdom of the Torah concentrates on the Hebrew Bible as a book of philosophy and literature and offers some of its most powerful and poetic passages, including “The Poems of King David,” “The Parables of King Solomon,” and “The Love Songs of King Solomon.” In these works, readers find many lyrical and timeless reflections on what it means to have faith and to be a member of the human race. This ebook features a new introduction, image gallery, timeline of the Torah and Judaic history, and index of the Books of the Torah.  

Reverence for Life—Albert Schweitzer’s pivotal philosophy Musician, physician, humanitarian, and philosopher, Albert Schweitzer was a twentieth-century Renaissance man who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his “Reverence for Life” philosophy. The Wisdom of Albert Schweitzer explores this core philosophy, which inspired one of the world’s great humanitarians. While traveling in Africa, Schweitzer recognized that all living creatures have a will to live and believed that through a “reverence for life” mankind had an ethical imperative to aid in the welfare of all living things, including the environment. His words have remained an inspiration for generations of humanitarians and environmentalists.