Commentary Philosophy

Despite advances in health care, infectious microbes continue to be a formidable adversary to scientists and doctors. Vaccines and antibiotics, the mainstays of modern medicine, have not been able to conquer infectious microbes because of their amazing ability to adapt, evolve, and spread to new places. Terrorism aside, one of the greatest dangers from infectious disease we face today is from a massive outbreak of drug-resistant microbes.

What if everything you believe about morality is wrong? Who decides what is good, evil, or true? Can you think beyond convention? For more than a century, readers have turned to Friedrich Nietzsche’s writings for bold challenges, profound insights, and a radically different way of thinking about life, morality, freedom, and human potential. Few philosophers have questioned accepted beliefs as fearlessly—or inspired independent thought as powerfully—as Nietzsche.

What is justice? What is courage? Can virtue be taught? What makes a good leader, a good citizen, or a good life? For more than two thousand years, readers have turned to Plato's dialogues in search of answers to these timeless questions. Through unforgettable conversations led by Socrates, Plato explored the foundations of philosophy, ethics, politics, education, friendship, and human wisdom.

Victory is not a matter of luck. Success is not a matter of force. And the most important battles are often decided long before they begin. For more than two thousand years, leaders, generals, strategists, and decision-makers have turned to The Art of War for guidance on competition, planning, leadership, and success. Written by the legendary military strategist Sun Tzu, this timeless classic has influenced military commanders, political leaders, business executives, and strategic thinkers across cultures and generations.

The Gaudapada-karikas is the earliest extant Advaita Vedanta text. It is only explicitly Advaita text deemed worth saving from before Shankara’s time. Its philosophical doctrines makes it worthy of study in its own right and sets the stage for Shankara’s slightly different Advaita. The text is presented here in a plain English translation with notes, along with a translation of the Mandukya Upanishad, and an extensive summary of Shankara’s own commentary upon it. Also included are an essay on early Vedanta, who the author(s) of this text may be, and the influence of Buddhism on the ...

Inspired by timeless principles from The Art of War, The Art of Tactical War for Life transforms ancient battlefield wisdom into a practical guide for modern personal victory. Life is a competitive arena—filled with obstacles, rivals, setbacks, and uncertainty. The question is not whether you will face conflict. The question is whether you will be prepared for it.

This volume begins with a new translation of the Brahma Sutra and then translates or summarizes the philosophical portions of Shankara's commentary on it. Shankara's Brahma-sutra-bhashya is the most important work in Advaita and represents his mature thought on Brahman and Atman. Three essays (along with one on the non-Advaita Brahma Sutra) explain Shankar's philosophy and reasoning.

A good book may have the power to change the way we see the world, but a great book actually becomes part of our daily consciousness, pervading our thinking to the point that we take it for granted, and we forget how provocative and challenging its ideas once were - and still are. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions is that kind of book.

Beginning with opium, the “joy plant,” which has been used for 10,000 years, Thomas Hager tells a captivating story of medicine. His subjects include the largely forgotten female pioneer who introduced smallpox inoculation to Britain, the infamous knockout drops, the first antibiotic, which saved countless lives, the first antipsychotic, which helped empty public mental hospitals, Viagra, statins, and the new frontier of monoclonal antibodies. This is a deep, wide-ranging, and wildly entertaining book.

Ancient wisdom. Practical guidance. A better way to live. Nearly two thousand years ago, the Jewish sages recorded a collection of short, unforgettable teachings about character, responsibility, friendship, leadership, humility, and the wise use of time. Those teachings became Pirkei Avot—often translated as Ethics of the Fathers—and their message remains strikingly relevant today. How should you respond to anger? What makes a person truly wise? Why do your friends and teachers matter? How can you pursue success without becoming controlled by wealth, status, or praise? Pirkei Avot for ...

In A Trackless Path renowned translator and teacher Ken McLeod offers a beautiful and evocative translation and commentary of one of the many poems that the 18th century Tibetan mystic Jigmé Lingpa wrote on the practice of Dzogchen, one of the great wisdom traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. McLeod makes this ancient poem relevant and accessible to today's seeker.

Introducing the Fellig edition of Shaar Habitachon (Gate of Trust) from Chovot Halevavot (Duties of the Heart)—the classical and timeless work authored by the eleventh-century Spanish scholar Rabbeinu Bachya ibn Pekuda. Published by Kehot Publication Society in partnership with Chayenu, this exciting new book features the Hebrew text with a new English translation, classical commentary, a fresh infusion of Chasidic and mystical teachings, and bottom line takeaways to help guide the listener.

What if you had only seven days to find the meaning of life? This is not a theoretical question. It is the urgent, desperate plea of a great king cursed to die, and it ignites the most profound and beautiful story ever told. The Srimad Bhagavatam, an ancient and revered epic, is more than just a scripture; it is a living river of wisdom, a literary incarnation of the Divine designed to quench the deepest thirst of the soul. But for centuries, its profound beauty has often been veiled by complex language and dense philosophy. Until now. In Srimad Bhagavatam: Timeless Tales from the Bhagavata...

The Practical Philosophy of Plato is an accessible guide to the enduring ideas of one of history's greatest thinkers, designed for modern readers who want to apply ancient wisdom to everyday life.

The Living Gita is a translation of, and commentary on, the Bhagavad Gita by Sri Swami Satchidananda, one of the world’s most respected Yoga masters. The Gita is the summary and essence of Eastern spiritual wisdom, drawn from the Hindu tradition. When Swami Satchidananda arrived in the West in 1966, he recognized the need to make the teachings of Yoga and this classic text accessible to modern readers and listeners. He soon began giving talks on the Gita, which became the foundation for The Living Gita, first published in 1988.

The history of the Prophet Mohammad, the development of Islam, implementation of Shariah Law, and views of Quranic interpretations are all presented along with three separate classical translations of the Holy Quran. Put simply, The Quran (Koran) is viewed as an unfolding revelation. Thus, the last statement in the Quran regarding a subject supersedes any statement that came before it. This is called ABROGATION. Thus, we list verses in chronological order and examine the list for the last verses written on a subject to see what instructions are to be followed by Islam today.

Have you ever felt a quiet, persistent yearning for something more? A sense that behind the noise of daily life, there lies a deeper truth, a more profound peace? We live in a world of constant motion, yet many of us feel a sense of inner stillness is missing. We chase success and happiness in the outer world, only to find that true, lasting fulfillment remains just out of reach. What if the map to that fulfillment wasn't hidden in a distant land, but deep within the landscape of your own soul? In Brahma Sutras: Timeless Wisdom of Vedanta, author Naveen Goyal invites you on an extraordinary...

THE MOST QUOTED AND LEAST UNDERSTOOD TEXT IN HUMAN HISTORY—NOW IN A DEFINITIVE NEW TRANSLATION For twenty-five centuries, Sun Tzu's Art of War has shaped how generals, statesmen, and strategists think about conflict. Yet most readers encounter this ancient masterpiece through translations that obscure its original power—Victorian prose that dilutes the text's brutal compression, or corporate repackagings that strip away its meaning. This edition is different. NEW TRANSLATION — Neither Victorian nor corporate. This translation restores the density of the original: verse by verse, line ...

A revealing account of National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster’s turbulent and consequential thirteen months in the Trump White House. At War with Ourselves is the story of helping a disruptive President drive necessary shifts in U.S. foreign policy at a critical moment in history. McMaster...

The Book of Job is about a question for all of us. Why is there suffering? Job is a personal book that speaks to each of us as we face suffering and meaninglessness. Job is a theological book that both builds on the biblical worldview and prepares its listeners for the gospel. Job is a philosophical book that critically examines solutions to this question.