Modern Thought

The definitive history of a century of psychoanalytic thought “Absolutely crucial in reformulating the psychoanalytic project to meet the intellectual and emotional demands upon it a century after its birth.” —The Guardian Sigmund Freud's concepts have become a part of our psychological...

Evil threatens human reason, for it challenges our hope that the world makes sense. For 18th-century Europeans, the Lisbon earthquake was manifest evil. Today we view evil as a matter of human cruelty, and Auschwitz as its extreme incarnation. Examining our understanding of evil from the Inquisition to contemporary terrorism, Susan Neiman explores who we have become in the three centuries that separate us from the early Enlightenment. In the process, she rewrites the history of modern thought and points philosophy back to the questions that originally animated it.

Spanning eighty captivating hours, Durant Masterworks curates four of Will Durant's most celebrated works into a single, thematically rich portrait of Western thought from its origins to the modern age. This anthology traces the evolution of Western thought from ancient philosophy through medieval faith, early modern conflict, and the rise of England as a global power. Durant's storytelling is vivid, engaging, and deeply human, bringing history's greatest ideas and personalities to life with unmatched clarity.

25 Essential Philosophical Concepts Every Thinker Should Know is a clear and engaging guide to the foundational ideas that have shaped human understanding for centuries. From ancient paradoxes to modern thought experiments, this book explores the key concepts that philosophers use to investigate truth, morality, knowledge, and the nature of reality. Each chapter focuses on one essential idea, explaining what it means, why it matters, and how it continues to apply in the world today. Whether you’re puzzling over Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am”, debating Kant’s Categorical ...

Kaleidoscopic culture critic Chuck Klosterman rewrites the history of reality in an “ingenious” (Kirkus Reviews) work of speculative nonfiction based on a question that has never been considered or (in all likelihood) even asked: What if The Beatles had only developed a cult following while...

Philosophy is not a dusty archive of forgotten theories—it’s the living pulse behind every question we ask about truth, meaning, and existence. Philosophy: The Key Moments That Shaped Thought invites readers on a journey through the pivotal ideas that have transformed how we see ourselves and the world. From the ancient wonder of Socratic dialogue to the radical shifts of modern existentialism, this beginner’s guide unpacks the breakthroughs, debates, and thinkers who dared to challenge convention and redefine reality. Whether you're new to philosophy or simply seeking clarity in a ...

A book for people who want to save the West but don’t know how. The fate of our civilization depends on whether ordinary people internalize the truth and beauty conveyed in the masterpieces of Western culture. Spencer Klavan, classicist and podcaster, defends that culture and explains why and...

The classic introduction to economic thought, now updated in time for the publication of New Ideas from Dead CEOs This entertaining and accessible introduction to the great economic thinkers throughout history? Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, and more?shows how...

Two monumental works on the nature of the modern age by Romano Guardini, one of the most important Catholic figures of the 20th century. This expanded edition of The End of the Modern World: A Search for Orientation includes its sequel, Power and Responsibility: A Course of Action for the New...

"As a Man Thinketh" is a transformative work by James Allen revealing a fundamental truth: we are the creators of our own destiny. Using the metaphor of the mind as a garden, Allen explains how our thoughts cultivate our character, shape our circumstances, and directly impact our health, purpose, and success.

A Thousand Plateaus continues the work Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari began in Anti-Oedipus and has now become established as one of the classic studies of the development of critical theory in the late twentieth century. It occupies an important place at the center of the debate reassessing...

In this, his most influential work, legal theorist and political philosopher Carl Schmitt argues that liberalism’s basis in individual rights cannot provide a reasonable justification for sacrificing oneself for the state—a critique as cogent today as when it first appeared. George...

A modern account of the war that toppled the French Empire, unified Germany, and set Europe on the path to World War I. “A vivid and informative story of these events and their consequences … Chrastil’s compassionate and thought-provoking history does justice to both sides of this legacy...

"I hold up a mirror to the age—and it turns away in disgust." Written between 1873 and 1876, Friedrich Nietzsche's Untimely Meditations announced the arrival of philosophy's most uncompromising voice. These four provocative essays launched a frontal assault on the complacency, mediocrity, and self-satisfaction of 19th-century German culture—but their targets remain eerily familiar today. Nietzsche chose his title deliberately: these meditations are "untimely" because they refuse to flatter the present age or echo fashionable opinions. Instead, they challenge the very foundations of ...

The Light of Understanding: John Locke and the Birth of Modern Thought is an in-depth exploration of one of the most influential philosophers in history. This comprehensive and accessible study examines John Locke’s groundbreaking ideas on knowledge, personal identity, moral philosophy, politics, and religious toleration. From his revolutionary theory of the tabula rasa and his emphasis on experience as the source of knowledge to his vision of natural rights and government by consent, Locke’s philosophy helped shape the Enlightenment and the foundations of modern democracy. Readers will...

Revisit one of the most important pillars in modern philosophy with this new English translation—the first in more than 60 years—of Jean-Paul Sartre’s seminal treatise on existentialism. “This is a philosophy to be reckoned with, both for its own intrinsic power and as a profound symptom...

The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Anxious Generation shows how a deeper understanding of the world’s philosophical wisdom can enrich and transform our lives. “Wonderfully smart and readable.” —Washington Post In The Happiness Hypothesis, social psychologist Jonathan...

Life does not become simpler just because you need a break. The better skill is learning how to move through change without losing yourself. Be Water is a candid, practical guide to contentment, resilience, and purposeful action. Drawing on Stoicism, existentialism, mindfulness, and lived experience, Drew Bledsoe turns an enduring metaphor into a usable approach: accept what you cannot control, act on what you can, and keep moving around the obstacles in your path. Inside, you will learn how to: • Separate expectations from reality so disappointment stops steering your choices • Decide ...

Philosophy made fun & unforgettable!! 4+ BONUSES! Philosophy isn’t just something you read — it’s something you do. Debate Truth, Logic, Ethics, Politics, Science, God, Free Will, Happiness, Reality, the Soul & Meaning of Life From Socrates’ questions to Aristotle’s categories, from Epicurus’ garden to Stoic survival skills, you don’t just study philosophy here — you debate, laugh, question, & even quiz yourself along the way. 🏛 Inside You’ll Discover: The Big 3 Greeks—Socrates, Plato & Aristotle explained simply, clearly, & with stories that stick Epicurus, Zeno & ...

Taboo and sacrifice, transgression and language, death and sensuality—Georges Bataille pursues these themes with an original, often startling perspective. He challenges any single discourse on the erotic. The scope of his inquiry ranges from Emily Brontë to Sade, from St. Therese to Claude...