Classics Literature Philosophy

Here is the world's most famous master plan for seizing and holding power. Astonishing in its candor, The Prince is a disturbingly realistic and prophetic work on what it takes to be a prince, a king, a president.

The Allegory of the Cave, or Plato's Cave, was presented by the Greek philosopher Plato to compare "[T]he effect of education and the lack of it on our nature". It is written as a dialogue between Plato's brother Glaucon and his mentor, Socrates, narrated by the latter.

Walking was first published in the June 1862 issue of Atlantic Monthly. In this treatise, Thoreau reminds us of how the primal act of walking connects us with nature. He argues that the genius of walking does not lie in mechanically putting one foot in front of the other toward to a destination, but in mastering the art of sauntering. The themes of Walking include freedom, self-reflection, and exploration. Thoreau states that the act of walking marks the human being as an inhabitant, or part and parcel of nature, rather than a member of society.

Meditations on First Philosophy in which the existence of God and the immortality of the soul are demonstrated is a philosophical treatise by René Descartes first published in Latin in 1641. The book is made up of six meditations, in which Descartes first discards all belief in things that are not absolutely certain and then tries to establish what can be known for sure. He wrote the meditations as if he had meditated for six days: Each meditation refers to the last one as "yesterday". It continues to be one of the most influential philosophical texts ever written.

The great scientists Louis Pasteur (1822-1893) and Joseph Lister (1827-1912) revolutionized medical practice in the 19th century. Pasteur's discovery of the cause of fermentation formed the basis of modern germ theory while Lister developed antiseptic surgical methods based on that. The book contains a description of the theory, and accounts of their work and experiments.

Classic Philosophy for the Modern Man is unlike any other philosophy book you may have come across. It is inspired by a single concept: that, to thrive in the world, we need ready access to the practical wisdom of our forebears. Classic Philosophy for the Modern Man answers that need by introducing for the general listener the most powerful and enduringly relevant works of great thinkers from around the world.

Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous, or simply Three Dialogues, is a 1713 book on metaphysics and idealism by George Berkeley. The book was written as a response to the criticism of his work A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge. Berkeley faced opposition from many philosophers who held to the Platonic view. He argues that sensible qualities like color, sound, temperature and even shape are not inherent in matter, but are ascribed and understood by the mind.

Circles is an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson, first published in 1841. The essay reflects on the vast array of circles one may find throughout nature and what is suggested by these circles in philosophical terms. In the opening line of the essay, Emerson states, "The eye is the first circle; the horizon which it forms is the second; and throughout nature this primary figure is repeated without end."

Es el tratado sobre estrategia más famoso del mundo, que se ha convertido en un libro de culto en el ámbito de la empresa. Varias películas ambientadas en Wall Street han contribuido a popularizar este pequeño libro, que nos propone unos principios válidos tanto en el mundo de la estrategia militar como en el de los negocios o la política. A pesar de su antigüedad, se trata de un libro extremadamente moderno, que ayudará a reflexionar sobre cualquier tipo de problema.

Either/Or is the first published work of the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. The first section called "Diapsalmata" is a collection of aphorisms, anecdotes, and epigrams on the aesthetic mode of life. It contains some of Kierkegaard's most profound and poetic thoughts.

Este tratado de estrategia fue escrito hace más de 2000 años. Sin embargo, sorprende por su vigencia y por la claridad de sus explicaciones, comprensibles para cualquier lector. El autor ha visto claramente los aspectos de la guerra y de la estrategia que no cambian con el paso del tiempo. Leyendo sus páginas se comprende que el triunfo no está necesariamente en manos del más fuerte, sino del más inteligente.

Um jedoch in die große Mannigfaltigkeit der hierher gehörigen Ansichten und Ratschläge einige Ordnung zu bringen, will ich sie einteilen in allgemeine, in solche, welche unser Verhalten gegen uns selbst, dann gegen andere, und endlich gegen den Weltlauf und das Schicksal betreffen.

Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men was written in response to a competition run by the Academy of Dijon answering the prompt: What is the origin of inequality among men, and whether such inequality is authorized by natural law? Rousseau puts forth the concept of two types of inequity: natural/physical and moral/political. He focuses on moral inequality and its link to power and wealth. He also covers the areas of self-love, compassion for others, and free-agency.

The Prophet is Kahlil Gibran's most famous work. He focuses on human relationships, as well as many other topics, including love, friendship, passion, work, good and evil, and time in a beautiful, simple, lyrical style.

Rudyard Kipling’s best loved book, full of timeless and beloved tales of adventure. The story of Mowgli, the abandoned "man-cub" who is brought up by wolves in the jungles of Central India, is one of the greatest literary myths ever created. As he embarks on a series of thrilling escapades, Mowgli encounters such unforgettable creatures as the bear Baloo, the graceful black panther Bagheera, and Shere Khan, the tiger with the blazing eyes.

Seneca's work has been distributed and read for nearly 2,000 years, yet this brand-new version of some of his best essays on how to be happy has been illuminated by UCLA Design students to kindle a spark of enthusiasm for his ideas. This illuminated book consists of four essays, each with ornamented pages and highlighted quotations created specifically for this timeless edition.

Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil takes an in-depth look at the major truths of philosophy. However, the unique approach of adding poetry and commentary to these truths makes this work both more interesting and more dynamic than the typical philosophic discussion found in most modern philosophy books. In addition, Nietzche argues that most philosophies are centered on the philosopher's attempt to explain their own bias. The work offers insight to finding the truths not only about philosophy, but also about the philosophers who wrote these insights.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, surveyor, and historian. The essay "Wild Apples" first appeared in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862. It begins with a history of the apple tree, chronicling its journey from Ancient Greece to America. The author compares the history of the apple to that of mankind, contemplating it with a tragic eye. He considered the idea of wildness not as sinful, but the source of creativity.

The Antichrist is a book by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, originally published in 1895. Although it was written in 1888, its controversial content caused its publication to be delayed. The German title can be translated into English as either The Anti-Christ or The Anti-Christian, depending on how the German word Christ is translated. Nietzsche claimed in the foreword to have written the book for a very limited readership. In order to understand the book, he asserted that the reader "...must be honest in intellectual matters to the point of hardness to so much as endure my seriousness, my passion."

One of the most popular self-help speeches of all time teaches you to seek for the riches within and close to home. Russell Conwell's famous Acres of Diamonds speech was the inspiration for Temple University's mission.