Drawn from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both western and eastern traditions, using the same techniques of editing, redaction, and. He talks about why religion angers him, the power of philosophy and his mane of hair decca aitkenhead. A secular bible first edition by grayling, professor a. Grayling s opening epistle to the reader declares an aspiration to guide us.
The substitution of grayling for god as ultimate author means that any analogy between the good bookand the good book is extremely thin. Until 2011 he was professor of philosophy at birkbeck college, university of london. Grayling examines the different ways to live a good life, as proposed from classical antiquity to the recent present. Apr 03, 20 seems simple enough, but this is by ac grayling, immediate past president of the british humanist association and eminent british philosopher of decades experience and renown. Maybe agnostics and atheists will embrace the good book. Grayling seeks to answer them in three crucial areas at the frontiers of knowledge. Ac grayling project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
I suppose some might be offended by the good book but they neednt be. It might begin as a curiosity and then flourish or remain a cult favorite or just a curiosity. Grayling, is a bible without god, with humanism taking the place of religion. He has written and edited over thirty books on philosophy and other topicsincluding the good book, ideas that matter, liberty in the age of terror, and to set prometheus free. Drawing on the wisdom of 2,500 years of contemplative nonreligious writing on all that it means to be human from the origins of the universe to small matters of. Nov 05, 2019 with characteristic clarity and elegance, a. A book of extraordinary audacity from a remarkable thinkera secular bible drawn from the wisdom and humanity in the worlds great literature. He is a trustee of the london library, a fellow of the royal society of literature and a fellow of the royal society of arts. Grayling has done, creating a nonreligious bible drawn from the wealth of secular.
Nov 20, 2019 several great theorists also write beautifully, notably plato, rousseau, hume and schopenhauer. The good book is a manifesto for rational thought, but mirrors the bible in both form and language. A secular bible, you write to determine what the good is is truly the master art of living. Ac grayling is professor of philosophy at london university, and an ardent atheist, who, like richard dawkins and christopher hitchens, believes that religion in general and the bible in. Grayling neatly sums up the everexhilarating nietzsche as a. Ac grayling is professor of philosophy at london university, and an ardent atheist, who, like richard dawkins and christopher hitchens, believes that religion. The good book mirrors the bible in both form and language and is, as its author says, ambitious and hubristic a distillation of the best that has. Grayling may be the ultimate editor and redactor of the sources drawn together in the good book, but thats as far as a secular doctrine of inspiration can go. Nov 05, 2019 the authors have created a sort of anti book of virtues in this encyclopedic compendium of the ways and means of power. The new yorker on the good book maybe agnostics and atheists will embrace the good book. Book overview this description may be from another edition of this product. Grayling discusses creating a nonreligious bible that draws from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both. W ere considering, by way of five classic philosophical texts, the broad theme of being good what it means to be good, how to be good, what is constitutive of the good agent in philosophy. Review of the god argument by ac grayling military.
Jun 20, 2019 bestselling polymath and philosopher a. It has been a while since a read the book, and i do not remember what many of the individual chapters discuss, so i will forgo my usual synopsis. He talks about why religion angers him, the power of philosophy and his mane of hair. Inspired by the work of herodotus and lucretius, confucius and mencius, seneca and cicero, montaigne, bacon, and so many others, the good book will fulfill its audacious purpose in every way.
Grayling tackles the good book sydney morning herald. Apr 04, 2011 in the good book, professor grayling attempts to whisk together in one tome the wisdom of ancient greek philosophers, confucian sages, medieval poets and the discoveries of modern science. Perhaps the most remarkable section of the good book is entitled lamentations’. Graylings book copies the format but fills it with much more positive messages. Essential readings for the nonbeliever, and the good book, and more on. Grayling is master of the new college of the humanities, uk. Grayling explains he has spent several decades on his a.
Grayling is the author of about 30 books on philosophy, including the refutation of scepticism 1985, the future of moral values 1997, the meaning of things 2001, the good book 2011, and the god argument 20. My theory is that the narrator was given the wrong script at the recording studio and read gaylings book rather than the flintstones cartoon he was hired to do. Someone once said, respect the book, or you disrespect its author. The meaning of things, applying philosophy to life. Dressed in a neat navy suit, his hair is sustained behind him like some bright celestial mane, and delicate round spectacles somehow give the impression of a man wedded to the empirical idea. Videos from prospects evening with michael sandel and ac grayling by prospect may 12, 20 leave a comment on 8th may, prospect hosted an evening with michael sandel and ac grayling, two of the worlds leading philosophers. Razor sharp insight as one would expect from ac grayling an excellent book. Grayling discusses creating a nonreligious bible that draws from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both western and easter. Williams ma, mphil, philosopher in residence at the damaris trust, assistant professor in communication and worldviews, gimlekollen school of journalism and communication, norway. The god argument is the first book to deal with all the arguments against religion and to present a positive alternative. Everyone wants power and everyone is in a constant duplicitous game to gain more power at the expense of others, according to greene, a screenwriter and former editor at esquire elffers, a book packager, designed the volume, with its attractive marginalia. Designed to be read as narrative and also to be dipped into for inspiration, encouragement and consolation, the good book offers a. The good book is an inspired work of insight, wisdom, solace, and commentary on the human condition drawn from the worlds great humanist traditions of thought and literature, western.
Contributing to the conversation society has with itself about possibilities for good lives in good societies a. Grayling, who spent 30 years compiling the good book. Grayling is master of new college of the humanities, and a supernumerary fellow of st. Grayling is currently listed with the humanist bible aka the good book on the maaf book list. The good book is an inspired work of insight, wisdom, solace, and commentary on the human condition drawn from the worlds great humanist traditions of thought and literature, western and easter alike. You will not open it up and find passages from various works called out by author. Few, if any, thinkers and writers today would have the imagination, the breadth of knowledge, and the literary skill to conceive of a powerful secular alternative to the bible. Grayling tackles the good book when it comes to god, this atheistic author is doggedly opposed. Grayling focuses on the two very different conceptions of what a good life. Ac grayling introduces his new book, the god argument. And much like the bestselling king james bible, which is celebrating its 400th year, his book is written in a type of english that transcends time. A secular bible all deserve to be bracketed among the god delusion, god is not great and the others, though something always marked grayling out. Note that grayling lays his book out like the bible with similar referencing.
May 16, 2011 the good book has, therefore, everything you could expect from the bible except god. Grayling s play grace, cowritten with mick gordon, has played to full houses in london and new york, starring lynn redgrave. Without any reference to gods, souls or afterlives, it aims to give atheists a book of inspiration and guidance as they make their way in the world. Grayling, philosopher and allaround grey eminence, brings together poems, the greatest hits of western thought, and significant chunks of herodotus into a secular, humanist version of the bible.
Its like sleeping furiously in his new book, the good book. The good book is an inspired work of insight, wisdom, solace, and commentary on the human condition drawn from the worlds great humanist traditions of thought. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. And in the year 2011, anthony the seer did come forth with flowing locks and. Grayling takes the reader from the age of the buddha, confucius, and socrates through christianitys capture of the european mind, from the renaissance and enlightenment on to mill, nietzsche, sartre and, finally, philosophy today. Ac grayling, author of the good book, answers ten terrifying. He has written and edited numerous works of philosophy and is the author of biographies of descartes and william hazlitt. To begin with why dont you tell us a little bit about yourself where were you born. Mar 06, 20 of course, grayling has always been knocking about in this circle. Ac grayling, for instance, has compiled the good book in imitation of the bible and, as he hopes, an alternative source of inspiration for nonbelievers. In that way we respect and immortality, not a life. The good book ac grayling photographed by des willie ac grayling, photographed by des willie, anthony grayling tells me as he welcomes. He has written and edited over thirty books on philosophy and other subjects. Ac grayling the god argument ac grayling introduces his new book, the god argument.
One of the most influential books i have ever read, a c graylings what is good. For several years he wrote the last word column for the guardian newspaper and a column for the times. A secular bible, the philosopher sets out his manifesto for rational thought. Sam harris took time for an interview on the book as well. Grayling will be at warwicks on monday, april 11th at 7.
Most of the material is from grecoroman history and prose. Instead, going back to traditions older than christianity, and far richer and more various, including the nontheistic philosophical and literary schools. The good book cant be bettered the philosopher ac grayling has created a secular bible, but its guidance for a good life fails to convince genevieve fox. Designed to be read as narrative and also to be dipped into for inspiration, encouragement and consolation, the good book offers a thoughtful, nonreligious alternative to the many people who do not follow one of the worlds great religions. C, grayling provides both a historical look at ethics and provides a secular view to be considered.
Apr 11, 2011 determined to make his material accessible, grayling arranged his nearly 600page good book much like the bible, with double columns, chapters the first is even called genesis and short verses. The best books on being good five books expert recommendations. The good book ac grayling, photographed by des willie, anthony grayling tells me as he welcomes me into his office, is a lifetimes work. Anthony grayling cbe, ma, dphil oxon frsl, frsa is master of the new college of the humanities, and a supernumerary fellow of st annes college, oxford. From their announcement critically acclaimed author and professor of philosophy, a. Jun 30, 2011 the good book consciously takes its design and presentation from the bible, in the beauty of its language and its arrangement into short chapters and verses, offering to the nonreligious seeker all the wisdom, insight, solace, inspiration, and perspective of various secular humanist traditions. Drawing on the wisdom of 2,500 years of contemplative nonreligious writing on all that it means to be human from the origins of the universe to small matters of courtesy and kindness in everyday life a. Note that grayling lays his book out like the bible with. Six polemics on religion and an essay on kindness and the good book. The good book, an ambitious 597page volume written by philosopher a.
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