Iconoclastic and fiercely rational, the European Enlightenment witnessed the birth of modern Western society and thought. Reason was sacrosanct and for the first time, religious belief and institution
"Written by true experts. Informative yet so much fun to read!" Nassim Nicholas Taleb ? author of The Black Swan "Easy-to-digest and highly competent. If everyone were to read this book, the world wou
After 60 years of silence, The Diary of Mary Berg is poised at last to gain the appreciation that it so richly deserves, and is certain to take its place alongside The Diary of Anne Frank as one of th
In the wake of the phenomenal success of such shows as CSI, forensic science has never been so popular. The obsessive attention to detail that Grissom and his crew afford insignificant details like pa
Jonathan Kozol, National Book Award-winning author and one of America's foremost writers on social issues, offers a passionate and provocative critique on the role of the teacher in America's public s
From the strait of Gibraltar to the snowy peaks of the Atlas Mountains and the windswept Sahara, this book captures a history as diverse and dramatic as Morocco's legendary landscapes and cities. Be
Machiavelli has been among the most commented upon, criticized and feared thinkers of the modern world. Infamous for his support of brutality and repression as valid political instruments, he is often
While many in the West regard feminism and Islam as incompatible, many Muslims in the East have perceived Western feminist forces as an assault upon their culture. In this career-spanning collection o
Today the Buddha is honored throughout the world as one of the great religious figures in the history of humankind. His greatness lies in his teachings, and in the religious community that he founded
From the time of the Crusades to the present day, the relationship between Islam and the West has been one of conflict and misunderstanding. The prejudices conceived over a thousand years ago survive
From the emergence of the first Slavic state to the election of new President Dmitry Medvedev, this is a concise and thoughtful guide to the complex and turbulent history of Russia and its people. A s
An analysis of the solitary Qur'an verse mentioning the crucifixion of Jesus and the fierce debates that have surrounded it throughout history draws on largely ignored Arabic sources that cover variou
Original and profound, this beautiful little book is the perfect Valentine’s Day alternative to those tired collections of cliched romantic verse. Regarding it as the raison d’etre of the universe,
Kavalali Mehmed Ali Pasha (c. 1770 ? 1849), often dubbed "the founder of modern Egypt", was one of the most important figures in the history of the Ottoman Empire. Born in what is now Greece, and seem
Tomorrow begins right here as we embark on an enthralling and jargon-free journey into the world of computers and the inner recesses of the human mind. Readers encounter everything from the nanotechno
Murder, extermination, enslavement, ethnic cleansing, rape, and torture: when carried out in a widespread or systematic way, these constitute ?crimes against humanity’. And the international communit
Why do we trust doctors to give us the medicines we need? How can we know who to vote for? How valuable are the opinions of 'experts'? And how far can our memories and perceptions be trusted? What mak
The relaxed, gritty and candid writing of the revolutionary Beat Generation, including Kerouac's On the Road and Ginsberg's Howl, has inspired generations. In his chronicle of the inner workings of th
What is the future of culture in the 21st century? A compendium of some of the world's most prominent and diverse thinkers, this volume gathers together a broad range of answers from the perspectives
Our tissues, genes, and organs are becoming, in the words of the head of one pharmaceutical company, 'the currency of the future'. From the trafficking of women for their eggs to 'beauty junkies', Dic
In this fast-paced, enlightening guide, Sharon M. Kaye takes us on a whistle-stop tour of medieval philosophy, revealing the debt it owes to Aristotle and Plato, and its legacy to philosophy today. Wi
Introduces readers to Karl Marx the revolutionary. This book covers the various elements of marxist thought, from the early writings to such texts as "Capital" and the themes of labour and society. It
John Dewey was an icon of philosophy and psychology during the first half of the 20th century. Known as the father of Functional Psychology and a pivotal figure of the Pragmatist movement, he also pla
Responding to arguments made in the Victorian period that Islam is 'irrational' or 'inferior to Christianity' and that the unification of religious and political power is a 'barrier to progress,' Rida
The Spy in the Coffee Machine exposes the true extent to which our privacy has been invaded by everything from closed-circuit televisions to blogs, and explores what - if anything - we can do to prev
Mark Vernon takes his inspiration from 42 of the funniest, wisest, and quirkiest quotations about the big questions in life, and uses these as starting points for his brilliant observations. In each c
In this clear and informative guide, Momen provides a vibrant introduction to all aspects of this fast-expanding faith, which now has over 5.5 million adher ents. From the spiritual development of the
From political leaders and human rights activists to rap musicians and NBA basketball stars, this diverse collection of mini-biographies documents the contributions of fifty male and fifty female Musl
In this accessible introduction to Hinduism, Klaus K. Klostermaier explains the origins, beliefs, scriptures and philosophies of this ancient religion, and considers modern challenges the religion fac
William C. Chittick, the leading scholar in the field, offers a compelling insight into the origins, context, and key themes of this fascinating movement. He draws upon the words of some of the greate
In this charming anthology, Suheil Bushrui, renowned literature professor, presents an unusually varied collection of the world’s favorite love poetry from around the globe and down through the ages.T
Timeless and eternal, the poetry of Jalal al-Din Rumi is loved the world over and he is a best-selling poet from America to Afghanistan. Commemorating the 800th anniversary of Rumi's birth, this beaut
Painstakingly researched by a leading expert, this new edition examines the background, the legacy, and the continuing significance of Jalal al-Din Rumi, 800 years after he was born.
A fresh look at the origins and development of Islam, this is a fascinating reconstruction of the formative era of the Muslim community. Using a wealth of classical Arabic sources, it chronicles the
A fresh look at the origins and development of Islam, this is a fascinating reconstruction of the formative era of the Muslim community. Using a wealth of classical Arabic sources, it chronicles the
In What Makes Us Human? some of the world's most brilliant thinkers offer their answers to this perennial puzzle, including Susan Blackmore, Robin Dunbar, Richard Harries, Kenan Malik and Lewis Wolper
The name of Tutankhamun brings to mind shining images of gold treasure, a secret tomb, and an ancient curse. However, the real history of the young king is surrounded by rumor and mystery. Alongside t
A scientist answers questions that baffle the average person, such as "Why can't we tickle ourselves?" "Do you get wetter if you walk or run in the rain?" and "Why does multiplying two negative number
In this revised edition, Lindholm introduces the field of psychological anthropology, tracing the growth of the field, interweaving perspectives from anthropology, psychology, and sociology, and apply
