Reviews (4)

A story worth telling
I first learned of Beate Sirota Gordon from a Japanese woman friend who told me she was well loved by the women of Japan.They know she is responsible for insisting that they have a voice in their democracy.Unlike the previous writer, I found her straight forward prose to be very readable.She may not have a fancy literary style, but its her story and I appreciate the way she told it.

A great story poorly written.
Ms. Sirota Gordon has a facinating tale to tell but, ultimately, its telling has little depth and skims the surface of events in her life.Her story deserves another author.

An amazing book from an amazing lady!
I found this book to be inspiring. A book not to be missed! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Philosophers    6. Women    7. American history: Second World War    8. Biography: general    9. Europe    10. Japan    11. Second World War, 1939-1945    12. USA   

Reviews (2)

A personal psychological expert on Nietzsche
The German version of this book, published in 1894, about 108 years ago, was among the first books written about the books of Nietzsche.The photograph on the cover was taken in May, 1882 and a portion of it (as shown on p. 132) appeared in her book with the caption, "Friedrich Nietzsche, formerly professor and now a wandering fugitive" (p. ix), as Nietzsche had described himself in a letter to the third person in the picture in 1879, "referring to the severance from his ten-year position at the University of Basel."(p. ix).These people are all dead now.When she was 20, Lou wrote a poem "To Sorrow" (pp. xlviii-xlix) which praises it as "the pedestal for our soul's greatness."(p. xlix). An Important Addition to Nietzsche Studies
To scholars and admirers of Nietzsche, Lou Andreas-Salome has always been seen as his Irene Adler, the intellectual equal who got way or was driven away, depending on one's point of view. Although their affair lasted for only a few months, it left an indelible mark on both, for it came at a turning point in Nietzsche's life where he would leave the realtively safe nests of academia and the Wagners for a peripatetic life in the Eupopean Alps.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1844-1900    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Germany    7. History & Surveys - Modern    8. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm    9. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm,    10. Philosophers    11. Biography: general    12. Western philosophy, from c 1900 -   

Subjects:  1. 1889-1976    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Heidegger, Martin,    5. History & Surveys - Modern    6. Philosophers    7. Philosophy    8. Biography: general    9. Heidegger, Martin    10. Philosophy / General   

Editorial Review

British journalist Lesley Chamberlain chronicles the extraordinary year, 1888, during which the expatriate German philosopher wrote three of his greatest works: Read more

Reviews (10)

Sometimes chatty, a very human effort
Subtitled "An Intimate Biography," NIETZSCHE IN TURIN by Lesley Chamberlain might be considered a new age treatment of a life dominated by the urge to write, as exhibited by someone torn by his appreciation of the power of music to make things clearer in a far more artistic fashion, driven by a personal rivalry with Wagner that assumed more importance than his personal relationships, and suffering from a disease which would deprive him of his ability to behave.Big philosophical issues are avoided as thoroughly as Nietzsche is pictured trying to avoid having contact with anyone who would want to discuss Hegel as he takes his daily walk in a city which "has a long reputation for magic and a disconcerting number of writers, from Tasso to Rousseau, J.M. Symonds to Primo Levi, have become depressed or gone mad there."(p. 211).The final chapter, "Collapse into the Beyond," is close to "The role syphilis played in heightening his pronouncements may be glimpsed through a comparison with his fellow sufferer, and ultimate madman, the French writer Guy de Maupassant."(p. 201). A sensitive re-appraisal of a great thinker...
Nietzsche's writings have been interpreted, misinterpreted, translated, mistranslated and mutated to serve many individual interests - from the evils of the Third Reich to the man's only sister, 'editing' his work to suit her personal, social and political gains. Like Freud, Nietzsche has been used and abused as a platform in the creation of 'new' philosophies, some citing his work as inspiration, while others, in a fit of intellectual dishonesty, claim his ideas as their own. It has been said many times that he is the most misunderstood philosopher of the modern age. From my readings and experience, this claim is not far from the truth. This brilliant book, however, in a single brush of elegance and heart, re-examines Fredric Nietzsche and his work in a gentle, unpretentious though concise way, and attempts to introduce or re-introduce readers to this intriguing, inspiring and highly complex mind. An interesting read...
I have to begin this review by saying that after sporadically reading Nietzsche over the last fifteen years, I still consider myself an amateur philosopher.Like most that appreciate his work, I have recognized the impact that his pen has had in my life.Still with that said, I lack the experience or ability to compare and contrast him with other philosophers, ideologies or viewpoints.I do believe that Nietzsche left the world a very human energy, a connection if you will that flows through his many words right into the hearts of those who feel they understand him the most.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1844-1900    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. General    5. Historical - General    6. Homes and haunts    7. Intellectual life    8. Italy    9. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm,    10. Philosophers    11. Philosophy    12. Turin    13. Turin (Italy)    14. Biography & Autobiography / Philosophers    15. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm   

Features

• Unabridged

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Eastern - General    4. Hinduism    5. Philosophers    6. Unabridged Audio - Inspirational/Philosophy   

Reviews (1)

Good Overview
Originally published in 2002, On Kripke is an instalment in the Wadsworth Philosophers Series.From my perspective Consuelo Preti's short work is a good introduction and/or supplement to the study of Saul Kripke.The text is focused on Kripke's work in three primary areas:
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. History & Surveys - General    4. Logic    5. Philosophers    6. Philosophy    7. Biography: general    8. Epistemology, theory of knowledge    9. Philosophy / General   

Reviews (6)

"Essential Military History Library" book
I thought I knew Clausewitz.I have an advanced degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies in a program that emphasizes Clausewitz's writings and general influence in its curriculum, including a close, semester-long reading and discussion of "On War" in its entirety.In addition, since graduating I've read several biographical sketches and insightful academic essays on Clausewitz and his theories by Michael Howard, Alan Beyerchan, Christopher Bassford, Barry Watts, and other noted Clausewitz scholars.The only reason I picked this book up was because of the glowing praise it received from Williamson "Wick" Murray, one the nation's most prominent military historians, in a military bibliography he compiled as part of a DoD contract.He listed "Clausewitz and the State" as one of twenty-five books making up "The Essential Military History Library."(To give the reader a sense, other books in this elite category include Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War," Clausewitz's "On War," Tolstoy's "War and Peace," Grant's "Memoirs" and Churchill's "Life of Marlborough."Lofty company, indeed.)Given such a strong endorsement from such a qualified source, I felt compelled to add it to my reading list, although I was only expecting a "Clausewitz refresher."I was wrong.
From Idealist to Realist
Paret argues that the great Prussian military theorist Karl von Clausewitz was a realist with a life-long affinity to serve the nation-state and pursued a desire to understand this intricate and diverse concept. Clausewitz progressed from an idealized vision of statehood as a young man to a realist outlook in later life. This realism, argues Paret, is evident in Clausewitz's political writings as well as his mot famous treatise _On War_the ultimate extension of policy by concerted use of force. Yet it is the "Psychological and historical genesis" (p. 10) of Clausewitz's theories that Paret ultimately wants to convey. Paret concludes: "Clausewitz combined two very different callings-service to the state and scholarship-with remarkable success" (p. 436). Paret utilizes a contextual approach. Paret contends that in order to better understand Clausewitz's theories, the reader must first identify with the time frame that Clausewitz lived. Paret divides the book between biography and analysis of some prominent historical and political writings. Paret utilizes biography to illustrate Clausewitz's transformation from idealist to realist. Paret's analysis of Clausewitz's writings serves to show the differentiation between Clausewitz the political commentator and Clausewitz the military theorist. The printed materials available on Clausewitz are extensive though Paret leans more towards primary sources in this study. Besides the vast array of Clausewitz's own writings, Paret also makes extensive use of letters. Correspondence between Clausewitz and his fianc�e/wife Marie v. Br�hl and August von Gneisanau, collected in a plethora of German language sources are the most frequently cited. Paret makes it known, however, that new primary evidence dealing with Clausewitz is still surfacing though "widely dispersed." Source books and collections by Werner Hahlweg, Hans Rothfels and Walther Shering are also critically cited. It is obvious that Paret is enamored with Clausewitz and gives more than a sympathetic portrayal of his subject. Paret only passes lightly over criticisms of Clausewitz mainly the writings of W. Hahlweg and H. Rothfels and completely ignores the works of John Keegan and B.H. Liddle-Hart. Although the vast arrays of German language sources are impressive, they seem overdone for a book aimed at English speaking readers. As Paret mentions, this book provides an excellent companion volume to the M. Howard, P. Paret translation of _On War_ (Princeton: 1976) that is becoming a much-standardized text. Paret has succeeded in helping the reader to better understand Clausewitz by placing him in a contextual setting, especially his early experiences, influences, and education. Without a doubt, Clausewitz lived through some turbulent political changes in Europe between 1815-1831 and Paret illustrates this successfully. A major consensus seems to be that one can only understand Clausewitz by reading him. Paret certainly has created a thirst to do so in this book.

Illuminating Biography of Military Theorist
This book is a biography of a noteworthy but relatively obscure figure, Carl von Clausewitz, whose main claim to fame is having coined the famous dictum, "War is the Extension of Politics by other i.e. violent means" cited to by V.I. Lenin and others.This work, while dense and sometimes tedious in its explication of Clausewitz' views isfascinating in its description of its subject's life and times which facts serve to illuminate his ideas and their evolution. Read more

Subjects:  1. 1780-1831    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Clausewitz, Carl von,    6. General    7. Germany    8. Intellectuals    9. Nobility    10. State, The    11. Biography & Autobiography / Philosophers    12. Biography: historical    13. European history: c 1750 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. 1855-1916    2. American Philosophy    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Historical - General    7. History & Surveys - General    8. Philosophers    9. Philosophy    10. Royce, Josiah,    11. United States    12. Biography: general    13. Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present    14. Royce, Josiah    15. USA   

Reviews (10)

Ecce Homo
Ecce Homo is a book written by a man of genius, solitude and an overwhelming insight to the times in which he lived.
Afew questions about the autobiography of agreat disturber
The striking power , the unique individuality of Neitzsche's writing is like no other. He is close to being the greatest of all aphoristic philosophers. And his writing has a strength, an intensity that profoundly strikes the reader.
Why I write such great reviews
Forgive me for wasting all your time because I haven't read the book yet, but just reading about it fills me with excitement because I have Nietzsche's books to keep me company, a fellow Overman/madman/AntiChrist. If I can be so immodest as to compare myself to him in any way, I know from experience that as he descended into madness he thought he was the AntiChrist as Christian bigots would accuse, a worthy title for the great philosopher who is to enlighten the masses of the ills of Christianity and lead us into at least a less hypocritical time. Who knows what great work he would have produced in his later years if he had medication to keep him balanced, walking on the fence that separates the world of the sane from the insane. From up here you see all. I love you Nietzsche! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1844-1900    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Germany    7. History & Surveys - 19th Century    8. Movements - Existentialism    9. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm    10. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm,    11. Philosophers    12. Biography & Autobiography / Philosophers    13. Biography: general    14. Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present    15. Philosophy & theory of psychology    16. Popular psychology   

Reviews (5)

Great for Machiavelli Beginners.
Many people will read the Prince, The Discourses, or the Art of War and not know what the hell Machiavelli was talking about. I picked this book up, and right away I figured the other books out. This is a required reading if you need to read the Prince, or the other books by Machiavelli.

WARNING:this is NOTMachiavelli but leftist propaganda
Less then half of the book is about the life or philosophy of this great thinker.More then half the book is leftist propaganda disguised as objective reasoning obviously intended to indoctrinate the novice - its intended audience.One example should suffice.Margaret Thatcher is made to say: "There is no such thing as society.There are individual men and women and there are families."Machiavelli then responds: "Nothing I ever wrote was worse - this is a republican nightmare and a sure recipe for social and political disaster!"If you do not recoil from this exchange then you have already been indoctrinated.Quickly pick up John Locke or the Federalist Papers to recover.Then help the young readers of this book recover.

Excellent Book - Machiavelli as you never knew him
I picked this up from a sorting shelf this afternoon, and I am very very glad I did so. This book introduces you to Machiavelli's life and ideas, and then deftly compares his writings to contemporary and recent history.The "running commentary" by Machiavell is fascinating. It'sopened my eyes to just how switched-on Machiavelli was, and how earnest andwell-intentioned. I'm definitely going to be reading more about Machiavelli- indeed, this book was so good I'm considered changing out of science andinto arts to pursue the topic more closely! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History & Theory - General    3. History - General History    4. Philosophers    5. Political    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Political Science / General    9. Political science & theory   

Features

• Abridged

Reviews (4)

I like linking meditation to Christianity..........
because I feel safer going into a meditation knowing God is my protector and nothing can harm me. Even if it sounds annoying to some who are not very religious (there is nothing wrong with that, whatever floats your boat), but it doesn't hurt to say a short prayer. The only thing I don't like about his tape is that the mediation is kind of short. Maybe because it's geared to beginners. But I definately would recommend this tape to anyone. I would also recommend, "Guided Meditations For Calmness, Awareness and love" by Bodhipaksa.

Revised review from hjohnson108
After going through this material in more detail I gained a greater appreciation of it.Not sure why I was so turned off at first by New Testament imagery since it is not that heavily used (probably says more about my background than the material itself :-)The discussion on chakra energy centers is truly excellent - one of the best I've heard/read.Unfortunately I still gag on the music which is a barrage of easy-listening drivel.Overall I recommend it to other beginning meditators although I think the material is better suited to text rather than audio format.

Good conceptual discussion, poor meditation experience
I was looking for a guided meditation tape/CD to help me fit some meditation and chakra tuning into my busy schedule.Bought the tape version of this CD because it was Edgar Cayce.On a positive note, it describes basic techniques, discusses the role of meditation in daily life and draws important distinctions between meditation and prayer.Also gives an interesting analysis of the Chakra system that's different from others I've heard.Unfortunately there is no guided meditation section anywhere in this tape.Other things I found distracting were the persistent use of Old Testament imagery and the incredibly lame musical score.I plan to transcribe the salient points into a notebook and go through the workbook excercises that come with the tape; however I don't plan to listen to to it in the future.Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Relaxation/Meditation    2. Audio Adult: New Age    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Meditation    5. Philosophers    6. Mind, Body, Spirit    7. Philosophy   

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. Philosophers    4. Renaissance    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Europe    8. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    9. History of science   

Reviews (2)

James as Hero
This biography inspires.Obtain a copy and read it.It made me wish that I had known James, perhaps as one of his students at Harvard during "the nineties".He was a great mind and a great man, or as Barzun calls him, "the magnanimous man": a "loveable genius" and a true hero.If someone who comes to know about James, particularly through this book and James' own writing, can't consider him to be hero, then this world simply has no heros.The reader of Barzun's warm treatment delights along with the author in his lifelong awe of the power of James.

A walk to remember!
After reading 5 of his books now, I'm not sure there's much that Jacques Barzun can't do. Honestly, I, like most people, think they understand William James and I, like most people, found out that I was further from him than I thought. In an engaging thrill of a book, Barzun explains James- dare I say it- better than James explained James. Of course, WIlliam James, who, when pragmatism is differentiated from pragmaticism, pioneered a completely new system of thought. As such, he did not always express himself well. His "Pragmatism" befuddled more people than not and "The Meaning of Truth," meant as a clarification, confused those not already scratching their heads. In the end, James fell by the philosophical wayside until Barzun dusted our friend off and re-introduced us. Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. History: World    3. Philosophers    4. Biography & Autobiography / Philosophers    5. Western philosophy, c 1800 to c 1900   

Editorial Review

He was born before the Civil War, but Linda Simon's lively biography Read more

Reviews (7)

Decent biography, not much philosophy
I enjoyed this book quite a bit.However, there are a few reasons why I didn't give it five stars:
Billy Boy
Very nicely done biography, Simon seems to be a meticulous, sympathetic critic of her subjects.While I enjoyed reading about this legendary figure in American philosophy and psychology, I ended up being less impressed by him than before.Such disenchantment is probably the hallmark of reading a good biography, as it necessarily brings the mighty down to fallible human dimensions.I had always wondered what it was about the James household that produced such a noteworthy novelist and such a thoughtful philosopher--it turns out that inept dysfunction is the source of this family genius.Their father, at least through Simons's interpretation, seems a very unlikable figure--a passive-aggressive tyrant who would constantly move his family from place to place rather than have them come to develop roots and mentors beyond his control.Sadly, this tactic generated in his family a doubt of self that could lead to such insights as those his two most prominent boys seemed to understand in all its nuances.While we may appreciate their hard-won insights, it doesn't seem any fun to have suffered through them as each of his children did for all their lives.The book provides a complex look at a figure who for all his knowledge remained an embattled, unsatisfied self-critic--like all the best thinkers, I suppose.

Do somebody a good turn and Not be found out...
The truly great men in early American history, in my humble opinion, are as follows:Read more

Subjects:  1. 1842-1910    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. James, William,    7. Philosophers    8. Social Scientists & Psychologists    9. United States    10. Biography & Autobiography / Social Scientists & Psychologists    11. Biography: general    12. James, William    13. Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present   

Reviews (1)

Philosophers who waist their talents
I have always enjoy reading philosophy and about the truly historic and yes proven great philosophers of ages past.I am not so inclined to find too many modern day thinkers as "great" at anything.
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Subjects:  1. Eastern - General    2. History & Surveys - General    3. Philosophers    4. Philosophy    5. Biography & Autobiography / Philosophers    6. PHILOSOPHY_INTRODUCTIONS   

Subjects:  1. 1870-1945    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Eastern - Zen    4. Nishida, Kitaro,    5. Nishida, Kitaråo,    6. Philosophers    7. Philosophy   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Philosophy    2. Political    3. BERLIN, ISAIAH, SIR, 1909-1997    4. Biography & Autobiography / Philosophers    5. Political science & theory   

Subjects:  1. 1872-1970    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Correspondence    4. History & Surveys - Modern    5. Letters    6. Literary Criticism    7. Medieval    8. Philosophers    9. Russell, Bertrand    10. Biography: general    11. Western philosophy, from c 1900 -    12. Biography   

Reviews (1)

Insightful
I found this book very insightful and informative about Thomas Aquinas.It is interesting and not too long.I look forward to reading more books by the author. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1225?-1274    2. Aquinas, Saint,    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Christianity - Theology - General    6. History & Surveys - Medieval    7. Philosophers    8. Philosophy    9. Thomas,    10. Christian theology    11. Literary theory    12. Philosophy / General   

Reviews (1)

Incomplete
There are some things worth learning in this book. However, the characters reviewed are all postmodernists.Schrift is utterly tolerant of the lunacy most of them write.In fact, Schrift is one of the postmodernizers of Nietzsche.He wants Nietzsche to worship at the feet of Derrida along with himself.Schrift does not review, for example, Alain Finkielkraut, who is more popular in France than any of the PoMo big shots, and who does not share their opinion of Nietzsche.He ignores Julien Benda as well.And he never mentions Clement Rossett -- who had the temerity to point out that the entire movement claims to be Nietzschean, when nothing could be further from the truth.The book is selective, and suspect becasue of that. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1844-1900    2. 20th century    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. History    6. History & Surveys - Modern    7. Influence    8. Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm,    9. Philosophers    10. Philosophy    11. Philosophy, French    12. Poststructuralism    13. Ethics & moral philosophy    14. Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present    15. Philosophy / General