Redeeming the Enlightenment : Christianity and the liberal virtues

 by Bruce K. Ward. This rich, nuanced book by Ward (Laurentian Univ., Ontario, Canada) draws on his previous work on Russian novelist Dostoyevsky, combining that literary analysis with probing explorations of philosophers such as Kant, Rousseau, Nietzsche, and Taylor. Ward argues that liberal modernity's ethics and philosophy are distorted reflections of richer Christian notions of the self and ethical existence. In contrast to the growing proliferation of specialized studies, this book offers an expansive tour looking for connections and differences among a host of thinkers--not to argue for a wholesale rejection of the Enlightenment but to show that Christian humanism is a richer philosophy upon which to base human fulfillment. In that project, humanity finds fulfillment in the giving of the self in love, not an endless quest for self-authored authenticity. This volume finds a way into a beyond-current debate about religion's role in a liberal society to show how religion and theology can point the way to a deeper meaning of the liberal project. Philosophically and theologically sophisticated, the book delineates the rich ways in which philosophy and theology can powerfully engage literature. --Choice  (Check Catalog)

The hemlock cup : Socrates, Athens, and the search for the good life

  by Bettany Hughes. There are certain historical figures whose lives merit perpetual reexamination because their impact continues to reverberate century after century. According to historian Hughes, author of Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princess, Whore (2005), Socrates is one of these seminal social and cultural architects. Beginning at the end of Socrates' long life, she reaches back in time, analyzing the historical context responsible, in part, for spawning such an exceedingly influential thinker. If, as she purports, we think the way we do because Socrates thought the way he did, it is important for us to understand why and how he posited the relentless questions about what it means to be human that drew attention to his famous philosophical method of inquiry and debate. This, then, is not only a lively and eminently readable biography of Socrates the man but also a vivid evocation of Athens, the city-state on the cusp of originating many of the greatest precepts of modern Western civilization. --Booklist (Check catalog)

The truth (and untruth) of language : Heidegger, Ricoeur, and Derrida on disclosure and displacement

 by Gerrit Jan Van Der Heiden. This book investigates the relationship between language and truth/untruth through analysis of contemporary hermeneutic theory in the thought of Heidegger, Ricoeur, and Derrida. Van der Heiden (Radboud Univ. Nijmegen, the Netherlands) suggests that much of the history of philosophy attempts to eliminate ambiguity by reducing language to a universal and transparent system. Hermeneutics, on the other hand, stresses the importance of metaphor, poetics, and translation. The author focuses on points of agreement between hermeneutic and deconstructive theories to argue for the roles of disclosure and displacement in the function of language. Disclosure is the relationship between language and being and truth as most clearly seen in Heidegger; displacement involves linguistic phenomena such as metaphor, translation, and mimesis that displace "a word or a group of words from one (con)text to another." Chapter 1 sets the stage through a discussion of Heidegger's notions of truth, untruth, understanding, and language. The following three chapters address the themes of writing, metaphor, and mimesis and their relationship to disclosure and displacement. The final chapter provides a more direct investigation of these two thematic terms. Summing Up: Recommended. --Choice (Check catalog)

The truth about grief : the myth of its five stages and the new science of loss

 by Ruth Davis Konigsberg. Veteran journalist Konigsberg offers a spot-on critique of Elisabeth K bler-Ross's seminal theory-the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This "staged" approach, Konigsberg argues convincingly, is unscientific, tends to assume more prolonged mourning, and "completely omits positive emotions that are also integral to the experience of grief." Konigsberg also looks at various scientific studies on how people cope with grief, noting, "On average, those who got help experienced no less distress nor recovered more quickly than those who didn't." She maintains that people cope with grief thanks largely to the human capacity for resilience, relying heavily on the work of psychologist George Bonanno, though Konigsberg acknowledges that this isn't the case for those who experience the intractable grief that Freud called "melancholia." Konigsberg makes few distinctions among different mourning situations and among various therapeutic approaches (e.g., individual versus group treatment; long- versus short-term counseling; cognitive-behavioral versus psychodynamic treatment). In general, she has researched her subject, writes clearly and engagingly, and uncovers a host of interesting facts. Despite a few conceptual flaws, this book is well worth reading. --Publishers Weekly (Check Catalog)

The death of the animal : a dialogue

 by Apola Cavalieri. This small book is full of large issues: philosophical reflection on the moral status of animals, the ethics-metaphysics relationship, the is/ought distinction, the relationship between analytic and Continental philosophy, the role of reason and argument in ethics, and more. Not that the book provides complete analyses of all these important issues; rather, it aptly raises the other issues while discussing the status of animals, demonstrating thereby the intricate relationships among them. Cavalieri (editor, Etica & Animali) begins with a Platonic-type dialogue that argues cogently that one's concept of "the animal" relies on perfectionism, the unjustifiable view that entities possessing certain desirable traits are morally superior to entities without those traits. In a series of short essays that follow, several other prominent thinkers join Cavalieri for a provocative discussion of "the animal" and the many other questions that swirl around that issue. They include analytic and Continental philosophers (Harlan Miller and Matthew Calarco, respectively), the novelist John M. Coetzee, and the literary thinker Cary Wolfe. Readers will find much to agree and disagree with throughout. This stimulating, unique book could have many uses in academic contexts. Summing Up: Recommended.  --Choice (Check Catalog)

Real happiness : learn the power of meditation : a 28-day program

 by Sharon Salzberg. In an inviting, easy-to-follow format, Salzberg (Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness), cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society, provides a 28-day program for incorporating meditation into one's life. Written for beginners, the book explains breathing and sitting techniques, the science behind the practice, and 12 guided meditations. Interspersed throughout are FAQs from Salzberg's students regarding their difficulties with the practice. The accompanying CD includes nine meditations to guide readers through breathing, walking, emotional, and loving-kindness exercises. This is one of the best guides for anyone interested in exploring meditation or mindfulness. --Library Journal (Check Catalog)

100 years of pragmatism : William James's revolutionary philosophy

 by John J. Stuhr. This collection of essays uses the recent centenary of William James's Pragmatism (1907) as the occasion for a series of reflections on the continued relevance of James's elaboration of pragmatism. The essays range from considerations of the historical and cultural significance of James's work in the context of American culture in the 100 years since its publication (James T. Kloppenberg, "James's Pragmatism and American Culture, 1907-2007" and Mark Bauerlein, "The Enemies of Pragmatism") to assessments of James's philosophical significance in the context of the broader history of philosophy (Richard M. Gale's "The Deconstruction of Traditional Philosophy in William James's Pragmatism" and Ross Posnock's "The Earth Must Resume Its Rights: A Jamesian Genealogy of Immaturity") to essays considering more systematic concerns in epistemology, political philosophy, and ethics. The final two essays consider possible futures for James's version of pragmatism. Overall, this volume consists of well-written essays that ought to prompt a thoughtful reconsideration of William James's thought and its place in American culture. --Choice (Check Catalog)

The masque of Africa : glimpses of African belief

 by V. S. Naipal. In his engrossing new work of nonfiction, Nobel Prize winner Naipaul (A Writer's People: Ways of Looking and Feeling) recounts his travels through six African countries and the religious and spiritual beliefs he encountered in each. The journey begins in 2008 with Naipaul's return to Uganda, where he had been a visiting professor in the 1960s. From there he takes us to Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Gabon, and, finally, South Africa. In each country, Naipaul visits sacred places and talks with people-from cab drivers to witch doctors and diviners-about their beliefs and spiritual practices. Naipaul narrates the journey with finely wrought detail, transporting the reader to the landscapes and city scenes he describes. Naipaul is witty, and his writing can be quite charming and delicate. He is also disarmingly frank in his assessments, a quality often not found in discussions of belief. Verdict A sharply written and engrossing exploration of the effects of religious and spiritual belief on societies. Effective both as a vivid piece of travel writing and for its glimpses of belief in Africa. --Library Journal (Check Catalog)

Hope will find you : my search for the wisdom to stop waiting and start living

 by Naomi Levy. Levy, one of the first women to be ordained as a Conservative rabbi, often counseled her congregants when they faced problems. But when her daughter, Noa, was diagnosed with a potentially fatal degenerative disease, she found herself unprepared for the crisis. Putting her life on hold, Levy focused on finding a way to heal her daughter. As she moved through her journey of pain, she eventually realized that she needed to restart her own life and learn to live well despite her family circumstances. Ironically, Noa supplied the necessary inspiration, accepting her physical and learning disabilities while persevering and maintaining an optimistic attitude. An honest account of a family struggle as well as a tribute to a very strong mother-daughter bond, this will appeal to those who gravitate toward self-help books based on Jewish wisdom. --Booklist (Check Catalog)

Twelve steps to a compassionate life

 by Karen Armstrong, It takes courage for a religious historian and writer of Armstrong's stature to step out from behind the scrim of scholarship and analysis to offer guidelines for a spiritual practice designed to make humanity a kinder and saner species. With the boon of the prestigious TED Prize, Armstrong (The Case for God, 2009) worked with leading thinkers from a variety of major faiths to compose a Charter for Compassion, which calls for the restoration of compassion to the heart of religious and moral life in a dangerously polarized world. Not content with merely stating lofty goals, however, Armstrong, a revered genius of elucidation and synthesis, now tells the full and profound story of altruism throughout human history. She turns to neuroscience and tracks the evolution of our brains and our natural capacity for empathy, and performs her signature mode of beautifully clarifying interpretation in a mind-expanding discussion of the history of the Golden Rule ( Always treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself ), the essence of compassion and the kernel of every religious tradition. Exquisite and affecting explications of Buddhist, Confucian, Judaic, Christian, and Islamic commentary prepare the ground for meditation exercises meant to engender open-mindedness and the cultivation of compassion, making for the most sagacious and far-reaching 12-step program ever. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: A hefty print run is planned for renowned religious thinker Armstrong's bold approach to teaching the compassionate ethos. --Booklist (Check Catalog)