Throughout human history and across cultures, people have thought the road to happiness is to get what we want. You requested books by authors with the words william. Why we want what we want ebook written by william b. Irvine my notes this was the first book i read in 2018, and its one from which i took about 4 full pages of notes. My first two books were on the ethical and political aspects of parenting. Spicing his account with observations by writers like tolstoy and freud, irvine considers the teachings of buddhists, hindus, the amish, shakers and catholic saints, as well as those. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read on desire. Irvine takes us on a tour of our impulses, wants and needs, showing us where these feelings come from and how we can try to rein them in. Irvines book, dangles the possibility that it is his ambition to let readers glimpse the. Simply put, its phenomenal, and if youre new to stoic philosophy, its a great introduction and great way to toughen yourself up mentally. Irvine, author of a guide to the good life and on desire, explores these epiphanies, from the minor insights that strike us all daily, to the major realizations that alter the course of history.
Irvine and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Irvine is professor of philosophy at wright state university in dayton, ohio. Only book on the market that both explores and attempts to interweave your various identities as a member of a species, a collection of cells, a collection of atoms, etc. Why insults hurtand why they shouldnt, the sequel to a guide to the good life. Takes the reader on a wideranging tour of our impulses, wants, and needs. Irvine has written a disarmingly seductive and easily readable treatise on the origins, nature, vicissitudes, and crises of desire. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons. A dieter has an irresistible craving for ice cream. For more on his life and writings, visit his author website at there is the perception that practitioners of stoicism tend to try a guide to the good life. If you choose to buy from amazon through this link, brightlight books earns a small portion of your purchase price at no additional cost to you. Click the button below to open another tab and view available offers from. This widelyrespected book stresses fundamental concepts and problem solving, and discusses the material in an understandable and readable way. For gustav mahler, it came as the blades of his oars touched the water.
Irvine s book excels as a guide for practicing stoics or for individuals seeking to improve that practice. William irvines on desire examines the nature of desire, exploring first how profoundly it affects our lives, then surveying psychological inquiries into its basis before at last turning to consider how religions, philosophies, and odd ducks have attempted to grapple with it. On desire follows the lead of those philosophers, religious thinkers, and modern psychologists who have argued to the contrary, that happiness is impossible unless we learn how to control our desires. Focusing on aha moments as they take place in five different domainsreligion, morality, science, math, and artirvine provides case studies that shed. On desire, william b irvine shop online for books in. Spicing his account with engaging observations by writers like seneca, tolstoy, and freud, irvine considers the teachings of buddhists, hindus, the amish, shakers, and catholic saints, as well as those of ancient.
Buy this book while most contemporary philosophers mull over theoretical matters and. What is delightful about this book is that the usual suspects are not as. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading on desire. Why we want what we want, the subtitle of william b. Douglas, ebook format, from the dymocks online bookstore. Engineering electromagnetics, 8th edition william hayt. My book on desire has a philosophical component, but also a scientific and religious. A guide to the good life 2009 tackles these pivotal questions, guiding the reader through the ancient stoic philosophy of life and offering advice on how to practice it in a modern world. The result is a philosophy that will help you overcome suffering and achieve tranquility. First published just over 50 years ago and now in its eighth edition, bill hayt and john bucks engineering electromagnetics is a classic text that has been updated for electromagnetics education today. Softcover, published in 2007 by oxford university press. A man of average income feels he cannot be truly happy unless he owns an expensive luxury car. A marvelous book, and even more indepth in its thoughtful arguments. Irvine s a guide to the good life is a rare treat, a book from an academic philosopher that can actually help you improve your life.
Irvine has given us a very engaging book on what desire is. Rather than feeling satisfied, we feel a bit bored, and in response to this boredom, we go on to form new, even grander desires. In that book, i described stoicism in general terms. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Focused on the goals of virtue and tranquility, this book shows us how to find joy in our lives. He simply and clearly discusses biologically incentive systems, the rich psychological research on the peculiarities of our motivation, and the wisdom of various religious and spiritual traditions. A married person falls deeply in love with someone else. This is a book summary of a guide to the good life by william b. Irvine has written a disarmingly seductive and easily readable. We humans are unhappy in large part because we are insatiable. On desire follows the lead of those philosophers, religious thinkers, and modern psychologists who have argued to the contrary, that happiness is impossible. Unless we are prepared to deal with them, though, our lives are likely to be.
Why we want what we want kindle edition by irvine, william b download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Irvine s research focuses on issues at the borderline of traditional philosophy and practical life, such as ethical issues involved in finances or ethical and political aspects of. Irvine explains the ancient stoic way of life in a manner suited to the modern, nonacademic reader. Why we want what we want by william b irvine abebooks. Why we want what we want and a guide to the good life. A philosophers guide to becoming tougher, calmer, and more resilient and many more. Desires often come to us unbidden and unwanted, and they can have a dramatic impact, sometimes changing the course of our lives. William b irvine is professor of philosophy at wright state university. The author of seven books, including a guide to the good life, he has also written for the huffington post, salon, time, and the bbc. Unites scientific questions with philosophical questions that arise concerning the meaning of life. William irvines on desire takes on what must be deemed a formidable task. Great ideas often develop gradually after studying a problem at lengthbut not always. Irvine, including a guide to the good life, the stoic challenge.
And for albert einstein, it emerged while he was talking to a friend. Sometimes, an insight hits like a bolt from the blue. Irvine takes us on a wideranging tour of our impulses, wants, and needs, showing us where these feelings come from and how we can try to rein them in. The views and opinions expressed on unofficial pages of wright state university faculty, staff, or students are strictly those of the page authors.
1155 591 824 16 1156 1037 1240 422 1414 768 1299 1347 794 453 550 125 932 990 626 606 959 816 864 1355 1445 1379 1296 392 1329 1387 440 267 397 1478 819 932 942 1259