Until june 2011, he was professor of philosophy at birkbeck, university of london, where he taught from 1991. Grayling holds a chair of philosophy at birkbeck college in london and is president of the british humanist association. He is the author of the acclaimed among the dead cities, descartes, toward the light of liberty, meditations for the humanist, and thinking of answers. The good book, anthony grayling tells me as he welcomes me into his office, is a lifetimes work. Grayling explains he has spent several decades on his ambitious project, distilling what he. Designed to be read as narrative and also to be dipped into for inspiration, encouragement and consolation, the good book offers a thoughtful. Ac graylings friendship graylings timely book reacquaints us with a great but forgotten good. Grayling has always tended to be regarded as the good cop. Grayling, though, is a mediocrity bathing in the sunlight of fashion. Matthew adams meets him by matthew adams tuesday, 5th april 2011. The book is a triumpha philosophers magnum opus as the edinburgh international book festival has described it. A distinctive voice somewhere between mark twain and michel montaigne is how psychology today described a.
Contributing to the conversation society has with itself about possibilities for good lives in good societies a. As a case for humanism and against belief in gods, it excels. The good book interview new humanist magazine michael sandel and ac grayling in conversation prospect magazine atheism, secularism, humanism. Grayling anthony grayling ma, dphil oxon frsa is professor of philosophy at birkbeck college, university of london, and a supernumary fellow of st annes college. Grayling has done, creating a nonreligious bible drawn from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both western and eastern traditions, using the same techniques of editing, redaction, and adaptation that produced the holy books of the judeochristian and islamic religions. 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. Graylings the history of philosophy delves into the thinkers who explored who we are and what it all means. Grayling discusses creating a nonreligious bible that draws from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both. And in the year 2011, anthony the seer did come forth with flowing locks and. 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. But instead of adam and eve, graylings genesis invokes isaac newton, the british scientist who pioneered the study of gravity. Grayling is the author of around 30 books, including what is good. Grayling is a professor of philosophy at birkbeck college, university of london.
If the humanists are in the ascendant, then a c graylings selfhelp book for the spiritually rudderless will be snapped up photo. 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. 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. The book was designed as a secular alternative to religious text, and to be read as a narrative drawing on nonreligious philosophy, including that from ancient greek, chinese, roman, indian and arab civilizations, as well as the european renaissance and the age of enlightenment. Grayling was one of the contributors to the book, we are one.
Im used to this language being peppered with things i dont believe in, and listening to it at weddings or funerals generally gives me a lump in my stomach. Grayling will be at warwicks on monday, april 11th at 7. There are books that are good, there are books that are great, and then there is the good book and its author. Grayling tackles the good book sydney morning herald. Note that grayling lays his book out like the bible with similar referencing. Being good which classic philosophical texts deal with that question. The book explores the cultures of peoples around the world, portraying both their diversity and the threats they face.
Stimulating, thoughtful, rational and rewarding, it is now published in a compact edition. The good book begins with genesis, where you can see the ideas of darwin laid out in an inspirational way. 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. In 2011 he founded and became the first master of new college of the humanities, an independent undergraduate college in london. A secular bible, the philosopher sets out his manifesto for rational thought. Grayling, who spent 30 years compiling the good book. The philosopher ac grayling has created a secular bible, but its guidance for a good life fails to convince genevieve fox. Grayling issues terse, often idiosyncratic, definitions without considering the extensive philosophical debates surrounding them. In 2011 he founded the new college of the humanities, an independent undergraduate college in london. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Admirably written and expertly narrated, the god argument makes for very good listening. From their announcement critically acclaimed author and professor of philosophy, a. Good book by ac grayling of the three contemporary prophets of atheism, professor richard dawkins, christopher hitchens and professor ac grayling, i know two, hitchens. The good book is a manifesto for rational thought, but mirrors the bible in both form and language.
Four hundred years after the publication of the king james bible, philosopher ac grayling has written a book which offers atheists a bible of their very own. Grayling has 71 books on goodreads with 110376 ratings. The good book by ac grayling of the three contemporary prophets of atheism, professor richard dawkins, christopher hitchens and professor ac grayling, i know two, hitchens and. I received the book in good condition even as a second hand, its got everything i need in terms of ideas needed for creative and political writing also useful for gamsat section. Ac grayling the good book 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. 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. My theory is that the narrator was given the wrong script at the.
A new book for those who dont want millions, but an answer to. Essential readings for the nonbeliever, and the good book, and more on. Grayling discusses creating a nonreligious bible that draws from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both western and eastern traditions. Its like sleeping furiously in his new book, the good book. The good book is darkwing c ions a manifesto for the feeeling good book rational thought, but mirrors the bible in. Buy a cheap copy of the reason of things book by a. Graylings humanist bible, the good book, is a collection of great wisdom, but its nothing stephen would kill somebody else over.
It was from the fall of fruit from such a tree that new inspiration came for inquiry into the nature of things, reads a verse from the good books first chapter. Grayling has done, creating a nonreligious bible drawn from the wealth of secular. Grayling holds a chair of philosophy at birkbeck college in london and is president of the british humanist. Reading through this i was really pleasantly surprised at how much i liked it. Philosopher ac grayling picks the best books on being good. Download ac grayling the good book joshdanielsphotography. A celebration of tribal peoples, released in october 2009. Ac grayling bbc video interview tackling the good book the sydney morning herald the new atheists are responding, not attacking new humanist pressing questions for our century edge ac graylings top 5 nonreligious books slate a. Until 2011 he was professor of philosophy at birkbeck college, university of london. The history of philosophy is a big field and it takes a steady and expert hand to guide a reader through it. The good book is a book of insight, inspiration, wisdom, solace and commentary on the human condition drawn from the great humanist traditions of thought and literature of the world. Graylings play grace, cowritten with mick gordon, has played to full houses in london and new york, starring lynn redgrave. Grayling discusses how he responds to criticism of his latest work, the good book.
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