Words of ancient wisdom from some of the world’s most seminal textsThe Wisdom of the Torah is an instruction in the central beliefs of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But by observing the Torah, or the Hebrew Bible, as a collected work of multiple authors spanning generations, the modern reader can look beyond its fundamental instruction. In these works, readers find many lyrical and timeless reflections on what it means to have fa...

Discover the ancient wisdom and historical influence of a cornerstone of JudaismThe Wisdom of the Talmud presents a thorough history and overview of the Talmud, the rabbinical commentary on the Torah that was developed in the Jewish academies of Palestine and Babylonia. From the close of the Biblical canon to the end of the fifth century, Jewish scholars studied the scripture and worked to develop—and debate—supplementary understandings of the Torah’s dire...

This curated collection of primary texts and secondary scholarship offers an engaging and comprehensive view of Buddhism and its founder.The Wisdom of Buddha: Drawn from the sacred books of Buddhism, this collection reveals the core insights and beliefs of the world's fourth-largest religion. It covers the birth and death of the Buddha, as well as the major tenets of Buddhism, including karma and the middle doctrine.Hinduism and Buddhism: A...

Beyond the Little Red Book: China's revolutionary leader and his philosophyIn this collection of essays, China's Chairman Mao Tse-Tung explains the interpretation of Marxism-Leninism ideology that became known as Maoism. This philosophy fueled the Chinese Revolution and the massive social and economic changes Mao instituted as the nation's leader. From examining the way contradictions can cause great shifts within a society, to the necessity of guerilla-based revol...

From the sacred texts of Judaism: ancient and lyrical reflections on the meaning of life, faith, and humanity.The Wisdom of the Kabbalah: Handed down in the oral tradition for thousands of years and transcribed in fourteenth-century Spain, the Kabbalah is the classical expression of Jewish mysticism. This collection draws from the main work of Kabbalah— Sepher ha-Zohar, or The Book of Splendor.The Wisdom of the Talmud: Dev...

Be the Change. Drawn from Gandhi's own words, this collection shares one man's philosophy that changed world history.When the Indian people, inspired by the words of Mahatma Gandhi, overthrew British rule, they proved that great political change could exist without violence. Revered both as a saint and a master politician in his native country, Gandhi proffered a philosophy that combined Thoreau's doctrine of civil disobedience with many Hindu beliefs. A c...

An A-to-Z guide to the mystic poet's maxims and aphorismsAn early twentieth-century Lebanese-American writer, Khalil Gibran instilled his poetry and art with his experiences in both the East and West. This selection of quotes, maxims, and aphorisms is drawn from such poems as "Secrets of the Heart," "Spirits Rebellious," and "Broken Wings," as well as from his autobiography and essays. Gibran's words express a strong spirituality and mysticism and his voice offers ...

Hundreds of sage observations from China's most revered scholarTeacher, politician, philosopher, and student, Confucius offered wisdom and aphorisms on a variety of topics that transcend borders and time. Whether considering his own life, human nature, or a society's responsibilities, Confucius's teachings emphasize personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, and sincerity. He aimed to effect social and political reform, and le...

An invaluable introduction to the leading French intellectual of the twentieth centuryThe Wisdom of Sartre offers key excerpts from the eloquent French writer, playwright, and philosopher's masterpiece, Being and Nothingness. From this collection, readers will discover the strongest themes in his early philosophical work: an ontological account of what it means to be human, and the role of perception, knowledge, and consciousness in the practical ...

Reverence for Life—Albert Schweitzer's pivotal philosophyMusician, physician, humanitarian, and philosopher, Albert Schweitzer was a twentieth-century Renaissance man who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his "Reverence for Life" philosophy. The Wisdom of Albert Schweitzer explores this core philosophy, which inspired one of the world's great humanitarians.While traveling in Africa, Schweitzer recognized that all living creatures have a will to live an...

A collection of wise words on solitude, simplicity, nature, and life at Walden from the leader of the transcendentalist movement.In excerpts collected here from his most important works, Henry David Thoreau documents his experiences in nature and the wisdom he finds in his explorations of sound, reading, solitude, and other aspects of leading a simple life at Walden. A fearless individualist, Thoreau explored not only poetic naturalism but also a number of ideas tha...

Celebrate one of the world’s greatest collections of pure literatureIn Hebrew, the word Torah means instruction, and throughout thousands of years this collection of writing has offered just that—instruction in the central beliefs of three world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But by observing the Torah, or the Hebrew Bible, as a collected work of multiple authors spanning generations, the modern reader can look beyond its fundamental instruct...