Grayling brings philosophy to life

As I mentioned in an earlier post on my literary endeavors, I just recently got my hands on a 200-page book full of short essays by philosopher and commentator A.C. Grayling.

The topics covered are listed in this Wikipedia article. The essays are not only philosophically and ethically relevant, but resonate personally. On several occasions I've found myself applying what was reflected in, say, the essay on "moralizing", to something that I was experiencing or thinking about. One thing is sure: the book raises more questions than it answers. Perhaps that is a measure of a good (philosophy) book. Personal reflection — not just pure rationale — is needed for one to truly embark on a journey of philosophical thought and experience.

Out of the few professional reviews of this book, the philosophy expert at About.com sure liked the book, although I hardly warrant that as a true book review (he seems to give five stars or other generous ratings to nearly any book). The book has two editions: one, entitled Meditations for the Humanist: Ethics for a Secular Age, is its American edition; and The Meaning of Things: Applying Philosophy to Life — a far better title, in my opinion — is the title for the British edition. It is a fairly cheap book — but worth far beyond what is printed on the price tag. If you're interested, or just in the mood for not-too-heavy, general philosophical thought, I recommend you purchase this book.