Overview
This book offers a guide to human nature and human experienceāa reference book for making sense of life. In thirty-eight short, interconnected essays, Shimon Edelman considers the parameters of the human condition, addressing them in alphabetical order, from action (good except when it's not) to love (only makes sense to the lovers) to thinking (should not be so depressing) to youth (a treasure). In a style that is by turns personal and philosophical, at once informative and entertaining, Edelman offers a series of illuminating takes on the most important aspects of living in the world.
Edelman avoids reductive synthesis, staying clear of both exuberance and negativity. Drawing on an eclectic range of sourcesāquoting from a pre-Islamic Bedouin poem on one page, from Gogol on the next, citing both Borges and MarxāEdelman offers insights into the bright and dark sides of our nature. About anxiety, he observes, āAll sentient beings are capable of physiological stress response, but it takes special skills to also do anxiety.ā Happiness is āa commodity that Americans pursue with almost as much verve as oil.ā Human language, on the other hand, is āan essential window into the sublime.ā All in all, human nature has much room for improvement. Working out ways to improve it, accompanied by this guide, is an exercise for the reader.
This book title, Life, Death, and Other Inconvenient Truths (A Realist's View of the Human Condition), ISBN: 9780262044356, by Shimon Edelman, published by MIT Press (October 13, 2020) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer Life, Death, and Other Inconvenient Truths (A Realist's View of the Human Condition) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order Life, Death, and Other Inconvenient Truths (A Realist's View of the Human Condition) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!