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Philosophy

Philosophy

Summaries of the great works of philosophy, ancient and modern, on ethics, knowledge, happiness and how to live well. Understand the central argument of each book in about 15 minutes, without the jargon.

Topics

Arabs

Arabs

Tim Mackintosh-Smith

Trace 3,000 years of Arab civilisation and discover how language, faith, and history shaped its identity, unity, and divisions.

9 chapters25 min
The Alchemist

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho

Follow a young shepherd’s journey toward destiny, dreams, and the discovery that life’s greatest treasure may lie within.

4 chapters19 min
The Sleepwalkers

The Sleepwalkers

Christopher Clark

Trace how nationalism, alliances, and political misjudgements led Europe into World War I while its leaders remained blind to the approaching disaster.

10 chapters22 min
Ulysses

Ulysses

James Joyce

Journey through one day in Dublin as ordinary lives become an epic exploration of identity, love, faith, and the human mind.

3 chapters24 min
Spirit Hacking

Spirit Hacking

Shaman Durek

Explore unconventional shamanic practices designed to challenge limiting beliefs, awaken inner power, and inspire a life of greater joy and impact.

7 chapters17 min
Deep Thinking

Deep Thinking

Garry Kasparov

Revisit Kasparov’s battle with Deep Blue to discover how humans and machines can collaborate, evolve, and achieve more together.

6 chapters17 min
Psychological Types

Understand how different personality types shape perception and decisions through ideas that transformed modern psychology and self-awareness.

5 chapters17 min
Summa Theologica

Summa Theologica

Thomas Aquinas

Examine life’s deepest questions through reason and faith, uncovering how morality and purpose guide a meaningful way of living.

6 chapters14 min
Truth

Truth

Hector MacDonald

See how misinformation and belief distort reality, and why comforting narratives often overpower uncomfortable truths.

8 chapters17 min
A Treatise of Human Nature

Rethink knowledge, identity, and morality through Hume’s bold view that experience and emotion shape us more deeply than reason alone.

5 chapters17 min
Future Shock

Future Shock

Alvin Toffler

Understand how relentless technological and social change fuels stress, confusion, and instability—and why modern life can feel overwhelming.

6 chapters18 min
Status Anxiety

Status Anxiety

Alain de Botton

Break free from status anxiety by understanding how ambition, comparison, and social approval shape your self-worth and well-being.

10 chapters23 min
Mere Christianity

Examine the rational case for Christian faith through timeless questions of morality, human nature, and life’s deeper meaning.

6 chapters18 min
Wabi Sabi

Wabi Sabi

Beth Kempton

Embrace the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi to find beauty in imperfection, release perfectionism, and live with greater calm, meaning, and joy.

8 chapters18 min
Principles For Dealing With the Changing World Order

Decode 500 years of recurring cycles to understand why nations rise and fall and navigate today’s shifting economic and political order.

5 chapters18 min
The Zone of Interest

Enter the machinery of totalitarian power and witness how ordinary people adapt to cruelty, denial, and moral corruption while claiming innocence.

3 chapters15 min
The Stoic Path to Wealth

Build lasting wealth by mastering yourself through Stoic principles of resilience, virtue, clarity, and disciplined financial action.

6 chapters16 min
How to Read Lacan

How to Read Lacan

Slavoj Žižek

Decode Lacan’s ideas on desire, identity, and reality to understand how language and symbols shape the mind and society.

2 chapters13 min
The Practicing Stoic

The Practicing Stoic

Ward Farnsworth

Apply Stoic wisdom to manage stress and desire with greater calm, resilience, and strength of character.

5 chapters18 min
Aristotle’s Way

Apply Aristotle’s wisdom on virtue, happiness, friendship, and purpose to build a more balanced and meaningful life today.

7 chapters17 min

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