A wise and witty compendium of the greatest thoughts, greatest minds, and greatest books of all time—listed in accessible and succinct form—by one of the world's greatest scholars. From the “Hundred Best Books” to the “Ten Greatest Thinkers” to the “Ten Greatest Poets,” here is a concise collection of the world’s most significant knowledge. For the better part of a century, Will Durant dwelled upon—and wrote about—the most significant eras, individuals, and achievements of human history. His selections have finally been brought together in a single, compact volume. Durant eloquently defends his choices of the greatest minds and ideas, but he also stimulates readers into forming their own opinions, encouraging them to shed their surroundings and biases and enter “The Country of the Mind,” a timeless realm where the heroes of our species dwell. From a thinker who always chose to exalt the positive in the human species, The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time stays true to Durant's optimism. This is a book containing the absolute best of our heritage, passed on for the benefit of future generations. Filled with Durant's renowned wit, knowledge, and unique ability to explain events and ideas in simple and exciting terms, this is a pocket-size liberal arts and humanist curriculum in one volume.

In this remarkable little book, Will Durant answers the questions that most people would have wanted to ask him - what are the conclusions he drew from the experience of a long lifetime; what eras, individuals, and achievements stand out as being the most significant? Who, for example, could be legitimately classified as the greatest thinkers in human history? Who were the truly great poets, the ones that plucked notes upon heartstrings that continue to resonate hundreds and thousands of years after their passing? And what are the absolute best books one should read in order to receive a meaningful - and useful - education? As Will Durant was repeatedly asked to "weigh in" on such matters, he, over the course of his career, responded to the increasing public demand for such qualified assessments by putting pen to paper and crafting a series of essays containing his personal rankings of human achievement. These essays have been brought together for the first time in this book.

The Great Thinkers is a collection of some of the most important ideas of Eastern and Western culture - drawn from the works of those philosophers, political theorists, sociologists, artists and novelists whom we believe have the most to offer to us today. We've worked hard to make the thinkers in this book clear, relevant and charming, mining the history of knowledge to bring you the ideas we think have the greatest importance to our times. This 480-page book contains the canon of The School of Life, the gallery of individuals across the millennia who help to frame our intellectual project - and we have succeeded if, in the days and years ahead, you find yourself turning to our thinkers to illuminate the multiple dilemmas, joys and griefs of daily life.

A thorough revision and update of the best-selling Reader’s Digest original Quotable Quotes will bring this timeless classic into the 21st century. The new collection will feature words of wisdom, wry witticisms, provocative opinions, and inspiring reflections from history's greatest figures, such as Benjamin Franklin, William Shakespeare, Socrates, Abraham Lincoln and scores more. It will also contain the best quips and quotes from modern celebrities like Colin Powell, Garrison Keillor, John Stewart, Steve Jobs, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Conan O'Brien, Jerry Seinfeld, Barack and Michele Obama, Lady Gaga, and well beyond. Sometimes all it takes is a poignant observation to turn our entire outlook on a topic, or even life itself, upside down. Whether readers are looking to polish a speech, get a quick laugh, or be inspired by the wisdom of the world's greatest minds, Quotable Quotes will provide them with unique insights and revelatory perceptions. With this up-to-date yet timeless edition, this book will have relevance for all readers, old and young, on subjects that range from life to the universe and everything in between: family, friends, work, death, taxes, religion, the modern world, literature, pop culture, and more. "Our belief was that if we kept putting great products in front of customers, they would continue to open their wallets" --Steve Jobs "The world is more malleable than you think, and it's waiting for you to hammer it into shape." --Bono

Two simple yet tremendously powerful ideas that shaped virtually every aspect of civilization This book is a breathtaking examination of the two greatest ideas in human history. The first is the idea that the human mind can grasp the universe. The second is the idea that the human mind can grasp itself. Acclaimed philosopher Linda Zagzebski shows how the first unleashed a cultural awakening that swept across the world in the first millennium BCE, giving birth to philosophy, mathematics, science, and virtually all the major world religions. It dominated until the Renaissance, when the discovery of subjectivity profoundly transformed the arts and sciences. This second great idea governed our perception of reality up until the dawn of the twenty-first century. Zagzebski explores how the interplay of the two ideas led to conflicts that have left us ambivalent about the relationship between the mind and the universe, and have given rise to a host of moral and political rifts over the deepest questions human beings face. Should we organize civil society around the ideal of living in harmony with the world or that of individual autonomy? Zagzebski explains how the two greatest ideas continue to divide us today over issues such as abortion, the environment, free speech, and racial and gender identity. This panoramic book reveals what is missing in our conception of ourselves and the world, and imagines a not-too-distant future when a third great idea, the idea that human minds can grasp each other, will help us gain an idea of the whole of reality.

Uncover the method and madness behind the greatest minds in history. Great Minds Don't Think Alike surveys some of the most brilliant minds of the past and present. Discover the methods and rituals they used to forge a constructive, creative pathway, from the downright peculiar to the reassuringly pedestrian. Learn the importance of daily routines with Sylvia Plath, embrace randomness with David Bowie and transcend tradgedy with Frida Kahlo. With 56 tried and tested creative techniques from inspired and inspiring, minds - among them, architects, musicians, playwrights, painters and philosophers. Enjoy an illustrated compendium of ingenius insights to kickstart your own creative process.

This book is based on the wonderful book "The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time" by the late author Will Durant. It offers you a quick read version of some of the best sections of the full version without investing too much time into the reading of it. This is a great quick read for those whose time is very precious to them and they have little of it to spare. By reading this summary of Will Durant's full version you will get a taste and be delighted in the parts that are shared with you. We have cut through the fillers areas of the book and are delivering you the juicy bits that you want to relish the flavor of. Why Should You Download this Book? You should consider downloading this book if you know you are someone that never seems to get a full version of a book read. If you enjoy the topic of human history then this book will take you on a wonderful journey throughout human history. It is filled with prohuman stories, highlighting our achievements as a species rather than our short comings and downfalls. Generally people are usually quick to point out others mistakes in life, but for a refreshing change we are going to address the brighter more positive side to the human story. Learn About: Durant's Personal Rankings of:... Some of the Greatest Thinkers Some of the Greatest Poets Some of the Best books for an education Some Vital dates in World History and much, much more! Would You Like To Know More?Download your copy today!Available on PC, Mac, smart phone, tablet or Kindle device. (c) 2015 All Rights Reserved

A concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, The Lessons of History is the result of a lifetime of research from Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Will and Ariel Durant. With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the Durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time. Juxtaposing the great lives, ideas, and accomplishments with cycles of war and conquest, the Durants reveal the towering themes of history and give meaning to our own.

Does technology change who we are, and if so, in what ways? Can humanity transcend physical bodies and spaces? Will AI and genetic engineering help us reach new heights or will they unleash dystopias? How do we face mortality, our own and that of our warming planet? Questions like these—which are only growing more urgent—can be answered only by drawing on different kinds of knowledge and ways of knowing. They challenge us to bridge the divide between the sciences and the humanities and bring together perspectives that are too often kept apart. Great Minds Don’t Think Alike presents conversations among leading scientists, philosophers, historians, and public intellectuals that exemplify openness to diverse viewpoints and the productive exchange of ideas. Pulitzer and Templeton Prize winners, MacArthur “genius” grant awardees, and other acclaimed writers and thinkers debate the big questions: who we are, the nature of reality, science and religion, consciousness and materialism, and the mysteries of time. In so doing, they also inquire into how uniting experts from different areas of study to consider these topics might help us address the existential risks we face today. Convened and moderated by the physicist and author Marcelo Gleiser, these public dialogues model constructive engagement between the sciences and the humanities—and show why intellectual cooperation is necessary to shape our collective future. Contributors include David Chalmers and Antonio Damasio; Sean Carroll and B. Alan Wallace; Patricia Churchland and Jill Tarter; Rebecca Goldstein and Alan Lightman; Jimena Canales and Paul Davies; Ed Boyden and Mark O’Connell; Elizabeth Kolbert and Siddhartha Mukherjee; Jeremy DeSilva, David Grinspoon, and Tasneem Zehra Husain.