Practical Ethics by Peter Singer has been a classic introduction to applied ethics for over thirty years. This third edition has been revised and updated with a new chapter that addresses climate change, one of the most pressing ethical challenges of our time.

Some of the questions discussed in this book concern our daily lives: Is it ethical to buy luxuries when others do not have enough to eat? Should we buy meat from intensively reared animals? Am I doing something wrong if my carbon footprint is above the global average?

Other questions confront us as concerned citizens: equality and discrimination on the grounds of race or sex; abortion, the use of embryos for research and euthanasia; political violence and terrorism; and the preservation of our planet's environment.

This book's lucid style and provocative arguments make it an ideal text for university courses and for anyone willing to think deeply about how they ought to live.

Galileo, Copernicus, Newton, Niels Bohr, Einstein. Their insights shook our perception of who we are and where we stand in the world, and in their wake have left an uneasy coexistence: science vs. religion, faith vs. empirical inquiry. Which is the keeper of truth? Which is the true path to understanding reality?

After forty years of study with some of the greatest scientific minds, as well as a lifetime of meditative, spiritual, and philosophic study, the Dalai Lama presents a brilliant analysis of why all avenues of inquiry—scientific as well as spiritual—must be pursued in order to arrive at a complete picture of the truth.

Through an examination of Darwinism and karma, quantum mechanics and philosophical insight into the nature of reality, neurobiology and the study of consciousness, the Dalai Lama draws significant parallels between contemplative and scientific examinations of reality.

This breathtakingly personal examination is a tribute to the Dalai Lama’s teachers—both of science and spirituality. The legacy of this book is a vision of the world in which our different approaches to understanding ourselves, our universe, and one another can be brought together in the service of humanity.

From bestselling author and provocateur Christopher Hitchens, this classic guide delves into the art of principled dissent and disagreement.

In "Letters to a Young Contrarian," Hitchens inspires the radicals, gadflies, mavericks, rebels, and angry young (wo)men of tomorrow. He explores the entire range of "contrary positions" – from noble dissident to gratuitous nag – introducing the next generation to the minds and misfits who influenced him, such as Emile Zola, Rosa Parks, and George Orwell.

As is his trademark, Hitchens contrasts himself with stagnant attitudes across the ideological spectrum. His understanding of the importance of disagreement is unmatched – to personal integrity, informed discussion, true progress, and democracy itself.

To some, the concept of having faith in a higher power or a set of religious beliefs is nonsensical. Indeed, many view religion in general, and Christianity in particular, as unfounded and unreasonable.

Norman Geisler and Frank Turek argue, however, that Christianity is not only more reasonable than all other belief systems, but is indeed more rational than unbelief itself.
With conviction and clear thinking, Geisler and Turek guide readers through some of the traditional, tested arguments for the existence of a creator God. They move into an examination of the source of morality and the reliability of the New Testament accounts concerning Jesus.

The final section of the book deals with a detailed investigation of the claims of Christ. This volume will be an interesting read for those skeptical about Christianity, as well as a helpful resource for Christians seeking to articulate a more sophisticated defense of their faith.

The beautiful practicality of her teaching has made Pema Chödrön one of the most beloved of contemporary American spiritual authors among Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. This book is a treasury of wisdom for going on living when we are overcome by pain and difficulties.

Chödrön discusses:

• Using painful emotions to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and courage
• Communicating so as to encourage others to open up rather than shut down
• Practices for reversing habitual patterns
• Methods for working with chaotic situations
• Ways for creating effective social action

The Pleasantries of the Incredible Mulla Nasrudin takes us to the heart of the mysterious mentor, Mulla Nasrudin. Through skillful retellings of hundreds of stories and sayings, Idries Shah brings the timeless wit and charm of this legendary figure to life.

From high-level physics reports to psychology textbooks, Nasrudin's tales illustrate phenomena and illuminate the workings of the mind in ways no straightforward explanation can. His stories have spanned cultures, appearing in literature and oral traditions from the Middle East to Greece, Russia, France, and even China.

According to legend, Nasrudin was chosen as a schoolboy to carry the message of how to escape the crude system of thought that ensnares man. His humor slips through the cracks of rigid thinking habits, offering both laughter and psychological insight.

Acclaimed as humorous masterpieces and collections of some of the world's finest jokes, Nasrudin's antics also serve as teaching exercises, helping to recognize states of mind. For centuries, these stories have been studied in Sufi circles for their hidden wisdom.