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A History of Ideas: The most intriguing, relevant and helpful concepts from the story of humanity
A collection of humanity’s most inspiring ideas throughout time, bringing perspective to the challenges and wonders of being alive.
This is an unusual sort of history a history of ideas – and not just any old ideas, ideas from across time and space that are best suited to healing, enchanting and reviving us.
Along the way, we travel around the world, from the very beginnings of our species right up to the modern age. We hear about the Ancient Greeks and Romans, we learn about Buddhism and Islam, we acquire ideas from Hinduism and the European Renaissance, the Enlightenment and Modernity. Deliberately eclectic, the book gives us a panoramic, 3,000-year view over the finest insights of a diversity of civilisations.
Every idea hangs off an image – it could be a place, a document, a building or a work of art – that has something very specific to teach us. There are ideas here that will stick in our minds because they can help to answer the biggest puzzles we may about the direction of our lives, the issues of relationships, the meaning of existence.
The book amounts to a feast for the intellect and the imagination – to make us into the best sorts of historians, those who know how to use the past to shed light on their own lives.
This is an unusual sort of history a history of ideas – and not just any old ideas, ideas from across time and space that are best suited to healing, enchanting and reviving us.
Along the way, we travel around the world, from the very beginnings of our species right up to the modern age. We hear about the Ancient Greeks and Romans, we learn about Buddhism and Islam, we acquire ideas from Hinduism and the European Renaissance, the Enlightenment and Modernity. Deliberately eclectic, the book gives us a panoramic, 3,000-year view over the finest insights of a diversity of civilisations.
Every idea hangs off an image – it could be a place, a document, a building or a work of art – that has something very specific to teach us. There are ideas here that will stick in our minds because they can help to answer the biggest puzzles we may about the direction of our lives, the issues of relationships, the meaning of existence.
The book amounts to a feast for the intellect and the imagination – to make us into the best sorts of historians, those who know how to use the past to shed light on their own lives.
- GenresPhilosophy
232 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2023
2 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
The School of Life
173 books3,145 followersThe School of Life is a global organisation helping people lead more fulfilled lives.
We believe that the journey to finding fulfilment begins with self-knowledge. It is only when we have a sense of who we really are that we can make reliable decisions, particularly around love and work.
Sadly, tools and techniques for developing self-knowledge and finding fulfilment are hard to find – they’re not taught in schools, in universities, or in workplaces. Too many of us go through life without ever really understanding what’s going on in the recesses of our minds.
That’s why we created The School of Life; a resource for helping us understand ourselves, for improving our relationships, our careers and our social lives - as well as for helping us find calm and get more out of our leisure hours. We do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community.
We believe that the journey to finding fulfilment begins with self-knowledge. It is only when we have a sense of who we really are that we can make reliable decisions, particularly around love and work.
Sadly, tools and techniques for developing self-knowledge and finding fulfilment are hard to find – they’re not taught in schools, in universities, or in workplaces. Too many of us go through life without ever really understanding what’s going on in the recesses of our minds.
That’s why we created The School of Life; a resource for helping us understand ourselves, for improving our relationships, our careers and our social lives - as well as for helping us find calm and get more out of our leisure hours. We do this through films, workshops, books and gifts - as well as through a warm and supportive community.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 9, 2024
A History of Ideas by The School of Life is a commendable non-fiction book that contains a collection of inspiring ideas throughout time. The book is split into seven sections. Some sections are different historical periods, others continents, and lastly different religions.
Starting with historiography (the history of history), each double-page represents something different and in various timelines. Beginning with a painting that was commissioned in the mid-18th century for the entrance to a private library featuring the Greek Goddess of Wisdom Athena, along with the figure of Truth titled ‘Truth and Wisdom Assist History in Writing’. We then move forward to 1979 and the Grammy Awards and how the wise teach us to look for patterns. This is a book that doesn’t stay in one era for long, jumping back and forth.
The book is very clever and tailored for individuals with a fervour for history or philosophy. It commands the reader’s attention and yet conveys the message of each section in just a few words and with one image. It does at times make you have to read passages over and over again to fully understand what the idea is that is being conveyed to the reader.
Overall, this is an unusual book that someone very knowledgeable would love. It is a book that makes the reader stop and think. It is not a collection of tales about how the wheel came about etc. It is a collection of things such as the idea that reading a book cannot possibly – or for long – change anyone’s thoughts or behaviour. It is a philosopher’s dream book!
Starting with historiography (the history of history), each double-page represents something different and in various timelines. Beginning with a painting that was commissioned in the mid-18th century for the entrance to a private library featuring the Greek Goddess of Wisdom Athena, along with the figure of Truth titled ‘Truth and Wisdom Assist History in Writing’. We then move forward to 1979 and the Grammy Awards and how the wise teach us to look for patterns. This is a book that doesn’t stay in one era for long, jumping back and forth.
The book is very clever and tailored for individuals with a fervour for history or philosophy. It commands the reader’s attention and yet conveys the message of each section in just a few words and with one image. It does at times make you have to read passages over and over again to fully understand what the idea is that is being conveyed to the reader.
Overall, this is an unusual book that someone very knowledgeable would love. It is a book that makes the reader stop and think. It is not a collection of tales about how the wheel came about etc. It is a collection of things such as the idea that reading a book cannot possibly – or for long – change anyone’s thoughts or behaviour. It is a philosopher’s dream book!
November 16, 2023
This is another excellent book from "The School of Life" and ideal as a gift for a difficult to buy for clever friend. The ideas documented come from philosophy, history, religion, politics… a little bit of everything with some clever linking and beautiful illustrations.
"We are surrounded by the most astonishing gadgets and have access to powers that the greatest kings of old could not have dreamt of. Yet we are also ignorant of so much, in a way that lends us a background impression of alienation and impotence."
In a world where we have access to so much information we actually ‘know’ very little. This is a book that challenges, educates, and amuses. The chapters on religion were particularly interesting to me and I will reread this book in the future when I’ve forgotten the lessons. It’s not a textbook, it’s an easy read, and captures lots of ideas in a very accessible way.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.
"We are surrounded by the most astonishing gadgets and have access to powers that the greatest kings of old could not have dreamt of. Yet we are also ignorant of so much, in a way that lends us a background impression of alienation and impotence."
In a world where we have access to so much information we actually ‘know’ very little. This is a book that challenges, educates, and amuses. The chapters on religion were particularly interesting to me and I will reread this book in the future when I’ve forgotten the lessons. It’s not a textbook, it’s an easy read, and captures lots of ideas in a very accessible way.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews