Compassion: The Three Mountains: Simplicity, Compassion, Hope

by Andrew Fiala

This book follows the trail of compassion. It offers poetic insight, stunning photography, and the wisdom of ancient philosophy. The book reflects on the meaning of compassion in a world that contains both beauty and suffering. It will provoke, invigorate, and make you wonder.This is the second volume of Fiala’s Three Mountains trilogy. It weaves spiritual teachings together with folktales and natural history in a way that surprises and inspires. Fiala shows that compassion involves laughter, chaos, tears, and joy. Compassion is about overflowing and becoming broader.Andrew Fiala follows in the footsteps of authors such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and Gary Snyder. Fiala is a professor of philosophy, an expert on ethics and the history of philosophy, and a well-known scholar of peace and nonviolence. He is the author or editor of a dozen books, including “Transformative Pacifism,” “The Peace of Nature and the Nature of Peace,” and “What Would Jesus Really Do?” Fiala resides in California's Central Valley in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada, where he hikes, climbs, skis, and wanders.Take this book with you on the trail or wherever you wander, wonder, and “The instinct to share is primordial. No one wants to drink or dance alone. We share the wine because happiness and sadness need company. We toast the illusions of life, laughing out loud at the glowing red of sunset and the silver light of moonrise. We toast the illusions of life, singing hymns to lost friends, dead dogs, and silent grandmothers. Here’s to the eyes that once saw this beauty, now closed forever. Here’s to the child whose eyes have just opened.”

139 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2021

About the author

Andrew Fiala is professor of philosophy and Director of the Ethics Center at Fresno State. He writes a column on ethics, religion, and politics for the Fresno Bee: https://www.fresnobee.com/living/liv-...

Fiala has published books and articles on war, pacifism, political philosophy, and religion. He also writes about applied ethical issues such as euthanasia, abortion, the death penalty, and animal welfare.

Fiala loves the classroom, where he encourages students to think carefully about the tough issues of our day. He teaches courses in ethics, applied ethics, political philosophy, and the history of philosophy.

More information, including links to articles and interviews, can be found at www.andrewfiala.com.