Best Selling Books by Ian Hunter

A historical inquiry into Kantian philosophy as a form of philosophical religion Kantian philosophy is typically viewed as providing a universal theory of knowledge and morality based on timeless principles retrieved from the human mind. In The Kantian Religion, Ian Hunter offers a starkly different account. Hunter contends that Kant’s arguments were assembled from purely historical sources and served as ascetic devices for crafting the towering self of the Kantian philosopher; they were exercises in intellectual self-clarification and moral transformation undertaken by a cohort of the philosophically educated in search of spiritual clarity and moral purity. These “solemn rites of the mind” were seen as heir and rival to the regenerative resources and cultural importance of the Christian religion, and Kantianism was characterized as a philosophical religion. Hunter describes the ways that elite spiritual athletes performed a series of philosophically strenuous “acts of the self on the self” through Kant’s intellectual exercises. When Kantianism emerged as an insurgent cultural movement in the 1780s, it offered young academics training to be clergy and teachers a philosophy that was powerful enough to supplant Christian spirituality and to subordinate humanist scholarship and the natural sciences to philosophical self-reflection. For Kant and his followers, the religious disposition of Kantian philosophy came solely from the immanent practice of the philosophy itself. As a rival to conventional religion and as an academic interloper, Kantian philosophy unleashed a wave of conflicts in Germany’s ecclesiastical and scholarly cultures. Although recent Kant commentary typically views Kantianism as intrinsically secular and scientific, Hunter argues provocatively that Kant’s contemporaries viewed his philosophy as an extra-ecclesiastical path to spiritual refinement and moral regeneration.

Diary written during a five-week American tour in November and December of 1972.

Rival Enlightenments, first published in 2001, is a major reinterpretation of early modern German intellectual history. Ian Hunter approaches philosophical doctrines as ways of fashioning personae for envisaged historical circumstances, here of confessional conflict and political desacralization. He treats the civil philosophy of Pufendorf and Thomasius and the metaphysical philosophy of Leibniz and Kant as rival intellectual cultures or paideiai, thereby challenging all histories premised on Kant''s supposed reconciliation and transcendence of the field. This study reveals the extraordinary historical self-consciousness of the civil philosophers, who repudiated university metaphysics as inimical to the intellectual formation of those administering desacralized territorial states. The book argues that the marginalization of civil philosophy in post-Kantian philosophical history may itself be seen as a continuation of the struggle between the rival enlightenments. Combining careful and well-documented scholarship with vivid polemic, Hunter presents penetrating insights for philosophers and historians alike.

This biography of Malcolm Muggeridge traces the varied life of one of the most brilliant and controversial men of the twentieth century. The author, Ian Hunter, was given full access to all of Muggeridge''s unpublished material, letters, and diaries. The result is an objective, well-researched, and honest account that is sometimes at variance with Muggeridge''s own recollection of events. Ian Hunter captures the humor, the intellect, the rawness of perception, the abandoned honesty of a man engaged in knowing himself, his world, and his God. Malcolm Muggeridge was not merely a "vendor of words," as he invariably described himself, but was also a celebrated author, broadcaster, lecturer, debater, traveller, journalist and television personality, a one-time ardent admirer of the Soviet system, a World War II intelligence agent, and a former agnostic turned committed Christian. To many people, however, Malcolm Muggeridge was admired above all for his superb use of the English language. It is to the credit of Ian Hunter that after reading this biography one has a clearer understanding of an extraordinary man. Dr. Ian Hunter is professor emeritus at the University of Western Ontario. His articles and reviews have appeared in many Canadian and American poublications. He edited two collections of Muggeridge''s writings: Things Past and The Very Best of Malcolm Muggeridge; he also wrote a biography of Muggeridge''s friend, Hesketh Pearson (Nothing to Repent: The Life of Heskerth Pearson).

Since the Romantics culture has been identified with the promise of a complete development of human capacities and, typically, the ''rise of English'' has been viewed in terms of the (true or distorted) fulfilment of this promise in the education system. This book presents a sustained and historically informed challenge to that view.

This was not meant to be. He was reading the letters of T.E. Lawrence to Bernard and Charlotte Shaw and found a telling little passage. "I have finished the little show of activity which the revision of the Seven Pillars ... provided ... There is not a germ of desire left inside my frame." John felt the same way after 14 years of writing and finally closing on his last title, Love''s Anatomy, a book that as he proofread time and again, brought back all the elation and anguish of blind love. He was finished, and as he thought, terminally so; ..". not a germ of desire left inside my frame." He then finds himself drifting into a series of Conversations, partly to obliterate the pain of emotional failure. As he does so, he recognizes yet more about himself that he attempted to uncover in all six of his earlier books. The last conversation brings him back to where his journey started. Ian Hunter is a consultant, moving between New York, Edinburgh, and now, Nairobi. He started life in Germany, moved to Scotland, worked in Scotland and England, and then Southeast Asia and New York, before experiencing East Africa. This book really is the culmination of his journey of exploration, a crescendo toward a greater self-understanding. The journey has now lasted 15 years; the results of which are his books The Early Years, e-Love, e-Dreams, e-World, Three Interludes, Love''s Anatomy and Conversations. Publisher''s website: http: //sbpra.com/IanHunter

Educationalists have long worked to democratise our school system and purge traces of its religious origins. Rethinking the School shows that these efforts have been in vain. The bureaucratic organisation of schooling is here to stay, and Christian moral discipline is an integral part of the school as we know it. Hunter argues that both liberal and Marxian theory ignore the historical reality of the school. He does not see the school as the failed attempt to realise principles of social equality, complete personal development and intellectual enlightenment. Rather, he sees the modern school as an improvised apparatus for the training of good citizens and the guidance of souls. Rethinking the School is one of the first major applications of Foucault''s genealogical method to the school system, and will be widely debated by educationalists, policy-makers and those interested in the interaction of government and subjectivity. ''This is a serious piece of scholarship which breaks with much orthodoxy in educational theory and research. It brings new insights to old dilemmas and as such is a major contribution to a field which has in some respects lost its nerve. This is a book that must be read.'' - Professor Richard Smith, Australian Journal of Education ''Hunter. offers a detailed and fascinating account of the popular school. in a manner which reinvigorates modern debates regarding the relations between government and education. He makes us look and see differently, the hallmark of a powerful and original thinker.'' - Professor Tony Bennett, Institute for Cultural Policy Studies

In the electronic world we live in, everything - including love - seems to take place on the Internet. In Ian Hunter''s fourth novel, Three Interludes, John has been in his e-World relationship with Nathalie for two years. They have reached a point where they plan to meet, three times. These are the Three Interludes. John is mature, experienced and a self-confessed sensualist, based in New York City. Nathalie is much younger, lives in Baku, Azerbaijan, and attracts John with her vivacious personality and voluptuous appearance. Both are ready to further explore their e-relationship. The question is, will the planned meetings actually happen, given the distances involved? If so, will their Three Interludes fulfill their deepest desires? There are surprises.

This book highlights the changes and challenges to the role of the HR Business Partner, overviewing the emerging service delivery models for the HR function (in particular the development of shared services and outsourcing options) and what this means for the HR Business Partner (HRBP) in the modern enterprise. The purpose of this book is to provide a conceptual framework and practical advice, based on real life case studies and recent research, into how HR Business Partners best add value to the organization. The authors have extensive experience of working in the area of HR restructuring (having been HR Directors in blue chip organizations and senior advisers in leading consultancies) and have consistently come up against confusion and contradiction about what is the new role of the HR Manager/Business Partner in supporting business managers in the delivery of strategic and tactical objectives. Theory and conceptual models are used to underpin this book but it has been written as a pragmatic, hands-on guide that will help its readers think through how best they might fulfil the role of the HRBP. The book contains checklists, case study examples and self-assessment tools. It is supported by supplementary material (updates, further case studies, templates and tools) which are available via the authors'' website.

Mark Wilson nearly died at birth. He survived but suffered a severe brain injury, and at six months of age was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Doctors warned his parents he would likely never walk or talk. ‘Best not to expect too much,’ they said. But Shirley and Glenn refused to give up. Determined to defy the grim prognosis, Mark’s parents embarked on an intense, home-based therapy program—one with no guarantees, only relentless effort and hope. And against all odds, it worked. Told with Mark’s signature self-deprecating humour, Wobbles is more than just his story. His parents, sister, and childhood therapist, Ian Hunter, share their own perspectives, revealing the immense challenges, sacrifices, and unexpected joys that shaped their journey. Moments of triumph sit alongside deep despair—a hilarious battle with his kitchen nemesis, the plastic bread clip, is followed by his mother’s heartbreaking contemplation of suicide. Raw, uplifting, and deeply human, Wobbles is an emotional rollercoaster, offering not just inspiration but a real-life story demonstrating how, and explaining why, the brain can recover from catastrophic injury. This unforgettable memoir proves that resilience, love, and determination can rewrite even the bleakest of fates.

In the business world, especially in manufacturing or quality management, the term Six Sigma usually refers to a set of tools and methodologies developed by Motorola to improve processes by eliminating defects. So why should the HR professional care what Six Sigma is or how it can be applied in the HR function? According to the specialists at Orion Partners, there are ten key reasons: ∗ to create excellence in process delivery; ∗ to reduce defects; ∗ to increase efficiency; ∗ to create a quality focused mindset; ∗ to benefit from best practice; ∗ to bring clarity to the processes of HR; ∗ to use a structured scientific approach; ∗ to speak the same language and improve communication; ∗ to gain control over your processes; ∗ and to strengthen your business case. Mircea Albeanu and Ian Hunter explain some of the basic concepts to show how applying Six Sigma tools and methodologies can be used to manage the practical challenges of improving HR operations to meet your organization''s expectations at a lower cost and with greater efficiency. To help illustrate some of the key messages examples are drawn from Orion Partners'' work using Six Sigma tools with international organizations over the last seven years. This concise guide is ideal for project and programme managers involved in business transformation, and for HR managers as well as Six Sigma specialists seeking to understand its applications within human resources. About The Gower HR Transformation Series: The Human Resources function faces a continuing challenge to its role and purpose, in many organizations it has suffered from serious under-representation at strategic, board level. Yet, faced with the challenges of globalism, the need to innovate, manage knowledge, attract and retain the very best employees, organizations need an HR function that can lead from the front. The process of transforming the function is complex and rarely linear. It includes the practical challenges of improving HR operations to meet customer expectations at lower cost and with greater efficiency. The Gower HR Transformation Series will help; it uses a blend of conceptual frameworks, practical advice and global case study examples to cover each of the main elements of the HR transformation process. The books in the series follow a standard format to make them easy to read and reference. Together, the titles create a definitive guide from one of the leading specialist HR transformation consultancies; an organization that has been involved in HR transformation for clients as diverse as Bombardier Transportation, Marks & Spencer, Barnardo''s, Oxfam, Schroders, UnitedHealth Group, Nestlé, BP, HM Prison Service, Transport for London and Vodafone.

The Age of Enterprise shows how entrepreneurship and innovation transformed the New Zealand economy in the late nineteenth century and sets our experience in context with other similar developments in settler colonies such as Australia and Latin America. In particular, The Age of Enterprise draws on case studies and historical evidence to reveal that the small, organic, rapidly expanding firm was the potent force in New Zealand''s growth - the local, small-time entrepreneur is the hero of this story. By focusing on the shape of our economic history Ian Hunter here fills a major gap in our knowledge of the colonial period which has so far derived largely from the work of social and political historians.

Working patterns have changed so radically in recent years that both employees and employers require guidance on how to survive and thrive. Job security is a growing concern, and no one can afford to ignore the steady flow of new UK and EU legislation. Updated to include the legislative changes of April 2003, this guide asks - and answers - common employment questions, explaining both parties'' rights and obligations. It addresses every legal aspect of life at work, from the minimum wage and statutory holiday entitlement to what happens when someone resigns and disciplinary matters. Its reliable advice could even save you legal expenses.

The book provides guidance on improving individual and team performance in five key areas: managing your health, tapping into your energy levels, conscious authenticity, resilience, and developing the team. The ideas are developed based on the authors'' experience of mountain-biking through the Himalayas, which means the book divides naturally into two parts: the first being a travelogue of the strenuous biking journey, and the second a reflection on the elements that made the feat successful, backed up with management theory, personal experience, and the thoughts of modern business leaders, and concluding with advice and guidance for the reader.

In Luna Bay along the North Fork of Long Island, New York, Puffer the fish is making a batch of his famous chocolate chip cookies. While waiting for them to cook, he goes outside to water his seaweed garden, but then, disaster strikes! Puffer goes back inside to find someone has stolen his cookies. Puffer goes on a search to get his delicious cookies back. He travels through Luna Bay and asks his friends if they’ve seen his cookies anywhere, but nobody can help poor Puffer. Then, while retracing his steps, Puffer comes upon a big surprise. In The Curious Puffer, explore the charming underwater town of Luna Bay with Puffer and his adorable sea creature friends. In the colorful illustrations, see if you can spot some of the local landmarks that are well known to Eastern Long Island. Follow along with the enticing mystery of Puffer’s missing cookies, and see if you can figure out what happened to them.