Most Popular Books by Stephen Law

Unique and accessible explanations to some of life''s biggest questions, obtained through a series of irresistable mental challenges

First Published in 2007. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

A philosophical but fun look at the meanings of Christmas myths and rituals, from carving the turkey to why Santa wears red. Picture the scene: Aunt Gertrude has just given you the most appalling Christmas tie, complete with snow-flecked kittens in a bowler hat. Do you smile, nod, and confine it to the bottom drawer? Or do you tell the truth and spare yourself future ties from hell? Kant would say that we must, at all costs, tell the truth - whilst Mill would insist that we should think of the consequences. THE XMAS FILES is a philosophical meander though the myths and rituals of Christmas today, asking such important questions as does Santa exist? What''s wrong with Christmas kitsch? Is it all just a commercial racket? What was Augustine''s attitude to ''peace on earth''? And what would David Hume have to say about the virgin birth? For underneath all the festive fun, the way we celebrate Christmas does raise serious questions about the beliefs that sustain us, and the ways in which we still value ritual and tradition as a means of coming together.

Religion is currently gaining a much higher profile. The number of faith schools is increasingly, and religious points of view are being aired more frequently in the media. As religion''s profile rises, those who reject religion, including humanists, often find themselves misunderstood, and occasionally misrepresented. Stephen Law explores how humanism uses science and reason to make sense of the world, looking at how it encourages individual moral responsibility and shows that life can have meaning without religion. Challenging some of the common misconceptions, he seeks to dispute the claims that atheism and humanism are ''faith positions'' and that without God there can be no morality and our lives are left without purpose. Looking at the history of humanism and its development as a philosophical alternative, he examines the arguments for and against the existence of God, and explores the role humanism plays in moral and secular societies, as well as in moral and religious education. Using humanism to determine the meaning of life, he shows that there is a positive alternative to traditional religious belief. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Life philosophy based on Google searches Have I found ''the one''? Am I a psychopath? Should I be allowed to say whatever I want? Millions of people ask Google all sorts of questions, everything from the big and small. Responding to the biggest, existential questions asked online and using the wisdom of Plato, Kant, Kierkegaard and other philosophical greats philosopher, academic, and all-round polymath, Stephen Law, undertakes the challenge and explores our modern-day concerns with tongue-in-cheek sagacity. No matter what you’ve googled in a midnight moment of existential despair, this book will answer all your burning questions.

Is there a God, should I eat meat, where does the universe come from, could I live for ever as a robot? These are the big questions readers will be wrestling with in this thoroughly enjoyable book. Dip into any chapter and you will find lively scenarios and dialogues to take you through philosophical puzzles ancient and modern, involving virtual reality, science fiction and a host of characters from this and other planets. The text is interspersed on every page with lively cartoons, and there is a list of philosophical jargon at the end.. Stephen Law has a gift for communicating complex ideas. He offers few answers, but his unstuffy, highly personal approach will have the reader thinking and arguing with as much pleasure as he does himself.

This book identifies eight key mechanisms that can transform a set of ideas into a psychological flytrap. The author suggests that, like the black holes of outer space, from which nothing, not even light, can escape, our contemporary cultural landscape contains numerous intellectual black-holes—belief systems constructed in such a way that unwary passers-by can similarly find themselves drawn in. While such self-sealing bubbles of belief will most easily trap the gullible or poorly educated, even the most intelligent and educated of us are potentially vulnerable. Some of the world’s greatest thinkers have fallen in, never to escape. This witty, insightful critique will help immunize readers against the wiles of cultists, religious and political zealots, conspiracy theorists, promoters of flaky alternative medicines, and others by clearly setting out the tricks of the trade by which such insidious belief systems are created and maintained.

Since the beginning of time mankind has struggled with the big questions surrounding our existence. Whilst most people have heard of Socrates, Machiavelli and Nietzsche, many are less clear on their theories and key concepts. In The Great Philosophers, bestselling author Stephen Law condenses and deciphers their fundamental ideas. Avoiding the technical jargon and complex logic associated with most books on philosophy, Law brings the thoughts of these great thinkers, from Confucius and Buddha to Wittgenstein and Sartre, to life.

An introduction to philosophy which uses clear analogies to explore some of life''s biggest moral and scientific questions, including the origins of the universe and the meaning of life.

Tucked away in her tattoo studio in the port city of Halifax, Shaz draws meaning and symbolism onto the bodies of her clients. After the ransacking of her home, the brutal attack on her friend and the sudden appearance of her white father, Shaz is compelled to explore the racial divides in her life and in the city around her. A chance encounter with Rashid, a parkour-performing refugee from Sri Lanka, provides a stabilizing counterpoint to the tumultuous relationships in her life.

A corrupt mining company, repossessed gravestones, a man’s fractured past, mysterious notes posted to lampposts and murder deep in the highlands of Guatemala. In Tailings of Warren Peace, Stephen Law effortlessly weaves these elements into a powerful story of love and memory, exploring how the past haunts us and how solidarity can save us all. Mysterious, passionate and powerful, Tailings of Warren Peace shows us the interconnections that exist between us, transcending social class, culture and geography.

Is there a God? Should I eat meat? Where does the universe come from? Could I live forever as a robot? These are the questions readers will wrestle with in this book. Dipping into any chapter, children will find lively scenarios and dialogues which take them through philosophical puzzles ancient and modern, involving virtual reality, cloning, science fiction and a host of characters from this and other planets. The text is interspersed on every page with lively cartoons, and there is a useful list of philosophical jargon at the end.

Covering not only the history of Western thought, but also the traditions of Eastern philosophy and schools of thought from the Indian subcontinent, Eyewitness Companions: Philosophy combines philosophical analysis with historical and biographical information to explain and explore the major issues, theories, and problems at the heart of all philosophies. Eyewitness Companions: Philosophy combines metaphysics, epistemology, logic, the philosophy of religion, andethics Introduces the metaphors, analogies, and stories philosophers use to explain theories.

A full-colour illustrated tour through philosophy''s most famous – and most mind-bending – ideas I Think Therefore I Am, Existentialism, Dialectical Materialism? The Socratic Method and Deconstruction? Sure, you know what they all mean. That is, you''ve certainly heard of them. But do you know enough about them to join a dinner party debate or dazzle the bar with your knowledge? 30-SECOND PHILOSOPHIES takes a revolutionary approach to getting a grip on the 50 most significant schools of philosophy. The book challenges leading thinkers to quit fretting about the meaning of meaning for a while and explain the most complex philosophical ideas – using nothing more than two pages, 300 words, and a metaphorical image. Here, in one unique volume, you have the chance to pick the potted brains of our leading philosophers and understand complex concepts such as Kant''s Categorical Imperative without ending up in a darkened room with an ice pack on your head.

Stephen Law''s dream job had him working in the nation''s best environmenta " its forests. Raised on a farm in rural Maine, Stephen became a civil engineer for the U.S. Forest Service, and A Forest Environment was written from his experiences. He loved the woods and the animals that lived there, hunted, fished and loved to camp and explore. In a chronicle spanning two generations, Stephen shares his adventures in the wild, as well as the insights of his father, a veteran of the Maine woods, in the early 1900s, working for the paper industry. Join Stephen as he comes face-to-face with a bear for the first time, catches 22 trout on 22 casts and hunts mountain goats. Traveling all the way from the woods of Maine to the forests of Alaska, Stephen learns how engineers for the U.S. Forest Service built roads and bridges so the forest resources could be managed to meet the needs of the greatest number of people in the long run. He shares these lessons of the twentieth century with readers of the twenty-first century in an intimate and humorous story-telling style. Advocates of maintaining our nation''s forests, casual outdoor enthusiasts, and those completely new to the idea of ''the great outdoors'' will discover the charm and wonder to be found in A Forest Environment. Pack your camping gear and get your fishing rod and hunting rifle because A Forest Environment is going to take you on an adventure of a lifetime. ''Whether your interest is forestry, fishing, or geography, you will find much to enjoy in A Forest Environment. Steve Law, retired USFS engineer, shares his many years of work experience in the forests of the United States, and he does so with humor and telling insights. A bonus in this volume is his father''s diary recounting his own years of work in the woods of Maine. This is a captivating book.'' Vaughn & Phoebe Hardesty, New Gloucester, Maine"

It now seems certain that our planet is warming. Is it the result of human activity and if so how do we combat it? This reasoned and reasonable guide helps to clarify the controversial issues and the way forward. An accessible guide to climate change that not only gives reasonable answers to the big questions surrounding the issue, but also takes us inside the corridors of power and the basements of the United Nations, where countries are engaged in a game of climate-change poker. For the individual, wondering whether to sell their seaside property or invest in a small wind-farm, this book offers sensible answers. It gives us the best and worst case scenarios and sets out how we can each address this contentious but vital issue.

Helps you examine the ideas and traditions of Western and Eastern thought. This work teaches you to understand the major issues, theories and problems at the heart of philosophy. It also addresses such questions as - Where do we come from? What is the per.