Dare to think.
Dare to think.
Body, mind & spirit (general), Mind & body, Philosophy (general)
Dare to think.
Are you inside your body? Does yesterday still exist? Is it possible to have dignified sex? This book is filled with such questions, hundreds of them. Its aim is not to teach or lecture, but to jolt you into thinking for yourself. It asks you to embrace the spirit of Pandora. To open your mind, release your thoughts and let curiosity get the better of you.
David Birch draws on a cornucopia of excerpts from a range of writers and philosophers. You are not entirely left to your own devices: from Plato to Isaac Newton to D. H. Lawrence, these thinkers will be your partners in conversation, galvanising and challenging your thinking.
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Pandora’s Book is a lively and stimulating attempt at a different kind of introduction to philosophy. Birch is a playful and elegant writer, and it is a testament to his facility for provoking thought that I frequently had to close the book to venture down a rabbit hole opened by one or other of his questions. I would recommend it to all those who seek perplexity and the intoxicating dance of thought. FULL REVIEW: https://philosophynow.org/issues/148/Pandoras_Book_by_David_Birch ~ Philosophy Now, Review
Pandora’s Book is a lively and stimulating attempt at a different kind of introduction to philosophy. Birch is a playful and elegant writer, and it is a testament to his facility for provoking thought that I frequently had to close the book to venture down a rabbit hole opened by one or other of his questions. I would recommend it to all those who seek perplexity and the intoxicating dance of thought. ~ Steven Campbell-Harris , Philosophy Now
This book consists of 401 questions ‘to help you lose your mind.’ Although they demand a yes/no answer, most answers will in fact be a matter of degree – for example: are you free, is your mind your property, do you have an identity, is your life a story, are thoughts physical? The value of the book consists of answers to these very questions from thinkers – mostly men - ancient and modern: Bergson, Emerson, Seneca, St Augustine, D.H. Lawrence, Ruskin, Thoreau, Montaigne, Leibniz, St Teresa and Marcus Aurelius. Although entries are cross-referenced, it’s a pity that there is no index. Even so, the author’s erudition provides stimulating variety. ~ David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer
An extraordinary, stimulating, and thought-provoking read, Pandora's Book is thoroughly accessible to lay readers and philosophy students alike, and utterly fascinating to browse from cover to cover. ~ James Cox, Midwest Book Review
A delightful book to let your curiosity run free. It puts you back in touch with the joy of philosophy. ~ Andy West, author of The Life Inside: A Memoir of Prison, Philosophy and Family
From the problem of free will to the ownership of nostrils, this philosophical questionnaire will disturb you into an exciting area of doubt and exploration. This book is the beginning of a wonderful adventure - an utter delight. ~ Robin Ince, comedian and writer
'A fascinating invitation to philosophical thinking - provokes readers to explore the very deepest questions in the company of literary greats from Plato and Zhuangzi to Oscar Wilde and Lewis Carroll.' ~ Katherine Hawley, Professor of Philosophy, University of St Andrews
