THE PULSE OF WISDOM provides an introduction to Asian philosophy as found in the countries of India, China, and Japan. Its thematic approach covers the most significant questions in the areas of Oriental metaphysics, ontology, epistemology, and ethics as it successfully integrates historical and regional approaches. In addition, readings from Indian, Chinese, and Japanese sources allow the reader to gain some familiarity with primary sources. This book helps readers develop a sound grasp of the major teachings and leading figures and schools in Oriental thought. Furthermore, it enables the reader to gain a competent understanding of the ways of thinking of peoples with whom we will continue to work together more closely in our global community.

Clearly written for the beginning student, this text provides an introduction to Asian philosophy as found in India, China, and Japan. Its thematic approach covers the most significant questions in the areas of Oriental metaphysics, ontology, epistemology, and ethics as it successfully integrates historical and regional approaches. In addition to providing a solid basis for a sound grasp of the major teachings and leading figures and schools in Oriental thought, readings from Indian, Chinese, and Japanese sources help the student gain some familiarity with primary sources.

A myth-shattering view of the Islamic world's myriad scientific innovations and the role they played in sparking the European Renaissance. Many of the innovations that we think of as hallmarks of Western science had their roots in the Arab world of the middle ages, a period when much of Western Christendom lay in intellectual darkness. Jim al- Khalili, a leading British-Iraqi physicist, resurrects this lost chapter of history, and given current East-West tensions, his book could not be timelier. With transporting detail, al-Khalili places readers in the hothouses of the Arabic Enlightenment, shows how they led to Europe's cultural awakening, and poses the question: Why did the Islamic world enter its own dark age after such a dazzling flowering?

The purpose of One Heart is to illuminate the common sacred ground at the heart of seven faiths: Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism. Its method is to identify 65 essential principles, among them: Feel what other people feel; Don't harm others; Lead with virtue and concern for others; Be honest; Practice what you preach; Be content; Don't let anger take over; Choose your companions wisely; Accept the existence of spiritual beings; Seek and you will find. Illustrating each principle are one, two, or three quotations (adding up to more than 600) from a wide variety of texts sacred to each of the seven faiths--including the Old and New Testaments, the Talmud, the Mahabarata, the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita, the Analects of Confucius, and many other sacred sources. In addition, each chapter also provides guidance on a spiritual theme or practice--prayer beads, a home altar, labyrinth walking--to enhance our understanding of these wise words and universal principles.

In the past three decades, China has risen from near collapse to a powerhouse -- upending nearly every convention on the world stage, whether policy or business. China is now the globe’s second largest economy, second largest exporter, a manufacturing machine that has lifted 500 million of its citizens from poverty while producing more than one million US dollar millionaires. Then why do China’s leaders describe the nation’s economic model as “unstable and unsustainable”? Because it is. James McGregor has spent 25 years in China as a businessman, journalist and author. In this, his latest highly readable book, he offers extensive new research that pulls back the curtain on China’s economic power. He describes the much-vaunted “China Model” as one of authoritarian capitalism, a unique system that, in its own way, is terminating itself. It is proving incompatible with global trade and business governance. It is threatening multinationals, which fear losing their business secrets and technology to China’s mammoth state-owned enterprises. It is fielding those SOEs – China’s “national champions” -- into a global order angered by heavily subsidized state capitalism. And it is relying on an outdated investment and export model that’s running out of steam. What has worked in the past, won’t work in the future. The China Model must be radically overhauled if the country hopes to continue its march toward prosperity. The nation must consume more of what it makes. It must learn to innovate. It must unleash private enterprise. And the Communist Party bosses? They must cede their pervasive and smothering hold on economic power to foster the growth, and thus social stability, that they can’t survive without. Government must step back, the state-owned economy must be brought to heel, and opportunity must be freed. During the Tang Dynasty, an official in the imperial court observed: “No ancient wisdom, no followers.” He was lamenting that regime was headed alone into dangerous and uncharted waters without any precedent for guidance. Again today – as McGregor makes clear – this is China’s greatest challenge.

Often referred to as the "wounded healer," astrological Chiron reveals what it means to be truly, wisely human. Chiron: The Wisdom of a Deeply Open Heart presents a thorough examination of the psychological, mythological and evolutionary meanings in the symbol of Chiron based in Gainsburg's extensive clinical experience working with individuals and couples. He lays out the Chironic landscape of the Soul by examining the origin of the 'sacred wound, ' the psyche's defenses and emotional reality of the wound resurfacing later in life, and how the wound becomes our 'sacred medicine' or our unique and embodied wisdom. Most notable is an original method of effectively interpreting Chiron's polarity position within an evolution of consciousness framework. Includes a general and refreshing exploration of astrological polarity in light of leading insights into the nature of evolving consciousness; a look at the meaning of Chiron's glyph; Chiron through the signs and houses; in-depth examinations of the sacred wound, the medicine, the broken-open heart and the medicine-walk archetypes; the karmic implications of Chironic placement; Chiron retrograde; and the popular article, "The Chiron-Moon Connection."

A reasoned and urgent call to embrace and protect the essential human quality that has been drummed out of our lives: wisdom. In their provocative new book, Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe explore the insights essential to leading satisfying lives. Encouraging individuals to focus on their own personal intelligence and integrity rather than simply navigating the rules and incentives established by others, Practical Wisdom outlines how to identify and cultivate our own innate wisdom in our daily lives.