The Meaning of Things

Author, journalist and philosopher AJ Grayling's new book The Meaning of Things: Applying Philosophy to Life is a collection of short, self-contained essays or sketches, which began as contributions to the Guardian's "Last Word" column. Like Alain de Botton in The Consolations of Philosophy Grayling is concerned with the application of philosophy to everyday life. However, he is less concerned with what a particular great philosopher might say about particular problems than with human vices and virtues and matters pertaining to the human condition.

The book is divided into three sections. Part 1 deals with the "Virtues and Attributes" of Tolerance, Mercy, Civility, Courage, Hope, Loyalty and Love; part 2, "Foes and Fallacies" is concerned with some of the things considered to be enemies to human flourishing such as Racism, Speciesism, Hate and Depression; and the final part, "Amenities and Goods" focuses on such themes as Reason, Excellence, Art, History and Leisure. The structure of the book and the arrangement of the topics works well so although the pieces are self-contained--allowing one to dip in and out randomly--one gets a sense of continuity if you read it cover to cover.

Opening with Montaigne's salutation "Reader, lo a well-meaning Booke", The Meaning of Things is reminiscent of Montaigne's Essays in form, content and spirit. Grayling has a reverence for classic liberal humanist virtues and a deep conviction that philosophy has an indispensable role to play if we are to live what Socrates called "the considered life": that is, a life "enriched by thinking about things that matter--values, aims, society, the characteristic vicissitudes of the human condition, desiderata both personal and public, the enemies of human flourishing, and the meanings of life". A book such as this is unusual and refreshing because it aims to edify the reader and is written without a trace of cynicism or irony. Grayling is a champion of Enlightenment values, a defender of high culture if you will but who writes for a popular audience without moralising. Peppered with nuggets of philosophical wisdom and written with clarity and economy, the book succeeds in showing how philosophically informed thinking about the things that matter can help us become better people and better citizens of the world. --Larry Brown

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More rant than philosophy - Rated
The book is a series of short newspaper articles on a variety of topics. The book is interesting but the articles consist often of setting up a straw man that is then to be knocked down. It is stimulating but not very informing. I'm glad I read it, but pleased I picked it up for 10p. One to borrow from the library rather than have on the shelves.

Shockingly poor and naive.... - Rated
If the catchy title caught your eye and you are expecting to find informative essays with thought provoking and original content....don't buy this book.
This is a collection of useless platitudes in the first part entitled "Virtues and Attributes" - of which there are few in the book - and an irrational rant against religion in the second part entitled "Foes and fallacies".
Though I applaud any attempt to link philosophy to everyday life, I struggle to find something positive to say about Graylings essays. Far from drawing on the wisdom of great philosophers or illuminating the topics with interesting and original thought, it does relies mostly on the naive opinion of the author. Which can be summarised as follows: religion is the source of all evil and - though it takes care not to say it plainly - Islam and Catholicism are biggest evils of them all.
I must give the author credit, though. If the book's intention is to fuel religious fundamentalism and to further the illusion that science, humanitarianism and religion are diamentrically opposed and eternally irreconcilable....BRAVO!

Whats going on? Well... - Rated
This work has tremendous virtue as an aproachable and fairly broad intoduction to themes of philosphy. Non jargon-istic and frequently directly applicable to life, it opens your eyes and makes you think, even if sometimes to finally disagree. Its not the last word, it does sometimes feel like A.C.Grayling is sermonising, but the books aims to inspire and challenge, and with its straight-forward language and comprehensive logic, it does just that.

Something for everyone! - Rated
This is a great book. For me it's the best out of the authors series. The small sections which are actually essays make this book fantastically easy to pick up anytime and read and dip into.
You can criticize this book for not being all that helpful for Philosophy students, however it's beyond the point. If you are specifically looking for a formal introduction to common arguments or the history of Philosophy then i suggest you look up Nigel Warburton or Bryan Magee. For everyone else (and there is not a single soul that should not find this accessible) enjoy this thought provoking little read.

Thought-provoking - Rated
Grayling has written the ideal book for the modern lover of the essay. I've never read Montaigne, with whom Grayling is sometimes compared but I have read Bacon's 'Essays' and find a strong reflection of these in 'The Meaning of Things'. As a committed Christian, I did find the chapters on religious topics thought-provoking although also irritating. The measured sense that characterises most of Grayling's work seems to desert him when he considers issues such as faith and religion. He writes of knowledge as justified belief in things that are true. He then denies spiritual revelation as an appropriate means of justification, relying wholly on reason and physical evidence despite well-rehearsed limitations of both rationalism and empiricism. Reason, physical evidence, and spiritual evidence can work together in supporting claims to truth. What Grayling rightly condemns is poor or bad religion that is intolerant, counterfactual, or prejudiced. Sadly he does not appear aware of bad or poor science. I am grateful to Grayling though for forcing me to think through my own positions. That is the traditional role of professional philosophers and Grayling has proved, in this book, to be a master at it.