Friendship
Exploring the Nature and Significance of Friendship
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Yale University Press
Published:15th Jul '14
Should be back in stock very soon
This insightful book examines the nature and significance of friendship across history and culture, offering profound reflections and personal anecdotes. Friendship explores timeless connections.
What is the essence of friendship, and why is it so vital in our lives? In Friendship, the author delves into historical perspectives on this profound bond, weaving together a tapestry of diverse stories from mythology and literature. Through these narratives, unexpected insights emerge, shedding light on the nature of our connections with friends, our understanding of ourselves, and the ethical dimensions of friendship. This exploration is both entertaining and thought-provoking, examining how friendship has evolved from ancient times to the present day.
A cherished value and a unique relationship, friendship is portrayed as a fundamental human need and a form of love. The book investigates how the ancient Greeks' analysis of friendship has transformed over time and how modern technology has reshaped its very definition. A. C. Grayling, a prominent philosopher, embarks on a captivating journey through the rich traditions of friendship found in literature, culture, art, and philosophy, discussing both well-known pairs like Achilles and Patroclus, and lesser-known connections such as Coleridge and Wordsworth.
In Friendship, Grayling presents major philosophical interpretations while also sharing his personal experiences and insights. He thoughtfully addresses contemporary issues such as internet-based friendships, mixed-gender relationships, and the evolving nature of friendship in relation to family. This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted role friendships play in our lives, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding this essential human connection.
'An intelligent, loving tribute to the virtues, values and varieties of friendship.'—Iain Finlayson, The Times
-- Iain Finlayson * The Times *“‘Friend’ is a much devalued word today. . . .In Friendship the noted British scholar A.C. Grayling tries to restore some of the term's richness.” —Micah Mattix, The Wall Street Journal -- Micah Mattix * Wall Street Journal *
“A philosophical inquiry into friendship with a historical perspective . . . [offers] some fresh ways of looking at and thinking about a very familiar topic.”—Kirkus Reviews * Kirkus Reviews *
"A masterly investigation into one of the supreme, though often neglected, virtues of the well-lived life. A.C. Grayling dazzlingly illuminates the richness of friendship as it has been conceived and practised in the Western world since antiquity."—Simon May, author of Love: A History -- Simon May
Praise for A. C. Grayling:
"If there is any such person in Britain today as The Thinking Man, it is A. C. Grayling. He provides generous help for the ethically challenged, the philosophically perplexed, and the culturally confused."—The Times * The Times *
'A superb, enlightening tour - and a friendly one – through friendship's literary and philosophical landscape.' - Sarah Bakewell, author of
How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer
-- Sarah Bakewell
“Precise and rigorous.”–Glenn Altschuler, Psychology Today website -- Glenn Altschuler * Psychology Today *
“Wearing his impressive intellect lightly, Grayling offers an accessible exploration of ideas about friendship through the ages, from Ancient Greek thinkers through to the present day – grounded in experiences from his own life. In a refreshing break from the tradition of analytical philosophy, he goes beyond abstract, logical arguments to offer valuable insights for our lives. With social media stretching the definition of ‘friend’ to near meaninglessness, this is a timely and thought-provoking read.”—Juanita Coulson, The Lady
-- Juanita Coulson * The Lady *“Grayling’s scholarship goes forward at a gallop, but his exuberance and commitment captures the reader.”—Illtyd Harrington, Camden New Journal -- Illtyd Harrington * Camden New Journal *
“Elegant . . . Grayling has taken a subject that is hiding in plain sight and given it the loving attention it deserves.”—Joe Queenan, Barron’s -- Joe Queenan * Barron�
ISBN: 9780300205367
Dimensions: 210mm x 130mm x 16mm
Weight: 272g
248 pages