The Bedside Book of Philosophy: From the Birth of Western Philosophy to The Good Place: 125 Historic Events and Big Ideas to Push the Limits of Your Knowledge

A fascinating exploration into the 125 most important milestones in philosophy, all in one handy book perfect for keeping on your bedside table or carrying wherever you go.

Now is the perfect time to expand your knowledge and learn something new or delve deeper into a topic you’ve always been interested in. With 125 concise, informative, and entertaining entries, The Bedside Book of Philosophy explores the key theories, great insights, thought-provoking questions, influential personalities, and seminal publications in the field over the millennia. Gregory Bassham covers a wide range of topics and cultures—from Confucian ethics and Plato’s theory of forms to Occam’s Razor, Hume’s A Treatise of Human Nature, existentialism, feminist philosophy, Social Darwinism, and The Good Place—all in an accessible, conversational voice. Includes 75 black-and-white illustrations throughout.

Gregory Bassham is emeritus professor of philosophy at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, where he specialized in the philosophy of law, critical thinking, and the connections between pop culture and philosophy. He is also coeditor of several successful books, including The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy (Open Court) and The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy (Wiley), and the lead writer of Critical Thinking: A Student’s Introduction, 8th ed. (McGraw-Hill). Bassham earned his PhD at the University of Notre Dame, and his articles and essays on philosophy are featured in numerous periodicals and books. He lives, writes, and hikes in northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife, Mia.