Key Ideas in Human Thought

Spanning all disciplines throughout the ages, Key Ideas in Human Thought is the consummate guide to intellectual history. Assembled for the nonspecialist by a board of academic experts, this rich compendium provides 2,500 explanatory essays on the most important concepts that have shaped the modern world. Arranged alphabetically, terms encompass all fields of inquiry, from science to history, economics to literature, mathematics to music. This is where to find a lode of information on an extraordinary range of terms familiar and unfamiliar, complex and (apparently) simple, broad and narrow, such as post-modernism, atonality, chaos theory, structuralism, civilization, beauty, virtue.
To give a full understanding of each term, essays go beyond mere definitions to explore why certain concepts have become so important. Each entry sets the term in historical context, noting the contributions of major artists, scientists, thinkers and researchers as well as the influences of competing theories. An examination of how the concept fits into current thinking and where it may lead us in the future completes the store of information for each idea. Suggested reading lists and extensive cross-referencing are included throughout to make this the first and foremost source of its kind.
A brilliant combination of sophistication and accessibility, Key Ideas in Human Thought mines the breadth and depth of intellectual history as no other book does. With its wealth of information and highly readable essays, this lavish resource is an invaluable addition to every personal library.

YA-A compilation of many of the ideas and ideals that have motivated our thoughts and actions for much of recorded time. McLeish includes clear definitions, etymologies, and histories of the "networks of thought which govern our activities." Each concept is placed in its original social context as well as in the niche-if any-it presently holds and its progress to this point. Most entries include cross references and many have suggested reading lists appended. The ideas are arranged alphabetically and there are "see" references when alternate or synonymous terms are possible. According to the introduction, McLeish "asked experts in the main disciplines first to select and then to write about ideas in their fields which they considered of primary importance and influence, now and in the past." These contributors are all based in Britain, and many are not traditional academics. This might explain why most of the entries are clear and readable, and also why many of the ideas seem Eurocentric. Ancient and Eastern ideologies are included, however, and current attitudes are well represented. A handy one-volume reference source and a helpful starting point for researchers.
Susan H. Woodcock, King's Park Library, Burke, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This A-to-Z guide to intellectual history, boasting more than 4000 entries by 40 academic experts, is at once a handy reference, a marvelous companion for home and bedside, and a conversation-starter. Covering philosophy, religion, art, music, literature, mathematics, linguistics, computer science, economics, anthropology, psychology and many other fields, the entries vary greatly in depth, ranging from one- or two-paragraph capsules to thoughtful, provocative mini-essays that stimulate readers to make fresh connections and broaden their perspectives. One of the book's assets is that it lets readers quickly pinpoint a host of phenomena, terms and such concepts as the Chicago School of social thought, ecofeminism and The Method (the popular system of training actors originated by Russian director Konstantin Stanislavsky). A valuable resource. Newbridge Book Club selection.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This book can be characterized by a phrase from the editor's introduction: "thoughts on human thoughts." McLeish, an experienced author in the humanities, enlisted two science consultants and an impressive group of 35 experts to write the entries for this volume. All but one are affiliated with British institutions. The writers represent diverse fields of inquiry: anthropology, drama, engineering, physics, philosophy, sociology, and more. Each selected the main concepts in his or her discipline. The result is an eclectic browse through 2,500 key ideas in current western academic thinking. Each of the brief entries is signed.

Concepts are listed alphabetically. Entries such as Art for Art's Sake require only one paragraph; Space and Time, three pages. The term or phrase is defined and placed in historical context, and contributors to its development are mentioned. References to related entries appear at the end of essays, and concepts within the text treated elsewhere in the volume are in boldface type. Further reading is listed at the end of some entries. The entry phrase for each concept was chosen at the discretion of the author. Phrases such as No-Ownership Theory of the Self and inverted entries such as Other Minds, Problem of illustrate the arbitrary selection of terminology. Alternate and related forms are not entered, although they may be treated in the text. An index would have been an invaluable addition to this thought-provoking volume.

This work does not replace the five- volume standby, The Dictionary of the History of Ideas (Scribner, 1973), which is more extensive but not as current. Key Ideas has entries for such topics as Sociobiology, which have emerged since the Scribner dictionary was published, but that work covers such concepts as Yin and Yang and Volunteerism, which are surprisingly missing from Key Ideas. The new edition of The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy (Houghton, 1993) is aimed at a distinctly North American audience. Unlike it, Key Ideas doesn't cover specific events but aims for the philosophical underpinnings of Western intellectual thought. These works complement each other. Key Ideas in Human Thought is a tantalizing work that will be an interesting addition for private as well as reference collections.

Serious students and teachers will welcome this encyclopedia of important thoughts, ideas, concepts, theories, doctrines, systems, practices, movements, and -isms. Prepared by 40 academics, the book contains 2500 signed A-to-Z entries covering all areas of knowledge. A sampling of entries indicate the book's reach: abiogenesis , ambiguity , angry young men , balance of power , beat generation , bourgeoisie , castration anxiety , deficit spending , existentialism , Frankfurt School , homeostasis , logarithms , myth , pathetic fallacy , tonality , and Zionism. Each topic is summarized in a paragraph or more and concludes with further reading suggestions. The book lacks an index, but cross references suffice to make necessary connections. Comparable sources include the 917-page Harper Dictionary of Modern Thought (Harper, 1988. rev. ed.) and the five-volume Dictionary of the History of Ideas ( LJ 11/1/73). Useful for both reference and browsing, this work deserves a place in most public and academic libraries.
- Ken Kister, author of "Best Encyclopedias," Tampa, Fla.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.