[This book] offers lucid and thorough explications of key Sartrean concepts and even phrases, and it contains revealing accounts of the numerous thinkers and writers who influenced Sartre...This book will open doors.-David Pugmire, Department of Philosophy, University of Southampton, UK The Sartre Dictionary is a comprehensive and accessible guide to the world of Jean- Paul Sartre. Meticulously researched and extensively cross-referenced, this unique book covers all of his major works, ideas and influences and provides a firm grounding in the central themes of Sartres thought. Students will discover a wealth of useful information, analysis and criticism. More than 350 A-Z entries include clear definitions of all the key terms used in Sartres writings and detailed synopses of his key works, novels and plays. The Dictionary also includes entries on Sartres major philosophical influences, from Descartes to Heidegger, and his contemporaries, including de Beauvoir and Merleau-Ponty. It covers everything that is essential to a sound understanding of Sartres existentialism, offering clear explanations of often complex terminology.

Continuum's "Guides for the Perplexed" are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging. Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to fathom, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material. Jean-Paul Sartre is one of the most widely read and important of twentieth-century philosophers, an iconic figure, whose ideas and writings continue to resonate. As the major exponent of Existentialism he is the author of some of the seminal works in the canon of modern European philosophy, including Being and Nothingness. A confident understanding of Sartre is essential for students of Continental philosophy. "Sartre: A Guide for the Perplexed" is an illuminating and comprehensive introduction to the work of this major twentieth-century thinker. It identifies the four key themes that run through Sartre's writings - consciousness, freedom, bad faith and authenticity. It explores each theme in detail, building up a clear and thorough overview of Sartre's philosophy in its entirety. The book examines the core concepts that recur throughout Sartre's work, most notably 'being-in-itself' and 'being-for-itself'. It pays particularly close attention to the relationship between these two phenomena - a relationship that underpins Sartre's entire philosophy. Anyone required to read Sartre will find this thematic account of his work an invaluable companion to study.

Partisan conflict between the White House and Congress is now a dominant feature of national politics in the United States. What the Constitution sought to institute-a system of checks and balances-divided government has taken to extremes: institutional divisions so deep that national challenges like balancing the federal budget or effectively regulating the nation's savings and loans have become insurmountable. In original essays written especially for this volume, eight of the leading scholars in American government address the causes and consequences of divided party control. Their essays, written with a student audience in mind, take up such timely questions as: Why do voters consistently elect Republican presidents and Democratic congresses? How does divided control shape national policy on crucial issues such as the declaration of war? How have presidents adapted their leadership strategies to the circumstance of divided government? And, how has Congress responded in the way it writes laws and oversees departmental performance? These issues and a host of others are addressed in this compact yet comprehensive volume. The distinguished lineup of contributors promises to make this book "must" reading for both novice and serious students of elections, Congress, and the presidency.

This clear and accessible introduction offers detailed coverage of, and invaluable guidance on, Sartre's fictional writings."Sartre and Fiction" offers a clear and accessible introduction to the extensive fictional writings of Jean-Paul Sartre.Providing comprehensive coverage of his short stories, novels and plays, the book examines the close links between the ideas and themes in his fiction and those put forward in his formal philosophical works. Sartre wrote fiction as a means of developing and enriching his philosophical ideas.Gary Cox reveals the extent to which Sartre's fictional writings are truly philosophical and an integral part of his overall intellectual vision. He also explores the ways in which Sartre's fictional writings reflect the personal, historical and political context in which they were written. Aside from yielding a wealth of personal and historical detail, this fascinating book demonstrates that the only way to fully appreciate Sartre's grand philosophical project is to understand the man himself and the troubled times though which he lived and wrote.Ideal for undergraduate students encountering Sartre for the first time, this book offers the first sustained introduction to Sartre's fictional oeuvre.

Partisan conflict between the White House and Congress is now a dominant feature of national politics in the United States. What the Constitution sought to institute-a system of checks and balances-divided government has taken to extremes: institutional divisions so deep that national challenges like balancing the federal budget or effectively regulating the nation's savings and loans have become insurmountable. In original essays written especially for this volume, eight of the leading scholars in American government address the causes and consequences of divided party control. Their essays, written with a student audience in mind, take up such timely questions as: Why do voters consistently elect Republican presidents and Democratic congresses? How does divided control shape national policy on crucial issues such as the declaration of war? How have presidents adapted their leadership strategies to the circumstance of divided government? And, how has Congress responded in the way it writes laws and oversees departmental performance? These issues and a host of others are addressed in this compact yet comprehensive volume. The distinguished lineup of contributors promises to make this book "must" reading for both novice and serious students of elections, Congress, and the presidency.

The Existentialist's Guide to Death, the Universe and Nothingness is an entertaining philosophical guide to life, love, hate, freedom, sex, anxiety, God and death; a guide to everything and nothing. Gary Cox, bestselling author of How to Be an Existentialist and How to Be a Philosopher, takes us on an exciting journey through the central themes of existentialism, a philosophy of the human condition. The Existentialist's Guide fascinates, informs, provokes and inspires as it explores existentialism's uncompromising view of human reality. It leaves the reader with no illusions about how hard it is to live honestly and achieve authenticity. It has, however, a redeeming humour that sets the wisdom of the great existentialist philosophers alongside the wit of great musicians and comedians. A realistic self-help book for anyone interested in personal empowerment, The Existentialist's Guide offers a wealth of profound philosophical insight into life, the universe and everything.

Praise for "Don't Let Others Rent Space in Your Head"

"Gary offers rich advice for anyone who wishes to succeed in spite of his or her failures. Four simple steps may be all that stand in the way of your dreams becoming a reality. Here's to the good life! Cheers!"
--Robin Leech, TV host

"Gary has developed an uncanny ability to take people to the next level. A must-read for everyone, whether you want to improve your life, your sales, or your business. Gary definitely has it figured out. Well done!"
--Harvey MacKay, New York Times bestselling author of Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

"Gary's thought process is one to admire and to achieve. Handling big business means changing your mindset, and Gary leads the way. An enjoyable book with great concepts for everyone in business and in personal life. A book you'll want to read twice."
--Gordon "Butch" Stewart, owner of Sandals Resorts

"A powerful and practical approach from someone who truly knows what he's talking about. You will be unstoppable after reading Gary's no-nonsense ideas on never giving up and becoming more successful."
--Ron Rice, founder, President, and CEO of Hawaiian Tropics

"Gary's book will take you beyond positive thinking and change your life for the better."
--Ron Garl, President of Ron Garl Golf Design

An original look at the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre—told in cartoons   As graduates embark on the next phase of their lives, what better way to get them accustomed to the rat race they are about to enter than by introducing them to the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre? Cleverly told through the story of a pair of rats trapped in the labyrinth of existence, this allegory humorously conveys the key ideas of Sartre’s existential philosophy in graphic-novel form—accessible for students and readers of all ages. In addition, two reputable Sartre scholars have contributed the introduction and afterword: Gary Cox, a British philosopher with a doctorate from the University of Birmingham, and Christine Daigle, professor of philosophy at Brock University in Canada.

The 10th anniversary edition of a witty classic about the philosophy of existentialism. It is also a genuine self-help book offering clear advice on how to live according to the principles of existentialism formulated by Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus, and the other great existentialist philosophers. An attack on contemporary excuse culture, the book urges us to face the hard existential truths of the human condition. By revealing that we are all inescapably free and responsible - 'condemned to be free,' as Sartre says - the book aims to empower the reader with a sharp sense that we are each the master of our own destiny. Cox makes fun of the reputation existentialism has for being gloomy and pessimistic, exposing it for what it really is - an honest, uplifting, and potentially life changing philosophy! This striking 10th anniversary edition with a substantial new preface includes more pointers on how to be a true existentialist, including how to be an existentialist at a time when environmental issues are becoming ever more pressing and our 'post-truth' world increasingly subjects us to the politically polarising power of simplistic social media.

Jean-Paul Sartre is an undisputed giant of twentieth-century philosophy. His intellectual writings popularizing existentialism combined with his creative and artistic flair have made him a legend of French thought. His tumultuous personal life - so inextricably bound up with his philosophical thinking - is a fascinating tale of love and lust, drug abuse, high profile fallings-out and political and cultural rebellion. This substantial and meticulously researched biography is accessible, fast-paced, often amusing and at times deeply moving. Existentialism and Excess covers all the main events of Sartre's remarkable seventy-five-year life from his early years as a precocious brat devouring his grandfather's library, through his time as a brilliant student in Paris, his wilderness years as a provincial teacher-writer experimenting with mescaline, his World War II adventures as a POW and member of the resistance, his post-war politicization, his immense amphetamine fueled feats of writing productivity, his harem of women, his many travels and his final decline into blindness and old age. Along the way there are countless intriguing anecdotes, some amusing, some tragic, some controversial: his loathing of crustaceans and his belief that he was being pursued by a giant lobster, his escape from a POW camp, the bombing of his apartment, his influence on the May 1968 uprising and his many love affairs. Cox deftly moves from these episodes to discussing his intellectual development, his famous feuds with Aron, Camus, and Merleau-Ponty, his encounters with other giant figures of his day: Roosevelt, Hemingway, Heidegger, John Huston, Mao, Castro, Che Guevara, Khrushchev and Tito, and, above all, his long, complex and creative relationship with Simone de Beauvoir. Existentialism and Excess also gives serious consideration to Sartre's ideas and many philosophical works, novels, stories, plays and biographies, revealing their intimate connection with his personal life. Cox has written an entertaining, thought-provoking and compulsive book, much like the man himself.

What is goodness? Is goodness achievable, and if so, how? If being a good person is a matter of doing the right thing, then what is the right thing to do? Is it acting rationally, promoting happiness, exercising moderation in all things or respecting the freedom of others, or is it somehow a concoction of all these abilities, wisely adjusted to suit circumstances? In this instructive, entertaining and often humorous book, Gary Cox, best-selling author of How to Be an Existentialist and How to Be a Philosopher, investigates the phenomenon of goodness and what, if anything, it is to be a good person and a paragon of virtue. Part easygoing exploration of the age-old subject of moral philosophy, part personal development and improvement manual, How to Be Good carefully leads you on a fascinating journey through the often strange and surprising world of ethics, with ideas from Aristotle, Kant, Nietzsche and a host of other moral philosophers.

The "Tyrant-Victim" dyad, put forward by Gary Cox three decades ago, was acclaimed as a key to understanding Dostoevsky's novels. Now Cox uses the concept to ask, and answer, telling questions about the evolution of Slavic culture, language, and politics. What is the link between patriarchy as a kinship system and patriarchal political culture? What role was played by sexual violence and policies of extermination as this link evolved? Was the moral landscape of east Europe in the age of migrations, when Slavic culture and language were taking trhe shape they have today, anything like the scene of the Yugoslav conflict of the 1990s? How did the interplay between herders and farmers in east Europe between 500 before-the-common-era (BC) and 500 Common Era (a.k.a. AD) impact the evolution of proto-Slavic culture? Was authoritarian political culture the inevitable result? Why did the Indo-European word-root 'pater' (Lat., "father") disappear from Slavic languages, replaced by a derivative from the word for 'uncle'? The classic Slavic folktale (and not only Slavic) relates the hero's departure from a troubled homeland and his conquests and marriage in foreign lands. Is this a pretty adventure or a mythic reframing of what was originally invasion and conquest rape? These questions are explored in the context of evolutionary psychology (forgive me, Fyodor Mikhailovich ), which can reveal startling new insights in materials that have been taken for granted. Why Dostoevsky? How is the "tyrant-victim dyad" reflected in great works of Russian literature, as well as in political culture and everyday life? Finally, what's the "take-away" from all this, in terms of everyday people in authoritarian cultures? How does it affect their sense of the effectiveness of their own political behavior?

Space Tug is a Science Fiction novel about a man faced with a monumental struggle involving the fate of mankind. Tough philosophical questions of right and wrong force Captain Bontober to reach deep inside for answers he didn't know he had. Aboard a giant space ship he finds commando robots, laser guns, ancient aliens, and tons of extraterrestrial technology. He learns a terrible secret and only he can set things right, but it begs the unthinkable question, 'Do I save myself or save the world?' Gary Cox dares to explore these issues in areas that are usually off limits. Space Tug will stay with you long after you put it down.

Do life's big questions perplex you? This book will give you answers to some of them while revealing that others have no answer. A humorous but informed instruction manual to questions philosophers have been asking and attempting to answer for centuries, How to Be A Philosopher will help you: Think, talk, argue and persuade like a philosopher, win every agument by tying people in philosophical knots, ask questions and raise doubts about things most people take for granted, realise that almost nothing is certain, get the absolute final word on that question about a falling tree. A practical guide to philosophising, the book explains philosophical ideas with examples drawn from such great works as Family Guy, Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Matrix and Red Dwarf. The book also argues that learning to philosophise will help you think more clearly and honestly about your own life. The book even gives practical advice on how to make a living from philosophy!

This clear and accessible introduction offers detailed coverage of, and invaluable guidance on, Sartre's fictional writings."Sartre and Fiction" offers a clear and accessible introduction to the extensive fictional writings of Jean-Paul Sartre.Providing comprehensive coverage of his short stories, novels and plays, the book examines the close links between the ideas and themes in his fiction and those put forward in his formal philosophical works. Sartre wrote fiction as a means of developing and enriching his philosophical ideas.Gary Cox reveals the extent to which Sartre's fictional writings are truly philosophical and an integral part of his overall intellectual vision. He also explores the ways in which Sartre's fictional writings reflect the personal, historical and political context in which they were written. Aside from yielding a wealth of personal and historical detail, this fascinating book demonstrates that the only way to fully appreciate Sartre's grand philosophical project is to understand the man himself and the troubled times though which he lived and wrote.Ideal for undergraduate students encountering Sartre for the first time, this book offers the first sustained introduction to Sartre's fictional oeuvre.

This is a concise and accessible dictionary of the key terms used in Sartre's philosophy, his major works and philosophical influences."The Sartre Dictionary" is a comprehensive and accessible guide to the world of Jean-Paul Sartre. Meticulously researched and extensively cross-referenced, this unique book covers all his major works, ideas and influences and provides a firm grounding in the central themes of Sartre's thought. Students will discover a wealth of useful information, analysis and criticism. More than 350 A-Z entries include clear definitions of all the key terms used in Sartre's writings and detailed synopses of his key works, novels and plays. The Dictionary also includes entries on Sartre's major philosophical influences, from Descartes to Heidegger, and his contemporaries, including de Beauvoir and Merleau-Ponty.It covers everything that is essential to a sound understanding of Sartre's existentialism, offering clear and accessible explanations of often complex terminology. "The Sartre Dictionary" is the ideal resource for anyone reading or studying Sartre, existentialism or 20th Century Continental Philosophy.

Do life's big questions perplex you? This book, now available in paperback, will give you answers to some of them while revealing that others have no answer. A humorous but informed instruction manual to questions philosophers have been asking and attempting to answer for centuries, "How to Be A Philosopher" will help you: - Think, talk, argue and persuade like a philosopher.- Win every agument by tying people in philosophical knots.- Ask questions and raise doubts about things most people take for granted.- Realise that almost nothing is certain.- Get the absolute final word on that question about a falling tree.A practical guide to philosophising, the book explains philosophical ideas with examples drawn from such great works as Family Guy, "Monty Python's Flying Circus," "The Matrix "and" Red Dwarf." The book also argues that learning to philosophise will help you think more clearly and honestly about your own life. The book even gives practical advice on how to make a living from philosophy

Gary Cox guides us through 42 of the most misunderstood, misquoted, provocative and significant quotes in the history of philosophy providing a witty and compelling commentary along the way. This entertaining and illuminating collection of quotes doesn't merely list who said what and when, it explores who each philosopher is and what he or she really meant when they said what they said. Viewing each quote as a philosophical thesis in itself, Cox probes the writings of everyone from Douglas Adams to A.J. Ayer and Thomas Aquinas to Karl Marx. This is a philosophical journey through history, culture and writing to bring us to a deeper understanding of why we think the way we do. As Douglas Adams points out, if there is no final answer to the question, 'What is the meaning of life?', '42' is as good or bad an answer as any other. Here Cox shows that 42 quotes might be even better!

Jean-Paul Sartre is an undisputed giant of twentieth-century philosophy. His intellectual writings popularizing existentialism combined with his creative and artistic flair have made him a legend of French thought. His tumultuous personal life - so inextricably bound up with his philosophical thinking - is a fascinating tale of love and lust, drug abuse, high profile fallings-out and political and cultural rebellion. This substantial and meticulously researched biography is accessible, fast-paced, often amusing and at times deeply moving. Existentialism and Excess covers all the main events of Sartre's remarkable seventy-five-year life from his early years as a precocious brat devouring his grandfather's library, through his time as a brilliant student in Paris, his wilderness years as a provincial teacher-writer experimenting with mescaline, his World War II adventures as a POW and member of the resistance, his post-war politicization, his immense amphetamine fueled feats of writing productivity, his harem of women, his many travels and his final decline into blindness and old age. Along the way there are countless intriguing anecdotes, some amusing, some tragic, some controversial: his loathing of crustaceans and his belief that he was being pursued by a giant lobster, his escape from a POW camp, the bombing of his apartment, his influence on the May 1968 uprising and his many love affairs. Cox deftly moves from these episodes to discussing his intellectual development, his famous feuds with Aron, Camus, and Merleau-Ponty, his encounters with other giant figures of his day: Roosevelt, Hemingway, Heidegger, John Huston, Mao, Castro, Che Guevara, Khrushchev and Tito, and, above all, his long, complex and creative relationship with Simone de Beauvoir. Existentialism and Excess also gives serious consideration to Sartre's ideas and many philosophical works, novels, stories, plays and biographies, revealing their intimate connection with his personal life. Cox has written an entertaining, thought-provoking and compulsive book, much like the man himself.

What is God? Does he exist? Can we know? The God Confusion offers a down-to-earth beginner's guide for anyone interested in these questions. It does not evangelize for God and religion or, indeed, for atheism, secularism and science. Instead, it explores in a witty yet objective and balanced way the idea of God and the strengths and weaknesses of the standard arguments for his existence. Gary Cox shows that the philosophical reasoning at the heart of these arguments is logically incapable of moving beyond speculation to any kind of proof. The only credible philosophical position is therefore agnosticism. The God Confusion defends science generally and the theory of evolution in particular. It argues that if religion is not to appear increasingly outdated and ridiculous in the eyes of free-thinking, educated people, it must accommodate science and accept that science has replaced the old God of the gaps as an explanation of natural phenomena. Concluding that God may or may not exist, on the grounds that science, philosophy and theology are inherently incapable of proving or disproving his existence, The God Confusion acknowledges that religious faith based on a deliberate commitment to live as though there is a moral God is a coherent notion and a worthwhile, even prudent enterprise. At the same time, it rejects the idea of inner certainty as mere wishful thinking, arguing that it is not a coherent basis for belief and is simply bad faith.

Jean-Paul Sartre in one of the most widely read and important of twentieth-century philosophers, an iconic figure, whose ideas and writings continue to resonate. A confident understanding of Sartre is essential for students of Continental philosophy. Sartre: A Guide for the Perplexed is an illuminating and comprehensive introduction to the work of this major twentieth-century thinker. It identifies the four key themes that run through Sartre's writings - consciousness, freedom, bad faith and authenticity. It explores each theme in detail, building up a clear and thorough overview of Sartre's philosophy in its entirety. Anyone required to read Sartre will find this thematic account of his work an invaluable companion to study.

What is God? Does he exist? Can we know? The God Confusion offers a down-to-earth beginner's guide for anyone interested in these questions. It does not evangelise for God and religion or, indeed, for atheism, secularism and science. Instead, it explores in a witty yet objective and balanced way the idea of God and the strengths and weaknesses of the standard arguments for his existence. It argues from a sceptical, empiricist perspective that the philosophical reasoning at the heart of these arguments is logically incapable of moving beyond speculation to any kind of proof. It concludes that the only credible philosophical position is agnosticism. The God Confusion defends science generally and the theory of evolution in particular. It argues that if religion is not to appear increasingly outdated and ridiculous in the eyes of free-thinking, educated people, it must accommodate science and accept that science has replaced the old God of the gaps as an explanation of natural phenomena.Concluding that God may or may not exist, on the grounds that science, philosophy and theology are inherently incapable of proving or disproving his existence, The God Confusion acknowledges that religious faith based on a deliberate commitment to live as though there is a moral God is a coherent notion and a worthwhile, even prudent enterprise. At the same time, it rejects the idea of inner certainty as mere wishful thinking, arguing that it is not a coherent basis for belief and is simply bad faith.

Gary Cox guides us through 42 of the most misunderstood, misquoted, provocative and significant quotes in the history of philosophy providing a witty and compelling commentary along the way. This entertaining and illuminating collection of quotes doesn't merely list who said what and when, it explores who each philosopher is and what he or she really meant when they said what they said. Viewing each quote as a philosophical thesis in itself, Cox probes the writings of everyone from Douglas Adams to A.J. Ayer and Thomas Aquinas to Karl Marx. This is a philosophical journey through history, culture and writing to bring us to a deeper understanding of why we think the way we do. As Douglas Adams points out, if there is no final answer to the question, 'What is the meaning of life?', '42' is as good or bad an answer as any other. Here Cox shows that 42 quotes might be even better!