The Frontiers of Knowledge - by A Grayling (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling polymath, a gripping history of science, life on earth and the human mind - and what we might know in the future.

In very recent times humanity has learned a vast amount about the universe, the past, and itself. But through our remarkable successes in acquiring knowledge we have learned how much we have yet to learn: the science we have, for example, addresses just 5% of the universe; pre-history is still being revealed, with thousands of historical sites yet to be explored; and the new neurosciences of mind and brain are just beginning.

What do we know, and how do we know it? What do we now know that we don't know? And what have we learned about the obstacles to knowing more? In a time of deepening battles over what knowledge and truth mean, these questions matter more than ever. Bestselling polymath and philosopher A. C. Grayling seeks to answer them in three crucial areas at the frontiers of knowledge: science, history, and psychology.

A remarkable history of science, life on earth, and the human mind itself, this is a compelling and fascinating tour de force, written with verve, clarity and remarkable breadth of knowledge.

Review Quotes

"Remarkable, readable and authoritative. How he has mastered so much, so thoroughly, is nothing short of amazing" --Lawrence M. Krauss, author of A Universe from Nothing

"Once again, A. C. Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects. To understand the world, we must appreciate both what is known and what remains to be known, and no one can instill that understanding more effectively than Grayling." --Steven Pinker, author of Enlightenment Now

"A witty, learned, authoritative survey of philosophical thought." --New York Times Book Review on The History of Philosophy

"The History of Philosophy isn't just worth buying; it's worth scribbling in and dog-earing. For a work of scholarship, there can be no higher praise." --Washington Post on The History of Philosophy

"Perhaps Grayling's greatest strength lies in his ability to categorize, contrast, and clarify complex ideas."--Publishers Weekly, starred review of The History of Philosophy

About the Author

Professor A C Grayling is Master of the New College of the Humanities, and a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He has written and edited over thirty books on philosophy and other subjects, and has written on non-Western philosophy. For several years he wrote columns for the Guardian newspaper and The Times and was the chairman of the 2014 Man Booker Prize.