book recommendations

Jonathan Haidt - The Happiness Hypothesis
Short, accessible, transformative... this book reevaluates ancient wisdom in light of contemporary psychology and social psychology research - a must read for anyone wanting to grasp the cutting edge understanding of the human condition

Alasdair MacIntyre - After Virtue
Neither short nor particularly accessible - but transformative. His analysis of the root causes of our modern condition of interminable moral disagreement is the most cohesive and compelling that I have (yet) read. It has changed my opinion about certain aspects of enlightenment thinking 180 degrees.

Alan Watts - Tao: The Watercourse Way
short, accessible, transformative... In under 100 pages Watts has managed to compel the integration of the core precepts of Taoism into my spiritual worldview. Like the other major world religions, Taoism has areas where it provides surpassing wisdom... it is an approach whose capacity to generate peace and humility seem to me second to none.

for what its worth,
eric

P.S. The last two books recommended to me by members of my excellent book group... thanks!

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