Heinrich Heine lived from 1797 till 1856. This 'Buch der Lieder' is among the first literary works he published.
This book contains lyric poems of the romantic area. These poems are still very popular. Most of the poems are short, but some are a few pages long and tell a whole story. I recommend these 'Lieder' to anyone who likes to read German poetry.
In this book by Jerome K. Jerome, best known for his 'Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog', 'I' and his friend 'B' go on a journey from London to Oberammergau in Germany to see the Passion Play there. Jerome tells of the trip and of some of the touristic sightseeing they do. There are a few 'problems' on the way with a German bed, trying to get an omelette, seesickness, fellow travellers and more. It is written in a very funny way and I advise this book to anyone who likes to read humor. If you enjoyed Jerome's 'Three Men in a Boat' or books by Wodehouse, then you should really give this book a try. The pace of this over a 120 years old book is slower than in modern books, but it does not take more then a few pages to get used to this.
The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote his 'Thoughts' between 170 and 180. Other titles assigned to the same book are: 'Personal Notes', 'Meditations', 'The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius' et al. It is one of the few complete works of a late Stoic philosopher that still exists today. He wrote his 'Thoughts' as personal notes for himself. He writes about solidarity, physical adversity, good and evil, inner freedom and more. 'Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius' is a book full of wisdom that brings comfort and contemplation; it is moving and inspiring. I highly recommend it.
This edition was translated by George Long in 1862. The book does contain a biography of Marcus Aurelius. The 'Thoughs' of Marcus Aurelius are grouped in 12 'books' (chapters). The first book is clearly different from the other eleven; it is a 'thank you' to people who have had a good influence on him. For example: 'From my grandfather Verus (I learned) good morals and the government of my temper.' (I.1). The other eleven books contain his notes. His Stoic philosophy emphasizes ethics, especially everyday problems.
Some quotations from this book:
Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly. (II.11)
Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquillity which others give. A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others. (III.5)
Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all artifice and ostentatious display. (IV.51)
The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote his 'Thoughts' between 170 and 180. Other titles assigned to the same book are: 'Personal Notes', 'Meditations', 'The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius' et al. It is one of the few complete works of a late Stoic philosopher that still exists today. He wrote his 'Thoughts' as personal notes for himself. He writes about solidarity, physical adversity, good and evil, inner freedom and more. 'Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius' is a book full of wisdom that brings comfort and contemplation; it is moving and inspiring. I highly recommend it.
This edition was translated by George Long in 1862. The book does contain a biography of Marcus Aurelius. The 'Thoughs' of Marcus Aurelius are grouped in 12 'books' (chapters). The first book is clearly different from the other eleven; it is a 'thank you' to people who have had a good influence on him. For example: 'From my grandfather Verus (I learned) good morals and the government of my temper.' (I.1). The other eleven books contain his notes. His Stoic philosophy emphasizes ethics, especially everyday problems.
Some quotations from this book:
Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly. (II.11)
Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquillity which others give. A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others. (III.5)
Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all artifice and ostentatious display. (IV.51)
Great book by one of the greatest Dutch historians (author of 'The Waning of the Middle Ages')about one of the greatest Dutch philosophers (author of 'Praise of Folly'). Well written and reliable. Recommeded.
This book is in the public domain, so you can download it legally for free from several sites on the web. Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher who lived from 1788-1860; he was influenced among others by Plato and Immanuel Kant, and in his turn influenced Friedrich Nietzsche, Ludwig wittgenstein, Thomas Mann and others. Schopenhauers work is known for its pessimistic views and beautifully written essays. If you like reading philosophy -or would like to try it- then I can recommend reading some of Schopenhauers essays.
This volume contains some essays that were first published in Schopenhauers 'Parerga und Paralopomena' (1851). The printed version of this volume has 101 pages. The contents of this volume:
HUMAN NATURE
GOVERNMENT
FREE-WILL AND FATALISM
CHARACTER
MORAL INSTINCT
ETHICAL REFLECTIONS
As a sample I copy the second paragraph of the second essay ('Government') below:
[...]
The man who starts from the preconceived opinion that the conception
of Right must be a positive one, and then attempts to define it, will
fail; for he is trying to grasp a shadow, to pursue a spectre, to
search for what does not exist. The conception of Right is a negative
one, like the conception of Freedom; its content is mere negation.
It is the conception of Wrong which is positive; Wrong has the same
significance as _injury_--_laesio_--in the widest sense of the term.
An injury may be done either to a man's person or to his property or
to his honour; and accordingly a man's rights are easy to define:
every one has a right to do anything that injures no one else.
[...]
A rich American girl, Cynthia, is touring the UK acompanied by a chaperon. Because of a weird turn of circumstances the chauffeur is the rich, young Viscount Medenham. The Lord falls in love with Cynthia, but before he can hold her in his arms, he first has to win her love even though Cynthia believes he is just a chauffeur, and deal with: a French Comte who wants to marry Cynthia, the scheming chaperon, and relatives of both himself and Cynthia who oppose their union.
This book is a charming little romance with a bit of mystery in it, and it is worth reading for anyone who loves a sweet romance story.
This book is about American birds, so if you're interest is in birds in other parts of the world than this book is not the right one for you.
There are some bits in this book that are not nice to read for sensitive people (starvation, cat-attack), I do not recommend this book for tender hearted people, there are too many 'unhappy endings' in it. For avid bird watchers this book might be interesting. This volume will also be appealing to persons who are interested in the history of bird-protection and bird-sancturaries in America.
Maurice Maeterlinck was a great writer who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. One of the main themes in his work is the meaning of life; and even in this book on bees you can find philosophical bits on this theme. Maeterlinck writes so beautifully that even if you're not interested in bees at all, I would recommend downloading this book and giving it a try.
I highly recommend this philosophical book about bees to anyone who loves to read beautifully written non-fiction. This book will not teach you how to keep bees though.
(As I don't know any Finnish I can not judge the quality of the translation.)
In this book you can read a lot about the behaviour of bees (the author had an extensive knowledge of bees, not only from books he read but also from close observations of these little animals).
A list of the contents of this book:
I. ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE HIVE
II. THE SWARM
III. THE FOUNDATION OF THE CITY
IV. THE LIFE OF THE BEE
V. THE YOUNG QUEENS
VI. THE NUPTIAL FLIGHT
VII. THE MASSACRE OF THE MALES
VIII. THE PROGRESS OF THE RACE
APPENDIX
Maurice Maeterlinck was a great writer who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. One of the main themes in his work is the meaning of life; and even in this book on bees you can find philosophical bits on this theme. Maeterlinck writes so beautifully that even if you're not interested in bees at all, I would recommend downloading this book and giving it a try.
I highly recommend this philosophical book about bees to anyone who loves to read beautifully written non-fiction. This book will not teach you how to keep bees though.
Recent comments: User reviews
This book contains lyric poems of the romantic area. These poems are still very popular. Most of the poems are short, but some are a few pages long and tell a whole story. I recommend these 'Lieder' to anyone who likes to read German poetry.
This edition was translated by George Long in 1862. The book does contain a biography of Marcus Aurelius. The 'Thoughs' of Marcus Aurelius are grouped in 12 'books' (chapters). The first book is clearly different from the other eleven; it is a 'thank you' to people who have had a good influence on him. For example: 'From my grandfather Verus (I learned) good morals and the government of my temper.' (I.1). The other eleven books contain his notes. His Stoic philosophy emphasizes ethics, especially everyday problems.
Some quotations from this book:
Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly. (II.11)
Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquillity which others give. A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others. (III.5)
Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all artifice and ostentatious display. (IV.51)
This edition was translated by George Long in 1862. The book does contain a biography of Marcus Aurelius. The 'Thoughs' of Marcus Aurelius are grouped in 12 'books' (chapters). The first book is clearly different from the other eleven; it is a 'thank you' to people who have had a good influence on him. For example: 'From my grandfather Verus (I learned) good morals and the government of my temper.' (I.1). The other eleven books contain his notes. His Stoic philosophy emphasizes ethics, especially everyday problems.
Some quotations from this book:
Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly. (II.11)
Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquillity which others give. A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others. (III.5)
Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all artifice and ostentatious display. (IV.51)
This volume contains some essays that were first published in Schopenhauers 'Parerga und Paralopomena' (1851). The printed version of this volume has 101 pages. The contents of this volume:
HUMAN NATURE
GOVERNMENT
FREE-WILL AND FATALISM
CHARACTER
MORAL INSTINCT
ETHICAL REFLECTIONS
As a sample I copy the second paragraph of the second essay ('Government') below:
[...]
The man who starts from the preconceived opinion that the conception
of Right must be a positive one, and then attempts to define it, will
fail; for he is trying to grasp a shadow, to pursue a spectre, to
search for what does not exist. The conception of Right is a negative
one, like the conception of Freedom; its content is mere negation.
It is the conception of Wrong which is positive; Wrong has the same
significance as _injury_--_laesio_--in the widest sense of the term.
An injury may be done either to a man's person or to his property or
to his honour; and accordingly a man's rights are easy to define:
every one has a right to do anything that injures no one else.
[...]
This book is a charming little romance with a bit of mystery in it, and it is worth reading for anyone who loves a sweet romance story.
There are some bits in this book that are not nice to read for sensitive people (starvation, cat-attack), I do not recommend this book for tender hearted people, there are too many 'unhappy endings' in it. For avid bird watchers this book might be interesting. This volume will also be appealing to persons who are interested in the history of bird-protection and bird-sancturaries in America.
I highly recommend this philosophical book about bees to anyone who loves to read beautifully written non-fiction. This book will not teach you how to keep bees though.
(As I don't know any Finnish I can not judge the quality of the translation.)
A list of the contents of this book:
I. ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE HIVE
II. THE SWARM
III. THE FOUNDATION OF THE CITY
IV. THE LIFE OF THE BEE
V. THE YOUNG QUEENS
VI. THE NUPTIAL FLIGHT
VII. THE MASSACRE OF THE MALES
VIII. THE PROGRESS OF THE RACE
APPENDIX
Maurice Maeterlinck was a great writer who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. One of the main themes in his work is the meaning of life; and even in this book on bees you can find philosophical bits on this theme. Maeterlinck writes so beautifully that even if you're not interested in bees at all, I would recommend downloading this book and giving it a try.
I highly recommend this philosophical book about bees to anyone who loves to read beautifully written non-fiction. This book will not teach you how to keep bees though.