The Wisdom Series Popular Books
The Wisdom Series Biography & Facts
Wisdom, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to contemplate and act productively using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowledge, self-transcendence, and non-attachment, and virtues such as ethics and benevolence. Wisdom has been defined in many different ways, and there are several distinct approaches to assessing the characteristics attributed to wisdom. Definitions The Oxford English Dictionary defines wisdom as "Capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgment in the choice of means and ends; sometimes, less strictly, sound sense, esp. in practical affairs: opp. to folly;" also "Knowledge (esp. of a high or abstruse kind); enlightenment, learning, erudition." Charles Haddon Spurgeon defined wisdom as "the right use of knowledge". Robert I. Sutton and Andrew Hargadon defined the "attitude of wisdom" as "acting with knowledge while doubting what one knows". In social and psychological sciences, several distinct approaches to wisdom exist, along with techniques of operationalization and measurement of wisdom as a psychological construct. Wisdom is the capacity to have foreknowledge of something, to know the consequences (positive and negative) of the available courses of action, and take the best of the available options. Mythological perspectives History The ancient Greeks considered wisdom to be an important virtue, personified as the goddesses Metis and Athena. Metis was the first wife of Zeus, who, according to Hesiod's Theogony, had devoured her pregnant; Zeus earned the title of Mêtieta ("The Wise Counselor") after that, as Metis was the embodiment of wisdom, and he gave birth to Athena, who is said to have sprung from his head. Athena was portrayed as strong, fair, merciful, and chaste. Apollo was also considered a god of wisdom, designated as the conductor of the Muses (Musagetes), who were personifications of the sciences and of the inspired and poetic arts. According to Plato in his Cratylus, the name of Apollo could also mean "ballon" (archer) and "omopoulon" (unifier of poles [divine and earthly]), since this god was responsible for divine and true inspirations, thus considered an archer who was always right in healing and oracles: "he is an ever-darting archer". Apollo prophesied through the priestesses (Pythia) in the Temple of Apollo (Delphi), where the aphorism "know thyself" (gnōthi seauton) was inscribed (one of the Delphic maxims). He was contrasted with Hermes, who was related to the sciences and technical wisdom, and, in the first centuries after Christ, was associated with Thoth in an Egyptian syncretism, under the name Hermes Trimegistus. Greek tradition recorded the earliest introducers of wisdom in the Seven Sages of Greece. To Socrates and Plato, philosophy was literally the love of wisdom (philo-sophia). This permeates Plato's dialogues; in The Republic the leaders of his proposed utopia are philosopher kings who understand the Form of the Good and possess the courage to act accordingly. Aristotle, in Metaphysics, defined wisdom as understanding why things are a certain way (causality), which is deeper than merely knowing things are a certain way. He was the first to make the distinction between phronesis and sophia. According to Plato and Xenophon, the Pythia of the Delphic Oracle answered the question "who is the wisest man in Greece?" by stating Socrates was the wisest. According to Plato's Apology, Socrates decided to investigate the people who might be considered wiser than him, concluding they lacked true knowledge: This became immortalized in the phrase "I know that I know nothing" an aphorism suggesting that it is wise to recognize one's own ignorance and to value epistemic humility. The ancient Romans also valued wisdom, which was personified as Minerva or Pallas. She also represents skillful knowledge and the virtues, especially chastity. Her symbol was the owl, which is still a popular representation of wisdom, because it can see in darkness. She was said to have been born from Jupiter's forehead. Buddhist traditions provide comprehensive guidance on how to develop wisdom. In the Inuit tradition, developing wisdom was one of the aims of teaching. An Inuit Elder said that a person became wise when they could see what needed to be done and do it successfully without being told what to do. In many cultures, the name for third molars, which are the last teeth to grow, is etymologically linked with wisdom, as in the English wisdom tooth. This nickname originated from the classical tradition—the Hippocratic writings used the term sóphronistér (in Greek, related to the meaning of moderation or teaching a lesson), and in Latin dens sapientiae (wisdom tooth). Educational perspectives Public schools in the U.S. sometimes nod at "character education" which would include training in wisdom. Nicholas Maxwell, a philosopher in the United Kingdom, believes academia ought to alter its focus from the acquisition of knowledge to seeking and promoting wisdom. This he defines as the capacity to realize what is of value in life, for oneself and others. He teaches that new knowledge and technological know-how increase our power to act. Without wisdom though, Maxwell claims this new knowledge may cause human harm as well as human good. He argues that the pursuit of knowledge is indeed valuable and good, but that it should be considered a part of the broader task of improving wisdom. Psychological perspectives Psychologists have begun to gather data on commonly held beliefs or folk theories about wisdom. Initial analyses indicate that although "there is an overlap of the implicit theory of wisdom with intelligence, perceptiveness, spirituality, and shrewdness, it is evident that wisdom is an expertise in dealing with difficult questions of life and adaptation to the complex requirements." The field of psychology has also developed explicit theories and empirical research on the psychological processes underlying wisdom. Opinions on the psychological definition of wisdom vary, but there is some consensus that critical to wisdom are certain meta-cognitive processes that afford life reflection and judgment about critical life matters. These processes include recognizing the limits of one's own knowledge, acknowledging uncertainty and change, attention to context and the bigger picture, and integrating different perspectives of a situation. Cognitive scientists suggest that wisdom requires coordinating such reasoning processes for insight into managing one's life. Reasoning of this sort is both theoretically and empirically distinct from general (fluid or crystallized) intelligence. Researchers have shown empirically that wise reasoning is distinct from IQ. Baltes and colleagues defined wisdom as "the ability to deal with the contradictions of a specific situation and to as.... Discover the The Wisdom Series popular books. Find the top 100 most popular The Wisdom Series books.
Best Seller The Wisdom Series Books of 2024
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Cast in Wisdom
Michelle SagaraSOMETHING IS WAKINGThe fiefs that exist at the heart of the city of Elantra are home to sentient Towers that guard the world against the incursion of Shadow. But between the fiefs ...
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The Wisdom of the Kabbalah
Philosophical LibraryExplore the third of the great literatures in Judaism While many readers may have heard of Kabbalah in recent years, how many understand the origins and unique perspective of ...
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Tarot Made Easy
Kim ArnoldA fascinating book that reveals the ancient craft of tarot and offers detailed guidance on how to conduct tarot readings of your ownThis book teaches the reader how to connect with...
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The Wit and Wisdom of Discworld
Terry PratchettFor more than two decades, Terry Pratchett has been regaling readers with tales of Discworlda flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants, which are standing on the back of ...
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The Five Levels of Attachment
Don Miguel RuizDo you hold your beliefs? Or do your beliefs hold you? In this groundbreaking work, don Miguel Ruiz Jr. writes that we have all unwittingly made agreements about how we think ...
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Understanding and Loving a Person with Alcohol or Drug Addiction
Stephen Arterburn & David StoopThis compassionate and helpful book educates both the mind and heart in the power of addiction and the way to help others find healing. When a family member or friend is addicted t...
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Blessed Trinity
Vanessa Davis GriggsPart Terry MacMillan, part Jan Karon, Blessed Trinity is the first book in an exciting trilogy from bestselling author Vanessa Davis Griggs.Faith Alexandria Morrell, the oldest of ...
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Understanding and Loving a Person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Stephen Arterburn & Patricia A. KuhlmanIf you live or work with someone who has narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), you probably often feel put down. You feel ashamed of your own needs. Your relationship may feel s...
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Elijah
Charles R. SwindollNow, more than ever, we're in need of men and women who aren't afraid to live courageously. Thankfully, the Bible gives us timeless examples of great leaders who gracefully stood u...
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Expecting Better
Emily Oster“Emily Oster is the nonjudgmental girlfriend holding our hand and guiding us through pregnancy and motherhood. She has done the work to get us the hard facts in a soft, understanda...
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The Wisdom of Gandhi
Philosophical LibraryBe the Change. Drawn from Gandhi’s own words, this collection shares one man’s philosophy that changed world history.When the Indian people, inspired by the words of Mahatma Gandhi...
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DiscipleShift
Jim Putman & Bobby HarringtonQuestion: What is the Godgiven purpose of the local church? Answer: Relational discipleship. DiscipleShift walks you through five key "shifts" that churches must make to refocus on...
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Connecting with the Angels Made Easy
Kyle GrayAN INSPIRATIONAL ANGELS BOOK FROM INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RAISE YOUR VIBRATION, KYLE GRAYDISCOVER HOW TO BRING THE HEALING ANGELIC MESSAGES FROM HEAVEN INTO...
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Esther
Charles R. SwindollEveryone loves a transformation story. Rags to riches. Plain to beautiful. Weak to strong. The story of Queen Esther is that and so much more. The second book in Charles Swindoll's...
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When God Winks
Squire RushnellSQuire Rushnell teaches you how to use the power of “Godwinks”divine coincidencesto seize certainty in uncertain times, and enrich your career and relationships.Whether you call it...
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The Wisdom of the Ancients
Francis BaconThis is an electronic edition of the complete book complemented by author biography. This book features a table of contents linked to every chapter. The book was designed for optim...
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Si-cology 1
Si RobertsonYou know him from the hit A&E® show Duck Dynasty®now you can enjoy Uncle Si’s tall tales, crazy exploits, and quirky oneliners in one raucous collection!“These hands are so fas...
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Goddess Wisdom Made Easy
TanishkaLearn about the ancient goddess traditions and reconnect with your femininity, your natural cycles and your intuition.Ancient civilizations once worshipped female deities and women...
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The Wit and Wisdom of Bridgerton
Julia QuinnFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes a highly designed, colorful collection of quotes, wit, and wisdom from Lady Whistledown and the most memorable chara...
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Conversations with God
Neale Donald WalschConversations with God Book 1 began a series that has been changing millions of lives for more than ten years. Finally, the bestselling series is now a movie, starring Henry Czerny...
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Understanding and Loving a Person with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Stephen Arterburn & Becky JohnsonThis book is a compassionate companion to those who love someone who has experienced severe trauma that left his or her brain changed by PTSD. As someone who suffered from PTSD her...
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The Case for Faith Student Edition
Lee StrobelPrepare yourself for an eyeopening, nopunchespulled investigation into eight of the toughest objections to Christianity. The answers will prove whether or not Jesus is who he says ...
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The Case for Faith
Lee StrobelWas God telling the truth when he said, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart"?In The Case for Faith, bestselling author, journalist, and former a...
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The Wisdom of Gibran
Philosophical Library & Joseph ShebanAn AtoZ guide to the mystic poet’s maxims and aphorisms An early twentiethcentury LebaneseAmerican writer, Khalil Gibran instilled his poetry and art with his experiences in b...
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Wisdom of the Shamans
Don Jose RuizFor generation after generation, Toltec shamans have passed down their wisdom through teaching stories. The purpose of these stories is to implant a seed of knowledge in the mind o...
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Living a Life of Awareness
Don Miguel RuizFor the first time ever, the Toltec wisdom from the Ruiz family is bound together in a book of Daily Meditations. Readers are invited on a sixmonth journey of daily lessons wi...
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Understanding and Loving a Person with Bipolar Disorder
Stephen Arterburn & Becky Lyke BrownBecky Lyke Brown, M.S. teams up with Stephen Arterburn to offer: Insight into when to help and when to pull back How to connect with what a loved one is experiencing Expert advice ...
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Tears to Triumph
Marianne WilliamsonHeal by embracing your pain with #1 New York Times bestselling author Marianne Williamson – preorder her latest, The Mystic Jesus, picking up where A Return to Love left offThe int...
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The Wisdom of Sartre
Philosophical LibraryAn invaluable introduction to the leading French intellectual of the twentieth century The Wisdom of Sartre offers key excerpts from the eloquent French writer, playwright, an...
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The Essential Kabbalah
Daniel C. MattA translation of the Kabbalah for the layperson includes a compact presentation of each primary text and features a practical analysis and vital historical information that offer i...
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The Steps We Took
Joe McQThe words of this book's title are said aloud every day by thousands of people meeting together to help each other recover from addiction.s the addictions may be to alcohol or coca...
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And You Call Yourself a Christian
E.N. JoyOut of all the divas at New Day Temple of Faith, Unique has to be the most colorful oneshe and her mother Lorain, that is. Never one to hold her tongue in the name of keepin' it re...
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The Wisdom of Bertrand Russell
Philosophical LibraryAn AtoZ compendium of Russell’s writingOne of the great minds of the twentieth century, Bertrand Russell explored philosophy, mathematics, and a variety of other intellectual, poli...
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Overcomer
Dr. David JeremiahA New York Times bestseller! Do you want to live a life of unstoppable strength, unmovable faith, and unbelievable power in the face of every challenge? Learn how to beco...
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The Complete Conversations with God
Neale Donald WalschAn essential collection of Books 1, 2 and 3 in the Conversations with God series This powerful and engaging volume collects the first and bestselling three books in Neale Do...
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The Akashic Records Made Easy
Sandra Anne TaylorA clear and simple guide to the incredible philosophy of the Akashic Records and the ways in which they can improve and transform our lives.The Akashic Records are a spiritual libr...
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The Wisdom of Thoreau
Philosophical LibraryA collection of wise words on solitude, simplicity, nature, and life at Walden from the leader of the transcendentalist movement. In excerpts collected here from his mos...
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The Wisdom of Leonardo da Vinci
Philosophical LibraryAn intriguing look inside the mind of the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci stood on a bridge between medieval thought and the modern mind. In this selection of entries fro...
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Wisdom
W.J. MayLearn to fight, it is the only optionWhat can you do, when a dark sun rises?Trapped in a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the mountains, Kiera and her friends find themselves in a...
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The Wisdom of Buddha
Philosophical LibraryDiscover the origins of Buddhism and its tenets from the seminal texts Drawn from the sacred books of Buddhism, this collection reveals the insights and beliefs at the heart o...
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The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly
Margareta MagnussonFrom New York Times bestselling author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaningnow a TV series developed by Amy Poehler and Scout Productionsa book of humorous and charming advi...
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Days at the Morisaki Bookshop
Yagisawa, Satoshi & Eric OzawaThe wise and charming international bestseller and hit Japanese movieabout a young woman who loses everything but finds herselfa tale of new beginnings, romantic and family relatio...
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The Wisdom of the Talmud
Philosophical LibraryDiscover the ancient wisdom and historical influence of a cornerstone of Judaism The Wisdom of the Talmud presents a thorough history and overview of the Talmud, the rabbinica...
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The Wisdom of the Torah
Philosophical LibraryCelebrate one of the world’s greatest collections of pure literature In Hebrew, the word Torah means instruction, and throughout thousands of years this collection of writing ...