| The Art of Losing Control: A Philosopher's Search for Ecstatic Experience Main Edition Contributor(s): Evans, Jules (Author) |
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ISBN: 1782118675 ISBN-13: 9781782118671 Publisher: Canongate Books OUR PRICE: $22.50 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: April 2017 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Philosophy | Mind & Body - Psychology | Emotions - Self-help | Emotions |
| LCCN: 2017415313 |
| Physical Information: 1.2" H x 6.3" W x 9.1" (1.25 lbs) 304 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Humans have always sought ecstatic experiences - moments where they go beyond their ordinary self and feel connected to something greater than them. Such moments are fundamental to human flourishing, but they can also be dangerous. Beginning around the Enlightenment, western intellectual culture has written off ecstasy as ignorance or delusion. But philosopher Jules Evans argues that this diminishes our reality and denies us the healing, connection and meaning that ecstasy can bring. He sets out to discover how people find ecstasy in a post-religious culture, how it can be good for us, and also harmful. Along the way, he explores the growing science of ecstasy, to help the reader - and himself - learn the art of losing control. Jules' exploration of ecstasy is an intellectual and emotional odyssey balancing personal experience, interviews and readings from ancient and modern philosophers that will change the way you think about how you feel. From Aristotle and Plato, via the Bishop of London and Sister Bliss, radical jihadis and Silicon Valley transhumanists, The Art of Losing Control is a funny and life-enhancing journey through under-explored terrain. |
Contributor Bio(s): Evans, Jules: - Jules Evans is research fellow at the Centre for the History of the Emotions at Queen Mary, University of London. His recent media work include talks or interviews on ecstatic experiences on Radio 3 and Radio 4 (most recently on radio 4's Archive, about stadium rock as an ecstatic experience), as well as an appearance to talk about drug policy on Newsnight. This summer, he has given talks about the place of ecstasy in modern culture at venues including the British Museum, the National Gallery, and Wilderness and Latitude festivals. He has also spoken internationally at many venues and media, including the Month of Philosophy in Amsterdam, NPR radio, ABC Australia, and the South Korean government's global publishing conference. His TedX talk has 150,000 hits. Jules also runs practical philosophy workshops with organizations including Arsenal, Saracens, Deloitte, Escape the City, Sunday Assembly, the School of Life and Her Majesty's Prisons. He has an ongoing involvement in the Stoicism Today research project and is organizing the Stoic Week 2015 conference in November. |