Knowledge is a great treasure, but there is one thing higher than knowledge, and that is understanding, says philosopher Anthony Grayling in The Mystery of Things (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), published this week. These essays on science, the arts and history examine what they offer to our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. 鈥淔or the working parts of the day鈥�, Grayling concentrates on Descartes鈥� Philosophical Essays and Correspondence (Hackett, 2000) because he is writing a biography of the great thinker. He reviews books, and is reading Edward Said鈥檚 essays Power, Politics and Culture (Bloomsbury) and Michael Cook鈥檚 A Brief History of the Human Race (Granta).
Does he read for pleasure? William Congreve鈥檚 Incognita (Hesperus, 2003) 鈥渇its into a pocket for bus and train鈥�, and he is enjoying Francis Wheen鈥檚 How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World (Fourth Estate).
What鈥檚 on the bedside table? Last thing at night he reads Patrick O鈥橞rian鈥檚 Mauritius Command (HarperCollins, 1996). 鈥淚f this seems a lot, it isn鈥檛. I usually have at least this many books on the go. As they say, 鈥榖uen libro muy buen amigo鈥�.鈥�
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