Books by Arthur Koestler
“Even though this came out in the 1950s you still meet people who will talk about it. And for many it was the book that got them interested in astronomy.” Read more...
The best books on The Early History of Astronomy
Dava Sobel, Science Writer
The Invisible Writing
by Arthur Koestler
The period this book covers, from 1932 to 1940, was the most dramatic time of his life. It’s fresh, vivid, very analytical and wonderfully written
The Lotus and the Robot
by Arthur Koestler
This book was written at a time when there was a sense of malaise in Europe – people felt that Western civilisation was on its last legs and didn’t have much to contribute any more. There was a lot of fear of nuclear war and it was also the time when people began to say that the Orient had a certain wisdom to impart. We’d reached the limits of rationalisation and the Enlightenment, and the spiritual traditions of Asia had something special to teach. So Koestler went to India and to Japan to test this idea.
Interviews where books by Arthur Koestler were recommended
The best books on Japan, recommended by Ian Buruma
Which are the best books to read about Japan? Author and journalist Ian Buruma picks some beautifully written works by scholars—and one novelist—that give a feel for its culture and civilization.
Critiques of Utopia and Apocalypse, recommended by John Gray
Is it inevitable that the desire to build a perfect world should end in disaster? John Gray considers the flaws in utopian thinking and the essential nature of humans. He recommends the best critiques of utopia and apocalypse.
The best books on The Early History of Astronomy, recommended by Dava Sobel
Best-selling science writer, Dava Sobel, recommends books about the men whose painstaking work changed our understanding of Earth’s place in the universe.
The best books on The Sun, recommended by Richard Cohen
It makes us feel sexy, it makes us feel healthy and it can even make us feel more inspired. No wonder we’re in thrall to the power of the sun, says Richard Cohen
