The critical narrative of this interdisciplinary book offers a first-time look at the interrelationship between biology, mythology and philosophy in human development. Its daring premise follows the trajectory of human thought, starting with the biological roots of fear and the original need for religion, truth-seeking, and myth-making. The narrative then innovatively links a number of maverick philosophical teachings over the centuries, from pre-Buddhist times to the Buddha, from Epicurus and Pyrrho to Lucretius, and eventually to the seminal poetry of Omar Khayyam. These emergent philosophies exemplified liberation from the grasp of mythical and religious thinking and instead espoused an empirical and joyful mind. The narrative concludes with a look at the emancipating philosophical movement that resulted in the European Enlightenment, and it suggests that the philosophical teachings explored in the book may offer the potential for a second, broader Enlightenment.

For centuries along the vibrant cultural corridor of the Silk Road of Central Asia, philosophers and thinkers from Hellenic, Chinese and Indian traditions debated existential issues. Out of this stimulating milieu, the iconic poet-mathematician Omar Khayyam emerged in the eleventh century, advancing a transformative intercultural philosophy in his poetic work, the Rubaiyat. Vaziri traces the themes of Khayyam’s Rubaiyat back to the highly influential philosophical traditions of the Silk Road and uncovers fascinating parallels in original works by Heraclitus, Zhuangzi (Daoism), Nagarjuna (Mahayana Buddhism), and the Upanishads. In addition, Vaziri’s elegant translation and unique classification of the verses of the Rubaiyat reveal an existential roadmap laid out by Khayyam. In this pioneering volume, Vaziri not only fuses the multiple disciplines of literature, philosophy, culture, history and medicine but also takes the approach of the Rubaiyat to a new level, presenting it as a source of wisdom therapy that stands the test of time in the face of doubt and confusion, offering a platform for self-restoration.

In A Baroque Vision Nicholas Hagger chose key passages from his verse that convey the thread of his Baroque vision. In its companion volume The Essentials of Universalism he chooses key passages from his prose works that convey the thread of his Universalism, which grew out of his Baroque perspective. Hagger’s literary, mystical, religious, philosophical, historical, cultural and political Universalist writings are innovatory. In 60 books he has: set out a new approach to literature and identified its fundamental theme as a quest for the One, an infinite Reality perceived as Light, that alternates with condemnation of social follies and vices; presented many mystics’ illuminations; seen the Light as the common essence of all religions; created a new philosophy of Universalism that restates the unity of the universe and challenges modern philosophy; charted the history of the rise and fall of civilisations; reconciled the divisions within world culture; and proposed a democratic World State with limited supranational power to abolish war and bring in a Golden Age of peace and prosperity. The Essentials of Universalism is a stunning anthology of his writings that covers all aspects of his thinking and range. Chosen by the author himself, the excerpts include the most important passages in the Hagger canon and are representative of his vast output. Since the book was completed Hagger has brought out The Algorithm of Creation, the first-ever statement of a Theory of Everything and a further development of his Universalism.This anthology makes clear the main thrust of his life’s work and is required reading for all interested in seeing how his many innovations connect.

For centuries along the vibrant cultural corridor of the Silk Road of Central Asia, philosophers and thinkers from Hellenic, Chinese and Indian traditions debated existential issues. Out of this stimulating milieu, the iconic poet-mathematician Omar Khayyam emerged in the eleventh century, advancing a transformative intercultural philosophy in his poetic work, the Rubaiyat. Vaziri traces the themes of Khayyam's Rubaiyat back to the highly influential philosophical traditions of the Silk Road and uncovers fascinating parallels in original works by Heraclitus, Zhuangzi (Daoism), Nagarjuna (Mahayana Buddhism), and the Upanishads. In addition, Vaziri's elegant translation and unique classification of the verses of the Rubaiyat reveal an existential roadmap laid out by Khayyam. In this pioneering volume, Vaziri not only fuses the multiple disciplines of literature, philosophy, culture, history and medicine but also takes the approach of the Rubaiyat to a new level, presenting it as a source of wisdom therapy that stands the test of time in the face of doubt and confusion, offering a platform for self-restoration.

Omar Khayyam's most famous book is the Rubaiyat. Omar was a great Persian poet, philosopher, mathematician and astronomer. The Wisdom of Omar Khayyam consists of translations of 365 quatrains from the Rubaiyat.