Descartes is widely regarded to be the father of modern philosophy and his Meditations is among the most important philosophical texts ever written. The Routledge Guidebook to Descartes' Meditations introduces the major themes in Descartes' great book and acts as a companion for reading this key work, examining:

• The context of Descartes' work and the background to his writing
• Each separate part of the text in relation to its goals, meanings and impact
• The reception the book received when first seen by the...

Niccolo Machiavelli s "The Prince" is one of the most influential works in the history of political thought and the adjective Machiavellian is well-known and perhaps even over-used. So why does the meaning of the text continue to be debated to the present day? And how does a contemporary reader get to grips with a book full of references to the politics of the early 16th Century?

"

The Routledge Guidebook to Machiavelli s The Prince "provides readers with the historical background, textual analysis, and other relevant information needed for a greater understanding and appreciation of...

Niccolo Machiavelli s "The Prince" is one of the most influential works in the history of political thought and the adjective Machiavellian is well-known and perhaps even over-used. So why does the meaning of the text continue to be debated to the present day? And how does a contemporary reader get to grips with a book full of references to the politics of the early 16th Century?

"

The Routledge Guidebook to Machiavelli s The Prince "provides readers with the historical background, textual analysis, and other relevant information needed for a greater understanding and appreciation of...

Since its publication in 1849, Henry David Thoreau s "Civil Disobedience "has influenced protestors, activists and political thinkers all over the world. Including the full text of Thoreau s essay, "The Routledge Guidebook to Thoreau s Civil Disobedience "explores the context of his writing, analyses different interpretations of the text and considers how posthumous edits to "Civil Disobedience" have altered its intended meaning. It introduces the reader to:

* the context of Thoreau s work and the background to his writing

* the significance of the references and allusions

* the...

Gramsci s Prison Notebooks are one of the most important and original sources of modern political philosophy but the Prison Notebooks present great difficulties to the reader. Not originally intended for publication, their fragmentary character and their often cryptic language can mystify readers, leading to misinterpretation of the text. The Routledge Guidebook to Gramsci s Prison Notebooks provides readers with the historical background, textual analysis and other relevant information needed for a greater understanding and appreciation of this classic text. This guidebook:

...

Albert Einstein, one of the most prolific scientists of the nineteenth century developed the Theory of Relativity which was crucial for the advancement of modern physics. Young Einstein identified a paradox between Newtonian Mechanics and Maxwell s equations which pointed to a flawed understanding of space and time by the Scientists of the day. In "Relativity," Einstein presents his findings using a minimal amount of Mathematical language, but the text can still be challenging for readers who lack an extensive scientific background."

The Routledge Guidebook to Einstein s Relativity"...

Albert Einstein, one of the most prolific scientists of the twentieth century, developed the theory of relativity which was crucial for the advancement of modern physics. Young Einstein identified a paradox between Newtonian Mechanics and Maxwell's equations which pointed to a flawed understanding of space and time by the scientists of the day. In Relativity, Einstein presents his findings using a minimal amount of mathematical language, but the text can still be challenging for readers who lack an extensive scientific background.

Michel Foucault s The History of Sexuality is one of the most influential philosophical works of the twentieth century and has been instrumental in shaping the study of Gender, Feminist Theory and Queer Theory. But Foucault s writing can be a difficult book to grasp as Foucault assumes a familiarity with the intellectually dominant theories of his time which renders many passages obscure for newcomers to his work.

The Routledge Guidebook to Foucault s The History of Sexuality offers a clear and comprehensive guide to this groundbreaking work, examining: