{"title":"Sam Harris","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSam Harris\u003c\/strong\u003e explores profound questions at the intersection of \u003cem\u003escience, philosophy, and spirituality\u003c\/em\u003e. His works challenge conventional thinking on topics such as free will, morality, and religion with a clear, rational voice. Readers are invited to examine the foundations of belief, ethics, and consciousness through a thoughtful and often provocative lens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom critiques of faith to the pursuit of a secular spirituality, Harris’s writings engage deeply with contemporary issues in \u003cem\u003epsychology and human nature\u003c\/em\u003e. His books encourage reflection on what it means to live a meaningful life shaped by reason and evidence, inviting readers to reconsider assumptions with intellectual honesty.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"waking-up","title":"Waking Up","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWaking Up\u003c\/em\u003e by Sam Harris is a groundbreaking exploration of spirituality for rational thinkers. Renowned neuroscientist, philosopher, and sceptic Sam Harris delves into the age-old quest for meaning and transcendence without the trappings of organised religion. This fascinating book serves as both a memoir of Harris's personal journey and an analytical examination of the crossroads where contemplative wisdom meets scientific inquiry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor those who seek a secular approach to spirituality, Harris offers meditation practices grounded in neuroscience and psychology, aiming to enrich the human experience. Throughout the book, he boldly contends that the experiential truths discovered by historical contemplatives such as Jesus and Buddha offer invaluable insights into our understanding of reality—insights that conventional science and secular culture often overlook.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWaking Up\u003c\/em\u003e stands out by seamlessly integrating ancient wisdom with contemporary scientific thought. Harris draws from extensive research to argue that the meditative practices endorsed by mystics and sages have profound implications for our understanding of consciousness, identity, and the nature of reality itself. With clarity and intellectual rigour, he challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about spirituality and offers pathways to personal and collective transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis unique blend of narrative and scholarly discourse makes \u003cem\u003eWaking Up\u003c\/em\u003e a compelling read for anyone interested in uncovering deeper existential truths. Harris's sceptical eye does not undermine the spiritual insights he presents; rather, it enhances the credibility of his assertions. The book is both a call to personal exploration and a manifesto advocating for a rational spirituality grounded in empirical evidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eWaking Up\u003c\/em\u003e is widespread and enthusiastic. Paul Bloom calls it \"An extraordinary book... It will shake up your most fundamental beliefs about everyday experience, and it just might change your life.\" Similarly, Kirkus Reviews describes it as \"A demanding, illusion-shattering book,\" while the Huffington Post notes that it is \"A pleasure to read.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor the millions yearning for a spiritual path free from dogma, \u003cem\u003eWaking Up\u003c\/em\u003e provides an illuminating guide. Sam Harris succeeds in bridging the ancient and the modern, offering profound insights that are as intellectually stimulating as they are practically transformative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45658434404588,"sku":"9781784160029","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781784160029.jpg?v=1724852898"},{"product_id":"making-sense","title":"Making Sense","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eWaking Up\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe End of Faith\u003c\/em\u003e, comes a compilation of illuminating conversations from the internationally acclaimed podcast \u003cem\u003eMaking Sense\u003c\/em\u003e, curated by Sam Harris himself. This book serves as a thought-provoking exploration of some of the most complex and compelling questions about the human mind, society, and the significant events that frame our world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSam Harris, a neuroscientist, philosopher, podcaster, and bestselling author, delves deeply into the intricacies of human consciousness and cognition. Through his relentless quest for deeper understanding, Harris has engaged with some of today’s most profound and often controversial thinkers, including Daniel Kahneman, Robert Sapolsky, Anil Seth, and Max Tegmark. Engaging in dialogues that unpack and elucidate concepts such as consciousness, free will, extremism, and ethical living, Harris's conversations aim to foster intellectual growth and moral clarity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor Harris, honest and forthright conversation—no matter how challenging or contentious—is the cornerstone of moral and intellectual advancement. By bringing these conversations to the public, Harris opens a platform where wisdom is merged with rigorous scrutiny, offering readers an opportunity to gain insights into the pressing issues of our time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMaking Sense\u003c\/em\u003e features eleven riveting conversations from the renowned podcast, presenting them in a form that allows readers to appreciate the depth and breadth of Harris's engagements. Each dialogue serves as an intellectual journey, sparking curiosity and inspiring critical thought about what it truly means to make sense of our world today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAcclaimed by notable personalities, the book is hailed as essential reading for anyone interested in progressive thought and discourse. As Stephen Fry remarks, 'I don't have many can't-miss podcasts, but \u003cem\u003eMaking Sense\u003c\/em\u003e is right at the top of that short list.' Similarly, Richard Dawkins praises Harris as 'the most intellectually courageous man I know,' further cementing the book’s status as an indispensable addition to any intellectually curious reader’s library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45692239642860,"sku":"9780552178853","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780552178853.jpg?v=1725554458"},{"product_id":"the-moral-landscape","title":"The Moral Landscape","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Moral Landscape\u003c\/em\u003e by Sam Harris, the provocative author challenges the enduring notion that religion is the sole custodian of human morality. Harris contends that moral issues are fundamentally scientific endeavours and should be evaluated with the same rigour as any other aspect of our natural world. By drawing on fields such as philosophy and neuroscience, he argues that we can derive objective answers about what constitutes human well-being and how best to achieve it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHarris's first book, \u003cem\u003eThe End of Faith\u003c\/em\u003e, ignited a worldwide debate regarding the validity of religion, urging a more scientific approach to understanding human consciousness and society. Following the fervent discussions sparked by his inaugural work, Harris observed a shared belief across diverse ideological spectra—from religious fundamentalists to secular scientists—that science lacks the remit to tackle questions of morality and human values.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Moral Landscape\u003c\/em\u003e, Harris vigorously refutes this stance. He posits that our failure to address morality through a scientific lens has inadvertently bolstered the justification for religious faith. By defining morality in terms of the well-being of conscious creatures, Harris demonstrates that science does more than simply describe how things are; it can also prescribe how they ought to be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHarris challenges the widely accepted notion of moral relativism, proposing instead that there are objective truths about human and animal well-being that science can uncover. The impact of moral relativism, according to Harris, has been detrimental, leading to an increase in societal harm. He argues convincingly that intrusions of religious dogma into the realm of human values should be repelled, just as we reject the idea of a \"Christian physics\" or \"Muslim algebra.\" Therefore, there should be no Christian or Muslim morality dictating societal norms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLeveraging his expertise in both philosophy and neuroscience, along with his active engagement in contemporary cultural debates, Harris offers a revolutionary perspective on the future role of science in moral discourse. He suggests that, ultimately, a scientific understanding of human cooperation and well-being could pave the way for a more rational and humane world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Moral Landscape\u003c\/em\u003e invites readers to reconsider the boundaries between science and human values, proposing a future where our understanding of right and wrong is as empirical and precise as our grasp of the physical universe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45692434743532,"sku":"9780552776387","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780552776387.jpg?v=1725563016"},{"product_id":"lying-by-sam-harris-9781940051000","title":"Lying","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs it was in \u003ci\u003eAnna Karenina\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMadame Bovary\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eOthello\u003c\/i\u003e, so it is in life. Most forms of private vice and public evil are kindled and sustained by lies. Acts of adultery and other personal betrayals, financial fraud, government corruption-even murder and genocide-generally require an additional moral defect: a willingness to lie.\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eLying\u003c\/i\u003e, bestselling author and neuroscientist Sam Harris argues that we can radically simplify our lives and improve society by merely telling the truth in situations where others often lie. He focuses on \"white\" lies-those lies we tell for the purpose of sparing people discomfort-for these are the lies that most often tempt us. And they tend to be the only lies that good people tell while imagining that they are being good in the process.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ingram Book Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45799033012460,"sku":"9781940051000","price":41.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781940051000.jpg?v=1728218510"},{"product_id":"the-end-of-faith-by-sam-harris-9780743268097","title":"The End of Faith","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis important and timely book delivers a startling analysis of the clash of faith and reason in today's world. Sam Harris offers a vivid historical tour of mankind's willingness to suspend reason in favour of religious beliefs, even when those beliefs are used to justify harmful behaviour and sometimes heinous crimes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHe asserts that in the shadow of weapons of mass destruction, we can no longer tolerate views that pit one true god against another. Most controversially, he argues that we cannot afford moderate lip service to religion — an accommodation that only blinds us to the real perils of fundamentalism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile warning against the encroachment of organised religion into world politics, Harris also draws on new evidence from neuroscience and insights from philosophy to explore spirituality as a biological, brain-based need. He calls on us to invoke that need in taking a secular humanistic approach to solving the problems of this world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46504133132524,"sku":"9780743268097","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/17123893482452.jpg?v=1748639957"},{"product_id":"the-four-horsemen-by-sam-harris-9780593080399","title":"The Four Horsemen","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe transcript of the one and only conversation between \u003cem\u003ethe four horsemen\u003c\/em\u003e of New Atheism, with introductions from Dawkins, Dennett and Harris and a sparkling foreword by Stephen Fry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIncludes a foreword by \u003cstrong\u003eSTEPHEN FRY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A classic for our time...And all time.'\u003c\/em\u003e - Michael Shermer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'The words of Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris and Dennett are needed more than ever. These are the heirs to Voltaire.'\u003c\/em\u003e - Matt Ridley\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as the \"four horsemen\" of New Atheism, these four big thinkers of the twenty-first century met only once. Their electrifying examination of ideas on this remarkable occasion was intense and wide-ranging. Everything that was said as they agreed and disagreed with one another, interrogated ideas and exchanged insights - about religion and atheism, science and sense - speaks with urgency to our present age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eQuestions they asked of each other included: \"Is it ever possible to win a war of ideas? Is spirituality the preserve of the religious? Are there any truths you would rather not know? Would you want to see the end of faith?\" The dialogue was recorded and is now transcribed and presented here with new introductions from the surviving three horsemen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a sparkling introduction from Stephen Fry, it makes essential reading for all their admirers and for anyone interested in exploring the tensions between faith and reason.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46533073305836,"sku":"9780593080399","price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3793783482399.jpg?v=1749363080"},{"product_id":"free-will-by-sam-harris-9781451683400","title":"Free Will","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFrom the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe End of Faith\u003c\/i\u003e, a thought-provoking, \"brilliant and witty\" (Oliver Sacks) look at the notion of free will—and the implications that it is an illusion.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA belief in free will touches nearly everything that human beings value. It is difficult to think about law, politics, religion, public policy, intimate relationships, morality—as well as feelings of remorse or personal achievement—without first imagining that every person is the true source of his or her thoughts and actions. And yet the facts tell us that free will is an illusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this enlightening book, Sam Harris argues that this truth about the human mind does not undermine morality or diminish the importance of social and political freedom, but it can and should change the way we think about some of the most important questions in life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFree Will\u003c\/i\u003e challenges our most basic assumptions and is a must-read for anyone interested in the nature of human choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46631730512108,"sku":"9781451683400","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/23657843482704.jpg?v=1751979421"},{"product_id":"islam-and-the-future-of-tolerance-by-maajid-nawaz-9780674241480","title":"Islam and the Future of Tolerance","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"A civil but honest dialogue. As illuminating as it is fascinating.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Ayaan Hirsi Ali\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIs Islam a religion of peace or war? Is it amenable to reform? Why do so many Muslims seem to be drawn to extremism? And what do words like \u003cem\u003ejihadism\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003efundamentalism\u003c\/em\u003e really mean?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn a world riven by misunderstanding and violence, Sam Harris—a famous atheist—and Maajid Nawaz—a former radical—demonstrate how two people with very different religious views can find common ground and invite you to join in an urgently needed conversation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"How refreshing to read an honest yet affectionate exchange between the Islamist-turned-liberal-Muslim Maajid Nawaz and the neuroscientist who advocates mindful atheism, Sam Harris. Their back-and-forth clarifies multiple confusions that plague the public conversation about Islam.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Irshad Manji, \u003cem\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"It is sadly uncommon, in any era, to find dialogue based on facts and reason—but even more rarely are Muslim and non-Muslim intellectuals able to maintain critical distance on broad questions about Islam. Which makes \u003cem\u003eIslam and the Future of Tolerance\u003c\/em\u003e something of a unicorn. Most conversations about religion are marked by the inability of either side to listen, but here, at last, is a proper debate.\"\u003cbr\u003e- \u003cem\u003eNew Statesman\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47486136746220,"sku":"9780674241480","price":53.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780674241480-islam-and-the-future-of-tolerance.jpg?v=1775730833"},{"product_id":"waking-up-by-sam-harris-9781451636024","title":"Waking Up","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the millions of Americans who want spirituality without religion, Sam Harris's latest \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller is a guide to meditation as a rational practice informed by neuroscience and psychology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Sam Harris, neuroscientist and author, \u003cem\u003eWaking Up\u003c\/em\u003e provides a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of consciousness and spiritual experience, blending scientific insights with practical guidance for daily meditation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47643457781996,"sku":"9781451636024","price":51.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8570e9fbf1e6dcd70e7155f409f04219.jpg?v=1779226572"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/sam-harris.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}