Blooming in the Ruins, Carlos Alberto Sanchez
Blooming in the Ruins, Carlos Alberto Sanchez
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Blooming in the Ruins
How Mexican Philosophy Can Guide Us toward the Good Life (Guides to the Good Life)

Author: Carlos Alberto Sánchez

Narrator: Tim Morgan

Unabridged: 7 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: G&D Media

Published: 03/24/2025


Synopsis

An introduction to major themes in 20th century Mexican philosophy, offering an array of fascinating concepts, from recommending cultivating a rival as a source of motivation to reminding us to respect other people on their own terms.

When we think of philosophy that can guide us in our everyday lives, we are more likely to think of Ancient Greece or Rome than we are 20th-century Mexico. But Mexican philosophy, which came into focus in the last century, following the Mexican Revolution, is a rich and wide-ranging tradition with much to offer readers today. Emerging in defiance of the Western philosophy bound up with colonial power?first brought to Mexico with the Augustinians in the 16th century, and, like so much else, imposed on Mexicans for centuries after that?it boasts a range of powerful ideas and advice for modern-day life. A tradition deeply tied to Mexico's history of colonization, revolution, resistance, and persistence through hardship, this philosophy has much to teach us.

Mexican philosophers had to grapple with questions particular to Mexico that have implications that anyone can and should learn from. Given the way we all must contend with life's unexpected twists and turns, how can we preserve a sense of ourselves, and a coherent way of thinking about the world? How can we deal with emotions that conflict with one another? How can we keep our spirits up when we feel like we are always on our way to a far-off goal? Mexican philosophy offers a specific, historically- and culturally-rooted way to think about these universal questions. We can appreciate the way its ideas followed from the accidents of history that created modern-day Mexico, while also appreciating that they are as universally profound as those passed down in the Western tradition.

Mexican philosophy is a varied, dynamic, and deeply modern resource for meaningful, distinctive wisdom to guide us through our lives. Incorporating stories from his family's and his ancestors' Mexican and Mexican-American experiences, Carlos Alberto Sánchez provides an intriguing guide for readers of all backgrounds, including those who will be learning about philosophy (or Mexico) for the first time.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Steve on August 02, 2025

This is part of the Guides to the Good Life series. I was initially drawn to this book because of a ghost story. Now, don’t get the wrong idea. This is a serious book, but it looks at philosophy from the Mexican school. Mexican philosophy, as opposed to European (or continental) philosophy, takes an......more

Goodreads review by Tara on May 02, 2025

"Your individuality matters, your circumstance matters, your trauma matters!" Wonderfully written, inspiring work. I will share this with everyone I know and read it again and again in the years to come.......more