Series: The Open Yale Courses

Epidemics and Society by Frank M. Snowden offers an illuminating dive into the profound role that epidemics have played in shaping human civilisation. This eye-opening book explores the intricate connections between disease outbreaks and the social fabric of human societies. From the devastating waves of the Black Death which decimated medieval Europe to the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19, Snowden...

Fundamentals of Physics II is a beloved introductory physics textbook, now including exercises and an answer key. It accessibly explains electromagnetism, optics, and quantum mechanics. R. Shankar is a well-known physicist and contagiously enthusiastic educator, whose popular online introductory-physics video lectures have been viewed over a million times. In this second book based on his online courses, Shankar explains electromagnetism,...

There is one thing we can be sure of: we are all going to die. But once we accept that fact, the questions begin. In this thought-provoking book, philosophy professor Shelly Kagan examines the myriad questions that arise when we confront the meaning of mortality. Do we have reason to believe in the existence of immortal souls? Or should we...

This book examines the small library of 24 books common to all Jewish and Christian Bibles—books that preserve the efforts of diverse writers over a span of many centuries to make sense of their personal experiences and those of their people, the ancient Israelites. Professor Christine Hayes guides her readers through the complexities of this polyphonous literature that has served...

When do governments merit our allegiance, and when should they be denied it? Ian Shapiro explores this most enduring of political dilemmas in this innovative and engaging book. Building on his highly popular Yale courses, Professor Shapiro evaluates the main contending accounts of the sources of political legitimacy. Starting with theorists of the Enlightenment, he examines the arguments put forward...

In this engaging introduction to the New Testament, Professor Dale B. Martin presents a historical study of the origins of Christianity by analysing the literature of the earliest Christian movements. Focusing mainly on the New Testament, he also considers nonbiblical Christian writings of the era. Martin begins by making a powerful case for the study of the New Testament. He...

A towering figure in world literature, Dante wrote his great epic poem Commedia in the early fourteenth century. The work gained universal acclaim and came to be known as La Divina Commedia, or The Divine Comedy. Giuseppe Mazzotta brings Dante and his masterpiece to life in this exploration of the man, his cultural milieu, and his endlessly fascinating works. Based...