What is the meaning of life? How should I live? Is there any purpose to the universe? Generations have turned to the great German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer because he tackled the big issues. His influence has extended not only to later philosophers-Nietzsche foremost among them-but across the most brilliant novelists, musicians, and artists of all disciplines. Schopenhauer believed that the world was a cold, absurd place, and that it was only by the force of an individual's Will that any meaning could be created. He also believed that the universe itself had a Will-a spiritual force many have likened to "The Way," spoken of by Taoists. This, the first English collection of Schopenhauer's work, is a much-needed book. Schopenhauer wrote thousands of pages. Volume 1 of his most famous work, The World as Will and Representation, alone runs over 750 pages. As a result, it has been daunting to know where to begin to read Schopenhauer, despite his immense reputation. Now, just as Basic Writings did for Heidegger and Nietzsche, our new collection will open English readers to Schopenhauer's profound ideas-almost as if for the first time.

Arthur Schopenhauer (1768-1866) was born in Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland). He taught at the University of Berlin until the early 1830s, when he settled in Frankfurt, his home for the remainder of his life. He is the author of the multivolume work The World as Will and Representation. Wolfgang Schirmacher, Ph.D., is president of the International Schopenhauer Association. He also is Arthur Schopenhauer Chair and Professor of Philosophy of Technology at the European Graduate School.