The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library: An Anthology of Writings Which Relate to Pythagoras and Pythagorean Philosophy. Edited and introduced by David Fideler.
Pythagoras is one of the towering figures in Western thought — a key figure in ancient Greek philosophy, mathematics, and spirituality. The first man to call himself a philosopher or “lover of wisdom,” he was also the first to call the universe a cosmos or “beautiful order.”
The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library contains a complete introduction to Pythagorean thought, the four ancient biographies of Pythagoras, and over twenty-five Pythagorean and Neopythagorean writings from the ancient world.
REVIEWS
“The material in this book is indispensible for anyone who wishes to understand the real spiritual roots of Western civilization.” — Jacob Needleman, Professor of Philosophy, San Francisco State University; author of The Heart of Philosophy
“For those who truly wish to understand Western civilization—the basic trajectory on which it was launched and the points at which it has fatefully (but not irrevocably) deviated from that trajectory—this is an almost indispensible book.” — Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions
“The Lives of Iamblichus, Porphyry, and Diogenes Laertius together would be a boon, but to have the whole Pythagorean corpus is a bonanza. The clearly written and instructive introduction of Fideler is a rousing paean to Pythagoras and his abiding influence. . . . Appropriate for all levels.” — Choice
“This book deserves to establish itself as the standard sourcework on Pythagoreanism. Definitely recommended.” — The Hermetic Journal
“Fideler’s introduction provides invaluable background material for the student by highlighting and analyzing clearly the principle themes in the writings and judiciously alerting readers to the difficulty of separating face and fancy in the master’s biography. The Pythagorean Sourcebook thus succeeds in introducing students to the range of Pythagorean thought without misrepresenting it — a feat that is not unimpressive . . . ” — Sixteenth Century Journal