The Extinction of Desire: A Tale of Enlightenment

Book Details

• Author: Michael Boylan

• Brand: Wiley-Blackwell

• Edition: 1

• Binding: Paperback

• ISBN: 9781405148504

• Number of Pages: 205

• Release Date: 20-03-2007

• Languages: English

• Package Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches

About the Book

"The Extinction of Desire" by Michael Boylan is a compelling and philosophical novel that intertwines Buddhist philosophy with fiction. The story follows Michael O'Meara, a high school history teacher in Maryland, whose life is suddenly upended after a freak accident. He becomes the unexpected beneficiary of a million dollars, a windfall that disrupts his previously content life and forces him to confront everything he thought he knew about happiness and desire.

The novel explores the fundamental truths of life, questioning materialism, instant gratification, and the true nature of what is valuable. Through Michael's journey, readers are taken on a voyage of self-discovery, where he grapples with core philosophical and religious themes such as knowledge, reality, self, others, and the nature of value.

In addition to its rich narrative, the book includes a foreword by Charles Johnson, the winner of the American National Book Award for Fiction in 1990 for his book Middle Passage. Boylan also provides a website with additional resources, including discussion points for reading groups and a teacher's guide, making this book ideal for both personal reflection and academic use.

The "The Extinction of Desire" is not only a novel but also a thought-provoking exploration of philosophical ideas, materialism, and the meaning of life.