Books published by Cosimo Classics

The Constitution of the United States, signed by the members of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, replaced the Articles of Confederation on June 21, 1788.

Described even today as "unsurpassed," this history of mathematical notation stretching back to the Babylonians and Egyptians is one of the most comprehensive written. In two impressive volumes, first published in 1928-9 and reproduced here under one cover, distinguished mathematician Florian Cajori shows the origin, evolution, and dissemination of each symbol and the competition it faced in its rise to popularity or fall into obscurity. Illustrated with more than a hundred diagrams and figures, this "mirror of past and present conditions in mathematics" will give students and historians a whole new appreciation for "1 + 1 = 2."

Completed in April 1918, "in the last days before a period of imprisonment," Proposed Roads to Freedom contains Bertrand Russell's astute political commentary on anarchism, socialism, and syndicalism. Russell begins with a historical overview of socialism and anarchism, the teachings and organizations of Marx and Bakunin, and the syndicalist revolt against socialism. He then turns to more pressing problems of the future, and how these movements could contribute to reconstruction after the war. Although he has criticism for each movement, Russell respected what they attempted to achieve. "What is new in Socialism and Anarchism is that close relations of the ideal to the present sufferings of men, which has enabled powerful political movements to grow out of the hopes of solitary thinkers. It is this that makes Socialism and Anarchism important, and it is this that makes them dangerous to those who batten, consciously or unconsciously, upon the evils of our present order of society."

The Secrets of the Self is a book-length, philosophical poem rooted in metaphysical thought and ideology, as well as Islamic theology. Originally published in 1915, the poem speaks of the "Self" in relation to the universe, how it is the inner power and soul of each individual human. It instructs on how to improve the Self through Love and willpower, which can then help one control the forces within the universe. The poem includes stories that illustrate its points and promotes the spread of Islamic ideals.

As outspoken in his day as Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens are today, American freethinker and author ROBERT GREEN INGERSOLL (1833-1899) was a notorious radical whose uncompromising views on religion and slavery (they were bad, in his opinion), women's suffrage (a good idea, he believed), and other contentious matters of his era made him a wildly popular orator and critic of 19th-century American culture and public life. As a speaker dedicated to expanding intellectual horizons and celebrating the value of skepticism, Ingersoll spoke frequently on such topics as atheism, freedom from the pressures of conformity, and the lives of philosophers who espoused such concepts. This collection of his most famous speeches includes the lectures: - "The Gods" (1872) - "Humboldt" (1869) - "Thomas Paine" (1870) - "Individuality" (1873) - "Heretics and Heresies" (1874)

"…Little Baron Trump, like the great Munchhausen, has a passion for travel, a lust of adventure, a fever of imagination. He sees, says and does queer things. …We owe Ingersoll Lockwood thanks that he has given us simply a delightful example of the art of sustained fooling…" -Boston Times, 1890The Travels and Adventures of Little Baron Trump and His Wonderful Dog Bulger by INGERSOLL LOCKWOOD, with illustrations by George Wharton Edwards, is a mixture of travel adventure, science fiction, and fantasy. Published in 1890, it became one of Lockwood's most popular works, together with his other children's book Baron Trump's Marvellous Underground Journey, published in 1893. In 2017, when almost all the news deals with the Trump presidency, The Travels and Adventures of Little Baron Trump drew attention due to its uncanny connections with President Trump and his family. The book's main character, Baron Trump, is a wealthy boy with abnormal strength living in Castle Trump, and just like President Donald Trump, is of German heritage. What makes the story even more remarkable is that Baron Trump is guided by "the master of all masters," a man named "Don," to start his voyage to Russia. Even stranger, in Lockwood's final novel, The Last President (1896), New York City fears the collapse of the republic in 1900 after the transition of presidential power and Americans protest a corrupt election process. Are these books a bizarre coincidence or are they prophetic? Let the reader decide.

Mystics and Saints of Islam is a compilation of 15 short biographies of great Islamic saints and mystics, as reflected in the title of the book. Author Claud Field opens with a short introduction to Islamic mysticism and pantheistic sufism, followed by short descriptions of several well-known Islamic saints, including Rabia the Woman Sufi, Habib Ajami, Al Ghazzali, Suhrawardy, and Sharani the Egyptian. This book is intended for those new to Sufism and scholars interested in a quick overview of major Islamic figures.CLAUD FIELD (1863-1941) was an author and translator of Arabic literature. His most well-known translations are the works of Abu Hamid al-Ghaz¿l¿, namely The Alchemy of Happiness and The Confessions of Al Ghazzali. He is the author of Mystics and Saints of Islam, Heroes of Missionary Enterprise, The Charm of India, and Persian Literature, among others.

Religion of Ancient Egypt is a detailed and easy-to-read guide on the gods and beliefs in Egyptian mythology. First published in 1908, this educational book describes the types of gods and worship in Egyptian religion, the nature of gods and man, the concept of future life, private and ritual worship, cosmogony, and the influence of Egypt. An informative and descriptive guide, this book will intrigue anyone interested in ancient Egyptian gods and religion.SIR WILLIAM M. FLINDERS PETRIE (1853-1942) was a British Egyptologist who helped pioneer the systematic methodology in archaeology. Born in Charlton, Kent, England, Petrie had no formal education, but instead learned the art of excavation and surveying from his father. He began traveling and studying archaeology at a young age, hitting the high point of his career with the discovery of the Merneptah Stele in 1896. In addition to excavating at some of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt, including Naukratis, Tanis, and Abydos, he also held the first chair of Edwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology at University College, England.

The 12th-century Islamic thinker Al Ghazzali began his career as a professor in Baghdad. Over time, however, he realized that philosophy, math, and science were inadequate to answer the spiritual questions that vexed him. He left his post and began a two-year search for truth. The Confessions of Al Ghazzali is his autobiography and the result of what he learned during his quest. In it, he argues that while philosophy and the sciences are necessary for solving earthly matters, only Sufism is capable of deciphering the ultimate mystery. This brief treatise, translated into English for the first time by Claud Field and published in 1909, is filled with illuminating analogies and clear explanations that will please the student of Islam and the academically curious.Islamic theologian, philosopher, and mystic ABOU HAMID MUHAMMED IBN MUHAMMAD AL GHAZZALI (1058-1111) is widely considered to be one of Islam's most preeminent scholars. A prolific writer, Al Ghazzali's works include treatises on theology, Sufism, philosophy, jurisprudence, and logic.

The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, written by Captain Edward Ruppelt in 1956, was the first serious, unbiased account written about UFOs by anyone connected with the official government investigations of UFO phenomena. Ruppelt, who coined the term "unidentified flying objects" and headed Project Blue Book from 1951 to 1953, includes his personal investigations and findings in his extensive research on UFOs. He discusses both well-publicized UFO sightings and lesser-known accounts, as well as the inner workings of Air Force UFO research. This edition is the original 1956 edition; in 1960 Ruppelt released a second edition which seemed to weaken his original views that some UFO reports could not be explained, and reinforce the Air Force's position that there was nothing mysterious about UFOs.EDWARD J. RUPPELT (1923-1960) was the head of Project Blue Book during the Korean War, from 1951-1953. He served at the Air Technical Intelligence Center, where he took over Project Grudge, a formal investigation by the U.S. military with the goal of debunking extraterrestrial and UFO activity. Under Ruppelt's supervision, the project, later named Blue Book, experienced its most fruitful years, when investigations were properly conducted without judgment or disdain. Many UFO researchers hail him as a pioneer of UFO research and hero in the fight to earn respectability for the field.