Seijaku (sei-ja-ku): a state of inner calm within the chaos of life.

Rooted in timeless Japanese wisdom, Seijaku invites the reader to find stillness – not as an escape from life, but as a way to live it fully. Unlike many wellness trends, seijaku doesn’t ask you to optimise or accomplish. It offers something simple: the chance to feel quiet, inside and out.

In this beautifully illustrated guide, Japanese doctor and wellness expert Miki Fujito explores Japanese philosophies such as ma (the space between things), shikata ga nai (letting go) and yutori (spaciousness) – ideas that have shaped Japanese culture and wellbeing for centuries and are reflected in one of the longest-living populations in the world.

Through simple prompts, practical rituals and mindful reflections combined with elegant, full-colour artwork, Seijaku will help you slow down, ease anxiety, prevent burnout and cultivate calm in everyday life. Perfect for fans of Ikigai and Zen: The Art of Simple Living.

Stoicism is one of the world’s most popular – and misunderstood – traditions. We all know what it means to be ‘stoical’: to have a stiff upper lip, to hide or suppress one’s emotions, to be indifferent to the outside world. But is there a difference between being 'stoic' and being a 'Stoic'? Is it actually about feeling nothing? Are Stoics just naïve optimists? And is Stoicism really only for men?

Stoicism Is Not What You Think offers an invigorating corrective. Here philosopher John Sellars debunks all the major myths and misconceptions foisted on Stoicism by critics – and sometimes admirers too – and firmly puts them to rest. Stoicism, he shows, can be warm and inclusive. It can help everyone in times of trouble, no matter who they are. It can even be political.

With vivid examples and fresh interpretations of ancient Stoics, from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius, Sellars shows why Stoicism is not only perennially relevant, but essential for navigating the complexities of modern life.

This handsome gift edition presents the profound teachings of Confucius in his famous collection The Analects, featuring a luxurious, gold-embossed cover design, gilded page edges and patterned endpapers.

The Analects are a fascinating anthology of the words and ideas of Confucius, gathered by his loyal disciples. They espouse the importance of education for moral development and celebrate the qualities of sincerity, piety, and virtue. In these pivotal writings, human behavior was put under the microscope for the first time.

Confucius provides a moral code by which each one of us should live based on ideals of responsibility, respect, kindness, and honesty - qualities as relevant and sought-after today as they were 2,500 years ago. His principles continue to shape Eastern philosophy, politics, and culture.

This pocket-sized gift edition contains the classic translation by William Edward Soothill and an introduction by John Baldock. It is elegantly presented with a gold embossed cover design, ivory pages, beautifully designed endpapers and gold gilded page edges. Part of the Arcturus Ornate Classics series, this book makes wonderful gift for any lover of classic fiction.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Ornate Classics are beautifully bound editions of iconic literary works across history. These compact, foil-embossed hardbacks are printed using deluxe ivory paper and make the perfect gift.

In ancient Greece, rhetoric was at the centre of public life, but it was not until Aristotle produced The Art of Rhetoric in the 4th century bc that the subject had a true masterpiece.

Brilliantly explained and carefully reasoned, The Art of Rhetoric remains as relevant today as it was in the assemblies of ancient Athens. As he considered the role of emotion, reason, and morality in speech, Aristotle created essential guidelines for argument and prose style that would influence writers for more than two millennia.

This elegant pocket-sized gift edition contains the classic translation by J. H. Freese and is presented with an embossed cover design, ivory pages, beautifully designed endpapers and gold gilded page edges. Part of the Arcturus Ornate Classics series, this book makes wonderful gift for any lover of classic literature.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Ornate Classics are beautiful pocket editions of iconic literary works from across history. Presented with striking foil cover embossing, gilded page edges, and deluxe ivory paper, these editions make the perfect gift for lovers of classic literature.

Still a source of inspiration for soldiers on the battlefield and managers in the boardroom 2000 years after it was written, Sun-Tzu's The Art of War is the most influential book of strategy in the world, translated from the Chinese by John Minford in Penguin Classics.

'Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting'

For more than two thousand years, Sun-Tzu's The Art of War has provided leaders with profound insights into the use of skill, tactics, psychology and discipline to outwit opponents. Said to have inspired Napoleon, and used by Mao Zedong and General Douglas MacArthur, as well as many famous business gurus, politicians and sports stars, its ancient words of wisdom provide a touchstone for today's managers and executives fighting their boardroom battles. This best-selling book offers ancient wisdom on how to use skill, cunning, tactics and discipline to outwit your opponent.

Little is known for definite about Sun Tzu (544-496 B.C.) and his life during the Warring States period after the decline of the Zhou dynasty, but his classic The Art of War has been one of the central works of Chinese literature for 2500 years.

If you enjoyed The Art of War, you might like Machiavelli's The Prince, also available in Penguin Classics.

'Absorb this book, and you can throw out all those contemporary books about management leadership'
Newsweek

'Reflecting on Sun-Tzu's work is to the business manager what weight lifting is to the champion athlete - an exercise that makes one stronger'
John Kohut, Beijing Bureau Chief, South China Post

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

The Art of War is the earliest-known and most famous treatise on military science. Written by military general Sun Tzu in Ancient China, it provides tactical advice on war strategy and how to adjust your approach in ever-evolving situations.

Despite being written over two thousand years ago, its shrewd and penetrating theories are used today as a source of insight into many areas of life, including leadership and corporate strategy.

This elegant, compact gift-edition features gold-gilded page edges, ivory paper, golden foil stamping on the cover and beautiful illustrations within, making it the perfect gift for all readers interested in ancient Chinese wisdom.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Ornate Classics are beautifully bound editions of iconic literary works across history. These compact, foil-embossed hardbacks are printed using deluxe ivory paper and make the perfect gift.

'When you attain the Way of strategy, there will not be one thing you cannot see.'
-Miyamoto Musashi

This luxurious hardback presents The Book of Five Rings, a classic Japanese text by the undefeated swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Shortly before his death in 1645, Musashi retreated to a cave to live as a hermit. There he wrote five scrolls describing the "true principles" required for victory in the martial arts and on the battlefield. Instead of relying on religion or theory, Musashi based his writings on his own experience, observation, and reason.

The scrolls, published as The Book of Five Rings, have recently gained an international reputation in the business world as a means of resolving differences and achieving success. But their delineation of the psychological strength, rigorous self-control, and practical application necessary for dealing with physical and mental conflict also has a wider relevance and can be usefully applied to all our lives.

This compact luxury edition is perfect as a gift.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Gilded Classics presents luxury gift editions of classic works, featuring hardcover Wibalin binding, foil-embossed cover designs, beautifully designed end-papers and gilded page edges. These make perfectible collectibles for bibliophiles and lovers of classic literature.

THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

One of the most influential voices in modern philosophy - the author of The Course of Love, Religion for Atheists, The Art of Travel and The School of Life

Alain de Botton presents a one-stop shop for solving the problems of everyday life through the wisdom of history's great philosophers

'Singlehandedly, de Botton has taken philosophy back to its simplest and most important purpose: helping us live our lives' Independent

'Few discussions on the great philosophers can have been so entertaining... An ingenious, imaginative book' The Sunday Times

'Witty, thoughtful, entertaining... It manages to make philosophy both enjoyable and relevant' Anthony Clare, Literary Review

'No doubt about it, philosophy is the new rock and roll and Alain de Botton is its Colonel Tom Parker... A pleasure to read. And good writing, like good philosophy, is always a consolation' John Banville, Irish Times

Alain de Botton has set six of the finest minds in the history of philosophy to work on the problems of everyday life. Find out what Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche would say about the things that bother us all the most: lack of money, the pain of love, inadequacy, anxiety, the fear of failure and the pressure to conform.

'Consider just this, and give your minds to this alone: whether or not what I say is just'

Plato's account of Socrates' trial and death (399 BC) is a significant moment in Classical literature and the life of Classical Athens. In these four dialogues, Plato develops the Socratic belief in responsibility for one's self and shows Socrates living and dying under his philosophy. In Euthyphro, Socrates debates goodness outside the courthouse; Apology sees him in court, rebutting all charges of impiety; in Crito, he refuses an entreaty to escape from prison; and in Phaedo, Socrates faces his impending death with calmness and skilful discussion of immortality.

Christopher Rowe's introduction to his powerful new translation examines the book's themes of identity and confrontation, and explores how its content is less historical fact than a promotion of Plato's Socratic philosophy.