The Extinction of Desire: A Tale of Enlightenment

What would you do if you suddenly became rich? Michael O Meara had never asked himself this question. A high school history teacher in Maryland, Michael is content to not ask too many questions – until, after a freak accident, he unexpectedly finds himself the beneficiary of a million dollars. As friends, adversaries, and a greedy ex–wife emerge from the background to lay claim to the fortune, Michael finds himself caught up in a number of troubling situations that disrupt his life and leave him questioning everything he had and everything he thought he wanted.

Haplessly swept from the United States and Europe, among international jet setters, the IRA, the Mob, and everyday people, Michael slowly begins to uncover what is truly valuable in life via the teachings of Buddhist philosophy. The Extinction of Desire maps the course of his voyage, blending philosophy and fiction to discover fundamental truths.

For additional resources, including discussion points for reading groups and a teachers guide, visit the Extinction of Desire website at www.blackwellpublishing.com/publicphilosophy/boylan

The Four Noble Truths.

Foreword by Charles Johnson.

Prologue: An Ancient Fable.

The Extinction of Desire: A Tale of Enlightenment.

Acknowledgments

Michael Boylan is the Chair of Philosophy, Theology, and Religious Studies at Marymount University. He is also the author of A Just Society (2004), Ethics Across the Curriculum: A Practice–Based Approach (2003, with James A. Donahue), and Basic Ethics (2000). He received his Ph.D. from University of Chicago.

"[Boylan] tries to present a philosophical worldview through the characters, actions, and events of his novel. He wants to show us a worldview in its experienced development and not just say that such and such is the case ... [A] brief summary of the action does not do justice to the richness of the story and the fun provided by the humorous characters that Michael encounters on his path toward enlightenment. They provide surprises and laughter along the way."

Metapsychology