I first came across the Penguin series of Great Ideas while window shopping at Skylight Books. The shop had dedicated a revolving display tower to the collection and I was immediately smitten. I treated myself to the whole kit & kaboodle (Montaigne, Nietzsche, Orwell, Machiavelli et al) in anticipation of the time I am able to return to ideas that don't need to be shaped and squeezed into a dissertation. Powell's blog and the Guardian can tell you a little bit more.-