This is the paperback edition. It will be shipped via Yu-Yu Mercari Bin. There are no noticeable scratches or stains other than some scuffing on the cover, but please understand that this item has been stored by a private individual. This book carefully selects 50 major Western and Eastern philosophers and provides an easy-to-understand and compact guide to the true core of their philosophies and ideas. It's an interesting and informative read, no matter where you start! (Excerpt from Amazon's book introduction)