Between 1999 and 2002 Grayling wrote a weekly column in "The Guardian" called "The Last Word", on a different topic every week. In these columns, which also formed the basis of a series of books for a general readership, commencing with "The Meaning of Things" in 2001, Grayling made the basics of philosophy available to the layperson. He is a regular contributor to "The Guardian's" "Comment is free" group blog, and writes columns for, among others, the "Prospect" and "New Scientist" magazines.