The lessons of history by will durant on free audio book. He was earlier noted for the story of philosophy, described as a groundbreaking work that helped to popularize philosophy. The durants were historians and philosophers, as well as prolific authors. What books should i read after finishing the story of. Alongside bertrand russells history of western philosophy, this is probably the next best book to buy. This is the right book to read, to get a context of history. Ariel and will durant have written many wonderful books but the story of philosophy by will is the epitome of his ability to write a scholarly and complete history of the great minds that have pondered the essence of life. William james will durant was an american writer, historian, and philosopher.
It is one of the first philosophy books i ever read and, thanks to a gift from my soninlaw, i own a signed copy. Its a great overview of the history of philosophy, told as a story where one set of ideas leads into the next. The book became a bestseller and freed durant from his teaching career and allowed him and his wife to travel and. Will durant and the story of philosophy tigerpapers. With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the lessons of history.
Will durant also wrote the philosophy introduction book the story of philosophy. The period of time covered begins in the early centuries before christ b. The story of philosophy by will durant, paperback barnes. The lives and opinions of the greater philosophers is a 1926 book by will durant, in which he profiles several prominent western philosophers and their ideas, beginning with socrates and plato and on through friedrich nietzsche. However, the series ends with the age of napoleon because the durants both died she in her 80s. The story of philosophy kindle edition by durant, will. Easily the most engaging writer of western intellectual history in the english language, will durant breathes life into philosophers and their ideas.
The story of philosophy is a key book for any reader who wishes to survey the history. Discover a history of civilization in egypt and the near east to the death of alexander. History cannot be a science, only an industry, an art, and a philosophy. Heroes of history is a book of lifeenhancing wisdom and optimism, complete with durants wit, knowledge, and unique ability to explain events and ideas in simple, exciting terms. The story of philosophy, will durant the story of philosophy. He is best known for the 11volume the story of civilization, written in collaboration with his wife ariel and published between 1935 and 1975. A brilliant and concise account of the lives and ideas of the great philosophersplato, aristotle, bacon, spinoza, voltaire, kant, schopenhauer, spencer, nietzsche, bergson, croce, russell, santayana, james, and deweythe story of philosophy is one of the great books of our time. See all books authored by will durant, including the story of philosophy, and the lessons of history, and more on.
He was earlier noted for the story of philosophy 1926, described as a groundbreaking work. History book 1939 will durant ariel age of greece history series story of civilization anthropology eames library gift historian europe theheartthehome 4. The lessons of history book by will durant, ariel durant. In the first volume our oriental heritage, which covers the history of the middle east and orient to 1933, will durant stated that he wanted to include the history of the west to the early 20th century. Durant received his phd from columbia university in 1917. Will durant was an influential american philosopher who sought to offer a.
His first major work was the story of philosophy in 1926, which i will compare with russells similarlythemed 1945 work, a history of western philosophy. Feb 16, 2010 a concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, the lessons of history is the result of a lifetime of research from pulitzer prizewinning historians will and ariel durant. Few write for the nonspecialist as well as will durant, and this book is a splendid example of his eminently readable scholarship. Inside the book, which is a condensed version of his life work, you can find an interesting chapter entitled religion and history that explores the role of religion throughout history. The story of philosophy was originally published in 1926. The story of philosophy is a classic account of the lives and opinions of the great philosophers of the western world. Will durant is an engaging writer, eloquent without being flowery. The story of philosophy is a key book for any reader who wishes to survey the history and development of philosophical ideas in the western world. The story of philosophy 1 the lives and opinions will durant 1926 item.
And he is also good at explaining the thought of a philosophy. Review will and ariel durant are perhaps best known for their monumental 11volume work the story of civilization written between 1935 and 1975. In this book will durant has fashioned an unprecedented dream team of luminaries that is both. My notes are informal and often contain quotes from the book as well as my own thoughts. Only a fool would try to compress a hundred centuries into a hundred pages of hazardous conclusions. This is my book summary of the lessons of history by will and ariel durant. This summary includes key lessons and important passages from the book. The lessons of history kindle edition by durant, will, durant, ariel. In the lessons of history the authors provided a summary of periods and trends in history they had noted upon completion of their momentous eleven volume the story of civilization.
The lives and opinions of the greater philosophers in 1926. In 1926, he published the story of philosophy, which had begun life as a series of pamphlets. Its just a bit dense and hard to get through at times. In 1917, as a requirement for the doctorate in philosophy, will durant wrote his first book, philosophy and the social problem, which argued that philosophy was languishing because it avoided the actual problems of society. These book notes are mostly excerpts of interesting thoughts, theyre all direct quotations from the book. Durant lessons of history download ebook pdf, epub. This text is a splendid example of author will durants eminently readable scholarship, and is a key book for any reader who wishes to survey the history and development of philosophical ideas in the western world.
The story of philosophy 1 the lives and opinions will. For an amateur historian like me, it provides the appropriate context to understand history beyond the chronology of events and people. The story of philosophy is a key book for pdf any reader who wishes to survey the history and development of philosophical ideas in the western world. The lessons of history is a book by historians will durant and ariel durant. A concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, the lessons of history is the result of a lifetime of research from pulitzer prizewinning historians will and ariel durant. William james durant was a prolific american writer, historian, and philosopher. I have read the 2006 publication and it started with a preface written by the original author will durant for the sophomore version. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Discover a history of civilization in egypt and the near east to the death of alexander, and in india. Simple minds read hume and nietzche because they are easy to read and appeal for a need to feel smart. The life of greece being a history of greek civilization from the beginnings, and of civilization in the near east from the death of alexander, to the roman conquest. Few write for the nonspecialist as well as will durant, and. Hell read sarte if you can but dont read the dimple minded stuff. But not since the longpopular classic bertrand russells a history of western philosophy, published in 1945, has there been a comprehensive and entertaining singlevolume.
The story of philosophy is the story of who we are and why. Will durant books list of books by author will durant. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. November 5, 1885 november 7, 1981 was an american writer, historian, and philosopher. This work describes the lives and opinions of the greater philosophers. Sep 26, 2015 the story of philosophy is a key book for any reader who wishes to survey the history and development of philosophical ideas in the western world. Here, in one book for the layman, is a whole university course in philosophy, written in durants unique, lively, and concise style. About the author will durant 18851981 was awarded the pulitzer prize 1968 and the presidential medal of freedom 1977.
The rate of change increases and inventions cause acceleration to go ever faster. Instead, it is the story of the writings of those philosophers who, for whatever reason, durant wants to highlight. The lessons of history by will durant, ariel durant books. However, this is not a true history of philosophy, or, for that matter, a story of philosophy. Buy a cheap copy of the story of philosophy book by will durant. It is the lessons of our heritage passed on for the edification and benefit of future generationsa fitting legacy from americas most beloved historian and. The story of philosophy durant, will 8601416405896. Will and ariel durant have written a masterpiece in the lessons of history. It was followed by a revised second edition released on 1933. Durant attempts to show the interconnection of their ideas and how one philosophers ideas. It is a book i thoroughly enjoy dipping into from time to. Apr 11, 2019 perhaps i am the only guy in list who would recommend russell over durant for the basic reference book. These pages are packed with wisdom and winged with wit.
In this illuminating and thoughtful book, will and ariel durant have succeeded in. Few write for the nonspecialist as well as will durant, and this book is a splendid example of his eminently. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Aug 21, 2012 the lessons of history ebook written by will durant, ariel durant. He conceived of philosophy as total perspective or seeing things sub specie totius. Introduction to will durants, the story of philosophy. The book packs a wealth of insights into a hundred pages. The lessons of history is a collection of short essays based on will and ariel durants acclaimed eleven volume the story of civilization. With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time. What you find by reading multiple books of durant you get compiled in one history of western philosophy. The story of philosophy book by will durant official. Which of the following two books is the more complete, less.
Durant attempts to show the interconnection of their ideas and how one philosophers ideas informed the next. Will durant is the author of a 704 page book titled the story of philosophy. In 1968, will and ariel durant summarized some of the periods and trends in history they had recognized from their study of 5,000 years of world history in their short work the lessons of history. The lessons of history by will durant, ariel durant. Buy the story of philosophy book online at low prices in. The book also examines the philosophers setting in their own time and place, and their influence on our modern intellectual heritage. The product of 11 years of research, the story of philosophy is an endlessly inspiring and instructive chronicle of the worlds greatest thinkers, from. The book became a bestseller and freed durant from his teaching career and allowed him and his wife to travel and to begin work on his lifes labor, the story of civilization. The exuberant young author proposed to view these problems from the perspective of philosophy and suggested that specific. If you have never read anything about philosophy, this the place to start.
An endlessly inspiring and instructive chronicle of the worlds great thinkers, from aristotle to santayana. He was earlier noted for his book, the story of philosophy, written in 1926, which was considered a groundbreaking work. It has probably introduced more americans to philosophy than any other book. Full text of the story of philosophy will durant see other formats.
He became best known for his work the story of civilization, 11 volumes written in collaboration with his wife, ariel durant, and published between 1935 and 1975. A brilliant and concise account of the lives and ideas of the great philosophersplato, aristotle, bacon, spinoza, voltaire, kant, schopenhauer, spencer, nietzsche, bergson, croce, russell, santayana, james, and dewey the story of philosophy is one of the great books of our time. Will durant stated that he and ariel made note of events and comments that might. In 1968, will and ariel durant summarized some of the periods and trends in history they had. An epic tale, spanning civilizations and continents, it explores some of the most creative minds in history. Praised as a revelatory book by the wall street journal, this is the last and.
1501 596 544 1001 1397 792 468 1221 290 548 342 1412 1371 149 466 1008 1447 1297 706 967 349 1475 501 662 831 524 1134 772 305