The Lives and Opinions of the World's Greatest Philosophers

The print is small. Very, very small. This has never been a problem before now. I'm sure that book is good because I am veruy familiar with this author. However, the book is quite unreadable. Oh well, it's philosophy. Trying to make to make sense of the universe and life without God is a doomed venture anyway. I just wanted to get an overview. Bertrand Russell is correct, life has no meaning without God. Fortunately, there is one. Now a book explaining why the Creator made this life so challenging (major understatement alert) would be most welcome.

This is the most informative book I have ever read. I've always had a difficult time reading and understanding the great thinkers of our time, but Will Durant does a beautiful job of explaning what they were saying.

Will Durant is not a great student of philosophy... He is rather a very fine historian who attempts in this volume to summarize the thought of some great philosophers of the Western World. He attempts to do this using the same kind of language he uses in his great series on the history of Western Civilization. In doing so, however, he selects only 15 philosophers of the entire 2500 year period albeit choosing the giants... Plato , Aristotle, Bacon, Kant, Russell etc.. In doing this he leaves out such great thinkers as Augustine, St Thomas,and Descartes! This is more like an outline of philosophical thinking, but nonetheless is engaging and enjoyable reading especially for the layperson. It is well worth reading.

A classic text worth revisiting and owning for your personal library. For an insightful and, at times, near poetic account of the lives of some of Western Civilization's greatest philosophers, The Story of Philosophy can't be beat. Durant's economy of style and flair for humanizing the context and content of philosophical authorship makes for a memorable reading experience.

A good starting point before delving into other philosophical works. Some may consider this work a bit outdated but Durant's love of the subject matter is contagious and it shows in his writing style.

This book is excellent. Despite its length and the details needed to appreciate and put each phylosopher in perspective, the author keeps it interesting.. I've taken to highlighting key points and it seems I am highlighting too much.. its really excellent reading. With each page I am both shocked at the foresight of these great men and at the same time loose all hope for mankind... after two thousand + years, we still can not get things in order :)

My only regret ? I did not buy it in the hardcover.. No joking, I will likely re-order it in hardcopy as it is such a great reference book.

Durant writes with a discusses philosophy with a seemingly poetic flair. When reading the book you do not just garner information, you also catch a glimpse of Durant's heart for philosophy. It is a good book that addresses several of the key philosophical figures since the Greeks.

The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant is an excellent introductory book on major Western figures in political philophy. Durant's writing style is easy to follow. Biographical introductions on various philophers make the reading interesting over dry philophical theses. Recommined highly.

should be mandatory reading for 12th grade. It will enable the reader to view history and philosophy in new and invigorating ways. Spinoza was literally enlightening, and the retort to Nietzsche left me on the floor laughing.

Good information, but makes assumptions about how philosophers felt and what motivated them.

Durant is obviously a wizard of knowledge, but knowing this may lead Durant to make assumptions.

Unless you have something to substantiate a claim about a philosopher's personality, please substantiate it.