Rating: 
Summary: Durant's heroes.
Review: After having read Durant's 'The story of Philosophy' I was hooked. This author had made the main ideas that had troubled philosophers accessible to the non-Philosopher; to the average Joe that wanted to know what Philosophy was all about. So when I found out he had written a book about "The greatest minds and ideas of all times" I knew I had to get it. This book is really short, so you know straight away that he wont be going into too much detail and that the book will have to be really selective about who it discusses. It was unfortunate, to me at least, that Durant had to spend so many pages justifying his selection and thus making the actual discussion of the people and ideas much shorter. Some people received only 2 pages which was a disappointment. It would have been better had Durant instead of justifying himself, written more about those people and ideas which would have justified themselves to the reader. As he admits readily, many of the greatest poets are his favorites, so I think it would be fair to say that his choice of greatest peoples and ideas are not as objective as one might like them to be, but can such a 'top 10' or 'top 12' list ever be wholly objective? That said, I would still recommend this book to those wanting to know what Durant thought was important to human civilization over its thousands of years of history. The selection of book Durant gives is quite good, although personally I prefer Mortimer Adler's, which you can get from the Internet or his book "How to read a book: - Appendix A".
Rating:
Summary: Durant's heroes.
Review: After having read Durant's `The story of Philosophy' I was hooked. This author had made the main ideas that had troubled philosophers accessible to the non-Philosopher; to the average Joe that wanted to know what Philosophy was all about. So when I found out he had written a book about "The greatest minds and ideas of all times" I knew I had to get it. This book is really short, so you know straight away that he wont be going into too much detail and that the book will have to be really selective about who it discusses. It was unfortunate, to me at least, that Durant had to spend so many pages justifying his selection and thus making the actual discussion of the people and ideas much shorter. Some people received only 2 pages which was a disappointment. It would have been better had Durant instead of justifying himself, written more about those people and ideas which would have justified themselves to the reader. As he admits readily, many of the greatest poets are his favorites, so I think it would be fair to say that his choice of greatest peoples and ideas are not as objective as one might like them to be, but can such a `top 10' or 'top 12' list ever be wholly objective? That said, I would still recommend this book to those wanting to know what Durant thought was important to human civilization over its thousands of years of history. The selection of book Durant gives is quite good, although personally I prefer Mortimer Adler's, which you can get from the Internet or his book "How to read a book: - Appendix A".
Rating: 
Summary: Little gems of Durantian wisdom
Review: At present, I am happily plowing through the 11-volume "Story of Civilization" by Will and Ariel Durant. It was nice to take a break and read this newest book, packed with lots of little gems of Durantian wisdom. Who did Will Durant think were the 10 greatest thinkers of all time? Or the 10 greatest poets? Or the most significant dates and developments in world history? It's all here. Also included is a list of the 100 books a person should read to become educated and free. While the list is somewhat dated, it is still full of valuable suggestions. Because of it, I am soon reading Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" and some of the plays of Euripides, for example. If you're a Durant fan, definitely buy this book and set it on the shelf alongside that other great work of concise wisdom, "The Lessons of History." And kudos to editor John Little for bringing us this fine volume. I'm already looking forward to the next one!
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF SHORT ESSAYS
Review: I confess to be a huge fan of Will and Ariel Durant's work and confess to being fastinated with "lists." That being said, it is obvious that I liked this work. It is short and pretty much to the point. The author clearly states that these are his selections and states "I let the reader, then, to make his own lists, helping himself to what he likes in mine. Let him try to build for himself another perspective and unity that shall clarify human development for him." I note that much of the negative comments, here in these reviews, centered on the fact that the particular reviewer did not agree with all of Dr. Durant's choices. These reviewers need to read the last paragraph in the book. Anyway, I, like most, did not agree with all the choices, but I suspect that if you picked 1,000 individuals and invited them to create their own list of the categories Durant chose, we would have before us 1,000 different lists. Durant's writing is as always, wonderful, has a almost musical quality and is quite spellbinding. This is the type of work which should lead the reader to continue exploring history, art, poetry and philosophy on his or her own. It is a work that should stimulate further reading and study. As one reviewer pointed out, they were disappointed that the author did not delve deeper into his subjects and subject matter. Hey folks, this is a short work of short essays. If you want more delving, then do like the rest of us....go to the library or book store and go for it! I highly recommend this one!
Rating:
Summary: A pocketbook education
Review: I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to more fully develop themselves through self-education. The book is not too heavy-handed with the various subject matter, nor is it written in the stale, esoteric language of an academic. It is a series of papers written by a man of the people for the people, and the passion that Durant has for the material (and the love of knowledge) shines through. This book is a wonderful and concise lesson in history, arts, and sciences, and will help start any one's pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I've been working my way through The Story of Civilization, and loving it. Fast, fun, educational, and entertaining. So when I found this audiobook before a long car trip, I thought I would enjoy it. I was wrong. Okay, from time to time it provides some interesting insights. But it is full of "insights" that are obvious (Plato was one of the greatest philosophers), and odd (Whistler's paintings are faddish), with lots of fluff in between (long paragraphs about why people might object to Aquinas being called one of the world's greatest philosophers, with very little time left to explain what Aquinas' contribution was). Skip it unless someone gives you a copy for free.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I've been working my way through The Story of Civilization, and loving it. Fast, fun, educational, and entertaining. So when I found this audiobook before a long car trip, I thought I would enjoy it. I was wrong. Okay, from time to time it provides some interesting insights. But it is full of "insights" that are obvious (Plato was one of the greatest philosophers), and odd (Whistler's paintings are faddish), with lots of fluff in between (long paragraphs about why people might object to Aquinas being called one of the world's greatest philosophers, with very little time left to explain what Aquinas' contribution was). Skip it unless someone gives you a copy for free.
Rating:
Summary: Exalting the Human
Review: In these modern times of cynicism, worn as a garb of superiority, it has become intellectually fashionable, a pose of small minds, to negate greatness, revealing that our heroes are not heroes at all, but mere historical constructs with feet of clay. Unfortunately, this is a pathological symptom of democracy, where mediocrity must be exalted at all costs, to maintain the notion of equality. Men and women must be viewed as equal under the eyes of the law and society, for this is justice. But we are not equal in health, wealth, intelligence and talent. What Will Durant has shown us unashamedly is "...that at the beginning and summit of every age some heroic genius stands, the voice and index of his time...the guide and pioneer into the future." (10) This necessary little book presents six essays on the greatest thoughts, minds and books of all time. The reader may disagree occasiionally with his choices, though Durant compellingly argues his choices from his informed view as a recognized historian, philosopher and teacher. The text is a snap shot of history; an opportunity to see the past and its great historical figures through the eyes of a man who made it his life mission to celebrate what it means to be human. Durant's humanism and enthusiasm is highly infectious - one comes away from his texts with a renewed hope that civilization was once great and can be great again. We have been submerged into the pessimistic, fragmented and distilled perspectives of Modernism far too long. Durant's optimism slices like Excaliber through our fashionable cynicism about the world; he is the intellectual white knight, celebrating the miracle of existence and the endless potential of humanity. At the moment the world is filled with uncertainty and pessimism, therefore this text is highly recommended, for it might cast a glimmer of hope, and a renewed optimism about the world, the future and us.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Introduction To The Wisdom Of Will Durant
Review: It's said that good things come in small packages. Sometimes great things do, too. This book may be only 118 pages long, but between these covers you will find reasoned and inspired discussion of some of the people and works who have truly ennobled mankind. Will Durant, in partnership with his wife Ariel, spent his lifetime celebrating our highest and best achievements as a people. His essays on the greatest thinkers, greatest poets, best books, peaks of human progress and vital dates in world history should not only serve as a compact education, it should also fill you with a sense that for all of humanity's folly and waste, we have actually accomplished much that is worthwhile these past few thousand years. It's also very likely this book will spark within you a desire to know and to learn more about our rich heritage. My only wish for this book is that compiler John Little had included the dates these works were originally written. The chapter on the best books for an education, for example, while including many timeless classics, also includes some volumes which have been surpassed by later works--including the Durant's own magisterial lifework, the "Story of Civilization." But this a minor quibble over what is on the whole an exceptional work.
Rating:
Summary: Approval of the approach, disappointment at the execution
Review: Like many many readers I have long been a fan of Will Durant. As a child I remember being excited, moved, uplifted by his 'Story of the Great Philosophers'. In my mind to this day is his remark about Spinoza, " The only great philosopher who lived as he wrote."
But this small work, divided into six sections "A Shameless Worship of Heroes" "The Ten Greatest Thinkers" "The Ten Greatest Poets", "The One hundred best books for Education" "The Ten Peaks of Human Progress "TwelveVitalDatesin World History" disappoints. It does not really go movingly into the stories and thought of any of the great people selected. It does not develop their ideas in an illuminating way.
I do question a large number of the selections. Keats Shelley Whitman are included but Wordsworth Coleridge Chaucer Hopkins Wallace Stevens Emily Dickinson(just to mention nineteenth and twentieth century poets) are not. The lists that is at a certain point ( Not at all points. No one would quarrel with Shakespeare) not very convincing.
But all said and done I would still recommend this book, and above all other books of Will Durant. Durant's great love of learning, respect for the life of the mind, enthusiasm for the life of creation teach Values our world sorely needs.
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