The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World's Greatest Philosophers

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Starter to Philosophy
Review: This is a wonderful book and fun read! It is a very simple introduction to philosophy and the lives of some of its most important contributors. The author provides us with a glimpse into the lives of these men and also a touch of their teachings. It is, in all honesty, one of the best books I have ever read. I loved it all!
The style is friendly and coherent. The presentaton of the teachings and ideas are made simple and direct. The lives of the men are well researched and interesting. Durant, in all his texts, has a way of always bringing to the top, the things that are of greatest interest and value. If you are intersted in quick but intelligent glimpses into history, then Durant ought to be your Virgil; he can guide you.

Although this is not a book suited for a college course in philosophy (it is just a glimpse, for a detailed discussion of logic and reason are not conducted), there would be no better start for such a study than here. It leaves you pleasantly fed while hungry enough for more.


Rating:
Summary: Great reading.!!!
Review: This is such a great book...not just for people interested in Philosophy but also in general History...It is interesting ,FUN ...really a pageturner.....Im not finished reading it yet , but I am really enjoing it...and learning a lot!!!!.

Rating:
Summary: Philosophy made accessible to everyone.
Review: Will Durant is the most interesting and reader-friendly writer of history in the 20th Century. In this book, he turns his talents to an explanation of major developments in philosophy, and succeeds remarkably. Anyone who has ever attempted to read Aristotle, and found him dry and meandering, will find new insights and respect for his thought thanks to Durant's affectionate analysis. Even those who do not fancy themselves philosophers will find new ability to access the basic principles of philosophy in Durant's clear and precise explanations. I especially gained new respect and admiration for Baruch Spinoza because of Durant, but every philosopher in this book takes on new life when the author uses his pleasant story-telling style to give these historical figures complete dimension for the new student. Durant's book will encourage every reader to delve deeper into the world of philosophical thought, and, in the end, make the world a more philosophical place to live (I'd say a good thing).

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Summary: Will Durant, A Noteworthy Populizer of Philosophy.
Review: Will Durant makes philosophy and history a treat. The Story of Philosophy was my first book from this remarkably witty author. As a writer and reader I enjoy his keen insights and double-perceptive prose; as a future history teacher, I can't wait to use this book for my classes; and as a philsopher in the making, I plan to periodically refer to his thematic summaries. I am not even finished yet--still having fun reviewing the basics of each philosophers--yet I am already inlove with this book. Regardless of its paperback/referrence status, this book is my favorite yet. It's simplicity and convenience, plus Will Durant's novel-like voice and commentaries, makes the great philosophers not just ingenious but also entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Fun Introduction to Western Philosophy
Review: Will Durant was an extraordinary man. He earned the PhD degree in Philosophy from Columbia University. Still young, he mastered several important languages. Until "Story of Philosophy" brought him fame and fortune, he was a high school teacher and an activist at one of the Modern School Movement schools, established and operated by Syndicalists. Several of these unique schools were founded & operated. Recently, a full history was published about the Modern School Movement. Durant was a major figure at his East Coast school. He taught several languages including Latin and Greek. He married one of his students and named her "Auriel." She was a bright student who mastered several languages herself. Later she collaborated on Durants career project, the ten volume, "Story of Civilization".

"Story of Philosophy" was an instant hit in 1925 and it has never been out of print. It is an American classic. There is nothing like it. It is short, accurate, well written and witty. No one was more surprised than Durant, when his book was am instant best seller, and it moved on to be a hit around the world. An important American thinker, Mortimer J. Adler, sharply criticized the book. It certainly is open to criticism--Durant cogently citicised it himself--but Adler went too far. I suspect Adler intensely disliked the man, who was something of a hedonist and an agnostic who later published a self-indulgent autobiography. Adler , one of the finest minds of the 20th century, must have intensely disliked Joseph Campbell as well. (He went much to far criticising Campbell, although the part about how the graduate student Campbell told Adler and others that philosophy was over his head is something starry-eyed Campbell followers should anchor their feet to)

Durant was one of the leading prose stylists of his day. Reading anything Durant wrote is enjoyable, if only for the prose, wit, and wisdom. "Story of Philosophy" presents an author witty and wise beyond his years. Durant was precocious.

Readers who like "Story...", treasure Durant
s ten volume "Story of Civilization". The income "Story of Philosophy" brought Durant left him independently wealthy, not rich but freed from working the rest of his life. He resigned from teaching and began full-time research for "Story of Civilization"

I highly recommend "Story of Philosophy." Shortly after its publication, it caused a sharp increase in students wanting to study philosophy, something Will Durant was justifiably proud of for the rest of his life.