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The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the Greater Philosophers Audiobook, by Will Durant Play Audiobook Sample

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4.00049431537321 out of 54.00049431537321 out of 54.00049431537321 out of 54.00049431537321 out of 54.00049431537321 out of 5 (4.00) - 4,046 customer ratings
The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the Greater Philosophers Audiobook, by Will Durant Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: Will Durant Narrator: Grover Gardner Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Audio Length: Release Date: September 2010 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9781483076508
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Plot Summary

Over eleven years went into writing this classic historic chronology of our great Western thinkers. Will Durant is best known for his collaboration with his wife Arial Durant on The Story of Civilization, an eleven book series, which took them over fifty years to write. Yet here in the Story of Philosophy, with no less attention to detail and to sweeping scope of philosophical merit, Durant loads his text with biographical information of each philosopher, from the ancient Socrates to the modern Santayana. Indeed, though there are excerpts from these philosophers' original texts, Durant uses a careful treatment of the time in which these thinkers lived to elucidate and highlight the function and impact of their main tenets and most well known ideas.

This book is known as a classic that popularized philosophy, and because each era of Western philosophy's history comes alive under the lens of Durant, the contemporary audience will no doubt be left with a sense of being educated, while also broadly entertained.

Critics have remarked that his prose begs to be read aloud. In fact, his prose has been called so beautiful that it rivals poetry. Take the opportunity to hear it now by downloading this audiobook on Audiobooks.com today!

Will Durant was born in 1885. His scholarly activities are known for being exacting and scrupulous in their methodology. Durant was a prolific writer, historian and philosopher and he collaborated frequently with his wife Arial Durant. He is known for his gifts as a prose stylist and his storytelling abilities, which stand in stark contrast to other more formal academic writings. He and his wife won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non Fiction and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Publisher Summary

The product of eleven years of research, The Story of Philosophy is an endlessly inspiring and instructive chronicle of the world’s greatest thinkers, from Socrates to Santayana. Written with exacting and scrupulous scholarship, it was designed both to command the respect of educators and to capture the interest of the layman.

Durant lucidly describes the philosophical systems of such world-famous “monarchs of the mind” as Plato, Aristotle, Francis Bacon, Spinoza, Kant, Voltaire, and Nietzsche. Along with their ideas, he offers their flesh-and-blood biographies, placing their thoughts within their own time and place and elucidating their influence on our modern intellectual heritage. This book is packed with wisdom and wit.

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.

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Quotes

  • “A delight.”

    - New York Times

  • “Easily the most engaging writer of Western intellectual history in the English language, Will Durant breathes life into philosophers and their ideas. He is colorful, witty, and above all, informative.”

    - Amazon.com, editorial review

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Customer Reviews

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  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I read this early on, when such books were in the public library. Recently I went back to my hometown library: there were three books about philosophy and 15 different "Chicken Soup" editions. What happened to Jaspers, Russell, Mortimer Adler, Durant, Sartre that I read there? "

    - Alan, 12/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " If you didn't read it in Philosophy 101, than I'd recommend it to any classically trained scholar. Reviews the major points of thought from all major philosophers over the last 3000 years. Good conversation starter for New England cocktail parties. "

    - Hal, 12/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " the only philosophy book i have ever read the purpose of which is for the reader to understand the philosophy of the philosopher. this should be the starting point of any serious inquiry into philosophy or even a particular philosopher covered--it will all follow from this clear foundation. "

    - Monica, 12/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " very engaging writing style about the lives of great philosophers. "

    - Elisabeth, 11/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The book is a compendium of philosophical thought over the ages,A very good book "

    - Cherry, 11/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A classic. Not a simple read by any means, but a classic none the less. "

    - Bruce, 8/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Smooth and Vivid. Put itself as a clear guide to philosophy. "

    - Khalid, 7/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I would have given it a five, had it included eastern philosophies too. "

    - Nandakishore, 4/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A concise and well critiqued summary of works of major philosophers from ancient Greece till 19th century. "

    - Prateek, 2/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good, but getting old. Brushes over the middle ages rather quickly. "

    - Shawn, 12/8/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Logical, clear, and at times having dramatic flourishes, great read for anyone looking for an introduction to philosophy. "

    - Gaurav, 8/3/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book helped to direct and define my early career as scholar, historian, teacher, techie, and modern pagan. "

    - Jon, 3/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Anyone who reads this will have a life-long love of philosophy. There simply isn't a better and more well-written introduction, even after these many years. Durant's prose is a delight to read. "

    - Arjun, 2/19/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Magnificent overview of the development of Western thought despite the lack of emphasis on the significance of the Presocratics and a bit of overemphasis on Voltaire. What really makes this shine is the way Durant masterfully captures the style of each thinker he's going over in each section. "

    - Guy, 12/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " The Pythagorean Theorem will forever look different to you after you read this introduction to the Pythagorean Brotherhood. Celebrate irrational numbers! "

    - Darisann, 5/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " An enjoyable overview of a few known philosophers. "

    - Arnþór, 5/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is a history of philosophy, not a philosophy book. Read it as such! "

    - Mahmood, 4/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " One of the best book I've read about philosophy. "

    - Ibrahim, 3/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Smooth and Vivid. Put itself as a clear guide to philosophy. "

    - Khalid, 2/1/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Durant is a great writer, makes arcane subject matter accessible to the ordinary reader. "

    - Rich, 12/22/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Magnificent overview of the development of Western thought despite the lack of emphasis on the significance of the Presocratics and a bit of overemphasis on Voltaire. What really makes this shine is the way Durant masterfully captures the style of each thinker he's going over in each section. "

    - Guy, 12/16/2010

About the Author

Will Durant (1885–1981) was an award-winning American writer, historian, and philosopher. He and his wife were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1968 for Rousseau and Revolution, and he was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Durant spent over forty years writing the critically acclaimed eleven-volume Story of Civilization, the later volumes with the help of his wife, Ariel. He sought to revitalize history by unifying and humanizing the great body of historical knowledge, which had become voluminous and fragmented into esoteric subcategories. He also strove to bring philosophy to the common man. Durant was a champion of human rights, social reform, and the brotherhood of man long before they became well-known issues.

About the Narrator

Grover Gardner (a.k.a. Tom Parker) is an award-winning narrator with over a thousand titles to his credit. Named one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, he has won three prestigious Audie Awards, was chosen Narrator of the Year for 2005 by Publishers Weekly, and has earned more than thirty Earphones Awards.