The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant

Favorite Quote
“Civilization begins with order, grows with liberty, and dies with chaos.” — Will Durant
The Book in One Sentence
The Story of Philosophy profiles the lives of great Western philosophers, such as Plato, Socrates, and Nietzsche, exploring their views on politics, religion, morality, the meaning of life, and plenty of other important concepts.
Why should you read it?
If you’re curious about the origins of philosophy, this is the definitive title to read. Durant and his wife are some of the greatest historians who ever lived, and they fantastically condensed the world’s story, in this case down to 700 pages. If you want to start with something shorter, grab The Lessons of History first, then go deeper on each of history’s most important philosophers in this masterpiece.
Key Takeaways
Ancient Greek philosophers paved the way for philosophy, science, and new forms of societal governance.
Philosopher Spinoza helped decipher the hidden meanings of religion.
Voltaire was partially responsible for the French revolution and the improvement of political systems around the world.