The year was 1926. The world was sandwiched between a devastating Great War and a looming economic collapse. In this climate, a young teacher named Will Durant published a book that many critics thought was a fool’s errand: a 500-page volume attempting to summarize the history of Western thought.
In choosing a biographical approach, Durant bypassed centuries of thought. The most notable omission is the entire Medieval Scholastic period; thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas and William of Ockham are largely skipped.
Durant himself readily acknowledged these limitations. He never intended the book to be an exhaustive encyclopedia for scholars. Rather, it was designed as an open invitation—an introductory gateway meant to inspire readers to go out and read the original texts themselves. The Enduring Legacy of Durant's Masterpiece
: The book illustrates how ideas evolved over centuries, showing how each philosopher built upon or reacted to their predecessors. Notable Profiles Included story of philosophy by will durant
, the man so punctual his neighbours set their watches by his afternoon walks.
Durant’s chapter on is a masterclass in biographical writing. He captures Voltaire’s wit, his fierce battles against religious intolerance, and his role as the intellectual spark of the French Revolution. This sets the stage for Immanuel Kant , whose dense Critique of Pure Reason Durant masterfully translates into clear English, explaining how Kant reconciled the warring factions of rationalism and empiricism.
Durant’s journey to writing The Story of Philosophy began not with grand ambition, but with a series of small, inexpensive educational pamphlets. These were part of the "Little Blue Books" series, which were designed to bring knowledge to working-class readers. The book’s format—concise, engaging, and affordable—was shaped from the start by a mission to reach a broad audience. The pamphlets were so well-received that they were eventually compiled into a single hardcover volume. This compilation was published by Simon & Schuster in 1926, and to everyone’s surprise, it became an instant bestseller, selling millions of copies. The book’s success provided financial independence for the Durants, allowing them to dedicate decades to their masterwork, The Story of Civilization . The year was 1926
The Story of Philosophy remains one of the best-selling philosophy books of all time for one reason: it treats the reader as a peer. It assumes you are curious, capable, and looking for meaning.
A comparison of Durant’s work with .
Reading it feels less like studying and more like falling in love with thinking. By the time you finish Durant’s chapter on Voltaire, you will want to argue. By the time you finish Schopenhauer, you will want to cry. And by the time you reach the final page, you will understand why Durant believed that the purpose of philosophy is not to answer questions, but to clarify them—and in that clarification, to find a kind of peace. Durant himself readily acknowledged these limitations
So buy a used copy. Spill coffee on it. Argue with the margins. Because in a world screaming for your attention, Will Durant offers you something radical: a quiet place to think.
Nearly a century after its initial publication, Durant’s masterpiece remains a staple on reading lists worldwide. Here is the definitive exploration of how The Story of Philosophy came to be, its unique structural approach, its enduring cultural impact, and why it remains vital reading today. The Genesis: From Little Blue Books to Literary Sensation
The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant: A Timeless Journey Through Thought
He left a seminary background to pursue a deeper, secular understanding of human nature.
Nearly a century after its publication, The Story of Philosophy remains a foundational text for those seeking a broad understanding of Western thought.