The timing was immaculate. The 1920s marked an era of self-improvement, where working- and middle-class Americans desperately sought cultural literacy. The book became an instant sensation, selling more than 500,000 copies in its first few years and providing Durant with the financial independence to embark on his monumental 11-volume series, The Story of Civilization . The Durant Philosophy: Humanizing the Titans of Thought
Durant argues that "science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom." By reading this exclusive collection of human thought, readers learn to see the "big picture." It teaches us that our current political, social, and personal crises are part of a much longer conversation—one that has been happening for over 2,000 years. The Legacy of Will Durant
Will Durant was teaching at the Labor Temple on Manhattan’s Lower East Side—a progressive church and community center serving immigrants and working-class citizens. Durant discovered that his audience, despite lacking formal higher education, possessed an insatiable hunger for deep, meaningful ideas. They did not want dry, technical jargon; they wanted to know how the greatest minds in history tackled the problems of life, suffering, politics, and morality. The Little Blue Books Connection
In the realm of philosophical literature, few works have had as profound an impact as Will Durant's "The Story of Philosophy." This comprehensive and engaging narrative has been a cornerstone of philosophical education for generations, offering readers a sweeping overview of the development of human thought from the ancient Greeks to modern times. In this article, we'll embark on an exclusive journey through the pages of Durant's masterpiece, exploring the key themes, ideas, and thinkers that have shaped the story of philosophy.
: While some scholars found it too "chatty," the book caused a 200% increase in the sales of original philosophical classics as readers sought to learn more.
Second, it provides a sweeping, unifying vision. In an age of hyper-specialization, Durant sought to "unify and humanize the great body of historical knowledge". He shows how the pieces of Western thought fit together in one grand, tragic, and beautiful story.
Throughout the narrative, Durant explores the lives and ideas of some of the most influential philosophers in history, including:
He didn't just list what Nietzsche said; he recreated the ecstasy of Nietzsche’s prose. He didn't just critique Hegel; he danced with Hegel's logic before showing its flaws. This literary flair is exclusive to Durant; no other philosopher-historian wrote with such romantic fire.
Undeterred, Durant and his wife, Ariel, mortgaged their home and self-published the book. It was a gamble of epic proportions. The initial print run was modest, but word of mouth exploded. By 1927, Simon & Schuster had picked it up, and The Story of Philosophy became the unexpected literary sensation of the decade. It was the first book to prove that the masses were hungry for wisdom—if only it were served without the dust of the lecture hall.
