Spinoza by Ian Buruma
Ian Buruma explores the life and death of Baruch Spinoza, the Enlightenment thinker whose belief in freedom of thought and speech resonates in our own time
“A brief but forceful entry in Yale’s sprawling Jewish Lives series. . . Mr. Buruma succeeds admirably in capturing the man as well as the essentials of his thought. Rather than unhappy and isolated, as he’s sometimes been depicted, the stoic Spinoza portrayed here practically glows with serenity and grace.”—Daniel Akst, Wall Street Journal
“Undoubtedly the most readable introduction to Spinoza’s life now available.”—Joe Moshenska, The Guardian
“In his new book, Spinoza: Freedom’s Messiah, . . . Buruma observes that ‘intellectual freedom has once again become an important issue, even in countries, such as the United States, that pride themselves on being uniquely free.’”—Adam Kirsch, New Yorker
“Ian Buruma tells the story of Spinoza’s star-crossed Jewish life engagingly, drawing on his own Dutch background to give it added relief. His jargon-free critique of Spinoza’s philosophy, while placing it in his time, also asks trenchantly what it might say about our time.”—Gary Schwartz, author of Rembrandt in a Red Beret: The Vanishings and Reappearances of a Self-Portrait
“Ian Buruma has written a wonderfully lively and instructive introduction to the great philosopher who led a ‘modern Jewish life,’ and whose struggles for freedom of thought provide a model for us today.”—David A. Bell, Princeton University
“In this short and splendid book, Ian Buruma incarnates Spinoza as an exceptional human being, but human all the same. His immensely vivid account breathes new life into Spinoza, freeing him from mummified versions of this great man.”—Avishai Margalit, author of On Betrayal
“Undoubtedly the most readable introduction to Spinoza’s life now available.”—Joe Moshenska, The Guardian
“In his new book, Spinoza: Freedom’s Messiah, . . . Buruma observes that ‘intellectual freedom has once again become an important issue, even in countries, such as the United States, that pride themselves on being uniquely free.’”—Adam Kirsch, New Yorker
“Ian Buruma tells the story of Spinoza’s star-crossed Jewish life engagingly, drawing on his own Dutch background to give it added relief. His jargon-free critique of Spinoza’s philosophy, while placing it in his time, also asks trenchantly what it might say about our time.”—Gary Schwartz, author of Rembrandt in a Red Beret: The Vanishings and Reappearances of a Self-Portrait
“Ian Buruma has written a wonderfully lively and instructive introduction to the great philosopher who led a ‘modern Jewish life,’ and whose struggles for freedom of thought provide a model for us today.”—David A. Bell, Princeton University
“In this short and splendid book, Ian Buruma incarnates Spinoza as an exceptional human being, but human all the same. His immensely vivid account breathes new life into Spinoza, freeing him from mummified versions of this great man.”—Avishai Margalit, author of On Betrayal
Ian Buruma is Paul W. Williams Professor of Human Rights and Journalism at Bard College. He is the author of many books, including Murder in Amsterdam: Liberal Europe, Islam and the Limits of Tolerance, and contributes to Harper’s Magazine and the New Yorker. He lives in New York City.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780300248920 |
| ISBN 10 | 030024892X |
| Title | Spinoza |
| Author | Ian Buruma |
| Series | Jewish Lives |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Yale University Press |
| Year published | 2024-03-26 |
| Number of pages | 216 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |