Book 39: Will Durant's "The Story of Philosophy" [100 Great Books]

The viral philosophy book from 1926

Will Durant’s The Story of Philosophy was published in 1926 and became one of the most commercially successful works of serious nonfiction ever written. The publisher expected modest sales, but the book sold close to two million copies within the first three years. In addition to saving Simon & Schuster from bankruptcy, it proved that ‘normal’ people care about philosophy if it is presented in an interesting and relatable way.

Durant introduces us to several philosophers in the book, and they mark their entry much like actors on a stage. That’s potentially why reading the book can feel like watching an intellectually stimulating play addressing pertinent questions about the nature and meaning of life. The Story of Philosophy is Durant’s story; hence, it doesn’t promise to be objective. If it did, the book would be outrageously dull, much like this chart below.