The Dream of Reason

A fully revised and updated edition of the most approachable introduction to the beginnings of philosophyAlready a classic, this landmark account of early Western thought now appears in a new edition with expanded coverage of the Middle Ages. The Dream of Reason takes a fresh look at the writings of the great thinkers of classic philosophy and questions many pieces of conventional wisdom. The book invites comparison with Bertrand Russell's monumental History of Western Philosophy, "but Gottlieb's book is less idiosyncratic and based on more recent scholarship" (Colin McGinn, Los Angeles Times). A New York Times Notable Book, a Los Angeles Times Best Book, and a Times Literary Supplement Best Book of 2001.

“A delight. It is written with both wit and scholarship, providing a wonderful overall picture of Western philosophy up to the Renaissance.”

-- Sir Roger Penrose
[Gottlieb] writes with fluency and lucidity, with a gift for making even difficult matters seem comprehensible. -- Richard Jenkins New York Times
Gottlieb is as enjoyable as he is intellectually stimulating. -- Robert Conquest Los Angeles Times

Anthony Gottlieb is a former executive editor of the Economist and has held visiting fellowships at Harvard University and All Souls College, Oxford. His work has appeared in the New Yorker and The New York Times. He lives in New York.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.