Blaise Pascal

A richly detailed account of Pascal’s life and times, which displays an energetic sympathy for Pascal’s startling combination of intellectual precocity and humble faith. * Rory Stewart - host of ‘The Rest is Politics’ podcast and author of Politics On the Edge *A beautiful, accessible account of one of the era’s most remarkable lives. * Katherine Rundell - Author of Super Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne *At once readable and expert, this is a wonderful guide to the life and thought of 17th century Europe’s supreme polymath. How any one man could have covered so many bases is a mystery that Graham Tomlin brilliantly elucidates. * Tom Holland - host of ‘The Rest is History’ podcast and author of Dominion *A fresh, accessible and highly engaging account of a leading philosopher whose ideas remain strikingly relevant today. Highly recommended. * Professor Alister McGrath *If we are in search of a well-informed, well-written biography of Pascal that includes an introduction to his thought, and stands the tests of both scholarship and verve, we should look no further. Whether treating the man or the work, the science or the religion, Graham Tomlin artlessly generates our interest in Pascal against the background of his time. That is commendation enough, but there is more. Reading this biography, we are impelled to greater honesty about ourselves and seriousness about our lives. It becomes a book about our time, and not just about Pascal’s. * Stephen N. Williams - formerly Honorary Professor of Theology, Queen’s University, Belfast and author of A Thinking Reed: Pascal’s Voice, Yesterday and Today *A compelling portrait of a fascinating figure navigating an equally fascinating period. In a world where everything is in flux, how can a man with a once-in-a-generation mind endeavour to keep hold of his soul? Hugely enjoyable. * Elizabeth Oldfield - host of ‘The Sacred’ podcast, and author of Fully Alive *Tomlin carries us wonderfully through Pascal’s short, painful and remarkable life. He tells a story of faith and theological endeavour, sitting alongside brilliant innovations in mathematics with forays into probability, betting and public transport. The power and energy of Pascal’s thought shines through. * Sir Andrew Dilnot - formerly Warden of Nuffield College Oxford and Chair of the UK Statistics Authority *A brilliant, accessible introduction to the luminous life of one of the greatest minds and mystics of modern times. Graham Tomlin makes a compelling case for Pascal as “the man who made the modern world.” * Pete Greig - Founder of 24-7 Prayer and Senior Pastor of Emmaus Rd church *Blaise Pascal is not a household name in the way Descartes or Voltaire are - but he should be. Provocative and creative, intellectual and practical, scientific and spiritual, he had one of the most original minds in early modern Europe. Graham Tomlin has written a vivid, perceptive, and highly readable biography of a thinker, and one that will, I hope, bring this short-lived genius to the attention of the wide audience he deserves. * Nick Spencer - author of Magisteria: The Entangled Histories of Science and Religion *Graham Tomlin gives us much more than just an engaging story of Pascal’s life and times. It is also a comprehensive introduction to Pascal’s thought. Tomlin presents Pascal as one of the first truly modern men, and as one of modernity’s first and best critics. Pascal helps us to understand ourselves and our world, and Tomlin helps us to understand Pascal. * William Wood - Professor of Philosophical Theology, University of Oxford, and author of Blaise Pascal on Duplicity, Sin and the Fall *Blaise Pascal stands as a challenge to neat oppositions, like science versus faith or intellect versus experience. Pascal’s intellectual and scientific achievements are formidable and he did not value them any less because he is also famous for his dictum, “the heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing”. Graham Tomlin helps the reader to navigate the astounding, complex character of Pascal’s life and religious experience without ourselves descending into banal either/ors. Pascal opens for the reader the possibility of a bigger and more compelling world, in which God is real and personal and wholly unafraid of human reason. * Jane Williams - McDonald Professor in Christian Theology, St Mellitus College *In this engaging and broad-ranging presentation of the life and times of Blaise Pascal, Graham Tomlin holds this brilliant, complex, appealing figure before us with obvious and well-deserved admiration. Read this book and find that whatever you know about Pascal - scientist, mathematician, philosopher, engineer, spiritual writer, social commentator - there is always something more to discover. * Andrew Davison - Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Oxford *Pascal is an extraordinarily complex figure, whose outstanding achievements as an inventor, mathematician, scientist and religious thinker were crammed into a life of only thirty-nine years. Graham Tomlin offers an engrossing presentation of his life and thought, rich in biographical detail. He covers all aspects of Pascal’s activity, skilfully locating it in its familial, social, historical, intellectual, and religious contexts. He highlights the originality of Pascal’s approach to the justification of religious belief. Without toning down his author’s uncompromising message, he makes it comprehensible to the present-day reader. He makes a good case for seeing Pascal as a maker, not only of the modern, but of the postmodern world. * Michael Moriarty - Emeritus Professor of French, University of Cambridge, and author of Pascal: Reasoning and Belief *Building on decades of research, Tomlin paints a vivid and compelling portrait of Pascal as a social critic, great scientist, and profound religious thinker. It is one that situates Pascal in his own turbulent age but also enables his thought and life to speak to the turmoil and fractures of the contemporary context in vital ways. * Luke Bretherton - Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, Oxford University *This illuminating and absorbing account of the life of Blaise Pascal is essential reading for anyone interested in how the modern world was formed. Graham Tomlin brings to life Pascal’s intellectual genius and the intensity of his spiritual awakening. He also sheds helpful light on the search for significance in our own age of scientific and technological advance. We are not the first generation to struggle with questions of faith, reason and ultimate meaning - Pascal was already providing brilliant insights over 300 years ago. This new biography will help you to understand Pascal’s world, and our own. * Justin Brierley - author and host of ‘The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God’ podcast and co-host of the Seen and Unseen podcast ‘Re-Enchanting’ *An excellent book for those exploring the Christian faith today in an intellectual vein as well as for anyone interested in early modern European history, most especially it debates about the relationship between science and faith. – Matthew Prior * The Ellul Forum *For those who take the wager, Pascalian faith is by no means the easy option, requiring as it does an ascetic lifestyle, denial of the self and constant prayer. As presented to us in this exhilarating biography, Pascal still has the power to inspire and challenge readers of all spiritual persuasions. – Mark Nayler * The Spectator *‘A biography worthy of the genius of Blaise Pascal … wide-ranging, well-researched, gracefully written, and compelling.’ – Douglas Groothuis, , Distinguished University Research Professor of Apologetics and Christian Worldview, Cornerstone University and Cornerstone Theological Seminary

Graham Tomlin is the Director of the Centre for Cultural Witness, based in Lambeth Palace, and President of St Mellitus College. He was formerly Bishop of Kensington in London. He taught theology in Oxford University and London for many years. He is the author of numerous books and is a regular speaker both nationally and internationally.