Quotes
“Ideas may be Kaag’s first love, but they bring him a flesh-and-blood Beatrice in this open-hearted account of a young man’s second chance at a sentimental education.” Megan Marshall, Pulitzer Prize–winning author
“Remarkable…Part history of American philosophy, part personal narrative, American Philosophy…takes us deeply into that ‘epic love affair with wisdom’ that is philosophy…leads us to where the heart of true philosophy lies: to a deep and abiding sense of wonder. This is an absolutely stellar memoir.” Andre Dubus III, New York Times bestselling author
“Accurate, engaging, and scrupulous…an unconventional argument for who was right, and who was wrong, in the classical tradition of American philosophy from about 1830 to 1930…It is an argument strikingly suited to our time.” New York Times Book Review
“John Kaag hits the sweet spot between intellectual history and personal memoir in this transcendently wonderful love song to philosophy…a magnificently accessible introduction to fundamental ideas about freedom and what makes life significant. It’s an exhilarating read.” NPR
“A compelling hybrid combining memoir, a dramatic narrative about saving an endangered rare book collection, and the intellectual history of philosophy…The author deftly intertwines the narrative threads in a story perfect for book lovers and soul searchers alike. Kaag’s lively prose, acute self-examination, unfolding romance, and instructive history of philosophy as a discipline make for a surprisingly absorbing book.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A unique combination of memoir and the history of American philosophy that is a joy to read.” Library Journal
“This is philosophy not as mere academic concepts but as lived experience.” Booklist