The Metaphysical Club by Menand (lives of Oliver W. Holmes,William James,John Dewey & C.S. Pierce)

[zonkers]

What a fascinating read -- about how these four friends reshaped Modern American thought in the aftermath of the Civil War. Anyone else pick this one up. I have so much catch up to do on American History.

[Hoping4Change]

1. Over the summer I started it but didn't have time to finish it. I agree

that it is a excellent read. It was very hard to put down.

[YankeyMCC]

2. Wow, I felt kinda alone in my admiration of that book :)

I know many others have read it but nice to see people here talking about it.

That book had a profound affect on me actually. It was really an introduction to philosophy for me a lot of the book was over my head and it made it difficult to read. I'm not sure what made me pick it up or why I could not put it down given the difficulties I had.

It is well written of course and I've since educated myself on many of the ideas first introduced to me via that book.

I keep a list of "must read" books for my son that I will give to him as he gets older and this one is on that list.

It's also fascinating from a historical perspective. I'm fascinated with the civil war but not the military history, the moral and philosophical history. I like the books that explore how Americans thought and dealt with the issues at stake during the civil war, how the existing cultures created the war and how they were changed and how it reflects on today's society. The Metaphysical Club gets to the very core of those kinds of questions.

[zonkers]

3. I was doing research on Civil war but was getting bogged down and turned off by

all the miltary history aspects (like you). Not only is getting down to to the philosophical core if what was going down its own reward but it really contextualizes any military history you may have learned. I feel a kinship with these larger than life personalities from the past portrayed in this book -- it's empowering -- a real confidence builder regarding "where we are now and how we got here and where we might be going." It is so relevant to understanding today's issues. And its written with such thoroughness and clarity - the past just comes alive. Page for page, I have learned as much from this book as I have from any other. There are anecdotes, quotes, philisphies, events. It just fires on all eight on every level. Can't wait to finish it.

Want to read the famous triliogy by Devoto next.... Starting with 1846.... I wish I would have been this motivated to read history in high school!

[zonkers]

5. sorry for typos in above post. sometimes I just get dizzy.

[YankeyMCC]

6. No worries and I'll check out the DeVoto books thx nt

[RoyGBiv]

4. Read it when published ...

Excellent book.

[BurtWorm]

7. It's on my to-reread list.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it about four or five summers ago while on vacation, including one night by the light of a butane lamp at a camp ground in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. What a delightful way to look at history.