A Book Forged in Hell
Spinoza’s Scandalous Treatise and the Birth of the Secular Age
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Narrated by:
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John Lescault
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By:
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Steven Nadler
About this listen
The story of one of the most important - and incendiary - books in Western history.
When it appeared in 1670, Baruch Spinoza’s Theological-Political Treatise was denounced as the most dangerous book ever published - “godless”, “full of abominations”, “a book forged in hell...by the devil himself”. Religious and secular authorities saw it as a threat to faith, social and political harmony, and everyday morality, and its author was almost universally regarded as a religious subversive and political radical who sought to spread atheism throughout Europe. Yet Spinoza’s book has contributed as much as the Declaration of Independence or Thomas Paine’s Common Sense to modern liberal, secular, and democratic thinking.
In A Book Forged in Hell, Steven Nadler tells the fascinating story of this extraordinary book: its radical claims and their background in the philosophical, religious, and political tensions of the Dutch Golden Age, as well as the vitriolic reaction these ideas inspired.
It is not hard to see why Spinoza’s Treatise was so important or so controversial or why the uproar it caused is one of the most significant events in European intellectual history. In the book, Spinoza became the first to argue that the Bible is not literally the word of God but rather a work of human literature; that true religion has nothing to do with theology, liturgical ceremonies, or sectarian dogma; and that religious authorities should have no role in governing a modern state. He also denied the reality of miracles and divine providence, reinterpreted the nature of prophecy, and made an eloquent plea for toleration and democracy.
A vivid story of incendiary ideas and vicious backlash, A Book Forged in Hell will interest anyone who is curious about the origin of some of our most cherished modern beliefs.
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In The Dream of Enlightenment, Anthony Gottlieb expertly navigates a second great explosion of thought, taking us to northern Europe in the wake of its wars of religion and the rise of Galilean science. In a relatively short period - from the early 1640s to the eve of the French Revolution - Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, and Hume all made their mark. The Dream of Enlightenment tells their story and that of the birth of modern philosophy.
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Enlightenment meets Neuroscience
- By Rodger on 12-05-19
By: Anthony Gottlieb
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The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
- By: Max Weber
- Narrated by: Monroe Clark McBride
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Max Weber's best-known and most controversial work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, first published in 1904, remains to this day powerful and fascinating. Weber's highly accessible style is just one of many reasons for his continuing popularity. The book contends that the Protestant ethic made possible and encouraged the development of capitalism in the West.
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Very good unprejudiced scholar
- By Viktor V. Choban on 07-11-19
By: Max Weber
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The Enlightenment
- The Pursuit of Happiness, 1680-1790
- By: Ritchie Robertson
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 40 hrs and 9 mins
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This magisterial history - sure to become the definitive work on the subject - recasts the Enlightenment as a period not solely consumed with rationale and reason, but rather as a pursuit of practical means to achieve greater human happiness.
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The quickest 40 hour audio book I’ve listen to
- By Joey Caster on 04-02-21
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Atheist Delusions
- The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies
- By: David Bentley Hart
- Narrated by: Ralph Morocco
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In this provocative book one of the most brilliant scholars of religion today dismantles distorted religious "histories" offered up by Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and other contemporary critics of religion and advocates of atheism. David Bentley Hart provides a bold correction of the New Atheists’s misrepresentations of the Christian past, countering their polemics with a brilliant account of Christianity and its message of human charity as the most revolutionary movement in all of Western history.
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A Conversion Experience.
- By Ted on 12-01-14
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Worshipping the State
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Many Christians feel that they are being opposed at every turn by what seems to be a well-orchestrated political and cultural campaign to de-Christianize every aspect of Western culture. They are right, and it goes even further back than the Obama Administration. In Worshipping the State: How Liberalism Became Our State Religion, Benjamin Wiker argues that it is liberals who seek to establish an official state religion: one of unbelief.
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An Excellent Excellent book
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Knowing Christ Today
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At a time when popular atheism books are talking about the irrationality of believing in God, Willard makes a rigorous intellectual case for why it makes sense to believe in God and in Jesus, the Son.
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Logical to a fault
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Christopher Hitchens continues to make the case for a splendidly godless universe in this first-ever gathering of the influential voices past and present that have shaped his side of the current (and raging) God/no-god debate. With Hitchens as your erudite and witty guide, you'll be led through a wealth of philosophy, literature, and scientific inquiry, including generous portions of the words of Lucretius, Benedict de Spinoza, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Mark Twain, and more.
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This is ABRIDGED
- By David Wolf on 06-05-08
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Seven Types of Atheism
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For a generation now, public debate has been corroded by a shrill, narrow derision of religion in the name of an often vaguely understood “science.” John Gray’s stimulating and enjoyable new book, Seven Types of Atheism, describes the complex, dynamic world of older atheisms, a tradition that is, he writes, in many ways intertwined with and as rich as religion itself.
By: John Gray
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The God Argument
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What are the arguments for and against religion and religious belief - all of them - right across the range of reasons and motives that people have for being religious, and do they stand up to scrutiny? Can there be a clear, full statement of these arguments that once and for all will show what is at stake in this debate? Equally important: what is the alternative to religion as a view of the world and a foundation for morality?
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Fascinating Topic Made Mind Numbingly Dull
- By m.emery on 06-17-15
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A Short History of Ethics
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A Short History of Ethics is a significant contribution written by one of the most important living philosophers. It remains an important work, ideal for all students interested in ethics and morality.
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Great philosopher made ridiculous by accents
- By Olivia Walling on 10-04-17
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Aristotle's Children
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Best-selling author Richard E. Rubenstein brings the past to life in this engrossing story of social, religious, and scientific revolution during one of the darkest periods in European history. When a group of Dark Ages scholars rediscovered the works of Aristotle, the great thinker's ideas ignited a firestorm of enlightened thought. This is the endlessly fascinating account of the pivotal period in history when the modern era took root.
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Interesting story of the rediscovery of Aristotle
- By John on 12-16-04
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What listeners say about A Book Forged in Hell
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-25-23
A great study
The narration is a but dry, but the content of analyzed more then makes up for it.
I need to read the source text now.
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-07-23
Good analysis of Spinoza’s work.
It puts the work of Spinoza’s into context, by talking about the reception of his ideas in his time in Holland.
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- Judy
- 06-13-22
I really liked it
I was not familiar with Spinozas work and this was a superb audio book to get me up to speed.
I'm giving it 5 stars because the author does a great job of explaining Spinozas publication. One may like or dislike Spinozas writings, but the author and narrator of this book do an extremely good job of presenting that material in a factual light, not pressing any biases.
You certainly learn how Spinoza has influenced our age for better or worse. Great book.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Julia Sutherland
- 08-23-23
Oy - the Narrator
Of course - we should be concentrating on Spinoza’s brilliance. I was so looking forward to hearing his ideas. But first you have to endure the truly wearisome reading by Lescault. My god. He is so bad.
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- Tom
- 01-27-22
Well researched, comprehensive intro to Spinoza’s work.
I read a lot of contemporary Philosophy and have often come across references to the influence of Spinoza’s writing. It has always struck me though, that he is not often ranked among the top tier of European thinkers, while he is becoming more noticed recently.
Reading Nadler’s book, I think I understand that while his work was virtually suppressed by the Religious powers of his time, his demand for freedom of thought, unbound by obeisance to Sacred Texts whether Jewish or Christian, is far more likely to be respected in our more Secular Age. His approach to Philosophic issues was obviously far ahead of his time, a dangerous stance in the Seventeenth Century.
Nadler does a good job of staying out of the weeds, presenting the source documents when necessary, but relating Spinoza’s principles in terms understandable to the laymen of our time.
A clear and pleasant read of the work of a powerful, often overlooked Mind. Four Stars. ****
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- Anonymous User
- 01-31-22
not an easy bo9k, but worth the time
this is not your usual walk in the park and listen kind of book. it is deeply philosophical and rooted in logical reasoning so full attention is required. also full openness. if you are a dogmatic religious person you won't enjoy this. If you want to pursue somewhat the reasoning path without encumbrance of biases, then this is the boom for you. Will give it another read in a while after ideas settle. spinoza is a fascinating man both in the conext of his age and as an influence for the philosophers of nowadays
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- Mark G. Garcia
- 12-30-22
Birth of Secular Independence
Admittedly, this is my first foray into Spinoza, knowing only about him through other works, his influence on secular individualism and the freedom. This book covers the formation of his thought, and his publishing of the controversial Theologico-Political Treatise. The book immediately sparked outrage among religious and secular officials alike, causing it to be banned many places. It’s influence continues to this day.
Lescault does a good, but inconsistent, job as a narrator. He’s perfectly understandable and easy to keep up with, but the breaks are add at times. His voice can go from robotic to dry, but with an underlying wit (at least that I sense). He latter part I appreciated more obviously.
Overall I enjoyed this book as an introduction to Spinoza and look forward to reading more.
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- M.Biblioswine
- 10-31-21
A fine book
A fine book indeed and with a professional reading. I’m not sure if it is a blemish or not, but the author states that this is not a book about Spinoza’s Ethics. At some point he dives into a discussion of The Ethics and then he keeps at it.
I say I’m not sure if it is a blemish or not because a discussion of the Ethics does fill out what Spinoza was saying in his Tractatus.
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2 people found this helpful
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- E. Smyth
- 06-09-23
Great Book but Narrator Sounds Like AI
This is a great book for those interested in 17th century philosophy and/or religious history. It's well organized and well written. It's a great introduction not only to Spinoza but also to other early enlightenment thinkers, as well as the Dutch Golden Age. Struggles between the various religious communities and the intellectual elite are vividly relayed and I very much enjoyed this book.
However, the reader sounds a bit like he's narrating from the uncanny valley. I don't know if it's a human whose recording is just over-edited or if they really did make at least some use of artificial intelligence, but it feels like there's an edit every second or third sentence because the cadence and lilt of the speech is just a little bit off. It's not terribly noticeable at first but once you hear it, you can't help but keep hearing it all the way through.
Still, the oddness of the reading is subtle enough that you can ignore it and enjoy the book if you're interested in the subject. I still recommend it, with the small caveat about the narration.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Robert S.
- 08-27-23
Great explanation of an obtuse book
This was a great explanation of an obtuse book. The narrator was dry, but so is the book
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