
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
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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What I want in a book about Philosophy
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I need to read the source text now.
A great study
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Good analysis of Spinoza’s work.
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An impressive book
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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.
I really liked it
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Oy - the Narrator
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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. ****
Well researched, comprehensive intro to Spinoza’s work.
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not an easy bo9k, but worth the time
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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.
Birth of Secular Independence
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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.
A fine book
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