The Age of Genius: The Seventeenth Century and the Birth of the Modern Mind Paperback – 9 May 2017

Superb. An original way of looking at history.

It is a readable good book on the advancement of scientific thinking and learning in the age of reason in Europe. How fanatic the clergy was! How many martyrs in the road to free thinking! There is no meaning in criticising the work as Eurocentric. Yes, it's about the development of science and philosophy in Europe. A.C.Grayling looks at it from a historical perspective. Definitely, the world owes much to European mind for the evolution of philosophy and science, and that is beautifully explained in the book. Overall a good reading experience.However, it may not be as good as Will Durant's works. Still the pleasure of philosophy is there.

Great book

AC Grayling is always thought-provoking, erudite and "entertaining"; this book is no exception. His perspective on the seventeenth century and his host of supportive evidence is very engaging.

A fascinating overview of the seventeenth century in Europe as the century of the birth of new ideas that prepares for the eighteenth century, but, in its own way, is liberating from old ideas and shares the commonly accepted importance of the eighteenth century in setting the world on a new course, indeed: creating the modern world. But was is so fascinating about this book is the details that he reveals about so many of the facets of the seventeenth century that many of us know, but only superficially when compared to the depth ofered by Grayling. For example, he has many chapters on the Thirty Years War. Those who have studied this important war in depth will recognize all the important participants and events, but for those of us who only have a vague understanding of its importance, the many chapters devoted to it are immensely enlightening. As are the segments devoted to important figures that non-specialists may not know in any detail, like Francis Bacon or Elizabeth of Bohemia. The book is a vast panorama of the century, but it is never superficial, but pauses always to study in depth the important characters and events of the century. A brilliant, impressive work.

Grayling discusses the radical shift in the Western European world view that occurred in the 17th century. Since so much happened and so many great thinkers were involved the treatment is necessarily brief and barely skims the surface.We very well may be on the cusp of another such shift in my opinion.

I usually enjoy A C Graylings stuff but I found this disappointing. Too much emphasis on the 30 years war, which I found really boring and difficult to follow.