Overview
The period from 1933 to 1943 was one of the darkest and most chaotic in human history, as the Second World War unfolded with unthinkable cruelty. It was also a crucial decade in the dramatic, intersecting lives of some of historyās greatest philosophers. There were four women, in particular, whose parallel ideas would come to dominate the twentieth centuryāat once in necessary dialogue and in striking contrast with one another.
Simone de Beauvoir, already in a deep emotional and intellectual partnership with Jean-Paul Sartre, was laying the foundations for nothing less than the future of feminism. Born Alisa Rosenbaum in Saint Petersburg, Ayn Rand immigrated to the United States in 1926 and was honing one of the most politically influential voices of the twentieth century. Her novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged would reach the hearts and minds of millions of Americans in the decades to come, becoming canonical libertarian texts that continue to echo today among Silicon Valleyās tech elite. Hannah Arendt was developing some of todayās most important liberal ideas, culminating with the publication of The Origins of Totalitarianism and her arrival as a peerless intellectual celebrity. Perhaps the greatest thinker of all was a classmate of Beauvoirās: Simone Weil, who turned away from fame to devote herself entirely to refugee aid and the resistance movement during the war. Ultimately, in 1943, she would starve to death in England, a martyr and true saint in the eyes of many.
Few authors can synthesize gripping storytelling with sophisticated philosophy as Wolfram Eilenberger does. The Visionaries tells the story of four singular philosophersāindomitable women who were refugees and resistance fightersāeach putting forward a vision of a truly free and open society at a time of authoritarianism and war.
This book title, The Visionaries (Arendt, Beauvoir, Rand, Weil, and the Power of Philosophy in Dark Times), ISBN: 9780593297452, by Wolfram Eilenberger, Shaun Whiteside, published by Penguin Publishing Group (August 8, 2023) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer The Visionaries (Arendt, Beauvoir, Rand, Weil, and the Power of Philosophy in Dark Times) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order The Visionaries (Arendt, Beauvoir, Rand, Weil, and the Power of Philosophy in Dark Times) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!