Spinoza

Description

Spinoza (Philosophy for Young People)
by Devra Lehmann

ISBN: 9781644212622
Softcover, new

Brief Description:
An entertaining and accessible introduction to the radical philosopher of
freedom of thought and religion is the only biography of Spinoza for young
adults. The second title in the Philosophy for Young People series. Winner
of the National Jewish Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Books “Clarity, accessibility and spot-on
relevance to issues facing modern society make this a must read.” –Kirkus
Reviews, starred review A brilliant schoolboy in 17th-century Amsterdam,
Bento Spinoza⏤formally Baruch and later Benedict de Spinoza⏤quickly learns
to keep his ideas to himself. When he is 23, those ideas prove so
scandalous to his own Jewish community that he is cast out, cursed, and
effectively erased from their communal life. The scandal shows no sign of
waning as his ideas spread throughout Europe. At the center of the storm,
he lives the simplest of lives, quietly devoted to his work as a lens
grinder and to his steadfast search for truth, striving to embody a
philosophy of tolerance and benevolence. Spinoza does not live to see his
ideas change the world. What caused such an uproar? Spinoza challenged age-
old ideas about God, the Bible, and religion. His God was the sum total of
nature, not a father-figure who created the world and takes care of
humankind. His bible was a book like any other, not a holy text to be
interpreted only by religious authorities. His religion was a commitment to
basic moral behavior, not a collection of superstitions or rituals. For
such ideas, Spinoza was reviled, but he emerged from his experience as one
of history’s most articulate voices for freedom of thought, freedom of
expression, and freedom of religion. Those of us who enjoy the fundamental
rights of modern democracies are the beneficiaries of Spinoza’s quiet
bravery. Spinoza: The Outcast Thinker is the second book in the new
Philosophy for Young People series, introducing readers to seminal
philosophers from ancient times up through the present day.

Target Age Group: Ages 13 to 17