The series is a work of love. I always feel so privileged when I read one of the Durants' works. This particular volume was first published in the year I was born. And yet, the Durants make me feel as if they are the world's best dinner guests. Erudite, warm, and witty. I'm in good company with my praise. It seems the Asimovs were also fans. http://www.jamierubin.net/2014/05/09/isaac-asimov-on-will-durants-story-of-civilization/

Most people consider the Age of Reason or the Enlightenment as centered around the 18th century. But in this book it begins already in the mid-16th century with Elizabethan England. Moreover, the book only covers to the mid-17th century, so the title misleads considerably.

Rather than discussing any broader trends, this is a country by country look at what's happening, and within each country, a person by person look, as each ruler and notable from the arts and sciences is discussed, down to obscure poets one has never heard of.

For all that, the discussions are quite good. How does the poet fit into the general scheme, what were their best works, what are some excerpts of their work and so on.

But as a general history of the causes and effects of the Enlightenment it's a complete bust.

This volume covers from 1559 to 1648, discussing the social, economic, scientific, political and religious history of Europe and the Near East.

Wonderful to have Mr and Mrs Durant as your guide on this joyride. I imagine I have to come back to this one several times before I will be completely satisfied

Another in The Story of Civilization. Grover Gardner reads.

Pleasure to read, good historical survey especially over culture and prominent figures.

One of the clearest volumes covering early modern europe and asking why did the age of reason called it. And well, this explains why. The reformation preceded and set up the age of reason in almost every way.

Unlike all the previous books of this series, each of which I have awarded a perfect 5-star rating, this one was different. Unfortunately, I might add. This period is probably my favorite, but something about the writing of this volume was different to its predecessors. While all of his works tend to have very intelligent and witty humor, this one suffered from an extreme overabundance of droll remarks which made the readings of some pages almost painful; I noted none in the last few chapters, which was both surprising and warmly welcomed. Had his style been marred by this mark of senility (or did the increased contribution of his wife have something to do with it?) throughout, rather than only on occasion, I would have been even more harsh in my rating.

However, of course, this volume is brilliant, a shining light in the sea of ignorance which seems to have flooded much of the thought and lives of humanity's last five millennia. I shall never regret having dedicated so very many hours to reading the thousands of pages which constitute Will Durant's The Story of Civilization. It is a beautiful read: so charming, so erudite, so diverse. From the continuation of the religious wars and persecutions and calumnies described so vividly in the previous volumes, to the dawn of our current rational (I laugh as I write that, but compared to the eras long since past) age, Will Durant is himself the closest thing to a master of history I have ever encountered. This work as a whole shall remain on my list of most highly recommended books for however so long I shall ever have such a list.

"If we interpret philosophy not as metaphysics but as any large perspective of human affairs, as a generalized view not only of the cosmos and the mind but as well of morals, politics, history, and faith, Shakespeare is a philosopher, profounder than Bacon, as Montaigne is deeper than Descartes; it is not form that makes philosophy."
-- Will Durant, The Age of Reason Begins

A great survey of the start of the Age of Reason (1559 to 1648). Will Durant (with Ariel Durant) continues to amaze me. Some parts drag just a bit, but for a survey this large, I'm constantly impressed that I'm rarely bored. His passion for people, history, philosophy and art jumps off every page. Volume VII starts with Queen Elizabeth and Shakespeare and ends with Descartes.

I'll add more later I'm sure.