Will Durant (1885-1981) is best known for his eleven-volume The Story of Civilization. I have all eleven volumes, but I’ve only read the first three so far. Durant writes engaging history for a general audience. Fallen Leaves was written late in Durant’s life. It was supposed to be a summation of all he learned in his nine decades of learning and study. But, the manuscript was lost for years. Finally, it was found and this slim volume is the result. My favorite chapter is “On Education” where Durant discusses what would be most useful for students to learn. He considers drilling them in Latin and Greek (common for most of the 20th Century) a waste of time. I agree. Durant puts a lot of emphasis on learning about health and practical skills. I found Fallen Leaves thought-provoking and sensible. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreward
Preface
Chapter 1: Our Life Begins
Chapter 2: On Youth
Chapter 3: On Middle Age
Chapter 4: On Old Age
Chapter 5: On Death
Chapter 6: Our Souls
Chapter 7: Our Gods
Chapter 8: On Religion
Chapter 9: On A Different Second Advent
Chapter 10: On Religion and Morals
Chapter 11: On Morality
Chapter 12: On Race
Chapter 13: On Women
Chapter 14: On Sex
Chapter 15: On War
Chapter 16: On Vietnam
Chapter 17. On Politics
Chapter 18: On Capitalism & Communism
Chapter 19: On Art
Chapter 20: On Science
Chapter 21: On Education
Chapter 22: On the Insights of History
Notes
For some unknown reason, but perhaps in an effort to gain legitimacy by association, L. Ron “Fatfraud” Hubbard dedicated Dianetics to Will and Ariel Durant.
Bob, I never knew that. For a couple generations, Will and Ariel Durant were legendary figures. Their STORY OF CIVILIZATION series sold well.
I used to pore over those Durant volumes in the library. I remember going with my Dad to an upscale house (he had painted the interior) and I saw they had the entire set! I had no envy of the 5,000 square foot house with five bedrooms and bathrooms, but I sure envied the person who had access to that entire set all the time!
Deb, those Durant volumes can be found online for a pittance. I picked up my set at a Library Book Sale for a few dollars. Well worth the money!
Don’t tempt me, George! I’ve been trying to cull and declutter my book collection–not add to it!
Deb, there’s always room for Good Books! I’m trying to gather up enough books to make another donation to SUNY at Buffalo. Last time, I had over 30 boxes of books for them…and they were delighted!
When I joined the Book of the Month Club back in the 70s I got the entire STORY OF CIVILIZATION as one of my free bonuses (along with LORD OF THE RINGS and the COMPLETE SHAKESPEARE). I haven’t read them cover to cover but did read big swaths of stuff.
I remember reading later that when the DUrants got married she was only 15. (He was 28.) They died within two weeks of each other in 1981. He was 96.
Jeff, Durant’s wife Ariel became his writing partner for the later books in the STORY OF CIVILIZATION series.
I remember reading them and finding their writing quite profound. Haven’t thought of them in years.
Patti, I keep trying to read the volumes of the STORY OF CIVILIZATION over the summers but something always intrudes. The three volumes I have read were very good.
Like so many books, I’ve seen it (Story of Civilization) but haven’t read it, probably never will. The book you feature in this post I’ve neither seen nor read, and again, probably never will. Meanwhile, it’s a nice day here, and I’m heading outside for a walk.
Rick, FALLEN LEAVES is a mere 180 pages. It’s a distillation of all Will Durant learned in his long life. I read it in a little over an hour.
That would be three days for me, at my pace of 50-60 pages a day.
Rick, there’s a lot of “white space” in FALLEN LEAVES. And the chapters are mostly short.