A review by matttrevithick
Fallen Leaves: Last Words on Life, Love, War and God by Will Durant

4.0

4.5 stars - this is beautiful writing on all the topics that concern mankind, which the author (a Pulitzer Prize and Medal of Freedom recipient) spent decades of work on and was nearly lost to history (found in an attic in 2011, decades after the author's death). Reading his comments on women and religion as simply a product of his time helps swallow a few passages that modern readers will raise their eyebrows at. Above all, a militant defense of education as the only true means of liberation (which he weaves through 20+ chapters on love, religion, war, science, etc) with a corresponding emphasis on character (which few these days feel comfortable discussing yet the author persuasively argues from all things flow). I am quite partial to books written in this vein of old school confidence and calmness - it's very clear a master wrote this book.

Underlined 107 passages from this book.