A review by outcolder
A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

3.0

Each chapter more or less summarizes Russell's interpretation of the philosopher(s) in question, and then offers his critique of their thinking. The critiques are fun, especially when he really hates a philosophy, he just shreds it. For me, there were some surprises, like the vehemence of Russell's vitriol for Rousseau. The summaries are often confusing though and I think leave out more than they include. The shadow of World War II hangs over the whole thing, with the German philosophers getting automatic minus-points. I really like the idea of connecting the philosophers and philosophies to their social and cultural backgrounds, and Russell promised to do that, but it occurs only sparingly. So while I want everything to be longer: the summaries, the social analysis, the ranting; at the same time, the book was too long, and especially the more recent philosophers were a drag to finish. Better to zoom in on an era or a thinker and not try to jam all of European thought into one concentrated brick.

I wish I'd read some other Russell book instead, and some other introduction to philosophy, with a broader focus than just the so-called West.