The Story of Philosophy sees philosophy for what it is: a passionate, exhilarating quest for human understanding that cannot be reduced to dry categories or simple definitions. It's a story with plot twists, a murder, accidental discoveries, disastrous love affairs, geniuses, idiots, monks, and vagabonds. At the heart of it all are the ideas and obsessions that have captured great thinkers from the very beginning. Packed with intriguing anecdotes and fascinating detail, James Garvey and Jeremy Stangroom bring us face to face with the most important philosophers in western history. Rigorous, refreshingly free of academic jargon, and highly accessible, this is the ideal introduction for anyone who wants to gain a new perspective on philosophy's biggest thoughts.

James Garvey has a PhD from University College London and is secretary of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, editor of The Philosophers' Magazine, and the author and editor of several books, including The Ethics of Climate Change and The Twenty Greatest Philosophy Books. Jeremy Stangroom has a PhD from the London School of Economics. He co-founded The Philosophers' Magazine with Julian Baggini in 1997. He is the author and editor of numerous books, most recently, Einstein's Riddle and Would You Eat Your Cat?