Wilson provides a terrific introduction to the development of Western Thinking between the Reformation and the Age of Englightenment - roughly 1500 to 1800. He covers all the well-known thinkers and adds as many that I, for one, was either unfamiliar with or had not explored. Wilson provides well-considered summaries to their individual contributions and relationship with one another, without ever losing narrative drive essential to the book's success.
Personally, I suspect the discovery I will taken away is the Wesley brothers, John and Charles. I was brought up as a Methodist, albeit an Independent Methodist, and have long been an atheist. I remember the Wesleys, Charles especially, from the hymnbook at Sunday morning service. I stopped attending a month after my twelfth birthday and never considered them again. Now Wilson has given me fascinating insights to their ideas and their lives. For instance, I knew nothing whatsoever about their missionary work in the US. I can't help but wonder, why Georgia. And I know full well I will have to find out.
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