Fallen Leaves

Last Words on Life, Love, War & God

By: Will Durant

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The final and most personal work from Pulitzer Prize - winning author and historian Will Durant - discovered 32 years after his death - is a message of insight for everyone who has sought meaning in life or the council of a wise friend in navigating life's journey.

From 1968 to 1978, Will Durant made four public allusions to the existence of Fallen Leaves. One, in 1975, hinted at its contents: "a not very serious book that answers the questions of what I think about government, life, death, and God." And in 1975: "I propose... to answer all the important questions, simply, fairly, and imperfectly." Even into his 90s,he worked on the book daily, writing it out on legal notepads. Upon his death in 1981, no one, not even the Durant heirs, knew if he had completed it, or even if it still existed. Thirty-two years later, in a granddaughter's attic trunk, the manuscript was discovered.

Fallen Leaves is Will Durant's most personal book. It is precisely as he described: 22 short chapters on everything from youth and old age, religion and morals, to sex, war, politics, and art. The culmination of Durant's 60-plus years spent researching the philosophies, religions, arts, sciences, and civilizations from across the world, Fallen Leaves is the distilled wisdom of a gifted scholar with a renowned talent for rendering the insights of the past accessible. In its preface Durant mentions that over the course of his career, he received letters from "curious readers who have challenged me to speak my mind on the timelessquestions of human life and fate." With Fallen Leaves, he accepted their challenge. It contains strong opinions, elegant prose, and deep insights into the human condition as only Will Durant could provide, as well as his revealing conclusions about the perennial problems and greatest joys we face as a species.

©2014 John Little and the Estate of Will and Ariel Durant (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Mixed Feelings

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Durant's prose is still refreshing and enjoyable; however, his thoughts are incomplete and often contradictory.

Pearls of insight

All great thinkers had ideas that seem hopelessly naive and childish from hindsight, and Durant is no different in this regard. But on the whole, his ideas are clear, forceful and distill the intelligence of all civilization into a wondrous perfume to wisdom.

Eloquent, Educational, Passionate

loved it. Eloquent, Educational, Passionate. one can only wish more authors now days displayed a similar character

Answering everything, simply, fairly & imperfectly

If you could sum up Fallen Leaves in three words, what would they be?

Enlightened, cathartic, elegant

What did you like best about this story?

Classic Will Durant. You don't have to agree with him to truly respect his views on life and society. He's wonderfully self-aware and balanced in his approach. Nothing too groundbreaking, especially if you're familiar with The Story of Philosophy, but it’s great to hear the summation of the lessons he’s learned in life. I’ll certainly come back and listen again.

Old Man Yells at Cloud

There’s a lot of food for thought here. But whiffs of eugenics and nativist sentiments ruined it for me.

The narrator is first rate.

Quintessential wisdom of a life long-lived!

I'm afraid I have to disagree with some of what Mr. Durant says, but all in all, wisdom from academia, historical study, and a life long-lived permeates the pages of his book!!

Excellent

I had never read/listened to a Durant book. This book was excellent. His writing promotes thought and insight into many areas of life/society even today. The narration is excellent.

Sweeping generalizations galore

Presents many opinions as fact, with weak arguments. Entertaining, if not old fashioned and at times sexist.

Can't go wrong with Will Durant

Great narration and presentation of one of America's most brilliant and gifted writers. No one else has such a witty and powerful delivery and his breadth of knowledge is unparalleled. I'll listen to this again and again.

A great overview of life, love, war and god

I truly recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a deeper look into these subjects. One of my favorite for sure