The Metaphysical Club

By: Louis Menand

Narrated by: Henry Leyva

Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Hardly a club in the conventional sense, the organization referred to in the title of this superb literary hybrid (part history, part biography, part philosophy) consisted of four members and probably existed for less than nine months. Yet its impact upon American intellectual life remains incalculable. Louis Menand masterfully weaves pivotal late 19th- and early 20th-century events, colorful biographical anecdotes, and abstract ideas into a narrative whole that both enthralls and enlightens.

©2001 Louis Menand (P)2001 Highbridge Company

Critic reviews

• Pulitzer Prize winner, History, 2002

"The Metaphysical Club is a compellingly vital account of how the cluster of ideas that came to be called pragmatism was forged from the searing experiences of its progenitors' lives." (Daniel Kevles, Yale University)
"The Metaphysical Club is a brilliant reanimation of American pragmatism." (Richard Poirier)

Entertaining overview

OK, "entertaining" is relative for any history of philosophy, but this book does a decent job of weaving together the lives and ideas of American thinkers at a critical period of American philosophy. The narrative flowed well (most of the time), and shed some light on both the personalities and ideas of these philosophers. I hadn't known much about Oliver Wendell Holme's life, and I found that section particularly interesting.

A good selection if you're looking for an enjoyable overview. Not so good if you're looking for in-depth understanding of these men's ideas (but in that case, you probably wouldn't go to a audio book summary anyway).

Missing information

I really enjoyed many parts of this book. However, I was hoping the author would go a little deeper and provide a richer story. There were so many threads he could have followed but didn't.

Very interesting listen

I really liked this book! Menand provides a compelling narrative that connects history, philosophy and notions of culture and society together in a way that I found fascinating. I was particularly interested in his treatment of Wendel Holmes; his ability to weave together biography and history create a picture of the profound effect this dynamic figure had on American culture. My only criticism of this book is the choice of narrator Henry Leyva. He is the worst narrator of any book i have ever listened to. His bizarre inflections make me cringe. I would give the book 6 stars and his narration one star, but if this is a period of time that you are interested in, the book is a must read (or listen?).

Fascinating subject

Would you consider the audio edition of The Metaphysical Club to be better than the print version?

While the performance was quite good, Menand's text is what really makes this book worth listening to.

One reading mistake

The reader mispronounces Charles Sanders Peirce’s name throughout. It’s kind of a big mistake, actually—surprising.....

Mispronunciation

How could the performance have been better?

The reader consistently mispronounces the name of one of the main historical characters. Charles Peirce is pronounced /ˈpɜrs/ like "purse"; Can't a paid reader take the time to look something like that up?

A must read book for everyone who cares about the history of idea

This book is the history of the US through the lenses of how the genuinely American idea was created. Taking us through places and periods, the author, in an epic way, narrates a sophisticated history of America that is also the history of what we know today as the mainstream education and way of thinking.

Great introduction to the first original school of thought in America.

If you are wondering how the USA has become such a paradox of great ideas, movements, scientific progress, cruelties, selfishness, and weirdness all wrapped into one--this book tells at least a part of that story. In some ways the ideas of the Pragmatists were taken too far, in other ways (like the ideas of Peirce) were not taken far enough. The way of thinking from members of the metaphysical club is both like and unlike us today: "the relevance and strangeness are ever bound together in their [the Pragmatists] thought" (from the last sentence of the book). Peirce was not given credit as the founder of Semiotics nor was credited for his influence on quantum mechanics, DNA research, sentential logic, and computers. Some of the facts about his life seem a bit off from what I've read elsewhere. Overall great book that holds one's interest.

Good jumping off point for Pragmatism

Exceeded expectations. An interesting listen that requires a second/third go round with notebook.

The reader is better than most but not spectacular.

Well Written History

To be honest, to get the most out of this book, the reader probably needs some knowledge of the American Civil War. It would also help to know a bit about early American philosophy and psychology. However, if the reader remains patient, Menand eventually fills in the missing details.

Overall, the Metaphysical Club is a very well written and complex history of a fascinating group of thinkers.