A Book Forged in Hell

Spinoza’s Scandalous Treatise and the Birth of the Secular Age

By: Steven Nadler

Narrated by: John Lescault

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

The story of one of the most important - and incendiary - books in Western history.

When it appeared in 1670, Baruch Spinoza’s Theological-Political Treatise was denounced as the most dangerous book ever published - “godless”, “full of abominations”, “a book forged in hell...by the devil himself”. Religious and secular authorities saw it as a threat to faith, social and political harmony, and everyday morality, and its author was almost universally regarded as a religious subversive and political radical who sought to spread atheism throughout Europe. Yet Spinoza’s book has contributed as much as the Declaration of Independence or Thomas Paine’s Common Sense to modern liberal, secular, and democratic thinking.

In A Book Forged in Hell, Steven Nadler tells the fascinating story of this extraordinary book: its radical claims and their background in the philosophical, religious, and political tensions of the Dutch Golden Age, as well as the vitriolic reaction these ideas inspired.

It is not hard to see why Spinoza’s Treatise was so important or so controversial or why the uproar it caused is one of the most significant events in European intellectual history. In the book, Spinoza became the first to argue that the Bible is not literally the word of God but rather a work of human literature; that true religion has nothing to do with theology, liturgical ceremonies, or sectarian dogma; and that religious authorities should have no role in governing a modern state. He also denied the reality of miracles and divine providence, reinterpreted the nature of prophecy, and made an eloquent plea for toleration and democracy.

A vivid story of incendiary ideas and vicious backlash, A Book Forged in Hell will interest anyone who is curious about the origin of some of our most cherished modern beliefs.

©2010 Princeton University Press (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

A great study

The narration is a but dry, but the content of analyzed more then makes up for it.

I need to read the source text now.

Good analysis of Spinoza’s work.

It puts the work of Spinoza’s into context, by talking about the reception of his ideas in his time in Holland.

I really liked it

I was not familiar with Spinozas work and this was a superb audio book to get me up to speed.
I'm giving it 5 stars because the author does a great job of explaining Spinozas publication. One may like or dislike Spinozas writings, but the author and narrator of this book do an extremely good job of presenting that material in a factual light, not pressing any biases.
You certainly learn how Spinoza has influenced our age for better or worse. Great book.

Oy - the Narrator

Of course - we should be concentrating on Spinoza’s brilliance. I was so looking forward to hearing his ideas. But first you have to endure the truly wearisome reading by Lescault. My god. He is so bad.

A fine book

A fine book indeed and with a professional reading. I’m not sure if it is a blemish or not, but the author states that this is not a book about Spinoza’s Ethics. At some point he dives into a discussion of The Ethics and then he keeps at it.

I say I’m not sure if it is a blemish or not because a discussion of the Ethics does fill out what Spinoza was saying in his Tractatus.

Great Book but Narrator Sounds Like AI

This is a great book for those interested in 17th century philosophy and/or religious history. It's well organized and well written. It's a great introduction not only to Spinoza but also to other early enlightenment thinkers, as well as the Dutch Golden Age. Struggles between the various religious communities and the intellectual elite are vividly relayed and I very much enjoyed this book.

However, the reader sounds a bit like he's narrating from the uncanny valley. I don't know if it's a human whose recording is just over-edited or if they really did make at least some use of artificial intelligence, but it feels like there's an edit every second or third sentence because the cadence and lilt of the speech is just a little bit off. It's not terribly noticeable at first but once you hear it, you can't help but keep hearing it all the way through.

Still, the oddness of the reading is subtle enough that you can ignore it and enjoy the book if you're interested in the subject. I still recommend it, with the small caveat about the narration.

Great explanation of an obtuse book

This was a great explanation of an obtuse book. The narrator was dry, but so is the book

Read to understand

A classic introduction to Spinoza s
work. I find it to be good account. Recommended.

Well researched, comprehensive intro to Spinoza’s work.

I read a lot of contemporary Philosophy and have often come across references to the influence of Spinoza’s writing. It has always struck me though, that he is not often ranked among the top tier of European thinkers, while he is becoming more noticed recently.

Reading Nadler’s book, I think I understand that while his work was virtually suppressed by the Religious powers of his time, his demand for freedom of thought, unbound by obeisance to Sacred Texts whether Jewish or Christian, is far more likely to be respected in our more Secular Age. His approach to Philosophic issues was obviously far ahead of his time, a dangerous stance in the Seventeenth Century.

Nadler does a good job of staying out of the weeds, presenting the source documents when necessary, but relating Spinoza’s principles in terms understandable to the laymen of our time.

A clear and pleasant read of the work of a powerful, often overlooked Mind. Four Stars. ****

not an easy bo9k, but worth the time

this is not your usual walk in the park and listen kind of book. it is deeply philosophical and rooted in logical reasoning so full attention is required. also full openness. if you are a dogmatic religious person you won't enjoy this. If you want to pursue somewhat the reasoning path without encumbrance of biases, then this is the boom for you. Will give it another read in a while after ideas settle. spinoza is a fascinating man both in the conext of his age and as an influence for the philosophers of nowadays