Description
About the Author
Isaiah Berlin (1909-1997) was one of the leading intellectual historians of the twentieth century and the founding president of Wolfson College, University of Oxford. His many books include The Hedgehog and the Fox, The Crooked Timber of Humanity, and The Roots of Romanticism (all Princeton).
Reviews
"When reading Isaiah Berlin we breathe an altogether different air, and not simply because he was a superior writer. With him we know we are inside the psychological and historical clockwork that turns the hands of modern political life... [This book], in a remarkably narrow compass, takes us deep into the crisis of modern political ideas and makes us experience all the contradictions and complexities of our situation. If this is not a political philosophy, or at least a preparation for it, I don't know what is."--Mark Lilla, New York Review of Books "Considering how murky intellectual history can sometimes seem, these lectures are astonishing for their lucidity and power."--Darrin M. McMahon, Wall Street Journal "Berlin says that people are individuals and have a right to be respected, that liberty is supreme, that we wish for many things in life and must compromise, and that authority is dangerous and power must be under control. And he says what he says in magnificent style. Liberal values are simple truths which are always in danger of being crowded out by philosophical systems."--Stein Ringen, Times Literary Supplement "The most famous lectures Berlin ever gave... [T]hey fascinated and astounded their listeners, quickly turning Isaiah Berlin into a household name. Never before had someone addressed such abstract topics with such fluency and intensity, not reading form a script but speaking directly to his audience."--Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph "Berlin's first great public successes remain utterly, indeed inspirationally, absorbing."--Ray Olson, Booklist "Imagine turning on the radio and hearing a brilliant, immensely erudite man speaking extemporaneously at breakneck pace for a full hour about the ideas of an 18th century philosopher... In fact, the radio audience was treated not merely to one, but six hourlong broadcasts... Now, half a century later, the lectures are finally available in written form, assiduously edited from rough transcripts by Henry Hardy."--Merle Rubin, Los Angeles Times "Berlin sets out to inform, entertain, and defend the Anglo-Saxon concepts of liberty and pluralism against all comers... The language is vivid, direct, playful, learned; the presentation ordered and concise."--Jeremy Lott, Chronicles
Book Information
ISBN 9780691157573
Author Isaiah Berlin
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Princeton University Press
Publisher Princeton University Press
Weight(grams) 28g