WIN $150 GIFT VOUCHERS: ALADDIN'S GOLD

Close Notification

Your cart does not contain any items

Herald of a Restless World

How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People

Emily Herring

$34.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English
Basic Books
01 February 2025
As heard on Radio 4's Free Thinking
Henri Bergson, the French philosopher who defined individual creativity and transformed twentieth-century thought.

At the dawn of the twentieth century, Henri Bergson became the most famous philosopher on earth. Where prior thinkers sketched out a predictable universe, he asserted the transformative power of consciousness and creativity. An international celebrity, he made headlines around the world debating luminaries like Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein about free will and time. The vision of creative evolution and freedom he presented was so disruptive that the New York Times branded him ""the most dangerous man in the world.""

In the first English-language biography of Bergson, Emily Herring traces how his celebration of the time-bending uniqueness of individual experience struck a chord with those shaken by modern technological and social change. Bergson captivated a society in flux like no other. Long after he faded from public view, his insights into memory, time, joy and creativity continue to shape our perceptions to this day. Herald of a Restless World is an electrifying portrait of a singular intellect.
By:  
Imprint:   Basic Books
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 232mm,  Width: 152mm,  Spine: 32mm
Weight:   400g
ISBN:   9781529371925
ISBN 10:   1529371929
Pages:   320
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Emily Herring is a writer based in Paris. She studied philosophy at the Sorbonne and received her PhD in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Leeds. Her work has appeared in the TLS and Aeon.

Reviews for Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People

From perfumed ladies to the end-of-life mud baths, this beautifully written book tells the story of a seemingly unassuming, bowler-hatted Frenchman, whose philosophy would sweep the world. Its profound ideas - evolution, consciousness, time - are explored with depth and humour in a way that is, appropriately, creative and new. Herring has captured the magic and the mystique of Bergson -- Emily Thomas, author of THE MEANING OF TRAVEL Henri Bergson thought nothing could be learned about a philosopher's ideas by studying their life. Herring proves him very wrong in this engaging biography of the Parisian thinker who accidentally became an international celebrity -- Nigel Warburton, author of A LITTLE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY With flair and verve, Herring unveils the life and philosophy of the enchanting and trailblazing icon of change and creativity: Henri Bergson. The result is a fascinating biography and magnificent revival of this brilliant thinker who was once the most influential philosopher in the world. Herring's beautifully compelling narrative shows how Bergson's ideas still hold the power to illuminate the human experience and the meaning of life -- Skye Cleary, author of HOW TO BE AUTHENTIC Thanks to Herring, Bergson is back - and it's about time -- Matthew Sweet, broadcaster and author


See Also