Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope

The New York Times bestseller • One of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2023 • A New York Times Notable Book“A book of big and bold ideas, Humanly Possible is humane in approach and, more important, readable and worth reading. . . Bakewell is wide-ranging, witty and compassionate.” –Wall Street Journal“Sweeping . . . linking philosophical reflections with vibrant anecdotes.” — The New York TimesThe bestselling author of How to Live and At the Existentialist Café explores seven hundred years of writers, thinkers, scientists, and artists, all seeking to understand what it means to be truly humanHumanism is an expansive tradition of thought that places shared humanity, cultural vibrancy, and moral responsibility at the center of our lives. For centuries, this worldview has inspired people to make their choices by principles of freethinking, intellectual inquiry, fellow feeling, and optimism. In this sweeping new history, Sarah Bakewell, herself a lifelong humanist, illuminates the very pe