Humanly Possible – Sarah Bakewell

Delve into the profound exploration of what it truly means to be human through the compelling work of the bestselling and award-winning author of How to Live and At the Existentialist Café. Spanning an impressive 700 years, this remarkable book invites us to navigate the thoughts and discoveries of writers, thinkers, scientists, and artists who have dedicated themselves to unraveling the complexities of our human existence.

If you find yourself engrossed in these pages, chances are you already possess an inherent affinity for humanism, even if you haven’t consciously identified as such. Perhaps you are drawn to the realms of literature and the humanities. Maybe you prioritize moral decisions rooted in empathy and a sense of responsibility towards others, rather than strict adherence to religious commandments. Or it could be that you firmly believe in the importance of individual lives over grand political ideologies or dogmas. If any of these resonate with you, then you are part of a longstanding tradition of humanist thought, sharing a common ground with extraordinary individuals throughout history. These remarkable figures, who placed rational inquiry, cultural richness, freedom of thought, and a steadfast sense of hope at the center of their lives, shaped the tapestry of humanism that we inherit today.

Humanly Possible introduces us to a diverse array of these exceptional people, inviting us to ponder the very essence of humanism and to question why it has endured across the ages, despite fierce opposition from fanatics, mystics, and tyrants. This book brims with captivating ideas, vibrant personalities, and groundbreaking experiments in living. From the literary enthusiasts of the fourteenth century to the modern-day secular advocates, we traverse a journey that encompasses luminaries like Erasmus and proponents of universal language such as Esperanto. We encounter the visionary anatomists and those who embrace agnosticism as a means of exploring deeper truths. From the trailblazing Christine de Pizan to the brilliant minds of Bertrand Russell, Voltaire, and Zora Neale Hurston, these pages illuminate the diverse facets of humanist thought.

Through its irresistible narrative, Humanly Possible exuberantly celebrates the values intrinsic to humanism—open-mindedness, optimism, freedom, and a profound appreciation for the power of the present moment. These enduring humanist principles have guided us through the darkest periods of history and remain as crucial as ever in our world today. Join this captivating journey that embraces the boundless potential of the human spirit and encourages us to shape a better future.