"The Most Dangerous Man in the World"

Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell and the World's Most Famous Philosopher in the 20th Century

One of the things I’m proudest of with HATM and now Reckoning has been the chance to introduce our audience to new works by insanely talented historians. This case is even more special because the work in question is the very first English language biography of a man who made an impact on global level.

In the early 20th century, the New York Times dubbed French philosopher Henri Bergson as "the most dangerous man in the world." Bergson scared a lot of people in how he brought philosophy to the masses but he also won critical acclaim, receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature and France's highest honor, the Grand-Croix de la Legion d'honneur. Surprisingly, no English language biography exists of him. Until now. This week, Dr. Emily Herring joins in to talk about Bergson's rise to fame, his influence on 20th century thought, his beef with other philosophers, and the mysteries behind why he died in relative obscurity. Oh, and how a French philosopher ended up in a spy mission during World War I. Bergson’s life is fascinating.

---

About our guest:

Dr. Emily Herring received her PhD from the University of Leeds and is now working as a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of the first biography of Henri Bergson in English, Herald of a Restless World. How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People (2024 Basic Books).

---

Get the book

Find Herald of a Restless World on Amazon or wherever you buy your books.

---

Find the pod below

Hey it’s Monday. Let’s get after it.

Jason

And for you paid subscribers, here’s a little extra for ya below. Thanks to everyone for being here.