The bestselling prizewinning author of How to Live and At the Existentialist Café explores the
great tradition of humanist writers thinkers scientists and artists all trying to understand
what it means to be truly human. *** THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *** A BARACK OBAMA BOOK OF
THE YEAR *** 'I can't imagine a better history' PHILIP PULLMAN * 'Fascinating moving funny'
OLIVER BURKEMAN If you are reading this you may already be a humanist. Even if you don't know
it. Do you love literature and the arts? Do you have a strong moral compass despite not being
formally religious? Do you simply believe that individual lives are more important than grand
political visions? If any of these apply you are part of a long tradition of humanist thought.
In Humanly Possible Sarah Bakewell asks what humanism is and why it has flourished for so long.
By introducing us to the adventurous lives and ideas of famous humanists through 700 years of
history she shows how the humanist values that helped steer us through dark times in the past
are just as urgently needed in our world today. 'An epic spine-tingling and persuasive work of
history' Daily Telegraph 'As she romps through the centuries readers will feel assured that
they are in the company of a gifted guide' The Economist
