Book cover of The Visionaries: Arendt, Beauvoir, Rand, Weil, and the Power of Philosophy in Dark Times

Book description

'The question Eilenberger sets out to answer in this ambitious, enthralling book: what use is philosophy in the middle of a war?' The Sunday Times

The year is 1933. Hannah Arendt escapes Berlin, seeking refuge among the stateless gathering in Paris. Simone de Beauvoir reimagines the dance between consciousness and…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Visionaries as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

What a cast of characters, and what a time to be alive! This book weaves biographies of four women who asked why during one of the most perilous decades of history: 1933-1943.

It traces the lives of philosophers Hannah Arendt, Simone de Beauvoir, Ayn Rand, and Simone Weil as they flee or fight fascism, become refugees or combatants, lean politically left or right—and it takes them seriously as the philosophers they were throughout.

I loved how the book shows that these women’s thought deeply informed their lives during dangerous times. It was humbling to witness their courage and exhilarating to…

From Lydia's list on women who asked why.

If you love The Visionaries...

Ad

Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

Want books like The Visionaries?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Visionaries.

Browse books like The Visionaries

Book cover of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Book cover of Easy Beauty: A Memoir
Book cover of God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,210

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like The Visionaries, you might also like...

Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Book cover of The Duke's Christmas Redemption

The Duke's Christmas Redemption by Arietta Richmond,

A Duke who has rejected love, a Lady who dreams of a love match, an arranged marriage, a house full of secrets, a most unneighborly neighbor, a plot to destroy reputations, an unexpected love that redeems it all.

Lady Charlotte Wyndham, given in an arranged marriage to a man she…

5 book lists we think you will like!