"Wisdom of the West" is Bertrand Russell’s final major work (1872–1970), which can be regarded as his philosophical testament. The author himself assessed its significance quite modestly: “This book,” he writes, “was not published to teach the reader history; rather it serves as a reminder of history from time to time, so that the conditions in which philosophical views developed are not forgotten.”
In reality, what lies before the reader is a beautifully presented brief history of European spiritual culture, into which an elegant analysis of philosophical teachings is woven—from the ancient world to modern times.