An Emancipation of the Mind

Radical Philosophy, the War Over Slavery, and the Refounding of America

By: Matthew Stewart

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

How a band of antislavery leaders recovered the radical philosophical inspirations of the first American Revolution to defeat the slaveholders' oligarchy in the Civil War.

In their struggle against the slaveholding oligarchy of their time, America's antislavery leaders found their way back to the rationalist, secularist, and essentially atheist inspiration for the first American Revolution. Frederick Douglass's unusual interest in radical German philosophers and Abraham Lincoln's buried allusions to the same thinkers are but a few of the clues that underlie this propulsive philosophical detective story.

With fresh takes on forgotten thinkers like Theodore Parker, the excommunicated Unitarian minister who is the original source of some of Lincoln's most famous lines, Matthew Stewart tells the story of the battle between America's philosophical radicals and the conservative counterrevolution that swept the American republic in the first decades of its existence and persists in new forms up to the present day.

In exposing the role of Christian nationalism and the collusion between northern economic elites and slaveholding oligarchs, An Emancipation of the Mind demands a significant revision in our understanding of the origins and meaning of the struggle over slavery in America-and offers a fresh perspective on struggles between democracy and elite power today.

©2024 Matthew Stewart (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Refreshing viewpoint

An interesting look at the theology and philosophy among notable figures in the fight against slavery.
A bit too much about Hegel. ( even a little is hard to take) but don’t let that keep you from listening to this intriguing book

“The arc of the moral universe is long…”

If you want to understand why progress is so difficult in the United States this book is a must read. Stay skeptical and use reason to learn more about the history of this country.

Enlightenment Again

Well presented, clear, and historically astute. If only more of my fellow Americans would read/listen to this

Powerful revisionist history on race, racism, and the American past (and present)

This is a fine-grained exploration of the American use of race to champion property over labor (put another way, capital over people and their humanity).

An amazing demonstration of intellect and compelling understanding of the potential of human capability and purpose.

The depth and breadth of scholarship the author demonstrates is impressive. Their grasp of connection and history of the highest order. Truth much more inspiring than edifying fictions. one of the best non fiction reads of all time.