The Spinoza Problem

A Novel

By: Irvin D. Yalom

Narrated by: Traber Burns

When 16-year-old Alfred Rosenberg is called into his headmaster's office for anti-Semitic remarks he made during a school speech, he is forced, as punishment, to memorize passages about Spinoza from the autobiography of the German poet Goethe. Rosenberg is stunned to discover that Goethe, his idol, was a great admirer of the Jewish 17th-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza. Long after graduation, Rosenberg remains haunted by this "Spinoza problem": How could the German genius Goethe have been inspired by a member of a race Rosenberg considers so inferior to his own, a race he was determined to destroy?

Spinoza himself was no stranger to punishment during his lifetime. Because of his unorthodox religious views, he was excommunicated from the Amsterdam Jewish community in 1656, at the age of 24, and banished from the only world he had ever known. Though his life was short and he lived without means in great isolation, he nonetheless produced works that changed the course of history.

Over the years, Rosenberg rose through the ranks to become an outspoken Nazi ideologue, a faithful servant of Hitler, and the main author of racial policy for the Third Reich. Still, his Spinoza obsession lingered. By imagining the unexpected intersection of Spinoza's life with Rosenberg's, internationally best-selling novelist Irvin D. Yalom explores the mindsets of two men separated by 300 years. Using his skills as a psychiatrist, he explores the inner lives of Spinoza, the saintly secular philosopher, and of Rosenberg, the godless mass murderer.

©2012 Irvin D. Yalom (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Swan W

When you are drifting along in audio world, it takes a while to catch on to the two time zones. The people in 1656 are students, with a teacher, and the people in 1931 are students with a teacher. The characters, respectively, grow up; Bento, also known as Baruch, and Alfred. The first, Bento, becomes isolated because of his relentless search for truth. Alfred becomes isolated because of his own fears and longing for approval. Baruch has no fear , and seeks only his own approval. But his community has much fear. And thus, cannot harbor or tolerate him.

Entertaining !

E.Y. Blended the periods 17th and 20th centuries nicely. Creating a believable backdrop to tell the story of two men, centuries apart who’s path crossed, without ever meeting.

Diving into yesterday...

Here, we have a writing of historical fiction, keeping in mind that ...”history is fiction that did happen.”...
The novel is an interesting juxtaposition of two life stories and a valuable read. One dives into studies of how mental acuity, experiences, life events, culture, health and mindset lead to decisions related to attitude and life style choices, either toxic or beneficial, destructive or enlightened with their respective results as a gift to the future.
Rosenberg, a lying hypocritical person full of self importance and not nearly as intelligent as he deemed himself to be, spewed hatred into the future with moral corruption and death into his present. Spinoza is another person altogether. He suffered much and paved the road toward enlightenment.

Insightful

I enjoyed this book & the narration was excellent. All around a good read, Has sparked my interest in other philosophers.

Philosophical thriller

This is the third book by Yalom I've read and I remain flabbergasted. Absolutely brilliant.