I find this history of philosophy very fun and interesting to read. Without forgetting the importance of ideas Kenny also gives a background in the corresponding culture and society.

Jesus and Freud are unusual but very interesting choices and especially the part about Freud I find very good.

Given the importance of the ideas of Hume for twentieth century philosophy it is a little bit strange to give Hume 6.5 pages and Kant 21 pages. But Kant is an important but difficult philosopher and perhaps one should be grateful for every help one can get when it comes to understanding him.

As a student of theoretical philosophy in the analytical tradition four things makes me very happy:

1. Stoic logic is mentioned and explained.
2. Not just the Monadology of Leibniz are treated but also Leibniz as a great logic mind. Maybe one day Leibniz will be remembered more as a great logic mind that inspired Russell and others, than as the builder of the sometimes strange and weird feeling system of monads.
3. The logic and logical analysis of Frege and Russell are given one chapter.
4. Twentieth century philosophy is exemplified not with Sartre or Heidegger as with some Norwegian history's of philosophy, but with Wittgenstein.

Anthony Kenny is, in my opinion, a first-rank philosopher. He is also a very good writer. He writes in a nice conversational way, yet has a remarkable skill at knowing, and sufficently explaining, those areas that will give the average reader a bit of difficulty. I bought this book yesterday and have made my way through quite a bit. Kenny's background gives him a particular competence at writing a history of philosophy (he first studied Aristotelian-scholastic philosophy at the Gregorianum in Rome, then analytical-linguistic philosopy at Oxford University). I already have a degree in philosophy (w/ honours), and I only wish it had been at the feet of a master like Kenny (btw, he is now Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford U., formerly Master of Balliol). We are in Dr. Kenny's debt for anything he writes, especially with this latest work.

Anthony Kenny's magnificent new history of philosophy is a remarkable achievement. The book is accessible yet sophisticated, concise yet comprehensive.

Its main weaknesses are Kenny's sometimes surprising and dramatic editorial decisions and his periodic idiosyncratic application of twentieth-century analytic philosophy. Also, Kenny provides no references for the quotations he uses. Happily, these flaws take away little from the stupendous success of Kenny's history.

The book consists of twenty-two chapters occupying 345 pages, followed by an afterword, suggestions for further reading, and a comprehensive index. The chapters, which range from "Philosophy in its Infancy" to "the Philosophy of Wittgenstein," include detailed discussions of nearly all canonical philosophers, brief discussions a few non-canonical philosophers (e.g., Hypatia, Bonaventure, Marsilius of Padua), and numerous extremely helpful discussions of the interaction between western philosophy and many non-philosophical figures and institutions. Philosophy students of all levels will benefit from this book, and their instructors will find much to admire and enjoy in it.

Kenny's text on Aquinas is informative and to the point. If you want more than a shallow introduction to Aquinas' life and thought, this is an excellent place to begin. Like other contributions in the Past Masters series, the text offers a brief biography, articulates the main philosophical concerns, offers some criticism, then reflects on the consequences or influences of the subject under study.

This book is the best introduction to the development of Frege's thought that I've read. Kenny covers each major work of Frege in detail with clear explanations of the argument and purpose of each work. There is a brief biographical sketch in the beginning and the book finishes with a summary of Frege's achievements.

Probably the best commentary I have read on Wittgenstein. Strong focus on the later Wittgenstein of the Philosophical Investigations. This book is not easy reading. Wittgenstein can be tough going and this book will not chew your food for you. Kenny can at times be almost as difficult as his subject, however this book will reward your efforts and expand your understandings.

What a pity this book is out of print. Kenny's book on Descartes does not take the reader as far into the deeps of philosophy as Bernard Williams, and the book is not up to date. But Kenny is an intelligent philosopher and, furthermore, he is one of the best writers of philosophical prose. Undergraduates, who have just read some of Descartes' own work can read Kenny, understand the issues that he raises and, very often, they will come away with some idea of where they disagree with Kenny. This is an excellent book for teaching students, by example, how to respond intelligently to the thoughts of a great philosopher.

This is a good book for someone who wants to get an idea about philosophy in general - the only drawback is that its very boring, I had a hard time to get to page 400 (i know there's more), if you'r the kind of person that can read boring stuff and go on with it, then this one is for you.

This book has many beautiful pictures and reads easily. In history making, everyone selects what he finds most important or interesting. In my opinion, this book is written with an overall idealist bias (which I disagree with, I am theist), and a leftist perspective in the section on politics. I was in particular disappointed but the very short treatment of Aquinas, whose philosophy is "beyond the scope of this book." I wish Copleston had written a shorter history next to his monumental work, so that it would compete with this present book.