This is the final volume of The Intellectual Devotional, a series we hope has made learning about a wide variety of subjects, from modern culture to American history to health, more accessible and entertaining for our thousands of readers. We’ve chosen to conclude the series with a collection of short biographies, offering intimate portraits of some of the world’s most fascinating people, past and present.
Why end the series with biography? Throughout history, our world has been shaped by extraordinary personalities. The rise and fall of empires, the birth and evolution of religious communities, the expression of artistic genius, the advance of scientific discovery—it’s all been driven by exceptional individuals. What makes those individuals different from you and me? You hold the answers in your hands. In this volume, you’ll discover the fascinating stories of people who have made their mark on history, whether through high achievement, inspired thinking, or downright treachery.
The 365 entries are divided into the following categories:
LEADERS
Charismatic figures who mobilized the masses
PHILOSOPHERS
Deep thinkers who saw the world in new lights and helped others do the same
INNOVATORS
The original thinkers behind mankind’s greatest advances
VILLAINS
Those who were vilified by their contemporaries or in history’s judgment
AUTHORS AND ARTISTS
Creative spirits who expanded the boundaries of the human imagination
REBELS AND REFORMERS
Iconoclasts who overturned the existing social order, for better and worse
PREACHERS AND PROPHETS
Spiritual visionaries who redefined our conception of a higher power
For a complete list of research sources, please visit www.theintellectualdevotional.com.