The New Yorker has a full and fair look at German mathematician, philosopher, and well, polymath Gottfried Leibniz. Among other things, it argues that Voltaire took a number of liberties on his fictional portrait in Candide. The piece is a review of not just one but two new bios of him, by Audrey Borowski and Michael Kempe.
And, if either one at least half as good as the review, it's something I'll be looking out for.
In the article's telling, Leibniz comes off as a northern Leonardo da Vinci in many ways. Not an artist, but scientist, mathematician, philosopher, mix of actual and would-be inventor and more — and likc Leonardo, with an ADD-like lack of focus.
Goodreads: Borowski's "Leibniz in his World" and Kempe's "The Best of all Possible Worlds."
Both are just over 300 pages. Interestingly, though both came out at the same time, November 2024, Borowski has yet to have a single review on either Goodreads or Yellow Satan, while Kempe has more than a dozen reviews and more than 100 ratings. (Most the reviews are in German; Kempe is German and runs the Leibniz Research Center in Hannover.) The subtitle of his book is "A Life in Seven Pivotal Days," which may add to, or detract from, its value. He is a professor of early modern history as well. Borowski has an Oxford PhD (in what, I don't know) and is a research fellow with the Desireable Digital project. More here and here, which indicates her background is in philosophy and the history of philosophy. Based on this, and what might be limitations with the "seven days" concept, if I had to pick just one of the two books, it would be hers.
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