The Best of All Possible Worlds

"I can't imagine a better guide to 17th-century philosophical thought. Aimed at the general public, The Best of All Possible Worlds" is written simply and clearly, without condescension, flashiness or over-simplification. But it's a demanding book nonetheless, and you need to pay attention. You'll be amply rewarded if you do." -- Michael Dirda, "The Washington Post"

"Nadler's superb study makes for a larger space for Leibniz, Malebranche and Arnauld alongside such giants of the period as Descartes and Spinoza." -- "Publisher's Weekly

"In a quietly elegant way, Nadler brings to life three remarkable philosophers and an intellectual world that vanished long ago but whose concerns continue to resonate. Why do good things happen to bad people? Why is the world the way it is? What or who is God? Leibniz, Arnauld, and Malebranche pursued these questions with a passion and intensity that Nadler nimbly captures." -- Matthew Stewart, author of "The Courtier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza, and the Fate of God in the Modern World"