Philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom. It concerns (or should concern) the big questions of life. To answer such questions, it helps to understand what the great thinkers of history have had to say.

You’ll gain such an understanding from this helpful guide by one of America’s leading philosophers, Ralph M. McInerny of Notre Dame. Writing with humor and verve, McInerny in just seventy-five pages takes you on an enlightening tour of two and a half millennia of philosophy. From Aristotle and Aquinas to Descartes, Kant, and Nietzsche, you’ll learn about the most important thinkers and schools of thought.