Time of the Magicians by Wolfram Eilenberger Summary
Overview of Time of the Magicians
Four brilliant minds reinvented philosophy during Europe's turbulent 1920s. This bestseller, translated into thirty languages and winner of prestigious awards, weaves together Wittgenstein, Benjamin, Cassirer, and Heidegger's intellectual journeys. What revolutionary ideas emerged when war-torn society forced philosophers to reimagine human existence itself?
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Key takeaways
When Four Thinkers Rewrote Reality
March 1929. The Grand Hotel Belvedere in Davos, Switzerland. Ernst Cassirer, 54, sits composed in the second row, white-haired and dignified-the embodiment of philosophical tradition. Then Martin Heidegger arrives in an athletic suit, deliberately snubbing his reserved front-row seat to mingle with students instead. This wasn't just a debate. It was a collision between two incompatible visions of what it means to be human. And it was the culmination of a decade that had seen four brilliant minds-Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Benjamin, and Cassirer-tear down and rebuild Western philosophy from its foundations. Their ideas still shape how we think about language, existence, and culture today. Tech companies process language using Wittgenstein's insights. Therapists draw on Heidegger's existentialism. Media scholars quote Benjamin. Multiculturalism owes a debt to Cassirer. What happened in those ten years between 1919 and 1929? How did philosophy become magic?
The Wreckage of War and the Birth of New Thought
Language: The Battleground Where Reality Gets Made
Huts, Libraries, and the Geography of Thought
Love, Death, and the Limits of Philosophy
The Showdown That Defined an Era
The Magic That Remains
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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