[ O]ne looking for an account of Spinoza's views on the ethics of ordinary life could hardly ask for a better guide than Susan James. Spinoza on Learning to Live Together makes the case for regarding Spinoza, for all of his rarefied intellectualism, as a theorist who is deeply attuned to the challenges to, and importance of, living cooperatively with others. * Justin Steinberg, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews * James's volume has much to add to our understanding of Spinoza's ethics, politics, and their interconnection, and will be an indispensable volume for scholars and casual readers of Spinoza alike. * Hadley Marie Cooney, Central Michigan University, Journal of the History of Philosophy * The essays are informed by deep scholarship, but the exemplary clarity and elegance of their composition make this volume an excellent introduction to Spinoza for those new to philosophy. Summing Up: Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. * M. Latzer, CHOICE * This is a wonderful collection of essays. They offer sophisticated and unexpected insights into aspects of Spinoza's philosophical systemand especially the unity of that system in its metaphysical, epistemological, moral, and political dimensionsthat have largely been unexplored by scholars. . . . James is an astute political thinker in her own right, and her commentaries on Spinoza's political, religious, and ethical views are of general philosophical interest. Moreover, James is an elegant writer, and these essays are a pleasure to read. It is a great benefit to have them published together in one place. * Steven Nadler, European Journal of Philosophy *
