1600 – 1789
The Age of Reason, or the Enlightenment, spanned the 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by a shift towards reason, science, and intellectual exchange. Thinkers like Voltaire, Locke, and Newton challenged traditional views, advocating for progress, individual rights, and the separation of church and state, profoundly influencing modern Western thought.
Picture books
Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei
Excellent introduction to Galileo
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Karl, Get Out of the Garden!: Carolus Linnaeus and the Naming of Everything
Fun introduction to Linnaeus and his classification system
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The Girl Who Drew Butterflies
Richly illustrated biography of a naturalist and artist
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Galileo’s Leaning Tower Experiment: A Science Adventure
Story about a fictional young boy working alongside Galileo
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The Microscope
Whimsical introduction to a Dutch scientist and his microscope
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Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word
Excellent introduction to Thomas Paine and his ideas
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The Incredible yet True Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt: The Greatest Inventor-Naturalist-Scientist-Explorer Who Ever Lived
Exciting story of a scientist and polymath
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Jonas Hanway’s Scurrilous, Scandalous, Shockingly Sensational Umbrella
Delightful story of a London innovator
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Non-fiction books
Biographies
Thomas Paine: Crusader for Liberty
Excellent introduction to Paine and the impact of his ideas, for older readers
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Who Was Galileo?
Excellent introduction to Galileo, his work, and his times
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Who Was Isaac Newton?
Excellent introduction to Isaac Newton, his work, and his times
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The Incredible yet True Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt: The Greatest Inventor-Naturalist-Scientist-Explorer Who Ever Lived
Exciting story of a scientist and polymath
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Professor Kant’s Incredible Day
Introduction to Kant for young readers
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Montesquieu: The French Philosopher Who Shaped Modern Government
Biography of Montesquieu, Enlightenment philosopher and political theorist
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Advocate of Government by Consent
Biography of Rousseau, Enlightenment philosopher and political theorist
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Diderot: French Philosopher and Father of the Encyclopedia
Biography of Diderot, who compiled the Enlightenment encyclopedia
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Catherine The Great: And The Enlightenment In Russia
Introduction to Catherine the Great and her introduction of Enlightenment ideas to Russia
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Leibniz, or The Best of All Possible Worlds
Accessible introduction to the work of Liebniz, an Age of Reason philosopher
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