Tolerance
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Summary
Editor's review
The value of reading this book lies in Van Loon's lively, accessible style, which turns the complex history of ideas into vivid stories charged with human drama—from Socrates drinking the hemlock to Bruno perishing at the stake. He shows that intolerance often stems not from malice but from fear of the unknown and the inertia of unthinking habit. The book's deepest insight is that when an idea becomes an unquestionable authority, tolerance vanishes and society stagnates.
In an age of information overload and polarized opinion, rereading Tolerance is more relevant than ever. It reminds us that true progress lies not in eradicating dissent but in learning to coexist with different ideas. Van Loon's writing bears the limitations of his time, yet his call for reason, compassion, and understanding still resonates across the years. This book offers no simple answers; it invites readers to consider how we can hold fast to our own views while preserving basic respect for the minds of others.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in the history of ideas and the evolution of civilization
- Readers seeking to understand the roots of social prejudice and conflict
- Young people seeking to develop independent thinking amid competing viewpoints
- Teachers, writers, and other knowledge workers in need of a humanistic foundation
Not a good fit for
- Historians and specialists seeking rigorous academic scholarship
- Readers looking for practical techniques for handling personal relationships
Reading tips
- Read alongside Van Loon's The Story of Mankind to grasp his overall view of history
- Pay attention to how Van Loon uses individual fates to embody abstract ideas
- Look up the historical background of events mentioned to deepen understanding
About the publisher
SDX Joint Publishing Company is a publisher known for its humanities and social science titles, covering classics, culture, history, social fiction and politics. Its catalogue of 826 books includes Chinese and foreign literary classics such as The Scholars, Camel Xiangzi and Selected Short Stories of Chekhov, scholarly works such as Studies of Chinese Cave Temples, A Study of the Tuoba History (Revised Edition) and The Nine-Rank System: A Prehistory of the Imperial Examination, and translations such as Red Star Over China and Notes from the House of the Dead. Its authors include renowned Chinese and foreign writers such as Wu Jingzi, Lao She, Su Bai and Chekhov, as well as scholars and translators such as Chen Xiaoming, Wang Benhua, Guo Changbao and Zhu Xiansheng. Its publishing character lies in balancing the popularisation of classics with academic depth, with attention to textual quality and the transmission of knowledge.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 我的宽容和不宽容
- 序 言
- 第一章 无知的暴虐
- 第二章 希腊人
- 第三章 束缚的开始
- 第四章 众神的隐没
- 第五章 禁锢
- 第六章 生活的纯洁
- 第七章 宗教法庭
- 第八章 好奇的人
- 第九章 文字狱
- 第十章 关于写历史书，尤其是这本书
- 第十一章 文艺复兴
- 第十二章 宗教改革
- 第十三章 伊拉斯谟
- 第十四章 拉伯雷
- 第十五章 换汤不换药
- 第十六章 再洗礼派教徒
- 第十七章 索齐尼家族
- 第十八章 蒙田
- 第十九章 阿明尼乌
- 第二十章 布鲁诺
- 第二十一章 斯宾诺莎
- 第二十二章 新锡安山
- 第二十三章 太阳王
- 第二十四章 腓特烈大帝
- 第二十五章 伏尔泰
- 第二十六章 百科全书
- 第二十七章 革命的不宽容
- 第二十八章 莱辛
- 第二十九章 潘恩
- 第三十章 最近一百年
FAQ
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About the author
Hendrik Willem van Loon (1882–1944) was a Dutch-American writer and historian known for his popular works on history and the humanities. He rose to fame in 1921 with The Story of Mankind and continued writing for general readers; this catalog includes 49 of his works. Representative titles include The Story of Mankind, Tolerance, The Story of the Bible, The Home of Mankind, and Van Loon's Geography, along with collected classics and adapted editions for young readers. His writing spans world history, foreign literature, popular science, philosophy, and inspirational growth, and he was skilled at presenting complex historical developments and humanistic knowledge to a broad audience in clear, lively prose that is both informative and readable. His works have circulated widely and remain accessible introductions to Western history and culture. Public information about his detailed biography is limited, so it is not elaborated here.
Hu Yunhuan: public information is limited, and no clear record of his identity or life background appears in the available bibliographic data. Judging from the five works listed in the database, his writing and translation work centers mainly on foreign literature and historical reading, with his translations of Ken Follett's works being the most concentrated, including the three-volume The Pillars of the Earth, the six-volume collection of The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, and the nine-volume Medieval Trilogy. The list also includes The Eye of the Needle and Tolerance, indicating his engagement with suspense fiction and works on intellectual history. Overall, Hu Yunhuan's contribution lies in bringing foreign works with historical depth and narrative tension to Chinese readers; his translations serve the advancement of plot and the conveyance of historical atmosphere and are suitable for readers interested in foreign literature and historical subjects.
