Apart from having an impeccable reputation as a philosopher and as a human being, Benedictus de Spinoza (1632-1677) devised a theory of everything. From the self-existing substance he called 'God' down to our everyday actions, his philosophy strove to encompass all. This required a certain deviation from the norms of his day, especially concerning the nature of God, and his were dangerous times for freethinkers. So dangerous that Spinoza published only one book, anonymously, during his lifetime. The rest did not appear until after his death. Even then they were fervently banned as atheistic. But times change, and appreciation for his work has increased exponentially since the 19th century. However, appreciating Spinoza's philosophy at a distance is an entirely different enterprise from comprehending it up close. His most famous work, "The Ethics," swims with obscure language and uses common philosophical terms in unconventional ways. Not only that, the book utilizes the Euclidean method to delineate its theories. Those expecting flowing narrative will flinch at the numbered propositions, axioms, and definitions splayed out like mathematical proofs. How do beginners or general readers penetrate this dense thicket to get at Spinoza's theory of everything?

"Spinoza: A Guide for the Perplexed" will help almost anyone gain a high-level yet detailed view of Spinoza's achievement. Those with no background whatsoever in philosophy may hit some bumps, but the text should remain surmountable nonetheless. The book's three parts provide an overview of Spinoza's life and philosophy, with its bulk dedicated to an exposition of "The Ethics."

Part One includes a discussion of 17th century Holland, a brief biography of Spinoza, and a summary of the early work, "Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect." The Treatise provides a good introduction to Spinoza's thoughts on "Rules of life," epistemology, and the way to attain "the highest good."

Part Two takes on "The Ethics." All five sections of Spinoza's masterpiece get covered in separate chapters. These cover almost the entire spectrum of philosophy: God (that is, Spinoza's unique depiction of God as substance with existence at its essence, infinitely many attributes - we only know Thought and Extension, purposeless, free, and of which all things are "modes", the eternity of the intellect and blessedness as love of God); Philosophy of Mind (mind within God's infinite intellect temporally representing the human body and panpsychism); Epistemology (foundationalism and Spinoza's 3 types of knowledge); Emotions (the "conatus," or our desire to persist in existence from which all desires originate from and the distinction between "passive" and "active" emotions); Ethics (good and bad not within things themselves, but only relative to humanity and "ethical reasoning"); Psychotherapy (the mind's power over passive emotions in every day life, namely, we should "think differently"). Also, each chapter also includes an introductory section on the topic. These should really help beginners. Each chapter also includes an "in a nutshell" section that summarizes the main points. These summaries provide a great review and reinforcement of each chapter's material. Not only that, after finishing all chapters on "The Ethics" these sections provide a handy overview of the entire work. With their help, the progression from Spinoza's metaphysics to his "therapy through reason" becomes clearer. Some of the more difficult points, comparisons to other philosophers (notably Aristotle, the Stoics, Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Hume, and Sartre), and issues of debate receive extra attention along the way.

Part Three looks at Spinoza's political works, the "Tractatus-Theologico Politicus" and the unfinished "Tractatus Politicus." This section sums up Spinoza's political views as well as his takes on monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. Spinoza didn't study metaphysics for its own sake; he wanted to apply it to political philosophy. "The Ethics" and his political works thus have some overlap. A final postscript briefly examines Spinoza's influence. It quotes Einstein as saying "I believe in Spinoza's God."

In the end, this book, though not a blithe walk in the park, provides a solid foundation for exploring Spinoza's primary works. It will also make his philosophical importance as well as his historical infamy as an atheist evident. Beginners, or anyone, looking to upscale their knowledge on this vastly intriguing figure should start here.