Anne Conover Heller (1950–2022)

Hannah Arendt is pretty much the definition of complicated; I'd read several of her books but knew little about her life (other than philosophy student, pretty assimilated in high German culture, Jewish, WW2, and then subject of a lot of intra-communal hate over her writings about the Eichmann trial). I had no idea she'd dated Heidegger (who was apparently both a player and a nazi himself...), etc.

There's nothing really useful here other than just a more full appreciation of a historical figure (the same time would be better spent actually reading her books), but it was still interesting.… (more)

A truly American story of a young Russian immigrant who set out to conquor the world and did. Growing up in the repression and deprevation of Soviet Russia, a young Jewish girl dreamed of coming to America where she would finally be free to think and write whatever she wanted. Escaping on a temporary visa, she set out to conquer the world and did.

Though her philosophy would infuriate many, her books would become classics that continue to sell long after her death. Her powerful vision and striking characters are internationally known. But few know the secret and sordid life she led behind closed doors. Her philosophy was extrapolated into pseudo-psychology that led to the repression of free thought among her followers.

A well-researched and even-handed look at a truly remarkable woman whose unrelenting will shaped the world around her.… (more)