Eilenberger is an energetic guide to these philosophers’ ideas, though it’s clear that he holds Weil’s writings in special esteem..

In his enjoyable book, Eilenberger manages to convey not only his characters’ complicated lives but the convoluted flow of their endlessly agitated minds.

The Visionaries is much better than Eilenberger’s previous group biography.

Ambitious, enthralling.

This is where the significance of Eilenberger’s story really lies. Not one of these women was defending existing freedoms, because not one of them had ever been able to take freedom for granted in the first place.

While never quite providing a cohesive rationale for joining these four disparate writers together, Eilenberger offers solid insight into a center-minded way of thinking applicable to each.

Illuminating.