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The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in America

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The Metaphysical Club: A Story of Ideas in AmericaThe Metaphysical Club is the winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for History. A riveting, original book about the creation of modern American thought. The Metaphysical Club was an informal group that met in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1872, to talk about ideas. Its members included Oliver Well Holmes, Jr., future associate justice of the United States Supreme Court; William James, the father of modern American psychology; and Charles Sanders Peirce,

The Metaphysical Club is the winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for History.

A riveting, original book about the creation of modern American thought.

The Metaphysical Club was an informal group that met in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1872, to talk about ideas. Its members included Oliver Well Holmes, Jr., future associate justice of the United States Supreme Court; William James, the father of modern American psychology; and Charles Sanders Peirce, logician, scientist, and the founder of semiotics. The Club was probably in existence for about nine months. No records were kept. The one thing we know that came out of it was an idea -- an idea about ideas. This book is the story of that idea.

Holmes, James, and Peirce all believed that ideas are not things out there waiting to be discovered but are tools people invent -- like knives and forks and microchips -- to make their way in the world. They thought that ideas are produced not by individuals, but by groups of individuals -- that ideas are social. They do not develop according to some inner logic of their own but are entirely depent -- like germs -- on their human carriers and environment. And they thought that the survival of any idea depends not on its immutability but on its adaptability.

The Metaphysical Club is written in the spirit of this idea about ideas. It is not a history of philosophy but an absorbing narrative about personalities and social history, a story about America. It begins with the Civil War and ends in 1919 with Justice Holmes's dissenting opinion in the case of U.S. v. Abrams-the basis for the constitutional law of free speech. The first four sections of the book focus on Holmes, James, Peirce, and their intellectual heir, John Dewey. The last section discusses some of the fundamental twentieth-century ideas they are associated with. This is a book about a way of thinking that changed American life.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Published: 04/10/2002
ISBN: 9780374528492
Pages: 576
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.40w x 1.60d
Award: Pulitzer Prize - Winner

Review Citations: New York Times 04/28/2002 pg. 24
Business Week 07/01/2002 pg. 23
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SKU: 90173741061

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Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
My dogs favorite toy EVER
Color: Crinkle Chicken (Brown), Size: Large
I have a Belgian Malinois who loves any and every toy, but this one is definitely her favorite. She will walk around the house constantly carrying it in her mouth, which is honestly adorable to watch. The squeakers only lasted a couple of months, but I don’t really consider that a downside—I’m kind of grateful they didn’t last forever given how much she plays with it. It still remains one of her most-loved toys even without them. My only word of caution is that if you work from home, this toy makes a lot of crinkling noise. And I mean A LOT. It’s great for keeping the dog entertained, but it can definitely get a little frustrating for humans trying to focus or take calls. Overall, it’s been a big hit in our house and easily one of her favorite toys.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2026
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Amazon Customer
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Super cute
Color: Bunny (Mauve), Size: Small
Super cute and fuzzy. Definitely perfect size for a puppy and not too loud. The fur is very soft and the nose is sown on not a hard piece that can be chewed on. Very good quality too.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2026
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Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 4
Normally amazing
Color: Spiky Ball (Blue, Orange), Size: Medium
We have purchased these slightly spiky dog balls several times for our very strong jaw heavy chewer dogs and they’ve been amazing. They don’t break down they don’t get torn apart the squeakers don’t even pop out of them. So we ordered another package because we’ve lost a few outside to the lawnmower… oops and the package that got delivered today had only one ball that squeaks and the other does not. THIS IS A PROBLEM ! Unfortunately my female dog got to the new squeaking ball first and my male got to the non-squeaking ball and he was NOT happy. Basically once they claim a ball it’s theirs and the other dogs don’t go near the ball they claimed. So he’s following my female around and every time she squeaks the ball and I’m just waiting for him to attempt to take it from her causing damage to her. Normally… These are amazingly fun, tough, durable but also squeaking balls (that’s rare in a tough ball) that my dogs absolutely love. This time just got a bad batch I guess. When they squeak the dogs LOVE them. After several months of play the squeaker might break inside of the ball but the ball never comes apart or gets damaged. And we as the owners love that they don’t break down are not able to be ripped or torn even by our very strong jawed and big jaw muscle dogs. They are also great for in the house play because they’re small enough that they fit completely inside our dog‘s mouth but obviously not small enough to get swallowed so when we throw them in the house for fetch the dogs can jump up and catch them fully in their mouth so they don’t cause any damage to the walls when they hit the walls. They’re not super heavy but they’re incredibly durable. Definitely worth the price especially if you have heavy chewers or big jaw muscle dogs.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2026
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MADDY
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Best fun indestructible toy
Color: Crinkle Duck (Yellow), Size: Large
Truly indestructible no matter how much our oittie tries. She has owned it for three months works at destroying every day with no success. She carries it everywhere. Best purchase for chewer, more fun than the popular rubber heavy duty toy. Do not hesitate your pup will thank you for this fun distraction.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2026
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peter contino
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
My dog loves this toy!
Color: Bunny (Gray), Size: Large, Color: Bunny (Gray), Size: Large
High quality, big toy, perfect for a medium to large size dog. After a few months of serious chewing I had to buy another one, but well worth the money! Rocky loves it.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2026

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