Alfred Rosenberg, one of the Nazi elite during WWII, was fascinated by the philosopher Spinoza, even though Spinoza was a Jew and Rosenberg a thorough anti-semite. Yalom describes the philosophical ideas of Spinoza in the 17th century and reflects ons the effect they had on Rosenberg in the 20th century. Fiction, of course, but super fascinating. Yalom makes philosophy sexy like no other author can imo.