A Short History of Freethought Ancient and Modern, Volume 1 of 2 Third edition, Revised and Expanded, in two volumes

"A Short History of Freethought Ancient and Modern, Volume 1 of 2" by J. M. Robertson, is a journey through time, exploring how free and critical thinking has emerged and changed in different societies. The book examines the beginnings of questioning traditional beliefs, the growth of doubt, and the relationship between reason and faith, all while stressing the importance of thinking for yourself. It starts by looking at the word "freethought" itself, along with related words, and how they were used, especially in England in the late 1600s. The author points out that not many writers who were freethinkers themselves have written about its history. By doing this, the book gets ready for a investigation into what makes people think freely, seeing it as a response to what society expects and a push for the right to think independently. Robertson prepares to follow freethought's path through different cultures and eras in the following chapters.