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The author of this new study of the French enlightenment, Philipp Blom, previously has written an extensive study of Diderot's Encyclopedie, as well as "The Vertigo Years" covering some European intellectual developments during 1900-1914. This book is basically a study of the intellectual circle anchored in dinners held at the Paris home of Baron Paul Thierry Holbach between the 1750's and the 1770's. The French enlightenment has developed into a somewhat interesting and lively topic since Gertrude Himmelfarb wrote a controversial attack on it in 2004, rather unfavorably comparing it with the British enlightenment. Among the individuals discussed are Diderot, Rousseau, David Hume, Buffon, Helevetius, Descartes, Spinoza, not all members of the group but folks whose views impacted on the group's discussions.I think the great advantage of this book is that it does not just lay out some of the important intellectual positions of the group. Even the best written analyses of such ideas can become a bit overwhelming after a while. Here instead, Blom has portrayed the group as individuals, giving us an understanding of them as persons, as they interacted together, and I found this approach much more lively and interesting. A "Glossary of Protagonists" facilitates keeping all of these individuals straight. The book runs some 319 pages of text, 16 pages of endnotes, and includes a three-page very selective bibliography.Himmelfarb argued that the French enlightenment was far too radical--and there is much to support that view here. Strict empiricism led to a vigorous anti-Christian, atheist orientation. Materialism prevailed as the dominant approach. Also at work was an evolutionary philosophy, way ahead of the later Darwin. Utilitarian ideas were also embraced. The substitution of scientific truth for God was well developed, although Hume disputed their faith that progress would lead to perfection. Nor did the Baron himself trust scientific empiricism over the senses--his goal was the maximization of "refined" pleasure and the enhancement of passion.With such a cantankerous group, there was bound to be spirited disagreement as well. Blom particularly focuses upon Rousseau, who needed some Deist-like structure to hold on to, and consequently was not ready to jettison religion completely. JJR also felt that reason could generate tyranny, and expressed ideas which were similar to the on-coming Romantic movement. Though not a member, Voltaire also could be extremely critical of the group's ideas.In a concluding chapter, the author discusses why he believes the group's ideas soon faded in prominence, what he terms a "stolen revolution." Principally he points to some remarkably timid leaders of the French revolution as being behind this. The "stolen revolution" thesis is interesting, since Himmelfarb argued that liberal academics had underplayed the significance of the British enlightenment in favor of the French. Writing solid intellectual history that is both informative and interesting is quite a challenge; the author has met it in this fine book.