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Max Forrester Eastman was an American writer on literature, philosophy and society, a poet, and a prominent political activist. For many years, Eastman was a supporter of socialism, a leading patron of the Harlem Renaissance and an activist for a number of liberal and radical causes. In later life, however, his views turned sharply, and he became an advocate of free market economics and an anti-Communist.
A prolific writer, Eastman published more than twenty books on subjects as diverse as the scientific method, humor, Freudian psychology and Soviet culture. He composed five volumes of poetry, a novel and translated into English some of the work of Alexander Pushkin. For the Modern Library, he edited and abridged Marx' Das Kapital.
Interesting observations by the author of famous friends & acquaintances. Sometimes it comes across as name-dropping and a little irritating - he implies that he provided the spark for Einstein's acceptance of quantum theory - but it does provide interesting insights. I was a little surprised to see that Santayana was still a fan of Mussolini after the war. The chapter on John Dewey is wonderful.