New Delhi, March 19 -- Some thinkers write primarily for academics, while others speak to a wider audience. Will Durant clearly belonged to the latter group. He committed his life to the task of simplifying complex concepts, so as to make them more accessible, interesting, and relevant to the common reader. His work served to translate academic philosophy and history for the layman reader, satisfying his natural curiosity about such matters.

Will Durant is best known for co-authoring with his wife, Ariel Durant, the landmark eleven-volume series The Story of Civilization. The series, which was published between 1935 and 1975, delved into the evolution of both Eastern and Western civilisations over centuries. They (the Durants) received t...