Will Durant

William James "Will" Durant (/dəˈrænt/, November 5, 1885 - November 7, 1981) was an American writer, historian, and philosopher. Will Durant received higher education at St. Peter's College and Columbia University in the United States. He later entered Columbia University to study biology and studied philosophy under the guidance of the famous American philosopher John Dewey. He received a doctorate from Columbia University in 1917. He is best known for his 11-volume The Story of Civilization, written with his wife Ariel Durant from 1935 to 1975. His early well-known work was "The Story of Philosophy" published in 1926, which was described as "a seminal work that helped to promote philosophy." "Falling Leaves" was his last book before his death. This book was still being written until the day before his death. Will Durant was 96 years old at the time. Durant won the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction and the 1977 Presidential Medal of Freedom.