First and Last Things
by H. G. Wells
- First published
- 1908
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"First and Last Things: A Confession of Faith and Rule of Life" by H. G. Wells is a philosophical work published in 1908. Divided into four books, Wells presents his beliefs on metaphysics, conduct, and human purpose. He embraces skepticism while declaring an "arbitrary" faith in humanity's emerging solidarity. The work develops a rule of life centered on socialism and contains provocative views on love, marriage, and modern warfare. Written during personal turmoil, it reflects influences from Darwin, pragmatism, and discussions with his lover, Cambridge philosophy student Amber Reeves.
- Conduct of life
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #4225. First and Last Things on Wikipedia.
