"A refreshing and very stimulating read, covering a vast canvas in an effortless way." -- Sir Anthony Seldon, British political biographer "Lively, interesting, and very well researched, weaving together a tapestry of anecdote and achievement, full of life's color and texture." -- Peter Mandler, Professor of Modern Cultural History, University of Cambridge "Richard McLauchlan revives with gusto the rich connected stories of this extraordinary family. A wonderful weaving together of so many brightly colored threads." -- Sir Tim Hitchens, President of Wolfson College, University of Oxford "An engaging and uplifting account of one of Britain's greatest intellectual dynasties." -- Brendan Simms, Professor of the History of International Relations, University of Cambridge, and author of Britain's Europe "A story that needed telling: the achievements of the extraordinary and eccentric Haldane family are woven into the past two centuries of British history." -- Sir Roderic Lyne, former British Ambassador to Russia "A great read. The female Haldanes in particular are an object lesson in what women can achieve, whatever obstacles are put in their way, yet also of how higher education transformed possibilities for women in the course of just a few generations.

" -- Alison Rose, Principal of Newnham College, University of Cambridge "The Haldane family is a phenomenon to this day. Now their achievements have been chronicled by Richard McLauchlan, whose book Serious Minds charts their astonishing range. Remarkable." -- The Times "In this ambitious biography Richard McLauchlan looks back over two centuries and explores the Haldane family's influence on British law, politics, science and social welfare. McLauchlan tells their stories with verve." -- TLS "[A] riveting biography." -- Morning Star "Superbly researched . this excellent family history effortlessly weaves its way through two centuries of societal change.

" -- Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine.