Was Voltaire a good guy? Actually, he was a jerk.

Voltaire sets up his paper tiger then, with characteristic cynicism, proceeds with his pornographic mockery. He dishes up sarcasm and criticism for every institution he considers, but naturally provides no positive alternatives. If you somehow like the failed rantings of an over-esteemed, conceited 18th century "philosopher" then you'll line up with everyone else to robotically sing his praises. I, like others, had to read his tripe for college, but I refused to laud the man. He is a bigmouthed loser who gets away with it just because he's brilliant. Voltaire's message is empty; he gave us nothing, excepting the guillotine. If the book had been written in 2010 no one would even publish it. Voltaire is intellectual cancer.