Denis Diderot had enthusiastically endorsed the book: Percy Bysshe Shelley became an ardent atheist after reading The System of Nature, and proceeded to translate the book into English. According to Will Durant, the System of Nature contains the most comprehensive description of materialism and atheism in the entire history of philosophy. In his student days, Goethe had recoiled with revulsion at the contents in the book; in his old age he harbored similar views: "We belong to the laws of nature, even when we rebel against them." According to Voltaire, the book was very popular among the populace, including "scholars, the ignorant, and women". References External links The System of Nature--English translation 1770 books System of Nature Books critical of religion