Gotthold Ephraim Lessing 
Die Erziehung des Menschengeschlechts 

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing’s ’Die Erziehung des Menschengeschlechts’ is a seminal work in the field of German Enlightenment literature. This epistolary treatise, written in 1780, seeks to educate humanity on the path to enlightenment and moral improvement. Lessing’s concise and clear writing style reflects the rationalist ideals of the Enlightenment, making complex philosophical ideas accessible to a wider audience. The book is a reflection of its time, engaging with the intellectual debates and social concerns of 18th-century Germany.