As my curiosity about philosophy grew, I discovered in the writings of philosopher Baruch Spinoza the same ideas about God, nature, free will, and joy which I had embraced independently: God is nature, there is no free will, and the meaning of life is to enjoy it. Nietzsche once joked that Spinoza wrote as if Athena herself imparted her wisdom to him. I agreed, but to me, it was no joke; I felt her calling to me through these ideas.