I'll second this. It's both thorough and accessible. Sounds like a good fit for what OP is looking for. At any rate, I think that it is a question of which his

I'll second this. It's both thorough and accessible. Sounds like a good fit for what OP is looking for. At any rate, I think that it is a question of which history of philosophy the OP reads rather than a book on any one philosophy in particular based on his original post...unless he really wants to get back with his friend on that nihilism comment...