Synopses & Reviews
Ever since the attacks of September 11, 2001, Western leaders have described a world engaged in "a fight for civilization." But what do we mean by civilization? We believe in a Western tradition of freedom that has produced a fulfilling existence for many millions of people and a culture of enormous depth and creative power. But the history of our civilization is also filled with unspeakable brutality'"for every Leonardo there is a Mussolini, for every Beethoven symphony a concentration camp, for every Chrysler Building a My Lai massacre.
An ambitious historical assessment of the Western world'"tying together the histories of empires, art, philosophy, science, and politics'"Civilizationreexamines and confronts us with all of our glories and catastrophes. At such a dangerous time in the world's history, this brilliant book is required reading.
Synopsis
Ever since the attacks of September 11, 2001, Western leaders have described a world engaged in "a fight for civilization." But what do we mean by civilization? We believe in a Western tradition of freedom that has produced a fulfilling existence for many millions of people and a culture of enormous depth and creative power. But the history of our civilization is also filled with unspeakable brutality--for every Leonardo there is a Mussolini, for every Beethoven symphony a concentration camp, for every Chrysler Building a My Lai massacre. An ambitious historical assessment of the Western world--tying together the histories of empires, art, philosophy, science, and politics-- reexamines and confronts us with all of our glories and catastrophes. At such a dangerous time in the world's history, this brilliant book is required reading.
Synopsis
An ambitious historical assessment of the Western world tying together the histories of empires, art, philosophy, science, and politicsCivilization reexamines and confronts us with all of our glories and catastrophes. At such a dangerous time in the world's history, this brilliant book is required reading. "
Synopsis
"It would be hard to imagine a more readable general history of the West that covers so much ground so incisively."--William Grimes,
About the Author
For many years Roger Osborne worked as an editor in the London publishing world, first at Macmillan and then Faber & Faber, specializing in books on medicine, psychology, and the history of science. Since 1992 he has been a full-time writer, using particular subjects to demonstrate new ways of understanding the past. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society and lives in Yorkshire.