Why the West Rules for Now
#1385 of 2,654 all-time
Why the West Rules for Now
Ian Morris
5 people recommended it in 4 threads, 2016–2019.
What people on Hacker News said
I had learned the history of certain periods in certain locations but this book brought it all together into a cohesive narrative. Highly recommended if you want to start inquiring into history but don't know where to start.
Grand unified theory of history, focusing on the cyclic patterns of challenge that societies face as they push against hard ceiling of development using their existing methods, and have to innovate to break through, or spiral downward into a dark ages.
Why the West Rules for Now - broad coverage of human history, starting with pre-human hominids.
If GG&S changed the way you think, I'd highly recommend following it up with either the book from that review (Eric Wolf's "Europe and the People without History") or Ian Morris's "Why The West Rules, For Now".
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List? 2018 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Summer Reading List 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift? 2016 · 1 recommendation