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Title details for How the West Won by Rodney Stark - Available

How the West Won

The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity

by Rodney Stark
Kevin Foley
Audiobook
2 of 2 copies available
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2 of 2 copies available
Modernity developed only in the West—in Europe and North America. Nowhere else did science and democracy arise; nowhere else was slavery outlawed. Only Westerners invented chimneys, musical scores, telescopes, eyeglasses, pianos, electric lights, aspirin, and soap. The question is, why? Unfortunately, that question has become so politically incorrect that most scholars avoid it. But acclaimed author Rodney Stark provides the answers in this sweeping new look at Western civilization.


How the West Won demonstrates the primacy of uniquely Western ideas—among them the belief in free will, the commitment to the pursuit of knowledge, the notion that the universe functions according to rational rules that can be discovered, and the emphasis on human freedom and secure property rights. How the West Won displays Stark's gifts for lively narrative history and making the latest scholarship accessible to all. This bold, insightful book will force you to rethink your understanding of the West and the birth of modernity—and to recognize that Western civilization really has set itself apart from other cultures.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 27, 2014

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781494522490
      • File size: 444253 KB
      • Duration: 15:25:31

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Kevin Foley's narration pulls in listeners as Stark delves into a question that is often deemed politically incorrect: how and why Western World has achieved cultural primacy over the last millennia and why it matters to see that as a purposeful series of events rather than a collection of accidents, mistakes, and luck. The author credits the West for its developments with regard to individual freedoms and the pursuit of knowledge and rationality. Foley's deep, clear voice adds a level of weight to the book, and his rhythmic cadence and engaging tone keep the material engaging. Stark's prose is complemented by Foley's assured delivery. L.E. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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