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    How the West Won: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity
    How the West Won: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity
    How the West Won: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity
    Audiobook15 hours

    How the West Won: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity

    Written by Rodney Stark

    Narrated by Kevin Foley

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJun 27, 2014
    ISBN9781494572495
    Author

    Rodney Stark

    Rodney Stark is the Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University. His thirty books on the history and sociology of religion include The Rise of Christianity, Cities of God, For the Glory of God, Discovering God, and The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success. Stark received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

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    Reviews for How the West Won

    4.5/5

    66 ratings7 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Other reviewers fail to recognize that this is a compilation of many of Starks other books which dive more deeply into the different parts represented here. This is a broad overview and go elsewhere for more in depth argumentation.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      A must read. Clear, bold and persuasive. This may be Stark 's best book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      What made this book so great? Well, it was eye opening to say the least. I have never heard such a comprehensive and logical argument made toward the given subject. I think it was a very good read and I will highly recommend it to my friends and family.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Amazing! A must read, great antidote to lots of the foolishness being put forth by people in academia and media these days. So many interesting facts and lines of thought. I wish there were more of everything!
    • 2/5
      Thi Is a very conservative book! According to the author the roman period was a regress ,there was no dark ages , Christianity was a progressive force, the wipe out of indigenous population was not all bad etc.
      It managed to present some historical truth but then he twist the matter to fit hi agenda. The worst part is when it gets to the science it says "the science cannot explain the existence of God so science cannot explain everything"! what???
    • 4/5
      History as told by an abrasive, cranky old man, but interesting nonetheless.
    • 3/5
      This 2014 book says very strongly its conclusions, with many of which I agree, but they are definitely controversial and he usually cites a single book for his assertion, with often no page in the book cited. For instance, he asserts the fall of the Roman empire was a good thing. that the "Dark Ages" were not so dark. that the Crusades were indeed inspired by religion, not aggressive intentions, that the Protestant Reformation was not inspired by a wish for tolerance (Luther and Calvin were not heralds for toleration), etc. I doubt that anyone who disagrees with his claims will be persuaded and one gets the idea he supposes anyone who reads his book will agree with him so he does not have to marshal the vidence for his assertions. In other words he seems to take it for granted that he is preaching to the choir.