How the West Was Lost

by Alexander Boot

What made the West 'western'? And, has Western civilisation found modernity but lost itself? This provocative and stimulating polemic argues that western culture and civilisation have been destroyed not only in, but indeed by, modernity. How the West Was Lost argues that all modern upheavals - the Reformation, the English, American, French and Russian Revolutions, the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, both World Wars - can only be understood if seen as resulting in an assault on the core values of the West. At its heart lies the belief that the central conflict of our time is cultural and that traditional culture and civilised society have been under attack ever since the Enlightenment. The author traces the development of Western civilisation from its origins - paradoxically in the East - and examines what he sees as its inexorable decline in all forms of art and all walks of life. He asks uncomfortable questions about politics, philosophy, psychology and religion and suggests answers which are provocative and unorthodox. This book is a bold and challenging attempt to present a new concept of modern history for our complacent times.
The results are often unexpected but always original and invigorating.

Genres: History

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Mano Chil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say I have never read such an analysis of the world before.

The author divides the world between westman and modman (philistine and nihilist) and how modman devised and strategised to destroy anything related to westman (Christianity, music, writing) and used a tactic called glossocracy.

[Mark Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best critiques of modern society I've ever read. It would take too much time to explain why ... read the book.