War and Human Progress: An Essay on the Rise of Industrial Civilization

by John U. Nef

This is in many respects perhaps the most important book that has been published recently. Its intellectual integrity, its humane pathos, its analytical force are exceptional. The title gives only an inadequate indication of the contents; it is at the same time an economic, technological, and cultural history of the rise of industrial civilization. This history is focused on the interconnection between war and industrial and technological progress--a single-mindedness of purpose which breaks through the well-established framework of traditional historiography and opens new insights into the period. --Herbert Marcuse, The American Historical Review

Genres: History, War

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

Reviews

[Arturo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arguably one of the most important books written in the 20th century. And a scream of late Christian conscience. Nothing I am aware of comes even close to it in the domain of academic historical essays.