Civilization: The West and the Rest

In 1412, Europe was a miserable backwater while the Orient was home to dazzling civilizations. However, the West came to dominate the Rest for most of the next half millennium due to six killer applications: competition, science, property rights, medicine, consumerism, and the work ethic. Niall Ferguson's book explores whether we still have these winning tools or if this is the end of Western ascendancy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 07 June 2018
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Winner of the Estoril Global Issues Distinguished Book Prize 2013, this book explores the remarkable transformation of Europe and the Orient over the past five centuries. While Europe was plagued by plague, poor sanitation, and constant warfare, the Orient was home to dazzling civilizations. However, despite these disparities, the West managed to dominate the Rest for most of the next half millennium. In this insightful and compelling work, Niall Ferguson identifies six key factors that contributed to Western ascendancy: competition, science, property rights, medicine, consumerism, and the work ethic. He questions whether we still possess these winning tools or if the end of Western dominance is imminent.

Written with wit and virtuosity, the book is filled with memorable lines and fascinating bits of information. It has received critical acclaim from various publications, including The Times, Economist, Daily Telegraph, Independent, and Financial Times. The book is described as a dazzling history of Western ideas, an epic narrative, and a vivid and fascinating exploration of history. Ferguson's writing style is praised for its sharpness and urgency, and he is commended for his ability to twist his knife with great literary brio.

Overall, this is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of global power and the factors that have shaped the world we live in today.

Weight: 354g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780141987934