Age of Revolutions

Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present

By: Fareed Zakaria

Narrated by: Fareed Zakaria

Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

The internationally bestselling author explores the revolutions—past and present—that define the chaotic, polarized, and unstable age in which we live.

Populist rage, ideological fracture, economic and technological shocks, geopolitical dangers, and an international system studded with catastrophic risk—the early decades of the 21st century may be one of the most revolutionary periods in modern history. But they are not the first. Humans have lived, and thrived, through more than one great realignment. What makes an age a revolutionary one? And how do they end?

In this major new work, Fareed Zakaria masterfully investigates eras that have shattered and shaped humanity. Four such periods hold profound lessons for today. First, in 17th-century Netherlands a series of transformations made that tiny land the richest in the world—and created modern politics as we know it today. The “Glorious Revolution” in Britain showed that major political change could happen peacefully. Next, the French Revolution, a dramatic decade and a half that devoured its ideological children and left a bloody legacy that haunts us to this day. Finally, the mother of all revolutions, the Industrial Revolution, which catapulted Britain and the US to global dominance and created the modern world. Against these paradigm-shifting historical eras, Zakaria describes our current situation, unpacking the four revolutions we are living through now; in globalization, technology, identity, and geopolitics.

As few public intellectuals can, Zakaria combines intellectual range, deep historical insight, and uncanny prescience to reframe and illuminate a turbulent present.

©2024 Fareed Zakaria (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Solid analysis

This is a solid argument based on good history. It probably helps that I found a lot to agree with.

Excellent book

Enjoyed and learned every chapter
History of revolutions and evolutions. Taught me a lot. Missing latin American revolutions.

Wonderful audio

I love listening to Fareed speak. You can see that is genuinely excited about his ideas. Book is beautifully and thoughtfully written and researched. It is easy to listen to even for the lay person or someone who doesn’t know much about politics.

Brilliant book, brilliantly read!

I usually shudder when authors read their own work, as it is often the case that the job is better left for professionals. Thankfully, Mr Zakaria knows how to deliver an enjoyable listening experience.

If you enjoyed “Why Nations Fail” (Acemoglu and Robinson) or “The Righteous Mind” (Haidt), you will love this book.

Wonderful Historic Context

Felt like I was climbing stairs to the current state. The conclusion, I think, uses a phrase that should be the title of Zakaria's next book; The Third Way.

The quality of content and Narrative.

I loved listening to this. I always learn something from Fareed, and although I despise looking back on history, but since we humans are so good at repeating it, we have to. All I can say is, Fareed for president!!!

his comprehensive perceptions

this book looks through the last four centuries of various cultural and political philosophies and shows how they each intermixed and caused reactions on the other side.

Wonderful Book

Just the facts well delivered with grace and style. I highly recommend this book. Thank you.

Excellent

The author was able to bring together multiple different stories into a cohesive organized understanding of modern history. From the multiple sources quoted the author has meticulously crafted and understandable and thoughtful of the forces that have resulted in the modern world. This is a book that was long overdue. It is historical and entertaining, which is a rarity in my experience. I hope that anyone who listens to Joyce said as much as I did.

Compelling

Excellent book. I expect nothing less from this author. The book gave me a lot to think about.