Civilization

The West and the Rest

By: Niall Ferguson

Narrated by: Niall Ferguson

Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The rise to global predominance of Western civilization is the single most important historical phenomenon of the past five hundred years. All over the world, an astonishing proportion of people now work for Western-style companies, study at Western-style universities, vote for Western-style governments, take Western medicines, wear Western clothes, and even work Western hours. Yet six hundred years ago the petty kingdoms of Western Europe seemed unlikely to achieve much more than perpetual internecine warfare. It was Ming China or Ottoman Turkey that had the look of world civilizations. How did the West overtake its Eastern rivals? And has the zenith of Western power now passed?

In Civilization: The West and the Rest, bestselling author Niall Ferguson argues that, beginning in the fifteenth century, the West developed six powerful new concepts that the Rest lacked: competition, science, the rule of law, consumerism, modern medicine, and the work ethic.

©2011 Niall Ferguson (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Thought-provoking and possibly controversial." ( Library Journal)

Weak Analysis

This book provides some interesting history but is extremely weak in distilling principles, causality, and predictions. For the latter, it reminded me of listening to the theories of old uncle Phil (a butcher) while we drank beer in the backyard on pleasant summer evenings.

Good book, terrible performance decision

The book itself was very enjoyable and informative. The author’s reading was also great, but as many have noted, the use of random other voices for quotations, often with accents that make no sense, was unnecessary and very distracting

The West rapidly becoming rest?

While not necessarily agreeing with all of Ferguson's assumptions and paradigms, "Civilization" does an excellent job of giving the listener a context in which our current economic problems are really allowing past "Western Excellence" in what he defines as "six killer apps" entropy--by all sorts of moral decay, while other nations, are adopting those apps and making them the basis of expanding economic growth.

Ferguson's narration and various voices of his quotations bring the book to life.

The usual inciteful and challenging Ferguson

Where does Civilization rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the better overall studies of history.

What did you like best about this story?

Challenging thoughts and theories that support his conclusions and play to my personal bias in many areas.

What about Niall Ferguson’s performance did you like?

Perhaps a better narrator than he is an author. In reading his own work we know that the tone is perfect.

Outstanding & sobering

Exceeded my expectations. Even though it confirmed my expectation of American collapse, it was enlightening. I highly recommend this book.

West Culture explain!

The author give a very good explanations of how the western culture became to be, working very well with the intricate links of history. Some opinions where not worth giving but informative after all. Very recommended for the globalist in you!

Among the best

Well written, well red. It's interesting since the beginning, and doesn't go around the same few concepts as in many books.

Fast paced and interesting book

The book was interesting. The information was mostly presented in a fresh way, though not all of it was exactly new to me. I have read Guns, Germs and Steel to which Ferguson refers several times, but this wasn't a rehash of that book. There were some ideas in common and the one that I found a bit annoying was the comparison of civilizations to "apps" as in apps for the iPhone. But the comparison gets the point across.

This book hardly changed my world view, but it was an interesting and pleasant listen.

Thoughtful and thought-provoking

Well researched, and narrated. Interesting original thinking, not constrained by current PC trends Quotations were poorly read, otherwise great to listen to.

good book and solid reasoning.

is a wonderful read. highlights points i had not thought of. provided wonderfull insight to the rise of Western culture.