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drbobcornwall's review
5.0
I read the book on the recommendation of a friend who is both Muslim and a scholar who pays great attention to the current situation in our world. The book seeks to help us understand the ongoing crises, including terrorism of our day, by putting things in a larger context. It would seem that many of the foundations for the current anarchist, nationalist, and terrorist actions have roots in 19th century European developments, including philosophical ones, that have echoes today.
Worth the read! It may open eyes to why things are taking place, and how they're neither nor new. One thing the author notes is that it is the absence/rejection of religion that leads to instability, which authoritarian figures take advantage of.
Worth the read! It may open eyes to why things are taking place, and how they're neither nor new. One thing the author notes is that it is the absence/rejection of religion that leads to instability, which authoritarian figures take advantage of.
nickjagged's review
5.0
Incredibly thought-provoking while still remaining accessible. Highly worthwhile.
moris_deri's review
3.0
This book is a bit difficult to read. The writer is ambitious with his ideas and it ended up confusing me more than it explained. It tries to offer an alternative narrative to the mainstream account of enlightenment associated with Europe as a civilization. It forces readers to realign their views of how "development" supposedly liberates the poor only to end up inciting resentment and instigating tension. The author seems to enjoy dropping big names in order to sound intellectual, and thus this book is not for the uninitiated. I would recommend reading this after (not before) David Cannadine's Undivided Past, as there seems to be a logical link between the two.
DNF, but I want to. It is an interesting read in spite of me.
DNF, but I want to. It is an interesting read in spite of me.
antigonus's review
4.0
Age of Anger is a complicated book to summarize — it is also a tough one to read. I spent a lot of time trying to pigeonhole the narrative into traditional frameworks like Left vs Right, Democracy vs Authoritarianism, and Fascism vs Socialism. Upon reflection, this was the wrong way to go about things.
Instead, Age of Anger creates an entirely new framework of understanding our current socio-political moment; one which does not easily adhere to the familiar narrative of mass shooters being inspired by extremist ideologies or interpretations of religious scripture, one which does not prescribe the recent rise of demagogues to racism or economic dissatisfaction alone.
The framework put forward here examines a particular period in time and location, 18th and 19th century Europe, to show how the socio-economic conditions experienced by an individual then are very similar to what we are experiencing right now. Although the two scenarios aren’t an exact match, the author brings forth the similarities in a convincing fashion, all the while taking us through opinions put forth by the greatest thinkers of that age. As a consequence of globalization, the paths through which Asian revolutionaries ‘borrowed’ ideas from their European brethren are also traced to better understand the current political situation in India.
The conclusion provided by Age of Anger is not simple or direct or easy to digest. This makes my recommendation all the more easier: be ready to read this book more than once.
Instead, Age of Anger creates an entirely new framework of understanding our current socio-political moment; one which does not easily adhere to the familiar narrative of mass shooters being inspired by extremist ideologies or interpretations of religious scripture, one which does not prescribe the recent rise of demagogues to racism or economic dissatisfaction alone.
The framework put forward here examines a particular period in time and location, 18th and 19th century Europe, to show how the socio-economic conditions experienced by an individual then are very similar to what we are experiencing right now. Although the two scenarios aren’t an exact match, the author brings forth the similarities in a convincing fashion, all the while taking us through opinions put forth by the greatest thinkers of that age. As a consequence of globalization, the paths through which Asian revolutionaries ‘borrowed’ ideas from their European brethren are also traced to better understand the current political situation in India.
The conclusion provided by Age of Anger is not simple or direct or easy to digest. This makes my recommendation all the more easier: be ready to read this book more than once.
ria_mhrj's review against another edition
3.0
I turned to books in these crazy times, to make sense of the world. This wasn't quite the inspiring provider of clarity I was hoping for - it was meticulously researched, but I sometimes felt that the quotes choked out the meaning or the themes. Weirdly, I felt The Fate of the Tearling spoke best to these turbulent times. Still, something I can take away is that we need to build a better world and think of the many instead of focusing on the interests of the few.
shulmaniel's review
4.0
1. Puts the chaotic, anti-technocratic, anti-elite, seemingly exhausted modern world in historical perspective.
2. Seemingly doesn't offer any way out, except by inference: the last time this happened, in the mid- to late-19th century, it only ended with World War I, sooooo …
3. Annoyingly over-written.
4. Makes me want to go back and read Rousseau, Nietzsche, etc.
2. Seemingly doesn't offer any way out, except by inference: the last time this happened, in the mid- to late-19th century, it only ended with World War I, sooooo …
3. Annoyingly over-written.
4. Makes me want to go back and read Rousseau, Nietzsche, etc.
shad_reads's review
4.0
Ambitious in scope, but hence also a bit disorganised. He jumps back and forth across time frame and geography to draw links, but I found this confusing half the time. Nevertheless, it was fascinating, and I now know more about European history and philosophy, and can see myself reading this again.