How the West Won

The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity

By: Rodney Stark

Narrated by: Kevin Foley

Modernity developed only in the West - in Europe and North America. Nowhere else did science and democracy arise; nowhere else was slavery outlawed. Only Westerners invented chimneys, musical scores, telescopes, eyeglasses, pianos, electric lights, aspirin, and soap. The question is, why? Unfortunately, that question has become so politically incorrect that most scholars avoid it. But acclaimed author Rodney Stark provides the answers in this sweeping new look at Western civilization.

How the West Won demonstrates the primacy of uniquely Western ideas - among them the belief in free will, the commitment to the pursuit of knowledge, the notion that the universe functions according to rational rules that can be discovered, and the emphasis on human freedom and secure property rights. How the West Won displays Stark's gifts for lively narrative history and making the latest scholarship accessible to all. This bold, insightful book will force you to rethink your understanding of the West and the birth of modernity - and to recognize that Western civilization really has set itself apart from other cultures.

©2014 Rodney Stark (P)2014 Tantor

Enlightening.

Enjoyed the balance administered to the secular narrative and its received orthodoxy. Let the debate between the competeing worldviews continue... I think Christ is best served and His program benefits... And His detractors appear guilty of the bigotry they so often try to incriminate others for.

best book ever.

Stark is one of the best at challenging the accepted status quo. He takes no prisoners in his history writing.

pulling back the curtain on hidden history.

Finally! A book that explains the "why" of Western superiority, power, freedom and modernity. Outstanding!

A needed assault on modern perceptions of history

Many have preconceived notions of how history unfolded and the West was (and is) a big, bad bully forcing our thoughts and beliefs on the smaller and poorer regions of the world. Rodney Stark turns this thinking on its head and would force even the staunchest of historical revisionists to question their beliefs about history.

very interesting. packed with info.

Great book. Need to listen to it twice as there is a lot of information to absorb.

Rodney Stark does it again. Amazing!

An incredible primer on the rise and success of Western civilization! I highly recommend this book.

Excellent!

The narration was very good, making the advance over the centuries to modern times exciting and captivating. This one of my favorite audio books.

How does Jessy Jackson get to decide who learns ?

It is sad when people decide what other people need to know , stealing potential knowledge of others out of jealousy,
It's too bad Western Civilization studies has been removed from universities, didn't Hitler and other monsters burn books so he could write his own version of history... this is a good book!

Another point of view.

If you could sum up How the West Won in three words, what would they be?

How the West Won is the story of Christendom. Stark takes us through the period of Greek thought and its meeting with Christianity in what he calls: The Roman Interlude. He points out that Rome acted more like a protection racket than an actual ruling entity. Moving from uncovering the continuation of scientific thought in the Middle Ages and Renaissance to influence of Christianity in the ages of Discovery and the Enlightenment, Stark shows that Christendom's unique understanding of God and creation compelled its thinkers to keep discovering. Most importantly he shows that it was because of Christendom, rather than inspite of it, that the West was able to accomplish so much more. Key to all of this is a notion of freedom that was not extant elsewhere in the world.

What did you like best about this story?

I appreciated Stark looking at the data and asking questions of the accepted thinking. Many this day and age do a good job questioning thinking without looking at all the data.

What does Kevin Foley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He does a fine job and conveys the text very well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I appreciated the inclusion of Robert Woodberry's study about missions. I couldn't believe it myself when I heard it; but Stark isn't exaggerating when he declares it to be one of the most questioned and re-examined studies. It holds up. It says a lot about Christianity that it has led to such amazing advances far from the Western roots.

Any additional comments?

At times Stark can push his point farther than all the history might suggest. Yet, in an Aristotelian way he is trying to counteract the poor scholarship and biases shown by people who hold to a secular metanarrative. On the whole Mr. Stark's bias is only really perceived because he doesn't tow the academic line. Ultimately one should read this book (or listen in this case) in addition to other viewpoints as well.

A must read!

Learn the facts about Western cultural development before you regurgitate what you have learned since the 1970's from largely West despising left-wing fable prevaricators' tales of Western bullying and self-interested greed. The blame the West (and especially America) crowd probably despises this truthful account, but facts speak louder than lies.