How the West Won: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity

Modernity developed only in the Westmdashin 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 ideasmdashamong 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 Starks 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 modernitymdashand to recognize that Western civilization really has set itself apart from other cultures.