I really enjoyed, a few years ago, Charles(?) Kennedy "the rise and fall of
the great powers" and "facing the 21th century". Both excellent for
geopolitcs/history.
>From: "matthew gream" <matthewgream@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: extropians@extropy.org
>To: extropians@extropy.org
>CC: matthew.gream@pobox.com
>Subject: Good reading material - books on global history
>Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 08:51:11 GMT
>
>[ Non-member submission ]
>
>Perhaps I can appeal to the collective brains trust of readers on this list
>for suggestions of good reading material covering 'where the world has come
>to, and possibly where it is going', especially by authors and
>intellectuals
>that have a broader view of history, and not too much technological myopia.
>Personally I am trying to escape my technological parochialism and get a
>clearer picture of where technology fits into the direction of society (my
>professional concerns are with a general picture of technology and
>society).
>
>So far I have read the following:
>
>1. Manuel Castells - The Information Age ... magnum opus from a long time
>scholar which a more socialist perspective on globalisation, who develops
>important concepts and perspectives on the way that peoples and cultures
>are
>being organised globally, and particular pressure points and issues that
>may
>continue to shape future events, based on years of pragmatic research and
>investigation.
>
>2. Thomas Friedman - The Lexus and the Olive Tree ... pulitzer prize
>winning
>author writes something of a pop book on globalisation by appealing to
>popularist notions of McDonalds and well known global brands and products,
>generally centered around the power of the financial markets and the
>economic dimension of globalisation as it impacts on the way people live.
>
>3. J.M. Roberts - The Penguin History of the Twentieth Century ... well
>known and accomplisted historian writes on the twentieth century as a
>cronological tale of major structures and forces prevelant around the world
>prior to 1901, and then the developments across the globe as events shaped
>and developed across the century with a strong sense of concepts and
>structures.
>
>What I have not read so far (but intend to) is:
>
>4. Jacques Barzun - From Dawn to Decadence : 500 years of Western Cultural
>Life, 1500 to the Present
>5. David Reynolds - One World Divisible : A Global History Since 1945
>
>This is amidst a mix of other things, including sci fi, pop futurism, and
>so
>on.
>
>Further suggestions ? Comments ? Hopefully any suggestions will be for the
>wider benefit of readers, not just myself.
>
>Best regards,
>Sir Matthew the Wanker.
>Year 2000 Sabbatical
>Roma, Italia.
>
>
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