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Summary: From Dawn to Decadence
Review: A couple years ago I had read Barzun's "Teacher in America" and enjoyed it immensely. When I saw this book, I grabbed it. This is a terrific book, a tour de force. I had been a science & engineering major and therefore more than a little light on the humanities. Barzun writes in an artful, entertaining, yet informative style. This book should be the text of a mandatory lower division humanities course for every university in America. Barzun's latest is a wonderful antidote to the detractors of Western Civ and the proponents of content-free "studies of XXX" courses now offered.I'm buying a second copy for my college-bound daughter.
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Summary: The Best Book on the Subject
Review: I find myself rereading From Dawn to Decadence every year since it was published. In fact, browsing a book store, I am regularly tempted to buy more copies. It is, without question, one of the best books in recent memory. One comes away with new insight from every sentence. It is simply a thrilling read. In contrast other massive works such as the Penguin History of the World, Barzun is a genius with clarity. Barzun fills From Dawn to Decadence with colorful anecdotes and quotes to spark the imagination. Not only all this, but Barzun is right about his thesis on the Modern Era. Excellent.
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Summary: Historically Enlightened
Review: OK,a HISTORY text of this length is a challenge. But the depth & scope are so thoughtfully displayed--it creates a sense that there is indeed-- actually some pattern amidst the chaos & madness. Life, legacy and self-examination often become overwhelming. This book cuts through the bog of self-doubt and frustration. It provides a path thru the journey of who we are and where we're going--by clearing discussing where we've been. I know it's good, when I find myself picking it up to browse again and again. I know it's great when I am compelled to recommend it to others.
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Summary: A WITHERING LEAF
Review: If we allow ourselves to be trapped between the jaws of our imagination and our reality -- between that better world we dream of and the worse one we inhabit -- we may find our condition a very unsatisfactory one; and one of our traditional compensation is to look down on history, at all those cultural vacuums humans have failed to fill in with their mental activity. Our human world may seem cruel and brief; but in the rest of nature at least it is worse. This consolation does not bear close scrutiny, for what is revealed then is not a universe of hazard-bestowed privilege, one in which man stands highest on the ladder of luck, but one in which there reigns a mysterious balance and equality among all the forms of animate matter. I believe this book tries to show five centuries of human comparative pleasure in existing in a descending scale of mental decadence... perhaps this is even happening right now. Where does cultural future lay? Is the Western World withering away as the cultural desert advances? Who will take the lead--- Africa, East Asia, Mars?
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Summary: An Intellectual Tour de Force
Review: This is obviously a rather long book, as one of the other reviewers noted. Still, it packs more information and reflection into its pages than any other work I can recall. One of the nicest attributes is that one can pick it up at any time or place and read 10 or 20 pages with real profit. It is an education for all ages and levels of schooling and reveals many of the treasures that were lost with the demise of Western Civ courses. Prof. Barzun does something only a few writers accomplish: he makes the great minds of our tradition (and he probably qualifies for this group as well) seem like friends and acquaintances (sometimes not good ones). This is a book that makes the reader a better and more accomplished person for the effort...
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Summary: A Literal Time Machine!
Review: This book is a real treasure. Although over 800 pages in length, every page is illuminating. I may read it again believe it or not. Everything today seems confusing. We don't know why or what. But when you see how everything has a cause, as this author brillantly shows, we can virtually "see" how we got where we are today. Buy the book and feel yourself grow! After reading this book, everything around you will seem different. Like looking through new glasses. Get ready for a 500-year-ride!
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Summary: History for the uninitiated
Review: "I HATE history!" my friend said as he lifted this book from my coffee table and began casually thumbing through it. An hour later he had not put it down yet. To someone who is bored by history this is the book to spark their interest. To a student of history, this is like a 500 year buffet, you just don't know what to put on your plate! A great way to kill a day. By no means exhaustive, but I was surprised how much info can be put into an 800 page book covering 500 years.
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Summary: 800 pages which move as quickly as 200
Review: Although my first love is reading about American history, an understanding of all the main events of Western Society since the discovery of America provided a very valuable read for me. For example, by understanding the Protestant Reformation better, religious movements in colonial America are put into better perspective. When I open a book of 800 or so pages, my first thought is "Oh Lord, how am I going to plow through this?" However, this book is so enthralling that it moves as quickly as a short novel. I find the type of writing in this book to be absolutely captivating.. the writing I refer to is that which has a point of view but is not the product of an idealogue. The author states an intelligent point of view, throughout, certainly one which can be disagreed with, but certainly reasonable and thoughtful. Barzun is like the great historian Paul Johnson in that he is able to weave biographical information of key historical figures as well as in depth coverage of culture, religion, economics, philosophy etc. Additionally, this is a history of real people, not just a survey of wars and great men/women. In this respect, the book is like Johnson's "The Birth of the Modern," and "History of the American People." Finally, I must point out that although a review stated that his viewpoint is generally conservative, he makes numerous points which would find agreement among leftists. True he defends Western culture and is wary of political correctness. However, he is not an obssessed idealogue and, as for example in his discussion of religious development, he offers observations which might offend traditionalists. Although he may, in fact, be generally conservative, I don't think his views are easily subject to labels. If you are interested in world events, this survey of the last half millenium is 5 stars plus! And, if you are interested in America, the development of world events in a time period coinciding with the development of the New World is a must. I highly recommend this book for all history lovers.
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Summary: thorough and sensible
Review: Barzun's work is at once entertaining and analytical. Although one may at first be skeptical about the accidental relationship between the themes he compares, Barzun ultimately runs full circle by articulating a cultural commonality, a narrative thread to the past 500 years. There are a thousand lanes in the literary city which Barzun erects: at each there is a scene which relates a unique persona, odd events, and concrete specifics of the ages. Although disparate, these events, ideas, and persons which Barzun covers are by no means inconsequential. Barzun argues (successfully, in my own view, judge for yourself) that several dominant themes and tendencies of "the West" are truly virtues, in need of being saved and perpetuated. No Pangloss, Barzun is more than ready to admit the faults and vices which have gripped "the West" throughout the past half-millenia". His hesitancy to launch right out into uncritical praise makes From Dawn to Decadence all the more objective. From Dawn to Decadence is immense, scholarly, and cleanly articulated. Barzun's unique faculty for fresh insight abounds, and his reluctance to end at the first layer of analysis gives the reader a fairly deep understanding of the themes and patterns of Western culture. Traditionally historical works impart the "what?" of history: Barzun reflects upon the "so what?" of human events. Both historical and argumentative, From Dawn to Dusk is a well-balanced inquiry into the relationship between ideas and events.
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Summary: A fascinating read...
Review: Barzun is 94 years old and has written more than thirty books. His career as a historian has been an amazing one, and this book gives evidence of his vast experience. The time period covered (500 years) is certainly a broad one. But it is a magnificently rich one to study. I bought the book because I was interested in reading about Renaissance and Baroque art and wanted to get a broader sense of historical context. I got that and much more... politics, philosophy, religion, and more are discussed with reference to one another and with an amazing sense of cohesion. Barzun speaks with a truly historical perspective. He never fails to be thorough, insightful, probing, and penetrating in his analysis. His lucidity and clarity are amazing; as I said his vast experience as a historian is evident. He is always impartial, rendering a truly helpful take on whatever he adresses. His approaches are always fresh - he dispels common misconceptions and gives the reader a more accurate historical perspective. His sense of focus is remarkable. The book is 800 pages long, but it never loses a sense of the big picture it is painting. Barzun names a few common themes of change in the last 5 centuries and they become threads which reappear constantly in his narrative. None of his thoughtful observations go without context and relation to his overarching argument. The impact of events becomes clear through Barzun's careful analysis. His writing style is most enjoyable. He is quite casual without lacking anything in specificity. His prose is always engaging - it makes this massive work of cultural history a joy to read. Barzun's quickness to get to the heart of the matter and the ease with which he resolves historical questions are amazing and sometimes bring a smile to my face. His wit is a welcome addition to such an easy-to-read style. His sense of humor is subtle but piercing, accompanying perfectly his lucidity of thought. This book will not fail to please you, whatever historical interests you may have. It is so far-reaching (while still amazingly focused) that there is something here for everyone. Critical praise has been heaped on this book - it is, to me, one of the greatest and yet most approachable works of history to come along in a while. Most highly recommended...
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