Rating: 
Summary: The World's Gone to Hell in a Handbasket
Review: "From Dawn to Decadence" says it all in the title. Western Civilization used to be great, and now people don't even dress well, don't respect elderly college professors (like the author), and blah, blah, blah. A view of the past five hundred years from the point of view of a crabby, old Frenchman. Like too many historians, his fatal error is in comparing the upper-class civilization of the past (which was enjoyed by maybe 2 percent of the population) with the popular culture of today. Guess what? He figures out that Beethoven is better than Eminem. Brilliant, what?
Rating: 
Summary: Monumental
Review: First a few words of caution: in my opinion, it is NOT a good book if you're looking for a general introduction to the European history from 1500 to the present. It does help a lot if the reader is familiar with the general course of events, without that, I am afraid, it would be pretty unreadable -- Barzun does not concentrate on "what happened", rather than "why it came to pass", and "how was it important", describing relations rather than events themselves. As such, "From Dawn to Decadence" shouldn't be read *instead* of other history books, it should be read to complement them, to put things into different perspective.That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Barzun's way of shedding light on things that otherwise might have gone unnoticed. One doesn't necessarily have to always agree with author's line of reasoning, nor with his opinions held, but it certainly was a very interesting journey through those 500 years for me. Also, I found the author's way of pointing to further references extremely useful -- if something catches your interest you can go on and leave no stones unturned, while, at the same time, if something is of only casual interest to you, there is no need to wade through every tiny detail. To those denouncing the book as dry, flawed, incomplete and unreadable, I'd like to quote a classic line from Oliver Cromwell's letter to the elders of the Scottish Presbyterian Church (which I personally didn't know of before): "I beseech you, by the bowels of Christ, to consider that you may be mistaken".
Rating: 
Summary: Dull: his arbitrary opinions are fun but that's about it
Review: one would be better served by reading Jensens's Reformation and Ren. books, as well as Palmer and Colton's textbook. These are dull books, but they are no more so than JB's. The only good parts of DD are the end and begining--where he let's it all hang out. Otherwise, it is spotty, insipid, and dull. Read a textbook, you will be better served. (and Davies is better) ...But a hell of a lot better than Paul Johnson.
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't finish it: uninteresting and flawed execution
Review: I took this book on an extended out-of-town trip to Europe. Actually being in some of the places where the events unfolded should have made it more meaningful to me, but once I returned home, I put the book on the shelf and never opened it up again. Don't get me wrong--it wasn't a waste of time. When I see the name Paracelsus over a Swiss doorway, I have a new found appreciation for who he was. Jonathon Swift is another European personality I now understand in a deeper way. But I found it a chore to wade through this book. If you check out some of my other reviews, you'll see that I have read some pretty dry books, and that I normally avoid trivial works. I consider myself a serious and motivated reader, and I still thought this was boring, with material of wildly inconsistent relevance. I found the author's attempts to redefine the English language as distracting and ill-conceived. I encourage any writer to attempt to change prevailing attitudes and shine new light on old material--but I just wasn't sold by all of Barzun's attempts at making obscure personalities relevant. I finally gave up somewhere in early 19th century. Perhaps I'll finish it somebody, but the book is in storage now and I've found other sources that are more useful to my attempts to better understand Europe. I'm currently reading "Europe" by Norm Davies. This is comparable in that it is equally long, and perhaps equally non-traditional. Many of the same historical figures are discussed, and like "Dawn to Decadence," it also requires a motivated reader. But in spite of the difficulties with Davies' book, I expect to rate it at a '4', and Barzun is only a '2' by me. Some apparently do find this as a worthy text. That's fine, everyone has different tastes, but it would be helpful if those readers who liked this book could write reviews that would help prospective readers better evaluate whether it fit their tastes, too. I think personal taste has quite a bit to do with the individual reader's reception of this book--perhaps more so than a typical history book. Barzun had some interesting vignettes, but I just found the text uninteresting, and the author's agenda is annoying to me. I found it pretentious and overly-intellectual, but without substance. It is a significant tour de force of cultural obscurities, but it did not create a picture for me. I don't have any new insights or understandings. Just because it is big, doesn't mean that it is worthy.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely BRUTAL!!
Review: This has to be one of the driest books I've ever bought!! I couldn't make it out of the first chapter without having to take a break. I thought I was buying a page-turning history of the past 500 years. Not quite. This book reminds me of something I was forced to read in a college history class years ago. If you are expecting something chronological (like, say "1500-1550: What's happening in Europe"), you'll be sorry. Required reading for PhD candidates only!!
Rating:
Summary: Curmudgeonly critical of 20th Century culture
Review: I am not calling Jacques Barzun a curmudgeon. Far from it. Much in this book shows the esprit with which he writes and he is apologetic about the fact that we will find some things in the book less than pleasing. "I do not expect the reader to be steadily grateful. Nobody likes rooted opinions challenged...yet without exposure to this annoyance, one's understanding of our modern thought and virtues is incomplete". Nevertheless, Barzun's criticism of 20th century culture can't be called anything else but cantankerous. Maybe it's not surprising, afterall he has been writing about the 'Romantic Period' and it's flourishing culture for many years, and as a critic he has been bewailing the mediocrity in our arts and the lack of appreciation for culture in our schools. It does not matter anyway because I have nothing but respect for someone who can retain and recall, much less write about, so much cultural history AND do so at the age of 92. So, Mr Barzun, you can be in whatever mood you wish. As it is, he has gone to a lot of trouble putting together a book that is accessible to readers. It's clearly set out. Barzun splits the Modern era into 4 Periods, each centered on a 'revolution' of sorts, and each making up one part of the book. Part I is focused on the religious revolution of Luther and covers the period 1500-1660. Part II looks at the monarchy and runs from 1661-1789. Part III focuses on social and economic upheavals spanning the period 1790-1920 and finally, Part IV from 1921 onwards looks at a combination of all that went before. Although encyclopedic and large (800 pages) the book is not dry, dusty or daunting. It's organized for ease of reading. There are no footnotes. Barzun uses small arrows < > followed by page numbers to indicate where, either earlier or ahead in the book, the specific topic is discussed. Small caps highlight themes which are basically ideas that run through time (eg. EMANCIPATION, SECULARISM). Bracketed suggestions are placed throughout to refer to other works [The book to read is...], and finally, in addition to the normal subject index there is also an 'Index of Persons'. The Index of Persons is necessary because of the style used. Rather than have Chapters organized in a chronological date order, Barzun uses biographical narratives to tell the story. We learn some interesting facts about great men and women - our cultural heroes - the creators and initiators of the significant ideas and events of the Era. On many pages you will find quotes which are there to give a sense of the "voice of the person". Woven throughout the narratives are 'Cross Sections' focused on various cities (Madrid, Venice, London, Paris, New York) which provide a snapshot of culture at specific times in history. As if this were not enough, Barzun sweetens the enjoyment of the book by providing some 'Digressions on a Word' giving meaning, origin and alternate uses for some words. Any criticisms? A few. As I said at the start, the book is very critical of 20th century culture. It's as if Barzun feels that nothing of much use has emerged from the century. Part IV begins at the point where he says we started our slippery slide downwards - the end of WWI. The 'Great War' snuffed out progress. "The impetus born of the Renaissance was exhausted, and the new start made...just before 1914 had been cut short". Perhaps his view is colored by his generation and birthplace - France. Certainly France was devastated by the War and for a young man it may very well have seemed apocalyptic. Another criticism has to do with the last 'Cross Section' from New York. It supposedly is by a historian who writes about his prophetic vision of what human culture will be like in the year 2300. This 4 page section reminds me of another history book that tried and also failed, in it's attempt at a little crystal ball gazing - 'The Rise and Fall of Great Powers by Paul Kennedy, ironically starting in 1500 also. Prophetic History is not only an oxymoron, it simply does not work and is the only blemish on Barzun's otherwise splendid book.
Rating:
Summary: a great fix for history junkies
Review: I'm only halfway thru and already I've dried up one hilighter. This book is rich, very rich. And like a rich desert you nibble at it, savor it. Not a page goes by where he doesn't refer you to other books to find out more detail about what he's glossing over. This makes it a great reference guide for furthering your knowledge in areas that excite you. The tidbits, the quotes, the thumbnail sketches of cultural giants, are all great candy for the brain, which serve to give one a deeper understanding of where we came from, why and how. Candy for the brain that eats like a meal. Reading the other reviews reminds me of how different people are, which I think is a good thing. Some people don't like his conclusions (which I have yet to get to) but trust me on this; the first half of the book alone makes it worth way more than the price of admission. Do yourself a big favor; stop watching late night TV for the next month and read this book instead. It's good for you and more entertaining (than TV)! And it'll make you a more interesting person to talk to at parties.
Rating:
Summary: A negative review for contrast and discussion
Review: In FROM DAWN TO DECADENCE, Jaques Barzun shows himself clearly as a Francophile writing a Franco-centric critique of the Modern Era. Although this is refreshing amidst many histories (especially those on the arts) which focus predominantly on the Germano-Italian, I could not ignore Barzun's opinionated, French-nationalist standpoint. Through many dialogues, he constructs an argument that German culture is "slow-moving, musical, and pensive" and that German intellectuals were guilty of "constructing elaborate abstractions from narrow viewpoint[s]". He shifts the burden of proof by stating these opinions as the opinions of past writers, but Barzun himself cannot help from inserting little blurbs such as "German pedantry." It is difficult to see how Voltaire's Candide "shoots an arrow" at Leibniz's theories. Here Barzun seems to be pitting French literature against German scientific hypotheses. After finishing the work in full, we are left with a feeling that the French historical heritage is more intellectual, more important, and more "en vogue" in the mind of contemporary historians.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, but history?
Review: This is a nice book but highly speculative and really just a good read rather than a great intellectual work. The ironic thing about this book is that it is made for the modern "decadent" mindset, interspersed with short chapters and spicy interludes to keep those with short attention spans from putting the book down.-Hence its popularity.- For a comparison, try reading Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and you'll get a sense of what a real work of history is like.-But the book is fun. I mean, it's very interesting to read about these obscure figures whom Barzun feels that history has neglected, and other obscurities and eccentricities which one cannot help but feel Barzun took an impish delight in including. -But, all in all, the book is more kitschy than "Great."-Barzun leapfrogs from period to period seemingly at will with little or no sense of continuity, the spelling and grammatical mistakes abound (as noted by other acute reviewers) and those little side notes are also ENTERTAINING but NOT history.-I kept on getting the feeling I was reading "The Rime of The Ancient Mariner."-Barzun is no fool. He is an erudite and cultured man, and shrewd. He knows what sells books in this "decadent" culture. He has succeeded in doing so with this one. This book is essentially bubblegum, anecdotal history. But there's nothing wrong with this type of narrative. It's just not the real thing, as so many of you reviewers seem to feel. Before you burn me at the stake, just take a look at Gibbon's Decline and Fall, Hume's History of England, or Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples to get an idea of what thorough, narrative history is all about. Then you can go ahead and burn me!-And as far as Barzun's ultimate verdict on our age as demotic, I think he's perfectly correct. But I think he should have stuck with "demotic" rather than "decadent" because, even in Barzun's work, the word has too many connotations.-What this demotic age signals (among a host of other things Barzun is not shy about elaborating, in terrible prose) is that "the demand for genius has died out." Barzun's work is evidence of this! History for pop culture has never been so perfectly exemplified! -But, as I said, the book is fun and innocuous until the absurd end where he plays the millenium card, and unoubtedly sells googles of more books
Rating:
Summary: Decent Work, a good read
Review: This is a fine book, for the layperson rather than the hardcore historian. In the last half-millennium, as the noted cultural critic and historian Jacques Barzun observes, great revolutions have swept the Western world. Each has brought profound change--for instance, the remaking of the commercial and social worlds wrought by the rise of Protestantism and by the decline of hereditary monarchies. And each, Barzun hints, is too little studied or appreciated today, in a time he does not hesitate to label as decadent. To leaf through Barzun's sweeping, densely detailed but lightly written survey of the last 500 years is to ride a whirlwind of world-changing events. Barzun ponders, for instance, the tumultuous political climate of Renaissance Italy, which yielded mayhem and chaos, but also the work of Michelangelo and Leonardo--and, he adds, the scientific foundations for today's consumer culture of boom boxes and rollerblades. He considers the 16th-century varieties of religious experimentation that arose in the wake of Martin Luther's 95 theses, some of which led to the repression of individual personality, others of which might easily have come from the "Me Decade." Along the way, he offers a miniature history of the detective novel, defends Surrealism from its detractors, and derides the rise of professional sports, packing in a wealth of learned and often barbed asides. Never shy of controversy, Barzun writes from a generally conservative position; he insists on the importance of moral values, celebrates the historical contributions of Christopher Columbus, and twits the academic practitioners of political correctness. Whether accepting of those views or not, even the most casual reader will find much that is new or little-explored in this attractive venture into cultural history
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