We’d love your help. . This is not just the story of all the kings, ministers, revolutionaries and assorted adventurers who ran (or created) the nations of Europe (though that story is covered in detail too); there are chapters on everything from agriculture and science to tourism and travel. An incredibly detailed account of the period, but honestly there were so many details that I often found myself zoning out. November 29th 2016 A passage commencing at page 441 summarizes in broad strokes the major change and starts as follows; General historical surveys like this book are both well-founded and slightly old-fashioned. It looks like we don't have a Synopsis for this title yet. The play begins right after King Henry VI 's death vacates the throne and ends as soon as Richard is slain by Richmond at the end of Act V, its dramatic shape framing a zoomed-in view of Richard's violent power grab. I needn't have worried; Evans does a masterful job of synthesizing the usually dreary political (and especially diplomatic) history with thoughtful, eloquent analysis (and I haven't really gotten yet to the social and economic factors, which I expect will be even better explicated). This, volume seven of the Penguin History of Europe, spans the period from the fall of Napoleon I to the onset of WWI in 843 pages. the pursuit of power TECHNOLOGY, ARMED FORCE, AND SOCIETY SINCE A.D. 1000 by William H. McNeill ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1982 And it demonstrates that, as well as its national sub-plots, an interplay of social, economic and political factors shaped the whole continent and its emergent European identity. The Pursuit of Power was intended as "a belated footnote" to correct McNeill's neglect of "the interaction between military technology and political patterns" in modern times in The Rise of the West. It looks like we don't have any Plot Summaries for this title yet. Outstanding in-depth and broad survey of Europe from Waterloo to the eve of the First World War. But just as the seeds of a progressive social democracy were taking root in Europe, the imperial elites had their last piratical fling with their colonialist project, including their Scramble for Africa. The author then goes on to say that there is no real reason for this. Aside from a few points of irritation – the wife of the great Irish leader Charles Stewart Parnell was called Katey NOT Kitty, a moniker both Parnell and his wife loathed – The Pursuit of Power is an extraordinary work. There's a ton of material in this book, lots of info-dumping (maybe this is unavoidable? No superiority of resources, culture, polity, philosophy, rather, it just happened. The book focuses on important areas, such as the evolution of government structure, economic change (among the most important of which was the role of the peasantry), the growth of information availability (such as newspapers), the working out (or not) of multiethnic countries (such as Austria-Hungary). 3.2.3 Effective orientation of leading power. It is an astonishingly erudite work, alternating chapters on the political history of Europe with ones its social and economic development during these years.… This book’s best quality is the conversational writing style. Be the first to ask a question about The Pursuit of Power. The Pursuit of Power, William H. McNeill (University of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL, 1982) Author. The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815-1914, by Richard J Evans, Allen Lane, RRP£35, 484 pages. We are made by history.” So, this January, as we celebrate Martin Luther King... To see what your friends thought of this book, I've enjoyed Richard Evans' series on the Third Reich, I appreciate both his writing style and his analysis. And I look forward to re-reading it. This is a good solid book. The play begins right after King Henry VI 's death vacates the throne and ends as soon as Richard is slain by Richmond at the end of Act V, its dramatic shape framing a zoomed-in view of Richard's violent power grab. ... Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Plot Summary submission guide. The Pursuit of Power…unpacks the fascinatingly complex and interconnected range of historical forces at work between 1815 and 1914…The enviably Tolstoyan scale of the book allows Evans, first, to immerse the reader in a narrative that moves seamlessly from Russia to Iberia and all points in between. Maybe it comes down to the material, especially first half of 19th century European history is less interesting to me? The Tragedy of Great Power Politics is a book by the American scholar John Mearsheimer on the subject of international relations theory published by W.W. Norton & Company in 2001. He readily acknowledges the inherent pessimism of offensive … 67-90. The book’s first chapter examines these interactions in human history up to A.D. 1000. This history of modern Japan covers its transformation from a small country on the fringe of international politics to the major world power it is today. The Pursuit of Power Richard J. Evans Review by Roger Bishop. ), that helps put many of the issues and developments discussed into a more intimate perspective. After reading all the chronological previous books, I decided recently to pick up the book, written by historian Richard J. Evans, on the nineteenth century: The Pursuit of Power: Europe, 1815-1914 (2017). Evans is an excellent historian, and author of the Third Reich series of books (all fantastic reads), and he is excellently qualified to tackle this subject matter. 4 Summary and implications. In my experience, there are few subjects, historical or otherwise, more encrusted with past and reactionary rumination than nineteenth-century Europe (there's a plot point in the Prisoner episode “The General,” I suspect, in explicit mockery thereof), and despite Evans' excellence as both a historian and writer (if I haven't done so already, I highly recommend his three-volume history of Nazi Germany), I was a little leery of further pursuing the Penguin History of Europe (of which this is a volume) as a result. In 1815 there were several nations/kingdoms/empires around the world that equaled Europe in terms of size, wealth, power, standard of living and in 1914 there were no rivals. Europe included far more countries than these, and many if not most people lived their lives outside of the continent’s urbane North and West. The book is dull, with little structure or binding idea. Also, the writing is better than most academic works are. [Evans] writes with admirable narrative power and possesses a wonderful eye … I found this very unsatisfying especially as it was never developed or supported though the book. And of course, writers and musicians get their due, and not just those already well known in the anglophone world. Revolutions, reforms, a general change in the cultural milieu that began with the French revolution really took hold during this time period and inaugurated much of what is now considered western ideology. On the other hand, cultural history clearly doesn't engage the author, and it often descends into cheerless lists of names and two-sentence biographies. Antony was the only man who had their trust and, since he had access to all Caesar’s papers as well as his will, was in a position within a few days to take command. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. During Nixon's 1972 Beijing visit, the Chinese premier, Zhou Enlai was asked to comment on what he thought the impact of the French Revolution was. Indeed what we you about the pursuit of power, particularly if you are thinking about power at the dictatorial level or becoming a leader, is that you have to have a clear, relentless focus, and you have got to stay focused and attending on your target for quite a long period of time. It helps that he opens each chapter with a potted biography of a nineteenth-century European, occasionally obscure (a Napoleonic foot soldier, a Russian serf, etc. As a Pakistani living in UK, I have found the history of nineteenth century Europe very interesting indeed, especially when you consider very similar challenges faced in the Pakistan of today; Loss of traditional livelihood in the wake of industrial growth, movement of population from rural to urban areas, and the shift of power to the population from feudal elites. “ The Pursuit of Power… unpacks the fascinatingly complex and interconnected range of historical forces at work between 1815 and 1914... [A] skillful interweave of political conflict and transition, economic transformation social upheaval and cultural change.”— The New York Times Book Review Those who raise can’t don’t aim to be great, says Miranda Reiman, it’s about continually improving. I think it is very well written and manages quite well to break down the complex and interwoven events into sections that can be described clearly and so understood. . A comprehensive history of Europe from the aftermath of war and the period after Napoleon until the eve of the First World War. ‘The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson’ by Robert A. Caro. At the base of the Grand Tetons, mountains dramatically stretching up toward the blue Wyoming sky. In this magnificent synthesis of military, technological, and social history, William H. McNeill explores a whole millennium of human upheaval and traces the path by which we have arrived at the frightening dilemmas that now confront us. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. "No summary can do justice to McNeill's intricate, encyclopedic treatment. Change ). Download The Pursuit Of Power Ebook, Epub, Textbook, Audiobook quickly and easily or read online The Pursuit Of Power full books anytime and anywhere. I have read a few general histories of nineteenth-century Europe (notably the first volumes of Eric Hobsbawm’s trilogy), and their authors usually characterize the era as the dawn of Western modernity. Summary written by: Conflict Research Consortium Staff Citation: "Power in Interpersonal Conflict," Chapter Three in Interpersonal Conflict, 2nd ed. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Zhou famously said that it was “too early to say”. by Viking. The assessment is there, Evans is a brilliant historian, and he integrates the immense information needed to cover the wide scope of the book with this own interpretations, but the effect was lost in the listening. Unlike, say, a Marxist history, there is no central thread connecting the whole, no clearly traceable dynamic, no plot. Really well done history of an important time period. Showing all 0 items Jump to: Summaries. Figure 1: Determinants and course of the motivation process. The Pursuit of Power (TV Series) Roy Hattersley (1981) Plot. Enjoyed it immensely and will be looking for the authors other works as well. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In this magnificent synthesis of military, technological, and social history, William H. McNeill explores a whole millennium of human upheaval and traces the path by which we have arrived at the frightening dilemmas that now confront us. I've enjoyed Richard Evans' series on the Third Reich, I appreciate both his writing style and his analysis. . Even the first physical impression, the structure of the book itself — its glossy pages and high quality binding — is designed to impress the reader. This fantastic history book has answered a long standing question about Pakistani apprehension of western styled democracy. I also enjoyed how he showed the issues and questions of a given historical period were reflected in literature, art and music. 3.5 stars. Very interesting to learn more about the roots of WW1 and also WW2. The Pursuit of Power (TV Series) John Biffen (1981) Plot. No superiority of resources, culture, polity, philosophy, rather, it just happened. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. Many student text-books are based on the historical survey. As Sam Bourne (Jonathan Freedland) noted in his recent thriller, To Kill the Truth, some things have a future because they have a past. It is in the. Be the first to contribute! ( Log Out /  This brought 57% of the world’s population under often brutal European and American rule on the eve of the First World War. Start by marking “The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815-1914” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Professor Evans covers the social, intellectual and cultural developments as well. The author’s determination not only to bring these lives into his study, but to argue for their typicality, their “European-ness,” makes PURSUIT OF POWER a special and provocative book. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We are not makers of history. The power, as Caesar had known for so many years, lay in the hands of the general who could command the legionaries. In his Plagues and Peoples (1976) University of Chicago historian McNeill surveyed world history from the perspective of the influence of microparasites in human life and social organization; this much longer overview is based on macroparasites—i.e., other human beings. But this didn't make up for slog I had to go through to get to these sections. Summary: the origins of our common European identity In The Pursuit of Power, Richard Evans, a distinguished historian of the Twentieth Century, traces the history of Europe from 1814 to 1914. This fantastic history book has answered a long standing question about Pakistani apprehension of western styled democracy. From Chaos sprouted two elements, two concepts from which everything we come to know derives from. The grand sweep of the narrative is frequently illuminated with the voices of ordinary people from across the continent. Even if that identity’s common values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law did not gain its full expression until after the bloodbath of the Second World War, and even though these values are again under threat, particularly in the UK and Hungary, Evans’ work shows how deep the roots run. Penguin Press, New York, 2010. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. It looks like we don't have any Plot Summaries for this title yet. Cambridge Core - International Relations and International Organisations - Power and the Pursuit of Peace: Theory and Practice in the History of Relations Between States - by F. H. Hinsley. Synopsis. Often the author will change to another topic mid paragraph as if you were talking to someone and they were going off on a tangent. Europe in the 1800s became an industrial and military powerhouse, adorned with railroads and vibrant cities, glittering with electric light, its population growing rapidly in size, literacy, and wealth. Evans doesn’t entirely disagree with this assessment; he just notes that it only applied to sel. I do appreciate the depth of research and synthesis of material, and how hard it must be to put together a book on such a vast subject. The Pursuit of Power is incredibly comprehensive. Of course proving "It just happened" would be a difficult task. The scholarship is outstanding and many fascinating issues are covered. In Chapter Three, Hocker and Wilmot discuss the role of power in interpersonal From the Back Cover The Pursuit of Power draws on a lifetime of thinking about nineteenth-century Europe to create an extraordinarily rich, surprising and entertaining panorama of a continent undergoing drastic transformation. 67-90. Before the play starts, Antonio, Prospero's brother who was put in charge of administration by Prospero, usurped power and conspired to banish Prospero from Milan. The Pursuit of Power does not solve the problems of the present, but its discoveries, hypotheses, and sheer breadth of learning do offer a perspective on our current fears and, as McNeill hopes, "a ground for wiser action." An outstanding, thorough and magisterial review of European history, from 1815 to 1914. Summary of Power in Interpersonal Conflict by Joyce Hocker and William Wilmot Burton, eds. What I particularly found fascinating was how each era was introduced by a brief biography, not of a great person, but of someone whose life provided some insight into what it was like to be living in that particular era. Nevertheless, the 19th Century did transform Europe in crucial ways: serfdom was abolished; the industrial revolution took place and the continent became more urban; literacy expanded; and from Ireland to Poland subject peoples demanded their rights, respect and freedom. Second, it allows him to explore almost every nook and cranny of European life in this 100 … One of the best in the series. Summary: the origins of our common European identity In The Pursuit of Power, Richard Evans, a distinguished historian of the Twentieth Century, traces the history of Europe from 1814 to 1914. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published It takes a multidisciplinary perspective to trace the arc of European politics from the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo to the outbreak of World War I. I found this very unsatisfying especially as it was never developed or supported though the book. For the first two thirds of this book I would have given it four stars. The book is a long, tough slog though. I am no. It is in the annals style of history, looking at every aspect of this time period in some detail. The Pursuit of Power does not solve the problems of the present, but its discoveries, hypotheses, and sheer breadth of learning do offer a perspective on our current fears and, as McNeill hopes, a ground for wiser action. It's extremely informative about a huge array of topics about Europe from Waterloo to WWI. Book summary views reflect the number of visits to the book and chapter landing pages. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Liberal Europe tried to be born in the 19th Century but was bloodily suppressed across the continent by the forces of reaction in 1848 – militarily in most places but by famine stoked by racist English misgovernment in Ireland. I am now convinced that the Pakistani urban population have to learn to wrest power from the feudal business nexus controlling them at the moment. The Pursuit of Power Richard J. Evans Review by Roger Bishop. . Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. McNeill calls those … . Some periods are well described but others are too dense as the author tries to mention everything of significance which can lead to a compressed listing of events. It's both too much and too little: too little in that a history of such compass, covering social, technological, ideological and political developments, can only be impressionistic; too much in that the details, the facts are virtually overwhelming, the author jumping from country to country. McNeill moves with equal mastery from the crossbow—banned by … This book is the prelude to the volume on Europe in the 20th Century by Ian Kershaw entitled "To Hell and Back" - which was also quite good. Cambridge Core - International Relations and International Organisations - Power and the Pursuit of Peace: Theory and Practice in the History of Relations Between States - by F. H. Hinsley In Chapter Three, Hocker and Wilmot discuss the role of power in interpersonal conflict. The Ottoman Empire gets more attention than it often does, which I appreciated. “The pursuit of power permeated European society in the nineteenth century. Total views: 0 * Loading metrics... * Views captured on … “One historical study of the epidemic has concluded that ‘the sanitary and demographic catastrophe which befell Bosnia in the years 1815–18 had no parallel in other European countries since the Black Death in the years 1347–1351’.”, New African American Histories and Biographies to Read Now. But tbh this latest huge tome of his was a nasty slog for me. Plato called those who were entrusted with the physical defense of the community, and nothing else, Guardians. Engaging and articulate with incredible breadth; from geopolitics, to the sciences, to social issues like the perception of gender, happiness, and race, this is an exceptional read. ( Log Out /  Home; About Us ... Book Summary: An Economist Best Book of the Year “Sweeping . I definitely know I won’t get this series completed this year as this book weighs in at over 800 pages & it’s book 8 of 9! Overview Chris Gardner’s memoir, The Pursuit of Happyness, details his pursuit of the American Dream and desire to rise against the challenging circumstances of his birth and attain success. At least, it was not for me. The conspirators, Brutus and Cassius and their fellows, were faced with the fact that they had no control over the real source of … The Pursuit of Power is a work by a historian at the height of his powers: essential for anyone trying to understand Europe, then or now. There's a ton of material in this book, lots of info-dumping (maybe this is unavoidable? As a Pakistani living in UK, I have found the history of nineteenth century Europe very interesting indeed, especially when you consider very similar challenges faced in the Pakistan of today; Loss of traditional livelihood in the wake of industrial growth, movement of population from rural to urban areas, and the shift of power to the population from feudal elites. The Pursuit of Power does not solve the problems of the present, but its discoveries, hypotheses, and sheer breadth of learning do offer a … His latest book, The Pursuit of Power, charts the changing interactions between states, markets, and military innovation from A.D. 1000 to the late 20th century. Their value in that context is to offer an overview of a subject and then point the reader to more specific, academic analyses. So, Evans ensures this history retains its human faces. It looks like we don't have a Synopsis for this title yet. Maybe it comes down to the material, especially first half of 19th century European history is less interesting to me? In my experience, there are few subjects, historical or otherwise, more encrusted with past and reactionary rumination than nineteenth-century Europe (there's a plot point in the Prisoner episode “The General,” I suspect, in explicit mockery thereof), and despite Evans' excellence as both a historian and writer (if I haven't done so already, I highly recommend his three-volume history of Nazi Germany), I was a little leery of further pursuing the Penguin History of Europe (of which this is a vol.