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The West

A New History of an Old Idea

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The West

By: Naoíse Mac Sweeney
Narrated by: Shaheen Khan
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

*A BBC RADIO 4 Book of the Week*

A radical new account of how the idea of the West has shaped our history, told through the stories of fourteen fascinating lives.

We tend to imagine Western Civilisation as a golden thread stretching from classical antiquity to the countries of the modern Western world. But what if this is wrong?

Told through the lives of fourteen fascinating historical figures - including a formidable Roman matriarch, an unconventional Islamic scholar, an enslaved African American poetess and a British prime minister with Homeric aspirations – archaeologist and historian Naoíse Mac Sweeney charts how the idea of the West was invented, how it has been used to justify imperialism and racism, and why it is no longer ideologically fit for purpose today.

The result is a bold and empowering new story of the people and ideas who made us who we are today.

'A fantastic achievement' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads
'Bright, expansive, and iconoclastic, this deliciously witty book has the potential to upset the applecart of "Western Civilisation" itself... Magnificent' Prof. Suzannah Lipscomb

©2023 Naoíse Mac Sweeney (P)2023 Penguin Audio Civilization Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government Sociology United States World Ancient History Imperialism Middle Ages Latin American Middle East Social justice Founding Fathers Africa

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Most relevant
She is the Goldilocks historian. Not too much, not too little, but just enough; always providing just the right amount of detail. The way she argues her case is consistent with evidence-based practice in the medical profession. Her way of making sense of history may be termed as evidence-based historiography, which can be challenged and refuted in a Popperian sense. As opposed to a historian finding a button in a dig and telling you the colour of the outfit it comes from, who wore it, who the tailor was, and what the owner’s last supper was like.

Evidence-based Historiography

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I really enjoyed the arguments presented by the author. It is refreshing to hear a well reasoned and thoughtful discussion about what the West really is and more importantly, isn’t. It is of ever greater resonance given the issues ‘The West’ faces today and the challenges arising from the ‘culture wars’ that have become so entrenched. It is well worth a listen and re-listen.

An interesting and thought provoking piece of work.

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