A brilliant history of the rise to dominance of the West, exploring the links between cultural values and military success. Instead of weighing up the West through its cultural and literary accomplishments. Hanson engages with the much starker record of the Western battlefield. In place of The Great Books, he studies The Great Battles, and offers graphic representations of nine representative clashes between West and non-West. Hanson writes uncommonly well about battle, and has an uncanny ability to evoke the chaos and terror of warfare, so crystallising his argument into records of a few hours of intense combat. Hanson argues that the West has won not just because of technology and military might, but because of its focus on individualism, democratic political structures, and scientific rationalism. However this is no mere Eurocentric account of the steady millennia-long rise of Western power. Rather, it is an explanation of why the West finds itself now militarily unmatched, its values spreading around the globe - sometimes with devastating effects on local cultures which have at times adopted the worst of what European traditions have offered or imposed.
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"His latest book can only enhance his reputation among readers with common sense." -- Daily Telegraph
"this is a brash book, purveying a refreshing brand of intellectual and political self-confidence.. At the heart of this big, combative and gutsy book there is an argument which is powerful and convincing." -- Sunday Telegraph
(A) well researched and highly readable book. -- The Spectator, November 1, 2001
At the heart of this big, combative and gutsy book there is an argument which is powerful and convincing. -- Sunday Telegraph, October 21, 2001
His latest book can only enhance his reputation among readers with common sense. -- Daily Telegraph, October 6, 2001
"this is a brash book, purveying a refreshing brand of intellectual and political self-confidence.. At the heart of this big, combative and gutsy book there is an argument which is powerful and convincing." -- Sunday Telegraph
(A) well researched and highly readable book. -- The Spectator, November 1, 2001
At the heart of this big, combative and gutsy book there is an argument which is powerful and convincing. -- Sunday Telegraph, October 21, 2001
His latest book can only enhance his reputation among readers with common sense. -- Daily Telegraph, October 6, 2001
About the Author
Victor Davis Hanson was born in 1953 and received his PhD from Stanford University. He is currently Professor of Classics at California State University, Fresno. His popular books on classical warfare include The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece, The Soul of Battle: From Ancient Times to the Present Day, How Three Great Liberators Vanquished Tyranny, The Other Greeks: The Family Farm and the Agrarian Roots of Western Civilization and Fields Without Dreams: Defending Agrarian Idea. He lives in Selma, California.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Even if you are not particularly interested in history or the military, this book will fascinate you right from the beginning. It gives you insight into nine great battles fought between 480 B.C. (Salamis) and 1968 (Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War). All battles described are encounters between western and non-western armies and almost all have been won by western countries. Hanson asks himself what factors eventually contributed to these western victories and he comes up with very convincing answers. He maintains that the keystone for military success was laid in ancient Greece. The old Greeks fought uniquely differently from their adversaries (e.g. the Persians or Carthaginians) in so far as their soldiers fought on a sense of personal freedom, superior discipline, matchless weapons, egalitarian camaraderie,, individual initiative, constant tactical adaption and flexibility, preference for shock battle of heavy infantry. All these positive aspects could have only developed in the constitutionally governed Greek city-states where ordinary people voted for their representatives, where there was equality among classes, where soldiers had a say in military affairs, where even the small farmer owned property etc.
Hanson never merely describes the battles, but always gives insight into the economic, social, cultural and political conditions under which soldiers lived and stood up for their countries.
I have never read a better book in terms of military history.
Hanson never merely describes the battles, but always gives insight into the economic, social, cultural and political conditions under which soldiers lived and stood up for their countries.
I have never read a better book in terms of military history.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a bold declaration of the supremacy of the Western way of war, by the respected Greek historian Victor Hanson. It details 9 major pivotal events which underpin the key role that Western tactics and technology, that eventually triumphed to shape the world we live in today. The book does not at all claim moral superior of Western morals, just superior force of arms.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By G. Bache
Format:Hardcover
This book suffers, in my view, from failing to ever define very much what is meant by "the West". Most readers will understand this term in a Cold War context: but its meaning in previous centuries is somewhat unclear. It is interspersed with "European" fairly frequently in these chapters - a term which would usually include Russians and Turks: which is presumably not intended.
In fact, the whole effort of the book divides the world into 2 blocs: "West" and "non-West". It is as if the Cold War began in 500 BC!
The central thesis : that Western armies have consistently beaten non-Western armies because of their democratic tradition, is backed up by a series of carefully-picked battles, taking a notable holiday for most of the 1000 years or so between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance. Phenomena such as the Mongol invasions of Europe are ignored totally, and the repulse of Abd al-Rahman's Islamic raiding party at Poitiers is heralded as "Western victory" with no discussion of the fact that he was in France at all and the Islamic world was sweeping all before it at the time.
The "democratic tradition" argument is also somewhat questionable. It is built around the deeds and arrangements of Ancient Greek Hoplite warriors but little effort is made to re-make it in the light of later, somewhat less democratic societies also claimed as "the West". It is just assumed that the "tradition of the West" was carrying on. The Conquistadors in Mexico were hardly winning because of their free, democratic society - the Inquisition was in full swing at the time.
Despite all this, it's fairly easy to read and provides some good background information on the chosen battles.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Well written..........but
In his book Why the West Has Won Victor David Hanson presents a clear and cogent argument that various practices intrinsic to western society have enabled the west to maintain... Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2006 by O. Wakefield
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quality writing but propaganda nevertheless
Hanson's ideas are certainly appealing but he doesn't countenance any alternative viewpoint, as if his views are established facts rather than just one analysis of warfare. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2005 by RAH
2.0 out of 5 stars
Triumphalist and rather smug
The book comes across as a bit of a cheerleading piece for the western superiority, real or otherwise. Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2003 by JasonC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb
A brilliant book. Covers the reasoning behind western military and cultural success, in an easy to digest form. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2002 by Julian E Foot
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