From the Publisher
"For those wishing to understand how modern civilization, especially how capitalism became a dominant theme in the west, this book is invaluable. Professor Bowden explores, explains and provides credible alternatives to existing thought paradigms around the concepts of how ‘we’ arrived at the present. His narrative is at once thought provoking and entertaining." [—Andrew Cardow (Past Division Chair of the Management History Division, (2021- 2022) Academy of Management)]
"Bowden’s book provides a provocative prism through which to view western civilization and capitalism. It reveals Bowden’s understanding of the freedom and courage required to defend and sustain the values upon which the survival of modern society depends: individualism, democracy, economic and political liberalism. With the growing ascendency of social movements that prioritize group-based identities over individual achievement, his powerful warning about the “milletization” of society is more urgent than ever." [—Art Bedeian. Louisiana State University and founding member of Management History Division, Academy of Management.]
"Bowden's work on Western Civilization reveals the genesis of modern business culture. This work is built on a lifetime of erudition and is packed with insights. Bowden's work is something both critics and supporters of capitalism and modern business need to consider." [—Jeffrey Muldoon, Emporia State University and Executive Member, Management History Division, Academy of Management.]
"Australians are ineradicably heirs to and beneficiaries of the ideas, institutions and values of western civilization, and in age of wilful misrepresentation and relentless denigration of that legacy Bradley Bowden performs a magnificent service for humanity, highlighting the force of the West’s animating genius and the unprecedented prosperity it brought to the modern world from the late 18th century onwards." [—Scott Hargreaves, Executive General Manager, Institute for Public Affairs, Australia.]
"An electrifying work. The reader is dragged – sometimes kicking and screaming - to a confronting realisation: whatever the problems faced by the 21st century‘s ordinary people, the roots of such problems are not to be found in the forces that spawned and shaped Western civilisation. To suggest otherwise is the intellectual equivalent of sawing of the branch upon which one is highly perched because a tree limb provides an uncomfortable place of repose. If we are to have mandated mask-wearing for the unvaccinated, then this book should be mandated reading for the unaware." [—Anthony Gould, Laval University (Quebec) and Editor-in-Chief, Relations Industrielle / Industrial Relations]
