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Books That Shook the World

This series delves into the groundbreaking books that have fundamentally reshaped human thought and society. Each installment focuses on a single pivotal text, dissecting its historical context, core arguments, and enduring legacy. It offers a compelling journey for anyone interested in intellectual history and the power of ideas. The collection reveals literature's profound capacity to alter the course of civilization.

Clausewitz's on War
Darwinův Původ druhů
Marx's Das Kapital
Carl von Clausewitz's On war
The Qur'an
Darwin's Origin of Species

Recommended Reading Order

  • Darwin's Origin of Species

    • 192 pages
    • 7 hours of reading
    3.7(28)Add rating

    Focusing on the profound impact of "On the Origin of Species," this history reveals its significance as a transformative work in science. Browne, a leading biographer of Charles Darwin, presents a vivid and accessible introduction that explores how this groundbreaking book reshaped our understanding of humanity and evolution. Through detailed insights, readers can appreciate the enduring relevance and brilliance of Darwin's ideas.

    Darwin's Origin of Species
  • An authoritative introduction to the sacred text reveals how it represents Islam, describing the origins of the faith in seventh-century Arabia while offering insight into how the Qurʼan remains a pivotal influence on modern society and politics

    The Qur'an
  • "On War" by Carl von Clausewitz was first published in Germany after the Napoleonic Wars. Its description of 'absolute war' and its insistence on the centrality of battle to war have been blamed for the level of destruction involved in both the First and Second World Wars. This book challenges the popular misconceptions that surround "On War".

    Carl von Clausewitz's On war
  • Marx's Das Kapital

    A Biography

    • 144 pages
    • 6 hours of reading
    3.9(26)Add rating

    Wheens presents "Das Kapital" as a compelling narrative rather than a traditional economic analysis, likening it to a Gothic novel. The book explores the struggles of individuals ensnared by the very system they helped to build—capitalism. Through vivid detail, it reveals the emotional and societal implications of economic theories, making complex ideas accessible and engaging for readers.

    Marx's Das Kapital
  • Janet Brownová ukazuje, proč O původu druhů aspiruje na titul nejvýznamnější vědecké publikace, která byla kdy vydána. Popisuje vývoj Darwinových teorií, vysvětluje, jak byly ve své době přijaty a zkoumá, proč jsou dodnes předmětem sporů. Její kniha je nádherně čtivá úvaha o díle, které navždy změnilo naši představu o tom, co znamená být člověkem.

    Darwinův Původ druhů
  • Clausewitz's on War

    A Biography

    • 256 pages
    • 9 hours of reading
    3.6(15)Add rating

    The complexities of military strategy are explored through Carl von Clausewitz's "On War," a foundational yet contradictory text that has shaped military thought for generations. Despite its challenging language and posthumous publication, its impact on modern warfare is undeniable. Hew Strachan, a leading military historian, provides clarity by unpacking Clausewitz's intentions and the book's relevance today. This insightful analysis serves as an essential guide for readers seeking to understand the enduring significance of Clausewitz's work in military history.

    Clausewitz's on War
  • · kolejna książka z serii 'Książki, które wstrząsnęły światem' · Thomas Paine (1737-1809) urodził się w Anglii, lecz musiał z niej uciekać, poszukiwany przez tajną policję króla Jerzego III, której nie podobało się to, jak wielki miał posłuch wśród spragnionego wolności i demokracji ludu · rozpalał umysły walczących o niepodległość Ameryki i wchodził w konflikty z powodu wolnomyślicielskiego podejścia do religii Fascynująca biografia dzieła Paine'a, niepokornego i błyskotliwego humanisty, orędownika wolności i demokracji. Jego Prawa człowieka na zawsze odmieniły sposób tworzenia prozy politycznej i wywarły trwały wpływ na myśl liberalną i socjaldemokratyczną.

    Thomas Paine. Prawa człowieka
  • Plato's Republic

    A Biography

    • 192 pages
    • 7 hours of reading

    Exploring the foundational concepts of justice, morality, and politics, this work delves into Plato's influential dialogue, "The Republic," which has shaped Western philosophy since its composition in 375 BC. Simon Blackburn, a noted Cambridge professor, provides a clear introduction to Plato's ideas, highlighting the text's enduring impact and the extensive commentary it has inspired over centuries. The examination of its relevance from St. Augustine to modern thinkers like Ludwig Wittgenstein underscores the dialogue's significance in contemporary philosophical discourse.

    Plato's Republic
  • »Das also, was den Dingen, welche erkannt werden, Wahrheit verleiht und dem Erkennenden die Kraft zum Erkennen gibt, ist die Idee des Guten.« Platon gilt als »Vater der Philosophen«, der mit seinen Werken das Fundament allen Philosophierens schuf. Simon Böackburn behandelt die Grundgedanken des Platonismus von einem der Wahrheitssuche und dem Guten verpflichteten Leben in einem durch Wissen und Weisheit stetig fortschreitenden Gemeinwesen.

    Simon Blackburn über Platon, der Staat
  • Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man" has been celebrated, criticized, maligned, suppressed, and co-opted, but Hitchens marvels at its forethought and revels in its contentiousness. In this book, he demonstrates how Paine's book forms the philosophical cornerstone of the U.S.

    Thomas Paine's Rights of Man
  • Marx's Das Kapital

    • 128 pages
    • 5 hours of reading
    3.8(647)Add rating

    In this brilliant book, Karl Marx biographer Francis Wheen tells the story of Das Kapital and Marx's twenty-year struggle to complete his unfinished masterpiece. Wheen shows that, far from being a dry economic treatise, Das Kapital is like a vast Gothic novel whose heroes are enslaved by the monster they capitalism.

    Marx's Das Kapital