How the West Was Lost

What made the West 'western'? And has Western civilisation found modernity but lost itself? This provocative and stimulating polemic argues that the modern world has destroyed western culture and civilisation without gaining anything in return, leaving contemporary man with a spiritual and cultural gap that no amount of material wealth can fill. This is a brave and challenging attempt to explain how and why this has happened and present a new concept of modern history for our complacent times. What Made The West 'western'? And Has Western Civilisation Found Modernity But Lost Itself? This Polemic Argues That Western Culture And Civilisation Have Been Destroyed Not Only In, But Indeed By, Modernity.--book Jacket. Pt. 1. Exposition -- Making Of Western Man -- Method In The Madness Of Modernity -- Unfashionable Thinking Behind This Book -- Birth Of Westman -- Westman's Youth -- Looking Out By Looking In -- Ultimate Height Of Westman's Soul -- Modern Civilization Against Western Culture -- Cometh The New Man -- Pt. 2. Development -- Battle Plan Of Modman -- Modman Takes On God -- Compromise As The Midwife Of Westman -- Modman's First Victories -- Modern Science Against Western God -- Totalitarian Scientist -- Unenlightening Enlightenment -- Modman Divides Into Two -- First Political State -- Rolling Juggernaut Of The Modern State -- Champion Of The Nihilist -- Pt. 3. Recapitulation -- He Who Pays The Piper -- Is The World Safe From Democracy? -- Getting Down To Business -- False Prophet -- Unheeded Lessons Of History -- Glossocracy : Modman Develops His Own Weapon -- Non-language Of Politics -- While Stocks Last -- War To End All Wars -- Art Imitating Death -- Trailblazers Of Nihilism -- Educating Philistine Emiles -- Language And Other Victims Of Modernity -- Law Versus Justice -- Speak No Evil -- Or Else -- Pt. 4. Coda -- Mopping Up -- Spanish Detour -- Partition Of The World -- All You Need Is Love -- Drugs And Rock 'n Roll -- Opposites Attracting -- Is There Life After Death? Alexander Boot ; With A Foreword By Theodore Dalrymple. Includes Index. What made the West 'western'? And, has Western civilisation found modernity but lost itself? This provocative and stimulating polemic argues that western culture and civilisation have been destroyed not only in, but indeed by, modernity. How the West Was Lost argues that all modern upheavals - the Reformation, the English, American, French and Russian Revolutions, the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, both World Wars - can only be understood if seen as resulting in an assault on the core values of the West. At its heart lies the belief that the central conflict of our time is cultural and that traditional culture and civilised society have been under attack ever since the Enlightenment. The author traces the development of Western civilisation from its origins - paradoxically in the East - and examines what he sees as its inexorable decline in all forms of art and all walks of life. He asks uncomfortable questions about politics, philosophy, psychology and religion and suggests answers which are provocative and unorthodox. This book is a bold and challenging attempt to present a new concept of modern history for our complacent times. The results are often unexpected but always original and invigorating. Tracing the development of Western civilisation from its origins - paradoxically in the East, this book examines the decline in all forms of art and all walks of life. It asks questions about politics, philosophy, psychology and religion and suggests answers, and attempts to present a concept of modern history for complacent times.