Ideas That Matter

'Ideasarethecogsthatdrivehistory,andunderstandingthemishalfwaytobeingaboardthatpowerfuljuggernautratherthanunderitswheels'.Thisisabookthatcelebratesthepowerofideas:thoughtcan,anddoes,changetheworld.And,inturn,ideasevolve.Fundamentalism,environmentalismandbioethicsaredefiningourfuturejustasMarxism,feminismorexistentialismhaveinfluencedourpresent.Sowhatdoweneedtoknowaswemoveintothe21stcentury?Morethanasimplereferencework,thisisA.C.Grayling'spersonalandheartfeltguidetotheideas,pastandpresent,thatshapeourworld.Coveringreligion,philosophy,scientifictheoryandpoliticalmovements,eachalphabeticallyorderedentryilluminates,elucidatesandprovokes.WrittenwithGrayling'scustomaryfireanderudition,theresultisabookthataimsbothtoarmreaderswithknowledgeandengagetheminphilosophicaldebate.