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The Great Degeneration

How Institutions Decay and Economies Die
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( 2,798 ratings, 324 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Great Degeneration by Niall Ferguson explores the decline of Western institutions, including the rule of law, democracy, free-market economies, and civil society. Ferguson argues that these pillars are eroding, with profound implications for the strength and prosperity of Western civilisation. The book delves into historical trends and contemporary challenges, provoking thought on how to revitalise these crucial structures.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by historical perspectives on how societies decline and the role of institutions in that process. Niall Ferguson presents an engaging analysis, using both historical and contemporary examples, making it appealing to those interested in economics, politics, and societal structures.

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The decline of the West is something that has long been prophesied. Symptoms of decline are all around us today: slowing growth, crushing debts, ageing populations. But what exactly is amiss with Western civilization? The author argues that the institutions that were once the four pillars of Western society - representative government, and more.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Niall Ferguson's pithy, digestible polemic on the decline of the West.

The Great Degeneration is a powerful—and in places polemical—indictment of an era of negligence and complacency. While the Arab world struggles to adopt democracy, and while China struggles to move from economic liberalisation to the rule of law, Europeans and Americans alike are frittering away the institutional inheritance of centuries. To arrest the degeneration of the West's once dominant civilisation, Ferguson warns, will take heroic leadership and radical reform.

This book is based on Niall Ferguson's BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures 2012, which were broadcast under the title The Rule of Law and Its Enemies.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Niall Ferguson's The Great Degeneration is lauded for its engaging writing style, wit, and profound insights, making complex ideas accessible and compelling. It's praised for its urgency and sharpness, with Ferguson's knack for intertwining historical analysis with memorable narratives. The book's ability to illuminate and captivate readers with a rich display of knowledge is frequently highlighted.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141975238

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 January 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 11.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 148g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Niall Ferguson is one of Britain's most renowned historians. He is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, a senior faculty fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard, and a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing. He is the author of fifteen books, including The Pity of War, The House of Rothschild, Empire, Civilization and Kissinger, 1923-1968- The Idealist, which won the Council on Foreign Relations Arthur Ross Prize. He is an award-making filmmaker, too, having won an international Emmy for his PBS series The Ascent of Money. His many other prizes include the Benjamin Franklin Prize for Public Service (2010), the Hayek Prize for Lifetime Achievement (2012) and the Ludwig Erhard Prize for Economic Journalism (2013). He was named Columnist of the Year at the 2018 British Press Awards.

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