Why people recommend it
The Age of Extremes by Eric Hobsbawm is a comprehensive historical work examining the turbulent twentieth century, often characterized by the author as the short twentieth century spanning from the start of the First World War in 1914 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. On the Lex Fridman Podcast, guest Bhaskar Sunkara recommended this seminal text during a detailed conversation about socialism, communism, and historical political movements. Sunkara explained that he started his own intellectual journey by reading Hobsbawm's acclaimed four-volume history series, which traces human history systematically from the 1700s all the way up to 1994. He specifically highlighted the final installment, The Age of Extremes, as an essential and highly valuable read for young people seeking deep historical context and a better understanding of modern political structures. The recommendation underscored the book's enduring reputation as a foundational text for anyone interested in the political and economic forces that shaped the contemporary world.
Who recommended it
- Bhaskar Sunkara Recommended
Bhaskar Sunkara — 1 mention
“I started off reading books like Eric hopis bombs um uh four books on um history going from the 1700s all the way to 1994 the last book is age of extremes”