Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Knopf (2002), Edition: 1st, 960 pages
Description
For centuries, civilisation has been defined by epoch-making cycles of war and peace. But now our world has changed irrevocably. What faces us in this era of uncertainty? How do we protect ourselves against war machines that can penetrate the defences of any state? Is it too late to try? Visionary and prophetic, The Shield of Achilleslooks back at history, at the 'long war' of 1914-1990 and at the future- the death of the nation-state and the birth of a new, terrifying kind of conflict without precedent in our history.
User reviews
LibraryThing member thcson
The author apparently think this will be an epochal book as he begins by pretentiously quoting page after page of Homer. But this book is noteworthy more for it's length than it's intellectual weight. I did enjoy the historical parts, but the general argument doesn't have a clear structure. Some
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critical editing and shortening would have been most welcome. Show Less
LibraryThing member BakuDreamer
almost unreadable
LibraryThing member David-Block
A curious analysis of the history of the world and its conflicts, and an attempt to predict the possible futures. Predicting the future is bound to fail as no one can clearly foresee new developments. A pattern that does emerge is the gradual growth in the size of communities, from families, to
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villages, to principalities, kingdoms, countries, states and nations and to world alliances. If this is continued eventually perhaps the world will be a single unit. For this however the interests of individuals must be subjugated to the interests of the whole. Will that happen is another question. Show Less
Awards
The Economist Best Books (2002.14)
Arthur Ross Book Award (Honorable Mention — Honorable Mention — 2003)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2002
Physical description
960 p.; 9.61 inches
ISBN
0375412921 / 9780375412929