The Theft of History by Jack Goody
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ill be honest, this was a very tough read.
I understood this as less of a book and more of a literature review. I’m glad that I stick to the principle on not giving up on books, but reads like these really challenge that principle for me.
This book touches upon our understandings on what we view are the foundations of Western Civilisation. What we usually believe and understand to be unique to the Western world, in fact, isnt always accurate. The Author Jack Goody packs a punch with a wealth of historical sources and leaves us with little doubt as to his conclusions.
I honestly thought this book would be about a list of technologies and the like which had been “borrowed” and taken from different Civilisations and then used by others. To be fair this book does have a sense of that, not in terms of technology, but on a much more fundamental level.
Sadly, the book very much felt like a drag to me and while I did benefit from reading it (seldom does a book not benefit), I felt like it really wasn’t what I was expecting.
If you’re after what feels like an extensive literature review on historical concepts, this might be right up your street.