WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

History, religion and culture
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RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by RSR »

FROM WIKI

William James "Will" Durant (/dəˈrænt/; November 5, 1885 – November 7, 1981) was an American writer, historian, and philosopher. He is best known for The Story of Civilization, 11 volumes written in collaboration with his wife, Ariel Durant, and published between 1935 and 1975. He was earlier noted for The Story of Philosophy (1926), described as "a groundbreaking work that helped to popularize philosophy".[1]
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The first volume of The Story of Civilization series, called Our Oriental Heritage (1935), is divided into an introduction and three books. The introduction takes the reader through the different aspects of civilization (economical, political, moral and mental). Book One is dedicated to the civilizations of the Near East (Sumeria, Egypt, Babylonia, Assyria, Judea and Persia).
Book two is "India and Her Neighbors
." Book three moves deeper into the east, where the Chinese Civilization flourishes and Japan starts to find its place in the world's political map
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The Story of Civilization is also noteworthy because of the excellence of its writing style and contains numerous adages worthy of the Roman and Renaissance authors Durant admired
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In 1930, he published The Case for India while he was on a visit to India as part of collecting data for The Story of Civilization. He was so taken aback by the devastating poverty and starvation he saw as a result of British imperial policy in India that he took time off from his stated goal and instead concentrated on his polemic fiercely advocating Indian independence.
he had concocted, by his mid-30s, "that sentimental, idealizing blend of love, philosophy, Christianity, and socialism which dominated his spiritual chemistry" the rest of his life.
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"Hence a certain tension between religion and society marks the higher stages of every civilization. Religion begins by offering magical aid to harassed and bewildered men; it culminates by giving to a people that unity of morals and belief which seems so favorable to statesmanship and art; it ends by fighting suicidally in the lost cause of the past. For as knowledge grows or alters continually, it clashes with mythology and theology, which change with geological leisureliness. Priestly control of arts and letters is then felt as a galling shackle or hateful barrier, and intellectual history takes on the character of a "conflict between science and religion." Institutions which were at first in the hands of the clergy, like law and punishment, education and morals, marriage and divorce, tend to escape from ecclesiastical control, and become secular, perhaps profane. The intellectual classes abandon the ancient theology and—after some hesitation—the moral code allied with it; literature and philosophy become anticlerical. The movement of liberation rises to an exuberant worship of reason, and falls to a paralyzing disillusionment with every dogma and every idea. Conduct, deprived of its religious supports, deteriorates into epicurean chaos; and life itself, shorn of consoling faith, becomes a burden alike to conscious poverty and to weary wealth. In the end a society and its religion tend to fall together, like body and soul, in a harmonious death. Meanwhile among the oppressed another myth arises, gives new form to human hope, new courage to human effort, and after centuries of chaos builds another civilization.[

RSR
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Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by RSR »

https://www.amazon.com/Story-Civilizati ... 1567310230
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The Story of Civilization (11 Volume Set) by Will Durant (Author),‎ Ariel Durant (Author)
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From a private collection, ready for your library or bookshelf: Just 127 Dollars? Am I reading this correctly?
1) Our Oriental Heritage;
2) The Life of Greece;
3) Caesar and Christ;
4) The Age of Faith;
5) The Renaissance;
6) The Reformation;
7) The Age of Reason Begins;
8) The Age of Louis XIV;
9) The Age of Voltaire;
10) Rousseau and Revolution;
11) The Age of Napoleon.
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Image

Nick H
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Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by Nick H »

second-hand books, unless rare and desirable are not going to be expensive. click the link to see what other sellers are asking for the same thing. Amazon has two sets which their sellers consider to be "collectable." They are more expensive.

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by RSR »

True. Good thing for real lovers of Literature and scholarship. That such a wonderful set of volumes is available for such low price, perhaps is an indication of the yanks cultural level...people who stand in queue to get the latest gadget!

Nick H
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Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by Nick H »

Whilst (although I know nothing of this author) I see your point in a sort-of metaphorical way, be careful about equating the cost of the book with the value of its contents!

I wonder if the internet has made second-hand books cheaper. We can find so much without moving from our desks, let alone spending money. As a book appreciator, I think that is a shame... but I'm part of it. I have a beautiful, two-volume dictionary on the shelf, but, day-to-day, I type "Google define... " rather than walking over there and taking the book off the shelf.

RSR
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Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by RSR »

It is a shame that this thread has been moved to the lounge. Will Durant, like Toynbee, is a world-famous historian and prolific writer in lovely English prose. Unlike the latter mentioned author, Will Durant had written extensively on the Oriental civilizations ,especially India, from 3000 BC and it helps in getting a better picture about the cultural background of both CM and HM. .
I wonder if there is a wrong understanding of my post. I was very much surprised that these priceless 11 volumes are being given at a mere 127 dollars, ( nearly equivalent to about just 7000 rupees. ) . American editions, mere paperback, on science, fiction, engineering are murderously costly... but Indian editions are just 1/10 of that price.
I envy those who reside in the USA and can avail themselves of this gift As a person residing in India, it will be prohibitively costly to get the set from USA. Perhaps, amazon can sell it here through amazon.in.

Nick H
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Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by Nick H »

Post-flood, I replaced as many of my most loved books as I could.

One or two did come, 2nd hand, from Amazon.com (USA). The price per book was negligible, but including all delivery charges it was prohibitive.

One of my worst losses was my Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. My parents' 18th birthday present to me.

I would have bought it new, but was delighted to find, in India, a beautiful 2-volume edition printed in 1960s. I may not have the original book, but I am able to feel that I still have my parents' gift. And a wonderful reference book.

Now I just need to find The Moths of the British Isles, two volumes. that was my 15th birthday present from my parents. I think London may still have second-hand bookshops and I am going there this year. Wish me luck!

MaheshS
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Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by MaheshS »

Nick H wrote: 12 Mar 2018, 14:00 Now I just need to find The Moths of the British Isles, two volumes. that was my 15th birthday present from my parents. I think London may still have second-hand bookshops and I am going there this year. Wish me luck!
Second hand hard cover [both volumes] available in many online stores, about 14 pounds in total without shipping costs.

RSR
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Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by RSR »

For people who love History and English Language, HAPPY NEWS HERE.
Just now found all the eleven volumes of Will Durant's Story of our civilization, in PDF format ,free download from Archives.
https://archive.org/stream/TheStoryOfCi ... 0/mode/2up
This link is for the first book, Our Oriental Heritage.

Nick H
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Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by Nick H »

MaheshS, thank you: If I can actually find in a shop when I am there, that would be great, otherwise, I can shop online for UK delivery.

RSR, I don't think that I would read that, but I am happy for you that you found it :)

arcive.org has vast amounts of everything. There is another site dedicated to online archiving of books. I forget the name, hope somebody else can help. You might find some treasures there.

vasanthakokilam
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Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by vasanthakokilam »

It is a shame that this thread has been moved to the lounge
It is not. I have put in some words in the other thread. Let us move on.
There is another site dedicated to online archiving of books. I forget the name, hope somebody else can help. You might find some treasures there.
http://www.gutenberg.org/

And for tamil books
http://www.projectmadurai.org/pmworks.html

RSR
Posts: 3427
Joined: 11 Oct 2015, 23:31

Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by RSR »

@11-> Thanks. I already know of the gutenberg and projectmadurai sites and have used them a lot..
@10-> I have downloaded eight volumes last night.
Nick....Renaissance volume by Will Durant is an absolute classic. As a born Englishman ( I believe that you are, as I do not know about the personal background of forum members),...I think, you will love it. That was introduced to me by senior relative of mine, a voracious reader, some 60 years back, when I was in college. It is a great book, page after page, para after para, sparkling with alliteration . There might be atleast a hundred forum members who would love it. ..Now that the link for free download is there, they might download and read at their leisure, I hope.

Nick H
Posts: 9379
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: WILL DURANT- STORY OF OUR CIVILIZATION

Post by Nick H »

Thank you for the recommendation; it is appreciated. Whilst I have learned history from novels, eg some of the Victorian writers who highlighted social causes (I think we discussed this before), I'm unlikely to take up an actual history book.

Maybe one day...

And yes, you are right: I was born English. Or "am?" I'm still an "English" sort of white, and still have British nationality. I can't do anything about the former, but do occasionally consider doing something about the latter. :)

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