Books Are Weapons
Books have wielded an immense power for good and evil throughout the history of the human race. Here is a thoughtful and probing discussion of sixteen of the most important works of all time which influenced history, economics, culture, civilization, and scientific thought from the Renaissance to the present day.
Such widely different, but immensely powerful books as HitlerтАЩs Mein Kampf, which foreshadowed the death and destruction of World War II, HarveyтАЩs famous volume on blood circulation which revolutionized medical theory and treatment, EinsteinтАЩs theories on relativity which opened the atomic age are clearly described in this provocative and readable volume. Dr. Downs, former President of the American Library Association and head of the University of Illinois Library, also shows the widespread and decisive influence of other great works, including NewtonтАЩs presentation of his discovery of the laws of gravity, a cornerstone in scientific theory today, DarwinтАЩs Origin of Species which many churchmen thought contradicted the Bible, Harriet Beecher StoweтАЩs Uncle TomтАЩs Cabin which is considered one of the major causes of the American Civil War, and FreudтАЩs Interpretation of Dreams, the great volume from the man who revolutionized modern manтАЩs thoughts about himself.
Altogether, here is a fascinating presentation of books from many times which shows the tremendous power of the printed word on human development.