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 Hitlerโs Mein Kampf, which foreshadowed the death and destruction of World War II, Harveyโs famous volume on blood circulation which revolutionized medical theory and treatment, Einsteinโs 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 Newtonโs presentation of his discovery of the laws of gravity, a cornerstone in scientific theory today, Darwinโs Origin of Species which many churchmen thought contradicted the Bible, Harriet Beecher Stoweโs Uncle Tomโs Cabin which is considered one of the major causes of the American Civil War, and Freudโs Interpretation of Dreams, the great volume from the man who revolutionized modern manโs 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.