A Globe and Mail Best Books of the Year 2011 TitleAt the heart of human experience lies an obsession with the nature of death. Religion; for most of history; has provided an explanation for human life and a vision of what comes after it. But in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; such beliefs came under relentless pressure as new ideas―from psychiatry to evolution to communism―seemed to suggest that our fate was now in our own hands: humans could cease to be animals; defeat death; and become immortal.In The Immortalization Commission; the acclaimed political philosopher and critic John Gray takes a brilliant and frightening look at humankind's dangerous striving toward a scientific version of immortality. Probing the parallel faiths of Bolshevik "God-builders;" who sought to reshape the planet and psychical researchers; who believed they had evidence of a nonreligious form of life after death; Gray raises fascinating questions about how such beliefs threaten the very nature of what it means to be human. He looks to philosophers; journalists; politicians; charlatans; and mass murderers who all felt driven by a specifically scientific and modern worldview and whose revolt against death resulted in a series of experiments that ravaged whole countries. An urgent examination of Darwin's post-religious legacy; The Immortalization Commission is an important work from "one of Britain's leading public intellectuals" (The Wall Street Journal).
#304400 in Books 2010-03-16 2010-03-16Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.56 x 1.58 x 6.47l; 1.35 #File Name: 0374254001480 pages
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Possibly the best non-fiction I've read in the last decadeBy Leslie HarbackAs a person who reads a bunch of history; it's ultimately the books that don't remain too serious about their subject matter; while still representing it in a factual way; that stand out. On this count; Simon Winder is at the top of my non-fiction-author heap at the moment; having pulled off a book that's so expansive (covering much of the German speaking world; for around two millennia); so detailed in it way (by Winder's only description; the place we think of as 'Germany' was until about 150 years ago an agglomeration of hundreds of tiny principalities); and so unbelievably funny (on more than one occasion while reading in bed I laughed so hard that I woke up my wife; much to my regret...) that I flew through it almost too fast. It's a rare beast of a non-fiction; history-ish book that you wish; upon finishing it; that you had another 500 pages or so to go. Well; here it is! I'll bottom line it: if you have even the slightest interest in Germany or things German; or European history; grab this right now. You won't regret it. (Oh; and I should note: if you're looking for a dry listing of historical events; in order; by region; with outcomes of battles and population charts for cities of the Hanseatic League; look elsewhere. Perhaps you'd be better served by some manner of college level textbook?)0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A history of Germany as Monty Python would write it.By ScottThis book is so difficult to review - I find myself chortling at his self-depreciation and enjoying the segways more than the point in history that he's describing. It's like he can't help himself and plunges down one rabbit hole after another. As a history book; I think that it ultimately fails. As a travel guide; it excels. I head to Munich here in a month and I fully intend to visit many of the towns and villages he writes about.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Brilliant Trip!By jocelyn314A Brilliant Trip! Thank you Mr Winder for a wonderful journey from the Romans through the middle ages until 1933. Your book exemplifies how many facets humans contain. It is savvy and fascinating and very funny. Your depth and perspective lent me such a refreshed look at Europe and for that I am grateful. I will review it again soon to list all the fun tips; places; and advice you so freely offer as a result of your canny curiosity and thorough research. What a find!
