{"product_id":"stranger-than-we-can-imagine-making-sense-of-the-twentieth-century-paperback","title":"Stranger Than We Can Imagine: Making Sense of the Twentieth Century - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJohn Higgs\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"An illuminating work of massive insight\" on the complex ideas and events that initiated the historical shift between the 19th and 20th centuries (Alan Moore, author of \u003ci\u003eV for Vendetta \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eWatchmen\u003c\/i\u003e). \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"An always-provocative view of an era that many people would just as soon forget . . . an absorbing tour of the 20th century.\" --\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In \u003ci\u003eStranger Than We Can Imagine\u003c\/i\u003e, John Higgs argues that before 1900, history seemed to make sense. We can understand innovations like electricity, agriculture, and democracy. The twentieth century, in contrast, gave us relativity, cubism, quantum mechanics, the id, existentialism, Stalin, psychedelics, chaos mathematics, climate change and postmodernism. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In order to understand such a disorienting barrage of unfamiliar and knotty ideas, Higgs shows us, we need to shift the framework of our interpretation and view these concepts within the context of a new kind of historical narrative. Instead of looking at it as another step forward in a stable path, we need to look at the twentieth century as a chaotic seismic shift, upending all linear narratives. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Higgs invites us along as he journeys across a century \"about which we know too much\" in order to grant us a new perspective on it. He brings a refreshingly non-academic, eclectic and infectiously energetic approach to his subjects as well as a unique ability to explain how complex ideas connect and intersect--whether he's discussing Einstein's theories of relativity, the Beat poets' interest in Eastern thought or the bright spots and pitfalls of the American Dream.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn Higgs\u003c\/b\u003e created the long-running BBC Radio 4 quiz show \"X Marks the Spot\" and has directed BAFTA-winning episodes of animated pre-school British TV. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eKLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band that Burned a Million Pounds\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eI Have America Surrounded: A Biography of Timothy Leary\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eOur Pet Queen: A New Perspective on Monarchy\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 356\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 x 8.9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 10, 2015\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51771032928544,"sku":"9781593766269","price":16.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/6b1233c1f8b736246d53e9da24eb6588.webp?v=1780382182","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/stranger-than-we-can-imagine-making-sense-of-the-twentieth-century-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}