Stranger Than We Can Imagine : Making Sense of the Twentieth Century

“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 V for Vendetta and Watchmen ). “An always-provocative view of an era that many people would just as soon forget . . . an absorbing tour of the 20th century.” — Kirkus Reviews In Stranger Than We Can Imagine , 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. 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. 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. In Stranger Than We Can Imagine, 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. 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. 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-- Relativity: Deleting The Omphalos -- Modernism: The Shock Of The New -- War: Hoist That Rag -- Individualism: Do What Thou Wilt -- Id: Under The Paving Stones, The Beach -- Uncertainty: The Cat Is Both Alive And Dead -- Science Fiction: A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far Away -- Nihilism: I Stick My Neck Out For Nobody -- Space: We Can In Peace For All Mankind -- Sex: Nineteen Sixty-three (which Was Rather Late For Me) -- Teenagers: Wop-bom-a-loo-mop-a-lomp-bom-bom -- Chaos: A Butterfly Flaps Its Wings In Tokyo -- Growth: Today's Investor Does Not Profit From Yesterday's Growth -- Postmodernism: I Happen To Have Mr Mcluhan Right Here -- Network: A Planet Of Individuals. John Higgs. Originally Published In The Uk By Weidenfeld & Nicolson--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 327-332) And Index. The twentieth century should make sense. It's the period of history that we know the most about, an epic geo-political narrative that runs through World War One, the great depression, World War Two, the American century and the fall of the Berlin Wall. But somehow that story doesn't quite lead into the world we find ourselves in now, this bewildering twenty-first century, adrift in a network of constant surveillance, unsustainable competition, tsunamis of trivia and extraordinary opportunity. Time, then, for a new perspective. With John Higgs as our guide, we step off the main path and wander through some of the more curious backwaters of the twentieth century, exploring familiar and unfamiliar territory alike, finding fresh insight on our journey to the present day. We travel in the company of some of the most radical artists, scientists, geniuses and crazies of their age. They show us that great innovations such as relativity, cubism, quantum mechanics, postmodernism and chaos maths are not the incomprehensible, abstract horrors that we assume them to be, but signposts that bring us to the world we live in now. John Higgs brings us an alternative history of the strangest of centuries. He shows us how the elegant, clockwork universe of the Victorians became increasingly woozy and uncertain; and how we discovered that our world is not just stranger than we imagine but, in the words of Sir Arthur Eddington, 'stranger than we can imagine'.