Robert Downes is the former president of the National Library Association of America and a librarian of the University of Illinois. He once wrote a book called The Book that Changed the World. This book introduces books that have influenced world history. Now I recommend these books to everyone.

1. Prince

Nicolo Machiavelli (Italian)

Monarchy and politics in Machiavelli's The Prince, namely? Machiavelli? Doctrine has become the governing principle for all ruling classes in later generations to consolidate their rule.

2. Common sense

Thomas Paine (UK)

Paine 1737 65438+ 10 was born in a civilian family in Norfolk, East England, and moved to the United States. 177665438+1October 16 Common sense was officially published. Common sense profoundly reveals the essence of British monarchy and colonial rule. Paine pointed out: in Britain, what a king can do is often nothing more than selling officials and titles and provoking wars. ..... The king of England is a royal savage and a robber wearing a crown. ? Colonial rule is an intolerable evil. ?

Are you online? Reflections on the current situation in the United States? Chapter one Paine appeals with inspiring words? The American people have been brutally killed enough by cruel rulers. Their deep red blood is scattered all over nature, making a whimpering tone, as if accusing and calling: it's time to take an independent movement! People who love mankind and dare to oppose tyranny and tyrants, please stand in front! ?

The strong response caused by common sense is extraordinary. Franklin was very excited after reading it and called it? A work of genius? .

George Triveen wrote in History of the American Revolution:? It is difficult to find another book that has such a direct, extensive and lasting impact on the revolutionary process as Common Sense. ..... Newspapers all over the world are saying that "common sense" has led hundreds of millions of people into the struggle for independence and created a miracle on earth. ?

People miss Paine and regard him as? Father of American independence? Paine is remembered by people. Who first proposed it? * * * and the United States? Country name, was he the first to claim it? The cause of the United States is also the cause of mankind to a great extent. ? As andrew jackson said: Paine doesn't need an artificial monument. He has erected his monument in the hearts of people who love freedom and independence. ?

3. The wealth of nations

Adam smith (UK)

On March 9th, 1776, The Wealth of Nations was officially published. The wealth of nations is not limited to economy, it is a political, economic and social issue? An encyclopedia? .

J. a·R· marriott, a famous British economist, made a general evaluation of Adam Smith. He said: "The Wealth of Nations" may have the most profound influence on scientific and economic thinking and administrative management characteristics. We have every reason to believe that the influence of Adam Smith's book will continue. ?

4. Population theory

Thomas malthus (UK)

Population Theory was published in the form of a booklet at 1798, with about 50,000 words. The second edition of the book was published in 1803. Population Theory deeply analyzed the essence and causes of poverty, and soon became a political economy work as famous as The Wealth of Nations.

The famous economist John Maynard's evaluation of Thomas is the fairest and most typical. He said that Malthus was closely related to John Locke, david hume, Adam Smith, Charles Darwin, William Paley, james mill and Jeremy Bentham in the history of human science from the18th century to the present. He belongs to the ranks of great men, not only emotionally, but also in essence. His population theory occupies an important position in the history of human thought. ?

5. Disobedience theory

Henry david thoreau (USA)

The preface of henry david thoreau's Theory of Disobedience is:? The best government is one that doesn't care at all. ?

In Disobedience, Thoreau criticized the unreasonable tax payment system by analyzing the essence of the state and government, and exposed the evil slavery and autocratic regime.

Solo thinks? At best, the government is only an expedient measure, but most governments are not. ? For example, the United States government, despite it? Relatively good? But, essentially? Slave government? And make it permanent. Therefore, the responsibility of citizens is to fight against the evil behavior of the government. He wrote:? If one-sixth of the people in a country claiming to be a free paradise are slaves, then the upright people must rise up and make a revolution. ?

In the historical environment at that time, it is self-evident that Thoreau's theory of disobedience is revolutionary. Later generations call it? The revolutionary manifesto of the nineteenth century? ,? The most expensive rebel theory in the history of the new world? . As time goes on, its influence will spread all over the world.

6. Uncle Tom's cabin

Mrs. Stowe (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (United States)

Uncle Tom's Cabin has a profound impact on social development, especially on the American abolitionist movement and the Civil War. 1862, President Lincoln met Mrs. Stowe at the White House and praised her? The little woman wrote a book, which led to a big war? . The famous writer Charles Sumner said? Without Mrs Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, abraham lincoln would not have been elected president of the United States. ?

7. Das Kapital

Karl Marx (Germany)

1September 869 14 The first volume of Das Kapital was officially published in Hamburg and written in German. Its first English translation was 1887. Capital puts forward the theory of labor value and surplus value from the analysis of commodities. This is a great contribution of Marx.

Another great contribution of Marx was the creation of dialectics. Great changes have taken place in the world since Marx's Das Kapital was published more than 100 years ago. Das Kapital became a country? Working-class Bible? . Later generations have not forgotten the historical achievements established by Marx. People from different classes, different colors, different occupations and different countries all speak highly of him.

The proletariat quotes Engels' words, just as Darwin discovered the law of biological evolution, so Marx also discovered the law of development of human history. ? Marx is sociology? Darwin? , economics? Newton? .

Although the scientist Ba once thought that Das Kapital? Difficult to read, loose structure? Also admit that Marx's book is? Masterpiece? ,? Reflect the feelings and demands of the proletariat? .

The theorist Nair pointed out that Marx proved himself as Das Kapital with his own achievements. The symbol and leader of the proletarian struggle? .

Another typical evaluation was made by Dr. Freehof:? The great man who once lived in poverty brought the hope of eliminating poverty to the world, and his theory fundamentally changed the thinking of modern people? I think this is an indelible historical achievement left by Marx. ?

8. On naval strategy

Alfred mahan (USA)

1890, Mahan published his masterpiece "The Influence of Sea Power on History: 1660? 1783? Also known as "naval strategy."

This book, which made Mahan famous overseas, is essentially a history of the establishment and expansion of British sea power from the middle of17th century to the end of Napoleon War. Mahan stressed that no matter which country wants to play an important role in world affairs, it must control sea power. Sea power is the decisive factor to rule the world? . To control sea power, six conditions must be met: geographical location, natural environment, territory, population, national quality and government mechanism. So, Mahan thinks? A history of sea power is actually a history of national politics and military affairs. ?

On naval strategy was published in 1890, and soon became popular. Translated into German, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Spanish and other languages, it became one of the most influential world bestsellers at that time.

Undoubtedly, the publication of Naval Strategy not only summarizes the evolution of Shanghai power in history, but also meets the needs of western powers, especially Britain's expansion. Mahan's reputation grew with the "naval strategy".

? Whoever controls the ocean will rule the world. ? Mahan's famous words were confirmed in the two world wars. His masterpieces such as Naval Strategy? The influence of sea power on the French Revolution, 1793? "18 12" and "the relationship between sea power and 18 12 war" mark a new milestone in the development of world military science and history. An American critic said:? No one has directly and profoundly influenced the foreign policies of so many countries like Mahan. ? A French naval strategist believes that Mahan's sea power theory has changed the history of our time to some extent. ?

9. Geopolitics

Halford mackinder (UK)

? Whoever rules eastern Europe will control the heart area; Whoever rules the heart area will control the world island; Whoever rules the world island will control the whole world. ? This famous saying of British geographer halford mackinder is a concentrated summary of geopolitics.

Mahan's Naval Strategy came out 14 years later, that is 1904, Mackinder published Geopolitics. The book further elaborated and developed the basic idea of "naval strategy" and had a far-reaching impact on the process of world history.

10. My Struggle

Adolf Hitler (Germany)

Hitler's Mein Kampf appeared in 1925. This book became the blueprint for the future Third Reich. Someone called my struggle? A demagogic contemporary masterpiece? ,? Crimes against humanity in the twentieth century? This is quite accurate.

Hitler believes that all life is an eternal struggle, and the world is just a jungle where the fittest survive and the strong rule. A world where the law of the jungle prevails? . Germany wants to restore its status as a world power and become? Master of the earth? , first? There must be a final settlement with France, ... a final battle. ..................................................................................................................................................................................？

Regarding the nature of the future Nazi country, Hitler pointed out in Mein Kampf that the Third Reich should be implemented? Principles of leadership? , that is, dictatorship, to establish a head of state in this country? Hitler himself? Absolute power surrounds the head of state with a group of unimportant leaders. Hitler thought, this? Should the new country be based on race? The best race is Aryan.

In addition, in order to realize his arrogant ambition, Hitler proposed that three methods must be used: propaganda, diplomacy and force. And what is the most effective propaganda method of Nazi party? Must play tricks and learn to lie? . What is Hitler's famous saying? Call heaven hell and hell heaven? ,? The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it? .

In short, Hitler played up the horror in Mein Kampf? Living space theory? And then what? Racial superiority theory? Vent deep-rooted hatred of Jews, democracy and Marxism. Under the influence of this book, Germany embarked on the road of killing innocent people (especially Jews) and resorting to war.

Historian norman cousins correctly analyzed the relationship between Mein Kampf and the disastrous consequences of World War II. He pointed out that Mein Kampf was an extremely important book in the 20th century. From 1933 to the end of World War II, it dominated the politics of the Nazi Third Reich ... Every word in Mein Kampf cost 125 lives. On every page, 4,700 people were killed; In each chapter, an average of1200,000 people were killed. ?

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