Philip

A very thoughtful analysis.

Revisado: 02-17-19

Ryrie's book intelligently and affectionately records the Protestant peoples throughout our history.

His summation of Luther is possibly one of the best brief overviews I have heard. He also is kind towards almost all of his subjects without succumbing to servile relativism. He has his opinions, but he is not going to either force them upon the reader or back away from them. When given the choice between being charitable or judgmental, he opts for the former when possible but is unashamed of employing the latter when necessary.

This hits a bit of a stumble towards the end (although to be fair he warns the reader about the problems of prognostication). It is impossible to predict where things will go in the macro level, but most Protestants are far more fixated on their own small areas than the larger movement. In other words, I doubt Protestants can afford to focus on future issues while they are attempting to take faithful proclamation one day at a time.

Still, a minor falter at the end should not negate the importance of this subject, the ambition of it's execution, or the quality of it's craftsmanship. Well done.

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Very good.

Revisado: 09-24-15

I think the fact that I couldn't put it down says something. Most notably I enjoyed how it was for the most part not action, yet full of suspense. It was like Angus MacGuyver meets Robinson Crusoe ... in space. It's a very nice break from the rugged individualist hero living by his will since Mark has to use his mind too.

It was very enjoyable and I finished much quicker than anticipated. The narration was good too.

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Very balanced and informative.

Revisado: 05-15-15

This was a very good performance and subject that not only approached the Reformation as such, but also looked to fit it in the wider world of both its time and ours. It set a good pace and didn't leave the areas of Western Europe alone for long before cycling back.

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Another point of view.

Revisado: 12-01-14

If you could sum up How the West Won in three words, what would they be?

How the West Won is the story of Christendom. Stark takes us through the period of Greek thought and its meeting with Christianity in what he calls: The Roman Interlude. He points out that Rome acted more like a protection racket than an actual ruling entity. Moving from uncovering the continuation of scientific thought in the Middle Ages and Renaissance to influence of Christianity in the ages of Discovery and the Enlightenment, Stark shows that Christendom's unique understanding of God and creation compelled its thinkers to keep discovering. Most importantly he shows that it was because of Christendom, rather than inspite of it, that the West was able to accomplish so much more. Key to all of this is a notion of freedom that was not extant elsewhere in the world.

What did you like best about this story?

I appreciated Stark looking at the data and asking questions of the accepted thinking. Many this day and age do a good job questioning thinking without looking at all the data.

What does Kevin Foley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He does a fine job and conveys the text very well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I appreciated the inclusion of Robert Woodberry's study about missions. I couldn't believe it myself when I heard it; but Stark isn't exaggerating when he declares it to be one of the most questioned and re-examined studies. It holds up. It says a lot about Christianity that it has led to such amazing advances far from the Western roots.

Any additional comments?

At times Stark can push his point farther than all the history might suggest. Yet, in an Aristotelian way he is trying to counteract the poor scholarship and biases shown by people who hold to a secular metanarrative. On the whole Mr. Stark's bias is only really perceived because he doesn't tow the academic line. Ultimately one should read this book (or listen in this case) in addition to other viewpoints as well.

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