Which crisis hit hardest?
Pick the most impactful upheaval of the 20th century
Loading…
The Age of Extremes
Eric Hobsbawm’s *The Age of Extremes* dissects the turbulent 'short 20th century'—a 77-year period spanning from the outbreak of World War I in 1914 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. This definitive historical work traces the era’s defining extremes: the catastrophic global wars that shattered 19th-century liberal order, the seismic revolutions that birthed socialist states, the Great Depression that upended capitalist systems, and the decades-long Cold War that divided the world into opposing camps. Hobsbawm also explores the era’s social and cultural upheavals—from decolonization and the rise of youth culture to the transformation of science and art. He analyzes how these interconnected crises reshaped global politics, economies, and societies, leaving a legacy of inequality, ideological fragmentation, and ecological challenges. A masterful synthesis of historical analysis, the book offers critical insights into the forces that defined modernity and warns of the risks of repeating the era’s violent mistakes.
Understand the Book
Choose how you want to explore this book.
Explore with AI
Ask about the book's ideas and how they relate to your life.Share Your View
Cold War: Who truly won?
Debate the real victor of the Cold War
Will extremes repeat?
Do you think we face similar chaos?