Why read Freedom?

Book cover of Freedom: Volume I: Freedom In The Making Of Western Culture

Book description

This magisterial work traces the history of our most cherished value. Patterson links the birth of freedom in primitive societies with the institution of slavery, and traces the evolution of three forms of freedom in the West from antiquity through the Middle Ages.

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Why read it?

1 author picked Freedom as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Paul Anthony Cartledge

Author

I have met Orlando only once, alas, at the university where he has taught for many years (Harvard), he is both a novelist and historical sociologist. For a Black scholar originating from Kingston, Jamaica, to write approvingly of forms of freedom that he believes ‘made’ Western culture, when that culture arguably in both its ancient Greek and its modern Euro-American modes was also based on slavery, is in itself very remarkable. This is the first of a two-volume study.

From Paul's list on The best books on freedom and freedom of speech in Ancient Greece.