Books, Influential
The 10 Most Influential Books of Human History
And how they incrementally changed the world
Books don’t only shape our present. They’ve always been pushing society forward.
If you crave to understand how the big milestones in history happened, read about influential books of the past. Whether it’s about politics, feminism, economics, or physics, the books of the old times can show you how people back then were thinking.
Time travel becomes a reality when you read the words of previous generations.
Here’s how some ‘viral’ books of human history shaped society and incrementally changed the world.
1. On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, in 1859
The book introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection. Charles Darwin wrote it to be suitable for non-specialist readers. As a consequence, a broad audience had accessible knowledge of how humanity evolved.
How it changed the world
The book directly impacted religious beliefs. Many people started to question the seven days of creation and the existence of God. Thus the power of the church and the faith of the people weakened.
2. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, in 1848
In the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels strongly criticize capitalism. At the same time, the book analyses the class struggle: the crucial exploitation of the working class will eventually lead to the overthrow of the ruling class.
How it changed the world
According to the writers, wealth should be distributed evenly, education should be free, and property should be owned publicly. The criticism of capitalism is more than rightful.
And we should definitely learn from this book. But the intents — so far — resulted in disasters. The theories of the book provided the basis of communism.
3. The Complete Works by William Shakespeare, in 1594–1613
The book collects all the 37 plays of Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare wrote comedies, histories, tragedies, tragicomedies, and sonnets. He is considered to be the world’s greatest dramatist, and his plays were translated to every major language.
How it changed the world
William Shakespeare succeeded to write pieces of artwork for everybody’s taste. From the very poor townees to the wealthy aristocrats, he could address the audience with the same play.
The works of Shakespeare have significantly influenced literature and theater. His influence extends from the 16th century to our present days. Shakespeare also had a lasting impact on the English language.
4. The Republic by Plato, in c. 375 BC
Plato lays down the base of a perfect community with the ideal individual in it.
In his book, Plato explains his concepts about justice, education, morality, reality, and the government. The Republic is suitable for a broad audience because of its conversational style.
How it changed the world
Plato tries to define and explain societal, political, and individual justice. His concepts shaped the morals of the society of his times and impacted our 21st-century world. Plato is one of the most influential philosophers, and he is a crucial figure of idealism.
5. Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant, in 1781
In the Critique of Pure Reason, Kant tries to define the limits of metaphysics. — Metaphysics is a significant branch of philosophy that also deals with existence. The perception of reality is a key question of metaphysics.
How it changed the world
Kant contributes to philosophy with key findings. The knowledge of an individual cannot be purely based on experiences.
But neither can it be solely based on thinking and reasoning. So there must be a middle way. He argues that we all must perceive reality through space and time. These things are kind of given.
So from the beginning of our lives, we all experience our beautiful world through space and time. Consequently, we cannot be sure whether we perceive the real word or not.
Let me give you a short example: you cannot take down your pink sunglasses in your whole life. Thus, you see the world in pink. And that’s your reality. You believe that the world as a whole is pink. You cannot perceive it in another way.
6. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, in 1792
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is the extension of The Rights of Man. It was a response to political and educational theories that opposed women’s education.
How it changed the world
This book was one of the first writings that demanded rights and equality for women. Wollstonecraft was also fighting for equal education for girls and boys.
7. The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, in 1776
This book is considered to be the foundation of modern economics. Adam Smith clearly describes the principles of capitalism.
How it changed the world
The author concluded that the best economic situation would be an open competition with no government control.
His theory has influenced many economic theories ever since. It also gives a base to several economic policies.
8. Orientalism by Edward W. Said, in 1978
In his book, Edward W. Said describes how Europeans and Americans perceive the Eastern world — Orientalism means the portrayal of the East in a stereotyped way.
The book’s author emphasizes that the Western world sees itself as a great, civilized one. In contrast, the Eastern world is inferior, barbaric, and exotic.
How it changed the world
Orientalism criticizes and evaluates how Western people think about the East. The book is a fundamental text of post-colonial studies. One can understand the book’s relevance by glancing at current political issues of the Eastern world and the Arabic cultures.
9. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, in 1949
Nineteen Eighty-Four is a dystopian novel about a totalitarian society. The book satirically depicts the consequences of government over-reach and mass surveillance.
How it changed the world
In the book, it gets clear that such a totalitarian state will never benefit society. Unfortunately, many politicians consider the book a manual rather than a lesson…
10. The Meaning of Relativity by Albert Einstein, in 1922
In The Meaning of Relativity, Albert Einstein explains his findings for non-specialist readers. The book is about the theory of relativity. It is about the famous equation: E = mc2.
How it changed the world
The practical implications of Einsteins’ findings include nuclear energy production and the design of GPS satellites.
Conclusion
Without these books and discoveries, our society would be different today.
Yet, are the writers of the books initiating radical changes, or is the society pushing for transformations?
The two factors shape history together. Even though some extraordinary thinkers are ahead of their times, they cannot initiate change if society is not ready to hear their words.
We need a suitable time for a change. A time where society is both collaborative and receptive. In these times, the right charismatic people will take their chance and bring novelty.
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Thanks to Ruchi Das.
posted by Aloyzio Achutti at 9:50 AM
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