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The Uses of the Past: Profiles of Former Societies Paperback – 1957

by Herbert J. Muller (Author)

8 customer reviews

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With the vision of both historian and philosopher, Herbert Muller surveys the golden ages of past societies in a search for a pattern or a lesson that can be meaningful today.

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Product Details

Paperback: 414 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; First edition (1957)
Language: English
ASIN: B000DZTZEE
Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #553,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #492 in Books > History > Historical Study & Educational Resources > Historiography

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Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

but still a great perspective of the past

By Bill Lyman on October 13, 2014

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

A little outdated, but still a great perspective of the past and the philosophy of living. Interesting to see that it was also on Carl Sagan's list of books read.

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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

Mind-candy, if you already know your history

By Shaun Johnston on January 11, 2007

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

This kind of one-volume overview of all of culture has become more common recently, but I was surprised to find this one written several decades ago. It holds up well, and I enjoyed it. It belongs to a time when you could enthuse about democracy and individual freedom without sounding soppy, and I enjoyed the dip back into what now seems a more innocent time. It doesn't tell you what happened in history, it assumes you know that already, it's commentary on that. Fortunately I did know enough, and this was like mind candy, no big surprises, just plain pleasure to read, a tutorial with a charming wise guide with a soothing and reassuring point of view.

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1 of 10 people found the following review helpful

read this for kicks

By Bruce P. Barten on December 17, 2011

Format: Paperback

Everything that happens is dynamic. The Uses of the Past/Profiles of Former Societies (1952, 1953, 1963) by Herbert J. Muller shows how much scholarly freedom can be allowed when people are freely contriving atomic bombs. I have a CD called Bloodletting (1990) of songs performed by Concrete Blonde that has a grasp on ideas like:

They say nice try,
Tomorrow Wendy,
you're going to die.

Don't count on any second coming.
God got his ass kicked
the first time he came
down here slumming.
. . . and then forgive us.
No, I don't wonder why?
I wonder what he thought it would get us?

The Uses of the Past explains the origins of Christianity as a struggle between traditional church doctrines, Jesus casting out demons, and St. Paul establishing doctrines like gutter balls that would make salvation a universal religion. It pokes some fun at Harry Truman, as if Americans who expected Nixon, JFK, and LBJ to make Vietnam a land that Americans could die for had not really tried Christianity, but the president has the right to think the Beatitudes are the perfect description of the reversals of meaning popping into the head of a figure in flight with its mind fixed on its own salvation.

At this late date in December, 2011, I hardly expect people to remember a craving to put everything in your Harry Truman and smoke it, but books can take us back to the hell that makes it worth quoting a footnote on page 168:

President Truman, for example,
once told a delegation of churchmen
that the foreign policy of the United
States is based on the Sermon on the
Mount. He was no doubt quite sincere,
quite unaware of any inconsistency
between this announcement and the
contemporary Truman doctrine.Read more ›

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Wonderful analytical book

By oldfrog on September 5, 2009

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

This well written book combines history, philosophy and culture to define who we(humans) are and where we may be going as a society. 1955 he actually defines the neoconic views. The introduction is very slow but once you get into the heavy stuff you have to stop and reread a passage again to make sure you understand what he just stated. A truly good book that needs to be republished. A well groomed perspective of civilization past and today.

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Five Stars

It was a gift

Published 12 months ago by Irene oyler

The uses of the Past

This is a first rate book that looks at history from a fresh viewpoint. I'm reading it for the second time since college.

Published on July 11, 2009 by Manfred Hegemann

Fantastic

A sweeping inquiry into the lessons of history, focusing on Rome & Greece, Christianity & Judaism, the Byzantine empire, the Middle Ages, and Russia & China. Read more

Published on July 3, 2004 by TLR

Worth Two Readings

"Uses of the Past" is dense. I had to read it twice to understand what was going on, then a third time for appreciation. Read more

Published on October 29, 2003 by "e1westt2"