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Honor: A History Hardcover – April 25, 2006

by James Bowman (Author)

42 customer reviews

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The importance of honor is present in the earliest records of civilization. Today, while it may still be an essential concept in Islamic cultures, in the West, honor has been disparaged and dismissed as obsolete. In this lively and authoritative book, James Bowman traces the curious and fascinating history of this ideal, from the Middle Ages through the Enlightenment and to the killing fields of World War I and the despair of Vietnam. Bowman reminds us that the fate of honor and the fate of morality and even manners are deeply interrelated.

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Product details

Hardcover: 265 pages
Publisher: Encounter Books; First Edition edition (April 25, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1594031428
ISBN-13: 978-1594031427
Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.3 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 42 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,308,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5759 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Ethics & Morality
- #8992 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Political Science > History & Theory
- #14662 in Books > History > Historical Study & Educational Resources

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42 customer reviews

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Vital to understand this topic, but not as full a key as I'd like

July 24, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The facile assumption that others think as we do is only true in part and gets us into conflicts which blow up in our faces. I recommend Bowman's book because it opens up a vital subject which has become unknown territory in the West. It is not so in the rest of the world, which in its turn shows the same incomprehension of our 'Post-Honor' culture.
The earlier part of the book is a tour de force examining the European history of honor culture, using literature and film extensively to make the points. Sceptical as I am of the use of fiction to research fact I found this readable, illuminating and responsible in execution. Two-for-the-price-of-one in fact, because I think I learned about the literature as well as the sociology.
When, at the end of the book, Bowman suggests what we should be doing about the dissonance between Western and Eastern (OK, Muslim) ideas of honor, we are in very different territory. It is nearly always thus. Brilliant analysts and critics become mere humans when they tell us how to put the world to rights. One is entitled to conclude that Bowman is to the right of the political average. But is the political average right to be so left? Personally I like a healthy dose of debunking of prevalent thought. Good on you, Bowman. But feminists of a sensitive disposition should not read this book.
Now for my own theory. Imagine you live in a country where it is absolutely expected that you will supplement your modest salary by collecting bribes. Where you are held in contempt if you do not use your position to provide jobs for your family and friends in preference to the most able. Someone wrongs your family, but you know that the police can be bought and are a lot less effective even than in Western countries. Your standing depends on getting justice despite the state's inability to provide it. Would you and I, in that situation, not have the inclination to take the law into our own hands to preserve the honor on which life can depend? Would we not do our utmost, if male, to project an image of masculine aggressiveness and live up to that when necessary in order to prevent worse?
Bowman touches only briefly on this aspect of honor culture, its role as a survival and coping mechanism. It's worth a chapter.
At the moment I don't know of a better book on the subject. It should certainly make you think. And that is surely the most important role of a book.

5 people found this helpful6 people found this helpful

Excellent History: Compelling!

March 8, 2007

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is a look at the concept of honor throughout history, showing the difference between the way the concept of honor has developed on the Western nations verses other places in the world. The author makes a compelling case that we should reverse our "aniti-honor" bent, and try to reconcile the notion of honor with our modernistic society, especially if we are to survive in any sort of clash against a purely honor based society.

One thing I think the author does miss, a bit, is the specific underpinning of the Jewish and Christian concepts of honor, that honor is bad if it accrues to the person. Honor is only honorable if it is for something greater than you.

8 people found this helpful9 people found this helpful

Typical...and Brilliant

October 18, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

James Bowman is one of the best writers in conservadom. I have followed his work for years at The American Spectator and The New Criterion so there was no question that, sooner or later, I would pick up this book. The text is an outstanding piece of social and cultural history which makes it fairly unique among current titles. Bowman's erudite discussion of a lost value among men is both compelling and educational. Rare is the conservative who possesses anywhere near the level of literary knowledge that this author does. His exploration of honor throughout time includes the elucidation of so many classics and great minds that you will feel as if you are taking a western civilization course as you flip the pages; although, nowadays, such classes are verboten. This explains why the concept of honor as well, in both its manly and patriotic sense, has become beyond the pale. No better explanation for our cultural decline can be proffered. As honor goes so does humanity.

5 people found this helpful6 people found this helpful

A fine honor…

June 12, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I am always delighted to read learned analysis cyrstalizing subtleties of which I had been unaware or which I had not previously encountered with such clarity. James Bowman delivered on both counts: new ideas; wonderful clarity on old ones.

One person found this helpful2 people found this helpful

William S Jamison

August 11, 2006

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is a very intriguing thesis that cuts to the heart of much of the conflict today. If the route to the solution of our problems in the Middle East is an understanding of the source of the problem in the first place, then this book takes dead aim at that problem.
What an interesting expression! "...both encounter a sort of cultural phantom limb syndrome." (p. 35) I love it!
The tie in to the crusades is very interesting along with the historical recognition of when women first began being treated differently than they are still treated in the rest of the world.
When did the middle class begin to think of themselves as having a version of aristocratic honor? I would hate to think few read Scott anymore but I certainly remember thinking highly of Ivanhoe and Quentin Durward, the movie Rob Roy, the opera Lucia. Did I grow up with that sense of honor? And is this the reverse of other? (P. 97) The quote "the greatest dullness of the greatest number" is certainly one I will add to the collection I keep in RAM! While used with respect to the youth in between WWI and WWII it certainly seems useful now. Modern warfare, psychotherapy, and feminism collectively destroy honor.
This is one of the best books I have read in years.

11 people found this helpful12 people found this helpful

Spot on predictions about our times

December 27, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Honor is politically incorrect, yet still exists today, because it is a part of our nature as human beings. It testifies to being brought forth in glory. Being fixed within us its easy to predict the future of a post-honor, post-enlightenment celebrity culture--collapse. Bowman's last chapter has a strong prophetic feel to it since many of things occurring today bear witness to what he argued back in 2006 as being true.

It's not a history book so much as it is an effort to cast the light of Western historical honor on our society today. It's spot on.

One person found this helpful

A nuanced book worth reading.

March 14, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Suggests that honor is dead and that the world is governed by interest alone. The turning point is supposed to have been the First World War. For myself, I suspect that the two things have always co-existed and always will. Still, a nuanced book worth reading.

One person found this helpful2 people found this helpful

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