'Isms & 'Ologies: All the movements, ideologies and doctrines that have shaped our world

by Arthur Goldwag

Book Overview

Have you ever wondered about the difference between Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism and which influenced the other? Do you know where Post-modernism stops and Post-structuralism begins? Would you like to? From Platonism to New Historicism, humankind is constantly coming up with fresh schools of thought to help explain (or at least describe) the mysterious world around us. Here is the ultimate guide to over 450 of the most significant intellectual...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307279073
• ISBN13: 9780307279071
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book for those who love words and beliefs!

When I saw this book online, I immediately knew it was something me and my husband would really enjoy! I didn't realize the format was dictionary-esk, but now I love the way it's set up! It has different sections on different topics, for example, if you want to look up thoughts, religion, science, sexual fetishes, etc. It's quite the easy read if you just want to absorb the knowledge, and if you're just wondering what is a Muggletonian, this is a great book for you!

A brilliant and funny introduction

This brilliant book, or encyclopedia, will be a handy reference guide and a great read for anyone interested in the intricacies of human belief and wishing to culture themselves. It includes all the obscure movements such as the Chartists and Futurists and describes many of the better known ones from Cubism to Structuralism. Many unknown, and barely believable `isms' are also included such as Mugwumpism. Some appear to be slightly made up. Nevertheless the sheer scale of the number of isms and ologies and ideologies included is so vast that this book is a must read. Organized by theme such as religion or art or politics and then alphabetically it is a handy and wonderful reference and an enlightening read with roughly a page or two devoted to each movement, with concise and yet whitty introductions and histories of each. Seth J. Frantzman

Fun, Informative, and Very Useful

This is a must-have reference book for all parents and general readers who have ever been stumped by their kids' questions or just a plain lapse in memory about subjects they thought they knew--such as the meaning of existentialism, Jeffersonianism, and my favorite, Taoism. Most books of this sought are dry and dull, but the author writes about complex topics with clarity, grace, and quite a bit of wit. I use this book all the time--more than I thought I would. It's a very handy tool and occupies a prominent place in my library.