Excellent review. I read the book and found it similarily turgid, even if I came to the argument somewhat sympathetic. I hold a synthesis view that exogenous factors did help propel the West towards global supremacy, but these factors could not have been exploited without endogenous ones. In this sense, I think Joel Mokyr's books are a b…
Excellent review. I read the book and found it similarily turgid, even if I came to the argument somewhat sympathetic. I hold a synthesis view that exogenous factors did help propel the West towards global supremacy, but these factors could not have been exploited without endogenous ones. In this sense, I think Joel Mokyr's books are a better guide to the root causes, with Pomeranz's argument being a complementary rather than a replacement.
Excellent review. I read the book and found it similarily turgid, even if I came to the argument somewhat sympathetic. I hold a synthesis view that exogenous factors did help propel the West towards global supremacy, but these factors could not have been exploited without endogenous ones. In this sense, I think Joel Mokyr's books are a better guide to the root causes, with Pomeranz's argument being a complementary rather than a replacement.