Preview
  • Carnage and Culture

  • Landmark Battles in the Rise to Western Power
  • By: Victor Davis Hanson
  • Narrated by: Bob Souer
  • Length: 20 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (306 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Carnage and Culture

By: Victor Davis Hanson
Narrated by: Bob Souer
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.79

Buy for $25.79

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Examining nine landmark battles from ancient to modern times - from Salamis, where outnumbered Greeks devastated the slave army of Xerxes, to Cortes' conquest of Mexico to the Tet offensive - Victor Davis Hanson explains why the armies of the West have been the most lethal and effective of any fighting forces in the world.

Looking beyond popular explanations such as geography or superior technology, Hanson argues that it is in fact Western culture and values - the tradition of dissent, the value placed on inventiveness and adaptation, the concept of citizenship - which have consistently produced superior arms and soldiers. Offering riveting battle narratives and a balanced perspective that avoids simple triumphalism, Carnage and Culture demonstrates how armies cannot be separated from the cultures that produce them and explains why an army produced by a free culture will always have the advantage.

©2001 Victor Davis Hanson (P)2019 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Carnage and Culture

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    271
  • 4 Stars
    23
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    232
  • 4 Stars
    32
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    245
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I dare to say this is one of VDH's best!

History. If you enjoy history, especially about the Rise of Western Power and Dominance, Victor Davis Hanson never disappoints. The narrator is also very good. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic book!

Extremely interesting, as all if VDH's work is. Provides an understanding of why Western culture, originating with the Greeks and Romans, has had the success that it has.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The WAY we are Because ....

World History from a Vantage Point.
EXCELLENT. SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR EVERY COLLEGE GRADUATE.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great history!

will re-listen to on audible. excellent historical research deep dives into major battles and struggles

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Read this book!

More proof that The West is The Best! Great analysis and history! You won't be disappointed!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fact filled description of evolution of western warfare.

An excellent treatise that connects the western world in a way that makes clear the path to western current style of warfare and the basic tenants and values that make it possible.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Compendium of Battles

I love VDH’s thought processes and insights. He brings together complexities into easy to understand and very relevant modern conclusions. It’s clear, given history back to the 400s BC, that America and the West need to fight for the First & Second Amendments (among others), free market capitalism, and the Constitution in order to benefit the world. Non-Westerners haven’t had these things and the people suffered because of it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Read this book

If you have any interest in military history at all you must read this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Victor Davis Hanson is a treasure

One of the best writers and thinkers alive. Comprehensive look at select warfare and how democracies and free societies succeed and why. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow! This truly is a great book. A rarity!

Superbly researched and factually detailed with brilliant analyses of landmark battles. In a word: Brilliant!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful