Reviews
From the Ruins of Empire: The Revolt Against the West and the Remaking of Asia by Pankaj Mishra
chadkoh's review against another edition
5.0
Pankaj Mishra delivers a sweeping account of the intellectual history of anti-colonial thought in the early years of Western colonialism. He builds this narrative through mini-biographies of two lesser-known intellectuals: Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī and Liang Qichao. These early thinkers diagnosed the challenge of Western imperialism faced by Asia. The evolution of their thought is influenced by historical milestones such as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, a failed uprising to gain independence from the West, and the 1905 Battle of Tsushima, where an Asian nation defeated a Western military power for the first time. Japan’s victory was a turning point for optimism in the oppressed Asian psyche, celebrated by anti-colonialists like Gandhi, Ataturk, and Tagore. Here was an Asian country beating the West at its own game.
Read the rest of the review → https://chadkohalyk.com/2020/12/21/from-the-ruins-of-empire/
Read the rest of the review → https://chadkohalyk.com/2020/12/21/from-the-ruins-of-empire/
joemacare's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot recommend this highly enough. Made me realize how limited and Western-centric my knowledge of history was up until this point.
katescholastica's review
3.0
I’m glad I read the book, but I think the organization and formatting is challenging to overcome when almost all the information is new. Obviously, the book intends to highlight critical global events not discussed in the west while also challenging western interpretations of recognized global events (world wars, decolonization, economic movements, etc.) However, the lack of a printed timeline, maps, or glossaries made parts hard to follow. I had to constantly remind myself that when intellectuals are traveling between India and Japan or China and Turkey, these are massive distances.
That being said, the book follows through on its core goals and it does push me to read more history outside American and other Western development.
That being said, the book follows through on its core goals and it does push me to read more history outside American and other Western development.
zoehunter's review against another edition
I just didn’t have time, I will pick it up again sometime
andreinavhernandez98's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.75
It’s a great introduction into a history we are so often robbed off.
I did find helpful that I had studied in depth the XIX century from an Eastern perspective before. But someone that hasn’t will still find looots of ideas or, at the very least, starting points for further study and investigation.
It was easy to understand, though confusing at parts when it jump in time, which was constantly.
I already want to read it again because there is so much to learn here!
I did find helpful that I had studied in depth the XIX century from an Eastern perspective before. But someone that hasn’t will still find looots of ideas or, at the very least, starting points for further study and investigation.
It was easy to understand, though confusing at parts when it jump in time, which was constantly.
I already want to read it again because there is so much to learn here!
edders's review against another edition
4.0
The West versus the rest. 'The West', defined by those within and outside, is always set in terms of what it is against, of what it is not, what it defends against. In this very modern history of colonial Asia - and this is East Asia as much as central Asia, even dipping into Africa - Pankaj Mishra jumps from country to country summing up change and development to the present day.
Key intellectual players - which I guarantee few if any from 'the West' have ever heard of - are tracked for their own remarkable migration and dissemination of ideas. Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī, and Liang Qichao become our leaders on an intellectual journey from the inculcation of Western values and nation-state politics through brutal revolution and change to where we are today.
Mishra's eclectic and broad based history is very convincing. He makes his points well and gives what feels like a more rounded and true interpretation of events such as the Japanese defeat of the Russian navy in 1905 and Woodrow Wilson's preaching of national self-determination crumbling in the face of the empires that survived the First World War. Seeing how far back the resistance to and opposition against Western colonial and imperial efforts stretch back into time is humbling.
Key intellectual players - which I guarantee few if any from 'the West' have ever heard of - are tracked for their own remarkable migration and dissemination of ideas. Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī, and Liang Qichao become our leaders on an intellectual journey from the inculcation of Western values and nation-state politics through brutal revolution and change to where we are today.
Mishra's eclectic and broad based history is very convincing. He makes his points well and gives what feels like a more rounded and true interpretation of events such as the Japanese defeat of the Russian navy in 1905 and Woodrow Wilson's preaching of national self-determination crumbling in the face of the empires that survived the First World War. Seeing how far back the resistance to and opposition against Western colonial and imperial efforts stretch back into time is humbling.
xalaila's review against another edition
5.0
I love different tales on history and this is a compelling account of the last 2 centuries from a nom-Western perspective. We need many more books like this.