The Age of Revolution

I was hoping this book would focus mostly on the industrial revolution, and while the early and later chapters do hone in on that topic most of the book is a play-by-play of European history from ~1789 to ~1848. You can also tell that this was written in the 60s - lots of problematic statements/phrasing. If you can get over that this book gives useful insight into the period that's hard to find elsewhere. Highly recommend

A compelling of the first third-ish of the so-called long nineteenth century by British Marxist Eric Hobsbawm. It is generally compelling and engaging. Beyond the normal arguments about how and Cold War-era Marxist has aged from today's standpoints, Hobsbawm came across to me as pretty hand-waving when it comes to much of the non-European world, with some obvious exceptions (the US) and limited and conditional other exceptions (Japan). I don't know if greater attention to places and times he glosses over would change his argument, but it would undoubtedly have enriched it.

Covers not just the violent revolutions of the age but the transformations of social conditions and economics, taking a #systemsThinking perspective.

Also covers culture, arts, religion and sciences.

Excellent detail and much food for thought from a single volume.