This ambitious and ultimately disappointing book offers a number of interesting historical arguments but with precious little nuance, in a domain where nuance may matter a great deal. Lent has read widely. He includes summaries of work in anthropology, linguistics, and psychology that can certainly be of interest to historians. The book’s early sections about cognition are particularly informative, but it has other nuggets scattered at various points. Moreover, Lent is on the side of the angels in current debates about environmental degradation and the need for a more constructive approach, offering a heartfelt final chapter on the subject.
Non-historians can sometimes offer a sweeping vision and a lively prose that can open new doors. It is important to avoid narrow disciplinary quibbling, recognizing that freedom from petty convention and detail may provide access to greater historical understanding for many readers. That said, and granting that Lent’s effort has made...