This book is in no sense a conventional narrative history of the last hundred years, but rather a survey of the main currents of political and social ideas in the Western world since the revolutions 0f 1848. The heart of this book he calls 'The Challenge of Old Myths and New Trends', a clear, succinct account of the programs and faith of imperialism, racialism, fascism, national socialism and communism. He by means falls into the illusion that of these communism alone is now alive.