First published 2017
In "Square and the Tower," acclaimed historian Niall Ferguson reveals the surprising ways that social networks, not just power hierarchies, have driven the course of history. From the Protestant Reformation to the French Revolution to the rise of Silicon Valley, Ferguson uncovers the "hidden networks" that have quietly wielded outsized influence, challenging the conventional wisdom of how the world works. Exploring vivid historical turning points, he shows how the struggle between rigid institutions and nimble social webs is the central drama of the human story.
Genres: history, social-science, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: hidden-networks, institutional-vs-social-webs
Period: Protestant Reformation, French Revolution, Rise of Silicon Valley
608 pages · Paperback · ALLEN LANE