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The Uses of the Past: Profiles of Former Societies

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SKU:
1697
Condition:
Good – Bright, clean covers with minimal shelf wear. There is a crease on the spine, but the binding remains firm. The pages are clean and crisp; however, about 39% contain light pencil underlining and marginal notes, which do not affect readability.
Format:
Mass Paperback, 416 pages
Publisher:
The New American Library, 1963
Edition:
First Mentor Book Edition, Seventh Printing
The Uses of the Past: Profiles of Former Societies is a thought-provoking exploration of history and human civilization by Herbert J. Muller. Drawing on his wide expertise as a historian and scholar, Muller surveys notable societies—from Greece and Rome to Western Christendom and the Byzantine Empire—with the aim of uncovering enduring patterns and lessons about human meaning and progress. Rather than merely recounting events, he investigates how past societies shaped ideas, institutions, and cultural values that continue to influence the present. Throughout the book, Muller emphasizes that understanding the past not only informs our grasp of contemporary challenges but also deepens our awareness of who we are as inheritors of complex civilizations.

The Uses of the Past: Profiles of Former Societies is a thought-provoking exploration of history and human civilization by Herbert J. Muller. Drawing on his wide expertise as a historian and scholar, Muller surveys notable societies—from Greece and Rome to Western Christendom and the Byzantine Empire—with the aim of uncovering enduring patterns and lessons about human meaning and progress. Rather than merely recounting events, he investigates how past societies shaped ideas, institutions, and cultural values that continue to influence the present. Throughout the book, Muller emphasizes that understanding the past not only informs our grasp of contemporary challenges but also deepens our awareness of who we are as inheritors of complex civilizations.

About the Author

Herbert J. Muller (1905–1980) was an influential American historian, educator, and writer. A graduate of Cornell University, he taught at several major institutions, including Cornell, Purdue, and Indiana University, where he held a distinguished professorship. Muller also served in government roles, including positions with the U.S. Department of State and the War Production Board. His scholarship spanned world history, cultural analysis, and the philosophy of history, with The Uses of the Past among his best-known works. He was noted for his ability to connect historical insight with broader questions of human values and social development.