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400
Book • Nonfiction
Global • 19th-20th Century
1982
Penguin Books
Adult
18+ years
All That Is Solid Melts Into Air: The Experience of Modernity by Marshall Berman explores the dynamic nature of modernity through philosophical, economic, and cultural lenses, analyzing its effects on identity, community, and urban spaces via the works of Goethe, Marx, and Baudelaire, and the urban transformations in cities like Paris, St. Petersburg, and New York. Berman addresses themes such as modernization's paradoxical creation and destruction, urban spatial transformation, and the impact of economic and technological change on culture and society. The book touches on sensitive topics, including suicidal ideation.
Contemplative
Mysterious
Melancholic
Nostalgic
Bittersweet
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Marshall Berman's All That Is Solid Melts Into Air is widely praised for its insightful exploration of modernity and its impactful blend of literature, philosophy, and social theory. Critics commend Berman's engaging prose and multidisciplinary approach. However, some find it dense and challenging due to its extensive references and complexity. Overall, it remains a seminal, thought-provoking work.
Readers who relish All That Is Solid Melts Into Air by Marshall Berman typically enjoy interdisciplinary studies, particularly those blending literature, philosophy, and urban sociology. Enthusiasts of works like The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels or Simulacra and Simulation by Baudrillard will find Berman's analysis compelling and enriching.
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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
A German literary figure whose work, notably Faust, provides a foundation for Berman's examination of the modern condition, highlighting themes of ambition and the tensions between progress and morality.
Karl Marx
A philosopher and economist whose critiques of capitalism and theories on alienation inform Berman's exploration of economic and social transformations within modernity.
Charles Baudelaire
A French poet and critic whose works, especially related to the urban environment of 19th-century Paris, offer insights into the sensory and emotional experiences of modern urban life for Berman's analysis.
Robert Moses
A prominent urban planner in mid-20th-century New York, whose ambitious infrastructure projects serve as an example in Berman's discourse on the effects of modernization on urban landscapes and communities.
The title of the book, All That Is Solid Melts Into Air, is a phrase derived from a passage in Karl Marx's The Communist Manifesto, emphasizing the dynamic and transitory nature of modern life.
Marshall Berman's work is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach, blending insights from philosophy, literature, and urban studies to explore the impacts of modernization.
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The book has influenced a wide range of fields and has been cited in discussions about modernity and urban development, particularly in its analysis of cultural and economic transformations.
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400
Book • Nonfiction
Global • 19th-20th Century
1982
Penguin Books
Adult
18+ years
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