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Benedict Anderson

Imagined Communities: Reflections On The Origin And Spread Of Nationalism

Benedict AndersonNonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1983

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Book Brief

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Benedict Anderson

Imagined Communities

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1983
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Global • 20th Century

Theme
Publication Year

1983

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Imagined Communities by Benedict Anderson explores the rise of nationalism and the modern nation-state as a social construct that fosters a sense of community among people who may never meet. It traces the historical transformations—such as the decline of Latin, the advancement of print-capitalism, and the emergence of vernacular languages—that facilitated national consciousness from the late eighteenth century onward.

Informative

Contemplative

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.3

15,972 ratings

79%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Benedict Anderson's Imagined Communities receives widespread acclaim for its insightful exploration of nationalism's origins and the concept of nations as socially constructed communities. Praised for its rigorous research, some critics find its theoretical complexity challenging. Overall, it is a foundational text in understanding modern national identities.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Imagined Communities?

Readers who would relish Imagined Communities by Benedict Anderson are typically interested in political science, history, and sociology. Fans of Ernest Gellner's Nations and Nationalism or Eric Hobsbawm's The Invention of Tradition will appreciate Anderson's insightful analysis on the origins and spread of nationalism.

4.3

15,972 ratings

79%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Global • 20th Century

Theme
Publication Year

1983

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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