. EMBRACING HISTORY'S LESSONS..
What Every College Graduate Should Know

Chapter 1   About the Author  TOC  Central Lessons  Appendix A B C

Table of Contents.
 

1.        WHAT IT'S ABOUT

1.1.     Seeking a Bonanza

1.1.1.   Goal

1.1.2.   Limitations

1.2.     Scope and Approach

1.3.     Concepts of History

1.4.     Background

1.4.1.  Pros and Cons of Historical Study

1.4.2.  Value and Cautions in Historical Study

1.5.    Trends and Turn Periods

1.6.    Nature of Mankind
 

2.       SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

2.1.    Concepts

2.1.1. Features of Social Groupings

2.1.2. Characteristics of Societies

2.1.3. Characteristics of Cultures

2.1.4. Characteristics of Civilizations

2.1.5. Societal Motivations

2.1.6. Role of Traditions and Customs

2.1.7. Requirements for Societal Survival

2.1.8. Challenges to Societal Survival

2.2.    Principles

2.2.1. The Basis of Principles

2.2.2. The Freedom Mandate

2.2.3. Values for Societal Survival

2.3.    Structure

2.3.1. Elements of Social Organization

2.3.2. Universal States

2.3.3. Evolution of Government Systems

2.3.4. Importance of Form of Government

2.3.5. Toward an Improved System

2.3.6. Nations and Their Institutions

2.3.7. Necessity of Laws

2.3.8. High Cultural Achievement

2.3.9. Conditions Leading to Decay

2.4.    Education

2.4.1. Need for Education

2.4.2. Background of Education

2.4.3. Cultural Development via Education

2.4.4. Penalties for Neglecting Education

2.4.5. Battle over Education

2.5.    Technology

2.5.1. Background

2.5.2. Methods of Science

2.5.3. Social Consequences

2.5.4. Innovation and Survival

2.6.    Population

2.6.1. Background

2.6.2. Overpopulation

2.6.3. Conflicting Views

2.6.4. Historical Review

2.6.5. Resources

2.6.6. Negative and Positive Aspects

2.6.7. Population Control

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3.       GOVERNMENT

3.1.    Politics

3.1.1. Background

3.1.2. Intrigues

3.1.3. Abstract Ideas

3.1.4. Needs versus Resources

3.1.5. Policies and Law

3.1.6. Internal Influences

3.1.7. External Influences

3.2.    Leadership in Political Systems

3.2.1. Aspects of Leadership

3.2.2. Leadership within Democracy

3.2.3. Faulty Systems and Leaders

3.2.4. Influence of Mental Aberrations

3.2.5. Leadership Styles and Influences

3.3.    Power

3.3.1. Shifts and Transformations

3.3.2. Power Struggles

3.3.2.1 International Struggles

3.3.2.2. Internal Struggles

3.3.3.  Influence of Money and the Military

3.3.4. Manipulators

3.3.5. Constraints

3.4.    Discord

3.4.1. Constancy of Conflict

3.4.2. Internal Trauma

3.4.3. International Relations
 

4.       WAR

4.1.    General Aspects

4.1.1. Definitions

4.1.2. Theory of War

4.1.3. War Politics

4.1.4. War Economics

4.2.    Relevant Considerations

4.2.1. Principles and Assumptions

4.2.2. Influence of Technology

4.2.3. Non-rational Factors

4.3.    Causes

4.3.1. Incentives to Conflict

4.3.2. Government Instigation

4.3.3. Barbarian Incursions

4.3.4. Major Provocations

4.4.    Contributing Factors and Realities

4.4.1. War Adherents

4.4.2. Dominant Factors

4.4.3. Goals of Battle

4.4.4. Realities of War

4.5.    Internecine Conflict

4.5.1. Civil Strife

4.5.2. Influences and Consequences

4.5.3. Termination Troubles

4.6.    Toward Success

4.6.1. Essentials for Victory

4.6.2. Battlefield Strategy

4.6.3. Battlefield Tactics

4.6.4. Other Battle Field Considerations

4.6.5. Toward Peace

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5.       ECONOMICS

5.1.    Introduction

5.1.1. Underlying Concepts

5.1.2. Smith and Jacobs Contributions

5.1.3. Constituents of Economics

5.1.4. Conservative vs. Liberal Notions

5.1.5. Smith’s vs. Polyani’s Ideas

5.2.    Economic Basics

5.2.1. Premises

5.2.2. Competition and Cooperation

5.2.3. Production

5.2.4. Value and Price

5.2.5. Profit and Loss

5.3.    Fantasies and Fallacies

5.4.    Production, Old and New

5.5.    Government Intervention

5.6.    Trade

5.7.    Money

5.8.    Interest Rate Effects

5.9.    Inflation and Deflation

5.9.1. Definition and Description

5.9.2. Characteristics of Inflation

5.9.3. Labor Costs and Inflation

5.9.4. Commodity Prices and Inflation

5.9.5. Government Influences

5.9.6. Financial Indicators and Models

5.9.7. Inflation to Deflation

5.9.8. Ameliorating Inflation’s Hardships

5.9.9. Summary and Conclusions
 

6.       FINANCE

6.1.    Launch Pad to the Markets

6.2.    Nature of the Markets

6.3.    Forces Affecting the Markets

6.4.    Market Determinants

6.5.    The Bond Market

6.6.    The Stock Market

6.6.1. General Aspects

6.6.2. Valuation of Stocks

6.6.3. Direction and Timing

6.6.4. Frenzies and Panics

6.6.5. Bear Market Indicators

6.6.6. Risk and Hedging

6.7.    Gold as a Hedge and Indicator

6.8.    Investment Guidelines

6.9.     Social Stability

6.9.1. The Character of Crises

6.9.2. Economic Factors in Stability

6.9.2.1. Need for a Market Economy

6.9.2.2. Capitalism the Taskmaster

6.9.2.3. Efficiency via Competition

6.9.2.4. Irony of Debilitating Products

6.9.2.5. Effects of Innovation

6.9.3. Monetary Factors in Stability

6.9.3.1. Money Influences

6.9.3.2. Tax Influences

6.9.3.3. The Debt Demon

6.9.4. People Factors in Stability

6.9.4.1. Interest Groups

6.9.4.2. Economic Contests

6.9.4.3. Overstraining an Economy

6.9.5. Commentary on Stability

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7.       RELIGION

7.1.    Role of Chapter

7.1.1. Background

7.1.2. Character and Dichotomies

7.1.3. Theocratic Systems

7.1.4. Capriciousness in Religion

7.2.    Belief

7.2.1. Religion and Rationality

7.2.2. Need Fulfillment

7.2.3. Influences of Mental Makeup

7.2.4. Durability of Religion

7.3.    Discord and Accommodation

7.3.1. Dissension

7.3.2. Fractionation

7.3.3. Accommodation

7.4.    Reconciling Viewpoints

7.4.1. Theism versus Atheism

7.4.2. Science and Religion

7.5.    Summary
 

8.       PROGRESS

8.1.    Change

8.1.1. Drivers of Change

8.1.2. Adapting to Change

8.1.3. Dampers on Change

8.1.4. Patterns of Change

8.1.5. Trends in Change

8.1.6. Inevitability of Change

8.2.    Ethics

8.2.1. Moral Imperative

8.2.2. Ethical Thought of the Past

8.2.3. Questions of Ethics

8.2.4. Societal Commonalties and Differences

8.2.5. Predominant Ideas in Practice

8.2.6. Conclusions Regarding Morality
 

9.       ADJUNCT INFLUENCES

9.1.    World View

9.1.1. Character of World View

9.1.2. Types of World View

9.1.3. Sources of World Views

9.1.4. Examples of Shifts in World View

9.1.5. Freedom, Capability, and World View

9.2.    Unintended Consequences

9.2.1. Law of Unintended Consequences

9.2.2. Early Examples

9.2.3. Positive Outcomes

9.2.4. Unusual Outcomes

9.2.5. Modern Examples

9.3.    Perceptions of Importance

10.     PRẾCIS

10.1.   Analysis

10.1.1. Recap

10.1.2. Principal Phenomena

10.1.3. Civilizing Process

10.2.  Central Lessons

10.3.  Commentary

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Major Ages and Periods in History

Appendix B: Summary of Turn Points

Appendix C: Major Mind-Set Shifts

Appendix D: Fed Money Creation

Appendix E: Supplemental Indicators

Appendix F: Major Religious Developments

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

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