NOVEMBER 13, WEDNESDAY, 6:30 PM

Jeff Coufal will discuss John Farrenkopf's book, "Prophet of Decline: Spengler on World History and Politics," Spengler's own works, as well as other works by Spengler's contemporaries.

WAS THIS MAN RIGHT?
Much as Rome fell to the barbarians, the West is doomed to a long and debilitating decline. We are now entering a new era of Ceasarism, the age of money power, where spiritual and artistic creativity has ended, the Grand Style is replaced by ever-changing fads, men have become effete and women barren.

This controversial thesis was propounded by Oswald Spengler in his seminal work of history, "The Decline of the West." Hailed as visionary historical analysis, reviled as proto-Nazi saber rattling, derided as a mystic apocalypse, this book has defied easy analysis and cannot be dismissed because of its enormous predictive value. In "Prophet of Decline," John Farrenkopf tries to illuminate this extraordinary book by looking at the whole of Spengler's career and writing and by putting them into their historical perspective.

Sponsored by Open University of the Left.
Program location: Lincoln Park Branch Library, 1150 W. Fullerton Ave.

Free event. For more information, call 773-244-1480.