The Struggle for Stability in Early Modern Europe

I think as historians and thinkers at large we are so used to seeing the transition from the middle ages as a natural thing that was bound to happen. However, when really focusing on the early modern era, it is readily apparent that the change from the religious to the secular and the change of small powers to larger powers -- even the centralization and growth in power of the church was not natural in its progress and was filled with conflict. Theodore K. Rabb in this book and others explores the confusion of those years of profound change that the early modern era was. His insights are original and Rabb has a knack for humanizing the struggle of the worldly over spiritual. Overall this book is very scholarly and I recommend this book to the undergraduate looking to canvas an era, as a decent secondary source for research, and (most importantly) a great book for the casual reader who wants to learn about the early modern era. Rabb is lucid and colorful in his language... Put this book on your "to read" list. Ted Murena