The Clash of CivilizationsThe Clash of Civilizations
Score Modern
What it's about
Political scientist Samuel P. Huntington argues that after the Cold War, the main conflicts in the world would be between civilizations, defined by culture and religion, rather than between nations or ideologies, and explores what that means for the West.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books. It's one of the most influential and debated books on world politics.
You'll love it if you liked
The End of the World Is Just the Beginning
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
Imagined CommunitiesGood to know
Its thesis is controversial and widely criticized as well as praised.
By the numbers
- Readers28 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller6 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #1052 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1944 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Voices From Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear DisasterExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →Quick answers
Is The Clash of Civilizations worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best nonfiction books. It ranks #1,944 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Clash of Civilizations about?
Political scientist Samuel P. Huntington argues that after the Cold War, the main conflicts in the world would be between civilizations, defined by culture and religion, rather than between nations or ideologies, and explores what that means for the West.
How long does it take to read The Clash of Civilizations?
About 12 hours (464 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Clash of Civilizations?
If you liked it, try The End of the World Is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan, Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond or Imagined Communities by Benedict Anderson.

















