Gold has played a significant role in the course of human history. It has been the source and cause of great conflict, vast riches and wealth, and the unprecedented growth and expansion of societies. Author Peter L. Bernstein writes about all of these ideas in his book, The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession. Bernstein’s The Power of Gold is a worthwhile work because Bernstein uses relatively simple and straightforward language and several sources—a combination of primary and secondary—to explain the economic and social effects of gold, which help to articulate his message that gold has and continues to be a hugely influential precious metal that can shape societies. Despite these positive aspects, the author does not incorporate images or charts and he does not elaborate on cultural and political themes.
In the prologue, Bernstein discusses his motives for writing this book, as well as what he aims to teach his readers. He begins with his thesis, which states, “Gold has motivated entire societies, torn economies to shreds, determined the fate of kings and emperors, inspired the most beautiful works of art, provoked horrible acts by one people against another, and driven men to endure intense hardship in the hope of finding instant wealth and …show more content…
So it only makes sense that he would have several dozen different sources, both primary and secondary to support his thesis. In "A Metal for All Seasons" and "The Path to Triumph," the majority of sources used are secondary sources. This may be because fewer people were literate in earlier times, fewer records were kept, or records that were kept were lost with time. Despite this, Bernstein does incorporate a few primary sources into his work. This includes The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo, translated by Ronald Latham. He uses Polo's accounts of serving the Mongol leader Kublai Khan to support his idea that gold can motivate entire societies
In the prologue, Bernstein discusses his motives for writing this book, as well as what he aims to teach his readers. He begins with his thesis, which states, “Gold has motivated entire societies, torn economies to shreds, determined the fate of kings and emperors, inspired the most beautiful works of art, provoked horrible acts by one people against another, and driven men to endure intense hardship in the hope of finding instant wealth and …show more content…
So it only makes sense that he would have several dozen different sources, both primary and secondary to support his thesis. In "A Metal for All Seasons" and "The Path to Triumph," the majority of sources used are secondary sources. This may be because fewer people were literate in earlier times, fewer records were kept, or records that were kept were lost with time. Despite this, Bernstein does incorporate a few primary sources into his work. This includes The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo, translated by Ronald Latham. He uses Polo's accounts of serving the Mongol leader Kublai Khan to support his idea that gold can motivate entire societies