The author addresses many topics. They include Renaissance, Enlightenment, Romanticism, idealism, ideology and the Church and the modern world. One could say that the central theme of the work is the process of secularization that has invaded the contemporary world. This change is understood on the one hand, as the absolute autonomy of man, which has led to great human tragedies in the political and social fields. On the other hand, this process is understood as the affirmation of the relative autonomy of the temporal, as an internal process of the Church which has led to a declericalisation of the Christian vision of the world, opening spaces to a dialog with society, within the framework of the new evangelisation.
Although this is a book that covers a broad spectrum, it is not exhaustive from two points of view. First of all it is not exhausting to read, because it is written in a simple style. Secondly it does not exhaust the material either in terms of development or analysis, and so creates a desire to go deeper into topics of particular interest.
To assist in this, the author offers copious bibliography at the end of each section. It is worth nothing the objectivity with which the author presents this stage in the history of humanity. He gives arguments that allow his readers to respond to the questions which the society of today asks about the principal problems that afflict them. Problems such as hedonism, materialism, relativism, and laicism to mention some.
Undoubtedly this is a book recommended for all who wish to have the general knowledge which would allow them to present the evolution of the history of contemporary ideas from the beginnings up to our time. Recommended so that those who don’t have it, acquire it and that those who already possess it, revise the ideas and gain new insight on how to present that knowledge in a simple and appealing manner.