The Decline of the West (Oswald Spengler)

*The Decline of the West* by Oswald Spengler argues that civilizations are like living organisms with life cycles—birth, growth, decline, and death. Spengler suggests Western civilization reached its peak in the 19th century and now faces inevitable decline, characterized by cultural, political, and social transformations. He emphasizes that civilizations have unique, soul-like cultures that evolve differently over time, and that decline is a natural, unavoidable phase. The book encourages understanding history as a series of distinct, organic stages, rather than linear progress, highlighting the importance of recognizing this cycle to better understand the present and future.