History's Greatest Decisions: And the People Who Made Them

One of the defining features of being human is our capacity for rational thought, our ability to find the solution to a problem. Most of the time we deal with mundane concerns, like what to have for breakfast, but occasionally people are faced with much weightier matters. History's Greatest Decisions gathers together some of the most important decisions ever made. In this cynical age, in which we are constantly reminded of our mistakes, perhaps it is worth recognising that we are capable of better. Some of the decision-makers featured in this book were well aware of the gravity of what they were doing; others had no idea at all. Some were rich and powerful; others were ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. From our unknown ancestors who first modifies pieces of stone to make better tools, in those people in Northern Ireland who put aside their differences to create a better future, we take a look at fifty stories of people who, when faced with crucial decisions, got them right.