This is the story of human civilization, seen not over election cycles or decades but generations and centuries. His great strength as an author and intellectual was always weaving together an inspiring, relevant story from a mismash of confusing scholarly records. His great value add isn’t original research (it’s all secondary sources), and instead he pulls together an impressive array of material across history and literature, economics and politics.

"May we once more look up at the sky — or the dusty records of our past civilizations — and wonder about our place in the stars instead of quibbling over our place in the dirt."