An Intellectual History of the 20th Century

I am an avid reader of books about intellectual history.  The history of ideas, thinking, philosophy, science, literature, art and cultural achievements is fascinating to me.  

I have enjoyed reading two books by Peter Watson:  

Watson, Peter.  The Modern Mind: An Intellectual History of the 20th Century.   New York, Harper Perennial, 2002.  Index, notes, bibliography, 864 pages.  ISBN: 978-0060084387.  VSCL. This book approaches the subject in a narrative fashion in chronological order.  It lacks any illustrations.  It is especially strong on science, technology, and medicine since these were so dominant and creative in the past century.  He reviews the developments in art and literature quite thoroughly. 

Watson, Peter.  The Age of Atheists: How We Have Sought to Live Since the Death of God.  By Peter Watson.  Simon and Schuster, 2014.  640 pages.  ISBN:  978-1476754314.  VSCL.

His writing is clear, interesting, filled with facts and good observations and explanations, detailed, and directly relevant for us 21st century readers.