Amsterdam by Russell Shorto

9 out of 10

After fighting against the Catholic Hapsburgs and the Spanish Empire for 80 years, the Dutch established a country of their own in 1648.  Individualism, modesty, tolerance, gedogen, and other ideals were mainly in line with Calvinist dogma but also proved to be practical and effective for growing a successful economy.  A golden age emerged as joint-stock companies traded shares to finance things like global shipping or tulip mania.  Amsterdam became a magnet for merchants, artists, philosophers, investors, inventors, and anyone else keen on opportunity.  The attitude was exported around the world--notably to New Amsterdam/New York and London where William of Orange sat on the English throne.  The city was temporarily swallowed by Napoleon's Europe and later by Hitler, which is still cause for reflection on the resident's failure to protect thousands of their Jewish neighbors.  After the war, it was a hotbed for hippies.  Today it prides itself on being liberal, though, as the author points out, that is loosely defined and unclear what people will do at times when lax laws produce inconvenient consequences.