At a glance
Dr. Nicholas Waddy, associate professor in Alfred State’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, is the author of a newly published textbook titled, “The Essential Guide to Western Civilization.”
Dr. Nicholas Waddy, associate professor in Alfred State’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, is the author of a newly published textbook titled, “The Essential Guide to Western Civilization.”
Published by Routledge, the 412-page textbook “offers a concise overview of European history developed to suit the undergraduate Western civilization curriculum,” according to a description on the publisher’s website, routledge.com.
The description adds, “Author Nicholas L. Waddy provides an accessible account of major developments in European history in a flexible format. The book will serve as a core text for instructors wishing to build a syllabus including primary sources, articles, and visual materials of their own choosing. Discussion questions and a list of key terms at the end of each chapter will help to guide conversation and assist students in navigating the Western civilization survey.”
Providing his thoughts on the book, Waddy said, “As someone who has taught Western civilization classes for 15 years, I perceived the need for a textbook that was affordable, accessible to the modern student, and most of all brief enough that students could realistically assimilate what it had to say. Years ago a publisher suggested that I write such a book myself, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ It was a massive project in the end, so it's extremely gratifying to see it come to fruition, and I have very high hopes for the book.”