Born in 1927, Charles Block has witnessed the historic events of the past century—child of the Depression, veteran of WWII and beneficiary of the GI Bill. In 1951, by virtue of the GI Bill, he earned a Masters Degree in Mathematics from Harvard University. This achievement was the bridge to becoming a member of an MIT research lab. Funded by the government, this research lab was developing inertial guidance systems for planes, which would provide navigational steering instructions to aircraft. Solving the math equations was time-consuming. In a neighboring MIT lab was a prototype digital computer called Whirlwind I. Mr. Block learned to program Whirlwind in an effort to speed up the research. As a result he became deeply familiar with emerging computer technology. Later, when computers were feasible commercial products, Mr. Block was employed as a consultant to many enterprises including computer manufactures, banks and insurance companies. Later he joined a major international bank and was the lead manager in its automation projects and a consultant to senior bank executives.

In retirement he continued his reading, studying and writing habits and published his first book—Morality; Whose Idea Was It Anyhow. Charles and his wife Myriam live in Aventura, FL.

He writes essays and prefers reading historical nonfiction books like Countdown 1945 by Chris Wallace.

Visit Charlie at charlesblockbooks.com

Humanism: The What, Who, Why, When and Where validates that about three hundred years ago the world pivoted. It turned from a place where most people were extremely poor and powerless, with only one autocratic religious option, to a world with a huge thriving middle class enjoying political and religious freedoms. Where and when did this pivot start? What was the seminal cause?

This book asserts that the catalyst for this consequential turn is humanism, an idea spawned in Antiquity, redeemed in the Renaissance, and made “self-evident” in the Enlightenment. The book, Humanism, stresses the power of ideas in shaping history, and the heroic individuals behind those ideas. It takes the reader on a journey from the dawn of the ideals of human conduct to the emergence of modern world.

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“…Truly, my soul and mind have been enlightened, as I was exposed to many great thinkers. To say that I have been inspired to do and become more is an understatement. Consequently, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. There was nothing to dislike about it, and I believe it was exceptionally edited… I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about humanism and its impact on our world.” – OnlineBookClub.org