Foundations, Fragilities, Futures 'The West in a Nutshell' is a book of thirty reflective essays by Australian author Paul Monk. He subjects the world's mystery and beauty to scrutinizing study. The essays invite the reader to ponder the riches of Western civilisation and they present a distillation of those ideas that are most enduring and powerful in the Western intellectual tradition. Exploring topics from history to religion, sport, poetry, opera, philosophy and geopolitics, Paul beckons the reader into the halls of Western culture.