Scotty S asked:
Like many people, I wasn’t really that interested in World History when I learned it the first time. I learned it because i HAD to. Now, I want to re-learn it because I want to.
Like many people, I wasn’t really that interested in World History when I learned it the first time. I learned it because i HAD to. Now, I want to re-learn it because I want to.
Are there any suggestions for World History books that will not only educate…but maybe be a bit “pleasurable.” I’m not looking for anything really opinionated either.
Thanks in advance.
Calvin
Tags: Many People, Pleasure, World History Book
Gene
I just finished reading “Guns, Germs and Steel” (years after the fanfare - I’m slow that way) and it was quite informative and enjoyable, generally.
The “alternate” title is “A short history about everyone for the last 13,000 years” — you gotta admit that is intriguing, no?
The issue you get into with looking for a single, definitive guide is that history is filtered through the bias of the authour regardless of how sound the information seems. It is always best to read several sources on an issue, and it’s a subject that can never be conclusive either.
Albert
I’ve always had an affection for Will and Ariel Durant’s series “The Story of Civilization.” It’s a huge set that most libraries carry (although I own it myself). Don’t be afraid of its size; it’s written in a conversational, almost chatty style. It’s a bit outdated now — I think it was written between the 1930s and the 1970s, and scholarship has moved on. It’s still a great read.
Shannon
I HIGHLY…HIGHLY…HIGHLY recommend the series by Will Durant entitled “The Story of Civilization.” He writes on everything from ancient civilizations to the Reformation and everything in between, each subject to a book.
The books are large but very well-written and not dry at all. They are older books but you will probably find them in your library. These are for true history aficionados, though.
If you are also looking for non-biased tomes, Durant is your man. For example, in “The Reformation,” he gives an exegesis and analysis of both the Catholic and Protestant views and the pros and cons of each’s side in the issue. I am Catholic and felt he was entirely unprejudiced.
He is very well-known in historical circles and his books are classics. Please at least try Durant. I have all his books and they were well worth the investment.
Edit: Whoa! Someone beat me to the punch! I TOLD you Durant was good!
Tyrone
I don’t know where you are from, but if you have a discovery channel store at your local mall, they usually have some really fun, fairly small (150-200 page) history books. They arn’t usually by real historians, so they’re a little more fun and less specific and opinionated. Real historians always have an opinion, thats kind of their job. They try and make sense of the history and give your opinion on why something happend and how it affected everyone. If you want a straight up this is the history and here are some fun facts about it, check out their store, or maybe even their web site.
Brandon
Don’t start with Durant. The eleven volumes average about 800 pages each and end in 1815. (See the article on “Will Durant” in WikipediA.)
I recommend A New History of the World by J. M. Roberts for a beginner. Then, if there is a particular period you are interested in (like Ancient Rome or the French Revolution) go to appropriate Durant volume.
Troy
I highly recommend a Cartoon History of the Universe series. The first books begins with the Big Bang and now the latest volume just ended with the formation of the American Bill of Rights. I’d get them