toro09 Posted July 30, 2006 Report Share Posted July 30, 2006 I am new to the subject and am looking for the most objective and comprehensive book(s) on world history around. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Toro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMeganSnow Posted July 30, 2006 Report Share Posted July 30, 2006 There's no such thing as a comprehensive book on world history; there's not even any such thing as a comprehensive encyclopedia of world history. There's just too much history (too many parts of which are under contention) to manage such a feat. In large part, history is fractal in nature: the closer you look at it, the more there is to see. What I would do, is to pick some large society or culture that interests you, and start picking up some books about it; even a mediocre history text connects with happenings in other parts of the world. Then, when you have a good grounding in the chronology of events, you can start branching out into other societies and hooking the bits together. This is more or less what I've been doing for years, even though my interest in history is only so-so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidV Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 I recommend JM Roberts History of the World. My audiobook edition is over a decade old, so I can’t vouch for the latest, but it’s a very good book. The overall focus is on the forces that created the modern world, and the proper focus and credit is given to Western civilization, from Greece to the modern day. Roberts does attempt to cover everything, which will leave you wanting more if you are interested in the particulars of certain events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KendallJ Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 A History of Knowledge, van Doren Yes, its tough to cover all of world history but this book certainly gives an overview of western thought in not so many pages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constans Augustus Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 I second the GreedyCapitalist's recommendation of Robert's book. I read it this summer and it's amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottP Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 Toro, Since you are new to the subject, I sense that what you are looking for, is not so much a "comprehensive" history of civilization, but an accessible introduction to the whole, so that you can get your bearings, and gradually ease into the topic. In book form, probably the best source I can suggest to you is Willis Mason West's two-volume history of Western civilization. The first volume is "Early Progress." The second volume is "Modern Progress." These are older books, so hunt for them at www.abebooks.com. You will find that West does not assume any advanced context of knowledge, and that his narrative flows nicely, in a basic causal progression from the distant past to the present (c.1930, when he wrote it). Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't offer you a change to examine A First History for Adults, a product I created for Objectivists after teaching for a few years at VanDamme Academy, and--despite my history degree--wanting to genuinely educated myself in history, much like yourself. It's not a book, but it is the best place to start learning history! Best regards, Scott Powell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockefeller Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 In book form, probably the best source I can suggest to you is Willis Mason West's two-volume history of Western civilization. The first volume is "Early Progress." The second volume is "Modern Progress." These are older books, so hunt for them at www.abebooks.com. Both Early Progress and Modern Progress have now been digitalized by Google books (click hyperlinks). They can even be downloaded for free in PDF format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aequalsa Posted September 10, 2009 Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 It's a little older and a little outdated at times but An Outline of History by HG Wells is an enjoyable read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sockpanther Posted July 27, 2010 Report Share Posted July 27, 2010 I would recommend Eric Hobsbawm's- The Age of revolution, Age of Capital,Age of Empires and Age of Extremes for modern history at least. It's an economic history and as such is quite dry in parts and quite long. It was quite enlightening reading the Age of Extremes 1914-1991 in particular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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