ONE HUNDRED GREAT LIVES: REVEALING BIOGRAPHIES OF SCIENTSTS AND INVENTORS, LEADERS AND REFORMERS, WRITERS AND POETS, ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS, DISCOVERERS AND EXPLORERS, SOLDIERS AND STATEMEN, GREAT WOMEN

by Unknown Author

Genres: History

Hardcover

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Reviews

[Carmel Attard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an honest rendering of the lives of one-hundred-odd famous personalities. For decades I had this book in my library and always wanted to read it, I’m so glad I finally found the time! It’s well researched: it presents the various selected personalities with both their virtues and their weaknesses, their good and evil traits and deeds. It shows that practically all human beings have a mean streak. The reader will discover that some personalities that practically everyone admires, like Alexander the Great, were often violent and ruthless, while personalities many people despise (like Napoleon Bonaparte) had several admirable hidden qualities. Also, many of these great people (e.g., Abraham Lincoln & Benjamin Disraeli) did not succeed the first time around, but they persisted. The reader might also be surprised by men of integrity, like Winston Churchill, might change their mind and cross aisles—twice, even—depending on circumstances—for what they believed was right.
The reader will also discover the horrible truth that great leaders (like Mohandas Gandhi & Abraham Lincoln) often end up assassinated. One might add, to those selected in this book, John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King: all are in the company of Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified for his great moral teachings and good deeds.
However, the book’s selection is a little disappointing, at times: certain well-known personalities are omitted. For example, arguably the greatest scientist ever, Albert Einstein (who redefined gravity) is not even mentioned; not to mention Nicolaus Copernicus, who pointed modern cosmology in the right direction. Although the great Greek philosophers Socrates and Aristotle are included, for some strange reason, Plato is not. Likewise, although both Gautama Buddha (founder of Buddhism) and Mohammed (founder of Islam) are selected, Jesus of Nazareth (founder of Christianity) is omitted—the latter also being a truly historical figure. My guess is his questionable (to non-Christians) divine conception and his resurrection following his crucifixion. In general, I got the impression that the book is slightly biased towards including British personalities rather than others.
Adolph Hitler too is not addressed. I’m sure he’s not the most likable character, but he did influence history considerably. Indeed, the book does include several despicable personalities, like Maximilien Robespierre, who condemned so many innocent people to be guillotined.
All in all, this book is a must-read, especially if one is interested in history.