A Short History of the World in 50 Tyrants

by Ben Gazur

Explore the tyrants who have shaped the course of history. All power corrupts, but absolute power can turn people into absolute monsters. The true stories behind the men and women who led tyrannies around the world. This is history ... but not as you know it.

Leading readers through all of world history, Ben Gazur looks at how tyrants and their regimes have shaped the course of humanity from the earliest times right up until the modern day. From the first Ancient Greek tyrants to those who still dominate nations today, dictators have always been pulling the strings.

In 50 bite-sized chapters spanning thousands of years, A Short History of the World in 50 Tyrants examines their rise to power, how they stayed there and how they were overthrown, investigating their lives and crimes. Readers will learn how Catherine the Great seized the throne from her own husband, how Adolf Hitler created a cult of personality to assume complete control, and how Julius Caesar met his end under a rain of stabs on the senate floor.

Follow the whims, eccentricities and evil acts of dictators across the millennia, such as the deadly search for immortality by the first Chinese Emperor, the wily machinations of the Emperor Augustus and the crushing brutality of Pol Pot’s rule.

Also
A Short History of the World in 50 Places (9781789291971)
A Short History of the World in 50 Animals (9781789292954)
A Short History of the World in 50 Books (9781789294088)
A Short History of the World in 50 Lies (9781789294606)
A Short History of the World in 50 Failures (9781789296938)

Genres: History

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 14, 2026

About the author

Ben Gazur holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Edinburgh. Giving up the glitz and glamour of the lab he became a freelance writer who has written widely on history and science for the likes of the BBC, All About History, and the Guardian newspaper. His first book was a biography of the philosopher Epicurus.

Reviews

[Zeyno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book serves as a solid starting point for anyone interested in the darker side of leadership. I’m bumping it up to 4 stars because, while it felt too short for such a massive subject, it works perfectly as a fast-paced introductory guide. Because it covers 50 different figures in under 300 pages, it functions more like an essential highlight reel of history's most notorious regimes.

There is a general consensus that it offers a fascinating look into the minds and behaviors of tyrants throughout history. While some noted a few minor errors, they still felt the book lived up to my expectations as an informative and engaging read.

If you are looking for a quick, high-level summary of history’s most infamous figures, this is a great pick. It might not have the deep, interconnected analysis but it’s an accessible primer for your history shelf.

[Michelle Frias · Rating 3 out of 5]

So overall i find it an interesting book. I would say it has some errors and a rather interesting way to navigate the stories (i would call it fun facts more than history because it talks a lot about myths on the start of the tyrants). Anyway, i still think it has some value and I don't regret buying it.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

Generally this is a well written , informative and interesting little book . There were I noticed a couple of errors and it’s not really a history of the world but good all the same .

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good book! I really enjoyed it but I must say that this hit me at the wrong time. I really just wanted to get on to read the Ayoade book I got for Christmas. Maybe will pick this up again at some point.

[Derek McRonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating insight to the mind and similar behaviour of Tyrants throughout history. Nothing more to add really than the book pretty much lived up to expectations

[Adam Pearson · Rating 2 out of 5]

🚽 just seemed to fill time, not very detailed. Boring