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The Industrial Revolution
From electric lights to automobiles to the appliances that make our lives easier at work and at home, we owe so much of our world to the Industrial Revolution. In this course, The Great Courses partners with the Smithsonian - one of the world's most storied and exceptional educational institutions - to examine the extraordinary events of this period and uncover the far-reaching impact of this incredible revolution. Over the course of 36 thought-provoking lectures, longtime Great Courses favorite Professor Allitt introduces you to the inventors, businessmen, and workers responsible for transforming virtually every aspect of our lives and fueling one of the greatest periods of innovation in human history.
The technological achievements of this era are nothing short of astonishing. Thanks to inventions such as the steam engine and processes such as large-scale iron smelting, industrial entrepreneurs were able to mechanize labor, which allowed for a host of new efficiencies such as division of labor, mass production, and global distribution.
You'll discover the science behind some of the most astounding inventions in modern history, including the spinning jenny, the incandescent light bulb, and the computer processor. You'll learn how these inventions came about and consider what effects these technologies had on every aspect of human life.
Get an inside look at the history of industrial innovation and explore the lives of engineers, inventors, architects, and designers responsible for changing the world - as well as ordinary workers who lost their livelihoods to new technologies and suffered from unsafe working conditions. The story of the Industrial Revolution is complex, and these lectures will leave you with a new appreciation for the amazing human achievements all around us.
The technological achievements of this era are nothing short of astonishing. Thanks to inventions such as the steam engine and processes such as large-scale iron smelting, industrial entrepreneurs were able to mechanize labor, which allowed for a host of new efficiencies such as division of labor, mass production, and global distribution.
You'll discover the science behind some of the most astounding inventions in modern history, including the spinning jenny, the incandescent light bulb, and the computer processor. You'll learn how these inventions came about and consider what effects these technologies had on every aspect of human life.
Get an inside look at the history of industrial innovation and explore the lives of engineers, inventors, architects, and designers responsible for changing the world - as well as ordinary workers who lost their livelihoods to new technologies and suffered from unsafe working conditions. The story of the Industrial Revolution is complex, and these lectures will leave you with a new appreciation for the amazing human achievements all around us.
19 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2014
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271 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 19, 2020
Except for the agricultural revolution, the industrial revolution is arguably the most transformative period in history—a time of unprecedented economic and technological growth, which reshaped virtually every aspect of our lives. Strangely, however, far more time in school is usually devoted to the American and French Revolutions than the industrial one. Hoping to remedy this gap in my own education, I reached for this course.
For a company with a business model that relies on different university professors to deliver dozens of lectures on diverse topics, the Great Courses does a great job in quality control. Virtually all of their lecturers are high quality, and Allitt is no exception. He has a warm, jolly voice with a sort of lilt that makes him easy to listen to. More importantly, he is knowledgeable, articulate, and intelligent. So this course is pleasant.
I have more criticisms for Allitt’s choice of subject-matter. The early lectures, on the beginnings of industrialization, I thought were very well done. Allitt examines many different industries, explaining some of the new technologies and techniques that helped to usher in industrialization—ship-building, canals, coal-mining, textile manufacture, railroads. This, to me, what the meat of the course, where Allitt best accomplished his goal.
But other sections fell flat for me. First, I was unsatisfied with Allitt’s explanation for why industrialization first emerged in England, and also why it emerged when it did. Curiously, the technology to create some of the earliest labor-saving machines did not rely on new scientific theories, new tools, or new materials, but were assembled by tinkerers using trial-and-error. It remains something of a mystery—to me at least—why it took so long for, say, the Spinning Jenny to be invented.
Allitt is fairly good when it comes to the cultural reactions to industrialization, such as in art, politics, labor, economics, or society in general. But once Allitt moves past the early years of industrialization, I thought that the course quality declines. This is because he attempts to cover far too much in far too little space—the world wars, the rise of Asian economies, the information revolution, environmental issues. What is more, in these later lectures Allitt often substitutes superficial ‘great men’ narratives of industries for more detailed discussions of the technologies involved. While the life of, say, Andrew Carnegie is colorful, I would much rather learn about how steel is made and how it came to be used.
I would most dissatisfied with Allitt’s treatment of environmental issues. He is fairly dismissive of environmental concerns, citing numerous cases in which new technologies or regulations solved environmental problems, such as air pollution. He seems to think that environmental problems will inevitably be solved through technological innovation, and is confident that the same will be true for global climate change (if it is, indeed, anthropological in origin!). Allitt is similarly sanguine on the subject of labor, seeing the harsh working conditions as something that will inevitably be solved through further economic development. In this, I would say he is in line with the Great Courses’ conservative tendency.
But if you would like to learn about the first century of the industrial revolution, I would say that this course is an excellent and accessible resource.
For a company with a business model that relies on different university professors to deliver dozens of lectures on diverse topics, the Great Courses does a great job in quality control. Virtually all of their lecturers are high quality, and Allitt is no exception. He has a warm, jolly voice with a sort of lilt that makes him easy to listen to. More importantly, he is knowledgeable, articulate, and intelligent. So this course is pleasant.
I have more criticisms for Allitt’s choice of subject-matter. The early lectures, on the beginnings of industrialization, I thought were very well done. Allitt examines many different industries, explaining some of the new technologies and techniques that helped to usher in industrialization—ship-building, canals, coal-mining, textile manufacture, railroads. This, to me, what the meat of the course, where Allitt best accomplished his goal.
But other sections fell flat for me. First, I was unsatisfied with Allitt’s explanation for why industrialization first emerged in England, and also why it emerged when it did. Curiously, the technology to create some of the earliest labor-saving machines did not rely on new scientific theories, new tools, or new materials, but were assembled by tinkerers using trial-and-error. It remains something of a mystery—to me at least—why it took so long for, say, the Spinning Jenny to be invented.
Allitt is fairly good when it comes to the cultural reactions to industrialization, such as in art, politics, labor, economics, or society in general. But once Allitt moves past the early years of industrialization, I thought that the course quality declines. This is because he attempts to cover far too much in far too little space—the world wars, the rise of Asian economies, the information revolution, environmental issues. What is more, in these later lectures Allitt often substitutes superficial ‘great men’ narratives of industries for more detailed discussions of the technologies involved. While the life of, say, Andrew Carnegie is colorful, I would much rather learn about how steel is made and how it came to be used.
I would most dissatisfied with Allitt’s treatment of environmental issues. He is fairly dismissive of environmental concerns, citing numerous cases in which new technologies or regulations solved environmental problems, such as air pollution. He seems to think that environmental problems will inevitably be solved through technological innovation, and is confident that the same will be true for global climate change (if it is, indeed, anthropological in origin!). Allitt is similarly sanguine on the subject of labor, seeing the harsh working conditions as something that will inevitably be solved through further economic development. In this, I would say he is in line with the Great Courses’ conservative tendency.
But if you would like to learn about the first century of the industrial revolution, I would say that this course is an excellent and accessible resource.
February 17, 2018
Professor Allitt is great. I've listened to several of his courses, he's a great lecturer: informative, humorous, and balanced. This history of the industrial revolution does a thorough job of explaining the historical precursors, the key individuals involved, and the progress and effects of the revolution up through contemporary times. The first half of the lectures are focused on the developments in Britain. The second half moves into the US, Europe and then the industrialization of other parts of the world. There are focuses on important inventions: the steam engine, automobile, flight, electricity. Allitt also looks at the impact of industrialization on the art, politics, economics, war, and the environment.
I highly recommend this course -- and any course by Professor Allitt.
I highly recommend this course -- and any course by Professor Allitt.
September 20, 2022
36 lectures on the Industrial Revolution focusing primarily on the UK and US.
The topics are mostly chronological, walking one through how one invention or new discovery built upon the other, but each lecture focuses (mostly) on a specific industry or technology. Personally, I found the most interesting topics to be the ones on canal building, pottery/porcelain, textiles, and The Great Depression. Where I felt the course fell short was in including the rest of the world in the very tight UK-US focus. In particular, I thought the brief bit on Japan glossed over much and neglected much.
The topics are mostly chronological, walking one through how one invention or new discovery built upon the other, but each lecture focuses (mostly) on a specific industry or technology. Personally, I found the most interesting topics to be the ones on canal building, pottery/porcelain, textiles, and The Great Depression. Where I felt the course fell short was in including the rest of the world in the very tight UK-US focus. In particular, I thought the brief bit on Japan glossed over much and neglected much.
June 9, 2023
Meh - just couldn’t get into this one for whatever reason. Bedtime listening.
The only two things that stuck out to me were his comments about farmers being conservative and reluctant to change, as their entire livelihood depended on a single year’s crops… and an explanation to his presumably much younger than me students about how we used to use typewriters, and “White Out” and carbon paper. Oh, those were the days (not).
The only two things that stuck out to me were his comments about farmers being conservative and reluctant to change, as their entire livelihood depended on a single year’s crops… and an explanation to his presumably much younger than me students about how we used to use typewriters, and “White Out” and carbon paper. Oh, those were the days (not).
February 8, 2015
I found these lectures quite interesting, although they were not exactly what I was looking for. The author presents a comprehensive history of the world's industrial development right up to the present day. He covers the individual developments and the people who made them. I was looking for more technical coverage of the developments and less on the people. For example he tells us about the invention of the spinning and weaving machines in England, but nothing about how they actually worked. So I will have to keep looking for a source that explains the details of these major industrial inventions.
January 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this Great Courses series on the Industrial Revolution, it goes through its history, starting from why the conditions in England was so suitable to allow the Industrial Revolution to begin there, the different industries it started changing, then all the way to how it was rapidly changing the society and economy of the countries that adapted it, to reasons why England/UK later lagged behind other newcomers (e.g. USA), and to modern times with the rapid industrialisation of China & India.
Highly recommend it
Highly recommend it
August 16, 2019
Mr. Allitt is a very good speaker and his lectures are informative and interesting, this one in particular fits really well with his Victorian Era one and together gives you a comprehensive understanding of the foundation of our current world. Recommend it.
March 17, 2025
Allitt is an industrial enthusiast, and his passion for machinery enlivens this already well organized lecture series. What one gets out of a book, or in this case, a course, depends on the attitude and expectations one brings to it. If you're looking for a broad survey that both satisfies some cravings of curiosity and provides a framework for further exploration, like I did, this may serve well.
What it is not, however, is a comprehensive treatment. But how could it be? A truly exhaustive account could only have been a far longer and drier lexicon, or a truly gigantuine book. This consideration given due credence it remains to be said that there is a noticeable selection bias in the material. While I appreciated the inclusion of a lecture on industrial development outside Europe in the 20th century, the course primarily focuses on Britain and the U.S. Continental Europe is given just two lectures (2×30 minutes), hardly enough for even getting anything but the most schematic outlines, if at all. This selection bias partially is very understandable - these two nations undeniably hold central roles in any discussion of the Industrial Revolution beyond strictly local contexts.
However, professor Allitt's strong argument, that investigating industrial history is essential to understanding modernity had the paradoxical effect of bringing forth in me the slightest of disappointments via the limitations of the course. The solid and engaging presentation about Britain and the US, makes the (almost complete) absence of any presentation about other nations and regions ready at mind. But pursuing this criticism further would be in danger of doing parkour-like-logic to end up seeing the strengths of the course(it's engagingly brought forth and thought provoking content) as it's weaknesses.
To conclude this point by returning to expectations: knowing in advance that Britain and America are the focal points may lead to even greater satisfaction than I had.
Within that scope, the lectures offer a well-developed foundation for further study. And viewed in isolation, as to what the lectures provide via themselves and not in prospective to other readings: It provides an accessible, broad, but coherent historical framework for thinking about the world shaped by industrialization, both in its material products, visible all around us, and in the ways we think in and experience modernity. The course invites us to see both the beauty and the misery of industrialized and industrializing societies, fostering a sense of wonder despite reservations that one might have about the world as it is right now.
While Allitt's politically conservative and economically liberal views are noticeable, they do not forcefully steer the presentation. Social issues are acknowledged all the way through, even if I assume that historians of less industrial sympathies may accentuate and develop them more fervently. In any case I think this course presents a valuable perspective on the subject matter.
All in all a very good lecture series.
I recommend it for beginners, those looking for an outline, or anyone in need of a broad refresher.
What it is not, however, is a comprehensive treatment. But how could it be? A truly exhaustive account could only have been a far longer and drier lexicon, or a truly gigantuine book. This consideration given due credence it remains to be said that there is a noticeable selection bias in the material. While I appreciated the inclusion of a lecture on industrial development outside Europe in the 20th century, the course primarily focuses on Britain and the U.S. Continental Europe is given just two lectures (2×30 minutes), hardly enough for even getting anything but the most schematic outlines, if at all. This selection bias partially is very understandable - these two nations undeniably hold central roles in any discussion of the Industrial Revolution beyond strictly local contexts.
However, professor Allitt's strong argument, that investigating industrial history is essential to understanding modernity had the paradoxical effect of bringing forth in me the slightest of disappointments via the limitations of the course. The solid and engaging presentation about Britain and the US, makes the (almost complete) absence of any presentation about other nations and regions ready at mind. But pursuing this criticism further would be in danger of doing parkour-like-logic to end up seeing the strengths of the course(it's engagingly brought forth and thought provoking content) as it's weaknesses.
To conclude this point by returning to expectations: knowing in advance that Britain and America are the focal points may lead to even greater satisfaction than I had.
Within that scope, the lectures offer a well-developed foundation for further study. And viewed in isolation, as to what the lectures provide via themselves and not in prospective to other readings: It provides an accessible, broad, but coherent historical framework for thinking about the world shaped by industrialization, both in its material products, visible all around us, and in the ways we think in and experience modernity. The course invites us to see both the beauty and the misery of industrialized and industrializing societies, fostering a sense of wonder despite reservations that one might have about the world as it is right now.
While Allitt's politically conservative and economically liberal views are noticeable, they do not forcefully steer the presentation. Social issues are acknowledged all the way through, even if I assume that historians of less industrial sympathies may accentuate and develop them more fervently. In any case I think this course presents a valuable perspective on the subject matter.
All in all a very good lecture series.
I recommend it for beginners, those looking for an outline, or anyone in need of a broad refresher.
January 21, 2025
Another great series of lectures by Allitt.
January 31, 2024
Super interesting. My knowledge of the Industrial Revolution is very rudimentary so this was full of new information to me. The European history was fascinating. Went well beyond what I would have thought as far as “Industrial Revolution” time in history. Talked about the technology age we are in now. Highly recommend for those interested in history and lacking some basic knowledge. It didn’t dwell in any one area too long, and I am quite sure any one period covered could be several books!
September 17, 2021
A good, although quite conservative overview, which would profit if it sometimes put aside the rose colored glasses of the lecturer.
August 15, 2015
This informative lecture series is quite good in the first part when it describes the early days of the revolution. The content is rich with new information and with vivid descriptions while the Professor is talking about steam ships, railways, pottery and similar topics.
The pace begins to slacken when the lectures leave the shores of the UK and move from the items of, let's say, "the true interests of typical museums" to modern settings. The advent and the rise of the American industries and manufacturing is still somewhat fascinating in the lectures that focus on Rockefeller, Carnegie, Henry Ford and the likes. However, the descriptions provided turn increasingly inadequate and sound perfunctory on the modern topics where many readers may already know a lot already.
The shallowness reaches the jarring levels when the topics shift to the developments outside UK/US or move to the post 1920 era. If only the author has focussed more on the 18th and the 19th century developments, taken the listeners even deeper on those subjects and left the rest.
The pace begins to slacken when the lectures leave the shores of the UK and move from the items of, let's say, "the true interests of typical museums" to modern settings. The advent and the rise of the American industries and manufacturing is still somewhat fascinating in the lectures that focus on Rockefeller, Carnegie, Henry Ford and the likes. However, the descriptions provided turn increasingly inadequate and sound perfunctory on the modern topics where many readers may already know a lot already.
The shallowness reaches the jarring levels when the topics shift to the developments outside UK/US or move to the post 1920 era. If only the author has focussed more on the 18th and the 19th century developments, taken the listeners even deeper on those subjects and left the rest.
November 15, 2018
I am used to reading about industrialization from an economic perspective but this book looks at the subject from a historical standpoint. The author makes references to industrial processes in England and the US and to some of the great Industrialists including Carnegie and Rockerfeller. I very much liked how he described American ascendancy as an industrial superpower despite Britain having been the first to industrialize. Well worth a read!
December 4, 2018
Comprehensive overview of the subject.
I have found useful the teachings of the Prof Patrick Allitt so far. This was my third lecture from him.
My only 'complaint': I have missed any chapter related to the financial dimension of the "Industrial Revolution".
To compensate that missing, I am reading other books about the financial history of the early industrialization.
I have found useful the teachings of the Prof Patrick Allitt so far. This was my third lecture from him.
My only 'complaint': I have missed any chapter related to the financial dimension of the "Industrial Revolution".
To compensate that missing, I am reading other books about the financial history of the early industrialization.
June 20, 2023
Part of the Great Courses series, this is an audiobook recording of 36 lectures given by Patrick Allitt, Professor of American History at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. With a few references to old technologies like the engineering of the Romans, the development of agriculture and the invention of printing, he mostly covers the 1700s to the mid-1800s, the period traditionally known as “The Industrial Revolution”. However, he then extends it to the end of the Victorian era and into the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, showing its long-term effects on transportation, the First and Second World Wars, the environmental movement, the rise of modern information technology and recent geopolitics. Despite the problems of industrialisation, he believes it has had a mostly positive effect on the world, and as long as it is regulated, it will likely continue to do so.
I learned only the most superficial features of the Industrial Revolution at school, so I knew some of the more famous names mentioned here, but not much detail about them. Professor Allitt provides an interesting and insightful course, and his enthusiastic regional British accent adds conviction to his presentation. However, he tends to focus a bit too much on the United States and Britain, and although he mentions the Germans, French and some others, they’re easy to miss because they’re touched on so briefly. Also, since he wants to refer to computer technology as an aftereffect of the period, I’m surprised he doesn’t have much to say about radio and television, which were very important precursors and are now available online. Lastly, he seems to get a little too excited when any mention of Communism or the Soviets comes up, is quite restrained in his criticism of either, and seems disdainful of the famous “captains of industry”, so I was surprised that his Wikipedia biography says he leans conservative in his politics. Or maybe it was just my imagination.
Overall, I feel that I used my time well and learned something new about the development of the world in which we live. History is important to understanding the present and where we should go in the future, so it’s always nice to see high-quality, fact-based history lessons unblemished by the ignorance of modern political rhetoric. The Great Courses does a good job of providing that.
I learned only the most superficial features of the Industrial Revolution at school, so I knew some of the more famous names mentioned here, but not much detail about them. Professor Allitt provides an interesting and insightful course, and his enthusiastic regional British accent adds conviction to his presentation. However, he tends to focus a bit too much on the United States and Britain, and although he mentions the Germans, French and some others, they’re easy to miss because they’re touched on so briefly. Also, since he wants to refer to computer technology as an aftereffect of the period, I’m surprised he doesn’t have much to say about radio and television, which were very important precursors and are now available online. Lastly, he seems to get a little too excited when any mention of Communism or the Soviets comes up, is quite restrained in his criticism of either, and seems disdainful of the famous “captains of industry”, so I was surprised that his Wikipedia biography says he leans conservative in his politics. Or maybe it was just my imagination.
Overall, I feel that I used my time well and learned something new about the development of the world in which we live. History is important to understanding the present and where we should go in the future, so it’s always nice to see high-quality, fact-based history lessons unblemished by the ignorance of modern political rhetoric. The Great Courses does a good job of providing that.
December 22, 2020
When I teach the industrial revolution in my Western Civilization class, I spend about three hours covering it. In this superb Great Courses book, Patrick Allitt spends a little more than eighteen hours covering one of the most important phenomena in all of human history. Allitt doesn’t hide from the negative consequences that go hand in hand with industrialization, but neither does he lose track of the hugely consequential goods that have accompanied it—a population eight times the size of the preindustrial world, a standard of living unimaginably good in comparison to what came before, longer and healthier lives, greater security, greater leisure and entertainment possibilities, and the list goes on and on.
Allitt walks you through not just the impact on production, but social, political, and environmental changes that resulted from industrialization as well. It is a genuinely positive book looking to how the unintended negative consequences of industrialization are being tackled to make a better world for everyone. It’s a worthwhile book for anyone interested in the subject.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
Allitt walks you through not just the impact on production, but social, political, and environmental changes that resulted from industrialization as well. It is a genuinely positive book looking to how the unintended negative consequences of industrialization are being tackled to make a better world for everyone. It’s a worthwhile book for anyone interested in the subject.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
June 11, 2024
Loved it! Shows off how much the brightest of humans have already achieved, and how much more we are yet to achieve. Let the pace of progress accelerate.
Favorite quotes:
"Flying was always a dream, until advances in industrialization turned it into a reality. As with textiles, steam, oil and steal, it was achieved not by romantic dreamers, but by tough, practical men, who knew how to keep an eye on the bottom line, and who knew how to stay obsessed about the practical details".
"India's post-independency government wisely decided to follow the path of Western industrialization, and not the Mahatma Gandhi's extraordinary unwise suggestion of reverting to subsistence farming with primitive spin your own textiles, which in practice would have condemned millions of people to lives of powerty and famine... His economic ideas were based on voluntary poverty and would have spelled catastrophe for India itself"
"By the 21st century, the lesson was uminstakable - nations that would industrialize can begin to make their way out of poverty. Those that fail to do so, fall even further behind"
Favorite quotes:
"Flying was always a dream, until advances in industrialization turned it into a reality. As with textiles, steam, oil and steal, it was achieved not by romantic dreamers, but by tough, practical men, who knew how to keep an eye on the bottom line, and who knew how to stay obsessed about the practical details".
"India's post-independency government wisely decided to follow the path of Western industrialization, and not the Mahatma Gandhi's extraordinary unwise suggestion of reverting to subsistence farming with primitive spin your own textiles, which in practice would have condemned millions of people to lives of powerty and famine... His economic ideas were based on voluntary poverty and would have spelled catastrophe for India itself"
"By the 21st century, the lesson was uminstakable - nations that would industrialize can begin to make their way out of poverty. Those that fail to do so, fall even further behind"
June 15, 2025
Typical high quality from The Great Courses. While the course is broad-brush (out of necessity to cover such a large topic), it also has points where it goes into interesting (and always relevant) details. The lectures are well-selected and well-organized.
At first, I was concerned that he spent too much effort (and time) on British industrialization, but he explains his reasoning (which is sound) and does get to the US as well as other parts of the world.
He quotes numerous sources that he used for his materials. I looked up several of them (on goodreads). All I can say is that I am glad he took the time to peruse them and distill them into what was relevant for the lectures. I don't think that any of them (maybe 1 or 2) reached the level of my "want to read" list.
36 half-hour lectures may seem like a lot, but I did not find this course dragging anywhere. It was well paced and extremely informative.
At first, I was concerned that he spent too much effort (and time) on British industrialization, but he explains his reasoning (which is sound) and does get to the US as well as other parts of the world.
He quotes numerous sources that he used for his materials. I looked up several of them (on goodreads). All I can say is that I am glad he took the time to peruse them and distill them into what was relevant for the lectures. I don't think that any of them (maybe 1 or 2) reached the level of my "want to read" list.
36 half-hour lectures may seem like a lot, but I did not find this course dragging anywhere. It was well paced and extremely informative.
January 30, 2025
Как и обычно прекрасные лекции от The great courses
Читаются в очень комфортном ритме, с отчетливой дикцией и несложной грамматикой - вполне подходит для занятий спортом.
Как и большинство других лекций это ликбез для взрослых, которые забыли что там учили в школе.
В увлекательной форме краткий пересказ учебника истории.
Достоверность вряд ли абсолютная. Например посмешило утверждение что ксерокс кардинально улучшил самиздат в СССР. Уважаемый профессор очевидно вообще не представляет какой редкостью были эти штуки в СССР и под каким контролем они были.
Но надо отметить что профессор очень часто упоминает в связи с событиями в Англии, что он сам родился в Англии, и скорее всего деталям этой части лекций можно доверять больше.
Читаются в очень комфортном ритме, с отчетливой дикцией и несложной грамматикой - вполне подходит для занятий спортом.
Как и большинство других лекций это ликбез для взрослых, которые забыли что там учили в школе.
В увлекательной форме краткий пересказ учебника истории.
Достоверность вряд ли абсолютная. Например посмешило утверждение что ксерокс кардинально улучшил самиздат в СССР. Уважаемый профессор очевидно вообще не представляет какой редкостью были эти штуки в СССР и под каким контролем они были.
Но надо отметить что профессор очень часто упоминает в связи с событиями в Англии, что он сам родился в Англии, и скорее всего деталям этой части лекций можно доверять больше.
March 7, 2022
Another winner from The Great Courses. Allitt is most at home with early British industry but does a solid job with the second industrial revolution in America. The course tales off a bit at the end as it starts to cover more modern times. It is told from a generally pro perspective in a capitalist manner though there are lectures on the people who labored and some problems that came with the revolutions in tech. A fine overview course.
May 19, 2022
First off, the narrator is great. I feel like the great courses select the best professors for these. This audiobook covers how industrialization blew up and changed the world into what we are experiencing today. It gave me a whole lot more appreciation for things like canals and trains to know the history of how they were developed and implemented. It showed how Industrialization won the world wars and how capitalism goes hand in hand with it.
September 28, 2021
A truly marvellous course! Honestly expected less when i was going into it, but it did a fantastic job of going through all 3 odd centuries of industrial revolution worldwide. I would suggest, if you found this course interesting, to check out Terror and Utopia in the 20th century, as it would be a great companion, especially to the WWI and WWII parts and further on.
October 19, 2022
An 18hr long audiobook. This was fantastically done, the author is very enthusiastic about the topic and even though each chapter of this could have been four times longer, he glided over each subject smoothly into the next by era and topic. Thank you for the entertaining hours, and hope to listen to more.
January 26, 2024
It dawned on me that I can use Goodreads to track all the Teaching Company lecture series I listen to!
This one was excellent. They are generally excellent, but this one struck me as fun and interesting and great even amongst the others. The professor was interesting, engaging, and tied the content back to the current day and our lives. Good stuff.
This one was excellent. They are generally excellent, but this one struck me as fun and interesting and great even amongst the others. The professor was interesting, engaging, and tied the content back to the current day and our lives. Good stuff.
March 3, 2021
I enjoyed this book! I learned a lot about the industrial revolution and how it formed modern history. I admire how the author/speaker approached several significant events to give us a comprehensive picture!
August 1, 2023
One of the better Great Courses series i've listened to. A really enthusiastic lecturer makes what could be a boring era interesting. Spans up until the present day, with most of the focus on the revolution itself but sketching in the progression through to today.
March 28, 2024
Wow, another top favorite! The professor has a lot of passion and does a great job walking you through the industrial revolution on a larger, big picture scale as well as a zoomed in perspective on different specific industries, such as the textile industry and more.
June 23, 2022
Great history and helped me understand a lot of the technological insights and advances that made the modern world possible.
June 23, 2023
Excellent lectures on the rise of the machine.
Audiobook narrated with energy and humour.
Enjoyed it very much.
Audiobook narrated with energy and humour.
Enjoyed it very much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews