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The Complete Idiot's Guide to World History
Don't know much about history?
Which societies are the most important? Which periods of time saw the most change? How have cultures differed and remained the same across this vast time and space? This guide gives readers the whole world, and then some! Including key ideas as well as lesser- known facts, salient quotes, and crucial terms defined, it prepares readers not only to excel in exams but to become 21st century citizens of the world.
Which societies are the most important? Which periods of time saw the most change? How have cultures differed and remained the same across this vast time and space? This guide gives readers the whole world, and then some! Including key ideas as well as lesser- known facts, salient quotes, and crucial terms defined, it prepares readers not only to excel in exams but to become 21st century citizens of the world.
400 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2008
24 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 10, 2012
What a wonderful book!
It's the first step that let you look at the big picture of the world without going through the boring, long, unnecessary details. After having read this amazing book, you will be ready to dig in deeply at any spot of the history to seek for specific events.
I honestly enjoyed it and I recommend it as a corner stone for viewing the world history.
Again, it is a great book, indeed!
January 9, 2011
Well, it was interesting. Although, I feel like more of an idiot after reading it than when I started. The problem is by the time I reached our modern world in the book, most of the earlier information (like about Mesopotamia or Sumeria or the Chinese empires or even Greece and Rome) fell out of my brain.
January 25, 2014
The Idiot's Guide to world history contains more information than the Dummies book. I read the Idiot's guide fast and it's enough to get the obtain going. There entire world histories published now which revolve around a commodity, e.g., salt. These are endlessly fascinating.
June 24, 2022
The author comes off as very condisenig to me.
And another thing, every man or woman can understand that women were oppressed for a millenia. There is no need to
cramm it down our throats 20 times.
The author preaches tolerance, but as soon you are a white European man it goes down the window.
And another thing, every man or woman can understand that women were oppressed for a millenia. There is no need to
cramm it down our throats 20 times.
The author preaches tolerance, but as soon you are a white European man it goes down the window.
Want to read
August 25, 2023want to read this book
February 1, 2017
The most impressive era for me was one of the French Revolutionary. Starting from that point, in a sense, the world history become more easily understandable. That is, there appear ,so called, Progressives and Conservatives in European continent. I knew, for the first time, why Napoleon is so famous in the "world" history. He made International relationships in the modern world, as a defender of the Progressive stream of political power, generated in 1789.
Once, I've read an article before that the person who has the biggest influence to the whole history was Issac Newton. I also argue that kind of Materialism. He made realize the use of knowledge and reason so powerful advantages to the real politics. What he had done the most is, the discovery of the concept of "Energy". By the finding of this concept or existence, a layman in the countryside could make that "Energy" advantage for political or economical Revolutionaries in the real world, just with absorbing the system of the texts deriving from Great Newton.
For more, what I impressed with was that the reason of the Fall of Roman Empire still remains some mysteries. The story, a tribe of Germans called Vandals made great mess in the realm was the best easy to understand. Another easy story was, the inflation of goods in Rome by the mass import from Africa or Middle East.
I also once heard the story that, the Roman Empire was the another peak of the Civilization against modern world. Humankind once reached the glory of high economy and cultures. European people knew that fact on the contrast with Japanese citizens. That might be a stark disparity between West and East.
Once, I've read an article before that the person who has the biggest influence to the whole history was Issac Newton. I also argue that kind of Materialism. He made realize the use of knowledge and reason so powerful advantages to the real politics. What he had done the most is, the discovery of the concept of "Energy". By the finding of this concept or existence, a layman in the countryside could make that "Energy" advantage for political or economical Revolutionaries in the real world, just with absorbing the system of the texts deriving from Great Newton.
For more, what I impressed with was that the reason of the Fall of Roman Empire still remains some mysteries. The story, a tribe of Germans called Vandals made great mess in the realm was the best easy to understand. Another easy story was, the inflation of goods in Rome by the mass import from Africa or Middle East.
I also once heard the story that, the Roman Empire was the another peak of the Civilization against modern world. Humankind once reached the glory of high economy and cultures. European people knew that fact on the contrast with Japanese citizens. That might be a stark disparity between West and East.
August 21, 2012
Overall I really liked this book. The problem is I found at least one mistake, and it left me worrying that there were even more that I didn't catch. At one point in the book (I'd give a page number, but I left the book at home when I came to college), the author talks about a French colony on the island of Cuba. He's obviously referring to Haiti and means the island Hispaniola because I think most people could tell you that Cuba was a Spanish colony. And Cuba and Haiti are not on the same island. Haiti and the Dominican Republic (which was a Spanish colony) share the island of Hispaniola. It isn't that big of a deal I guess, but I don't know how that mistake was made... That's not an easy typo to make, and a historian should know the difference between Haiti and Cuba. It's a mistake that definitely should have been caught during editing.
Other than that I didn't see any mistakes though, so I can't tell you if there are more than that in the book. It does provide a good summary of world history if you're looking for that. I can't say I learned anything new, since I'd already learned absolutely everything in the book during AP world history in high school. In fact, this book reminded me of our AP world history textbook except more brief and written in a way that was much easier and less boring to read. I definitely recommend checking it out if you want to read about world history, but I'd be wary of trusting some stuff after I found that one mistake.
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/20...
Other than that I didn't see any mistakes though, so I can't tell you if there are more than that in the book. It does provide a good summary of world history if you're looking for that. I can't say I learned anything new, since I'd already learned absolutely everything in the book during AP world history in high school. In fact, this book reminded me of our AP world history textbook except more brief and written in a way that was much easier and less boring to read. I definitely recommend checking it out if you want to read about world history, but I'd be wary of trusting some stuff after I found that one mistake.
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/20...
April 18, 2015
I wanted an easy overview to World History, and I got it. Unfortunately when I began reading this (quite some time ago) I forgot the ultimate use of looking at the Appendices and taking notes. There is an Appendix that outlines core terms and names that you ought to zero in on, and after finishing the book, I couldn't tell you what most of them are.
However, it wasn't too grueling to generally enjoy, and it did help me learn. It was a starting point, and now I will move on to more detailed books --- and I will take notes!
However, it wasn't too grueling to generally enjoy, and it did help me learn. It was a starting point, and now I will move on to more detailed books --- and I will take notes!
September 28, 2009
OK, I didn't totally finish this book but I loved what I read. It simplified World History beautifully and I began a list of what I'd like to read more about. I'd still be working my way through if it weren't for it coming due at the library...I'll probably check it out again and finish it some day.
March 21, 2012
I liked it. That's a lot of history to cram into a (relatively) small space. I think Mr. Hall did a pretty fine job. For all of my thoughts and feelings, you can read my review here at MyEntertainmentWorld.ca.
September 24, 2019
A comprehensive look at many major events in world history. Succeeded in not being the typical very dry and boring read. Used as a history text companion at University and its the only one I read cover to cover for enjoyment, past the required lecture material.
Recommended for anyone who wants to wet their feet with history and learn something new!
Recommended for anyone who wants to wet their feet with history and learn something new!
January 20, 2010
So I didn't get to finish this guys because I maaay have left it in another country. However, what I did get through I greatly enjoyed. It was a good high level overview with enough detailed points to keep it interesting and memorable. I might go out and get another copy!
September 27, 2015
I always wanted to know the complete time line of human history - from early humans to tribes to empires to colonizations to world wars to cold war to modern global economy. This is just that book,,, Enjoyed it completely,,, Have to find a similar book about India,,, will keep looking,,,
May 3, 2010
I liked how the authors broke up the sections in this book. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a quick refresher course on some very important beginnings.
March 13, 2011
What a great book. Even if you are a good history student this is great review. Easy to ready and written with humor. If you hated history in school you will love this everyone should read it.
December 7, 2014
Euro-centric as hell.
May 23, 2013
Good coverage of world history.
February 1, 2015
Wonderful synopsis
April 22, 2015
Good overview of world history to use as a study guide.
July 23, 2015
I read this to prepare for a Praxis test. It's been 20 years since I took a history class and I wanted to refresh my memory of the high points. Easy to read. Maps would be a huge help.
November 4, 2015
es un libro literal para entender de donde vienen las culturas. no se adentra mucho en la esencia de cada pueblo pero para entender el enfoque completo es buen libro.
November 24, 2017
Some of it was difficult to get through, but I am glade I completed it. I will keep it and read it once in a while.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews