The History of the World: The Story of Mankind from Prehistory to the Modern Day

by Alex Woolf

Humankind has come a long way since our ancestors first stood up on two feet, but how did we get to where we are today? This book tells our story, through conflict and intrigue, power won and lost, and great empires built and destroyed. Clearly written and accessible, illustrated throughout, and the chapters progress chronologically with each section focusing on a different part of the world, making this book ideal for quick reference or for an enjoyable in-depth read. Whether you want to uncover the secrets of the first civilizations, follow marauding Mongols on their quest to conquer, find out what made colonial empires tick, or the more modern origins of current conflict, the answers lie within these pages. Looking to our recent history, the last section focuses on the great themes of the 21st century so population growth, technology, climate change, and religious extremism. Whatever the future may hold for us, we have much to learn from our past.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ebooks, World History

764 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2017

About the author

Alex Woolf is a prolific, award-winning author of books for adults and children. In his non-fiction he has written on subjects as diverse as sharks, robots, asteroids, flying reptiles and chocolate. His novels span a range of genres, including crime, mystery, science fiction, historical fiction, steampunk and horror.

Alex is a regular author for Fiction Express, online publishers of interactive stories for schools. Fiction Express is read by more than 150,000 students from 20 countries. Two of his stories have won reader awards. In 2021, he won the prestigious ASE award for his non-fiction book Think Like a Scientist. His horror novel, Soul Shadows, was shortlisted for the Falkirk Red Book Award. Bestselling crime author Peter James described his novel Aldo Moon as “a real delight, witty, ghostly and at times deliciously ghastly”.

Reviews

[Yash Gadodia]

People who know me, know that I am absolutely shit at history. Funnily enough, the people who do know me, are all history buffs themselves. So. Ever since High School I have been deeply insecure about the fact that I know so little about major world events. It's not an attractive quality, being ignorant of the past.

I'll be honest. Trying to condense 500 pages of the ENTIRE WORLD HISTORY is basically reading dates. One date after another. Or more specifically, one battle after another. There is not much value in that. I doubt I can even remember 10% of the more significant battles, despite scribbling all over the pages as I research the battles on Wikipedia. Nevertheless, this book is as a good starting point as any. Because in order to 'learn history' you have to read. Then reread. Then read some more. Each time you refresh the same article on Wikipedia you will remember something new, and something different. Then the map of the world in your head will get a little clearer, and you will have some preexisting piece of information in your head to link this bit too. Little by little, you will start to remember things. Then you are on track to pick up even more things, this time it will be so much easier having all this preexisting knowledge to fall back on.

Hopefully, someday, I can look back and claim to at least know enough History to be dangerous. But until that there it is going to be more Wikipedia articles, more CrashCourse World History videos on YouTube.

[Alvin Qobulsyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took around seven months to read the entire four hundred pages since it was dedicated as a closet book. The literature on helping you accomplished your number two morning and night "routines".
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Somehow it's always helpful on having the kind of history chronicles book every several years. Refreshing the contextual of our contemporary events then (again) it was just a recurring pattern.
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This Wolf's book is quite comforted to digest since it was very compact. You may read it as an "academic" Wikipedia timelines. Though the perspective is still focused on the game of thrones within and inter the nations.
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Also, this kind of chronicle cam reflects how the overseas intellectuals regard your own nations. Is it gonna have its own chapters or is it just gonna be appeared as a tiny window box? With only one to two sentences talking about your nation's civilization.

[Carter Solomon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started this jawn a while ago… thick book so it took me some time. learned a bit tho that I didn’t know. Opened my mind to other topics I want to read about. Very straight forward history book

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great rundown for its mid-sized self. Enjoyed this and it led to some solid discussions

[Raza Mustafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise. Too the point. Chapters are divided chronologically and then region wise.

[Meredith Coen]

In the History of the World, Alex Woolf chronicles human history from hunting and gathering all the way up to present day. It was a lot to take in within 500 pages, and I thought the placement of events and lack of explanation was chaotic at times. Despite the shortcomings in organization, I still really enjoyed this book. It made me consider how quickly time passes and the rise of inequality. Overall, I really enjoyed leaning about the context of both world literature and current events.
It’s not easy summarizing all of human history, so considering the enormity of the task I think Woolf did a pretty good job.

[Stephanie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a long read, but overall it was an interesting way to learn bits and pieces of history I didn’t already know. I would call it a good place to find new areas of interest if you’re looking. I did think that it’s description of the 21st century and into the future was rather bleak, but to each their own.

[fig funko pop · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite history textbook.

[Mehdi Nawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

On page 292, the author erroneously classifies Iran as an Arab state