The gold standard for AP European history, A History of Western Society , Ninth Edition remains unsurpassed in its integration of everyday life in the broad sweep of Western history. The enduring appeal of social history is strengthened in the new edition with fresh scholarship and global perspectives added by new authors Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks and Clare Haru Crowston. Compelling writing rich with details about daily life helps students identify with peoples of the past, while the authors' sustained attention to cultural, economic, political, and diplomatic history ensures a balanced, integrated narrative. A close fit with the College Board’s course description, the new edition includes engaging special features and a series of Document-Based Questions (DBQs) that help students develop their historical analysis skills and prepare for the AP exam.
I did this for AP European History, and honestly, as a history lover, it was okay. This book is for advanced placement but is written in a way to introduces people to a variety of subjects throughout history. I often find that many events were compressed and overly simplified, but that is what to expect for a comprehensive read, as it is meant to show the general chronological timeline of the history of the Western world. The book tries to integrate different subjects like race and feminism throughout each era, which it makes sense to add for the Enlightenment and Industrial Age, but kind of perplexed me how relevant it was on other parts of history. Even then, I am glad they mentioned niche events such as the Slavic people being the main ethnic group to be sold around as slaves during the pre-Transatlantic trade Europe. This book should only be read by those who do not have much knowledge around history, and I wouldn't suggest anyone who is more into history to read this.