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Summary:
In 1935, with a doctorate in art history and no prospect of a job, the 26-year-old Ernst Gombrich was invited by a publishing acquaintance to attempt a history of the world for younger readers. Amazingly, he completed the task in an intense six weeks, and Eine kurze Weltgeschichte für junge Leser was published in Vienna to immediate success, and is now available in seventeen languages across the world.Toward the end of his long life, Gombrich embarked upon a revision and, at last, an English translation. A Little History of the World presents his lively and involving history to English-language readers for the first time. Superbly designed and freshly illustrated, this is a book to be savored and collected.In forty concise chapters, Gombrich tells the story of man from the stone age to the atomic bomb. In between emerges a colorful picture of wars and conquests, grand works of art, and the spread and limitations of science. This is a text dominated not by dates and facts, but by the sweep of mankind’s experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity’s achievements and an acute witness to its frailties.The product of a generous and humane sensibility, this timeless account makes intelligible the full span of human history.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
Finished it yesterday, want to re-read it today.
Customer Rating:
If you enjoy clear prose, buy this book. If dry textbooks make you yearn for some time with a great humanist pondering the big questions of where we come from and why violence and ignorance so often seem to eclipse everything worthwhile, buy this book. This book is good company, and not just for the young readers it was originally intended for. Also, the slim paragraph on Joan of Arc alone is worth the price of admission... And for a visual person like myself, the crisp woodcut-style illustrations and clean typography complement the keen prose to make the volume irresistible.
Nicely written, but extremely Euro centric
Customer Rating:
This is a nicely written, children's introduction to world history. However, the content is highly Euro-centric. There is coverage of India, China, Middle East and America, however, such coverage were quite short and very cursory compared to the fairly detailed chapters on anything that happened in Europe. That being said, it is still a good read, especially for children starting to learn history. Just keep in mind that it is not a broad perspective and it needs to be supplemented in the future.
Better Late Than Never
Customer Rating:
I wish I'd been given this wonderful book while I was still a kid. Then I wouldn't have felt so ignorant around the seder table and on vacation trips. Who were the Assyrians? The Sumerians? What's the pre-George W. background on those places we invaded? How did various religions spread? And how 'bout those Greeks? Written with a sense of wonder and respect, this book gives you a quick and fascinating overview of the history of the world that stays with you and puts today's events in perspective.
Perfect Book To Start Your Children In World History
Customer Rating:
Excellent book. After so many other attempts of getting a comprehensive yet child level book, this is the perfect match. Reads like an action novel full of details yet entertaining. Short chapters make the perfect read for each night. My son loves it and gets excited about reading it as if it were an action movie. Highly recommended.
History Made Easy & Fun
Customer Rating:
This book clearly meant for young readers is engrossing for adults also. Makes what many believe to be boring fun!
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