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From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present

Questions About From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present

by Jacques Barzun

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Would it be hard to read if I haven't learned anything much about history? I started to read a few pages but i was just lost. How much do I need know to understand what he is talking about because I really want to read this book but I feel like I am missing something.
Haunui Royal If you haven't been a avid reader of history before this may not be the jumping off point you want. Because the work covers an enormous amount of mate…moreIf you haven't been a avid reader of history before this may not be the jumping off point you want. Because the work covers an enormous amount of material there isn't a lot of space for an author to give much background or context to a particular person or theme. It then has to have an assumption of a basic knowledge that a reader may not possess.
The book is extraordinary given it was started by the author in his eighties and its focus is the cultural history of the West over the last 500 years.
If you are looking for an introduction to a big history perspective perhaps have a look at Maps of Time by David Christian. (less)
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