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A Radical History of the World
History is a weapon. The powerful have their version of events, the people have another. And if we understand how the past was forged, we arm ourselves to change the future.
This is the history of the struggle and revolution of human society: of hominids, hunters and herders; of emperors and slaves; of patriarchs and women; of rich and poor; of dictators and revolutionaries. From the ancient empires of Persia and Rome to the Russian Revolution, the Vietnam War, and the 2008 Crash, this is a history of greed and violence, but also of solidarity and resistance.
Many times in the past, a different society became an absolute necessity. Humans have always struggled to create a better life. This history proves that we, the many, have the power to change the world.
This is the history of the struggle and revolution of human society: of hominids, hunters and herders; of emperors and slaves; of patriarchs and women; of rich and poor; of dictators and revolutionaries. From the ancient empires of Persia and Rome to the Russian Revolution, the Vietnam War, and the 2008 Crash, this is a history of greed and violence, but also of solidarity and resistance.
Many times in the past, a different society became an absolute necessity. Humans have always struggled to create a better life. This history proves that we, the many, have the power to change the world.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2018
60 people are currently reading
1031 people want to read
About the author
Neil Faulkner
34 books54 followersNeil Faulkner FSA was a British archaeologist, historian, writer, lecturer, broadcaster, and political activist. Educated at King’s College, Cambridge and the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, Faulkner was a school teacher before becoming an archaeologist.
He was currently a Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, Editor of Military History Monthly, and Co-director of the Great Arab Revolt Project (in Jordan) and the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (in Norfolk, England). On 22 May 2008, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
He was currently a Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, Editor of Military History Monthly, and Co-director of the Great Arab Revolt Project (in Jordan) and the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (in Norfolk, England). On 22 May 2008, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 26, 2020
I took a very long break from this book, but finally returned to it in the last few days.
The beginning and end of this book are gems—the middle is a bit of a slog. However, I found the chapters covering the 20th century to the modern day to be very illuminating, and I think any leftist who was educated in history by neoliberal public institutions would be well served to read it.
My only real gripe with the authors point of view was in (rightly) condemning Zionism, he insists that Judaism is only a religion, “not a nation, or a race”. This is false, categorically. Judaism is an ethnoreligion.
I think possibly the most important section of this book is the final chapter and the conclusion—never have I seen the problems facing our society so succinctly summarized, with the due urgency.
I also appreciate that the book ends with the five lessons of history that ought to be taken if we are to to avert a neoliberal societal collapse. It’s nice to read a modern leftist text that actually has genuine, usable advice for revolution—instead of complaints about the current state or utopian fixes (cough, Utopia for Realists) that are simply impossible to see through without dismantling our global system of power.
The beginning and end of this book are gems—the middle is a bit of a slog. However, I found the chapters covering the 20th century to the modern day to be very illuminating, and I think any leftist who was educated in history by neoliberal public institutions would be well served to read it.
My only real gripe with the authors point of view was in (rightly) condemning Zionism, he insists that Judaism is only a religion, “not a nation, or a race”. This is false, categorically. Judaism is an ethnoreligion.
I think possibly the most important section of this book is the final chapter and the conclusion—never have I seen the problems facing our society so succinctly summarized, with the due urgency.
I also appreciate that the book ends with the five lessons of history that ought to be taken if we are to to avert a neoliberal societal collapse. It’s nice to read a modern leftist text that actually has genuine, usable advice for revolution—instead of complaints about the current state or utopian fixes (cough, Utopia for Realists) that are simply impossible to see through without dismantling our global system of power.
March 31, 2022
No one text can cover the history of the world (even if it is a weighty old tome) and every section of every chapter could be a book in itself. However, that doesn't mean there isn't value in trying. It contextualises a lot of momentous events and is clear in both its beliefs, and in what the author thinks needs to be done. If you're looking to gain a better understanding of how we ended up in this shitshow, it's a decent place to start.
June 3, 2019
This is a great explanation of history that attempts to maintain the perspective and experiences of the everyday people.
Strengths:
The book spans all of human history and succinctly explains the rise of patriarchy, the state, and capitalism. It challenges certain myths and narratives which are often used to justify the modern capitalist system such as “humans are greedy and selfish by nature” with anthropological and sociological evidence.
Weaknesses:
There are some contradictions and missing perspectives when the author describes the 20th century. There is no non-Eurocentric analysis (which the author admits is missing) and an anarchist perspective is missing. The anarchist theories are largely absent, although the author does explain how the people often drive revolutions (ie, the soviets). Yet this is often subsumed by socialist theories (ie, Trotskyism). Further emphasis on anarchist theories would have helped explaining power dynamics and how they have developed into today’s forms of power within society.
Nevertheless, it is an informative read. Highly recommended.
Strengths:
The book spans all of human history and succinctly explains the rise of patriarchy, the state, and capitalism. It challenges certain myths and narratives which are often used to justify the modern capitalist system such as “humans are greedy and selfish by nature” with anthropological and sociological evidence.
Weaknesses:
There are some contradictions and missing perspectives when the author describes the 20th century. There is no non-Eurocentric analysis (which the author admits is missing) and an anarchist perspective is missing. The anarchist theories are largely absent, although the author does explain how the people often drive revolutions (ie, the soviets). Yet this is often subsumed by socialist theories (ie, Trotskyism). Further emphasis on anarchist theories would have helped explaining power dynamics and how they have developed into today’s forms of power within society.
Nevertheless, it is an informative read. Highly recommended.
February 18, 2019
This book started out really well, and the first half was really enjoyable, and informative, as it focused on the author's area of expertise. Unfortunately, from the moment it reached the beginning of the Twentieth Century, it started to ignore or twist facts in order to fit in with a line in which Trotsky was always right and always agreed with the Socialist Workers' Party view. This culminated in a section on the formation of the state of Israel which falsely claimed that Zionism had been a right-wing minority view within the 19th Century rather than a left-wing minority view, and then went on to make the claim which I'd consider anti-Semitic that Jewishness is not an ethnic or cultural group, but just a religion. This is so self-evidently untrue that I stopped being able to take the author seriously at this point.
Conclusion: first half excellent; second half claptrap (including anti-Semitic claptrap) to toe the party line.
Conclusion: first half excellent; second half claptrap (including anti-Semitic claptrap) to toe the party line.
August 9, 2020
A history of the world from the perspective of class struggle. Faulkner starts from the dawn of civilization and takes us all the way to what, as I write this, often feels like the dusk of civilization.
The keystone of this big book is an argument for the conditions from which flat, pure democracy--genuine communism, not the so-called "communist" dictatorships of Stalin, Mao, Castro, and all the rest--could emerge, but these requirements struck me as more of an argument for why pure, flat democracy (socialist anarchy) is too unstable to ever be realized.
He provides a wholly nuanced perspective of the development of political systems focused on the problems of, not free markets, but monopoly capitalism. It is not a diatribe against capitalism, no, no, he shows how markets *can* benefit everyone, but also shows how often "free" markets benefit the tiny few at the expense of the very many. That said, I learned a ton about world history, politics, and economics from this specific perspective.
A fascinating read well told. I do take my time with giant works of nonfiction, a chapter or so each weekend, I like the time to digest it.
The keystone of this big book is an argument for the conditions from which flat, pure democracy--genuine communism, not the so-called "communist" dictatorships of Stalin, Mao, Castro, and all the rest--could emerge, but these requirements struck me as more of an argument for why pure, flat democracy (socialist anarchy) is too unstable to ever be realized.
He provides a wholly nuanced perspective of the development of political systems focused on the problems of, not free markets, but monopoly capitalism. It is not a diatribe against capitalism, no, no, he shows how markets *can* benefit everyone, but also shows how often "free" markets benefit the tiny few at the expense of the very many. That said, I learned a ton about world history, politics, and economics from this specific perspective.
A fascinating read well told. I do take my time with giant works of nonfiction, a chapter or so each weekend, I like the time to digest it.
November 1, 2018
What a tome! From prehistory to Trump all with a focus on class struggle and Marxist analysis. Not the easiest of reads but definitely not dry or too dense - I’ve learned a lot from it and it is guaranteed to make you very very angry about the state of things today....
August 21, 2024
An essential way to look at history, beginning down and going up, from the people to the few
Dense but well written
What stays with you is the bitter but true thought that people constantly fail to defeat power
Dense but well written
What stays with you is the bitter but true thought that people constantly fail to defeat power
November 11, 2021
Trotskyite rabble. Was "OK" up until the author repeated anti-communist myths created by Goebbels himself.
April 15, 2025
not bad but too trot
August 10, 2025
Um bom livro de história. Procurava,uma vez mais,uma história contada a partir de baixo-pelo povo e o seu quotidiano.
Assumidamente marxista, o autor conta-nos uma história da humanidade vista desta perspectiva . Devo dizer que essa perspetiva mecanizada da história é óptima para compreender certos processos, são indesmentíveis, porém a sua aplicação prática é discutível ( na melhor das hipóteses).
Ora uma teoria difícil de manter per si na sua metafísica, dependendo sempre,na ótica do autor,das circunstâncias concretas, não parece muito viável: ora na URSS não era comunismo mas sim estalinismo que era uma burocracia ou um capitalismo de estado ( que ele generaliza a todas as outras experiências posteriores) é no mínimo uma teoria apologética.
Mas com isto nao quero dizer que muitas análises não estejam certas, a solução é que ...duvido.
Faz-me lembrar a física newtoniana- só precisamos dela para o dia a dia mas a nível subatómico precisamos de Einstein e este precisa da quântica por muito que Deus não jogue aos dados.
Com isto quero dizer, ótima para analisar mas precisa de algo mais,com isto não é que necessariamente o capitalismo (que também não está a resolver nada),talvez o estado intermédio seja o ideal. E por muito que custe ao autor, talvez seja mesmo o reformismo.
Assumidamente marxista, o autor conta-nos uma história da humanidade vista desta perspectiva . Devo dizer que essa perspetiva mecanizada da história é óptima para compreender certos processos, são indesmentíveis, porém a sua aplicação prática é discutível ( na melhor das hipóteses).
Ora uma teoria difícil de manter per si na sua metafísica, dependendo sempre,na ótica do autor,das circunstâncias concretas, não parece muito viável: ora na URSS não era comunismo mas sim estalinismo que era uma burocracia ou um capitalismo de estado ( que ele generaliza a todas as outras experiências posteriores) é no mínimo uma teoria apologética.
Mas com isto nao quero dizer que muitas análises não estejam certas, a solução é que ...duvido.
Faz-me lembrar a física newtoniana- só precisamos dela para o dia a dia mas a nível subatómico precisamos de Einstein e este precisa da quântica por muito que Deus não jogue aos dados.
Com isto quero dizer, ótima para analisar mas precisa de algo mais,com isto não é que necessariamente o capitalismo (que também não está a resolver nada),talvez o estado intermédio seja o ideal. E por muito que custe ao autor, talvez seja mesmo o reformismo.
September 12, 2023
Expansive and with a strong verbalisation of its political thesis throughout, it was a pleasure to read and took me to parts of history that I had sadly neglected before.
Nevertheless, the heavy handed returns to internationalist socialism coupled with the somewhat deceiving interpretations of certain historic events that I am familiar with, to fit this thesis, made me less confident in the overall conclusions that Faulkner draws.
Whilst I would certainly recommend simply for its great detail and interconnected narrative, it is not a book to be taken on immediate face value.
Nevertheless, the heavy handed returns to internationalist socialism coupled with the somewhat deceiving interpretations of certain historic events that I am familiar with, to fit this thesis, made me less confident in the overall conclusions that Faulkner draws.
Whilst I would certainly recommend simply for its great detail and interconnected narrative, it is not a book to be taken on immediate face value.
August 30, 2023
A good read though I think Chris Harmen's People's History of the World is better overall. A little too doctinare and narrowly focused on somewhat limited numbers of revolts and struggles. I do appreciate how much the last chapters aimed at our current political moment to rebel rouse.
September 16, 2025
A really fascinating history through the lens of mass action. The only downside was also its strength, in that the book is segmented into easily digestible chunks, great as reference but got in the way of the flow of reading a chapter.
December 22, 2025
Um livro excepcional. A abordagem da História feita através da análise dos movimento de massas e das necessidades e consciência dos trabalhadores é muito bem conseguida. Um livro que aborda a pespetiva marxista da história e que nos permite olhar com outra clareza para o mundo de hoje. A ler!
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August 30, 2019909.09767 F2636 2018
January 11, 2021
Not that radical, really
September 20, 2024
Really interesting; increased my knowledge about the Russian Revolution, the beginnings of monotheistic religions, and the ancient world
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews