The Life Millennium: The 100 Most Important Events and People of the Past 1,000 Years

by Robert Friedman

The flush toilet and the discovery of the potato. The Declaration of Independence and the invention of plastic. The first novel and man's first steps on the moon. These are just some of the 100 most important events, discoveries, and magnificent moments of the past 1,000 years selected -- and ranked -- by the editors of Life in this highly readable and lushly illustrated tour of the millennium. Working with dozens of experts around the world and based on the magazine's fall 1997 special double issue, Life's editors have put together an encyclopedic and entertaining account of human progress from 1001 to the present. The two separate rankings -- the 100 Most Important Events and the 100 Most Important People -- include many surprises, along with some of this millennium's best-known personalities and developments. This is social history as never seen before, a book to last for the next 1,000 years.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Photography

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Gloria Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent retrospective, as done by LIFE, as we are now 22 years into the "new " millenium

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure I agree with the editors about which events are the most significant in history, but they certainly were the most newsworthy. Fine photos of all kinds.

[John Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the most part, I agree with this list. It doesn't appeal to popular tastes, for the most part, and its top-10 contains entries which are all arguably among the top-10 events of the millennium.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The same as the other books that relate to this subject in a nutshell really. The same stories and same information, just told by another person with their own point of view. I respect all sides of the same story, even if the story has been told a hundred thousand times. But aren't we all guilty of telling a story that someone else has told before? That's where the structure of social life immerses from. It flows through all of us so that we can all know and be who we are, human.

Of all important people in the last 1000 years, I agree that Edison was the most important because h invented the light and all things in today's world need and require light. It is the best invention in history.

[Wayland Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's pretty much what you'd expect-- a big picture book of major events. It tries to cover so much there's no depth, but it's decent surface covering of various historical incidents.

It's not really a read so much as a skim through. Fluff writing but some very nice pictures.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

We hear so much about recent history, but this gives a great perspective on what events led to the events of today...things we don't even think of...and, as always, great photography.

[Jennifer Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't met a book in this series I didn't like. A super condensed history lesson of the last 1000 years. Plus I'm a sucker for an oversized book chock full of glossy photos.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! jusevert says it all.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat Pictures and info