World History

by Brown Reference Group

448 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Charles Kato · Rating 4 out of 5]

O.K., first of all let’s get something straight, this pocket encyclopedia can by no means be pocketed. It weighs like two pounds and has 450 pages written in tiny ass font; getting the title wrong kind of makes you question the rest of the so called “facts” within its binding huh? All kidding aside I think this a really interesting book. It’s quick and to the point, giving a Reader’s Digest version of the most important events of the last five thousand years or so. It actually begins with the earliest hominids and their eventual evolution into humans, and then their journey out of Africa which started everything. But this is a very short section of the book and once humans are walking upright the first real discussion is in regards to the agricultural revolution some 2 million years later. From that point on it hits most of the major characters and events that have shaped world history. It’s by no means an exhaustive library of what happened; but it covers events everyone ought to be familiar with.

I found the journey entertaining as I travelled back in time to watch Alexander the Great battle in Persia, Caesar and the rise of the Roman Empire, Muhammad and the formation of Islam, the bloody crusades, until eventually I see men walk on the moon and computer technology invading our homes. If you have the time to read this little guy I do recommend it; it’s short, fun, and to the point. Just like this review.