[books 2013] A History of the World
Jan. 27th, 2013 01:06 pm5. A History of the World by Andrew Marr
The book to accompany the recent TV series.
I've had this on the go for ages - it kept getting interrupted by library books that couldn't be renewed - but it's one you can do that with and not lose the train of thought too badly.
There's not a lot in it that's factually new to me, but his insights and comparisons - for example, between the Roman and first Han Chineses empires - roughly contemporaneous, roughtly equal in size and both with really strong administratios - are what make this book really worthwhile. That, and his prose is a delight to read.
I usually avoid TV tie-ins, but am really glad that I read this.
The book to accompany the recent TV series.
I've had this on the go for ages - it kept getting interrupted by library books that couldn't be renewed - but it's one you can do that with and not lose the train of thought too badly.
There's not a lot in it that's factually new to me, but his insights and comparisons - for example, between the Roman and first Han Chineses empires - roughly contemporaneous, roughtly equal in size and both with really strong administratios - are what make this book really worthwhile. That, and his prose is a delight to read.
I usually avoid TV tie-ins, but am really glad that I read this.