Our understanding of world history is changing, as new discoveries are made on all the continents and old prejudices are being challenged. In this truly global journey Andrew Marr revisits some of the traditional epic stories, from classical Greece and Rome to the rise of Napoleon, but surrounds them with less familiar material, from Peru to the Ukraine, China to the Caribbean. He looks at cultures that have failed and vanished, as well as the origins of today’s superpowers, and finds surprising echoes and parallels across vast distances and epochs.
A History of the World is a book about the great change-makers of history and their times, people such as Cleopatra, Genghis Khan, Galileo and Mao, but it is also a book about us. For ‘the better we understand how rulers lose touch with reality, or why revolutions produce dictators more often than they produce happiness, or why some parts of the world are richer than others, the easier it is to understand our own times.’
Fresh, exciting and vividly readable, this is popular history at its very best.
Review:
"As the book of the BBC films, it is televisual, yet done with journalistic panache." --The Times
"It is a wonderful book. The series is nothing special. But the book is and is startlingly different; here Marr's writing and his control of the material are remarkable. It should be required reading for all students of history, even more so for those who teach it in universities." --Spectator
Book Description:
From the earliest civilisations to the twenty-first century, Andrew Marr's A History of the World is a compelling global journey through human history.
Book Description:
Andrew Marr, author of two best-selling histories of Great Britain now turns his attention to the world as a whole. A New History of the World takes readers from the Mayans to Mongolia, from the kingdom of Benin to the court of the Jagiellonian kings of Poland. Traditional histories of this kind have tended to be Euro-centric, telling mankind's story through tales of Greece and Rome and the crowned heads of Europe's oldest monarchies. Here, Marr widens the lens, concentrating as much, if not more on the Americas, Africa and Asia. Instead of focusing on one episode of history taking place in one place, he draws surprising parallels and makes fascinating connections, focusing on a key incident or episode to tell a larger story: for instance, the liberation of the serfs in Russia, which took place at the same time as the American Civil War, which resulted in the abolition of slavery in the US. But he begins the account with an episode in the life of Tolstoy, who racked up huge gambling debts and had to sell land and slaves as a result. Fresh and exciting, this is popular history at its very best.
About the Author:
Andrew Marr was born in Glasgow in 1959. He studied English at the University of Cambridge and has since enjoyed a long career in political journalism, working for the Scotsman, the Independent, the Daily Express and the Observer. From 2000 to 2005 he was the BBC’s Political Editor. He has written and presented TV documentaries on history, science and politics, and presents the weekly Andrew Marr Show on Sunday mornings on BBC1 and Start the Week on Radio 4. He has written several books, including A History of 20th Century Britain and A History of Modern Britain. He lives in London with his family.
9 comments
marty-401
23 Jun 171#1
Isn't this the chap who had an affair and then got a high court gagging order to hide away from it? Who then goes on his show and tries to out others indiscretions and double standards?
I don't think I will be adding to his coffers as I already put more than enough in via my tv licence fee.
steford to marty-401
23 Jun 17#4
How much of your licence fee goes to Andrew Marr do you think? I'd say a few pence at most. You can definitely stick it to the **** by not buying his book. Perhaps buy one on a sense of perspective or important world issues instead.
Yas
23 Jun 171#2
Plenty worse crimes in this world than having an affair. A good book - heat.
jobibear
23 Jun 17#3
Like the above comment and agree. Bit of a right wing twit, but need a book and he only be getting a couple pence so ever the hypocritic I bit.
After his stroke, accord to his TV program, he was terribly excited to get messages of condolence from Gordon Brown (chucking up!) and "Call me Dave" Cameron. That's his kind of circle.
batezy_1984
23 Jun 174#5
It always amazes me the opinions that people have about everything. I could have posted about Walkers crisps and would have got told what a bad person Gary Lineker is. Maybe everyone needs to chill. Buy the book or don't :smile:
Zuulan to batezy_1984
23 Jun 171#7
Walkers crisps are on offer somewhere? Please tell me more.
djbenny1 to batezy_1984
23 Jun 171#8
You must be new around here.
To help you out, the hierarchy of hot deals goes something like this:
1) Crisps
2) Xiaomi Mi Band activity trackers
3) Tokyo Laundry & Charles Wilson clothes
4) Phones from Chinese brands you've never heard of
5) Everything else
hullu
23 Jun 171#6
As history has a habit of repeating itself any attempt to educate the TV gazing masses must be applauded.
The author's association with Orwell's Ministry of truth, the BBC room 101 etc, means I'll give it a miss. But good deal anyway if it takes people away from Big Brother's telescreens.
It's probably to be found in Poundland soon with all the other TV spin-offs.
batezy_1984
23 Jun 17#9
Been here around two months longer than you by the looks of it :smile: but yeah those Chinese fit band deals are getting boring ! They are about £15. Everywhere :smile:
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
The paperback edition is available for £3.99.
Product Description:
Our understanding of world history is changing, as new discoveries are made on all the continents and old prejudices are being challenged. In this truly global journey Andrew Marr revisits some of the traditional epic stories, from classical Greece and Rome to the rise of Napoleon, but surrounds them with less familiar material, from Peru to the Ukraine, China to the Caribbean. He looks at cultures that have failed and vanished, as well as the origins of today’s superpowers, and finds surprising echoes and parallels across vast distances and epochs.
A History of the World is a book about the great change-makers of history and their times, people such as Cleopatra, Genghis Khan, Galileo and Mao, but it is also a book about us. For ‘the better we understand how rulers lose touch with reality, or why revolutions produce dictators more often than they produce happiness, or why some parts of the world are richer than others, the easier it is to understand our own times.’
Fresh, exciting and vividly readable, this is popular history at its very best.
Review:
"As the book of the BBC films, it is televisual, yet done with journalistic panache." --The Times
"It is a wonderful book. The series is nothing special. But the book is and is startlingly different; here Marr's writing and his control of the material are remarkable. It should be required reading for all students of history, even more so for those who teach it in universities." --Spectator
Book Description:
From the earliest civilisations to the twenty-first century, Andrew Marr's A History of the World is a compelling global journey through human history.
Book Description:
Andrew Marr, author of two best-selling histories of Great Britain now turns his attention to the world as a whole. A New History of the World takes readers from the Mayans to Mongolia, from the kingdom of Benin to the court of the Jagiellonian kings of Poland. Traditional histories of this kind have tended to be Euro-centric, telling mankind's story through tales of Greece and Rome and the crowned heads of Europe's oldest monarchies. Here, Marr widens the lens, concentrating as much, if not more on the Americas, Africa and Asia. Instead of focusing on one episode of history taking place in one place, he draws surprising parallels and makes fascinating connections, focusing on a key incident or episode to tell a larger story: for instance, the liberation of the serfs in Russia, which took place at the same time as the American Civil War, which resulted in the abolition of slavery in the US. But he begins the account with an episode in the life of Tolstoy, who racked up huge gambling debts and had to sell land and slaves as a result. Fresh and exciting, this is popular history at its very best.
About the Author:
Andrew Marr was born in Glasgow in 1959. He studied English at the University of Cambridge and has since enjoyed a long career in political journalism, working for the Scotsman, the Independent, the Daily Express and the Observer. From 2000 to 2005 he was the BBC’s Political Editor. He has written and presented TV documentaries on history, science and politics, and presents the weekly Andrew Marr Show on Sunday mornings on BBC1 and Start the Week on Radio 4. He has written several books, including A History of 20th Century Britain and A History of Modern Britain. He lives in London with his family.
9 comments
I don't think I will be adding to his coffers as I already put more than enough in via my tv licence fee.
After his stroke, accord to his TV program, he was terribly excited to get messages of condolence from Gordon Brown (chucking up!) and "Call me Dave" Cameron. That's his kind of circle.
To help you out, the hierarchy of hot deals goes something like this:
1) Crisps
2) Xiaomi Mi Band activity trackers
3) Tokyo Laundry & Charles Wilson clothes
4) Phones from Chinese brands you've never heard of
5) Everything else
The author's association with Orwell's Ministry of truth, the BBC room 101 etc, means I'll give it a miss. But good deal anyway if it takes people away from Big Brother's telescreens.
It's probably to be found in Poundland soon with all the other TV spin-offs.