The lessons of history by Will and Ariel Durant

BOOK REVIEWS BY BINOD

BINOD’S RATING: 7/10

A collection of essays by the famous duo.

It’s a whirlwind summary of recorded human history in 101 pages (hence the RoI is huge!). Each essay connects history with one key theme (the earth, biology, race, character, morals, religion, economics, socialism, government and war).

So much to learn! The conceptual explanation for the rise and fall of civilizations, that the US is based on Western Europe is based on Rome is based on Greece, why we’ve been always governed by a minority ( birth- aristocracy, religion- theocratic, wealth -democracy), why Communism took hold in Russia in 1917 and not Britain, that democracy has been around for a very brief while, how and why morals were linked to (and hence changed) by our economic history (hunting to agriculture to Industrial Age) etc. etc.

This concise yet comprehensive big picture feast is packed to the gunwales with insights. My only regret? It’s been around since 1968 and I should’ve read it earlier. It’s essentially a summary of their 10 volume Pulitzer Prize winning Story of Civilization and now I’m curious about this epic work.

Enjoy!!