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Summary: The world's diary encapsulated in a short 100 pages
Review: If when I die I could only pass on three books to my children this would be one of them. Nobody knows the many details of history but some few understand the underlying essence and are able to give it shape and perhaps of these only a handful can make it captivating. Mr. Durant has done all of this in an evenhanded and joyful manner with "The Lessons of History."
Here is a synopsis of the forces that have driven history's path since people have taken note of their circumstances.
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Summary: The Capstone Final Book in The Story of Civilization!
Review: In this text, which could be read before, after or along the way with the eleven volumes of the much heralded and acclaimed series "The Story of Civilization," Dr. Will and Ariel Durant share the historical lessons they have learned after more than >40 years of research and writing in compiling that series.
The reader is treated to a blend of history, philosophy, anthropology, and the Durant's keen insight into political science; insight that applies as much today as when written, with contemporary poli-sci issues in mind. At only slightly more than >100 pages, this book is worth the cost of money and the time to read it. If you cannot or will not read the eleven volumes of The Story of Civilization, but want to be an armchair historian, I suggest you at least read this book!
For example (p.44): "Though the Church served the state, it claimed to stand above all states, as morality should stand above power. It taught men that patriotism unchecked by a higher loyalty can be a tool of greed and crime."
This book is fantastic! I rate this text as five stars!
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Summary: Provoked class Discussions and learning!
Review: My teacher played us the tapes of "The Lessons of History" by Will Durant. At first my classmates and I did not enjoy listening and taking notes because we didn't completely understand it....but then mmy teacher would stop the tape and we would go over our notes and discuss it. This really made me understand what Durant was talking about and I agree with alot of the inferences that he made. Durant's essay's are a great way to provoke discussions at the begining of the year to get your class ready to share their ideas with the class all year.
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Summary: Awesome summary and conclusions from their life's work
Review: Short and to the point. Easy to read. Incredibly accurate. Would recommend to anyone.
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Summary: AN ILLUMINATING INSIGHT INTO THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Review: The Durant's have captured the essence of the human experience throughout history. Although I have not yet read 'The Story of Civilisation' (which I plan to address), this book has opened my eyes to the world in which we live. The themes distilled in this wonderful book will surely awaken the dullest mind.
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Summary: What Does History teach us?
Review: The Durant's show us that of all we might learn from History;the one thing it can't do is to help us predict the future.Even the Durant's were tempted to try in 1968 to predict the impact that lower birth rates would have in the US {see pg 23} totally missed the mark.They also had no insight into the collapse of Communism especially the speed.I do not fault them on this .Maybe they made these points to show how futile prediction really is despite an in depth knowledge of History.I think their line "There is no certainty that the future will repeat th past.Every year is an adventure" {pg 88}.
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Summary: A labour of love and it shows.
Review: The fruit of more than 50 years of labour for all of us to savour.In less than 150 pages the author has condensed lessons drawn from the entire course of human history.The language and style is typical of Mr. Durant and is a pleasure to read. Recommended for all students of history as it will deepen understanding of mankind's past and enlighten our present. A true classic.
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Summary: The first reference point for any thinker
Review: This book is an almost impossibly concise summary of the human condition. It covers everything, to a level of detail that tantalises the reader, enticing them to read further into the text, and more by the same author(s). It is an excellent introduction to history and the philosophy of history. An absolute must for any serious historian, or anyone with a heathly interest in the subject.
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Summary: A Profound insight into the nature of man.
Review: This book was assigned reading for an MBA program I took in 1983.For the first time I was presented with the ideas that described how we fit in the universe along with why we behave as we do.I was in my late 30's , an engineer by trade.I knew the historical behavior patterns of our numerous societies over the spectrum of recorded history, yet had failed to reduce these observations to a lowest common denominator.Will and Ariel Durant segment our history and nature into basic, simple to read chapters, that explain in simple terms how societies have strived to achieve the Utopias we all dream of. I was stunned at how history repeats itself and humbled at the fact that "the foibles of mans dreams" are the same today as they were a thousand years ago. If your ego has convinced you that solutions to the challenges of society are within the grasp of our lives today,don't read this book! On the other hand,if you are prepared to recognize that our species is nothing more than 4000 years of recorded history compared with 14,000,000 years of evolutionary development,sit back and enjoy! This is not a book for individuals who have "new PC ideas as to the nature of mankind".They will find that their ideas are same-o,same-o. Will and Ariel summerize a huge work in one volume that can be read in a day.
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Summary: I still refer to this book 30 years after first reading it.
Review: Will and Ariel Durant tried to bring Philosophy and an understanding of History to the common man and woman. They succeeded admirably, and some thirty years after reading this book I still turn to it in order to understand events occurring around me. This is no scholarly tome, but an invaluable manual for those seeking a better understanding of the world around us. It should be compulsory reading for all those aspiring to public office.
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