Rating: 
Summary: An ideal history for the non-specialist general reader.
Review: In 1800, most people were living in the same manner as their ancestors had for countless generations. This was a time of open-air market stalls, overcrowded cities, a leisured nobility, with the majority of men and women living in subsistence rural villages. In The World In 1800, author and historian Olivier Bernier provides the contemporary reader with a comprehensive, vividly portrayed, compelling description of those times that were on the very brink of radical changes that would establish the modern world. The forces of European warfare, industrial revolution, global mercantilism, and more, would revolutionize the politics, economics, and daily lives of people around the world. The World In 1800 is a gripping, informative, illuminating, at times fascinating history that will be appreciated by both the history student and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the historical development of our modern day, globalized cultures and commerce.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to read but very informative
Review: In the "World in 1800" Mr. Bernier covers a majority of the planet in a comprehensive, but informative manner. While there is much here for history buffs, the book could be entertaining for any reader. I am writing a book, in which the period he speaks of will cover, and I found plenty of information I needed. What made the read enjoyable though was the author's ability to put the reader in the situation he discussed; his descriptions made me feel like I was in the locales he described. At the same time he provided in depth information about his subjects that I had not seen elsewhere; his coverage of Napolean in particular covered old ground from a very fresh perspective. Anyone even the slightest bit interested in history and even those who generally are not, will find this book easy to read cover to cover in a short period.
Rating: 
Summary: Understand the Present Through the Past
Review: In the year 1800 most of the world's population scratched out a living in the countryside while a few merchants in the cities hawked their wares in open-air market stalls. The nobles, on the other hand, led lives of opulent leisure. This scenario had not changed from the days of their ancestors. Yet, there were unmistakable signs that all this would soon change forever. The seeds of republicanism were spreading in Europe while the United States was proving to the world the feasibility of a government of, by and for the people. France and England had established global empire-building strategies. Thus, the year 1800 saw the world suddenly enmeshed in a web of mercantilism, war, and political intrigue. In was in such an atmosphere that this pivotal moment in world history heralded the dawn of the modern era.In this compelling volume renowned historian Olivier Bernier provides us with a riveting chronicle of that time, so full of historical lessons for us as we embark upon the new millennium. The scope of the book is truly global covering Europe's bloodstained landscape, the nascent United States, the Spanish and Portuguese dominions of Central and South America, the Gold Coast of Africa, British India and the Forbidden City of China. This journey around the world provides a finely textured portrait of civilisation at the dawn of the modern era while shedding new light on the revolutionary trends that were taking shape in the arts, architecture, science, and philosophy. Offering a spellbinding account of one of the most momentous chapters in the story of civilization, The World in 1800 makes irresistible reading for scholars and history buffs alike. Educated in Paris, at Harvard and at New York University, Olivier Bernier is the author of several books on history. He has also taught art history and is widely acclaimed for his lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Account of the World in 1800
Review: Overall this was an interesting view of the world and events in 1800. The author takes the reader across Europe, between the warring nations of France, England, Austria, Prussia and Russia, and then onto the America's. He continues the journey into China, Japan, India, the Ottoman Empire and finishes in Africa. The author, Olivier Bernier introduces us to the leaders, people, customs, art, cities and life of the inhabitants of these countries. Although the book is about 450 pages, in reality he can only offer us an interesting overview of these people and places. In no manner is this an in-depth account but it is an enjoyable story none the less. The main theme of the book, I think, is to show how the world was becoming smaller, that the countries were in fact linked in one manner or another. That event's in Revolutionary France could have an impact on the inhabitants and events in furthermost Africa. It was interesting to read of Napoleon and his campaigns (in brief) and find out that at the same time what was happening in the United States, or in Peru, Brazil or China. I would have liked a few more pictures and maps and at times I did find that the narrative bogged down but overall this was a very enjoyable piece of historical writing. I think that anybody that enjoys a decent history book without too many facts and figures should enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: An Integrated View of History
Review: This book does a very good job of integrating in to a comprehensible whole the fragmented events occuring around the world in 1800. The beginning of the 19th century was a turning point in the sense that the industrial revolution was gathering steam in Europe and the early implementation of democratic ideals was taking place in the U.S. and France. Yet, society was still structured much as it had been for hundreds of years. Starting in Europe and then moving to the U.S., Central and South America, Asia and finally Africa, Bernier does a very good job of linking events together and helps the reader understand local events in a larger context. My only significant criticism of the work is Bernier's treatment of Africa. The noble savage image that he paints is continually refuted by his recitation of factual events surrounding tribal warfare and the slave trade. Africa in 1800 was important to the rest of the world only in the context of the slave trade and this could have more than adequately been treated in the sections on Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Rating:
Summary: An Integrated View of History
Review: This book does a very good job of integrating in to a comprehensible whole the fragmented events occuring around the world in 1800. The beginning of the 19th century was a turning point in the sense that the industrial revolution was gathering steam in Europe and the early implementation of democratic ideals was taking place in the U.S. and France. Yet, society was still structured much as it had been for hundreds of years. Starting in Europe and then moving to the U.S., Central and South America, Asia and finally Africa, Bernier does a very good job of linking events together and helps the reader understand local events in a larger context. My only significant criticism of the work is Bernier's treatment of Africa. The noble savage image that he paints is continually refuted by his recitation of factual events surrounding tribal warfare and the slave trade. Africa in 1800 was important to the rest of the world only in the context of the slave trade and this could have more than adequately been treated in the sections on Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Rating:
Summary: The beginning of the modern era
Review: This book is very interesting: in a little over 400 pages, the author attempts to give a world overview of the years around 1800, showing the reader how things developed. I feel that he has been rather successful in his attempt, with some minor quibbles. He covers Western Europe and the US well, but most folks know most of what he retells. He has his heroes (such as Jefferson), and his non-heroes (such as John Adams), and while I don't necessarily agree with a lot of what he says about some of these people, he has his right to his opinion. When it comes to Central and South America, Asia and Africa, he gets into giving information about which I'm not necessarily familiar, and that's where I really enjoyed reading this book: learning new things. He seems to have a fixation about slavery, for he refers to it almost constantly, but since it was a very prevalent institutiuon diring that era, he has the right to do so. All in all, this is a successful book, and it will inform the general reader about many new and different aspects of history in odd parts of the world.
Rating: 
Summary: The World? Which one?
Review: This is beautifully written and absorbing, but disappointingly US-centric. Not surprising really, as the author is US domiciled, but from a historical point of view a disappointment. By the end of the book I knew a lot more about the fledgling US in 1800 than about "the world".
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