The Story of Mankind Review
my abiding interest in both history and politics began with this book which i found in our library. i was at first attracted to the amusing sketches and witty comentary then by what was alreadt clear to me
as the authors feeling for the human race and its struggles to make sense of itself and its place in the scheme of things. until now i had always thought my debt and affection for this special work singular. i am glad to see i was wrong.
The Story of Mankind Overview
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Historia universal; World history;
The Story of Mankind Specifications
Anyone who can chronicle world history from 500,000 B.C. to present times--and do so in a lively, entertaining style--deserves a medal. Luckily, the bestowers of the very first Newbery Medal in 1922 thought so, too. The warm, personable tone of Hendrik Willem van Loon's writing lends itself to true learning in a way that stern, dry textbooks never do. In the introduction, he describes climbing a tower in Rotterdam in his youth. Years later, the perspective at the top inspired the author to develop a metaphor of history as a "mighty Tower of Experience, which Time has built amidst the endless fields of bygone ages."
This genuinely enjoyable charmer, for history buffs and the historically challenged alike, covers human history from prehistoric times, when our earliest ancestors were learning to communicate with grunts, right through to the issues of the latter 20th century: gay rights, Arab-Israeli conflicts, and health and fitness. Revised and updated several times since 1921, van Loon's inviting classic is filled with stories (and witty parenthetical asides) that bring history alive. His pen-and-ink illustrations, maps, and animated chronology contribute to the cozy, round the fireplace aspect of the book. (Ages 12 and older) --Emilie Coulter
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Customer Reviews
No Editing - L. Wilson -
I just bought this book to use as a portion of our homeschool history curricullum. However this versionof the book (ISBN-13: 978-1153721998) also has little or no editing. There are whole sentences missing and some sentences stop mid line then continued on the next line. We can't make sense of it so I have purchaed an original text with illustrations. Hopefully it won't contain these errors and I can write an actual review on the material in the book.
Crazy as a Loon - Homeschool Mom - Washington State USA
This should be titled "Loons' Opinion of Western Mankind; at times based on historical fact." India and China are briefly mentioned in the chapter "Buddhism and Confusianism" and we don't hear anything from China until 1939. Africa? Not even in the index. I bought this because it was required for a history curriculum I was considering. We will be using something else. Only buy this if you are weary of screaming at your television, and would like to try screaming at a book instead. If you know anything about history, this book will make you Crazy as a Loon.
Story of Mankind - Chelsea Christopherson -
This book is very educational. I was never in to history but this book makes it more interesting. I love teh drawings that go along with it. I think this is a great book for any one who teaches history, even elementary levels.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 04, 2010 23:40:06
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