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annagrac's review against another edition
5.0
HG Wells wrote a comprehensive history of the world and this is a condensed version published somewhat later. As such, it tends to skip over the details and give big picture sweeps of history and examples rather than exhaustive explanations. I found it interesting and informative with some wry asides and insights into the difference between the industrial revolution and the mechanical revolution that I had not fully appreciated from other world histories.
The most illuminating thing about this book however is it's ending, after providing extremely prescient views on Socialism which had been partially borne out in Russia by the time of writing, Wells looks to the future. After nearly 200 pages of blood and mayhem and the finest education Britain had to offer at the time, Wells foresees sunlit uplands of world peace and prosperity - hope triumphing over experience.
Professionally, I spend my life creating forecasts and watching them be confounded, I have gained significant insight from books such as [b:Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction|23995360|Superforecasting The Art and Science of Prediction|Philip E. Tetlock|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435684424l/23995360._SY75_.jpg|43596077] which show how bad we are at discerning what will come, it's interesting to see even the great thinker of science fiction be just as poor at seeing the future as any of us.
The most illuminating thing about this book however is it's ending, after providing extremely prescient views on Socialism which had been partially borne out in Russia by the time of writing, Wells looks to the future. After nearly 200 pages of blood and mayhem and the finest education Britain had to offer at the time, Wells foresees sunlit uplands of world peace and prosperity - hope triumphing over experience.
Professionally, I spend my life creating forecasts and watching them be confounded, I have gained significant insight from books such as [b:Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction|23995360|Superforecasting The Art and Science of Prediction|Philip E. Tetlock|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435684424l/23995360._SY75_.jpg|43596077] which show how bad we are at discerning what will come, it's interesting to see even the great thinker of science fiction be just as poor at seeing the future as any of us.
matts's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting to read an account of WWII written in 1940 before the U.S. entered the war, and Wells's speculations on Britain's ability to defeat Germany. Also interesting is Well's 1938 thoughts on the future of soviet Russia. This book is best when coving the more current events in some depth. The surveys of ancient rulers, conflicts and dates on the other hand, not so much.
gastronauta's review against another edition
5.0
I'm giving this 5 stars because it may become "the book that ended the Non-Fiction and History Curse". For a proper review though, you'll have to wait until I've read more history and can compare. Or until Alex reads it, whatever happens first. For now, I just thought it was awesome.
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