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youssefhassan13's review against another edition
1.0
one of the worst and most boring books I've ever read. The heroes selection is very unexpected to me and the storyline is non-existent. Very disappointed
cucumberedpickle's review against another edition
2.0
This review is entirely my fault for picking the wrong book. It's just that I am not a fan of old school history. I should have picked a more contemporary book.
endomental's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting walk through history from the Ancients to the Enlightenment. I learned a lot, and there's a lot to learn. The book itself is somewhat dated, so I wonder if we've learned more beyond. It can also be pretty slow going in spots.
alexctelander's review against another edition
3.0
The well-known author of the last century, Will Durant, died in 1981. This manuscript was found only a year ago practically in its completed form. It is a treasure of the literary world. Durant’s oeuvre during his lifetime was an eleven-volume series entitled The Story of Civilization, where he focused on an age in each book and gave history lesson that had never really been given before with this Herculean collection.
The result was a most unique series which had the unintended effect of appearing too daunting to average readers with its great size. So in the seventies Durant began working on a single word that would condense the eleven volumes into one book, with twenty-two chapters on specific ages and people in the history of civilization. While he was writing chapter twenty-two, he died shortly after the death of his wife. The manuscript disappeared and was not discovered until 2000. Heroes of History is a book with a hundred history classes in just 350 pages, a gem that any history buff should own.
Originally published on May 13th 2002.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
The result was a most unique series which had the unintended effect of appearing too daunting to average readers with its great size. So in the seventies Durant began working on a single word that would condense the eleven volumes into one book, with twenty-two chapters on specific ages and people in the history of civilization. While he was writing chapter twenty-two, he died shortly after the death of his wife. The manuscript disappeared and was not discovered until 2000. Heroes of History is a book with a hundred history classes in just 350 pages, a gem that any history buff should own.
Originally published on May 13th 2002.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
fallchicken's review against another edition
3.0
Apparently the heroes idea was proposed as a TV series, but that didn't come to be, and it was turned into essays. Probably not complete, since Lincoln and Whitman were proposed subjects, but we only get as far as Shakespeare and Bacon. Some chapters have a little background, then focus on a hero or two. Others just seem to be highlights of a period. After stops in China, India, and Egypt, the rest is Europe. Disappointing because I had high expectations.
psalmcat's review against another edition
3.0
Published posthumously. I need to go back and finish this sometime -- only got to page 114. Good summaries of people important to the civilization of the world, not just the West. Quick read, but wrong time of year.
arredondo_'s review against another edition
4.0
As a short version of the civilization series, it has good info although lacks of spaceous details so wity written on the full version
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