A History of the World in 100 Objects

"Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see." -- 1 Samuel 4:15 (NKJV) Let me address right away the objections that some will have to this outstanding resource: 1. The photographs are often dim and unclear. Yup. That's true. But the point of the book is to tell the story of the objects, not to highlight them as things of beauty as might be the case for a painting or a sculpture. 2. The electronic version costs a lot more than $9.99 and is almost as much as the hardcover. Yup. I thought that hardcover was inexpensive for what it is. Buy that one if you don't want to spend a lot for your Kindle. If you get past those problems, I think you'll love this book. It's like having several of the world's top authorities on each of 100 objects tell you deep meanings that you wouldn't grasp by visiting the British Museum on your own and staring at the objects. I was very impressed by the selection process, finding objects that convey interesting information at several levels. For instance, an object might tell you something about who made it and how it was used. These objects also have significance in terms of where the elements of the object came from (frequently indicating long-distance trade that you probably wouldn't have expected). Further, aspects of the objects may also reveal something about common human instincts that show up in many different cultures at about the same time. In addition, you get a sense of chronology that you probably didn't know in terms of what each civilization was doing at the same time. While it would be nice if 100 objects would tell all of human history, that's frankly impossible. A more accurate title for the book would probably be something like "Multicultural Dimensions of Human Experience Represented in 100 Objects from the British Museum." So don't let the title lead you to make unrealistic assumptions about the book. To me, a handful of the objects were so fascinating that I would have felt rewarded simply by having those few pages. Here are my favorites: --Olduvai Handaxe --Swimming Reindeer --Ain Sakhri Lovers Figurine --Jomon Pot --Jade Axe --Rhind Mathematical Papyrus --Minoan Bull-leaper --Mold Gold Cape --Chinese Bronze Bell --Ceremonial Ballgame Belt --Sutton Hoo Helmet --Maya Relief of Royal Blood-letting --Vale of York Hoard --Kilwa Pot Sherds --Ife Head --Taino Ritual Seat --Tughra of Suleiman the Magnificent --Ming Banknote --Jade Dragon Cup --Mechanical Galleon --Kakiemon Elephants --Akan Drum --Hawaiian Feather Helmet --North American Buckskin Map --Australian Bark Shield --Jade Bi --Hokusai's The Great Wave --Suffragette-defaced Penny --Russian Revolutionary Plate --Throne of Weapons When you get the book, see what you think. I particularly liked the way that commenting scholars were selected who should have a superior cultural and historical perspective on the objects. One of my sons and his wife work in a well-known museum. I've recommended the book to them as a way to gain perspective on how to tell a collection's story in more complete and compelling ways. Bravo, Director MacGregor!

I stumbled on this book on Amazon, read all the reviews, and couldn't decide if I was ready to spend the money - there were concerns that the picture quality is not so good. So I decided to download the free podcast first and see if I like the program in the first place. (Make sure to download them from BBC's website or iTunes - They are free mp3s and you can burn them onto a CD, instead of buying the overpriced audiobook version) I listen to the program when I commute to/from work, and I absolutely love the program, so much that I look forward to getting into the car in the morning. So I ordered this book the next day. I read somewhere that the British Museum and BBC spent 4 years making the program. There are plenty other reviews here talking about the content itself, so I will focus on the quality of the book. As mentioned earlier, I was concerned that some reviews mentioned the picture quality was not so good. I completely disagree. The book itself is very handsome and would look good on any bookshelf. The pages are thick and matte, and you can tell the paper is of very nice quality. In fact, the paper quality is higher than any other hardcover i own. All pictures are taken against a black background. Some of the objects have more than one picture, taken from different angles or of close-up views. For example, if there are inscriptions on an item, there will usually be an additional picture showing a close-up view of the inscriptions. I listen to several programs a day without looking at the pictures first. Using MacGregor's vivid description, I conjure up images of these items in my head. As soon as I get home, I flip through the book to look at the actual pictures. I find that I have a much deeper appreciation for these images when I have a thorough understanding of the objects in them. If you are interested in history, you will love this book like I do.

History is usually explored through events. In our minds, it can easily become little more than a jumble of dates and titles. This book looks instead at history through objects that represent humanity’s progress. Some objects are humble, others made of precious materials. But all represent important developments in the story of our species’ journey through time. It’s an enjoyable read that illuminates our shared history without ever becoming dull or dry.

I believe I learned more per page reading this book than any I've ever read. A tour through all of history using objects collected (stolen?) by the British Museum, this book is a bravura execution of material culture and archaeological studies. In fact, I used several entries with my Advanced Placement Literature class in order to expose them to effective and interesting "close reading." MacGregor does with objects what literary critics do with a passage of poetry: he describes the object (lovely pictures ARE included), he gives a fascinating context of the period in which this object was used, and finally, provides an analysis of what the object "says" about the people, nation, and region that used or owned it. I find this method of historical explication incredibly engaging. Rather than begin with abstract concepts like democracy, Federalism, or ethnic cleansing, MacGregor begins with the concrete--a vase, a coin, a flower pot-- and says here's what this culture produced, here's what that says about them. This also dovetails nicely with what I teach in class regarding advertising; that we can come to understand the ideals of a nation by studying its advertisements. Interestingly, the objects MacGregor chooses also function as "advertisements" for their respective milieus. A testament to how well this book is written and constructed is that I read it incredibly quickly. Before I knew it, I was on object 56 at the 300 something page mark and I had no mental fatigue. The fact that the book is organized in 100 3 to 4 pages "chapters" helps a lot because I found myself reading a few objects here and there whenever I had some spare time. I recommend this book highly to anyone who has even a fleeting interest in archaeology or cultural materialism; your efforts, and the rather hefty price of the book will be worth it.

Fantastic way to bring history to life! I thoroughly enjoyed exploring human history from two million years ago to today through the stories of these fascinating objects. It made me see how much we’ve changed — from simple everyday items to great works of art and technology. Loved how Neil McGregor ended this journey.

Very good in general, but the pictures should be better. In all cases the background is flat black, which is dull and lowers the contrast when the object is also dark or is illuminated with insufficient light, as some are. In some cases, there are better pictures in the web site. Also, the dimensions of each object should appear in the picture.

This is an excellent read. As usual, BBC does not disappoint. The book is compiled from transcripts of a 100-episode series on BBC Radio. One hundred objects are thoughtfully picked from exhibits at the British Museum to chronicle the history of mankind, from its earliest beginnings up to the 21st century. The 100 chapters are short, but solid, each corresponding to an episode on radio. The book is great for leisurely, but very informative reading. A definite advantage that the book has over the radio episodes is that it shows each of the 100 objects in full colour. The book is highly recommended for any reader who is interested in understanding the development of mankind. It provides clear and useful background for reflecting on how we have come to where we are -- when and how we have progressed, as well as when and how often we have regressed. I read a Kindle version, which allows me to magnify photographs to look closely at the 100 objects. My only complaint is that, with Kindle, it has been rather more cumbersome for me to refer back to the page with the photographs in each chapter while I was cruising through.

Reading this book is like taking a tour of the British Museum. The author presents 100 objects from the British Museum and presents their stories and their significance in world history. The objects are presented in roughly historical order and also grouped according to several themes, and the author points out some common threads that are woven through this history. One of the best parts of reading this book is encountering little-known facts, people, and cultural artifacts which one doesn't usually find in a textbook-style presentation of world history. Overall I found this to be a very enjoyable read, easy to pick up and put down again, and I tended to read this during spare moments or a few chapters in the evening after work. Perhaps the only "weakness" of this book is that as the book moves from object to object, there is not necessarily a coherent story line, and so I did not tend to feel drawn on to the next chapter. Note also that the pictures in this book are in nice, high-resolution color. (Of course, not all Kindle models can display color.)

Originally this book started out as a project for BBC Radio 4; with four years in the planning, and a host of experts to help him, Neil MacGregor has created a really special collection of top artefacts, all of which can be found at the British Museum. The series has been described as a project charting the history of humanity, and after having read the book it comes as no surprise that it has won awards and bursaries for the museum, at which MacGregor was the Director for 13 years. Each object gets about five pages each, so the chapters are a bite-size insight into each era of history that the object relates to. Remember that this project started as a radio series, and so each week they would have different guests on the show, experts in the fields that each item relates to; in the book there are little snippets of what each guest had to say. Whilst the book might be a bit too heavy and full on to read in one go, it’s one of those books you can dip in and out of, and the chapters are short and punchy which makes it all the more easier. This book is a must for anyone who considers themselves a history enthusiast, no matter what period of history interests you. One of the cleverest things about the book is how it connects each epoch. When you think about the Romans, or Greeks, or Egyptians, you don’t necessarily know how time transitioned from one to the other, but this book covers the in-between phases too. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has interests in social sciences, philosophy, and politics too. This book is invaluable in giving an objective view of the world’s history as we know it. If you want to understand how and why we are the way we are, then you need to know where we came from, and this history connects all of us. Not only does this book fill in the blanks between dynasties and eras, but all of the objects are to be found in the British Museum. It really brings each artefact to life, instead of just reading the two lines next to each artefact which never truly does it justice. I'd recommend reading the book, highlighting the chapters/items you want to see, and take the book with you on a visit to the British Museum. Don’t be surprised if you find people following you, having a book in your hand and looking determined like you know where you’re going usually makes an impression on other visitors.

Such a delicious book! Studded with large chunks of entertainment and seasoned with exotic information. The book tries to tell history in a way which has not been attempted before. 100 objects from all over the world with clear historical significance have been chosen from the large inventory of the British Museum, ranging from the beginning of human history (a simple flint tool or an arrowhead) right up to the present day (a credit card or a solar lamp). And the writer tells a fascinating and engaging story of world history through describing those objects. Such a novel approach. This is a must read for everyone.

A brilliant and absorbing way to present history. Couldn't put it down. Every item discussed brought forward new and illuminating information.

This is an extraordinary and brilliant book, where the author takes us through "mankind" in a series of about 100 essays. It's the sort of book that motivates anyone with the slightest interest in archaeology and anthropology, and makes me wish I'd read archaeology at university in my youth. It should be compulsory reading for Canadian and American high school students, rather than the so-called social-studies rubbish that's propagated these days. It is eminently readable and in no way "stuffy." It's also the kind of work that can be read in stages, put down and taken up later, as well as something that can be referred to as time passes.

Fue una serie del radio y el libro es, estupendo, con fotos y comentarios de xada objeto. Estupendo.