Certainly people as brilliant as the Durants coulda shoulda done more with religion than subordinate its cause to the “hidden forces” of nature. One of the best books ever on summarizing historical events in general. The 120-page book essentially deals with a selection principles and commonalities that bind human societies even though there are that separated by thousands of years. Twitter. He also talks about the necessary conflict between order and freedom in society and that perhaps we are in need of more order. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Pultizer Prize-winning historians Will and Ariel Durant spent their entire lives studying and writing about history. Verified Purchase. History is color-blind. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. U.S. Military Power, and the Lessons of History A foreign policy expert says the United States would be ill advised to retreat militarily from the world. 6. My extremely high expectations were not met for this book. This seems to me to be really close to advocacy of eugenics, which we thankfully avoid talking about these days. But it is important to see where historiography was at in the 60's. I agree with some of the reviews already posted: this book has a very 'bleak' view of contemporary art and its meaning, reducing it to something that middle-class wants to buy because they are impressed by auctioneers (this is from the book). ECONOMICALLY, it’s good to know that a.) As pointed out in other reviews, there is much to disagree with, but the Durants made some points I found very interesting, e.g. The hero is just the product of a situation. It’s is a curiosity in my vast collection of history books. Sold by BooksUnlimited2016 and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. Scary. Unfortunately, it doesn't really seem like it. People all over the world, including myself, owe them a debt of gratitude for bringing knowledge down from its ivory towers to enrich the life of the common man. Except for the apparent pattern of inequality and redistribution that characterizes human societies. For more information on their work. I do like the chapter they write explaining social Darwinism. T. This is a bizarre little audiobook with short chapters followed by longish interviews that were apparently done while walking around outside with the authors. The factors/themes include biology, race, morals, religion, economics, government and war and several examples were quoted to support their conclusion. Civilization has progressed (in tolerance, manners, expectations), but human greed and desire has not changed. Please try again. The repulsive aspects of th. The book packs a wealth of insights into a hundred pages. Difficult to imagine how " The Lessons of History" can be condensed into approx. Facebook. The Lessons of History is a 1968 book by historians Will Durant and Ariel Durant. A short read it is, but it is an incredible example of what we can learn from history and an invitation to dive deeper into the areas that interest you. Designed to accompany the ten-volume set of "The Story of Civilization, The Lessons of History" is, in its own right, a profound and original work of history and philosophy. I guess ~120 pages are just not enough for so many years of history. This book is well-written but one has to realize that it dates back to 1966. As pointed out in other reviews, there is much to disagree with, but the Durants made some points I found very interesting, e.g. It weighs in at only around 120 pages, but nearly every sentence seems pregnant with deep insights and wisdom that is as relevant today a. Not the whole eleven volume set, but I have read that one-volume introduction and I was blown away by it. If I had the Durants as teachers, I'd slit my wrists. I'm giving this book a high rating no because I agree with it. The Lessons of History could be viewed as a succinct summary of their much longer work The Story of Civilization. The Lessons of History is a distillation of all of their works and lessons learned in one, short 120-pages book. Definitely going to re-read this. Half the book is bibliography. VOMIT-INDUCING. This is the antithesis of what Jesus taught. Martin Luther, the great Protestant reformer, wrote that if children were taught history in the right way they would be able to comprehend, as a mirror, the character, life, counsels, undertakings, successes, and failures of the whole world from the beginning. Several times I have come away from his books disappointed; and yet I continue to read them. Their playful arm wrestling over ideas and concepts makes for a better interview. This is a really fascinating, wise, but at times repulsive view of human history. They often say that history doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme, so the information contained within this book should be very valuable. By this, I don’t even mean that they were chronologically enhanced; more that they were trapped by that inflexible mindset which places tradition and an intense desire for belonging above a natural exploration of reality. Historiographers need to read this. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published There is so much to learn from history. Yuck. ECONOMICALLY, it’s good to know that a.) Thought-provoking with some striking outlooks on society and human nature, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2018, Got this as it was on Tai Lopez's reading list as well as Warren Buffets and thought it must be something fairly good, A birds-eye view of human experience and civilisation, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2020. Winston Churchill like his bold personality made it clear that only … I'm sure it was eye opening in 1968, but more than 50 years later, it's not what I expected from the reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book. As we’ve progressed our human nature hasn’t changed, but we’ve found new ways of achieving old means. But even for the faults, it's a delight to linger in his mind. Be the first to ask a question about The Lessons of History. The Lessons of History lets us see the patterns and make better decisions in the present moment. These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. Brilliant! 1917. But each of these books owes something to this book -- Will and Ariel Durant's "The Lessons of History.". Share. life is selection, and c.) life must breed. This booklet is an attempt to summarize what they learned from this experience. Life is competition. The result is a survey of human history, full of dazzling insights into the nature of human experience, the evolution of ci. Over the course of history, human behavior has changed, but not human nature. Honest, compassionate overview of history, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2017. Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body. 7. The entire history class can be a lesson in patriotism and Biblical character training. Storyline; Kun-Lai Summit. Catholics soon dominating Protestants in America due to greater virtue). The attitudes are quaint if not antiquated, but I guess that's another lesson of history. Previous page of related Sponsored Products, Simon & Schuster; unknown edition (Feb. 16 2010), I should have done my research, and not follow the crowd. This is a really fascinating, wise, but at times repulsive view of human history. It's the uncanny valley of freedom, or tipping point. How about a little more humble, “Well, we are atheists – or at least agnostics – and modesty compels us to acknowledge that God – contrary to our opinion – may exist.” Real theologians like Karl Barth and Paul Tillich were actually popular – like cover of Time Magazine popular – during the time the Durants were working. The frightening thing is that this is what history teaches. My educators (church and school) encouraged me to hold tightly to ideals of humane living, tolerance, and hope for a better future. May be interesting for historian that want to know how history book were written in the 60', and why it's not a good idea to do it this way anymore - with so much ungrounded personal opinions, Easily digestible read with lots of strong insights into the nature of man and the dynamics of the human race over time. Will and Ariel Durant were part of that great age of American writers who helped popularize history and philosophy. For an amateur historian like me, it provides the appropriate context to understand history beyond the chronology of events and people. It is the most accessible book by Will Durant. "History is so indifferently rich that a case for almost any conclusion from it can be made by a selection of instances." Unsustainable things can last longer than you anticipate. One of the best books I've ever read. I would recommend this book but please bear in mind it's from 1968. They also say the monarchy is the most stable successful form of government and that the church is important only because it serve as a personal behavior moderato. Included in the set was the single slim volume they wrote afterward by way of an introduction, The Lessons of History. the value of the bureaucracy/conservative system in not letting upstarts keep turning the world upside down willy-nilly. How they kept this book to one hundred pages, is quite the accomplishment. great book, but i'm left a bit confused at ... great book, but i'm left a bit confused at times since it references a whole bunch of different events in history to make their points without explaining the events in detail. Zafar Aziz Chaudhry. Mental Models: 30 Thinking Tools that Separate the Average From the Exceptional. Also Gandhi. Fisherman's Tale. With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the Durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. In 1977, the Durants were presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The intimacy between Will and Ariel is a treat. The thing, according to the authors, is that common human passions and desires drive comparable motivations, behaviour and societal change. The Internet of Money Volume Three: A Collection of Talks by Andreas M. Antonopoulos. There’s a long history of military leaders … Rabbinical Judaism ignores that almost completely. They presented a crux on how history events are affected/related by/with several factors/themes. Description A concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, The Lessons of History is the result of a lifetime of research from Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Will and Ariel Durant. But when we get to chapter VII. A champion of human rights issues, such as the brotherhood of man and social reform, long before such issues were popular, Durant’s writing still educates and entertains readers around the world. This is a very remarkable book. In these books, too, we are called on to be skeptical and hesitant in making sense out of the often nonsense of history. 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