For its time, Wells' history of the world (a somewhat ludicrous endeavor) avoids some of the prejudices that plague similar works--the book includes a significant section on prehistory, acknowledges some of the atrocities of imperial rule, and speaks highly of the accomplishments of non-European peoples. It is still highly problematic, not least for its utter non-treatment of women (who appear in three instances: as the property of neolithic men, and in brief references to Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria). Wells' world history promotes the idea that the world, led predominantly by European men, is evolving toward a single, unified organization, to be ruled by some sort of scientist-emperor. In my opinion, this is a mildly interesting work for Wells scholars, but not worth reading otherwise.

كاتب انجليزى شهير فى اواخر عقده الثامن يضع رؤيته الشخصيه للعالم(الجنس البشرى) كيف بدأ وكيف كان وكيف سيكون وكيف سينتهى .. كتاب فى مجمله ممتع ان تجاوزنا عن بعض الفصول الاولى

This is a brilliant encapsulation of world history and probably one of the best short works on the subject.

The work has obvious deficiencies, of course. Wells's description of dinosaurs is now hopelessly out of date, and he subscribes to a theory of widespread Aryan migration from northern Europe to all of Eurasia, which today's historians have replaced with a smaller and much less significant migration from the area of Khazikstan to north India. Also questionable is his attempt to separate the Industrial Revolution from a "Mechanical Revolution," which he describes as an advance of science somehow detached from the often censurable social circumstances surrounding it.

Similarly eccentric are his siding with Carthage in the Punic Wars (in which he ignores the Carthaginians' child sacrifice) and his attempt to depict the Buddha as a Modernist hero of rationalism. Wells's particular biases do, however, enable him to give more than usual credit to the Mongol invasions and the spreading of ideas and technology that they enabled.

Wells promises a review of history untainted by personal opinion. He cannot, of course, deliver on that promise: There is a lot of Wells in this book, and his lifelong dream of a future world state colors the entire work. Nonetheless, this is an informative and entertaining read, which will prepare any amateur student of history, or anyone who has forgotten his school lessons, for a more careful study of specific epochs and events.

"States organized for war will make wars as surely as a hen lays eggs"

A short history of the world ( according to a European in the year 1936).

I really enjoyed this one. It's easy to look back on this and scoff at all the outdated terms and views of the world. But this book represents a near pinnacle of human knowledge at it's time of writing. How will our view of the world be looked at in 100 years time? Probably pretty silly.

A riveting account of mankind's brief and often (not so) illustrious time on earth. Though it drags a bit in the middle in going through the medieval popes, the beginning and end are more than strong enough to make up for these momentary shortcomings. And, pardon the spoiler, but what a finish!

"Man is still only adolescent. His troubles are not the troubles of senility and exhaustion but of increasing and still undisciplined strength. When we look at all history as one process, as we have been doing in this book, when we see the steadfast upward struggle of life towards vision and control, then we see in their true proportions the hopes and dangers of the present time. As yet we are hardly in the earliest dawn of human greatness. But in the beauty of flower and sunset, in the happy and perfect movement of young animals and in the delight of ten thousand various landscapes, we have some intimations of what life can do for us, and in some few works of plastic and pictorial art, in some great music, in a few noble buildings and happy gardens, we have an intimation of what the human will can do with material possibilities. We have dreams; we have at present undisciplined but ever increasing power. Can we doubt that presently our race will more than realize our boldest imaginations, that it will achieve unity and peace, that it will live, the children of our blood and lives will live, in a world made more splendid and lovely than any palace or garden that we know, going on from strength to strength in an ever widening circle of adventure and achievement? What man has done, the little triumphs of his present state, and all this history we have told, form but the prelude to the things that man has got to do."

First published in 1922 and later on updated by the author's son, for the last time in 1965, this book is clearly outdated. Yet it's a wonderful example of Big History, a term that's only come into being in recent years. It's a long view of history from the very creation of the universe providing continuity and as a result valuable perspectives and insights which the author is not shy to share with the reader. Beautifully written, too, the antiquated language adds to its charm.

It served very well the purpose for which I picked it up: it gave me a framework from which I can now delve into more detailed accounts of those parts of history that are of particular interest to me.

While I really did like the books presentation of history in a story like manner. I did not like the fact that it was just skimming on the surface of history. Granted that it is in the title that the book is a short history but my hopes were so high due to the author well. I also found that halfway though the book the writing was little bit boring but may be it is just me. One thing that I noticed in the book is the use of certain perspectives of thoughts and words which in today's world of political correctness would cause a media uproar. This however is a by product of the time in which the writer lived and he can be excused for that. In short, I would recommend this book if you want a brief overview of world history from the western philosophy perspective as many of the other civilization have been just glanced over.

A brief (250 page) outline of world history. Want to know who fought the peloponnesian war and when; without the names of all the generals and political leaders and details of every battle? Then this is for you. A page and a half instead of of a chapter ( talking bout you; history of the world by J M Roberts). This book gets you by in cocktail parties and trivial pursuit. Just stay away from the history majors: they’re all waiting tables anyway.

كتب التاريخ العالمي المختصرة بتمثل قيمة كبيرة مساعدة في فهم تشابك التاريخ الأنسانيو تتداخل حركاته،وتساعد في تحديد مساراته المعقدة .

أحسن ويلز في العرض و أحسن جاويد الترجمة،لكن ينصح بتجاهل الفصول الأولى لأنها تكاد تكو عديمة القيمة في ضوء الأكتشافات العلمية الأحدث.

দারুণ একটা বই পড়ে শেষ করলাম। সায়েন্স ফিকশন লেখকরাও দেখি দুর্দান্ত ইতিহাস বই লেখেন। এর আগে আসিমভের বই পড়েও মুগ্ধ হয়েছিলাম। এই বইটার একটা শর্ট রিভিউ লেখার ইচ্ছা আছে।

As a somewhat short read, I've never come away feeling so enlightened. For a book that was published in 1922, reading it was simply astounding. Not because of the science for it is by far, outdated. But instead by ability of Well's to present the world, from start to finish, in such a way that you actually want to read on and learn more(without feeling like you're learning). One of the main things I've come away with is that over the past ninety or so years, we still believe in the same ideals in regards to race, religion and even social standing. All in all, if you're interested on how we came to be where we are now and the thinking that came with it, this is your book.

H.G Wells was a talented writer, making this book an easy read. His take on the history of the world, seen through the eyes of an early 20th century observer, gave me a different point of view of both classical history (Egypt's long history to the Romans)and the development of modern civilization. Most striking is his conclusions about the state of the world following WWI and the possibility of another world-involved conflagration. Since the book was published before WWII, his in sites are particularly interesting.