Book 16 - E. H. Gombrich "A Little History Of The World"

[jazzy_dave]

E. H. Gombrich "A Little History Of The World" (Yale University Press)





I can't recommend this much beyond the halfway point. Gombrich does a creditable job right up to the birth of Christ, but in my opinion the wheels fall off this book after the event.

It's totally Eurocentric, Christian-slanted history and a very moving illustration of the old adage that history is written by the victors. There's some lip service done regarding the genocides the Europeans were responsible for- but it is cursory at best. And sure, it's a history book for kids, so one wouldn't wish to dwell on the ugliness. And it's also a book written long, long ago (though allegedly updated).

For what it is, it's more than a little interesting. For what it isn't, it's not worth picking up.

Meanwhile, i point you in the direction of Frankopan;s"The Silk Roads" for a more measured history , of which i an currently reading, all six hundred plus pages of it.

Comments

[cmcmck]

Gombrich always was way too much of a Europhile!