Short History of the World
On the whole it's a good high-level world history, starting from the formation of the universe and working forward. Some of the science is outdated but this doesn't really detract from the overall narrative. Wells devotes most of the book to Europe but briefly covers other major cultures worldwide. Being a short book there are many gaps and huge periods are covered with a few sentences. I found the coverage overall fair and surprisingly progressive (being unfamiliar with Wells' politics, perhaps this should have been expected). He does insert some commentary but keeps this to a minimum. I've seen some reviewers complain about Wells' praise of socialism, but given that many of the world's most advanced nations have embraced socialism to a certain extent I see this more as impressive prescience. So what did I find disheartening? How so many views haven't changed since Wells' time. For example, he ridicules those who believe the bible as literal truth since it so obviously isn't. He also is very offended by the belief that one race is naturally superior to any other; Europe's ascendancy is merely a temporary situation brought about by circumstances, not by inherent ability. Yet nearly a century later, both of those beliefs are still discouragingly common. by Josh Hamacher
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About the Author:
Often called the father of science fiction, British author Herbert George (H. G.) Wells literary works are notable for being some of the first titles of the science fiction genre, and include such famed titles as The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and The Invisible Man. Despite being fixedly associated with science fiction, Wells wrote extensively in other genres and on many subjects, including history, society and politics, and was heavily influenced by Darwinism. His first book, Anticipations of the Reaction of Mechanical and Scientific Progress Upon Human Life and Thought, offered predictions about what technology and society would look like in the year 2000, many of which have proven accurate. Wells went on to pen over fifty novels, numerous non-fiction books, and dozens of short stories. His legacy has had an overwhelming influence on science fiction, popular culture, and even on technological and scientific innovation. Wells died in 1946 at the age of 79.
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- ISBN 10 1587340755
- ISBN 13 9781587340758
- BindingUnbound
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