Heroes of History: A Brief History of Civilization from Ancient Times to the Dawn of the Modern Age
The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian uses the lives of the most influential people of all time to sum up human history with wit, knowledge, and a unique ability to explain events and ideas in simple, understandable terms. This brief history of civilization from ancient times to the dawn of the modern age is filled with life-enhancing wisdom and optimism.
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Review:
In this collection of biographical and historical sketches drawn from an unfinished manuscript discovered two decades after his death, Will Durant celebrates historical figures whose examples demonstrate that humans can, "when sufficiently inspired, rise to levels of greatness with the gods themselves."
About the Author:
Durant (1885-1981), the principal author of The Story of Civilization, saw history as a branch of philosophy, and he peppered his stories of great historical actors and events with moral lessons and observed patterns ("One of the most regular sequences in history is that a period of pagan license is followed by an age of puritan restraint and moral discipline"). These brief lectures, touching on leaders and innovators, such as Buddha, Marcus Aurelius, Leonardo da Vinci, and Martin Luther, afford him plenty of opportunity to reflect on the meaning of the past and to offer models for his readers to study and emulate.
Like Durant's other work, this book has an old-fashioned air about it: it is Eurocentric to the core, and it makes almost no mention of women, who surely contributed to the rise of civilizations. Still, fans of Durant's brand of sweeping narrative history will enjoy having these final words from the master. --Gregory McNamee
Will Durant (1885-1981), reporter, seminarian, and teacher, earned his PhD from Columbia University in 1917. His best-known books are The Story of Philosophy, and The Story of Civilization, written in collaboration with his wife Ariel. Together, the Durants won the Medal of Freedom and Pulitzer Prize.
Grover Gardner: Named as one of the Best Voices of the Century by AudioFile, Grover Gardner is an actor, director, and award-winning narrator. His recordings have received excellent reviews from KLIATT and Library Journal, and several have received AudioFile Earphones Awards.
Grover Gardner: Named as one of the Best Voices of the Century by AudioFile, Grover Gardner is an actor, director, and award-winning narrator. His recordings have received excellent reviews from KLIATT and Library Journal, and several have received AudioFile Earphones Awards.
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- PublisherAudiogo
- Publication date2011
- ISBN 10 1609982010
- ISBN 13 9781609982010
- BindingAudio CD
- Rating
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