A History of the World

By: Andrew Marr

Narrated by: Andrew Marr, David Timson

Length: 26 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

From the earliest civilizations to the 21st century: a global journey through human history, published alongside a landmark BBC One television series.

Our understanding of world history is changing, as new discoveries are made on all the continents and old prejudices are being challenged. In this truly global journey, Andrew Marr revisits some of the traditional epic stories, from classical Greece and Rome to the rise of Napoleon, but surrounds them with less familiar material, from Peru to the Ukraine, China to the Caribbean. He looks at cultures that have failed and vanished, as well as the origins of today’s superpowers, and finds surprising echoes and parallels across vast distances and epochs. This is a book about the great change-makers of history and their times, people such as Cleopatra, Genghis Khan, Galileo, and Mao, but it is also a book about us. For 'The better we understand how rulers lose touch with reality, or why revolutions produce dictators more often than they produce happiness, or why some parts of the world are richer than others, the easier it is to understand our own times.'

Fresh, exciting and vividly listenable, this is popular history at its very best.

©2012 Andrew Marr (P)2012 Macmillan Digital Audio

AMAZING OVERVIEW

If you are interested in history don’t miss listening to this book. I have been a student of history since my mid-teens (I now am 83yrs. young). This book is an amazing compilation of history. For those who are not familiar with world history, but are interested,it is a good place to start. Good references to different books. As for me, as always, I learned something new and am sorry that I finished the book. My thanks to the author and narrator Mr. Andrew Marr and my thanks to Audible for making this book available, JK

Excellent Overview for a wide audience

Andrew Marra condensed version of his documentary series is concise, well balanced and centrist in its presentation. He is very clear in the introduction about the approach taken so that readers looking for an extremely feminist, Marxist or third world perspective on history will not be disappointed. That being said, Marr does indeed try to be more inclusive in his overview of history than many past authors have been. This is a useful resource for honors high school courses, as part of university curriculum or for the average intelligent person out there who wants to understand the flow of history and the consequences of key developments , changes, personalities and events.

The best Audible history I've every bought!

This is hands-down the best history book I can remember reading/listening to! First of all, the narrator is spot-on. He speaks at the perfect pace and inflects just enough emotion/personality into the reading to keep you engaged.I'm actually going to seek out more by him.

The book itself is incredible. Andrew Marr explains exactly the things you need to know in exactly the right way. I often found myself thinking, "Oooooh, THAT'S why that happened! Now I get it! Why didn't anyone explain it that way before???"

I only have three hours left in the book, so I'm off to find more by the same author and the same narrator. If you only buy one history book, make it this one!

Amazing overview of world history

Wonderfully narrated and a rich, clear, mostly linear description and a brief explanation of key people and places throughout history. The only downside is that the book isn't longer.

Fabulous

The funniest history book I've ever read! In addition, I learned a lot about history.

Fun and engaging

Being a spin off to a BBC documentary there is a solid body of facts and, at least to me, new information about parts of history that may have been "less" covered in popular history books that I've come across.

It is well narrated, engaging and easy to listen while going through your everyday activites.

I'm relatively new to audiobooks but this one almost felt like a paper one, I cold pause more or less anywhere and pick it up minutes or days later without "loosing the plot".

Great Book !

This is a very well presented summary of world history with critical events and key periods analysed and presented in clear language. The narrator is excellent and as each chapter is almost a self-contained package it is possible to jump from chapter to chapter in any order without losing any historical context.

History Comes Alive

Such a well delivered and written history as I’ve not had the pleasure to be exposed to in my learning history.

To be sure we all know the times, dates and characters who have shaped us. Andrew Marr helps us to know the interplay of these figures, their arrogance and their success. The steady march towards today is so well displayed and explained that helps to keep one from becoming to entrenched in the self-importance of their own nation and history.

Excellent Book and narration

Truly an eye opener. Covering history also beyond the Western culture. Enjoyed it and will probably listen to it again.

Best history book I’ve read

The content is crisp, and the narrator does an excellent job. Highly recommend this book.