Having said that, there were also topics where I really felt I was learning something. I was reassured to learn that despite not studying the history of the world in its entirety in school, I was already familiar with much of the book’s content. Including the Ancient Greek philosophers, Arabian progress in maths and science, the advent of experimental science, and the development of political and social ideas in Wells’ time.

At times it feels detail heavy but also gives the reader a feel for each age – the book is not limited to which country went to war with which country and when, but also examines changes in ways of thinking through the ages. (Although it would benefit from more illustrations). It covers progress and prosperity as much as carnage and decimation, and provides good explanations of everything it covers. This does not distract from the story-line, but adds value in generating the concepts of the time periods. The book was meant to be predominantly factual, but Wells did include a substantial amount of speculation and opinion. His description of our galaxy sounds nothing short of beautiful. I also enjoyed the beginning, where Wells paints a crystal clear picture of our solar system and the vast empty space that our dramas are within. Appropriately, Wells tackles religion as would any unbiased historian-become storyteller. I particularly liked the various sections on religious leaders. Due to so many overlapping topics, this history of the world isn’t told in a linear purely chronological pattern, but has to go backwards a little, now and again.Īt various times throughout, the stories are gripping and Wells successfully brings history to life. Despite covering events from all over the world, the topics often flow seamlessly from one topic to the next. I found it rather like a catalog of numerous interesting little nuggets of information. In order to fit the history of the whole world into one book, by nature the story telling ranges from nice and rapid, to a little too rapid. Best known for his classic fiction, HG Wells also wrote a non-fiction book summarizing the history of the world, going from the history of the solar system, right up to the date the book was published in 1922.Īs I hoped, the book often reads like a novel, with 67 distinct sections, each like a mini story.

Short history of the world hg wells