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The Story of Civilization #1-11
Story of Civilization
The Complete Story of Civilization by Will Durant represents the most comprehensive attempt in our times to embrace the vast panorama of man’s history and culture. This eleven-volume set Volume One - Our Oriental Heritage; Volume Two - The Life of Greece; Volume Three - Caesar and Christ; Volume Four - The Age of Faith; Volume Five - The Renaissance; Volume Six - The Reformation; Volume Seven - The Age of Reason Begins; Volume Eight - The Age of Louis XIV; Volume Nine - The Age of Voltaire; Volume Ten - Rousseau and Revolution; Volume Eleven - The Age of Napoleon
14777 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
About the author
Will Durant
730 books2,710 followersWilliam James Durant was a prolific American writer, historian, and philosopher. He is best known for the 11-volume The Story of Civilization, written in collaboration with his wife Ariel and published between 1935 and 1975. He was earlier noted for his book, The Story of Philosophy, written in 1926, which was considered "a groundbreaking work that helped to popularize philosophy."
They were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1967 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.
They were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1967 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.
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August 2, 2009
I read all 11 volumes of this series when I was housebound with 3 kids (2 of whom were infants). These books saved my sanity and kept my brain from turning to mush.
September 30, 2020
The Story of Civilization (11 Volume Set), Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, by husband and wife Will and Ariel Durant, is an eleven-volume set.
I. Our Oriental Heritage (1935).
II. The Life of Greece (1939).
III. Caesar and Christ (1944).
IV. The Age of Faith (1950).
V. The Renaissance (1953).
VI. The Reformation (1957).
VII. The Age of Reason Begins (1961).
VIII. The Age of Louis XIV (1963).
IX. The Age of Voltaire (1965)
X. Rousseau and Revolution (1967).
XI. The Age of Napoleon (1975).
تاریخ پایان نخستین خوانش: بیست و ششم ماه می سال 1990میلادی
عنوان: تاریخ تمدن (دورۀ یازده جلدی به انضمامِ درسهای تاریخ)؛ نویسنده: ویل دورانت؛ مترجم: فریدون بدره ای؛ تهران، فرانکلین، 1345؛
ویل دورانت در این اثر به‌جای پرداختن به جنبه ای ویژه از تاریخ، نگاهی تحلیلی به جوانب مختلف تاریخ بشریت دارند؛ ایشان در پیش‌گفتار جلد نخست این سری، در اینباره چنین بیان داشته اند: «... مدت مدیدی است که من به این باور رسیده ام که نخوه ی نوشتن تاریخ به شکل قسمت‌های مجزا از یکدیگر، که من آن را ترتیب طولی نام می‌دهم (مانند تاریخ اقتصادی، تاریخ سیاسی، تاریخ مذهبی، تاریخ فلسفه، تاریخ ادبیات، تاریخ علوم، تاریخ موسیقی، و تاریخ هنر)، حق وحدت زندگانی بشری را ادا نمی‌کند، و تاریخ در عین حال که به صورت طولی نوشته می‌شود، باید متفرعاتی هم داشته باشد، و جنبهٔ ترکیبی و تحلیلی هر دو باید مراعات شود؛ تاریخ وقتی به صورت کمال مطلوب نزدیک خواهد شد که مورخ، برای هر دورهٔ تاریخی، صورت کاملی از سازمان‌ها و حوادث و طرق زندگی را که از مجموع آنها فرهنگ یک ملت ساخته می‌شود رسم کند...»؛
جلد اول: مشرق زمین، گاهوارهٔ تمدن (1935میلادی)؛ شکل‌گیری تمدن؛ عوامل کلی تمدن؛ عوامل سیاسی تمدن؛ عوامل اخلاقی تمدن؛ عوامل عقلی و روحی تمدن؛ ماقبل تاریخ و آغاز مدنیت؛ خاور نزدیک؛ سومر؛ مصر؛ بابل؛ آشور؛ اختلاط نژادها؛ قوم یهود؛ پارس؛ خاور دور؛ عصر فیلسوفان؛ عصر شاعران؛ عصر هنرمندان؛ مردم و دولت؛ انقلاب و تجدید حیات؛ ژاپن؛ بنیادگذاران ژاپن؛ مبانی سیاسی و اخلاقی؛ اندیشه و هنر در ژاپن باستان؛ ژاپن نو؛
جلد دوم: یونان باستان (1939میلادی)؛ این جلد یونان باستان و عصر هلنیستی خاور نزدیک را تا فتح روم پوشش می‌دهد.
بخش نخست از جلد دوم؛ مقدمه اژه ای: 3500پیش از میلاد مسیح تا سال 1000پیش از میلاد مسیح: استان کرت؛ قبل از آگاممنون؛ عصر قهرمانانه
بخش دوم از جلد دوم؛ شکل‌گیری یونان: سال 1000پیش از میلاد مسیح تا 480پیش از میلاد مسیح: اسپارتا؛ آتن؛ مهاجرت بزرگ؛ یونان در غرب؛ خدایان یونان؛ فرهنگ مشترک یونان در اوایل؛ مبارزه برای آزادی؛ «تحقق خودمختاری در جهان چیز جدیدی بود؛ زندگی بدون پادشاه هنوز جرأت و جسارت جوامع بزرگ را نداشت؛ از این حس افتخار استقلال، فردی و جمعی، محرک قدرتمندی برای هر بنگاه یونانی بود؛ این آزادی آنها بود که آنها را به موفقیت‌های باورنکردنی در هنر و حروف، در علم و فلسفه الهام می‌داد.» (صفحه 233)؛
بخش سوم از جلد دوم عصر طلایی: 480پیش از میلاد مسیح تا 399پیش از میلاد مسیح: پریکلس و آزمایش دموکراتیک؛ کار و ثروت در آتن؛ اخلاق و رفتار آتنی‌ها؛ هنر یونان پریکلسی؛ پیشرفت آموزش؛ تعارض فلسفه و دین؛ ادبیات عصر طلایی؛ خودفروپاشی یونان
جلد سوم: سزار و مسیح (1944میلادی)؛
جلد چهارم: عصر ایمان (1950میلادی)؛
جلد پنجم: رنسانس (1953میلادی)؛
جلد ششم: اصلاح دین (1957میلادی)؛
جلد هفتم: آغاز عصر خرد (1961میلادی) از آغاز سلطنت الیزابت یکم تا آغاز انقلاب کبیر فرانسه
جلد هشتم: عصر لویی چهاردهم (1963میلادی)؛
جلد نهم: عصر ولتر (1965میلادی)؛
جلد دهم: روسو و انقلاب (1967میلادی)؛
جلد یازدهم: عصر ناپلئون (1975میلادی)؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 08/07/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
The Story of Civilization, by husband and wife Will and Ariel Durant, is an eleven-volume set.
I. Our Oriental Heritage (1935).
II. The Life of Greece (1939).
III. Caesar and Christ (1944).
IV. The Age of Faith (1950).
V. The Renaissance (1953).
VI. The Reformation (1957).
VII. The Age of Reason Begins (1961).
VIII. The Age of Louis XIV (1963).
IX. The Age of Voltaire (1965)
X. Rousseau and Revolution (1967).
XI. The Age of Napoleon (1975).
تاریخ پایان نخستین خوانش: بیست و ششم ماه می سال 1990میلادی
عنوان: تاریخ تمدن (دورۀ یازده جلدی به انضمامِ درسهای تاریخ)؛ نویسنده: ویل دورانت؛ مترجم: فریدون بدره ای؛ تهران، فرانکلین، 1345؛
ویل دورانت در این اثر به‌جای پرداختن به جنبه ای ویژه از تاریخ، نگاهی تحلیلی به جوانب مختلف تاریخ بشریت دارند؛ ایشان در پیش‌گفتار جلد نخست این سری، در اینباره چنین بیان داشته اند: «... مدت مدیدی است که من به این باور رسیده ام که نخوه ی نوشتن تاریخ به شکل قسمت‌های مجزا از یکدیگر، که من آن را ترتیب طولی نام می‌دهم (مانند تاریخ اقتصادی، تاریخ سیاسی، تاریخ مذهبی، تاریخ فلسفه، تاریخ ادبیات، تاریخ علوم، تاریخ موسیقی، و تاریخ هنر)، حق وحدت زندگانی بشری را ادا نمی‌کند، و تاریخ در عین حال که به صورت طولی نوشته می‌شود، باید متفرعاتی هم داشته باشد، و جنبهٔ ترکیبی و تحلیلی هر دو باید مراعات شود؛ تاریخ وقتی به صورت کمال مطلوب نزدیک خواهد شد که مورخ، برای هر دورهٔ تاریخی، صورت کاملی از سازمان‌ها و حوادث و طرق زندگی را که از مجموع آنها فرهنگ یک ملت ساخته می‌شود رسم کند...»؛
جلد اول: مشرق زمین، گاهوارهٔ تمدن (1935میلادی)؛ شکل‌گیری تمدن؛ عوامل کلی تمدن؛ عوامل سیاسی تمدن؛ عوامل اخلاقی تمدن؛ عوامل عقلی و روحی تمدن؛ ماقبل تاریخ و آغاز مدنیت؛ خاور نزدیک؛ سومر؛ مصر؛ بابل؛ آشور؛ اختلاط نژادها؛ قوم یهود؛ پارس؛ خاور دور؛ عصر فیلسوفان؛ عصر شاعران؛ عصر هنرمندان؛ مردم و دولت؛ انقلاب و تجدید حیات؛ ژاپن؛ بنیادگذاران ژاپن؛ مبانی سیاسی و اخلاقی؛ اندیشه و هنر در ژاپن باستان؛ ژاپن نو؛
جلد دوم: یونان باستان (1939میلادی)؛ این جلد یونان باستان و عصر هلنیستی خاور نزدیک را تا فتح روم پوشش می‌دهد.
بخش نخست از جلد دوم؛ مقدمه اژه ای: 3500پیش از میلاد مسیح تا سال 1000پیش از میلاد مسیح: استان کرت؛ قبل از آگاممنون؛ عصر قهرمانانه
بخش دوم از جلد دوم؛ شکل‌گیری یونان: سال 1000پیش از میلاد مسیح تا 480پیش از میلاد مسیح: اسپارتا؛ آتن؛ مهاجرت بزرگ؛ یونان در غرب؛ خدایان یونان؛ فرهنگ مشترک یونان در اوایل؛ مبارزه برای آزادی؛ «تحقق خودمختاری در جهان چیز جدیدی بود؛ زندگی بدون پادشاه هنوز جرأت و جسارت جوامع بزرگ را نداشت؛ از این حس افتخار استقلال، فردی و جمعی، محرک قدرتمندی برای هر بنگاه یونانی بود؛ این آزادی آنها بود که آنها را به موفقیت‌های باورنکردنی در هنر و حروف، در علم و فلسفه الهام می‌داد.» (صفحه 233)؛
بخش سوم از جلد دوم عصر طلایی: 480پیش از میلاد مسیح تا 399پیش از میلاد مسیح: پریکلس و آزمایش دموکراتیک؛ کار و ثروت در آتن؛ اخلاق و رفتار آتنی‌ها؛ هنر یونان پریکلسی؛ پیشرفت آموزش؛ تعارض فلسفه و دین؛ ادبیات عصر طلایی؛ خودفروپاشی یونان
جلد سوم: سزار و مسیح (1944میلادی)؛
جلد چهارم: عصر ایمان (1950میلادی)؛
جلد پنجم: رنسانس (1953میلادی)؛
جلد ششم: اصلاح دین (1957میلادی)؛
جلد هفتم: آغاز عصر خرد (1961میلادی) از آغاز سلطنت الیزابت یکم تا آغاز انقلاب کبیر فرانسه
جلد هشتم: عصر لویی چهاردهم (1963میلادی)؛
جلد نهم: عصر ولتر (1965میلادی)؛
جلد دهم: روسو و انقلاب (1967میلادی)؛
جلد یازدهم: عصر ناپلئون (1975میلادی)؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 08/07/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
July 27, 2012
Will and Ariel Durant, like Abelard and Heloise, were teacher and student, were punished and went on to write together. Unlike their mediaeval prototypes, however, they wed and appear to have been rather happy. They certainly were productive.
Will started the series, the two of them carried it through to "the age of Napolean". Together, they travelled a great deal, visiting many of the places they wrote about in this magisterial eleven volume (twelve if you count a companion volume on historiography which I've yet to read) history of almost everything.
I don't know if it's Ariel's influence, but, unlike H.G. Wells' own, much shorter, attempt at a history of human civilization, their work is remarkable for the attention it pays to culture, domestic life and women in addition to the usual account of literate elites and their doings.
The first volume, Our Oriental Heritage, Will's work, is the only disappointment. It attempts to cover both the earliest civilizations and also the history of Asia up to the time of writing. Given the attention paid the West, this is disproportionately little, reflecting either his ignorance or his prejudice. Indeed, were this volume excluded, it would be almost fair to retitle the whole The Story of Western Civilization.
Otherwise this is the best general history of the world I've ever seen. Other, equally long series exist, but they are by multiple authors and therefore lack the single voice (or harmonious duo) of the Durants.
Naturally, specialists will find the sections they know most about inadequate, but for the general reader the work is just right and there are likely few specialist historians who could equal their work overall.
Although long, the reading goes quickly, like a novel. I handled it as bedtime reading over a period of a few months and you can too.
One note: The Book of the Month Club has long featured the hardback series as one of their come-ons for something like $29.99. Look for it.
Will started the series, the two of them carried it through to "the age of Napolean". Together, they travelled a great deal, visiting many of the places they wrote about in this magisterial eleven volume (twelve if you count a companion volume on historiography which I've yet to read) history of almost everything.
I don't know if it's Ariel's influence, but, unlike H.G. Wells' own, much shorter, attempt at a history of human civilization, their work is remarkable for the attention it pays to culture, domestic life and women in addition to the usual account of literate elites and their doings.
The first volume, Our Oriental Heritage, Will's work, is the only disappointment. It attempts to cover both the earliest civilizations and also the history of Asia up to the time of writing. Given the attention paid the West, this is disproportionately little, reflecting either his ignorance or his prejudice. Indeed, were this volume excluded, it would be almost fair to retitle the whole The Story of Western Civilization.
Otherwise this is the best general history of the world I've ever seen. Other, equally long series exist, but they are by multiple authors and therefore lack the single voice (or harmonious duo) of the Durants.
Naturally, specialists will find the sections they know most about inadequate, but for the general reader the work is just right and there are likely few specialist historians who could equal their work overall.
Although long, the reading goes quickly, like a novel. I handled it as bedtime reading over a period of a few months and you can too.
One note: The Book of the Month Club has long featured the hardback series as one of their come-ons for something like $29.99. Look for it.
November 28, 2016
Sjajna edicija za ljubitelje istorije... Dosta rada je uloženo u objavljivanje ove knjige u više tomova... mnogo znoja i neprospavanih noći (uglavnom u letnjim mesecima)... Bila sam saradnik na prevodu, raščivijavala transkripcije, radila indeks, i prelome nekoliko tomova... A onda mi se smučilo da okapavam svako leto pa sam se kod petog toma skinula s projekta... :)
August 31, 2011
If I had a choice of just 11 books to take into isolation for the rest of my reading days I would take The Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant. Durant began his life as a seminarian. He became a teacher and starting writing, becoming a very successful author penning The Story of Philosophy. (Yes!) At some point he immersed himself in the history of the world, namely, the history of the European west and the study of western civilization. Imagine that, spending your adult life learning about everything and transcribing that knowledge into beautiful authoritative prose. My parents, like so many of their generation, bought the set of books by joining the Book of the Month Club in the 50's and 60's. From time to time I would consult the volumes for school reports and so forth and so on. Twenty years ago I read "A World Lit Only by Fire" by William Manchester, a book based upon Manchester's reverence for Durant and his accomplishment. I became interested in the Story of Civ then and read most of them in the next year or two. They are well written. They are 40-60 years old so they creak from time to time. His wife Ariel became co-editor late in the series. They end with Napoleon and the beginning of the modern era. Recently my daughter's former boss at the Atlantic published a book about the fall of Rome and the moral for America. Intrigued, I went back to Durant's chapter on the same subject and spent a very pleasant afternoon reliving 500 years. Personally indispensible.
December 11, 2019
I read this in 2019. Basically, one volume a month. Often, my reading would bleed a bit into the next month, especially with the longer volumes. Here's my review (or soon will be) of each edition:
1. Our Oriental Heritage - 1/16/2019 - highlights in HC.
2. The Life of Greece - 2/27/2019 - highlights in HC.
3. Caesar and Christ - 3/30/2019* - 191 highlights
4. Age of Faith - 4/30/2019* - 687 highlights
5. The Renaissance - 6/02/2019 - 196 highlights
6. The Reformation - 7/22/2019* - 356 highlights
7. The Age of Reason Begins - 8/7/2019* - 244 highlights
8. The Age of Louis XIV - 9/10/2019* - 205 highlights
9. The Age of Voltaire - 10/11/2019 - 264 highlights
10. Rousseau and Revolution - 11/5/2019* - 470 highlights
11. The Age of Napoleon - 12/10/2019* - 310 highlights
* Review pending or partial
1. Our Oriental Heritage - 1/16/2019 - highlights in HC.
2. The Life of Greece - 2/27/2019 - highlights in HC.
3. Caesar and Christ - 3/30/2019* - 191 highlights
4. Age of Faith - 4/30/2019* - 687 highlights
5. The Renaissance - 6/02/2019 - 196 highlights
6. The Reformation - 7/22/2019* - 356 highlights
7. The Age of Reason Begins - 8/7/2019* - 244 highlights
8. The Age of Louis XIV - 9/10/2019* - 205 highlights
9. The Age of Voltaire - 10/11/2019 - 264 highlights
10. Rousseau and Revolution - 11/5/2019* - 470 highlights
11. The Age of Napoleon - 12/10/2019* - 310 highlights
* Review pending or partial
February 24, 2017
من فقط جلد مربوط به یونان و قرون وسطا رو خوندم.
بخش قرون وسطاش جالب بود. جزئیات دادگاه های تفتیش عقاید و شکنجه ها و مخالفت های بعضی از فرقه های مذهبی (فکر کنم فرانسیسکن ها) با این دادگاه ها و اصلاً علت تشکیل این دادگاه ها به خاطر نهض�� های بی دینی و طغیان های مردم شهرهای مختلف، و این که اعترافی که متهم، تحت شکنجه می کرد ولی بعداً از اعترافش بر می گشت، معتبر نبود و باید دوباره شکنجه می شد و دوباره اعتراف می کرد و آن قدر این چرخه ادامه ��ی یافت که اعتراف تحت شکنجه اش با اعتراف بعد از شکنجه هماهنگ باشد!!! و خلاصه حاوی ماجراهای خنده آوری بود. فکر کنم به این نوع طنز می گویند "طنز سیاه" یا "طنز مرگ" یا همچون چیزی.
در مورد یونان باستان هم جالب بود. بخش های سقراط و محاکمه و اعدام سقراط، شاگردش: افلاطون، و شاگرد افلاطون: ارسطو، و شاگرد جهانگشای ارسطو: اسکندر مقدونی.
معمولاً اطلاعات ما نسبت به جهان گشایی اسکندر، از طریق منابع ایرانیه که به طرز غیر محققانه ای جانبدارانه نوشته شدن، اون هم راجع به واقعه ای که دوهزار سال قبل رخ داده و کمترین تأثیر واقعی ای روی زندگی کنونی ما نمی تونه داشته باشه. شخصیت اسکندر، خیلی خیلی جذاب تر از اون خون خوار سفّاکیه که توی کتاب های ایرانی-نوشت نشون داده می شه. اسکندر، البته یونانی و متمدن نیست، مقدونی و کمابیش وحشیه، اما از نژاد مقدونی خودش بیزاره و به جای فرهنگِ نداشته ی نژاد خودش، میخواد فرهنگ یونانی رو در مستعمراتش گسترش بده. اسکندر، شاگرد ارسطوئه و ارسطو کتاب معروف "اخلاق نیکوماخوس" و همچنین کتاب "ارغنون"، اولین کتاب منطق تاریخ رو برای اسکندر نوشته. همین کافیه که بدونیم با یه "چنگیز" مواجه نیستیم. با یه شخصیت خیلی پیچیده تر و صد البته جذاب تر سر و کار داریم.
اما راجع به ارسطو، به نظر میرسید لحن کتاب، بدون دلیل، خصمانه میشه. صد در صد کسی از یه فیلسوف که آغازگر راه فلسفه ی تدوین شده است و تازه علم رو از پراکندگی دوره ی پیشاسقراطی در آورده، انتظار نداره که مثل محقق های هزاره ی سوم، که مرز و روش تحقیق هر علمی کاملاً مشخصه و ابزارها و کتب مختلفی راجع به هر علمی نوشته شده، رفتار کنه. اما انگار ویل دورانت این انتظار رو داره و پی در پی به خاطر اشتباهات ارسطو تمسخرش می کنه. لحن بیش از اندازه نیشدار، باعث میشه خواننده علیه نویسنده برانگیخته بشه، نه علیه اون کسی که نویسنده داره تمسخرش می کنه.
می گه ارسطو، برای اولین بار چند تخم مرغ رو زیر مرغ های مختلف میذاره و طی مدتی که جنین رشد می کنه و تبدیل به جوجه میشه، هر روز یکی از تخم ها رو بر میداره و میشکنه، تا مراحل رشد جنین رو کاملاً محسوس ببینه و به مراحل رشد جنین انسان پی ببره. این کار ارسطو به قدری برای من جذاب بود که از فرط لذت، می خواستم کتاب رو پرت کنم بالا! (مبالغه می کنم) ولی از این نوآوری و روشن بینی عظیم و خیره کننده در چنان روزگاری، ویل دورانت خیلی ساده رد شده تا به اشتباهات اولین و اولین محقق جهان که پیشینیانش چیز زیادی براش به ارث نذاشتن، بپردازه. به نظرم واقعاً غیرمنصفانه است.
بخش قرون وسطاش جالب بود. جزئیات دادگاه های تفتیش عقاید و شکنجه ها و مخالفت های بعضی از فرقه های مذهبی (فکر کنم فرانسیسکن ها) با این دادگاه ها و اصلاً علت تشکیل این دادگاه ها به خاطر نهض�� های بی دینی و طغیان های مردم شهرهای مختلف، و این که اعترافی که متهم، تحت شکنجه می کرد ولی بعداً از اعترافش بر می گشت، معتبر نبود و باید دوباره شکنجه می شد و دوباره اعتراف می کرد و آن قدر این چرخه ادامه ��ی یافت که اعتراف تحت شکنجه اش با اعتراف بعد از شکنجه هماهنگ باشد!!! و خلاصه حاوی ماجراهای خنده آوری بود. فکر کنم به این نوع طنز می گویند "طنز سیاه" یا "طنز مرگ" یا همچون چیزی.
در مورد یونان باستان هم جالب بود. بخش های سقراط و محاکمه و اعدام سقراط، شاگردش: افلاطون، و شاگرد افلاطون: ارسطو، و شاگرد جهانگشای ارسطو: اسکندر مقدونی.
معمولاً اطلاعات ما نسبت به جهان گشایی اسکندر، از طریق منابع ایرانیه که به طرز غیر محققانه ای جانبدارانه نوشته شدن، اون هم راجع به واقعه ای که دوهزار سال قبل رخ داده و کمترین تأثیر واقعی ای روی زندگی کنونی ما نمی تونه داشته باشه. شخصیت اسکندر، خیلی خیلی جذاب تر از اون خون خوار سفّاکیه که توی کتاب های ایرانی-نوشت نشون داده می شه. اسکندر، البته یونانی و متمدن نیست، مقدونی و کمابیش وحشیه، اما از نژاد مقدونی خودش بیزاره و به جای فرهنگِ نداشته ی نژاد خودش، میخواد فرهنگ یونانی رو در مستعمراتش گسترش بده. اسکندر، شاگرد ارسطوئه و ارسطو کتاب معروف "اخلاق نیکوماخوس" و همچنین کتاب "ارغنون"، اولین کتاب منطق تاریخ رو برای اسکندر نوشته. همین کافیه که بدونیم با یه "چنگیز" مواجه نیستیم. با یه شخصیت خیلی پیچیده تر و صد البته جذاب تر سر و کار داریم.
اما راجع به ارسطو، به نظر میرسید لحن کتاب، بدون دلیل، خصمانه میشه. صد در صد کسی از یه فیلسوف که آغازگر راه فلسفه ی تدوین شده است و تازه علم رو از پراکندگی دوره ی پیشاسقراطی در آورده، انتظار نداره که مثل محقق های هزاره ی سوم، که مرز و روش تحقیق هر علمی کاملاً مشخصه و ابزارها و کتب مختلفی راجع به هر علمی نوشته شده، رفتار کنه. اما انگار ویل دورانت این انتظار رو داره و پی در پی به خاطر اشتباهات ارسطو تمسخرش می کنه. لحن بیش از اندازه نیشدار، باعث میشه خواننده علیه نویسنده برانگیخته بشه، نه علیه اون کسی که نویسنده داره تمسخرش می کنه.
می گه ارسطو، برای اولین بار چند تخم مرغ رو زیر مرغ های مختلف میذاره و طی مدتی که جنین رشد می کنه و تبدیل به جوجه میشه، هر روز یکی از تخم ها رو بر میداره و میشکنه، تا مراحل رشد جنین رو کاملاً محسوس ببینه و به مراحل رشد جنین انسان پی ببره. این کار ارسطو به قدری برای من جذاب بود که از فرط لذت، می خواستم کتاب رو پرت کنم بالا! (مبالغه می کنم) ولی از این نوآوری و روشن بینی عظیم و خیره کننده در چنان روزگاری، ویل دورانت خیلی ساده رد شده تا به اشتباهات اولین و اولین محقق جهان که پیشینیانش چیز زیادی براش به ارث نذاشتن، بپردازه. به نظرم واقعاً غیرمنصفانه است.
January 26, 2011
Shortly after I retired in 2004, I began reading this incredible historical journey written as a life-long project by the wonderful couple of Will and Ariel Durant. (It is the kind of reading that probably can only be done in retirement, as the total pages exceeds 11,000!)
But it was an adventure well worth it. Like Page Smith, the Durants are primary historians, meaning that they have read an amazing number of works ranging from economics, to politics, to culture, to theology, and so on. AND their narrative is filled with extensive and fascinating quotations from these primary sources. I met so many wonderful new people in this venture (which took me two years to complete) that I found myself ordering some of those primary sources myself so that I could read even more of those persons' words.
This was one of the most significant and rewarding experiences in my life. I could not more highly recommend these works!
But it was an adventure well worth it. Like Page Smith, the Durants are primary historians, meaning that they have read an amazing number of works ranging from economics, to politics, to culture, to theology, and so on. AND their narrative is filled with extensive and fascinating quotations from these primary sources. I met so many wonderful new people in this venture (which took me two years to complete) that I found myself ordering some of those primary sources myself so that I could read even more of those persons' words.
This was one of the most significant and rewarding experiences in my life. I could not more highly recommend these works!
February 13, 2013
I will be reading a hundred pages per month of this series for almost ten years. I will review it more thoroughly in the year 2020. So far, I feel like I am finally getting history to some extent, and all I have read is half of the first book. So far he has covered Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Persia, and Jerusalem. Now we are hitting India. I love it, really.
February 1, 2023
d- EVERYONE should read this series sometime in their lifetime -- of course it'll likely take you most of a lifetime to actually read the whole thing (it's like 12 volumes of 1,500 pages each). i have it on audio and i've listened up until volume 8 or 9 i think. (I need to get back to it.) it took will durant almost 30 years to write it, and i think the final volume was published back in the 30's. but it is amazing. it was written way back in the first half of the 20th century (although i think it's since been revised) but all of it is still perfectly relevant. it starts at the very beginning of time and follows history up to the present day. but the reason it's so amazing isn't the information, but how it's presented. will durant has a way of telling the history in a way... how do i explain it? for the first time i saw history as a river -- flowing, with everything connected to everything else -- instead of just disparate facts like you learned in school, it all became part of a bigger picture. after listening to this, thinking i knew a lot about history, it was like discovering i was blind when all along i thought i could see. for the first time i came to understand how and WHY things happened and how one thing impacted another... he somehow allows you to "see all the dominoes"... is the best way i can explain it. it's like before i had seen a lot of dominoes, but now i was standing back watching each one topple the next and the whole inevitable line. that's the thing i think. history felt a lot more inevitable after reading durant's history. it was an eye-opening experience for me at the time (almost ten years ago) and has helped me put everything else i've learned since into a bigger context. i just can't recommend it enough.
this is just one of those things you should pick up (audio/e-book/or leather-bound limited edition if you can afford it) and just plan to be working on it for the next twenty years or so (hey, it took him longer than that to write it!). i just don't know how to tell you how incredible this series is. please, please, don't forget about it. put it in the back of your mind and someday pick up the first volume. your life will never be the same. i guarantee it! --e
this is just one of those things you should pick up (audio/e-book/or leather-bound limited edition if you can afford it) and just plan to be working on it for the next twenty years or so (hey, it took him longer than that to write it!). i just don't know how to tell you how incredible this series is. please, please, don't forget about it. put it in the back of your mind and someday pick up the first volume. your life will never be the same. i guarantee it! --e
April 30, 2021
تقریبا در تابستان سیزده چهارده سالگی ام مجموعه ی تاریخ تمدن را خواندم، گرمای زیاد هوا، بی کاری،علاقه داشتن به دیدن فیلم های تاریخی و تنهایی باعث شدند که این مجموعه را که مادرم چندسالی پیش از تولدم به صورت دست دوم از خانواده ای که قرار بر مهاجرت داشتند خرید -با اشتهای سیری ناپذیری بخوانم. کتاب عجیب متن روان و خلاصه ای دارد و به نظرم شبیه به قصه بود. پیش از آن تلاشی برای خواندن تمدن مفرب زمین اشپیل فوگل داشتم که با شکست مواجه شد پس می توانم نتیجه بگیرم که متن تاریخ تمدن روان تر و قصه وار تر بود.
برای کسی که می خواهد تازه شروع به خواندن تاریخ خطی بکند کتاب مناسبی است که تلاشی برای توجه به مسائل اجتماعی و فرهنگی هم در آن دیده می شود. البته احتمالا الان کتاب های دقیق تر و کامل تری هم نوشته شده اند و برخی جزییات تاریخی تغییر کرده اند اما به نظرم هنوز می شود این کتاب را به عنوان زمینه ی آشنایی با تاریخ غرب مورد توجه قرار داد.می نویسم غرب چون در سال های بعد به نظرم عجیب رسید که اسم کتاب تاریخ تمدن است اما ده جلد آن همه درباره ی تاریخ غرب است و در یک جلد کل تاریخ مشرق زمین فشرده نوشته شده است و شکل برخورد با آن را عوض می کند.
برای کسی که می خواهد تازه شروع به خواندن تاریخ خطی بکند کتاب مناسبی است که تلاشی برای توجه به مسائل اجتماعی و فرهنگی هم در آن دیده می شود. البته احتمالا الان کتاب های دقیق تر و کامل تری هم نوشته شده اند و برخی جزییات تاریخی تغییر کرده اند اما به نظرم هنوز می شود این کتاب را به عنوان زمینه ی آشنایی با تاریخ غرب مورد توجه قرار داد.می نویسم غرب چون در سال های بعد به نظرم عجیب رسید که اسم کتاب تاریخ تمدن است اما ده جلد آن همه درباره ی تاریخ غرب است و در یک جلد کل تاریخ مشرق زمین فشرده نوشته شده است و شکل برخورد با آن را عوض می کند.
September 30, 2012
Where do I begin? These books were the foundation of my intellectual journey. Durant was my greatest teacher.
February 26, 2011
THE most brilliant book on earth, by far. Durant is a philosopher who can collectively bring parts into a whole and in a short sentence teaches you a lifetime. Highly recommended
May 19, 2020
A page turner. A must read if you want to understand civilization and how it evolved. Times have not changed.
December 12, 2019
فقط جلد ۱ (مشرق زمین) رو خوندم.
به دنبال این بودم که بفهمم شروع تاریخ و تمدن به چه صورتی اتفاق افتاده و بعد، اصولا تاریخ فلسفیدن و فکر کردن به خدا از کی شروع میشه؟ اولین سوال فلسفی فکر بشر چی بوده و اصولا چی شده که براش سوال بوجود اومد؟
البته ظاهرا سوالات من با سوالات ویل یکی نبوده و دورانت خیلی به این مسائل از این زاویه نپرداخته.
در مورد سمبلهای پرستش مطلب زیاد داره ولی در مورد اینکه اصولا چه شد که توجه بشر به این مسائل جمع شد، جواب قانع کننده ای برای من نداشت. پاسخ دورانت اینه که نیاز یا وابستگی به یک پدیده مادی باعث توتم پرستی و پرستش چیزی بوده، مثلا ماه به دلیل روشنایی و زیبایی یا کاراییش موجب پرستش بوده یا مثلا شاید گاو به دلیل گوشتش که نیاز انسان و غذاش رو تامین می کرده و یا کاربردهای متفاوت دیگری داشته باعث می شده که گاو تبدیل به خدا شه.
در کل علی رغم اینکه اطلاعات جالب و شنیدنی در این کتاب کم پیدا نمیشه، ولی به سختی خوندم و کتاب رو در این جلد فقط حجم زیادی از اطلاعات گسسته دیدم. به نظرم اگر اطلاعات تاریخی روی یک مبنای تحلیلی یا پلاتفرم فلسفی مشخص قرار نگیره، فقط حجم عظیمی از اطلاعاته که به نتیجه خاصی منتج نمیشه و این اساسی ترین ایراد این جلد بود.
چند وقت فاصله انداختم تا بلکه انگیزه خواندن جلد دوم رو پیدا کنم، ولی انگیزم نیومد. فعلا خداحافظ تاریخ تمدن ویل دورانت.
به دنبال این بودم که بفهمم شروع تاریخ و تمدن به چه صورتی اتفاق افتاده و بعد، اصولا تاریخ فلسفیدن و فکر کردن به خدا از کی شروع میشه؟ اولین سوال فلسفی فکر بشر چی بوده و اصولا چی شده که براش سوال بوجود اومد؟
البته ظاهرا سوالات من با سوالات ویل یکی نبوده و دورانت خیلی به این مسائل از این زاویه نپرداخته.
در مورد سمبلهای پرستش مطلب زیاد داره ولی در مورد اینکه اصولا چه شد که توجه بشر به این مسائل جمع شد، جواب قانع کننده ای برای من نداشت. پاسخ دورانت اینه که نیاز یا وابستگی به یک پدیده مادی باعث توتم پرستی و پرستش چیزی بوده، مثلا ماه به دلیل روشنایی و زیبایی یا کاراییش موجب پرستش بوده یا مثلا شاید گاو به دلیل گوشتش که نیاز انسان و غذاش رو تامین می کرده و یا کاربردهای متفاوت دیگری داشته باعث می شده که گاو تبدیل به خدا شه.
در کل علی رغم اینکه اطلاعات جالب و شنیدنی در این کتاب کم پیدا نمیشه، ولی به سختی خوندم و کتاب رو در این جلد فقط حجم زیادی از اطلاعات گسسته دیدم. به نظرم اگر اطلاعات تاریخی روی یک مبنای تحلیلی یا پلاتفرم فلسفی مشخص قرار نگیره، فقط حجم عظیمی از اطلاعاته که به نتیجه خاصی منتج نمیشه و این اساسی ترین ایراد این جلد بود.
چند وقت فاصله انداختم تا بلکه انگیزه خواندن جلد دوم رو پیدا کنم، ولی انگیزم نیومد. فعلا خداحافظ تاریخ تمدن ویل دورانت.
September 12, 2008
Many people have this 11-volume set in their homes. It stands there on the shelf, prominently displayed, as evidence of the great erudition of the owner. My set is not particularly attractive on the shelf -- I bought the volumes from a used book store, and they look used. I might add that this is not the sort of book I normally read -- most of my readings are in the area of modern science, philosophy and some in religion.
Yet quite literally I have read every word of every volume of this set. I found it utterly fascinating -- an incredible panorama of history that proceeded through history year by year. Although it has been at least ten years since I read this, to this date I can remember many of these accounts, and I can even "see" some of the more notable passages in my mind. For anyone who is interested in history, and what it means to the modern mind, this is a very engaging and well-written resource.
Yet quite literally I have read every word of every volume of this set. I found it utterly fascinating -- an incredible panorama of history that proceeded through history year by year. Although it has been at least ten years since I read this, to this date I can remember many of these accounts, and I can even "see" some of the more notable passages in my mind. For anyone who is interested in history, and what it means to the modern mind, this is a very engaging and well-written resource.
January 2, 2015
اقرا فى الطبعة العربية
من اصدار الهيئة العامة للكتاب
اعتقد انى سأقرأ هذا الموسوعة الكبيرة دوما
لأستلهم منها كيف يمكننا بناء نهضة و حضارة مصرية حديثة
الموسوعة كبيرة جدا .. لكنى احاول ان اقرا فيها قدر استطاعتى ..
بدأت قرائتها من المجلد 20 الخاص بعصر النهضة و اصلاح الفكر الدينى فى اوروبا
من اصدار الهيئة العامة للكتاب
اعتقد انى سأقرأ هذا الموسوعة الكبيرة دوما
لأستلهم منها كيف يمكننا بناء نهضة و حضارة مصرية حديثة
الموسوعة كبيرة جدا .. لكنى احاول ان اقرا فيها قدر استطاعتى ..
بدأت قرائتها من المجلد 20 الخاص بعصر النهضة و اصلاح الفكر الدينى فى اوروبا
December 17, 2013
Every time I think of this collection, I am delightfully jealous at how the Durants could devote 45+ years to writing such an incredible undertaking.
Although I found Volume I (Our Oriental Heritage) and II (The Life of Greece)somewhat distant as might be expected, they did start to engage more as time passed. Could also be that Durant too improved over time. My personal favorite was naturally The Age of Voltaire where it talked about market speculations, economic bubbles, and topics that would almost be contemporary if you change a few words.
I could foresee these books remaining relevant a hundred, maybe five hundred or a thousand years from now even if some of the citations would be on inaccuracies, some of which might be because of government secrets that are still unknown even today from Napoleon's time. (One recent article claimed what did Napoleon's men in as much as anything on the Russian campaign were lice and how by necessity the men generally huddled in close proximity at camp which was bad for spreading lice. Only recently uncovered with technology and from an archaeological site where some of his men were buried.) Unclear whether I will revisit this work in its entirety, as I had spent well over three years from start until finish.
Although I found Volume I (Our Oriental Heritage) and II (The Life of Greece)somewhat distant as might be expected, they did start to engage more as time passed. Could also be that Durant too improved over time. My personal favorite was naturally The Age of Voltaire where it talked about market speculations, economic bubbles, and topics that would almost be contemporary if you change a few words.
I could foresee these books remaining relevant a hundred, maybe five hundred or a thousand years from now even if some of the citations would be on inaccuracies, some of which might be because of government secrets that are still unknown even today from Napoleon's time. (One recent article claimed what did Napoleon's men in as much as anything on the Russian campaign were lice and how by necessity the men generally huddled in close proximity at camp which was bad for spreading lice. Only recently uncovered with technology and from an archaeological site where some of his men were buried.) Unclear whether I will revisit this work in its entirety, as I had spent well over three years from start until finish.
April 23, 2013
ما می توانیم بر نویسنده ای که توانست ظرف پانزده ماه هلوِییز جدید (فوریۀ 1761)،قرارداد اجتماعی(آوریل 1762)، وامیل(مه 1762)را ارایه کند خطاهای بسیاری را ببخشیم. در امیل؛ روسو کار خود را با مردود دانستن شیوه های موجود تعلیم آغاز کرد، که این شیوه ها معمولاً بصورت افکار طوطی وار ،کهنه ، و فاسد بودند و هدف آنها عبارت بود از بار آوردن اطفالی مطیع و خود کار در یک اجتماع منحط، جلوگیری از استقلال تفکر و قضاوت طفل،و مسخ فکری او به طوری که بصورت یک فرد عادی با یک مشت گفته های پیش پا افتاده و تکرار های کلاسیک بار آید .چنین آموزشی کلیۀ انگیزه های طبیعی را دچار خفقان می کردو تعلیم و تربیت را بصورت غذایی در می آوردکه هر طفل آرزو داشت از آن احتراز کند. تعلیم و تربیت باید عبارت باشد از یک جریان سرور بخش نمو طبیعی، آموزش از طبیعت و تجربه،و پرورش آزادانۀ استعدادهای شخصی برای زندگی کامل و پر لذت. تعلیم و تربیت باید عبارت باشد از < هنر آموزش افراد > :راهنمایی آگاهانۀ جسم در حال رشد به سوی سلامت، رهبری خصوصیات اخلاقی به سوی اخلاقیات ،هدایت فکر به سوی عقل و خرد، و سوق دادن احساسات به سوی خویشتن داری، خلق خوی اجتماعی، و سعادت .
ویل دورانت : تاریخ تمدن، جلد دهم، بخش اول ؛ روسو و انقلاب
ویل دورانت : تاریخ تمدن، جلد دهم، بخش اول ؛ روسو و انقلاب
October 17, 2010
Stupendous and wide-reaching, this was a labour of love that spanned decades. Hard to imagine today's writers pulling this off. The good news is that it's wonderfully written and enchanting to read. The better news? It's plentiful enough to be found cheap second-hand if you take the time to look for it.
September 29, 2012
Durant is an excellent historian, and although much of what the books contained is now defunct, the majority is written very comprehensively, steering clear of controversy and unknowns in a manner of detached and objective scholarship (at least for the time period). The authors embark on every civilization/time-period, first discussing the geographical, economic, socio-political and religious backgrounds and then start a narrative of events in chronological order. The choice of what qualifies as important enough to be placed in a narrative of human civilization was made well and relatively corresponds to the amount of Western scholarship available with regards to the topic in discussion. Most importantly, however, is that the books contain engaging, well-written prose, and the narration is never tedious or excessively academic. Any general reader will be able to enjoy and cherish this magnum opus as a frequent reference/past-time on their bookshelf.
May 7, 2013
This is more than just a book, it enriches your life permanently. It also leaves you with a nice generally useful set of history books. This uniquely complete volume tells you all that most of us will ever need to know about Western Civilization and history until the fall of Napoleon. It's clearly written(Thank God!),reasonably broad, bluntly and openly opinionated in many areas. It includes a very useful sketch of the progress of the west and detailed and interesting sketches of some of the most important participants. It is about fifteen thousand pages. I wish I could tell you how long it took, but I can't even give you a good guess. Each volume stands on its own, however, and the best approach, I think, is probably just to dive into the book that sounds most interesting to you. I think if you read one you are very likely to spend a chunk of your life with them.
In a word it is amazing.
In a word it is amazing.
October 11, 2010
Though written in the early and middle of the 20th century, and thus somewhat dated on matters whose understanding has since been heavily revised by archaeological, paleontological, genetic, and documentary discoveries, this set remains the definitive baseline history of civilization.
At 11 volumes, each totalling in the neighborhood of a thousand pages, it's an intimidating read, but Durant's style is thorough and personable, telling the grand story in detail while communicating methodology well, yet rarely getting bogged down in the dryness that has plagued more specialized (though excellent) works by historians such as Alan Gardener.
Highly recommended.
At 11 volumes, each totalling in the neighborhood of a thousand pages, it's an intimidating read, but Durant's style is thorough and personable, telling the grand story in detail while communicating methodology well, yet rarely getting bogged down in the dryness that has plagued more specialized (though excellent) works by historians such as Alan Gardener.
Highly recommended.
March 29, 2012
هذا الاختصار يفقد الموسوعة الأصلية اهم ما يميزها أي : القصة نفسها ..
تلك الأجزاء و المفردات و التفاصيل الكثيرة التي تنطوي عليها الموسوعة الكاملة تحذف هنا و يصبح الكتاب معها مجرد سرد لأحداث بدون تشويق التفاصيل .. تقضي على المتعة الحق أقول لكم . امتلك الموسوعة .. و أنا أعتبرها كنز قرائي لا يفنى .. قمت منذ فترة بعمل خطة قرائية لإنجاز القراءة لكامل الموسوعة .. و كانت كالتالي : 100 صفحة في اليوم .. ما يعني 10 أيام تقريبا لكل مجلد .. إذ أن كل مجلد ( النسخة التي لدي يحتوي كل مجلد منها على جزئين ) يحتوي على ما يقارب الألف صفحة .. و لا زلت أعود إلى هذه الخطة بعد فترة من النسيان : ..
تلك الأجزاء و المفردات و التفاصيل الكثيرة التي تنطوي عليها الموسوعة الكاملة تحذف هنا و يصبح الكتاب معها مجرد سرد لأحداث بدون تشويق التفاصيل .. تقضي على المتعة الحق أقول لكم . امتلك الموسوعة .. و أنا أعتبرها كنز قرائي لا يفنى .. قمت منذ فترة بعمل خطة قرائية لإنجاز القراءة لكامل الموسوعة .. و كانت كالتالي : 100 صفحة في اليوم .. ما يعني 10 أيام تقريبا لكل مجلد .. إذ أن كل مجلد ( النسخة التي لدي يحتوي كل مجلد منها على جزئين ) يحتوي على ما يقارب الألف صفحة .. و لا زلت أعود إلى هذه الخطة بعد فترة من النسيان : ..
October 31, 2016
I am outraged that when I went to pull this magnificent, one-of-a-kind 11 volume set of books up in the search bar, the author was listed as Will Durant, when the entirety of this opus was written by both Will Durant and his wife Ariel Durant!
"The Story of Civilization," written over thirty years (1935-1975) and composing 11 volumes, chronicles, truly, our entire course of human civilization, for which they were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1968 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.
"The Story of Civilization," written over thirty years (1935-1975) and composing 11 volumes, chronicles, truly, our entire course of human civilization, for which they were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1968 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.
June 8, 2017
sloooooowly working my way thru audios, now avail via Overdrive and Hoopla!! not all avail on each but between them ought to *eventually* have access. Enjoy using history or philo, especially older, as pre-sleep treat, find it soothing, relaxing.
Volume I: OUR ORIENTAL HERITAGE
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Volume II: THE LIFE OF GREECE
[will post link to review of individual book here... " "]
currently beginning Volume III: CAESAR AND CHRIST.
(05/2017)
Volume I: OUR ORIENTAL HERITAGE
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Volume II: THE LIFE OF GREECE
[will post link to review of individual book here... " "]
currently beginning Volume III: CAESAR AND CHRIST.
(05/2017)
September 16, 2019
Here’s a great way to spend an hour or afternoon: leaf through these books, asking yourself "what do I want to learn about today"?
This is a history of the classical world. Begun in the thirties and written over the course of 45 years, Will and Ariel Durant's labor of love has enriched my life immensely since I started with them a few years ago. They total at about 11 000 pages,
Begun in the thirties, they differ from more modern history books in that there is more religion, and a greater focus on the great men of history. It also contains more wisdom, humour and breadth than all other history books I have seen.
Will Durant is a masterful writer and storyteller, and he shows great economy in his prose, a more verbose writer would have made this same material twice as long. Granted, myth is sometimes mixed with fiction, there is an emphasis on Great men of history, and its age means that some later findings have rewritten some of the past since.
But I have never had as much fun reading history, and never had a teacher as well-read, wise and dry witted as Durant. As I’m most enamoured with ancient history, the first few books in this series are reopened particularely often.
Though it is in the portrayals of the most influential and colorful people of history that these books shine the brightest. Go and read the chapter on Frederick the Great, Asoka, Isaac Newton, the interlude in which Marco Polo visits Khublai Khan. Christ, the Buddha, Mohammed, all get a thorough going through, both their lives and teachings. And so it is with hundreds of philosophers, warlords, kings and saints. From Etruscan pottery, Chinese economy, Welsh farming, Vedanta mysticism, peasant uprisings, the thirty years war, the artistry of Michelangelo. this series is like a wellspring of knowledge about our past from whose stream I have only lapped up little thus far.
A work of this length would be tedious and unreadable from a bad writer, or even a half-decent one. Durant's prose is funny, wise and gently guiding the reader through what is meaningful, influential and beautiful in our history. An overarching point is made about the fragility of civilization, and our need to guard it well from our own barbarian tendencies.
My way of perusing these books instead of reading them from start to finish like one would a novel will make it impossible to know when/if I finally finish reading it all. But they will keep me company for probably as long as I draw breath, asking myself: what do I want to learn about today?
This is a history of the classical world. Begun in the thirties and written over the course of 45 years, Will and Ariel Durant's labor of love has enriched my life immensely since I started with them a few years ago. They total at about 11 000 pages,
Begun in the thirties, they differ from more modern history books in that there is more religion, and a greater focus on the great men of history. It also contains more wisdom, humour and breadth than all other history books I have seen.
Will Durant is a masterful writer and storyteller, and he shows great economy in his prose, a more verbose writer would have made this same material twice as long. Granted, myth is sometimes mixed with fiction, there is an emphasis on Great men of history, and its age means that some later findings have rewritten some of the past since.
But I have never had as much fun reading history, and never had a teacher as well-read, wise and dry witted as Durant. As I’m most enamoured with ancient history, the first few books in this series are reopened particularely often.
Though it is in the portrayals of the most influential and colorful people of history that these books shine the brightest. Go and read the chapter on Frederick the Great, Asoka, Isaac Newton, the interlude in which Marco Polo visits Khublai Khan. Christ, the Buddha, Mohammed, all get a thorough going through, both their lives and teachings. And so it is with hundreds of philosophers, warlords, kings and saints. From Etruscan pottery, Chinese economy, Welsh farming, Vedanta mysticism, peasant uprisings, the thirty years war, the artistry of Michelangelo. this series is like a wellspring of knowledge about our past from whose stream I have only lapped up little thus far.
A work of this length would be tedious and unreadable from a bad writer, or even a half-decent one. Durant's prose is funny, wise and gently guiding the reader through what is meaningful, influential and beautiful in our history. An overarching point is made about the fragility of civilization, and our need to guard it well from our own barbarian tendencies.
My way of perusing these books instead of reading them from start to finish like one would a novel will make it impossible to know when/if I finally finish reading it all. But they will keep me company for probably as long as I draw breath, asking myself: what do I want to learn about today?
April 7, 2016
Will and Ariel Durant's Civilization series is some of the most important reading I've ever done. It's a long project for anyone who isn't an insanely fast reader but it's well worth it.
Will Durant was very good at pointing out examples of historical wisdom. He sort of takes you by the hand and points out what is important, interesting, and amusing as he leads you through the history of, mostly, Western Civilization. At one point in one of the books he says that if one wants to understand the motivations of the players in European history one needs to 'follow the money' or 'cherchez le banker'.
Durant's emphasis is on the importance of civilization as opposed to barbarity. One comes away from these books with a very strong sense of the importance of civilization. In my opinion that is something that is missing from much of the current discourse in the USA. We seem to have forgotten about just how delicate a flower civilization is.
Will Durant was very good at pointing out examples of historical wisdom. He sort of takes you by the hand and points out what is important, interesting, and amusing as he leads you through the history of, mostly, Western Civilization. At one point in one of the books he says that if one wants to understand the motivations of the players in European history one needs to 'follow the money' or 'cherchez le banker'.
Durant's emphasis is on the importance of civilization as opposed to barbarity. One comes away from these books with a very strong sense of the importance of civilization. In my opinion that is something that is missing from much of the current discourse in the USA. We seem to have forgotten about just how delicate a flower civilization is.
Want to read
June 27, 2016* 5 books that inspired billionaire CEO Elizabeth Holmes
From 1935 to 1975, author Will Durant wrote 11 volumes on Western history, finishing with the Napoleonic era only because he and his wife died weeks apart. His wife, Ariel, is a coauthor of several of the final volumes, and they both won the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction for the 10th in the series, "Rousseau and Revolution."
"I've really been fascinated and inspired by reading books about history, because there's so much wisdom in understanding how these great people and great leaders built great organizations, led groups of people, and effected change," Holmes said.
She thinks there is "very powerful" insight contained within the Durants' massive work. "It shapes your frame of thinking when you encounter people and situations," she said.
From 1935 to 1975, author Will Durant wrote 11 volumes on Western history, finishing with the Napoleonic era only because he and his wife died weeks apart. His wife, Ariel, is a coauthor of several of the final volumes, and they both won the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction for the 10th in the series, "Rousseau and Revolution."
"I've really been fascinated and inspired by reading books about history, because there's so much wisdom in understanding how these great people and great leaders built great organizations, led groups of people, and effected change," Holmes said.
She thinks there is "very powerful" insight contained within the Durants' massive work. "It shapes your frame of thinking when you encounter people and situations," she said.
April 17, 2009
I have finished vol. 4, (Age of Faith -about the medieval times from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the enlightenment). A great book about the "dark ages" in which you find out that they are not as dark as many thought. The philosophers, the faith, the conflicts of that time. There is a very enlightening section of the Muslim world and their history of that time. I learned a lot especially about the crusades and about the misguided cruelty of many who called themselves "Christians" and "Crusaders." There is a lot to learn about the development of modern Judaism and the concurrent development of anti-semitism in Europe and how it was deeply ingrained in many european countries during this time.
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