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A History of the World

By: Andrew Marr
Narrated by: Andrew Marr, David Timson
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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
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Editor reviews

In a feat of historical writing, author Andrew Marr's A History of the World is wholly informative and entirely entertaining. Now adapted into a major BBC One TV series, this historical audiobook has been narrated by BBC radio broadcaster and English actor David Timson, with an introduction by the author. The scope of Marr's research is extraordinary. Listeners are taken on an adventure through the ancient and less well-known civilisations as well as the influential figures who contributed significantly to life as it's known today. Available now from Audible.

What listeners say about A History of the World

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Best non-fiction audiobook ever

This is a truly remarkable work, always interesting. Marr weaves a clever and consistent line through world history, largely avoiding editorialising.

David Timson's rich narration, meanwhile, brings the book to life, creating one of the most engaging non-fiction audiobooks I've ever bought.

This should be a compulsory text for older kids studying history, as it fills in so many of the gaps necessarily left by the selective, more detailed approach to history teaching.

Buy it! You won't regret it.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

andrew mar history of the world

THIS IS A FANTASTIC BOOK READ VERY WELL VRY GOOD DISCRIPTINS INTERESTING VOICE INTERESTING BOOK KEPT ME INTERESTED COULD NOT SWITCH BOOK OFF IT IS GREAT LISTENING TO THIS BOOK THOUROUGHLY CAPTIVATION

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1 person found this helpful

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Warm, captivating and an inspiring story

Andrew Marr presents snapshots of human history with photographic precision, while seeing the bigger picture of events and its relevance to present times.

As a journalist with huge political experience, he presents ‘The History of the World’ interestingly, captivating reader’s attention to focus on momentous events which have been taking place across the centuries.

Customer is offered words of commentary and guidance to understand its own place in the world assisted by Andrew’s rich and profound context.

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great book and we'll narrated, would listen again

listen to this and you won't be sorry a great book with clever insights into the development of humanity.

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Global Reach

I found this a splendid listening experience principally because it drew horizontal lines, linking together aspects of history of which I already knew something. To my not-very-great surprise, it was beautifully read by the very excellent David Timson.

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a fascinating and easy listening experience.

, I really enjoyed listening to this account of poignant episodes in the history of the world. I learnt a lot and it made me think a lot. The implications for and similarities of many more modern experiences thought provoking

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Review

Excellent book really enjoyed this fast paced look through history. Well written and Great narration. Highly recommend .

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Amazing intro to history

This is an interesting view at a wide variety of historic events and times. Having always been interested in history there were still 'things' that surprised me.
A book I will read again, dipping in at different chapters.

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entertaining

Very intersting book to listen to while on the way to work or doing house keeping. as for a European it took me down to earth and thought that there are many more cultures besides Western one responsible for shaping the world we are living in...

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Great book well read

A long one, no doubt about it, but worth it. Plenty of detail and interesting facts made manageable by the focus on individuals

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