Much needed critical approach to history

Everyone’s view will be different, but this provides valuable evidence that rarely appears in modern debate. The public “woke” view often has little research. It doesn’t paint a totally perfect picture of the empire, but it’s more rounded than most.

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4 people found this helpful

Inspirational

Many inspirational stories from History that illustrate very well how human commitment to do good and the complexity often encountered can combine to produce a wide variety of outcomes

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Good read for history

Loved the historical aspect, wasn’t a massive fan of the accents during quotes though, but that’s just me

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Deranged Snowflakes Need Not Apply

Great listen that tells the real truth and not ungrateful leftist marxist propaganda . We need more books like this 🙌

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1 person found this helpful

An enjoyable canter through history

I enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a complete chronological history of the British Empire then this isn't the book for you. It relays the history via biographies of key figures. It's very interesting and I learned lots of new stuff.

There was something amusing about listening to British Imperial history narrated by an American. He did a jolly good job and only mispronounced a few words.

Overall highly recommended, I'm going to check out some of the other books in this series.

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Eye opening

The book contains a lot of information and details that you don’t get taught in our educational systems, or is ever highlighted in reports and current affairs

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Interesting listen

Interesting take on interesting people. Certainly not a woke look at the British Empire. But worth a listen.

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so many facts forgotten, are finally put together

British Empire and its many mistakes, reviewed with the tinted lenses of 2019. not so glorious or magnanimous anymore

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The good and bad of historical realpolitik

If you were to be colonised, occupied or otherwise ruled over by an imperial power, you’d be better off with the British than anyone else is the message. The British Empire is presented as being the lighter hand of what was on offer at this time in history. I enjoyed it and recommend it. If you’re of the absolutist liberal, all things from the past must be judged by todays standards persuasion, you’d be better off sticking with your virtuous echo chamber, this book will enrage your delicate sensibilities.

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2 people found this helpful

Disagree a lot, but still of interest

This is clearly meant to be a controversial book. It is selective, narrow in scope and biased in the extreme. However, there is still a lot of interest in the romanticised view of some of the empires key protagonists. I am a Liberal and socialist, I am also British and in the military. I agree with the author the the British Empire was a force for good generally and although I don't share his rose tinted glasses I do find it fascinating and still relevant.

It is easy to view the actions of the past through today's norms and acceptance. The empire was in many regards the lesser evil of European colonial masters. The British empire was aggressive and arrogant yes. But if it wasn't it would not have been so successful. Very much 'what did the Romans ever do for us?' territory.

The author includes interesting details about the lives of individuals he clearly likes and enjoys. So do I. For this reason the book has good value. However, when he ventures into shouting down the modern UK welfare state and descends into Liberal bashing I tended to laugh out loud. Coming from the US, where equality and social welfare is a sad joke, he should avoid demeaning European social standards. They are a subject he clearly knows nothing about.

Entertaining? Yes. But the author would do better to emit his own political bias to ensure future books focus on the subject. The subject is fascinating and offers boundless material. If I want neo-con nonsense I'll laugh at Fox news instead.

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