How do you define a history book? This book about human history is a chronological encyclopaedia/reference book which summarises the highlights in history.
The accompanying pictures and the overall presentation are good.
4.5 stars

A great coffee table book that touches on the most important aspects of world history from pre-history til today. The photos bring it all to life and make it a nice book to flip through whether you're looking to learn something, or just to pass the time.

This book offers a comprehensive and visually stunning journey through human history. Arranged chronologically, it covers key milestones, from the Bronze Age to the 21st century, with rich illustrations accompanying the narrative.

I enjoyed the cross-cultural nature of the book—it brought to life, for instance, that Confucius and the Buddha lived at about the same time, and King John of England was a contemporary of Genghis Khan. It emphasized that different cultures didn’t exist in isolation but were woven into a tapestry of human progress.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

What a beautiful book. I really enjoyed reading History of the World by Michael Kerrigan. The pictures were well thought out and well presented. It was a comprehensive easy to understand look back broken up into nice sized portions, never lingering too long on one subject or another. I really enjoyed the way the author presented history through the different cultures and parts of the world. Always explaining what was happening at a certain time in different places rather than focusing on one particular place.

Michael Kerrigan’s History of the World is an ambitious and visually captivating chronicle of humanity, spanning from the earliest days of prehistory to the rapidly evolving digital age. Combining concise narratives with rich imagery, the book offers readers a sweeping journey through time, charting the milestones of human progress and the forces that have shaped civilizations.

The book’s chronological structure organizes history into ten key periods, from the emergence of early agricultural societies to the technological revolutions of the 21st century. Kerrigan begins with humankind’s ancient origins, moving through the dawn of empires, the vibrancy of the Renaissance, the upheavals of the industrial and revolutionary eras, and the transformative challenges of the modern world.

Each section provides succinct accounts of pivotal events, figures, and innovations. Highlights include the rise of democracy in Athens, the sweep of Mongol conquests, the cultural flowering of the Renaissance, and the profound impact of industrialization. The narrative culminates in an exploration of contemporary challenges such as climate change and the digital revolution, posing questions about humanity’s future trajectory.

What sets History of the World apart is its visual richness. With over 500 illustrations, including photographs, maps, and artistic depictions, the book brings history to life in a way that textual descriptions alone cannot achieve. These visuals make the book as engaging as it is informative, appealing to both casual readers and dedicated history enthusiasts.

Kerrigan’s ability to distill complex historical phenomena into accessible summaries is commendable. He weaves diverse global narratives, touching on developments in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas alongside Europe’s historical evolution. This breadth ensures the book’s appeal to a wide audience, offering a foundational understanding of world history.

Despite its strengths, the book’s brevity can sometimes work against it. Some topics, particularly those from non-Western histories, receive less detailed treatment than their Western counterparts. For instance, while the Renaissance and Enlightenment are given thorough attention, histories of African empires or indigenous American cultures feel underrepresented. Additionally, the early chapters on prehistory are condensed, leaving a sense of missed opportunity to delve deeper into humanity’s earliest milestones.

History of the World is a visually stunning and highly accessible introduction to the grand sweep of human history. While its brevity may leave some readers wishing for more depth in certain areas, its compelling narrative and lavish illustrations make it an ideal starting point for those seeking to understand the forces that have shaped our world. Michael Kerrigan’s work is a testament to the enduring fascination of history and the power of storytelling to connect us with our shared past.

This book is perfect for general readers, students, or anyone looking to rekindle their curiosity about the past. Its balance of visual appeal and clear narrative ensures it will find a welcome place on coffee tables and in classrooms alike.

History of the World by Michael Kerrigan is an excellent overview of, well, the history of the world. Okay, more specifically, the history of humans and our later evolutionary predecessors.

First, my rating. I am not rating this compared to multi-volume in-depth histories that go much deeper, I am rating this as what it intended to be: an overview with enough detail to tell the big story and to give those wanting a deeper dive a starting point to dig deeper. This is not a Kerrigan vs Huizinga or Braudel rating, they had different goals and each did what they set out to do.

This is a wonderful book that can serve as a coffee table book that might also pique your child's interest in history and all that goes with it. Different cultures, different ways of living, subjects as diverse as archaeology, sociology, natural science, medicine, and maybe even simply history.

This really doesn't need to be mentioned but to cover all bases, there is a lot less coverage of very early history before anything was or even could be written down. You know, a serious lack of sources. There is a marked slant toward western history and culture. A definite weakness but one that, unfortunately, probably speaks more to the intended readership than to a desire to not be more inclusive. From the perspective of someone who likes coffee table (and end table) books I can compensate by having a good volume on display alongside this with a non- or less- western slant. In fact, it probably allows for both books to be a little deeper in what they do cover. A true history of the world with equal treatment worldwide would be unwieldy or nothing more than a list of people, countries, movements, and events.

The text is well-written and the images are very nice. This can be a great conversation starter with friends and something that can spark interest in younger minds.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.