A History of the World in 100 Objects

I gave this one a rare five stars, because it's an awesome book. I actually listened to it on audio CD (and suspect reading it might be tough sledding for me), but got the book to enjoy the pictures fairly quickly.

Talk about scope! From protohuman hand tools to a solar powered lamp, MacGregor describes his objects and their histories to us with knowledge, passion, humor, and style. Most of the history here is outside the normal dates-when-generals-did-stuff run of the mill history, so unless you know a lot of art history, you'll probably find it fresh material. It's loosely grouped into larger categories, but each object stands well on its own.

And the details of these many objects flow together to create a very different holistic show more history: not Jared Diamond's tale of migration and ecology, or the more common geopolitics, but something different. It's a tale of the arc of the human experience that deals with technology, religion, and intellectual life as a single seamless story. I am richer for the experience. You will be too. Neil MacGregor rocks! show less

This book came to my attention a few years ago when I discovered its spinoff, A History of America in 100 Objects, published by the Smithsonian. Although I added both to my list immediately, I didn't get around to reading this one until just now (glad I picked it up when I did as my library has only two copies left, and the one I hold in my hands is starting to fall apart). It's an amazing tome for lovers of history and the generally curious. I appreciated learning what it is that makes each object unique and how each is significant in world history. While I have never been to British Museum (someday!), it feels like the British Museum came, in a sense, to me. Wonderful.

This is a companion piece to the History of the World in 100 Objects BBC radio series, first broadcast in 2010. I listened to it back in the day and really enjoyed it, and on an object-by-object level I often did the same here. The lavish illustrations allow for an examination of details that I could only imagine when listening to Neil MacGregor's audio narration. MacGregor writes with a clear affection for and fascination with these objects, all of which belong to the collection of the institution of which he was then the director, the British Museum.

However, MacGregor's position clearly muzzled him from talking about all the deeply hinky things that have been involved in the gathering of that collection, there are some unexamined show more assumptions at play here (more than one pencilled 'hmm' or '!' appear in the margins of my copy now), and some quoted experts whose rep has not aged the best over the last decade or so.

(If I may be allowed a moment of petty chauvinism, it was dryly amusing to see that 11 objects of the 100 were found in/come from what's now the UK, 9 of them from England alone, but not one from Ireland. The English do like to claim us while also ignoring us, and to make "British" a simple synonym for "English.") show less

Absolutely fascinating. The length may seem daunting but one can always just dip in for an object or two and then resume daily life. At first I thought- for anthropologists only, since many of the earliest items are about the dawn of civilization, as it were. But as one progresses through the book, delighted by MacGregor's lively comments, there is art, history, politics, religion- the whole catastrophe of human habitation. Besides the usual suspects (Elgin Marbles/Rosetta Stone), there are some marvelous eye openers: the Ife head from what is now Nigeria as well as a brass plaque from Benin clearly show the achievements of a well-evolved African culture. My personal favorite was the tughra(calligrahpic monogram)of Suleiman the Magnificent.

Fantastic resource for anyone who loves history, culture and/or museums. Even though the title reads *A* history, it could've been called *The* history, given the sheer breadth of the themes and civilizations this book covers. Loving and serious attention is paid to each object, with at least one gorgeous photograph per item, and to the stories about the past it evokes. This is geared toward a popular audience rather than a scholarly one (as was the original BBC radio series), so the essays aren't long ones, but they're cogent and full of illuminating quotes from scholars and other experts. The only problem I have is that now I want to visit the British Museum and thus have to figure out what to leave out of my luggage so I can fit this show more book in it. show less

I got to like the 6th object and immediately put it down on reading something like "But why did early humans migrate to new areas? Here's what Michael Palin, who's done a lot of travelling, thinks". I'm just extremely not interested in what some random famous person thinks! Before this you have Rowan Williams saying why a carved mammoth horn is a sign of early humans getting into "the rhythm of life" and claiming that's what religion is all about. An extract of David Attenborough narrating from a TV show about how cool stone axes are. And it's like. Yeah they are but I'd rather the limited space was taken up by some actual info rather than uninformed and uninteresting musings. It's just not my sort of book I guess. I was disappointed at show more the limited info on each object so far and feeling the author kept loudly telling me how cool each thing is rather than letting it speak for itself.

There was also quite a bit of factual stuff that I at least felt suspicious of. For example, dating the entrance of humans to North America basically exactly to the Clovis culture which was under criticism even at publication and is a few thousands year off for sure. Claiming that there was no migration into North America after that until European arrival, when it's well accepted that the Inuit are descended from another migration thousands of years afterwards and there may possibly have been others.

Idk just didn't feel confident reading further or feel it was a book aimed at me. show less

This is a hefty tome. It informs and excites one about 100 objects selected by the Director of the British Museum , Neil MacGregor from the British Museum . The book had its origins as a series of BBC radio talk. The style is verbal, oral, spoken and hence colloquial. It is not as scholarly as one might have expected from academic writing nor does it enter into interpretive debate . There are world maps showing the origins of each item and you are offered a virtual tour of world history seen through objects and treasures that have survived either through love or random circumstances. The collection of objects makes one appreciate the fragility of life. We can reflect on what people consider important at the time of manufacture or show more acquisition and what becomes important from a cultural history perspective over time. The inclusion of objects on this specific 100 list is a personal choice of MacGregor and based upon the acquisitions of the British Museum (a great institution). On past visits I have seen some of these items , like the golden mechanical miniature galleon or the Hoxne pepper pot. But if you have not seen all 100 objects, this book can be your guide to the BM . Not all objects are beautiful, but each has a different story to tell and each throws light on the human condition, For example, the solar powered lamp and charger tells us about the possible future energy solutions and bring the human story to the present. The book is arranged chronologically , and is well and copiously illustrated. There is a beginner scholar bibliography and an index. A stunning book well worth the £30 purchase price . It is on its way to being a favourite, show less