A History of the World Audiobook By Andrew Marr cover art

A History of the World

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A History of the World

By: Andrew Marr
Narrated by: Andrew Marr, David Timson
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About this listen

Fresh, exciting and vivid, this is popular history at its very best.

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, political journalist Andrew Marr revisiets 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.

A History of the World 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.’

©2012 Andrew Marr (P)2012 Macmillan Digital Audio
Civilization World Ancient History Imperialism Self-Determination Military Mongol Empire Ancient Greece World History
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Editorial 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.
Comprehensive Coverage • Engaging Narrative • Illuminating Perspectives • Rich Historical Connections • Sublime Delivery
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If you are interested in history don’t miss listening to this book. I have been a student of history since my mid-teens (I now am 83yrs. young). This book is an amazing compilation of history. For those who are not familiar with world history, but are interested,it is a good place to start. Good references to different books. As for me, as always, I learned something new and am sorry that I finished the book. My thanks to the author and narrator Mr. Andrew Marr and my thanks to Audible for making this book available, JK

AMAZING OVERVIEW

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Andrew Marra condensed version of his documentary series is concise, well balanced and centrist in its presentation. He is very clear in the introduction about the approach taken so that readers looking for an extremely feminist, Marxist or third world perspective on history will not be disappointed. That being said, Marr does indeed try to be more inclusive in his overview of history than many past authors have been. This is a useful resource for honors high school courses, as part of university curriculum or for the average intelligent person out there who wants to understand the flow of history and the consequences of key developments , changes, personalities and events.

Excellent Overview for a wide audience

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This book was great and filling the many gaps in my understanding of world history. I can thoroughly recommend it. However, the narrative was long and hard to stay focused. There are many instances where the author keeps referring back to concepts as it by which time the listener has lost track of what he is referring to. Even many rewinds and relistens later, I still could not figure out what concepts he was referring to with such liberal use of impersonal pronouns.

Comprehensive but not easy to consume via audio book

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Such a well delivered and written history as I’ve not had the pleasure to be exposed to in my learning history.

To be sure we all know the times, dates and characters who have shaped us. Andrew Marr helps us to know the interplay of these figures, their arrogance and their success. The steady march towards today is so well displayed and explained that helps to keep one from becoming to entrenched in the self-importance of their own nation and history.

History Comes Alive

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Truly an eye opener. Covering history also beyond the Western culture. Enjoyed it and will probably listen to it again.

Excellent Book and narration

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The content is crisp, and the narrator does an excellent job. Highly recommend this book.

Best history book I’ve read

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I love thé way the author wove in all aspects around the world including geography, religion, culture, and more.

Excellent comprehensive review.

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Where does A History of the World rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a very well polished audio book - really like the narrator.

What about Andrew Marr and David Timson ’s performance did you like?

The breadth of the book is massive, spanning all of human history. It is thoroughly researched and enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

My only negative comment is that it is at times light on hard dates, which makes putting the different threads of the storyline together a little difficult at times.

Thoroughly enjoyable (but at times light on dates)

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Very long and thorough. Highly worth it if you’re into this big picture style of work.

Inedible book

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Highly recommended for anyone and everyone. Brilliantly woven, articulate celebration of the story of human existence.

Enchanting

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