Customer Reviews
Awesome summary and conclusions from their life's work - By: , 02 Apr 1999 
Short & to the point. Easy to read. Incredibly accurate. Would recommend to anyone.
A Profound insight into the nature of man. - By: , 14 Dec 1998 This book was assigned reading for an MBA program I tookin 1983.For the first time I was presented with the ideas that described how we fitin the universe along with why we behave as we do.I wasin my late 30's , an engineer by trade.I knew the historical behavior patterns of our numerous societies over the spectrum of recorded history, yet had failed to reduce these observations to a lowest common denominator.
Will & Ariel Durant segment our history & nature into basic, simple to read chapters, that explainin simple terms how societies have strived to achieve the Utopias we all dream of.
I was stunned at how history repeats itself & humbled at the fact that "the foibles of mans dreams" are the same today as they were a thousand years ago.
If your ego has convinced you that solutions to the challenges of society are within the grasp of our lives today,don't read this book!
On the other hand,if you are prepared to recognize that our species is nothing more than 4000 years of recorded history compared with 14,000,000 years of evolutionary development,sit back & enjoy!
This is not a book for individuals who have "new PC ideas as to the nature of mankind".They will find that their ideas are same-o,same-o.
Will & Ariel summerize a huge workin one volume that can be readin a day.
I still refer to this book 30 years after first reading it. - By: , 29 Oct 1998 Will & Ariel Durant tried to bring Philosophy & an understanding of History to the common man & woman. They succeeded admirably, & some thirty years after reading this book I still turn to itin order to understand events occurring around me. This is no scholarly tome, but an invaluable manual for those seeking a better understanding of the world around us. It should be compulsory reading for all those aspiring to public office.
A labour of love and it shows. - By: , 01 Jul 1998 The fruit of more than 50 years of labour for all of us to savour.In less than 150 pages the author has condensed lessons drawn from the entire course of human history.The language & style is typical of Mr. Durant & is a pleasure to read. Recommended for all students of history as it will deepen understanding of mankind's past & enlighten our present. A true classic.
