Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization, Volume 1 by Will Durant
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Summary
The first volume of Will Durant’s Pulitzer Prize–winning series, Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization, Volume I chronicles the early history of Egypt, the Middle East, and Asia. In this masterful work, readers will encounter:
This audiobook, 'Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization, Volume 1', is an impressive collection that delves into the history of the East and its profound influence on the West. Durant's foresight regarding the future, specifically China's rise to global prominence, is truly remarkable. I thoroughly enjoyed the interconnectedness it explores, highlighting how history frequently echoes itself. It's a captivating listen that sheds light on the interwoven nature of our world.
This audiobook is an amazing journey through the ancient civilizations of Sumer, Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Persia, India, China, and Japan. It provides a detailed account of the rulers, the rise and fall of these empires, their impressive artistic achievements, groundbreaking innovations, diverse populations, unique cultural characteristics, and the wide array of deities worshipped. It's everything you need to build a solid understanding of early history.
You won't find anything like this being written nowadays. This book perfectly captures what history should be like, and it's also a pleasure to listen to.
The book is quite engaging, although it does feel a bit dated, particularly in its coverage of China and Japan. It's definitely worth giving it a read, just keep in mind the time period in which it was written.
Hey man, Robin Field, step aside and let Grover Gardner take the lead on this one. The service needs to get its act together because there's a far superior version available.
According to popular opinion, 'Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization, Volume 1' is considered a classic, which was my main reason for purchasing it. However, it is glaringly outdated, especially when discussing pre-history. We have acquired a wealth of knowledge since then. For example, Durant mentions the significance of Piltdown man, but it was later revealed as a hoax, making it difficult to trust the accuracy of the entire book. While the use of archaic language adds a certain charm, it's advisable to opt for a novel if seeking that experience. For a more reliable source of historical information, it would be wise to explore other options.
I haven't actually read the physical book, but I feel like it would be easier to understand the message that way. The narrator does a great job of presenting the material in a neutral tone without letting personal biases come through. However, the consistent tone made it challenging for me to always catch when he would transition between thoughts, causing different points to blend together at times.
I really enjoyed the content and listened to it over a period of six months in order to improve retention. The author's format worked well for my personal learning style, but the inclusion of numerous footnotes in the audio version ended up being more distracting than helpful.
Overall, I found this to be a valuable resource for learning. While I understand that not everything written may be entirely accurate, it served as a solid foundation for me. I would consider reading the book again or continuing with the series, but I will probably opt for purchasing the physical copy or finding one at the library.
This is hands down the best book I've ever laid my eyes on. It may take a bit of dedication to plow through, but trust me, every single second is worth the effort. I'm eagerly anticipating diving into the next volume.
I really liked how the book presented a comprehensive overview in a clear way.
I was totally hooked by the book. Before I knew it, the book had come to an end. This book is absolutely fantastic.
I may not be a pro at critiquing books, but I gotta say, I really enjoyed this one. It covers all the significant bits of the Era explored in this volume, and the narrator does a solid job of conveying the information clearly. English isn't my first language, but I had no trouble understanding him. Can't wait to dive into volume 2!
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