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20 Best World History Books (2022 Review)

September 5, 2020 by James Wilson

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The history of the world is a subject that is prevalent to everyone. HIstorical events of the past are what have shaped the world today. History also helps the world find solutions to current problems that we may face. The world has existed for many years. On top of its existence, there are 195 countries to learn about. The history of each country can be discussed in hundreds and thousands of books. How do we, as a society, determine what is most important? Everday more historical artifacts, fossils, journals, and more are being discovered. There is no way to keep with everything that has happened in the past, as well as what is happening in the present… but we can try.

What are the Best World History Books to read?

A Short History of Nearly Everything

The books oultined here will analyze some of the most important events in world history. They are full of great information that is both engaging and interesting. These books will help readers identify some of the most important moments in history and how they are changing the future.

Best World History Books: Our Top 20 Picks

Here are some of the best world history books that you can consider to expand your knowledge on the subject:

1. A Short History of Nearly Everything

A Short History of Nearly Everything

History can be considered one subject, but it can also be divided into subcategories. There is history behind everything, so what should be learned?  A Short History of Nearly Everything  by Bill Breyson is, well, a short history of “everything.” Bryson starts at the beginning of time: how humans came to be. He goes on to discuss the greatest historical findings of anthropologists, archaeologists, mathematicians, scientists, and more. The topics in this book are quickly discussed, but that’s okay. By reading this book, people would procure basic knowledge on a number of huge events. They can then use the information they learned to consider researching on those topics extensively. Some of the world’s most asked questions are addressed in this book with history and research. This is a great read for those who can’t seem to choose a history subject to learn.

  • Authors : Bill Bryson (Author)
  • Publisher : Broadway Books; 1st Edition (September 14, 2004)
  • Pages : 544 pages

2. Everything You Need to Ace World History in One Big Fat Notebook

Everything You Need to Ace World History in One Big Fat Notebook

The history of the world is a pertinent subject to every human. There are so many historical events that have shaped what the world is today. History is created every day. To better equip for the present and future, everyone should have a general knowledge of world history.  Everything You Need to Ace World History in One Big Fat Notebook  by Workman Publish is a great text for updating oneself on Earth’s historic events. There is great history in this book from a number of locations. This book includes many eras and locations: the middle ages across the world, the Paleolithic Era, colonialism, and more. While this is a great text for understanding world history, it is based on lots of science. It discusses the theory of evolution and does not take religion into account. All in all, it’s a wonderful book on world history, but some may be disappointed by the views of the author.

  • Authors : Workman Publishing (Author), Michael Lindblad (Editor), Ximena Vengoechea (Contributor), Editors of Brain Quest (Draft Writer)
  • Publisher : Workman Publishing Company; Illustrated Edition (August 9, 2016)
  • Pages : 528 pages

3. Salt: A World History

Salt A World History

History is such an interesting and intriguing subject because there is so much of it. Every item, person, and animal has a history behind them.  Salt: A World History  by Mark Kurlansky analyzes the history behind a product that is used all over the world: salt. When sprinkling salt on french fries or eggs in the morning, few take the time to think about its history and where it came from. This book is a unique and fun take on history. Kurlansky sheds light on the only edible rock in the world. There are a lot of great details about salt in this book. Who knew salt could be such an interesting topic… but it is! This is an exciting history book that will engage and entertain readers.

  • Authors : Mark Kurlansky (Author)
  • Publisher : Penguin Books (January 28, 2003)
  • Pages : 496 pages

4. History of the World Part I

History of the World Part I

The history of the world is extensive. There have been so many historical events, but important and incidental. When learning the history of the world, it can be difficult to determine what to learn.  History of the World Part I  starring Mel Brooks is a movie that entertains viewers while educating them on the history of the world. Brooks is a hilarious actor that makes every movie he stars in engaging and funny. The movie is called  History of the World Part 1 , but it doesn’t actually have a part 2. The second movie was never released, which makes the title even funnier. All in all, this is a funny movie about history, but it’s not great for learning. This is mindless entertainment for someone who needs a mood boost.

  • Authors : Mel Brooks (Actor)

5. A History of the World in Glasses

A History of the World in 6 Glasses

Most everyone enjoys a drink now and then. The universe language of beer and alcohol is known far and wide. Drinking can make anything fun– even history can be a fun drinking topic.  A History of the World in Glasses  by Tom Standage compares six eras of world history to six different drinks. The six drinks are: beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and coca-cola. The eras in this book range from the stone age to the 21st century. Standage has a modern approach to this book. Everyone has their drink of choice, which can then be associated with an era of choice. Readers will be intrigued by the comparisons Standage makes, and want to read more based on said comparisons. This is quite the engaging read. World history has never been discussed in quite this way. This text is fun, entertaining, and easy to read!

  • Authors : Tom Standage (Author)
  • Publisher : Walker Publishing Company (May 16, 2006)
  • Pages : 336 pages

6. A Little History of the World

A Little History of the World (Little Histories)

History is a subject that begins being taught at an elementary level. There are so many events to discuss, and not enough schooling to discuss them. A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich is a great text for young readers. Children and teens alike can read this book to learn history in a fun, exciting way. Gombrich writes this book as a long story about mankind. This book is based on facts and research, but it is not told as such. Readers will enjoy this book as an adventure, instead of as a boring history lesson. In addition to being told like a story, this book also has grand and colorful pictures. The book discusses these historical events, but they are not heavily dissected. This is a great book for gaining a basic understanding of world history. That’s why it is perfect for children and teens.

  • Authors : E. H. Gombrich (Author), Clifford Harper (Illustrator)
  • Publisher : Yale University Press; 7/20/08 Edition (October 7, 2008)
  • Pages : 284 pages

7. A History of the World in 100 Objects

A History of the World in 100 Objects

“Things” are what seem to make up the world. There seems to be a shop for everything: candles, perfume, clothing, phones, and more. People really seem to enjoy their things, too. So why not use those products to explain history?  A History of the World in 100 Objects  by Neil MacGregor uses a refreshing approach to tackle important topics in world history. Macgregor discusses world history through specific objects. This book’s focus is on the objects of history. By looking at these objects, readers can see how quickly and efficiently mankind has evolved. There are many cultures, eras, and objects discussed in this book. There is truly something for everyone. The text is intriguing, and never boring. Readers will enjoy reading about history in a unique and engaging way.

  • Authors : Neil MacGregor (Author)
  • Publisher : Penguin Books; Illustrated Edition (September 24, 2013)
  • Pages : 736 pages

8. History of the World Map by Map

History of the World Map by Map

Even though world history is meant to discuss the history of the entire world, there are often countries whose histories overshadow others.  History of the World Map by Map  by DK documents history in a unique way– through the images of maps. There are maps used for many events in this book, like: World War II, the Industrial Revolution, the Atlantic Slave Trade. These are major world events that happened in many different countries. DK uses maps to drive home their research and points made on these historical events. The maps in this book are vivid and defined. The beauty of these images alone will attract readers to learn about these events. History, although interesting, can be a boring subject. By attaching real-life maps and explaining the events that coincide with them, DK turns world history into an exciting subject that many will want to read about.

  • Authors : DK (Author), Smithsonian Institution (Contributor)
  • Publisher : DK; Illustrated Edition (October 23, 2018)
  • Pages : 440 pages

9. A History of the World

A History of the World

There are so many forms of media: movies, tv shows, podcasts, books, magazines, and more. Different forms of media can educate viewers in different ways, so why not combine some of them?  A History of the World  by Andrew Marr is a book, an audiobook, and a television series. A different topic, time period, or person is addressed in every episode of the television series. These episodes then coincide with sections of the book. This is the ultimate way to read about history. The book covers many topics of world history. The sections done go too into depth on these topics, but that is what the television series is for. The book isn’t too long either. It’s the appropriate length so as to not get bored, but also stay engaged and learn lots.

  • Authors : Andrew Marr (Author)
  • Publisher : Pan Macmillan; Unabridged edition (November 5, 2012)
  • Pages : 500 pages

10. A Short History of the World

A Short History of the World

A Short HIstory of the World  by Christopher Lascelles is a book that aims to fill the big gaps in history. There are many different ages and eras analyzed in this book. The first topic discussed is the Big Bang. There are differing theories and opinions on the Big Bang that are greatly debated. The book, however, still discusses this theory and works through all important historical events. The history in this book is documented up to 2014, when the book was published. Events from the 2000’s are still history, and should be treated as such. This book has a wide array of information that will help many readers understand world history.

  • Authors : Christopher Lascelles (Author)
  • Publisher : Crux Publishing Ltd (January 15, 2014)
  • Pages : 276 pages

11. The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome

The History of the Ancient World From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome

The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome  by Susan Wise Bauer is an engaging audiobook that discusses the Ancient World. World history is a broad topic because there is so much of it. By narrowing world history down to one era, Bauer can discuss topics with more depth and passion. Creating a world history audiobook is risky. One would expect that an audiobook would simply sound like a lecture. Bauer, however, makes it interesting. Hearing the passion in her voice gets listeners excited about the subject. The audiobook is fun, but it also has negative components. Religion is discussed a little too openly in this book, especially for a world history book. World history should be based on facts, not opinion. This book is still a great listen, though.

  • Authors : Susan Wise Bauer (Author)
  • Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company; Illustrated Edition (March 17, 2007)
  • Pages : 896 pages

12. History: From the Dawn of Civilization to the Present Day

History From the Dawn of Civilization to the Present Day

The Smithsonian is one of the most famous history museums in the world. They have a wide selection of historical artifacts that are accompanied with their own description. About 29 million people visit the Smithsonian a year, but not everyone can make a trip to DC.  History: From the Dawn of Civilization to the Present Day  by Smithsonian Institute is the Smithsonian’s very own history book. Those who wish to visit the Smithsonian but can’t make the trip will enjoy this read. The book includes beautiful images to accompany the text. Something of the images included can actually be found in the Smithsonian today. The best part of this book, however, is that it discusses history, as well as contemporary culture. The book discusses the Battle of Hastings, but it also discusses climate change and social media. The Smithsonian Institute provides a great scope of the world, both past and present, in this book.

  • Authors : Adam Hart-Davis (Author)
  • Publisher : DK ADULT (March 19, 2012)
  • Pages : 612 pages

13. The Penguin History of the World

The Penguin History of the World Sixth Edition

Penguins are arguably one of the cutest forms of birds. They are cute, interesting, and intelligent little animals. They also are not at all associated with world history, but they do make for a catchy title. The Penguin History of the World by J.M. Roberts is not to be mistaken for a book about penguins. This book actually discusses the history of humankind. This book is actually on its sixth edition. The first edition was published in 1976. Roberts was the initial author, but passed away in 2003. The sixth edition of the book has been revised by Arne Westad. The book discusses a number of huge events in the world’s history. The book is a long read, but full of great information. That being said, it can get boring and arduous. However, this is a wonderful text for teaching world history classes because there are so many topics discussed, and it is constantly being updated.

  • Authors : J. M. Roberts (Author), Odd Arne Westad (Editor)
  • Publisher : Penguin Books; 6th ed. Edition (September 30, 2014)
  • Pages : 1280 pages

14. A Little History of the World: Illustrated Edition

A Little History of the World Illustrated Edition

A Little History of the World  by E.H. Gombrich is a popular, well-reviewed history book. The illustrated edition of this book is just the same. Those who love both history and art will be fascinated with this book. The history lessons are still there, but they are accompanied by beautiful illustrations and pictures. There are many different kinds of illustrations in this book: emblems, symbols, motifs, line drawings, and more. There are beautiful maps, fine paper, and classic designs. The beauty of this book is what draws people in, but the content is what keeps people interested and engaged. This is a wonderful read for people of all ages, and with all backgrounds of history knowledge.

  • Authors : E. H. Gombrich (Author)
  • Publisher : Yale University Press; Illustrated Edition (October 22, 2013)
  • Pages : 364 pages

15. World History for Dummies

World History For Dummies

When learning about history, it’s easy to think “I’m never going to remember this! Why am I even learning it?” With all the information in the world, it’s easy to think “why bother?”. But no one should give up.  World History for Dummies  by Peter Haugen explains history in a way that even the “dumbest” person can understand. This language in this book isn’t overly difficult to understand. The topics aren’t confusing or beyond rationalization. This book was made for people who don’t like history and aren’t very good at it. Historians aren’t going to sit down and read this book because it wasn’t made for them. Those who are struggling in a world history class, or simply don’t understand world history, should check out this book. The text is both informative and easy to understand.

  • Authors : Peter Haugen (Author)
  • Publisher : For Dummies; 2nd Edition (June 2, 2009)
  • Pages : 408 pages

16. World History: From the Ancient World to the Information Age

World History From the Ancient World to the Information Age

World History: From the Ancient World to the Information Age  by Phillip Parker takes a look at 350 of the world’s most valuable events. In this book, Parker discusses turning points in history, like: the creation of important inventions, the discovery of important theories, technological advances, and more. This book covers a wide range of years and places. And it does so in a readable way. There are fun facts included in this book, as well as colorful pictures. This is a wonderful read for history buffs, but it’s also great for those currently taking a history class. The information in this book is easy to learn. Students in world history classes will be ahead of schedule. Most anyone can read this book and gain a better understanding of world history.

  • Authors : Philip Parker (Author)
  • Publisher : DK; Slp Edition (October 3, 2017)
  • Pages : 416 pages

17. Advanced Placement World History: Modern

Advanced Placement World History Modern

Students of all ages need a reliable textbook when studying world history.  Advanced Placement World History  by Perfection Learning covers many AP world history topics. Young teens and high school students will thoroughly enjoy this book. The information in it is straight to the point and interesting. The language is easy to read, but not so easy that students won’t be challenged. Educators will be able to identify key units and concepts in this book for classes. And students who are taking AP World History but are not assigned this book can read it, too. This edition of the book was updated in 2020, so everything is accurate and appropriate for readers. This is a modern textbook with lots of great information.

  • Authors : Editors (Author)
  • Publisher : Perfection Learning (September 1, 2019)

18. Patterns of World History: Volume One

Patterns of World History Volume One To 1600 with Sources

Patterns of World History: Volume One  by Peter Von Sivers, Charles A. Desnoyers, and George B. Stow is a book full of history patterns that have repeated themselves. By studying the origins of various origins, interactions, and adaptations of the past, the authors discover patterns that have occurred in history. The common phrase, “History Repeats Itself,” doesn’t lie. However, each historical pattern has the opportunity to stop. The pattern must simply be identified, and then society can try and stop it. This is a wonderful book that helps people understand the historical patterns of the world, and how they are affecting the present.

  • Authors : Peter Von Sivers (Author), Charles A. Desnoyers (Author), George B. Stow (Author)
  • Publisher : Oxford University Press; 3rd Edition (September 1, 2017)
  • Pages : 792 pages

19. World History in Documents: A Comparative Reader

World History in Documents A Comparative Reader

World History in Documents: A Comparative Reader  by Peter N. Stearns is a book that teaches history through documents. There have been many historical documents in history that made a huge impact on society today. This is a wonderful book for college level history courses, or AP history courses in high school. Students will be able to accurately analyze the text of some of the world’s most important documents. This book is on its second edition. The first edition was released in 2003, and this edition was published in 2008. The documents in this book are great for survey classes. There are many interesting texts included in this book.

  • Authors : Peter N. Stearns (Author)
  • Publisher : NYU Press; 2nd Edition (April 15, 2008)
  • Pages : 640 pages

20. Inquiry-Based Lessons in World History: Early Humans to Global Expansion

Inquiry-Based Lessons in World History (Vol. 1) Early Humans to Global Expansion

History has many lessons. Some lessons simply acknowledge what happened and moving forward. Other lessons are there to teach the world to learn from their mistakes and not repeat them. This is the first volume in this book series, so it only covers a specific time period: 15,000 BCE to 1500 CE. There are many lesson plans included in this book. Teachers will appreciate the lessons in this book. These lessons are clear-cut, to the point, and great for high school students. There are thought-provoking lessons, plenty of resources, and great tasks for students. This is a fun history book that will really help teachers engage their students.

  • Authors : Jana Kirchner (Author), Andrew McMichael (Author)
  • Publisher : Prufrock Press (May 15, 2019)
  • Pages : 200 pages

Choosing the Best World History Books

These world history books don’t begin to cover the many historical events of the world, but they are a start. They are great reads that will help the world understand its history. Reading these books is the ultimate history lesson. By reading and engaging with these books, readers can find the parts of history they most like, and then learn more about it.

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world history book review

20 of the Best World History Books

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Caitlin Hobbs

Perpetually tired, Caitlin Hobbs somehow manages to avoid being taken by the Fae while simultaneously doing things that would attract their attention. It may be all the cats they keep around. Caitlin can usually be found dismantling ideas about what makes us human as a student in cultural anthropology, indexing archives and rare books, or writing a book of folklore retellings. You can contact them at [email protected] or on twitter as @caitlinthehob.

View All posts by Caitlin Hobbs

I like to joke sometimes that I was a history major in a past life. Or in the middle of the night, when I’m trying to go to sleep, thinking “what if I went back to school for a history degree? I know I literally just graduated with my bachelor’s, but still…” You know how it goes. History is one of my regular fixations, to where half my watchlists tend to be some PBS, Smithsonian, or BBC documentary covering some strange, little focused on part of world history. It’s fascinating to look back and see how far we’ve come as a species, while also seeing that we have barely changed at all. Humans have always been this ridiculous. We don’t have as many mummies as we should because people ate them . Sometimes as medicine, sometimes as just rich people being rich. People stopped being Catholic so they could drink their version of chocolatl , until Pope Alexander VII and said it, and other liquids, did not break their required fast. Graffiti covered the alleys of Pompeii , not unlike the stuff you would find in a bar’s restroom. Humans are just like this.

So I’m sharing some of my favorite world history books here. Some of them cover overall history of an area, or the overall history of us. Some of them put historical events side by side to make it easier to comprehend that a lot of this stuff was quite literally happening at the same time. Others are what I like to refer to as “domino history,” where you follow one item or idea throughout history and see the effect it has had, how one thing that seemed so insignificant and unrelated to everything else allowed empires to be built. Here. Read. Enjoy. Look how amazing we’ve been, how awful we’ve been, how the world around us was built to what we see today. These are definitely must reads.

book cover of Timeslines of History by DK

Timelines of History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to the Events That Shaped the World by DK

World history is often taught in chunks, with little perspective on how it fits into the grand scheme of things. It’s easier to teach, and to comprehend some, but also throws off the way we think about these events. For instance, Anne Frank and Martin Luther King Jr. were born the same year, and are five years younger than President Jimmy Carter. But all three of those individuals are affiliated with different historical periods. Pocahontas and Shakespeare were contemporaries. That’s where this book comes in. It lays out history from year to year (or century to century in some cases) and dictates the important events that happened, all the way up to the modern era, a period of time a lot of American history classes just don’t touch.

cover of the book set the world on fire by Keisha N Blain

Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom by Keisha Blain

It is pretty well known that women often are given a back seat in world history, or any type of history, especially Black women. Keisha Blain brings these women’s stories into the light, telling how they fought together across the world during the 19th and 20th centuries, for a cause that is usually attributed to more well known names like Garvey and DuBois. These working class women from multiple walks of life, around the world and through centuries, organizing workers and setting up protests, pushing for their freedom all while the world was trying to burn around them during the United State’s Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War.

book cover of the silk roads by peter frankopan

The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan

The Silk Roads were a vital part of the trade between the East and the West, connecting countries from Europe to those in the Middle East, Central Asia, all the way to China. It was massively important, with goods not just being traded along the route, but ideas as well, assisting in the spread of Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. This book traces the history of the countries along the Road, focusing our view of the world more towards the East, and how these regions ended up the way they are today. These areas were the crossroads of civilization, and played a part in history that is often ignored for a more Eurocentric view of history.

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book cover of salt by mark kurlansky

Salt: a World History by Mark Kurlansky

“I love you as much as meat loves salt.” Salt has played a huge role in human history, as can be seen in the sheer number of sayings we have that revolve around the concept of salt. It’s vital to our health, and a basic necessity to food, and is featured in several belief systems and folklore. Here, Matt Kurlansky traces salt through human history: the wars fought over it, when it was currency, laws placed during colonization, how it was fundamental to human survival due to the uses it has in food preservation. Although in some cases, like with the Egyptians, it was also useful in preserving corpses. And, for the adventurous in us, there are several recipes from previous eras that centered around the use of salt.

book cover of the brutish museums by dan hicks

The Brutish Museums by Dan Hicks

The museums of those who colonized are full of artifacts belonging to those who were colonized, artifacts that were stolen. In the United States, those artifacts likely belong to the Indigenous tribes, stolen along with the land, and are slowly being repatriated (though not without a fight) through laws like NAGPRA. In British museums, stolen artifacts are from all over, some stolen during massacres, like the Benin bronzes. As an anthropologist, this is a fact a lot of us in the field have had to reckon with, and acknowledge when talking about our history. Written by an insider, a museum curator, this book lays out the importance of repatriation after colonization, how we need to be more truthful about how some of these pieces came into our hands, and what needs to be done to make up for the past.

book cover of the history of the ancient world by susan wise bauer

The History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise Bauer

The first of three volumes in a series, this book covers what happened in the world from the very earliest accounts we have all the way to the fall of Rome. And I quite literally mean the world, going from Sumer to Europe to China and back, connecting historical events across the world the entire time. It’s not as in depth as other history books, but considering the scope of history it’s undertaking, that’s a bit understandable. But even with it not being as in depth as others, you still get a good understanding of what was happening across the world, assisted by numerous maps and timelines to help with visualizing where, when, and how everything was related. The next book in the series picks up where this one left off, covering Constantine to the First Crusade, and the third books covers the rediscovery of Aristotle to Constantinople’s Fall.

world history book review

The Fabric of Civilization by Virginia Postrel

This may sound like an exaggeration, but I’m being completely serious when I say this: we would not be where we are now was it not for the creation of fiber crafts, especially weaving. We would not have smart phones, we would not have been able to land multiple rovers on Mars, and we would not have some of the chemical understanding we have today. With this book, you can see why I can say that. It starts at the very beginning, from when we were first starting to spin and domesticate plants, following the strands (eh? eh???) of history to weaving and dyeing, and the inventions that followed, including arithmetic, binary, and entire empires being funded by this every day thing a lot of us probably don’t spend much time thinking about: fabric.

book cover of 1491 by charles mann

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann

I don’t know about y’all, but every depiction I had of what North America was like before it was colonized was distanced tribes living in untouched wilderness. Granted, I did grow up with Georgia’s education system, but still. It was blatantly false. Indigenous peoples actively sculpted the landscape to fit their needs, but in a more sustainable way than what we do know. This book points out and refutes every misconception people have about the Pre-Columbian era in North America, from technological inventions to scientific advancements to culture. In depth and thorough, it does an excellent job of showing just how complex these civilizations were prior to Columbus’s “discovery” of the Taíno peoples. Indigenous Americans played a larger role in world history than a lot of us realized.

book cover of the year without a summer

The Year Without a Summer by Nicholas P. Klingaman and William K. Klingaman

In 1816, there was a massive volcanic eruption in Indonesia that plunged most of the Northeastern United States and much of Europe into a weather pattern that effectively canceled summer for the year. Due to the near constant rain, frost, and snowfall throughout the year, it was referred to as 18-hundred-and-froze-to-death. The Klingamans show the dichotomy of what was happening in world history at the time, from the mass migrations to better climates, epidemics, famines, and food riots to the first novel of a new genre being written to fiery sunsets being painted, along with an illustration of what was likely the beginnings of the climate change crisis we’re in now.

cover of a history of the world in six glasses

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage

You can tell a lot about a person, and a culture, by the food they eat — and that includes their drinks. You can tell a lot about a species by the drinks that affect their history. Tom Standage has gone through our history — from Neolithic to the 21st century — and picked out the six drinks that have played the biggest role in our history: beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. Each drink played a role in shaping who we are, assisting in the rise of empires, the sharing of ideas, being a reason for colonization, or boosting the slave trade.

book cover of questioning collapse

Questioning Collapse Edited by Patricia A. McAnany and Norman Yoffee

I’m an anthropologist, which means that whenever someone mentions Jared Diamond to me, or recommends one of his books, my blood pressure spikes just a bit, or I get a bit of an eye twitch. I’m not alone . In fact, this book is a response to his book Collapse , and is full of essays from historians and anthropologists about how civilizations actually decline; that they usually don’t “collapse” the way people think, but rather adapt, and resilience is the the usual pattern of how things play out, as well as showing the problems with the outdated idea of environmental determinism and the inherent racial aspects of “success” and “failure.”

book cover of insurgent empire

Insurgent Empire by Priyamvada Gopal

This is the history of colonies fighting back. Specifically, the British colonies, the people of Africa, of the Caribbean, of India, and the people in London that supported their voices. These groups are often shown as victims of imperialism, but Priyamveda Gopal shows that they were more than that, that even while they were fighting against imperialism they were still helping the country that was oppressing them, creating lasting legacies. The book follows the intellectual movements that were building within the then-colonies, and pushes back against the constant idea of “they’re just a product of their time, they had the support of the people, it was thought of as okay.” Just a heads up with this one though, it is a little academic jargon heavy, and one I recommend reading in chunks.

cover of black marxism

Black Marxism by Cedric J. Robinson

A little dated, as it was initially published in 1983, this is still an excellent book that is necessary to read, especially if you have any interest in Marxist ideologies. Robinson points out that Marxist analyses are often based on European history and context, and tend to ignore how Black individuals have played as fighters in the resistance. He traces Black radicalism back to Africa and the fight Black communities have had in Western countries, as well as pulling in voices like W.E.B. Du Bois, C.L.R. James, and Richard Wright as support.

book covers of history's greatest lies

History’s Greatest Lies by William Weir

This book works to end the biggest game of Gossip that we’ve been playing with each other. Taking 15 historical myths that have been repeated so often that they’re taken as fact, Weir goes to the root of the myth, revealing the true story, and then usually the reason why it became so misconstrued (which was usually on purpose). He even points out important individuals that managed to escape consequences due to these myths. Each chapter in this book is dedicated to one popular myth, so you get plenty of information for the next time you are at a party and get the chance to be That Person (I’m usually That Person. It’s okay. Turn it into a cool learning experience for everyone.)

book cover of queer identities and politics in germany

Queer Identities and Politics in Germany: A History, 1880-1945 by Clayton J. Whisnant

Prior to the burning of Institut für Sexualwissenschaft by Nazis, Germany — especially Berlin — was the center of the queer social scene in Europe. It was the home of the first homosexual organizations and magazines, as well as an entire field based around the legitimate study of these identities and psychology. This book is written in a way that is accessible for everyone, and dictates the lives of the individuals at the time, from science to scandals. Just a warning, though: the book does go all the way to 1945, and being German history, this means that there is mention of Nazi persecution and concentration camps.

book cover of precolonial black africa

Precolonial Black Africa by Cheikh Anta Diop

The history of Africa prior to colonization isn’t extensively covered in world history classes. You may learn about Mansa Musa, perhaps a little about Egypt, especially where it intersects with Greece and Rome, but it’s more of a blip than anything. Granted, there’s a lot to cover in world history (especially for an underpaid public school teacher), but Africa had a rich history before Europe looked to exploit it for resources. That’s where this book comes in. Written by a Senegalese anthropologist and historian, it compares the social and political systems of African civilizations to those of contemporary Europe, showing just how much Africa truly contributed to the development of the world. A heads up on this one, however: it was published in 1960. Some of the words used then, like primitive, are not what we would use now when describing these societies and have a different connotation to us now.

book cover of the secret lives of color

The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair

A mix of science and history, this book weaves the stories of multiple colors through history, the significance they had in art, or war, or religion, or in health. Humans don’t have the best color vision out there, but it’s still nothing to sneeze at, and the colors we do see give us more information about an object than we realize. This book is a bit formidable, too; it’s hefty, and built pretty solidly. It’s well worth it, though. The cover and pages are gorgeous, and the book itself is full of diagrams of spectrums and graphs and, of course, color.

book cover of women in world history 1450 to present

Women in World History 1450 to Present by Bonnie G. Smith

Collecting over 500 years of history, this book traces the many roles women have filled, from slaves to soldiers to astronauts. Even without history focused on them, and sometimes ignoring them, women have played a constant role in history. Pulling on archival materials like oral histories, personal papers, religious teachings, and so many other forms of documentation, Smith puts together a story line of women’s history from the Renaissance to current times

book cover of indigo: from mummies to blue jeans

Indigo: Egyptian Mummies to Blue Jeans by Jenny Balfour-Paul

Indigo captivated the world, across cultures, and played a larger part in history than one would have expected. It helped foster the transatlantic slave trade, changed the way we dyed clothes, and was even used as medicine and played a part in religious ceremonies. Indigo changed agriculture, economics, chemistry, and became so important it was included in various folklores around the world. A culmination of 15 years of research, this history is paired with amazing photographs of indigo and the plant it comes from.

book cover of an indigenous people's history of the united states

An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

The history of the United States, of the American continents, doesn’t start with when Europeans first stepped onto the soil. That is where this book comes in. It covers Indigenous history from what life was like prior to colonization, the extensive trade routes and farming practices tribes had, and lays bare exactly what European settlers did after arriving, breaking down every myth students in the United States were told in school. This is absolutely an important book to read, especially right now as the Land Back movement gaining momentum and the water protectors pushing back against oil pipelines.

If you’re still looking to scratch that history itch, or if this has just started you down the rabbit hole, I recommend checking out our list of inclusive American history books , or maybe this list of historical nonfiction .

world history book review

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History Books » World History

Most recommended books.

world history book review

The Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis

“This book tells the fascinating story of Martin Guerre: a mysterious tale of imposture, love, and honour among sixteenth-century French peasants. It is a brilliant bit of historical detective work and a captivating read that plunges the reader deep into the world of the past.” Suzannah Lipscomb , Historian

world history book review

Vermeer's Hat: The seventeenth century and the dawn of the global world by Timothy Brook

“He chose the perspective of writing about some of Vermeer’s paintings, and taking a microscopic look at those paintings and the objects depicted in them. He then followed out from those objects to tell a story of the 16th and 17th centuries, especially 17th Century global history. Each chapter starts with a different object. There’s a beaver hat, there’s smoking, there’s the porcelain, there’s the Turkish carpets. It’s a book written for a wide audience.” Maxine Berg , Historian

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World history is an increasingly exciting subject for books. In a sign of the vitality of the field, it was a book of global history covering several millennia about the human history of the oceans—David Abulafia's The Boundless Sea —that won the UK's most prestigious prize, the Wolfson History Prize, in 2020. Books taking a more global, long-term perspective have also become bestsellers, like Sapiens , by the Israeli historian Yuval Harari, and The Silk Roads , by Oxford historian Peter Frankopan (now also available in an illustrated edition for kids/teenagers ).

The focus on greater diversity in publishing also bodes well for readers interested in learning the history of the world, as books about countries and peoples not previously given much attention are awarded prestigious prizes. Below, we’ve collected together all our books relating to world history themes, as well as all our interviews about the history of particular countries or regions (we also have specialist sections devoted to American history , British history , German history and Russian history ).

The best books on Global History , recommended by Maxine Berg

The best books on Global History - The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy by Kenneth Pomeranz

The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy by Kenneth Pomeranz

The best books on Global History - Cotton: the Fabric that made the Modern World by Giorgio Riello

Cotton: the Fabric that made the Modern World by Giorgio Riello

The best books on Global History - The City of Blue and White: Chinese Porcelain and the Early Modern World by Anne Gerritsen

The City of Blue and White: Chinese Porcelain and the Early Modern World by Anne Gerritsen

The best books on Global History - Vermeer's Hat: The seventeenth century and the dawn of the global world by Timothy Brook

Horizons: The Global Origins of Modern Science by James Poskett

From the Indian cottons that were traded around Asia and Africa in the Middle Ages, to the global dominance of the blue-and-white pottery of Jingdezhen, historian Maxine Berg introduces five books that transformed our understanding of the past millennium and are significant milestones in the development of the vibrant field of global history.

The best books on Global History , recommended by Felipe Fernández-Armesto

The best books on Global History - The Bible The New Oxford Annotated Bible

The Bible The New Oxford Annotated Bible

The best books on Global History - The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun

The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun

The best books on Global History - The Communist Manifesto by Friedrich Engels & Karl Marx

The Communist Manifesto by Friedrich Engels & Karl Marx

The best books on Global History - A Study of History by Arnold Toynbee

A Study of History by Arnold Toynbee

The best books on Global History - Science and Civilisation in China by Joseph Needham

Science and Civilisation in China by Joseph Needham

Embracing global history allows us to see humans with a much clearer perspective. Historian Felipe Fernández-Armesto introduces us to some of the trailblazing books in the field, starting in the 2nd century BCE.

The best books on Big History , recommended by Toby Ord

The best books on Big History - Maps of Time: An Introduction to Big History by David Christian

Maps of Time: An Introduction to Big History by David Christian

The best books on Big History - Origins: How The Earth Made Us by Lewis Dartnell

Origins: How The Earth Made Us by Lewis Dartnell

The best books on Big History - The Five Ages of the Universe: Inside the Physics of Eternity by Fred Adams & Gregory Laughlin

The Five Ages of the Universe: Inside the Physics of Eternity by Fred Adams & Gregory Laughlin

The best books on Big History - Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space by Carl Sagan

Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space by Carl Sagan

The best books on Big History - Diaspora by Greg Egan

Diaspora by Greg Egan

'Big history' looks at history on the timescale of the Earth and the universe, rather than just the short period of time that humanity has been around. Here, Toby Ord , a moral philosopher at Oxford University's Future of Humanity Institute, recommends books to get a handle on it, and explains why now is a critical time for Homo sapiens.

‘Big history’ looks at history on the timescale of the Earth and the universe, rather than just the short period of time that humanity has been around. Here, Toby Ord, a moral philosopher at Oxford University’s Future of Humanity Institute, recommends books to get a handle on it, and explains why now is a critical time for Homo sapiens.

The best books on Empires , recommended by Peter Fibiger Bang

The best books on Empires - The Roman Empire: Economy, Society and Culture by Peter Garnsey & Richard Saller

The Roman Empire: Economy, Society and Culture by Peter Garnsey & Richard Saller

The best books on Empires - The Crisis of Empire in Mughal North India, Awadh and Punjab, 1707-48 by Muzzafar Alam

The Crisis of Empire in Mughal North India, Awadh and Punjab, 1707-48 by Muzzafar Alam

The best books on Empires - A Translucent Mirror: History and Identity in Qing Imperial Ideology by Pamela Kyle Crossley

A Translucent Mirror: History and Identity in Qing Imperial Ideology by Pamela Kyle Crossley

The best books on Empires - Empire: The Russian Empire and its Rivals (from the 16th century to the present) by Dominic Lieven

Empire: The Russian Empire and its Rivals (from the 16th century to the present) by Dominic Lieven

The best books on Empires - The Birth of the Modern World 1780-1914 by C.A. Bayly

The Birth of the Modern World 1780-1914 by C.A. Bayly

Empires are a reflection of the fact some states are stronger than others and are by no means just a relic of the past, says Peter Fibiger Bang , historian of empire and world history at the University of Copenhagen. Here, he recommends books on a variety of empires, from the ancient Romans to the Mughal, Qing and Russian empires and explains what it is that made some empires so durable and resilient across the centuries.

Empires are a reflection of the fact some states are stronger than others and are by no means just a relic of the past, says Peter Fibiger Bang, historian of empire and world history at the University of Copenhagen. Here, he recommends books on a variety of empires, from the ancient Romans to the Mughal, Qing and Russian empires and explains what it is that made some empires so durable and resilient across the centuries.

Peter Frankopan on History

Peter Frankopan on History - Five Plays: Ivanov, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov

Five Plays: Ivanov, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov

Peter Frankopan on History - De Administrando Imperio by Constantine Porphyrogenitus

De Administrando Imperio by Constantine Porphyrogenitus

Peter Frankopan on History - The Alexiad by Anna Komnene

The Alexiad by Anna Komnene

Peter Frankopan on History - Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness: Arab Travellers in the Far North by Ibn Fadlan

Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness: Arab Travellers in the Far North by Ibn Fadlan

Peter Frankopan on History - Landscapes of Power by Caterina Franchi (Editor), Maximilian Lau (Editor) & Morgan Di Rodi (Editor)

Landscapes of Power by Caterina Franchi (Editor), Maximilian Lau (Editor) & Morgan Di Rodi (Editor)

What kind of books should we read to get a broader sense of history? Peter Frankopan ,  professor of global history at Oxford University, talks us through the books that inspired him.

What kind of books should we read to get a broader sense of history? Peter Frankopan,  professor of global history at Oxford University, talks us through the books that inspired him.

The Best History Books to Take on Holiday , recommended by Suzannah Lipscomb

The Best History Books to Take on Holiday - Elizabeth I by Helen Castor

Elizabeth I by Helen Castor

The Best History Books to Take on Holiday - King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild

King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild

The Best History Books to Take on Holiday - The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II by Edvard Radzinsky

The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II by Edvard Radzinsky

The Best History Books to Take on Holiday - Operation Thunderbolt by Saul David

Operation Thunderbolt by Saul David

The Best History Books to Take on Holiday - The Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis

Which history books are ideal to take on holiday, authoritative and yet entertaining? We turned to historian Suzannah Lipscomb —whose most recent book, The Voices of Nîmes , uncovers the lives of ordinary women in Languedoc in early modern France—for her top five.

Which history books are ideal to take on holiday, authoritative and yet entertaining? We turned to historian Suzannah Lipscomb—whose most recent book, The Voices of Nîmes , uncovers the lives of ordinary women in Languedoc in early modern France—for her top five.

The best books on Hidden History , recommended by Mike Dash

The best books on Hidden History - The Tailor-King by Anthony Arthur

The Tailor-King by Anthony Arthur

The best books on Hidden History - Marpingen: Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Bismarckian Germany by David Blackbourn

Marpingen: Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Bismarckian Germany by David Blackbourn

The best books on Hidden History - The Big Con by David W Maurer

The Big Con by David W Maurer

The best books on Hidden History - Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell

Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell

The best books on Hidden History - The Secret Lives of Trebitsch Lincoln by Bernard Wasserstein

The Secret Lives of Trebitsch Lincoln by Bernard Wasserstein

The best stories from history lie beyond the margins of textbooks, says Mike Dash . He tells us about five extraordinary tales from the past, from visions of the Virgin Mary to the golden age of American con artistry.

The best stories from history lie beyond the margins of textbooks, says Mike Dash. He tells us about five extraordinary tales from the past, from visions of the Virgin Mary to the golden age of American con artistry.

The best books on The Achaemenid Persian Empire , recommended by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

The best books on The Achaemenid Persian Empire - The Persian Empire by J M Cook

The Persian Empire by J M Cook

The best books on The Achaemenid Persian Empire - Discovering Cyrus: a Persian Conqueror Astride the Ancient World by Reza Zaghamee

Discovering Cyrus: a Persian Conqueror Astride the Ancient World by Reza Zaghamee

The best books on The Achaemenid Persian Empire - The Persian Empire: A Corpus of Sources from the Achaemenid Period by Amélie Kuhrt

The Persian Empire: A Corpus of Sources from the Achaemenid Period by Amélie Kuhrt

The best books on The Achaemenid Persian Empire - The Palace of Darius at Susa: The Great Royal Residence of Achaemenid Persia by Jean Perrot

The Palace of Darius at Susa: The Great Royal Residence of Achaemenid Persia by Jean Perrot

The best books on The Achaemenid Persian Empire - Creation by Gore Vidal

Creation by Gore Vidal

At the height of its greatness, the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the largest empire the world had ever known. Too often it is given merely a villainous walk-on part in the heroic history of classical Greece. Here, historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones explains why that needs correcting, looks at its cultural achievements and discusses why the first Persian empire is worth studying in its own right and on its own terms.

The best books on The Ghana, Mali and Songhai African Empires , recommended by Michael Gomez

The best books on The Ghana - Golden Trade of the Moors: West African Kingdoms in the Fourteenth Century by E.W. Bovill

Golden Trade of the Moors: West African Kingdoms in the Fourteenth Century by E.W. Bovill

The best books on The Ghana - Ancient Ghana and Mali by Nehemiah Levtzion

Ancient Ghana and Mali by Nehemiah Levtzion

The best books on The Ghana - Social History of Timbuktu: The Role of Muslim Scholars and Notables 1400-1900 by Elias Saad

Social History of Timbuktu: The Role of Muslim Scholars and Notables 1400-1900 by Elias Saad

The best books on The Ghana - Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples by David C. Conrad

Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples by David C. Conrad

The best books on The Ghana - Timbuktu and the Songhay Empire: Al-Sa'di's Ta'rikh Al-Sudan down to 1613 and Other Contemporary Documents by John Hunwick

Timbuktu and the Songhay Empire: Al-Sa'di's Ta'rikh Al-Sudan down to 1613 and Other Contemporary Documents by John Hunwick

Long before the Europeans arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries, sub-Saharan West Africa saw the emergence of a series of African empires that lasted for centuries and stretched over vast swathes of the continent. They were known as the Ghana, Mali and Songhai Empires. Here, historian Michael Gomez discusses what led to their greatness, what sustained them and why they fell.

The best books on Environmental History , recommended by John R McNeill

The best books on Environmental History - The Mortal Sea: Fishing the Atlantic in the Age of Sail by W. Jeffrey Bolster

The Mortal Sea: Fishing the Atlantic in the Age of Sail by W. Jeffrey Bolster

The best books on Environmental History - Plutopia: Nuclear Families, Atomic Cities, and the Great Soviet and American Plutonium Disasters by Kate Brown

Plutopia: Nuclear Families, Atomic Cities, and the Great Soviet and American Plutonium Disasters by Kate Brown

The best books on Environmental History - Ecological Imperialism by Alfred Crosby

Ecological Imperialism by Alfred Crosby

The best books on Environmental History - The Unending Frontier: An Environmental History of the Early Modern World by John F. Richards

The Unending Frontier: An Environmental History of the Early Modern World by John F. Richards

The best books on Environmental History - The Ecology of Oil: Environment, Labor, and the Mexican Revolution, 1900-1938 by Myrna I. Santiago

The Ecology of Oil: Environment, Labor, and the Mexican Revolution, 1900-1938 by Myrna I. Santiago

Environmental history is the study of the relationship between society and the natural world—both in terms of human impacts on the environment, and the constraints placed upon cultures by the landscapes they live in. Here, John R. McNeill, a pioneer of the field, recommends five of the best environmental history books with ambition, engaging prose, and heft.

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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PrepScholar

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 5 best ap world history books for practice and review.

Advanced Placement (AP)

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It's hard to know where to begin when studying for AP World History. Though the exam mainly covers broad themes and trends, there's so much information to sift through that it can be easy to get lost in the weeds. Review books can help guide your study plan, ensure that you revisit the most important concepts, and teach you critical test-taking strategies.

In this article, we'll go through the best books to use for studying AP World History and how you can choose one that will give you the tools you need to ace this test.

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What's in This Guide to the Best AP World History Books?

This is a list of the most helpful review books you can use to study for the AP World History exam and other assessments in class throughout the year. These books are meant to be used in conjunction with a high-quality textbook, so most of them are not stand-alone resources for self-studying ; however, some are more thorough than others.

For world history, review books can make the choice to either focus exclusively on the content you need to know for the AP exam (which is what most of them do), or go more in depth and market themselves as in-class study aids as well.

We'll list the books that are the most reliable resources for long-term and short-term studying as well as a couple you might consider buying as supplemental resources. We'll also give you specific pros and cons for each AP World History review book so you can make a more informed decision about which one will best fit your needs.

Note that with the big content changes to the AP World History test in 2020 , it's important that you find a book that's been updated as well. Unless otherwise noted, all these prep books have been updated to align with the new focus and content of the AP World History: Modern exam .

Now, let's get to the books! We've divided the top AP World History review books into the following categories:

  • Best Overall Review Book
  • Best Book for Short-Term Review
  • Best Book for Long-Term Review
  • Best Supplemental Books

Best Overall AP World History Review Book

The princeton review's cracking the ap world history: modern exam, 2020 premium edition.

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Price: About $16.50

  • Focuses on larger trends and themes rather than small, superfluous details; tells you about only the essential stuff you need to know for the test
  • Easy to follow and written in a conversational style
  • Six full-length AP practice tests, with analytical multiple-choice questions that closely model official materials
  • Good tips for designing your study plan and for taking the AP World History test
  • Not quite detailed enough to use for self-studying
  • While updated for the new exam format, doesn't contain all course updates introduced in summer 2020 (most of these are minor, though, and have to do with learning objectives)

We consider this book to be the best overall resource for AP World History because you can make it work for you no matter what your study timeline or score goals are. It doesn't go overboard in the information it provides, but it also isn't so sparse that it's only useful for a quick review of the test.

The practice tests included are really good quality, with questions that accurately reflect the difficulty level of the AP exam. Its engaging writing style combined with a focus on key themes and overall chronology of events make this a great resource for almost any student.

Best AP World History Book for Short-Term Review

Rea's ap world history: modern crash course, revised 3rd edition.

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Price: About $13

  • Really good for a quick content review in the weeks before the test
  • Great test-taking tips
  • Contains only the information you need to know for the exam
  • Chapters are written in easy-to-digest outline form
  • Has just one full-length practice test, which is only available online (not in the book itself)
  • Can't be used to review for in-class tests and assignments or self-study without having to supplement with a textbook

This book is called "crash course" for a reason: it's made for those of you who've waited until the last minute to start studying. This newest edition covers everything you'll need to know for the AP World History test and does not mess around with any extra unnecessary details.

Many students find the Crash Course series—including previous versions of the AP World History guide—to be helpful refreshers that are useful even as late as a week before the AP exam.

Best AP World History Book for Long-Term Review

Barron's ap world history: modern premium, 10th edition.

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Price: About $15

  • Good tips for free-response questions (and sample essays !)
  • Very thorough in its coverage of information
  • Connects all the themes of the course to the events in each historical era
  • Five full-length exams (two in the book, three online) with answer explanations
  • Too much material to use for short-term AP review; it's more textbook than review book
  • Overall dry, academic writing style that might make it hard to engage with the material
  • No shorter practice tests or quizzes at the end of each section for review
  • Some practice questions might be more challenging than exam questions

As is the norm with Barron's books, this recently released AP World History review book is a dense, highly detailed look at the course material that goes a bit overboard in its capacity as a "review book."

If you get it a few weeks before the AP test in the hopes of quickly going over everything you need to know, you're going to be overwhelmed. Only buy this book if you plan to use it for a couple of months to prepare for the AP test or as a self-study resource that you'll use throughout the course.

This Barron's World History book is also for intense students who are genuinely very interested in the subject and would like to review content in more depth. If you have trouble paying attention to textbooks because of their dull writing style and are looking for something more student-friendly to keep you awake, you should probably get one of the first two books on this list instead.

Looking for help studying for your AP exam?

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Best Supplemental AP World History Books

In this section, we give you two extra AP World History review books that you can use to further supplement your learning and the other books on this list.

McGraw-Hill's 5 Steps to a 5: AP World History: Modern, 2022 Edition

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Price: About $16

Comes with access to McGraw-Hill Education's interactive AP Planner app, which gives you a customizable study schedule on your mobile device

  • Updated to cover the most recent test content 
  • Four complete practice exams (two in the book and two online)
  • A few different sample study plans to choose from to guide your studying
  • Helpful charts that summarize each unit
  • Short and more digestible than other review books
  • Contains way too much information that won't even appear on the new World History exam (for example, you don't need to study pages upon pages of ancient history when the AP test now has an exclusively modern focus!)
  • Not detailed enough to use to study for assignments throughout the year
  • Two practice tests are on the computer, which isn't how you'll take the real AP exam
  • Doesn't completely align with the new exam format and unit structure

This book falls between The Princeton Review and Crash Course regarding its level of detail in that it's easy to grasp and has a decent amount of practice materials . If you need more sample questions and want a book that gives you a straightforward, step-by-step study process, 5 Steps to a 5 is a nice resource to have.

Kaplan's AP World History: Modern Prep Plus 2020 & 2021

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Price: About $23

  • Five full practice tests and an online scoring tool you can use to convert your raw scores to a final AP score on the 1-5 scale
  • Short pre- and post-chapter quizzes to test your knowledge and help you review
  • Online quizzes for additional practice
  • Assuming the questions in this guide are similar to what's been in previous versions, they're likely on the easier side and aren't as challenging as those on the real exam

Kaplan is a big name in test prep, and this book is comparable to that by The Princeton Review and Barron's—it's just slightly less impressive. In the past, Kaplan's World History books have suffered from poorly worded answer explanations and out-of-date information. This edition seems to rectify these mistakes–customer reviews are generally good so far!

Which AP World History Book Should You Get?

All these AP World History books are helpful in their own ways. We'd recommend starting with one of the first three, ideally whichever one aligns best with your time limits and style of learning. The Princeton Review book should be a good fit for a wide variety of students. If you have a month or two to study and are looking for a one-size-fits-all accessible guide to the test, you should go with that one.

The Crash Course book is better if you're short on time and just need a way to review all the key concepts quickly and efficiently. This is the best option if you only have a week or two until the AP exam or are looking for a book that just outlines the most essential concepts.

Barron's is best for self-study throughout the school year or review over the course of a few months. If you're an intense student and want a book you can use during the year to study for both in-class assessments and the AP test, Barron's will be the ideal option for you.

If you get one of the first three books and run out of practice materials or aren't a fan of the way the information is presented, you can go ahead and try one of the supplementary resources . Just be aware of the limitations these two books have in terms of their content and accuracy.

body_nextsteps

What's Next?

Need more practice materials for AP World History? Check out these links to every AP World History practice test available online and then look at these amazing DBQ examples .

You don't necessarily need to buy a review book to get some great study tips. Read our list of six key strategies for doing well on the AP World History exam .

When do you actually have to get yourself in gear and start studying for AP tests? Find out when to begin studying for your AP exams based on your goals .

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A WORLD HISTORY

by William H. McNeill ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 27, 1967

William H. McNeill's The Rise of the West is perhaps the most lucid and intelligent one-volume presentation of world history in narrative form ever written. Winner of the National Book Award in History and Biography in 1964, it is surely one of the most scholarly and exciting histories of our times. The reader expecting something dramatically new in McNeill's A World History will be disappointed. It is little more than a condensation of the larger history, written in slightly simpler language. In The Rise of the West the author divided history into three eras: Middle Eastern dominance to 500 B.C., Eurasian cultural balance to 1500 A.D., and the era of Western dominance to the present. His central thesis was that the civilizations of mankind had important interrelations at every stage of their history. He says exactly the same thing in the new book: "Such a survey as this ought to bring home the uncertainty and open-endedness of cultural interactions between Western and non-Western mankind. (In mankind's future) there will surely be blending and intermingling of cultures, as there has always been in the past when men of divergent styles of life met and mingled." Although it is completely re-written, A World History is chapter for chapter a simplified parallel to The Rise of the West. Not having the benefit of pertinent front matter, this reader can only assume that the new version is intended as a student text or as a "reading" edition for those incapable of dealing with the original. One wonders why anyone needs A World History when the complete text of The Rise of the West is available in paper for only a dollar and a half.

Pub Date: April 27, 1967

ISBN: 019511616X

Page Count: 668

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: May 21, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1967

HISTORY | WORLD | GENERAL HISTORY

Share your opinion of this book

More by William H. McNeill

THE GREAT FRONTIER

BOOK REVIEW

by William H. McNeill

THE PURSUIT OF POWER

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KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

The osage murders and the birth of the fbi.

by David Grann ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 18, 2017

Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.

Greed, depravity, and serial murder in 1920s Oklahoma.

During that time, enrolled members of the Osage Indian nation were among the wealthiest people per capita in the world. The rich oil fields beneath their reservation brought millions of dollars into the tribe annually, distributed to tribal members holding "headrights" that could not be bought or sold but only inherited. This vast wealth attracted the attention of unscrupulous whites who found ways to divert it to themselves by marrying Osage women or by having Osage declared legally incompetent so the whites could fleece them through the administration of their estates. For some, however, these deceptive tactics were not enough, and a plague of violent death—by shooting, poison, orchestrated automobile accident, and bombing—began to decimate the Osage in what they came to call the "Reign of Terror." Corrupt and incompetent law enforcement and judicial systems ensured that the perpetrators were never found or punished until the young J. Edgar Hoover saw cracking these cases as a means of burnishing the reputation of the newly professionalized FBI. Bestselling New Yorker staff writer Grann ( The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession , 2010, etc.) follows Special Agent Tom White and his assistants as they track the killers of one extended Osage family through a closed local culture of greed, bigotry, and lies in pursuit of protection for the survivors and justice for the dead. But he doesn't stop there; relying almost entirely on primary and unpublished sources, the author goes on to expose a web of conspiracy and corruption that extended far wider than even the FBI ever suspected. This page-turner surges forward with the pacing of a true-crime thriller, elevated by Grann's crisp and evocative prose and enhanced by dozens of period photographs.

Pub Date: April 18, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-385-53424-6

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017

GENERAL HISTORY | TRUE CRIME | UNITED STATES | FIRST/NATIVE NATIONS | HISTORY

More by David Grann

THE <i>WAGER</i>

by David Grann

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

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Brendan Fraser Joins Cast of ‘Flower Moon’ Film

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Oct. 20 Release For 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

by Elie Wiesel & translated by Marion Wiesel ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 16, 2006

The author's youthfulness helps to assure the inevitable comparison with the Anne Frank diary although over and above the...

Elie Wiesel spent his early years in a small Transylvanian town as one of four children. 

He was the only one of the family to survive what Francois Maurois, in his introduction, calls the "human holocaust" of the persecution of the Jews, which began with the restrictions, the singularization of the yellow star, the enclosure within the ghetto, and went on to the mass deportations to the ovens of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. There are unforgettable and horrifying scenes here in this spare and sombre memoir of this experience of the hanging of a child, of his first farewell with his father who leaves him an inheritance of a knife and a spoon, and of his last goodbye at Buchenwald his father's corpse is already cold let alone the long months of survival under unconscionable conditions. 

Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2006

ISBN: 0374500010

Page Count: 120

Publisher: Hill & Wang

Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2006

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | HOLOCAUST | HISTORY | GENERAL BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR | GENERAL HISTORY

More by Elie Wiesel

FILLED WITH FIRE AND LIGHT

by Elie Wiesel ; edited by Alan Rosen

THE TALE OF A NIGGUN

by Elie Wiesel ; illustrated by Mark Podwal

NIGHT

by Elie Wiesel ; translated by Marion Wiesel

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., guide to the ap world history exam.

AP World History Exam

The AP ®  World History: Modern exam covers historical developments from c 1200 to the present. It will test topics and skills discussed in your Advanced Placement World History: Modern course.  If you score high enough, your AP score could earn you college credit !

Check out our AP World History Guide for what you need to know about the exam:

  • AP World History: Modern Exam Overview
  • AP World History: Modern Question Types
  • AP World History: Modern Scoring
  • How to Prepare

AP World History Exam Overview

The AP World History: Modern exam takes 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete and is composed of: a multiple-choice, short answer, and free response section.

AP World History Question Types

Multiple-choice.

AP World History: Modern multiple-choice questions are grouped into sets of usually 3-4 questions. They are based on primary or secondary sources, including excerpts from historical documents or writings, images, graphs, and maps. This section will test your ability to analyze and engage with the source materials while recalling what you already know about world history.

Short Answer

The AP World History: Modern short answer questions require you to respond to a secondary source for Question 1 and a primary source for Question 2, both focusing on historical developments between 1200 and 2001. Students will choose between two options (Questions 3 or 4) for the final required short-answer question, each one focusing on a different time periods of 1200 to 1750 and 1750 to 2001.

For all short answer questions, you’ll be asked to:

  • Analyze the provided sources
  • Analyze historical developments and processes described in the sources
  • Put those historical developments and processes in context
  • Make connections between those historical developments and processes

Document-Based Question (DBQ)

The AP World History: Modern DBQ presents a prompt and seven historical documents that are intended to show the complexity of a particular historical issue between the years 1450 and 2001. You will need to develop an argument that responds to the prompt and support that argument with evidence from both the documents and your own knowledge of world history. To earn the best score, you should incorporate outside knowledge and be able to relate the issues discussed in the documents to a larger theme, issue, or time period.

Long Essay Question

The AP World History: Modern Long Essay Question presents three questions and you have to choose one to answer.    All questions will test the same skills but will focus on different historical periods (i.e., from c. 1200–1750, from c. 1450–1900, or from c. 1750–2001). Similar to the DBQ, you will need to develop and support an answer to the question you picked based on historical evidence to earn the best score possible.

For a comprehensive content review, check out our book,  AP World History Prep

AP World History Review

The College Board is very detailed in what they require your AP teacher to cover in his or her AP World History course. They explain that you should be familiar with world history events from the following nine units that fall within four major time periods from 1200 to the present.

Read More: Review for the exam with our AP World History Cram Courses

AP scores are reported from 1 to 5. Here’s how students scored on  AP World History exam in May 2020:

Source: College Board

How can I prepare?

AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP World History: Modern content and strategy, pick the AP prep option that works best for your goals and learning style.  You can also check out our AP World History: Modern test prep book here .

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AP World History Review Book 2021-2022: Study Guide with Practice Test Questions for the Advanced Placement Exam

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AP World History Review Book 2021-2022: Study Guide with Practice Test Questions for the Advanced Placement Exam

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Updated for 2021, Accepted, Inc.’s unofficial AP World History Review Book 2021–2022: Study Guide with Practice Test Questions for the Advanced Placement Exam isn't like other study guides! Because we know you value your time, our unofficial study guide includes a quick yet full review of everything on the test with real examples, graphics, and information. Accepted, Inc.’s NEW AP World History Review Book 2021–2022 gives you the edge you need to score higher and pass the first time .

The College Board was not involved in the creation or production of this product, is not in any way affiliated with Accepted, Inc., and does not sponsor or endorse this product.

Accepted, Inc.’s AP World History Review Book 2021–2022 offers:

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  • ISBN-10 1635309816
  • ISBN-13 978-1635309812
  • Publication date January 5, 2021
  • Language English
  • Dimensions 8.5 x 0.44 x 11 inches
  • Print length 194 pages
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  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Accepted, Inc. (January 5, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 194 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1635309816
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1635309812
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.03 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.44 x 11 inches
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The Opium Poppy Gets Star Billing in a New History

In “Smoke and Ashes,” Amitav Ghosh sources the colonial roots of a crisis.

  • Share full article

In a painted illustration, two men, both shirtless and wearing draped dhotis around their waists, carry a large brown box suspended from a wooden pole. Letters on the box spell out “Patna Opium.”

By Delia Falconer

Delia Falconer is an Australian novelist and essayist.

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SMOKE AND ASHES: Opium’s Hidden Histories , by Amitav Ghosh

Biographies of humble things that their authors claimed had “changed the world” — chronometers, salt, potatoes and even the color mauve — were a turn-of-the-21st-century publishing phenomenon. Looking back, they seem fixated on European heroes and their achievements. As Amitav Ghosh observes at the beginning of his bracing new history of the global opium trade, it’s hard to see past a Western conception of the world that “looms so large that it obscures everything else.”

“Smoke and Ashes” arose from the research Ghosh undertook for his best-selling Ibis trilogy of historical novels. But it takes its place more urgently as what might be called the third volume of a nonfiction “Anthropocene” trilogy. Like “The Great Derangement” and “The Nutmeg’s Curse,” historical-philosophical parables about climate change and the East Indies spice trade, “Smoke and Ashes” steers the “object biography” on a corrected course away from the West. It finds the seeds of today’s global opium crisis in colonial strategy — and free trade — in the East.

Ghosh begins his investigation with tea. By the 18th century, England had come to regard the thousand-year-old Chinese beverage as its unofficial national drink, to the extent that an act of Parliament required the monopoly-holding East India Company to keep a year’s supply in stock. Customs duties on tea — of up to 125 percent — amounted to nearly a tenth of Britain’s revenue, bankrolling its wars. Yet China required little from Britain apart from payment in silver, which the nation found increasingly inconvenient to source. Britain realized it could solve this “balance of trade problem” by increasing its Indian colonies’ “small but brisk” opium trade.

The “Opium Department” took control of the details of the business, especially in the East, forcing more than a million peasant households to plant a white opium poppy monoculture. At one end of this continuum of stable production and supply was a sophisticated bureaucracy of informants and strict quotas; on the other were fortresslike factories.

Although China had partially enforced a ban on opium importation since 1729, heavily guarded ships took the product from the Ghazipur and Patna factories to Calcutta, where it was auctioned to “private traders,” transported on their ships to the Pearl River and sold to Chinese smugglers. After the two Opium Wars that ultimately demolished Chinese resistance, foreign merchants would appropriate an island in Canton (what European traders called Guangzhou) as their center of operations, from which Chinese people and Chinese rule of law were excluded.

One measure of the trade’s sheer scale is the number of famous authors who pop up in Ghosh’s pages. There is Orwell (born in Bihar, where his father was a sub-deputy opium agent), Kipling (spotted touring a factory), Dickens (pro-opium trade) and Tagore (against). Ghosh’s own ancestors probably settled in Chapra to work with opium accounts written in Bengali. Many notable American fortunes were also built on opium. Men with the right family connections could amass astonishing sums in China within a few years. Back home, these “Canton graduates” would whitewash their avarice in genteel silence and condemn the “depravity” of Chinese appetites.

Ghosh’s tentacular history also embraces opium’s entanglement with furniture, architecture, gardens and its role in modern wars. His forensic analysis of opium-factory paintings is particularly fascinating.

But it’s Ghosh’s big-picture thinking that has made his nonfiction so influential. The West didn’t invent the opium trade, he writes. Instead — as with the Atlantic coast traffic in human beings — it took a pre-existing practice and expanded it exponentially to perfect “the model of the colonial narco-state.”

These structural inequalities continue today. Eastern India is poorer than the west, which held out for longer against complete British control. Hierarchies of caste and ethnicity still organize much of India’s tea industry. Companies that marketed opioids aggressively dust off the colonial “template” of “depravity,” blaming addicts as “weak-natured and naturally disposed to vice.”

It won’t surprise readers of Ghosh’s earlier nonfiction that he gives the opium poppy star billing as a “historical force in its own right” here. Papaver somniferum is a “sort of independent biological imperial agent,” he writes, that uses humans to “spin off new and more potent versions of itself.”

This isn’t anthropomorphism. By refusing to treat opium (or the planet, or nutmeg) as inert matter, Ghosh is resisting the mechanistic mind-set, dating from the violence of colonial conquest, which reduces our complex world to resources for human use.

In “The Great Derangement,” Ghosh’s invocation of a “vitally, even dangerously alive” planet was galvanizing. In “Smoke and Ashes,” his endowment of opium with agency — even synthetic forms like fentanyl — feels less developed. Yet it’s a small glitch in the context of the huge achievement of his greater project, which is to expose the long history of “racial capitalism” that has brought us to the fix we’re in.

SMOKE AND ASHES : Opium’s Hidden Histories | By Amitav Ghosh | Farrar, Straus & Giroux | 319 pp. | $32

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For people of all ages in Pasadena, Calif., Vroman’s Bookstore, founded in 1894, has been a mainstay in a world of rapid change. Now, its longtime owner says he’s ready to turn over the reins .

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Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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A compass belonging to the cargo ship Gairsoppa

In brief: A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks; Red Side Story; The Shadows of London – review

David Gibbins on the secrets revealed by sunken ships, Jasper Fforde’s enjoyable a novel about a world ruled by colour and another enjoyable historical romp from Andrew Taylor

A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks

David Gibbins Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £25, pp304

For most travellers at sea, a shipwreck is something terrifying, a riot of noise and confusion and destruction that often results in the loss of life. Yet David Gibbins’s fascinating exploration of historic shipwrecks reveals that there is more to them than simple tragedy. Detailing everything from the exploits of prehistoric sea traders to the heroic actions of those on board the second world war cargo ship Gairsoppa , Gibbins conveys unimaginable courage in tales of people pushing beyond their reach and leaving a valuable legacy.

Red Side Story

Jasper Fforde Hodder & Stoughton, £20, pp384

Fforde is one of modern literature’s most reliably enjoyable visionaries, and his long-awaited Shades of Grey sequel will be eagerly seized upon by his admirers. Set in a futuristic Britain after a mysterious but seismic event, Red Side Story depicts a world in which awareness of colour dictates people’s place in society, much to the dismay of the book’s heroes, Eddie Russett and Jane Grey, who seek to escape the bounds of this colour-coordinated universe. The jokes are excellent, the pacing breathless and the last line a classic.

The Shadows of London

Andrew Taylor Hemlock Press, £9.99, pp467 (paperback)

The sixth in Taylor’s thoroughly gripping series of Restoration-era mystery novels takes the action up to 1671, as James Marwood and Cat Lovett find themselves involved in the discovery of a corpse at an almshouse. As usual with these stories, the body leads to a wider conspiracy. Taylor has an almost outrageous amount of fun marshalling his conniving characters through 17th-century London, not least whenever his splendidly hissable antagonist the Duke of Buckingham reappears. And Cat, as ever, remains one of crime fiction’s most likably indomitable heroines.

To order A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks , Red Side Story or The Shadows of London go to guardianbookshop.com . Delivery charges may apply

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Presidential rankings by academics place Obama, Biden above Reagan, Trump

The top place went to lincoln, but this year there was a new runner-up.

Samuel Benson

Michelle Budge, Deseret News / Source: Josue Aguazia on Unsplash

A new survey of over 150 scholars offered their take on the greatest U.S. president ever. Their choice? Abraham Lincoln.

The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey , commissioned by a pair of political scientists from the University of Houston and Coastal Carolina University, asked 154 political scientists and other experts to rate each U.S. president on a scale of 0 to 100 for their overall “greatness.” The totals for each president were averaged then ranked.

Lincoln finished first, with an average rating of 93.87; Franklin Delano Roosevelt finished second (90.83); George Washington, third (90.32). Teddy Roosevelt (78.58) and Thomas Jefferson (77.53) rounded out the top five.

When defining “greatness,” scholars think beyond what they view as a “good” president, said Justin Vaughn, a professor of political science at Coastal Carolina and one of the survey’s organizers. “A great president is one who expanded the institution of the president, who presided over a growth in American power or who led the country through a crisis — those types of things,” Vaughn said. “It goes beyond whether or not you agreed with the president’s politics, or whether or not you think he was ‘good.’”

When offering their ratings, the scholars were given no instructions, other than to give them a numerical rating for their “overall greatness.” Rounding out the top 10 were Harry Truman (75.34), Barack Obama (73.8), Dwight Eisenhower (73.73), Lyndon B. Johnson (72.86) and John F. Kennedy (68.37).

President Joe Biden (62.66) was ranked the 14th greatest president, while Ronald Reagan (61.62) ranked 16th. Other recent presidents didn’t fare as well, with George H.W. Bush (58.54) in 19th place, and his son George W. Bush (40.43) 32nd.

The lowest-ranked president was Donald Trump (10.92).

  • These are the best modern presidents, according to Republicans and Democrats
  • What Abraham Lincoln said about choosing hope in dark times

This is the third iteration of the Presidential Greatness Project survey, with previous studies conducted in 2015 and 2018. There is consistency through many of the results, though there were a handful of significant changes.

In this survey, Franklin D. Roosevelt overtook Washington for the No. 2 spot. Ulysses S. Grant climbed from No. 28 in 2015, to No. 17 in 2024. Andrew Jackson fell from No. 9 in 2015 to No. 21 in 2024. 

As part of the survey, respondents were asked to identify ideologically (conservative, moderate or liberal) and politically (Republican, Democrat or independent). Responses across ideological and political lines are fairly consistent — self-described Republicans and Democrats have almost-identical top-fives, though Republicans chose Reagan for the fifth slot and Democrats chose Jefferson.

The most significant political differences are apparent when viewing recent presidents. “While there’s very little disagreement about Lincoln,” Vaughn noted, “there’s lots about Joe Biden or Obama or George H.W. Bush or Reagan.” For example, self-described conservatives rank George H.W. Bush ninth; liberals rank him 20th.

In addition to asking respondents to rate each president’s greatness, they also asked them which should be the next president added to Mount Rushmore. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first choice by a wide margin, with over 65% of respondents choosing him. The next closest? Obama (11%), followed by Eisenhower, James Madison and Kennedy (4% each).

Scholars were also given the open-ended question: How do you define greatness? Vaughn said he’s noticed some changes in recent years in responses to this question. The line between what makes a great president and a good one is being slightly blurred, Vaughn said. “They are thinking about norms of the office, respect for the presidency, democratic norms,” Vaughn said. “They are starting to conflate ‘good’ and ‘great.’”

Vaughn noted this may be a result of the “moment of incredible political tension,” in which we live. “It’s not a reflection of theoretical evolution of how we perceive presidents,” he said. “It’s a reflection of how strongly people perceive the stakes to be at this moment in time, and that seeps into how we view anything related to politics.”

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Author Interviews

How the art world excludes you and what you can do about it.

Elizabeth Blair 2018 square

Elizabeth Blair

world history book review

In her new book Get the Picture, journalist Bianca Bosker explores why connecting with art sometimes feels harder than it has to be. Above, a visitor takes in paintings at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London in 2010. Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images hide caption

In her new book Get the Picture, journalist Bianca Bosker explores why connecting with art sometimes feels harder than it has to be. Above, a visitor takes in paintings at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London in 2010.

When Bianca Bosker told people in the art world she'd be writing a tell-all about their confounding, exclusive ecosystem, "bad idea," they responded.

"They didn't come right out and threaten my safety or anything," she writes in Get the Picture , "My reputation, well-being, and livelihood as a journalist —that, however, was another story." Judging from the book's recent reviews , she need not worry too much.

Bosker's motivation for writing the book was partly frustration. "I didn't know how to have a meaningful experience of art and that bothered me," she tells me, "But also like I think the art fiends that I got to know, it's not just that they look at art differently. They behave sort of like they've accessed this trapdoor in their brains and I envied that."

Get the Picture by Bianca Bosker

Other journalists might have relied on research and interviews. Bosker went gonzo. She spent five years immersed in the New York art scene, working as a gallery assistant and helping artists in their studios. After getting a license to be a security guard with the state of New York, she got a guard job at the Guggenheim.

Bosker didn't necessarily set out to write a takedown of the art world, though the result is pretty much just that. She writes about the time a performance artist sat on her face. And recounts a conversation with a dealer who said her mere presence (he didn't like her clothes) was "lowering my coolness." It's unvarnished, awkward and eye-opening.

Borderline hostile

"Working at galleries, I became initiated into the way that the art world wields strategic snobbery to keep people out. And I think it's deliberate and I think it's unnecessary," says Bosker.

Take the wall texts you often see at art museums. While they might be well-intentioned, Bosker believes they're part of an over-emphasis on context .

"For the last 100 years or so, we've been told that what really matters about an artwork is the idea behind it." Bosker says that "art connoisseurs" were very interested in "where an artist went to school, who owns her work, what gallery had shown it, who he slept with" and was surprised by "how little [time they] actually spent discussing the work itself."

Of those wall labels, "I thought they were annoying, like borderline hostile ... they just drove me crazy."

At a recent visit to the Guggenheim, we saw one that included the phrase:

"...practice explores the liminal spaces of human consciousness..."

Bosker shudders. "If I had a dollar for every time someone in the art world used the word 'liminal,'" she laughs. One artist she worked with told her, "'Reading the wall labels is like you're trying to have a conversation with the artwork, but someone keeps interrupting.'"

As a museum guard, Bosker occasionally took the matter into her own hands.

"I would actually try and stand in front of the wall labels so that people wouldn't just fall back on the approved interpretations. They would challenge themselves and really wrestle with their own eye, which is so strong," she says.

Small galleries deliberately keep out the 'schmoes '

If museums make some people feel unwelcome, Bosker learned that small, contemporary art galleries can be even worse. One that we visited in downtown Manhattan was hard to find. That's typical, Bosker explains.

She says a lot of galleries "deliberately ... hide themselves from the general public ... I worked for someone who referred to general public as 'Joe Schmoes' and I think there are a lot of ways to keep out the schmoes, and where you put your gallery is a big one."

Now, to be fair, those galleries are in the business of selling art.

world history book review

Gallery owner Robert Dimin likes that Bianca Bosker is unmasking "our opaque art world" with her new book Get the Picture . DIMIN hide caption

Rob Dimin, another gallery owner Bosker worked for, does not refer to the general public as "schmoes" but he does like that his new gallery is tucked away. It's on the second floor of a building with just a small plaque by the entrance.

Dimin's last gallery was a storefront. "You [were] more likely to get people that had no intention or idea about the art or really interested in the art, just maybe kind of stumbling in," he says, "There [were] moments when we were on the street level that people would come in and just have phone conversations on rainy days because it was an open space."

People walking into a gallery to get out of the rain aren't usually interested in buying art. But Dimin admits that the art world is "opaque" and he's glad Bosker is unmasking it. There are parts of it even he doesn't understand.

"Even as an art dealer, it sometimes is confusing," he says, "Like, why is X, Y and Z artists getting acquired by every museum and having these museum shows? What is challenging for a person like me who's been in this business for 10 years, I can only imagine a person not within the industry having more challenges."

How to have a meaningful experience with art

Intentionally confusing, elitist, cloistered. While Bosker's new book likens the art world to a "country club," she says her feelings about art itself haven't been diminished.

"Seeing artists in their studios agonize over the correct color blue, over ... the physics of making something stick, lay and stay, really convinced me that everything we need to have a meaningful experience with art is right in front of us," says Bosker.

world history book review

Bianca Bosker takes a close look at a work by Julianne Swartz at the gallery Bienvenu Steinberg & J in New York. Bosker says it's OK to "walk around a sculpture ... just don't touch it." Elizabeth Blair/NPR hide caption

Bianca Bosker takes a close look at a work by Julianne Swartz at the gallery Bienvenu Steinberg & J in New York. Bosker says it's OK to "walk around a sculpture ... just don't touch it."

Here are a few tips she has for readers looking to evade the snobbery:

"My philosophy had always been when I went to a museum ... a scorched earth approach to viewing. I was like, 'You have to see everything. That is how you get your money's worth.'" Bosker says "museum fatigue" is real and compares it to eating everything at an all you can eat buffet. "No wonder you feel a little ill at the end of it."

"If you find one work and you just spend your entire half hour, hour, hour and a half at that piece, you've done it. And I think that that can be oftentimes an even more meaningful experience."

Find five things

Don't 'get' art? You might be looking at it wrong

Don't 'get' art? You might be looking at it wrong

"An artist that I spent time with encouraged me to, in front of an artwork, challenge yourself to notice five things. And those five things don't have to be grandiose, like: 'This is a commentary on masculinity in the Internet age.' It could just be, you know, like this yellow makes me want to touch it." Taking the time to notice those things will help viewers think about the choices an artist has made, Bosker believes.

"I think being around art ultimately helps us widen and expand our definition of what beauty is. And I think beauty ... is that moment when our mind jumps the curb. It can feel uncomfortable, but it also is something that draws us to it. ... It's something that all of us need more of in our life. And art can be the gateway to finding more of it. It doesn't have to happen with the traditionally beautiful artwork."

Get as close to the source as possible

"What we see when we go to a museum is not necessarily the best that culture has to offer. ... It's the result of many decisions by flawed human beings. And one way to get around that is to widen your horizons. ... Go to see art at art schools, go see art at the gallery in a garage and just kind of go close to the source."

This story was edited for audio and digital by Rose Friedman. The web page was produced by Beth Novey.

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This alternate version of America’s story is an audacious work of the imagination

Author Francis Spufford wears a brown coat, blue scarf, glasses and colorful hat.

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Book Review

Cahokia Jazz

By Francis Spufford Scribner: 436 pages, $28 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org , whose fees support independent bookstores.

Everyone knows by now that a virus can bring a nation to its knees — the tiny terrorists of smallpox, Spanish flu and COVID-19 have disrupted America’s story in lethal and tragic ways. But what if one small glitch in a virus’ makeup changed everything? What if the smallpox that raged through America’s Native population had been replaced by a less lethal variant? What if Native Americans survived smallpox, fought white invaders to a standstill and created their own version of a modern society?

This is the premise of Francis Spufford’s dazzling new novel, “Cahokia Jazz.” Spufford, an award-winning British writer, tells an intricate, suspenseful and moving story that rises from the mists of America’s prehistory and morphs into an alternate version of America’s story. Part world building, part detective noir, part savage critique of our country’s (real) history, Spufford builds his creation on the foundations of a real place that grew, thrived and then vanished.

You may not have heard of Cahokia unless you hail from the Midwest. An entire civilization that rose from the fecund bottomlands of the Mississippi east of St. Louis, Cahokia drew thousands of Native Americans — 20,000 or more at its peak in the year 1100 — to its fields, plazas and temples, where they worshiped their own gods and built monuments to their way of life. Then something — no one knows quite what — caused Cahokia’s residents to disperse. For many years only a few anthropologists, wealthy collectors and the grave robbers who pillaged for them knew of its existence, and it might have disappeared altogether if not for an interstate highway project that provided the federal funds to fully explore it. Today its eerie, massive mounds have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

"Cahokia Jazz" by Francis Spufford

These facts are the bones of Spufford’s story. It’s 1922, and the middle American kingdom of Cahokia is thriving. Ruled by a Native dynasty, it is a multicultural mix of takoumas (Native Americans), taklousas (Black people) and takatas (people of European heritage). It has its own faith, a mix of Catholicism and Native American spirituality. Its land and resources have made it wealthy, and its riches are held in common by its people and run by a sturdy bureaucracy. But Cahokia is surrounded by American robber barons eager to destroy its hierarchy and appropriate its treasures. Cahokia’s would-be plunderers form an unholy alliance with the Ku Klux Klan, whose followers despise Cahokia’s multicultural essence and are itching for riot and murder.

Their rage is waiting for one lit match, and it ignites when a white office clerk is slaughtered, his heart ripped from his chest and his body left atop one of the city’s mammoth buildings. Clouds of white men bellowing “Papists!” and “Savages!” throng the streets, and the burgeoning mob has its own soundtrack: “The note of trouble in the air had definitely changed,” Spufford writes. “It was louder and closer; it was no longer a single belligerent hum glinting with accents of brass; it had diversified into a rolling scrabble of anger, holiday high spirits and sports crowd roar.” Rioters make for the takouma quarter, and the city seems destined to burn.

Cahokia needs a savior, and it comes in the guise of Joe Barrow, a half- takouma , half- taklousa cop assigned to investigate the murder. Barrow is an outsider, an orphan from one of the Native American orphanages out West. Primed from his institutionalized childhood to seek a protector, he does the bidding of Phineas Drummond, his white partner with “a face out of the funny pages” and a bad case of PTSD. As the two are drawn into a web of violence, corruption and double dealing, Joe moves from Phin’s willing sidekick to the only man with the strength and will to save Cahokia. “I suspect you of being a man of virtue,” one of Joe’s manipulators tells him. For better or worse, Joe is exactly that.

A Native horror story re-appropriates a racist trope: the ‘Indian curse’

In Stephen Graham Jones’ “The Only Good Indians,” four hunters make a wasteful kill; a decade later, they pay a bloody price.

July 15, 2020

Other authors have used alternate history and the detective story model to explore history’s dark corners, notably China Miéville’s “The City & the City” and Michael Chabon’s “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union.” Spufford credits Miéville in the afterword, as well as Ursula K. Le Guin’s “Left Hand of Darkness” (“Cahokia Jazz” is dedicated to Le Guin, and her anthropologist father is a character in the book.) “Cahokia Jazz” takes on a lot, and its ambitions are huge. Does it work? For this reader, it does.

Spufford has a sure grasp of the perverted politics and relentless grind of the wheels of capitalism, circa 1922. His dialogue snaps, and he can riff on just about anything, including Joe’s avocation as a jazz pianist, with authority. There might be a little too much description, and long, learned, expository passages coming out of the mouths of police sergeants. But Spufford, whose acclaimed 2016 novel “Golden Hill” sent up 18th century Colonial America, keeps his engine running with action and intrigue, romance and suspense, and his sense of place is spellbinding. Here he captures the dank, raw power of the Mississippi: “From out of the cold brown levels of the water as it slid south … creating and tilting, dimpling against the great caissons of the Bridge, a billion billion droplets had risen, breathed by the river into the air. Each one a messenger of the ceaselessly moving silt below … digesting everything that ever fell into it on its path down the continent, from dead trees to dead people.”

“Cahokia Jazz” is an audacious work of the imagination by an author powerfully steeped in mythmaking, and I will bet my membership in the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society that some adventurous Hollywood filmmaker has already snapped it up. My only lingering question about “Cahokia Jazz” is a confounding one: the history of Cahokia is an utterly American story. Why did it take a Brit to write this book?

Gwinn, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who lives in Seattle, writes about books and authors.

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  2. Timeline of World History

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  3. Glencoe World History, Student Edition (WORLD HISTORY (HS)) by McGraw

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  4. The 5 Best World History Books [2020 Review]

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  5. 20 Best World History Books (2022 Review)

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  6. World History

    world history book review

COMMENTS

  1. 20 Best World History Books (2022 Review)

    1. A Short History of Nearly Everything Check Price on Amazon History can be considered one subject, but it can also be divided into subcategories. There is history behind everything, so what should be learned? A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Breyson is, well, a short history of "everything."

  2. Best World History Books of 2023

    Simon Sebag Montefiore A vibrant, masterful rendering of human history. The sun may have set on the British Empire, but this piercing examination of its legacies is thoroughly timely. A revealing life of an important historical figure that does not diminish her. A gripping, authoritative work.

  3. Best World History Books of 2022

    Best World History Books of 2022 | Kirkus Reviews Book List Best World History Books of 2022 SEPT. 20, 2022 HISTORY RUSSIA by Antony Beevor A definitive account. FULL REVIEW > get a copy bookshelf SEPT. 20, 2022 NONFICTION THE STORY OF RUSSIA by Orlando Figes

  4. 20 of the Best World History Books

    The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan. The Silk Roads were a vital part of the trade between the East and the West, connecting countries from Europe to those in the Middle East, Central Asia, all the way to China. It was massively important, with goods not just being traded along the route, but ideas as well, assisting ...

  5. World History Books

    World history is an increasingly exciting subject for books. In a sign of the vitality of the field, it was a book of global history covering several millennia about the human history of the oceans—David Abulafia's The Boundless Sea—that won the UK's most prestigious prize, the Wolfson History Prize, in 2020. Books taking a more global, long-term perspective have also become bestsellers ...

  6. The 5 Best AP World History Books for Practice and Review

    Best Supplemental Books Best Overall AP World History Review Book The Princeton Review's Cracking the AP World History: Modern Exam, 2020 Premium Edition Price: About $16.50 Pros Focuses on larger trends and themes rather than small, superfluous details; tells you about only the essential stuff you need to know for the test

  7. History Book Reviews

    History Book Reviews - World History Encyclopedia Membership History Book Reviews Bookshop Search through the catalogue of history books: Book Reviews We regularly review history books as well as historical fiction. We are always looking for review submissions and also maintain a list of books available for review. Sort by: Latest Reviews

  8. A WORLD HISTORY

    William H. McNeill's The Rise of the West is perhaps the most lucid and intelligent one-volume presentation of world history in narrative form ever written. Winner of the National Book Award in History and Biography in 1964, it is surely one of the most scholarly and exciting histories of our times. The reader expecting something dramatically new in McNeill's A World History will be ...

  9. The Cambridge World History by Benjamin Z. Kedar & Merry E. Wiesner

    Although this book review is aimed at Volume Five, the comments in this review probably apply to all the books in the series. The editors of the volumes, all of whom are leading academics in the field, have undertaken a massive task in bringing together so many scholarly articles on such a diverse range of topics.

  10. Fast Track: World History: Essential Review for AP, Honors, and Other

    GET UP TO SPEED WITH FAST TRACK: WORLD HISTORY! Covering the most important material taught in high school history class, this essential review book breaks need-to-know content into accessible, easily-understood lessons. Inside this book, you'll find: • Clear, concise summaries of the most important events, people and concepts in world history • Maps, timelines, and charts for quick visual ...

  11. The World: A Family History of Humanity

    Simon Sebag Montefiore 3.99 690 ratings123 reviews From the master storyteller and internationally bestselling author - the story of humanity from prehistory to the present day, told through the one thing all humans have in common: family. We begin with the footsteps of a family walking along a beach 950,000 years ago.

  12. Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 2022: 6

    Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 2022: 6 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Strategies & Techniques (2022) (College Test Preparation): The Princeton Review: 9780525570813: Amazon.com: Books Books › New, Used & Rental Textbooks › Humanities

  13. Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 2023: 6

    Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 2023: 6 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Strategies & Techniques (College Test Preparation): The Princeton Review: 9780593450949: Amazon.com: Books Books › New, Used & Rental Textbooks › Humanities

  14. Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 2021: 6

    Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 2021: 6 Practice Tests + Complete Content Review + Strategies & Techniques (2021) (College Test Preparation): The Princeton Review: 9780525569701: Amazon.com: Books Books › Test Preparation › College & High School

  15. Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

    Mark Kurlansky. 3.75. 71,013 ratings4,538 reviews. In his fifth work of nonfiction, Mark Kurlansky turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind.

  16. Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 5th Edition

    Ace the AP World History: Modern Exam with this Premium version of The Princeton Review's comprehensive study guide. Includes 6 full-length practice tests with complete explanations, plus thorough content reviews, targeted test strategies, and access to online extras. Techniques That Actually Work

  17. Guide to the AP World History Exam

    The AP World History: Modern Long Essay Question presents three questions and you have to choose one to answer. All questions will test the same skills but will focus on different historical periods (i.e., from c. 1200-1750, from c. 1450-1900, or from c. 1750-2001). Similar to the DBQ, you will need to develop and support an answer to the ...

  18. AP World History: Modern Premium, 2024: Comprehensive Review with 5

    Sharpen your test‑taking skills with 5 full‑length practice tests -2 in the book, and 3 more online-plus detailed answer explanations and/or sample responses; Strengthen your knowledge with in‑depth review covering all units and themes on the AP World History: Modern exam; Reinforce your learning with review quizzes at the end of each ...

  19. Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 5th Edition: 6

    Ace the AP World History: Modern Exam with this Premium version of The Princeton Review's comprehensive study guide. Includes 6 full-length practice tests with complete explanations, plus thorough content reviews, targeted test strategies, and access to online extras.

  20. Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 2022: 6

    • 6 full-length practice tests (4 in the book, 2 online) with complete answer explanations • Key terms, timelines, and detailed maps in every content review chapter ... Part V Content Review for the AP World History: Modern Exam 123. 6 Period 1, c. 1200 c.e. to c. 1450 127. Unit 1: The Global Tapestry 130. Unit 2: Networks of Exchange 150.

  21. Buried by Alice Roberts (Book Review)

    "Buried: An Alternative History of the First Millennium in Britain" by Alice Roberts is the second book in her trilogy of books exploring the history of Britain through skeletons and burials. Utilising modern techniques and DNA research, Roberts explores what we can learn about Britain in the first millennium through numerous burials, including ...

  22. AP World History Review Book 2021-2022: Study Guide with Practice Test

    3.3 22 ratings

  23. Book Review: 'Smoke and Ashes,' by Amitav Ghosh

    Biographies of humble things that their authors claimed had "changed the world" — chronometers, salt, potatoes and even the color mauve — were a turn-of-the-21st-century publishing phenomenon.

  24. In brief: A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks; Red Side Story

    Set in a futuristic Britain after a mysterious but seismic event, Red Side Story depicts a world in which awareness of colour dictates people's place in society, much to the dismay of the book ...

  25. Who do scholars think was the greatest U.S. president?

    A new survey of over 150 scholars offered their take on the greatest U.S. president ever. Their choice? Abraham Lincoln. The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey, commissioned by a pair of political scientists from the University of Houston and Coastal Carolina University, asked 154 political scientists and other experts to rate each U.S. president on a scale of 0 to 100 for their ...

  26. 'The Secret History of Bigfoot' Review: The Enduring Appeal of Bigfoot

    Holiday Books: Our 2023 Guide to the Best Gifts The 10 Best Books of 2023 Who Read What in 2023 'The Book at War' Review This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only.

  27. Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 2023

    About Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 2023. Make sure you're studying with the most up-to-date prep materials! Look for the newest edition of this title, The Princeton Review AP World History: Modern Premium Prep, 5th Edition (ISBN: 9780593517338, on-sale August 2023). Publisher's Note: Products purchased from third-party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher ...

  28. How the art world excludes you and what you can do about it

    Bosker shudders. "If I had a dollar for every time someone in the art world used the word 'liminal,'" she laughs. One artist she worked with told her, "'Reading the wall labels is like you're ...

  29. Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford is alternate version of America's

    Book Review. Cahokia Jazz. By Francis Spufford Scribner: 436 pages, $28 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent ...