World History for Dummies

Since my knowledge of this subject is limited, it was nice to have a product that helped me while also being quite entertaining.

I absolutely love this book. As a multiple-subject teacher who is teaching 7th grade medieval & renaissance world history plus 8th grade U.S. History, I needed to bone up on history, fast! This book has four different histories of the world: events, ideas & beliefs, war, and key people. They are all sketchy, but provide an invaluable overview. In fact I found they had just the right amount of detail to allow me to finally get an overview that I can retain, which is what I desperately needed. The author's humorous and insightful point of view are helpful also. Now when I read more detailed works, I have a "mental file cabinet" I can fit the information into. The book also has a short timeline accompanying every chapter, which was helpful in my picking some key events and dates to have my students commit to memory. In summary, I've read or looked at many world histories, and this is one of my absolute top picks, especially for "beginners."

Far from comprehensive and lacking in detail one would think World History for Dummies would be a disaster. Because of Peter Haugen's entertaining but taught writing the reader will get a great outline of major concepts of world history. I am aprehensive of books that adhere to a formula like the Dummies books do but Haugen works with skill within the formula making a strong impression on the subjects he writes about. There are no particular political viewpoints and discussions, while light, are treated thoughtfully and transparent of the author's politics.I was attracted to this book when I realized my apalling lack of memory on the basics in world history. I wanted to know about why things happened, how historical events came to be and in this simple volume I got a clue along with ideas on where to continue reading.This is a book parents can give to their kids knowing it will help augment the sometimes boring classwork and keeping the idea that history is about people and can be as exciting as any fiction they read or see in film and television.I can't recommend this fine review of world history high enough. That does not mean it is without fault. At times the tone of the prose is condesending although it is quite possible that this is part of the format of Dummies books as the other couple of books in this series try to disamingly walk readers through concepts that may require humor to disarm otherwise intimidating subject matter.In the end, World History for Dummies is a useful primer for adults or school age children. My favorite feature of this book is Peter Haugen's gentle reminder of multiple disciplines involved in the understanding of the world that formed the civilization we now live in.

I wish I had this book as my textbook when I was in high school social studies class. Students should demand that their teachers throw out their texts and get this one! It is an interesting read. I found myself wanting to read more and more, in my free time. You won't be disappointed buying this book.

I picked this book after reading U.S. History for Dummies. If you've ever been fascinated by Conquest, Exploration, Empire Building, Philosophy, or what the difference is between Catholics, Protestants, Calvinists, or Heugenots(not a giant astronaut) you wont be dissapointed. If you want to know how Philosophy leads to Science which leads Technology which leads to Industry which leads to Economics you won't be let down. If you're fascinated by War(History, Strategy, Tactics, Personalities, Civilizations, Technology) you'll more than love this book. I have just started reading Philosophy for Dummies to pick up where the trail left off in World History. Even if you've read all of this before you'll find it refreshing and wonder why it hasn't been put together this lucidly before. If you have kids in school you'll be able to enlighten them with fascinating and even racey tidbits of history that they probably wouldn't cover in school. Great addition for folks who like to play Age of Empires or Civilization.