Is this book like reading a textbook, or is it easy to read and enlightening? Because I love History, and OSC reccomended it, I decided to buy it. But when I got to the book store I saw the size of it and I hesitated. It looked too much like my U.S. History textbook. Plus I forgot to bring money. So should I return to the store, or is the book not worth my time?
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
The book is emphatically worth your time.
I would have to say it's more like reading a textbook than a fiction novel, but then I enjoy those kinds of textbooks (history, anthropology, politics, agriculture). Its contents bear almost zero resemblance to your US history textbook, however.
If you were to start reading it you'll learn that the primary question the author is attempting to answer is something like (I cannot quote it perfectly), "Why do some nations today have so much more wealth, power, and knowledge than other nations? And how did they get to that point? Why wasn't, for example, the Aztecs the society which conquered Spain centuries ago?
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
I've been meaning to read this.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
It isn't a dry read at all--it's quite approachable. Well worth reading, too.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Definitely readable. While it does occasionally delve into some more technical stuff, the author explains it all quite well. He even includes a few anecdotes about his kids learning to talk in the section on human language.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
While it isn't as entralling as my favorite novels which keep me up all night because I can't put them down, I did stay up too late more than once reading GG&S. It is very readable and fascinating.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I convinced my book club to read this book for November.