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A review by ahtoad1
The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon
3.0
This book was the first Newbery Award winner; excellence in children's literature. I cannot children of today 1) reading this book at all 2) having any idea whatsoever of what it's talking about.
It is well written and moves along quite quickly for a history book. It is NOT about dates and people and names of treaties. While these are mentioned they are not the focus of the book; instead they are merely details to remind the reader of events. Without a background, even a limited one of Ancient Civilizations and European history (thank you Mr. Lynn Larsen and Mr. Neal Peacock!) I would not have been able to finish this book. As it was, it was an interesting review of things long forgotten. My favorite aspect of this book was the focus on the "whys" or historical events. Not the dry facts of "who" and "when" but their motivations and far-reaching consequences.
I am now motivated to seek out biographies on certain historical figures and to do further reading on certain subjects. I am also motivated to encourage history/geography in my children. They are not ready to read this book; but it has challenged me to make certain that they WILL someday be ready for it.
It is well written and moves along quite quickly for a history book. It is NOT about dates and people and names of treaties. While these are mentioned they are not the focus of the book; instead they are merely details to remind the reader of events. Without a background, even a limited one of Ancient Civilizations and European history (thank you Mr. Lynn Larsen and Mr. Neal Peacock!) I would not have been able to finish this book. As it was, it was an interesting review of things long forgotten. My favorite aspect of this book was the focus on the "whys" or historical events. Not the dry facts of "who" and "when" but their motivations and far-reaching consequences.
I am now motivated to seek out biographies on certain historical figures and to do further reading on certain subjects. I am also motivated to encourage history/geography in my children. They are not ready to read this book; but it has challenged me to make certain that they WILL someday be ready for it.