 Flashman14  | 25 Jul 2019 7:26 a.m. PST |
To what extent have historians Will and Ariel Durant shaped your
views on history? 1 = Who?
10 = His world view is one I share completely. If you haven't heard of him here's the wiki: link
and an enjoyable summary of his magnus opus can be heard here while you paint, commute or otherwise have three hours to listen: YouTube link |
 Stosstruppen | 25 Jul 2019 7:44 a.m. PST |
I've had this set for decades, still haven't read it. Need to get to it soon. |
 Doctor X | 25 Jul 2019 9:29 a.m. PST |
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| coopman | 25 Jul 2019 9:48 a.m. PST |
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| Frederick | 25 Jul 2019 10:12 a.m. PST |
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| King Monkey | 25 Jul 2019 10:29 a.m. PST |
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| rmaker | 25 Jul 2019 10:30 a.m. PST |
3. I know who they are, I've actually red some of their stuff, but other historians are much more influential with me. |
| GurKhan | 25 Jul 2019 10:55 a.m. PST |
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| Dagwood | 25 Jul 2019 11:09 a.m. PST |
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| Thresher01 | 25 Jul 2019 11:13 a.m. PST |
0 Don't have any of their books, and have not read any of their work, as far as I know. |
| 3rd5ODeuce | 25 Jul 2019 11:27 a.m. PST |
4 I only know what Dan Carlin has quoted on his Hardcore History Podcast. |
 javelin98 | 25 Jul 2019 11:52 a.m. PST |
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 etotheipi  | 25 Jul 2019 11:53 a.m. PST |
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| Patrick Sexton | 25 Jul 2019 11:55 a.m. PST |
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| JAFD26 | 25 Jul 2019 12:26 p.m. PST |
A few decades ago, I knew well a young lady, very smart but had to drop out of high school with medical problems. Found this complete set at porch sale for five bucks, bought it for her, figured she could read it at leisure, get introed to 'world history'. We broke up, lost touch… |
| victor0leto | 25 Jul 2019 1:04 p.m. PST |
5 I have only finished volumes 1, 3, 9 and 10 |
| charared | 25 Jul 2019 3:12 p.m. PST |
6 also. Lauded by the History Dons at College way back when but still a rather tough read today. |
| ZULUPAUL | 25 Jul 2019 3:52 p.m. PST |
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| 14Bore | 25 Jul 2019 3:56 p.m. PST |
Have read a few of their works, starting at The Age of Reason Begins through Age of Napoleon. Could have had them all but didn't grab them and have kicked myself a few times for that stupidity. |
| dilettante | 25 Jul 2019 6:40 p.m. PST |
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| Yesthatphil | 25 Jul 2019 6:49 p.m. PST |
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 Old Contemptible | 25 Jul 2019 8:33 p.m. PST |
5 Had to take "The Study of History" class at my University in my senior year. Will and Ariel Durant were on the classes agenda. I didn't read any of them all the way through. But I may pick up "The Age of Reason" someday. I don't have the have shelf space for all of them. I have so much work and hobby related reading already on my plate. |
 McKinstry  | 25 Jul 2019 8:36 p.m. PST |
5 – Were the prose a bit friendlier I suspect they'd be more popular. |
| advocate | 26 Jul 2019 2:27 a.m. PST |
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| Karellian Knight | 26 Jul 2019 4:53 a.m. PST |
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 Parzival | 26 Jul 2019 9:42 a.m. PST |
3. I've read The Story of Philosophy (IIR the title C) waaaay back when. It was a gift from my uncle on my entry into college, and I enjoyed it thoroughly, and, yes, found myself agreeing with Durant's POV (so that's why it's I boosted my response to a 3 over a 2). But I've read none of the other works. |
| JimSelzer | 26 Jul 2019 11:38 a.m. PST |
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 McLaddie | 26 Jul 2019 8:50 p.m. PST |
Were the prose a bit friendlier I suspect they'd be more popular. Aaah, I love the optimism. Why not ask about Edward Gibbon, Arnold Toynbee or Oswald Spengler, the historians/writers who inspired the Durants' work? No, waaay too esoteric. |
| USAFpilot | 27 Jul 2019 6:23 p.m. PST |
1 If you are looking for the whole shebang of human history in just one volume, I'd recommend Issac Asimov's Chronology of the World. It starts with the Big Bang and takes you all the way to 1945 with the dropping of the a-bomb. |
| Anton Ryzbak | 28 Jul 2019 8:40 a.m. PST |
6 I read the entire collection one summer while I was in college, it provides a grounding in the society that the games we play take place and lets you glimpse into the motivations that (often don't make sense from a strictly wargaming viewpoint) that were behind the decisions that leaders and societies make. Plus Will and Ariel are great writers too, love the prose (but I'm old and come from a time when reading was more important than your cellphone). |
