Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud

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  A good survey with some of the latest data and analysis. Not a bad book all-in-all but not enlightening...I've read most of this in other books over the years...but this is a survey piece so that should be expected. I was never, genuinely, engaged by the book but don't have anything bad to say about it. I believe this is a book for younger readers (20 somethings) that have not spent a lifetime reading. For them there would lots of interesting directions to pursue in the future but for tho... (show more)

  A good survey with some of the latest data and analysis. Not a bad book all-in-all but not enlightening...I've read most of this in other books over the years...but this is a survey piece so that should be expected. I was never, genuinely, engaged by the book but don't have anything bad to say about it. I believe this is a book for younger readers (20 somethings) that have not spent a lifetime reading. For them there would lots of interesting directions to pursue in the future but for those, such as I, that have read widely there is nothing new here. Therefore, what I would like to offer is a recommendation with a proviso. A good book as a refresher and a great book as an introduction to the world/history of ideas. There is a fair amount to quibble with in the book but, in the end, quibbling is not criticizing. Good book...but not great. (show less)

   

   

  by David Wellhauser on Dec 26, 2009 at 10:45AM

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  One of the very best non-fiction books I've ever read. Peter Watson skillfully traces the history of man's evolution in not only scientific thought, but cultural, economic, and artistic as well. Finishing this book made me feel like a liberal arts student. Much focus on Western civilization, but pays ample dues to the East, pre-Columbian America, and Africa as well.

   

   

  by Facebook User on Aug 23, 2009 at 05:26PM

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