a book

The Lessons of History

Name: The Lessons of History
Rating: 5 (24 reviews)
Author: Will & Ariel Durant
ISBN: 9781567310245

Will & Ariel Durant · 1997 · 117 pages

In this illuminating and thoughtful book, Will and Ariel Durant have succeeded in distilling for the reader the accumulated store of knowledge and experience from their four decades of work on the ten monumental volumes of "The Story of Civilization." The result is a survey of human history, full of dazzling insights into the nature of human experience, the evolution of civilization, the culture of man. With the completion of their life's work they look back and ask what history has to say about the nature, the conduct and the prospects of man, seeking in the great lives, the great ideas, the great events of the past for the meaning of man's long journey through war, conquest and creation - and for the great themes that can help us to understand our own era. To the Durants, history is "not merely a warning reminder of man's follies and crimes, but also an encouraging remembrance of generative souls ... a spacious country of the mind wherein a thousand saints, statesman, inventors, scientists, poets, artists, musicians, lovers, and philosophers still live and speak, teach and carve and sing..." Designed to accompany the ten-volume set of "The Story of Civilization, The Lessons of History" is, in its own right, a profound and original work of history and philosophy.

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recommended by 24 people

sourced from public statements

Andrej Karpathy
“to-read”
Naval Ravikant
“It's a great little book.”↗
James Clear
“"What is one book that is a quick and easy read, but contains a tremendous amount of wisdom? A few examples: - The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - Manual for Living by Epictetus - A Calendar of Wisdom by Leo Tolstoy What else?"”↗
Ray Dalio
“"Many of you have asked me what books and authors have inspired me. In honor of #WorldBookDay, here they are: River Out of Eden by @RichardDawkins The Lessons of History by Will & Ariel Durant The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell From the lessons of history by the greatest historians to the forces of evolution, and the journey of overcoming obstacles, these books have changed my perspective forever. #books #principles #worldbookday"”↗
Patrick OShaughnessy
“This audiobook is incredible The book itself is an all-timer, but the audiobook includes old interviews with the Durants at the end of each chapter. The interviews are seemingly longer than the book, and the Durants are among the best historians ever. Hearing them is wild.”↗
Lex Fridman
“"Lessons of History by Will & Ariel Durant is amazing. Super short. Good audiobook. I need to read Story of Civilization. It's 13,000 pages in total, or 300 hours on audiobook. That's commitment 🤣"”↗
Preston Pysh
“@natbrunell @LynAldenContact It's a great book!”↗
Greg Sankey
“Summer Reading Book #20 is THE LESSONS OF HISTORY by Will & Ariel Durant “With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the Durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time.””↗
Kevin Systrom
“A great book.”↗
Eric Jorgenson
“Is this the highest wisdom-per-word book ever? If it's not, what is?”↗
Alexandr Wang
“"Reading this Black Friday, and stumbled upon this showstopper line: “Nothing is clearer in history than the adoption by successful rebels of the methods they were accustomed to condemn in the forces they deposed.” The Lessons of History by Will & Ariel Durant"”↗
Tim Ferriss
Derek Sivers
Nat Eliason
Mark Manson
James Mattis
Josh Waitzkin
Shane Parrish
Akshay M
David Perell
Packy Mccormick
Julian Shapiro
Lyn Alden
Craig Blair