I just finished all eleven volumes. The greatest reading project of my life. It took me a year and a half, and I listened to all of them on Audible. I can’t imagine the work that Will and Ariel Durant did to write these volumes. The first four remain my favorites. My understanding of human history is immeasurably increased.
@@augustbramming4926 Definitely. I would start with the first volume and see how you like it. They are long, but they’re written in a lively way, and they don’t require that you have a lot of background knowledge. They demand a pretty big time commitment, but you can listen to them on Audible. Good luck if you choose to do it!
I have read the 1st volume and it has been one of the joys of my life. Durant is not a historian, he is rather the greatest chronicler of man's journey. Reading Durant is like watching a great hybrid between a movie and a history Channel documentary.
@@JHimminy that is why equated the experience with a hybrid. His works have the quality of effortlessly generating vivid images in the minds of a reader
I am halfway through volume 10. It’s been like any long journey, some parts are just enduring and putting one foot in front of the other, some parts are rich and fulfilling, but as I look back on what I’ve read I realize that the whole journey has been intellectually valuable. It amazes me that he accomplished such an enormous, multi-decade project.
I’m about 90 pages deep into the first volume “our oriental heritage” and I’ve learned incredible amount already. I should have bought these books a long time ago.
@@DavidPeacockChannel 150 pages in now, and I can definitely say I don't really see it as a challenging task anymore as much as it is an interesting tour through history.
I did the same thing you did: when I was posted at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, 1988-91, I read through all eleven volumes of The Story of Civilization, (for something to do) annotating and highlighting through each volume. I was appalled at how little of it I managed to retain. A handful of Durant's antiquarian "curiosities," that was about it.
I read life of greece in high school and it really changed my perspective on things. I loved it. I went back to the first four volumes since..its wonderful.
I just wanted to thank you for creating this video. I will likely purchase this set (either physical books, Kindle, or audiobook) soon. Normally I complain when a UA-cam video is more than 10 minutes long, but in this case it is justified, being a book review of nearly 10000 pages! It's great how you showcased very insightful quotes from each book.
I have 9 of these volumes that I picked up at a thrift shop 3 or 4 years ago. I haven't read them all, but I have fond memories of dipping into Rousseau and Revolution and The Age of Reason at the library as a teenager. Someday I'd like to pick up my two missing volumes and read through them all. Enjoyed listening to you talk about Durant!
I enjoyed your presentation! Fifty years ago I cut my teeth on the Durant's great series and my only regret is that I have not read the books I missed on the first go around. My favorite was the volume on Voltaire. And thanks for the mention of "A Confederacy of Dunces!" I thought of this great book as soon as you mentioned Boethius.
I also appreciated his mention of "A Confederacy of Dunces." When I was a young journalist 40 years ago, and briefly reviewed books for the paper I worked for, that was the first book I ever reviewed. It was 1981 and it had just been published.
What a great assignment as a young journalist! I remember reading a review back then but never thought I would get around to reading it. So glad I did!!! A truly great book! Regards...
Thank you for putting this short review together, I would have not minded if you made this video 20 hours long. I would really enjoy separate videos for each of the Volumes, bummed my local library has NO Will Durant on their shelves. Genuinely ERS
@@martinsFILMS13 Yes. In fact, I am about halfway through volume four, The Age of Faith. The series is outstanding. I enjoy looking up on UA-cam figures, artworks, or events that I find especially interesting.
I liked your overview of the whole series, and especially the beginning part. This series is definitely for a more mature audience, and not for people under 30 I believe (I'm 31 myself). I would also add, that the way Durant writes history requires plenty of prereading on a given subject, because he gives mostly a philosophical look on history as you mentioned here. I mean that he skips many details and events, and doesn't provide a comprehensive view, but rather tries to focus on the stuff that really ended up mattering the most. Also his approach was more person centric. Good on ya! Regards from Finland.
@Pekka I took opposite approach. In order to better understand everything I read in future, I tasked myself to read series first. On Napoleon book now, made few pauses reading other stuff, and I can say it helped for better understanding frame and context, neverminding is it Rome, medieval or 17th century. Greatest value to me are some insights of universal values, principles and mechanisms people and it's institutions work on. Only flaw I found, beside authors inability to make readings little bit interesting, is title itself, since book covers Western Europe civilisation in deep, thus title should be (Hi)Story of Western Civilisation. Lion share of series is, in fact, relationship between Britain, France, Spain, (today) Italy, (today) Germany, Scandinavia and (today) Austria. Too optimistic to call those countries civilised only in whole history.
I loved this series! I have recently started going through it again because it has been years now. I also want to read through Gibbon's works as I have only dipped into that in parts over the years.
I ordered the 11 volume from Abebooks in US to Hyderabad, India. This set is not available in India, it means there is demand for this books and no connosieur of books in India sells it away. I hopefully plan to read it in a year or more, as i am not gainfully employed and there is no pressure to take an exam and graduate from any school.
A nation is born stoic, and dies epicurean. At its cradle religion stands, and philosophy accompanies it to the grave. - Will Durant (The Story Of Civilization)
The audiobooks narrated by Grover Gardner (Andrew Adams pseudonym, I believe) are good. I’ve got digital copies of all the volumes. They’re excellent. Of course, given them when they were written much of the history and some of the terms are going to be out of date. That said, there is a chunk of useful information. It inspires one to read more in-depth on some of the areas that he covers. I started taking notes, and found that it’s hard not to write a lot of information down. There’s just too much fascinating stuff!
I love the images you chose to insert. I found your video by searching for Durant's Story of Civilization with images. It would be an awesome undertaking, best done by a group, but can you imagine if the entire audio of the Durants' work were accompanied by appropriate imagery?!
Good work, what needs to be understood is that at different periods, civilisations varied in the extend of focus and sense of urgency. When these factors were at maximum level these societies were highly productive and creative. One of the major impact on the focus and sense of urgency is what is called alarm sounds in languages, to understand this see a video on Latin and Ancient Rome, ua-cam.com/video/diQpUB8ykk8/v-deo.html
I'm not sure. My first thought is Durant was limited to the material that was translated into English. I wonder how many languages Durant could read and how much time he spent reading foreign language texts.
Asked same qustion. Guess it is for marketing purposes. The age of Voltaire tome says History of Civilisation in Western Europe 1715-1756. Except first book, all other 10 are about Western Europe. Nevermind (inaccurate) title, books are worth reading. Currently 9/12.
I just finished all eleven volumes. The greatest reading project of my life. It took me a year and a half, and I listened to all of them on Audible. I can’t imagine the work that Will and Ariel Durant did to write these volumes. The first four remain my favorites. My understanding of human history is immeasurably increased.
The books and the way they wrote about civilization forever affect my outlook.
hey respect man i saw your comment from 2 years ago. Would you recommend it to someone who is 20 years old who havent read that much?
@@augustbramming4926 Definitely. I would start with the first volume and see how you like it. They are long, but they’re written in a lively way, and they don’t require that you have a lot of background knowledge.
They demand a pretty big time commitment, but you can listen to them on Audible. Good luck if you choose to do it!
@@augustbramming4926 read the unplugged alpha by richard cooper, the almanack of naval ravikant by eric jorgensen and sapiens by harari
Did you read AND listen? Or listen only?
The audiobooks are unreal. He blew my mind at least twice today. You said it well. " He can say so much with a few words."
Where did you get the audiobooks?
@@destroyer2670 yeah I did I’m already on the life of Greece. It’s an amazing read.
@@jakeerickson9081 audiable, just be careful some books arent fully there but this series is I think
@@jakeerickson9081 You Tube
I have read the 1st volume and it has been one of the joys of my life. Durant is not a historian, he is rather the greatest chronicler of man's journey. Reading Durant is like watching a great hybrid between a movie and a history Channel documentary.
@@JHimminy that is why equated the experience with a hybrid. His works have the quality of effortlessly generating vivid images in the minds of a reader
I am halfway through volume 10. It’s been like any long journey, some parts are just enduring and putting one foot in front of the other, some parts are rich and fulfilling, but as I look back on what I’ve read I realize that the whole journey has been intellectually valuable. It amazes me that he accomplished such an enormous, multi-decade project.
"It amazes me that he accomplished such an enormous, multi-decade project."
Unfortunately he didn't get to finish it.
I’m about 90 pages deep into the first volume “our oriental heritage” and I’ve learned incredible amount already. I should have bought these books a long time ago.
I'm glad to know you've taken the challenge. I found that as I progressed my interest in history grew and grew.
@@DavidPeacockChannel 150 pages in now, and I can definitely say I don't really see it as a challenging task anymore as much as it is an interesting tour through history.
@@jessecuevas6456 Great
Great video ! This book should be mandatory reading. Will and Ariel Durant shall never be forgotton.
I totally agree
I did the same thing you did: when I was posted at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, 1988-91, I read through all eleven volumes of The Story of Civilization, (for something to do) annotating and highlighting through each volume. I was appalled at how little of it I managed to retain. A handful of Durant's antiquarian "curiosities," that was about it.
Same. But worth it.
I read life of greece in high school and it really changed my perspective on things. I loved it. I went back to the first four volumes since..its wonderful.
The BEST of all the audiobooks reading I have ever come across.
I have 3 complete sets of varying dates. Amazing works.
Great!
I just wanted to thank you for creating this video. I will likely purchase this set (either physical books, Kindle, or audiobook) soon. Normally I complain when a UA-cam video is more than 10 minutes long, but in this case it is justified, being a book review of nearly 10000 pages!
It's great how you showcased very insightful quotes from each book.
The act of creating the video made me appreciate Durant's accomplishment more.
I have 9 of these volumes that I picked up at a thrift shop 3 or 4 years ago. I haven't read them all, but I have fond memories of dipping into Rousseau and Revolution and The Age of Reason at the library as a teenager. Someday I'd like to pick up my two missing volumes and read through them all. Enjoyed listening to you talk about Durant!
It takes a substantial amount of time and it's worth it.
I enjoyed your presentation! Fifty years ago I cut my teeth on the Durant's great series and my only regret is that I have not read the books I missed on the first go around. My favorite was the volume on Voltaire. And thanks for the mention of "A Confederacy of Dunces!" I thought of this great book as soon as you mentioned Boethius.
I also appreciated his mention of "A Confederacy of Dunces." When I was a young journalist 40 years ago, and briefly reviewed books for the paper I worked for, that was the first book I ever reviewed. It was 1981 and it had just been published.
What a great assignment as a young journalist! I remember reading a review back then but never thought I would get around to reading it. So glad I did!!! A truly great book! Regards...
WONDERFUL SUMMERY,THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Thank you for this summary, just ordered the set for $100.
I've heard that there was a 12th and 13th in the making, but then they passed away.
Reading this will change how you think. It's worth the effort.
Thank you for putting this short review together, I would have not minded if you made this video 20 hours long. I would really enjoy separate videos for each of the Volumes, bummed my local library has NO Will Durant on their shelves. Genuinely ERS
Public libraries in general are going to hell. My local library once had a set of The Story of Civilization, but it's long gone.
Enjoyable review and commentary. Just got a copy of Our Oriental Heritage and am thinking about starting this great reading journey.
did you start it ?
@@martinsFILMS13 Yes. In fact, I am about halfway through volume four, The Age of Faith. The series is outstanding. I enjoy looking up on UA-cam figures,
artworks, or events that I find especially interesting.
The audio books read by Grover Gardner are fantastic
@@tensevo Agreed. He’s a terrific narrator.
Just finished The Renaissance
before Christmas.
I liked your overview of the whole series, and especially the beginning part. This series is definitely for a more mature audience, and not for people under 30 I believe (I'm 31 myself).
I would also add, that the way Durant writes history requires plenty of prereading on a given subject, because he gives mostly a philosophical look on history as you mentioned here. I mean that he skips many details and events, and doesn't provide a comprehensive view, but rather tries to focus on the stuff that really ended up mattering the most. Also his approach was more person centric. Good on ya!
Regards from Finland.
Durant is a great writer and raises the level of history to literature.
@Pekka
I took opposite approach.
In order to better understand everything I read in future, I tasked myself to read series first.
On Napoleon book now, made few pauses reading other stuff, and I can say it helped for better understanding frame and context, neverminding is it Rome, medieval or 17th century.
Greatest value to me are some insights of universal values, principles and mechanisms people and it's institutions work on.
Only flaw I found, beside authors inability to make readings little bit interesting, is title itself, since book covers Western Europe civilisation in deep, thus title should be (Hi)Story of Western Civilisation.
Lion share of series is, in fact, relationship between Britain, France, Spain, (today) Italy, (today) Germany, Scandinavia and (today) Austria.
Too optimistic to call those countries civilised only in whole history.
@@aleksandarcvetkovic5436 I agree
I loved this series! I have recently started going through it again because it has been years now. I also want to read through Gibbon's works as I have only dipped into that in parts over the years.
I ordered the 11 volume from Abebooks in US to Hyderabad, India. This set is not available in India, it means there is demand for this books and no connosieur of books in India sells it away. I hopefully plan to read it in a year or more, as i am not gainfully employed and there is no pressure to take an exam and graduate from any school.
As you state, classroom reading redirects reading to comply with the scholastic program. It is a relief and a pleasure to read for yourself.
You finished or not? how old are you?
A nation is born stoic, and dies epicurean. At its cradle religion stands, and philosophy accompanies it to the grave.
- Will Durant (The Story Of Civilization)
A monumental summary, excellent!
Thanks for your review. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Glad to hear it!
The audiobooks narrated by Grover Gardner (Andrew Adams pseudonym, I believe) are good. I’ve got digital copies of all the volumes. They’re excellent. Of course, given them when they were written much of the history and some of the terms are going to be out of date. That said, there is a chunk of useful information. It inspires one to read more in-depth on some of the areas that he covers. I started taking notes, and found that it’s hard not to write a lot of information down. There’s just too much fascinating stuff!
Durant is an excellent writer. I learned a lot of new vocabulary words reading this book.
I love the images you chose to insert. I found your video by searching for Durant's Story of Civilization with images. It would be an awesome undertaking, best done by a group, but can you imagine if the entire audio of the Durants' work were accompanied by appropriate imagery?!
Yes, it takes time to put in the effort. There are many outstanding protected images in scholarly databases that I've glanced at but cannot use.
Good work, what needs to be understood is that at different periods, civilisations varied in the extend of focus and sense of urgency. When these factors were at maximum level these societies were highly productive and creative. One of the major impact on the focus and sense of urgency is what is called alarm sounds in languages, to understand this see a video on Latin and Ancient Rome, ua-cam.com/video/diQpUB8ykk8/v-deo.html
I watched your video and I find it compelling and astute. Thanks!
@@DavidPeacockChannel Thanks, your review of Will Durant's work is a pleasure to watch and listen to.
I love the series. But here’s a question. Why didn’t Will Durant include the civilizations of the Americas: the Incas, Mayas, and Aztecs?
I'm not sure. My first thought is Durant was limited to the material that was translated into English. I wonder how many languages Durant could read and how much time he spent reading foreign language texts.
Asked same qustion.
Guess it is for marketing purposes.
The age of Voltaire tome says History of Civilisation in Western Europe 1715-1756.
Except first book, all other 10 are about Western Europe.
Nevermind (inaccurate) title, books are worth reading.
Currently 9/12.
on book 3 now
How are you enjoying book 3, and the series overall so far?
@@kholmes39 great i love it,
Do you know of a study guide I could use for a book group, dedicating one year to this series
I'm unfamiliar with a study group. I am hopeful that one will appear.
20:00
Who's here after Elon musk recommend it?
I saw Elon's tweet and love it. I welcome Elon fans to my channel.