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Centuries of Change

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Centuries of Change

By: Ian Mortimer
Narrated by: Mike Grady, Ian Mortimer
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About this listen

In a contest of change, which century from the past millennium would come up trumps? Imagine the Black Death took on the female vote in a pub brawl, or the Industrial Revolution faced the Internet in a medieval joust - whose side would you be on?

In this hugely entertaining book, celebrated historian Ian Mortimer takes us on a whirlwind tour of Western history, pitting one century against another in his quest to measure change.

©2014 Ian Mortimer (P)2015 W F Howes Ltd
Civilization Freedom & Security History Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

"His curiosity is boundless and his profound scholarship is leavened by a sense of fun." ( Daily Express)

What listeners say about Centuries of Change

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This will shake our trees by the end

The wealth of history is huge and the analysis is unique and meaningful. The conclusions are applicable to every country and we hopefully will use our common sense to modify our lifestyles willingly rather than waiting for very painful changes to be forced upon us! Thanks Ian

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A lot of ground covered in such a short book...

Truth is something facts can certainly help with...but at times perspective is a better guide...

Although maybe not the intended goal. If you ever wondered how we got where we are now...you couldn't make a better starting point. Interesting and at times surprising, clear and always engaging. One of the most engrossing reads I've encountered in quite some time. The author is certainly on my personal radar now...

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Exellent narrative

Whilst I don't share the gloomy conclusion to the book (I simply don't accept that mankind will develop himself into a negative future. Fossil fuels will be replaced. I can't see anything other than social improvement across the scale.) really enjoyed the process and stepwise objective assessments of each century.

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Read it twice!

I founl some great ideas to think about and some themes we must attend to.

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fascinating perspective

really enjoyed this. highly thought provoking. make sure you listen to the end because it provides all sorts of unexpected outputs as to the direction of change in the future

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Recommended

Thoroughly enjoyed reading. Vast amount of information to get through but provides invaluable points of reference for both history and non history specialists. Chapters on medieval changes and continuity much more rigorous than the 19th and 20th century chapters.

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History Packed Full of Insight

Great survey of changes over centuries with a good twist in the telling at the end with warning and yet hope for the future.

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One of the best

One of the most interesting books on history - European history - I have had to fortune of reading.
I have always been more interested in learning about how society, and more "normal" people living inside societies, were during past times, than the histories of monarchs and wars. And this book caters to that interest. I haven't completely finished it yet, but it's already going into my favourites collection.

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Pessimistic piece, filled with intellectual hyperbole

The last chapter was somehow disappointing—doomsday kind of disappointing. The conclusion is filled with pessimism.

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love this book

This might be my favourite book so far by Ian Mortimer. love all his books .
only part was the end scary to be honest if we don't change how things could end up. sick of the rich ruling the world , while hard working people suffer the most.
good listen. so insightful

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1 person found this helpful