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Empire
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If in the year 1411 you had been able to circumnavigate the globe, you would have been most impressed by the dazzling civilizations of the Orient. The Forbidden City was under construction in Ming Beijing; in the Near East, the Ottomans were closing in on Constantinople. By contrast, England would have struck you as a miserable backwater ravaged by plague, bad sanitation and incessant war. The other quarrelsome kingdoms of Western Europe - Aragon, Castile, France, Portugal and Scotland - would have seemed little better.
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Very entertaining, interesting and informative
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What if everything we thought we knew about history was wrong? From the global best-selling author of Empire, The Ascent of Money and Civilization, this is a whole new way of looking at the world. Most history is hierarchical: it's about popes, presidents, and prime ministers. But what if that's simply because they create the historical archives? What if we are missing equally powerful but less visible networks-leaving them to the conspiracy theorists, with their dreams of all-powerful Illuminati?
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thought provoking and timely
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Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot: Call it what you like, it matters. To Christians, love of it is the root of all evil. To generals, it's the sinews of war. To revolutionaries, it's the chains of labour. But in The Ascent of Money, Niall Ferguson shows that finance is in fact the foundation of human progress. What's more, he reveals financial history as the essential back-story behind all history.
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Structure and origins of the financial world
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Kissinger
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Much more than an autobiography.
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The English East India Company was the mother of the modern multinational. Its trading empire encircled the globe, importing Asian luxuries such as spices, textiles, and teas. But it also conquered much of India with its private army and broke open China's markets with opium. The Company's practices shocked its contemporaries and still reverberate today.
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Fascinating
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Civilization
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If in the year 1411 you had been able to circumnavigate the globe, you would have been most impressed by the dazzling civilizations of the Orient. The Forbidden City was under construction in Ming Beijing; in the Near East, the Ottomans were closing in on Constantinople. By contrast, England would have struck you as a miserable backwater ravaged by plague, bad sanitation and incessant war. The other quarrelsome kingdoms of Western Europe - Aragon, Castile, France, Portugal and Scotland - would have seemed little better.
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Very entertaining, interesting and informative
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The War of the World
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- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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The world at the beginning of the 20th century seemed for most of its inhabitants stable and relatively benign. Globalising, booming economies married to technological breakthroughs seemed to promise a better world for most people. Instead the 20th century proved to be overwhelmingly the most violent, frightening and brutalised in history, with fanatical, often genocidal warfare engulfing most societies between the outbreak of the First World War and the end of the Cold War. What went wrong?
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Brilliant
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thought provoking and timely
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The Ascent of Money
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Bread, cash, dosh, dough, loot: Call it what you like, it matters. To Christians, love of it is the root of all evil. To generals, it's the sinews of war. To revolutionaries, it's the chains of labour. But in The Ascent of Money, Niall Ferguson shows that finance is in fact the foundation of human progress. What's more, he reveals financial history as the essential back-story behind all history.
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Structure and origins of the financial world
- By Judy Corstjens on 10-04-15
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Kissinger
- 1923-1968: The Idealist
- By: Niall Ferguson
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 33 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Kissinger: The Idealist by Niall Ferguson, read by Roy McMillan. No American statesman has been as revered and as reviled as Henry Kissinger. Hailed by some as the 'indispensable man' whose advice has been sought by every president from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush, Kissinger has also attracted immense hostility from critics who have cast him as an amoral Machiavellian - the ultimate cold-blooded 'realist'.
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Much more than an autobiography.
- By Jason on 09-03-18
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The Corporation That Changed the World
- How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational
- By: Nick Robins
- Narrated by: Simon Barber
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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The English East India Company was the mother of the modern multinational. Its trading empire encircled the globe, importing Asian luxuries such as spices, textiles, and teas. But it also conquered much of India with its private army and broke open China's markets with opium. The Company's practices shocked its contemporaries and still reverberate today.
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Fascinating
- By Jim on 06-06-17
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A Line in the Sand
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Through a stellar cast of politicians, diplomats, spies and soldiers, including T. E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle, A Line in the Sand vividly tells the story of the short but crucial era when Britain and France ruled the Middle East. It explains exactly how the old antagonism between these two powers inflamed the more familiar modern rivalry between the Arabs and the Jews and ultimately led to war between the British and the French in 1941 and between the Arabs and the Jews in 1948.
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Very few emerge with glory.
- By Alan Hooper on 07-01-19
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Inglorious Empire
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- Narrated by: Shashi Tharoor
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Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Inglorious Empire written and read by Shashi Tharoor. In the 18th century, India's share of the world economy was as large as Europe's. By 1947, after two centuries of British rule, it had decreased six-fold. The Empire blew rebels from cannon, massacred unarmed protesters, entrenched institutionalised racism and caused millions to die from starvation.
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An informative and entertaining audiobook.
- By G Varsani on 25-06-18
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World Order
- Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History
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- Length: 14 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of World Order by Henry Kissinger, read by Nicholas Hormann. World Order is the summation of Henry Kissinger's thinking about history, strategy and statecraft. As if taking a perspective from far above the globe, it examines the great tectonic plates of history and the motivations of nations, explaining the attitudes that states and empires have taken to the rest of the world from the formation of Europe to our own times.
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recommended
- By florin on 31-07-16
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Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order
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- Narrated by: Niall Ferguson
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Abridged
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Ferguson's most revolutionary and popular work, this is a major reinterpretation of the British Empire as one of the world's greatest modernising forces. Based on the Channel Four series that will be aired simultaneously with the book, it shows on a vast canvas how the British Empire in the 19th century spearheaded real globalisation with steampower, telegraphs, guns, engineers, missionaries, and millions of settlers.
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Unexpected pleasure
- By Mr. J. Fanning on 14-06-12
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The Cold War
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- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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- Unabridged
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As Germany and then Japan surrendered in 1945, there was a tremendous hope that a new and much better world could be created from the moral and physical ruins of the conflict. Instead, the combination of the huge power of the USA and USSR and the near-total collapse of most of their rivals created a unique, grim new environment: the Cold War. For over 40 years the demands of the Cold War shaped the life of almost all of us. There was no part of the world where East and West did not ultimately demand a blind and absolute allegiance.
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One of the best books I've ever read
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Napoleon Bonaparte lived one of the most extraordinary of all human lives. In the space of just 20 years, from October 1795, when as a young artillery captain he cleared the streets of Paris of insurrectionists, to his final defeat at the (horribly mismanaged) battle of Waterloo in June 1815, Napoleon transformed France and Europe. After seizing power in a coup d'état, he ended the corruption and incompetence into which the revolution had descended.
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A brilliant history
- By Simon on 20-08-15
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National Populism
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Across the West, there is a rising tide of people who feel excluded, alienated from mainstream politics and increasingly hostile towards minorities, immigrants and neoliberal economics. Many of these voters are turning to national populist movements, which have begun to change the face of Western liberal democracy, from the United States to France, Austria to the UK. This radical turn, we are told, is a last howl of rage from an aging electorate on the verge of extinction.
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The Secret World
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The history of espionage is far older than any of today's intelligence agencies, yet the long history of intelligence operations has been largely forgotten. The codebreakers at Bletchley Park, the most successful World War II intelligence agency, were completely unaware that their predecessors in earlier moments of national crisis had broken the codes of Napoleon during the Napoleonic wars and those of Spain before the Spanish Armada.
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Couldn't Finish This
- By Amazon Customer on 20-10-18
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The Silk Roads
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- By: Peter Frankopan
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The sun is setting on the Western world. Slowly but surely, the direction in which the world spins has reversed: where for the last five centuries the globe turned westward on its axis, it now turns to the east.... For centuries, fame and fortune were to be found in the West - in the New World of the Americas. Today it is the East that calls out to those in search of adventure and riches. The region stretching from Eastern Europe and sweeping right across Central Asia, deep into China and India, is taking center stage.
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History that is as entertaining as it is educating
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The Phoney Victory
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- By: Peter Hitchens
- Narrated by: Peter Hitchens
- Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Was World War II really the 'Good War'? In the years since the declaration of peace in 1945, many myths have sprung up around the conflict in the victorious nations. In this audiobook, Peter Hitchens deconstructs the many fables which have become associated with the narrative of the 'Good War'. Whilst not criticising or doubting the need for war against Nazi Germany at some stage, Hitchens does query whether September 1939 was the right moment or the independence of Poland the right issue.
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What annoys Peter Hitchens about WW2
- By Kindle Customer on 05-02-19
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Vietnam
- An Epic History of a Divisive War 1945-1975
- By: Max Hastings
- Narrated by: Peter Noble, Max Hastings - introduction
- Length: 33 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Vietnam became the Western world’s most divisive modern conflict, precipitating a battlefield humiliation for France in 1954, then a vastly greater one for the United States in 1975. Max Hastings has spent the past three years interviewing scores of participants on both sides, as well as researching a multitude of American and Vietnamese documents and memoirs, to create an epic narrative of an epic struggle. He portrays the set pieces of Dienbienphu, the Tet offensive, the air blitz of North Vietnam and less familiar battles such as the bloodbath at Daido.
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Brilliant
- By Derrick on 20-10-18
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Rollercoaster
- Europe, 1950-2017
- By: Ian Kershaw
- Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
- Length: 26 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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After the overwhelming horrors of the first half of the 20th century, described by Ian Kershaw in his previous book as having gone 'to hell and back', the years from 1950 to 2017 brought peace and relative prosperity to most of Europe. Enormous economic improvements transformed the continent. The catastrophic era of the world wars receded into an ever more distant past, though its long shadow continued to shape mentalities. Europe was now a divided continent, living under the nuclear threat in a period intermittently fraught with anxiety.
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Doing it for the money?
- By Jonathan on 16-02-19
Summary
Penguin presents the unabridged audiobook edition of Empire by Niall Ferguson, read by Jonathan Keeble.
Once vast swathes of the globe were coloured imperial red, and Britannia ruled not just the waves but the prairies of America, the plains of Asia, the jungles of Africa and the deserts of Arabia. Just how did a small, rainy island in the North Atlantic achieve all this? And why did the empire on which the sun literally never set finally decline and fall?
Niall Ferguson's acclaimed Empire brilliantly unfolds the imperial story in all its splendours and its miseries, showing how a gang of buccaneers and gold diggers planted the seed of the biggest empire in all history - and set the world on the road to modernity.
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- Elaine
- Hospital, Ireland
- 01-01-18
excellent
Superb book. Entertaining, informative and well written. To crown it all it is also beautifully read.
My only gripe is that it fails to recognise (as many books by British authors do) why Ireland chose neutrality in WW2. This was done to avert a return to civil war. A very real possibility at the time. Also, no recognition is given to the fact that while technically neutral Irish neutrality was heavily skewed in favour of the Allies.
However, the book remains an excellent and absorbing piece of work.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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- Don
- 05-02-18
A useful overview, but with challenging biases
I enjoyed this book, though take issue with some of the content. The book is most interesting in its first half where it details the early stages of the British Empire, in particular the link between private and public institutions and the early growth of the Empire. The second half is more challanging, and is very much aimed at vindication of the Empire. The slightly contemptuous attitude to the United States and the convenience of ending the book before needed to fully engage with 1960s Africa/decolonisation are two negative elements towards the end. Ferguson does not shy away from the negative aspects of the Empire and highlights the deep injustices of the late 19th century scramble for Africa. However, in conclusion there is a strong sense that the end justifies the means and this was somehow a painful but necessary part of the creation of the modern world. I would certainly recommend the book both for its historical overview, as well as a clear example for those outside (or inside) Britain who want to understand the modern British attachment to the Empire and how traditionalist elements of society would like the Empire to be remembered.
8 of 12 people found this review helpful
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- Derek
- 05-12-17
Enthralling book and has great relevance today
What did you like most about Empire?
Providing a very balanced and dispassionate view of the British Empire throughout under pined with key economic data to back it up. This data is used to dispel many of the popular and politically correct myths about the the Empire that prevail and raises questions of the modern world order.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Empire?
There are many but one that you keep being reminded of is how the empire that ruled over a quarter of the world was created and maintained for so long on such limited manpower and resources. Something hard to imagine in today's world
Have you listened to any of Jonathan Keeble’s other performances? How does this one compare?
No
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Film would not do this book justice given the breath and depth of the subject matter
Any additional comments?
If you have an interest in history this is a compelling listen. Hard to put down. Despite all the bad press about the British Empire it does make you feel proud of the many achievements of our ancestors while at the same time being ashamed of some of their behavior too.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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- Reece
- 05-10-18
A steady but very dense book
This book starts off very slowly and continues like this until it talks about WW2 and then it changes pace. Although it is slow it is very encapsulating and never brushes over anything.
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- Simon
- 04-10-18
An excellent and thought-provocing book
An excellent and thought-provoking book that gives some fascinating perspectives. A very useful contribution to the current navel-gazing on our past. on our responsibilities and indeed on where as a nation-state we are heading
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- N. J. Butler
- 17-08-18
Empire -
loved the history but disliked the conclusions too poltical. Its great that one book covers our heritage so well
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- Richard James
- 04-07-18
a gret overhaul of events
i enjoyes this book massively. it touches on alot of events that i didnt know about but at the same time it skirts over a few events that i wish they had actually gone deeper into or in some cases mention at all.
covers alot of world history. good and bad so worth a listen is thats your thing
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- mr r d eggels
- 04-05-18
Brilliant
Extraordinarily compelling. Made me feel oddly proud of Britain's imperial legacy. Food for the inner jingo.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- Jesurules
- 13-03-18
On British colonialism, empire and imperialism
disagreed with his concluding remark but enjoyed most of the book, a must read for anyone who enjoys British history, colonial history or general reading on history of British imperialism - from beginning to the end
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- Mrs M Redman
- 18-01-18
Brilliant!
As a newbie to The Empire I found this book both enjoyable and engaging. Having tried other history narratives I found them difficult to hold the information but the way this is written and narrated kept me listen and learning the whole way through.Highly recommend.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- Dorothy
- 04-11-17
Such a great listen - What a History Lesson
I have listened to Niall Ferguson's book "Civilization" three times. I know I will do the same with this book. There is so much in this book which remains pertinent to the situations and times we are witnessing and living in today. This book pieced together and explained so many shadowy yet prevalent cultural happenings such as the Boar War and Gallipoli: things I knew the NAMES of but really had no understanding of why they had happened or what their importance meant to current events.
While there is much that was arrogant and even brutal about the British Empire, Mr, Ferguson explains the origins and outcomes in an even handed way. The book is written in an easy to comprehend manner, it is not a boring academic tome that people who lack a Phd can understand or enjoy.
I can't emphasize enough how amazing Jonathan Keeble is as a narrator. He is pitch perfect. I often look for his books because he seems to make anything he reads even better. I basically listened to this book in one sitting. It was very, very good.
29 of 30 people found this review helpful
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- Dennis Arve Wilkinson
- 18-01-18
It wasn’t all bad was it?
Empire building is not a popular idea today. It smacks of abuse and extortion
Ferguson breaks down the good the bad and the ugly of the British Empire, but doesn’t conclude with the expected thumbs down. It’s more of a thumbs sideways perhaps even pointed a little upwards. Can he do that? Both his primary source stories and his reasons are worth listening to!
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
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- J. R.
- 21-03-18
Enjoyable book
Excellent narrator, good story, the only part I did not care for was the endless "white guilt" complex of the author, and groveling apologies in nearly every chapter...
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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- Buretto
- 15-11-17
Worst empire ever, except for all the rest.
An engaging, if a bit of an uneven, account of the British Empire, as the author vacillates between a contemptuous view of the notion of empire and unabashed patriotism. The result is a bit disconcerting, abandoning a more measured style for a one that tends to reach for extremes of emotion. But oddly, it works.
The book gives unique perspectives on the major events of the empire, particularly in America and India. The author does go a bit afield with suppositions of alternate realities regarding slavery and colonialism, which can't strictly be supported, but it's all good food for thought. Where it starts to strain is the repetition of how the British empire's actions could be viewed as similar to the SS in Nazi Germany, but not as bad.... the Boer treatment of Africa, but not as bad... the Japanese colonisation of Asia, but not as bad. While certainly understandable, it's a theme that perhaps could have been made with a slightly subtler hammer.
15 of 18 people found this review helpful
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- Dan Davis
- 14-04-18
Enlightening
I am glad I finished this enlightening work. The middle drug out in details, but the body of work is worth the time.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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- KEITH
- 06-01-18
How Britain gained and lost the Empire
This is a very easy book to listen to and understand. It takes the reader from the beginning of the Empire (when the goal was to steal what they could from Spain), to the founding of colonies (and the ability of Britain to change its policies after losing America) to owning 1/4 of the land mass on the globe. The author points out that overall Britain wanted to do do the moral thing for its people.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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- Bill
- 14-05-18
Clearly Skewed
This is a very interesting work, although it is presented as though it is an unbiased academic work it is far from that. Mr. Ferguson is clearly an intelligent man, but is a bit of a revisionist on America and tends to be an English elitist. In summary the world was so much better when England was in charge.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
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- Bill C
- 23-02-19
Great History
This is a comprehensive work of scholarship on a very important subject. Great for university students and the audio performance is as the Brits say "First rate"
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- simon walker
- 13-01-19
Excellent history, uncritical conclusions
Excellent survey of the empire's history. Engaging and enlightening. The conclusion was a little tenuous, however. The central argument claims that there is both a positive and negative inheritance of the empire. The positive aspects are roughly viewed as the global market and liberal modes of government. However no argument is provided as to why we should veiw these as good in today's world - they are taken uncritically as good in themselves thus repeating the central justifying myth of empire. Thus the argument becomes self fulfilling and circular.
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- WW1 Researcher
- 16-11-18
Another well done Ferguson work.
I must confess that I am prone to enjoy books of this sort, I maintain a loving fascination with the British Empire, and pre-WW1 Europe. I don't always agree with some of Ferguson's statements but he is one of the best historians alive right now. Ferguson is going to engender controversy with the fact that he deviates from the "Empire is evil" narrative that is dominating the humanities right now, but God bless him for doing so. This book explores the origins of Britain's "accidental" empire, and how it was able to maintain it with such a small cadre of administrators. If you have the pre-conceived moral bias of, "the evil westerner" you are not going to like this book. The loss is yours. Ferguson attempts to show the positive outcome of the empire, and the unintended consequences of its break up. I have not read all of Ferguson's works, but the ones I have read are outstanding.