Rating: 
Summary: Lessons like this are never dated or obsolete
Review: There are many conclusions that the Durants reach from history, and they are organized into categories. The main chapters are:
*) Biology and history.
*) Race and history.
*) Character and history.
*) Morals and history.
*) Religion and history.
*) Economics and history.
*) Socialism and history.
*) Government and history.
*) History and war.
The Durants are quite frank in their statements about history; they mention their main lesson several times. It is summed up on page 41; "We must remind ourselves again that history as usually written is quite different from history as usually lived." Although the book was written in 1968, their statements can be applied to many modern social, economic and political issues. On page 40, there is the statement; "Even our generation has not rivaled the popularity of homosexualism in ancient Greece or Rome or Renaissance Italy." Statements like this show the historical ignorance of many that consider the recent issues regarding homosexuality to be unique to this generation.
In the chapter on economics and history, several examples of mighty societies that suffered through devastating revolutions as a consequence of the wealth being concentrated in the hands of a few are given. Ancient Athens, Rome and France all underwent convulsions due to economic disparities. Recent statistics describing the continuing concentration of wealth in a smaller number of people in the United States raises concerns. On page 57, there is the statement, "The government of the United States, in 1933-52 and 1960-65, followed Solon's peaceful methods, and accomplished a moderate and pacifying redistribution; perhaps someone studied history." There is no doubt that the Durants would not approve of the current policies of the Bush administration.
Every generation seems destined to consider their problems to be unique to the human experience. While in some ways, such as in science and technology it is true, in general it is very self-centered. Most problems are continuing with occasional peaks, so we can learn much from history. This book can serve as a primer in that respect.
Rating:
Summary: A once-in-a-lifetime foundation reading, get it used
Review:
This is the first book that I discuss in my national security lecture on the literature relevant to strategy & force structure. It is a once-in-a-lifetime gem of a book that sums up their much larger ten volume collection which itself is brilliant but time consuming. This is the "executive briefing."
Geography matters. Inequality is natural. Famine, pestilence, and war are Nature's way of balancing the population. Birth control (or not) has *strategic* implications (e.g. see Catholic strategy versus US and Russian neglect of its replenishment among the higher social and economic classes). History is color-blind. Morality is strength. Worth saying again: morality is strength. See my various lists. This book, John Lewis Gaddis on "The Landscape of History", and Stewart Brand "The Clock of the Long Now" are among my "top ten of all time".
Rating:
Summary: A once-in-a-lifetime foundation reading, get it used
Review:
This is the first book that I discuss in my national security lecture on the literature relevant to strategy & force structure. It is a once-in-a-lifetime gem of a book that sums up their much larger ten volume collection which itself is brilliant but time consuming. This is the "executive briefing."
Geography matters. Inequality is natural. Famine, pestilence, and war are Nature's way of balancing the population. Birth control (or not) has *strategic* implications (e.g. see Catholic strategy versus US and Russian neglect of its replenishment among the higher social and economic classes). History is color-blind. Morality is strength. Worth saying again: morality is strength. See my various lists. This book, John Lewis Gaddis on "The Landscape of History", and Stewart Brand "The Clock of the Long Now" are among my "top ten of all time".
Rating:
Summary: Insightful
Review: After finishing the ten volumes of "The History of Civilization", Will and Ariel Durant went back revising and taking notes from their monumental work and produced this insightful essay. The goal was not to summarize 3,421 years of recorded history in a hundred pages. That would have been silly. The goal was to give some thought to what means to study history; how important is to know our heritage; can we understand our nature and the relations between individuals or between groups or nations just by analysing the past; can the acumulated human experience tell us where are we heading to? The book was first published in 1968, the worse phase of the cold war, when any perspective of future seemed rather dark and the uncertainties of the period certainly permeate the book. The book might be considered biased and conservative but that is fair game since the authors warn us about that on the first chapter, "Hesitations". "Historian are not free from bias and prejudice", they say and "most history is guessing, and the rest is prejudice". The book was written with great care. The sentences are powerful, elegant, concise and insightful. It brings noteworthy quotes and is itself very quotable. A book to be read and appreciated several times. Leonardo Alves - January 2001
Rating:
Summary: Insightful
Review: After finishing the ten volumes of "The History of Civilization", Will and Ariel Durant went back revising and taking notes from their monumental work and produced this insightful essay. The goal was not to summarize 3,421 years of recorded history in a hundred pages. That would have been silly. The goal was to give some thought to what means to study history; how important is to know our heritage; can we understand our nature and the relations between individuals or between groups or nations just by analysing the past; can the acumulated human experience tell us where are we heading to? The book was first published in 1968, the worse phase of the cold war, when any perspective of future seemed rather dark and the uncertainties of the period certainly permeate the book. The book might be considered biased and conservative but that is fair game since the authors warn us about that on the first chapter, "Hesitations". "Historian are not free from bias and prejudice", they say and "most history is guessing, and the rest is prejudice". The book was written with great care. The sentences are powerful, elegant, concise and insightful. It brings noteworthy quotes and is itself very quotable. A book to be read and appreciated several times. Leonardo Alves - January 2001
Rating:
Summary: Sweep of History.
Review: For the person in a hurry, but who is also curious about history, I would recommend this book. It is the culmination of a survey of history that Will and Ariel Durrant did in the 1960's. I realize that some of the conclusions have been dated, such as concern about the Soviet Union, but that does not destroy the value of the work. Indeed, who is to say that the Soviet Union, or some neo-Tsarist regime, could not rise again? Moreover, this book covers other topics, all of them revolving around the "Human Predicament," which is basically a choice between freedom and security. Or better yet, actual freedom, and claimed security, since if you chose security over freedom, you will lose both freedom and security. This book is an easy read, written on the high-school level, so there are no excuses for not understanding anything. It is an essential in anyone's collection of "Great Books," since not only is the unexamined life not worth living, the unexamined civilization is not worth preserving. And we can make a change in things.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but didn't meet expectations.
Review: I am a great fan of Will Durant. I have read several of the volumes from the "Story of Civilization" series. This book is enjoyable, but lacks the insight and depth that his other books show. His conclusions are true, but not new.
Rating:
Summary: The world's diary encapsulated in a short 100 pages
Review: If when I die I could only pass on three books to my children this would be one of them. Nobody knows the many details of history but some few understand the underlying essence and are able to give it shape and perhaps of these only a handful can make it captivating. Mr. Durant has done all of this in an evenhanded and joyful manner with "The Lessons of History."
Here is a synopsis of the forces that have driven history's path since people have taken note of their circumstances.
Rating:
Summary: The Capstone Final Book in The Story of Civilization!
Review: In this text, which could be read before, after or along the way with the eleven volumes of the much heralded and acclaimed series "The Story of Civilization," Dr. Will and Ariel Durant share the historical lessons they have learned after more than >40 years of research and writing in compiling that series.
The reader is treated to a blend of history, philosophy, anthropology, and the Durant's keen insight into political science; insight that applies as much today as when written, with contemporary poli-sci issues in mind. At only slightly more than >100 pages, this book is worth the cost of money and the time to read it. If you cannot or will not read the eleven volumes of The Story of Civilization, but want to be an armchair historian, I suggest you at least read this book!
For example (p.44): "Though the Church served the state, it claimed to stand above all states, as morality should stand above power. It taught men that patriotism unchecked by a higher loyalty can be a tool of greed and crime."
This book is fantastic! I rate this text as five stars!
Rating:
Summary: AN ILLUMINATING INSIGHT INTO THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Review: The Durant's have captured the essence of the human experience throughout history. Although I have not yet read 'The Story of Civilisation' (which I plan to address), this book has opened my eyes to the world in which we live. The themes distilled in this wonderful book will surely awaken the dullest mind.
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