Review (PDF) Spare Me The Details!: A Short History Of Western Civilization
I wish I knew more about Western history.Adult, parent, student, and traveler: Who of us hasn't had this thought? Sara Drogin, a veteran high-school history teacher, addresses this wish with Spare Me the Details!, a "refresher text" for adults and students. Written in a lively and conversational style, Spare Me the Details! provides a concise overview of Western civilization.Spare Me the Details! begins with Ancient Greece and concludes with the twenty-first century. The book describes the key periods, events, and luminaries of Western history, provides cause-and-effect analysis, and establishes historical connections across time periods. Additionally, Spare Me the Details! develops two major themes central to Western civilization: the evolution of humanism and the growth of democracy. It also pays special attention to the role of women throughout history and to the connection between the arts and history.Now you, too, will know the essentials of Western civilization.
Paperback: 166 pages
Publisher: iUniverse (May 13, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0595470475
ISBN-13: 978-0595470471
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #406,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #461 in Books > History > Ancient Civilizations > Greece #625 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Ancient #908 in Books > History > World > Civilization & Culture
Very good summary without an obvious political bias. This is a good book for anyone unfamiliar with the history of western civilization or anyone looking for a refresher. The title is a little misleading, thank goodness, for there is sufficient detail to make the entire book interesting.
This is an example of the sort of book badly needed today. It is, as the title claims, a very brief survey of the history of Western Civilization without all the dates and other details that tend to make surveys rather dull. As one who has taught Western Civ. in college/university classes for over 40 years, I highly recommend this book as an introduction and/or supplement for any Western Civ. course in college, high school, home school courses.
Ms. Drogin (her style is so chummy you'll soon think of her as "Sara") tells you early on that she will highlight pivotal moments of female emancipation and accomplishments throughout the text. These tidbits in no way interrupt the conversational flow of her narrative. Teacher that she is, Sara skillfully leads you to wonder how events in one part of the world might lead to changes in another, and ... Bingo! ... in the next paragraph she takes you just where you hoped to go! By her book jacket photo she is probably well into her forties; why haven't we seen her in print before now?
This book was very accessible and well-written, the kind of book I wish I'd had in high school or college. What I liked was that the author knew just how much information to include without bombarding me with too many dates and figures. Every period was clearly organized, well-written, full of interesting tid bits, and short enough to keep my attention. There's a clear story-line that runs through the book, and connects the periods, so you feel like you're progressing through history. You can also tell the author isn't trying to sound overly academic. The language is clear (I didn't' see any spelling or grammatical errors), the tone is friendly, and the author demonstrates complete command of every period.One review claims the book fails to mention the Korean War and the Vietnam War. This is simply not true -- both are covered in chapter 19, which discusses the Cold War period.Overall, I thought this book was great, a fun read, and super informative. If you're looking to brush up on your history, drop the Cliff Notes! This is one I highly recommend!
This book is a marvelously concise summary of Western History. Author Sara S. Drogin, an experienced teacher and traveler, writes with verve, style, an historian's grasp, and a connoisseur's appreciation of culture. The clarity of the book makes it accessible to high school students, while its sophistication recommends it to college students and other adults looking for a quick but authoritative historical overview. I highly recommend this engrossing read.
this is a great overall view of world history, and would be a great book for people who want a interesting read of world history. Author has a way of making history interesting, and never boring. I am amazed at author's grasp of such a large subject.
Well written and easy to follow and understand. Every high school student should read this prior to taking Western Civilization.
Student, traveler, history buff - this book provides essential historical context from the era of the Ancient Greeks to the end of the Cold War. Chapter 16 "The Great War" is the best summary I have ever read of the causes and effects of World War I. I wish I had this book with me on my last trip to France!So much of history repeats and this short summary provides the threads that connect events and historical periods. A great addition to your library or your backpack.
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