Titans of History: The Giants Who Made Our World

Right from the introduction, the author gets political. We had hoped this was a history, not a commentary on today's politics. If you are a liberal, though, you might like his views.

I was really hoping that this would be a look - a peak at histories brilliance - instead it was a skipping stone touching on the greatest dents in our universe - so how do I provide the most valuable feedback - with a WISH - I wish that the author had taken 2 to 3 more pages per person - to finish the story - to complete the thought - to answer the WHY that makes men great - I would have bought ALL 5 Volumes - without looking at the price or waiting for months for he finished product. The Titans of History would have been an epic dent in our universe and yet it lands - as a skipping stone - slowly losing momentum and sinking quietly to the bottom of mediocrity - so I will leave you with a quote from II Duce, one that I hope will serve the author and others reading this post some motivation and meaning to Life: "The Question is not how far, the Question is do you posses the constitution, the depth of Faith to go as far as is needed." Get to work Montefiore and BRING US THE BEAST WE KNOW YOU HAVE WITHIN YOU. I will be your most dedicated fan. Tick. Tock.

I am an avid reader, but I found this book a bit dense. I was expecting more interesting history, and while there were some entries that were interesting, many were not.

Very good review of major figures in history. It includes both good and bad persons who had a significant influence in their time. If you want to get an overview of history from ancient to modern times, this is a good book to do so. Be warned that many of the people in the book were infamously bad but had a big impact in history.

This is a bad book. The biographies are extremely brief and perhaps because of this are extremely shallow, lacking any serious analysis of the subjects. They also at times show an amazing lack of knowledge of the subject, as in the case of the biography of Cyrus the Great; where Simon Sebag Montefiore accepts without criticism the claim which the UN accepted that the Cyrus Cylinder is "the first Charter of Human Rights"; even though this has been debunked by serious historians.There is not even a bibliography in this work, which means that even if you wanted to follow up on one of the people discussed by the author, you even lack the works he consulted for further reading.

Only a few pages on each, so mostly useful to see if there is someone you are not yet familiar with. Then you can look elsewhere for understanding.

Fantastic book. Love it!

My daugther used for the university

OMGosh.I was SO annoyed when I finished this book!I wanted it to go on for another 1000 pages of more!SO many incredibly interesting stories, facts, such history!Yes, Simon's idea for the book was to get the readers interested in finding out more about the characters who created histors.Well, Simon, it's worked. Thank you for an excellent book.I'm now starting on Simon's other great booksJust one question . . .How on earth does one person know all this stuff???

It's the most wonderfully varied and entertaining book of potted biographies I've encountered and its current pride of place on my bookshelves won't last long, as family members are queuing to 'borrow' it. Of course none of us will approve of all Simon Sebag Montefiore's choices and opinions - why would anyone want such homogeneity! - but his evaluations, enthusiasm and personality carry the day.

This is a great book! I received it for Christmas from my step-daughter and just read a 'story' or two each night. The book is arranged in historical order (oldest person first) with typically two or three pages per personal story. It is important to note that not all of these Titans are nice guys -- some of them are genocidal maniacs who killed hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions! I was surprised by the fact that I knew nothing of some of the villains but had at least heard of most of the good guys. In any case, I used the book to relax before going to sleep and found the length of the individual stories to be perfect for that purpose.Each story is written in an almost conversational style that I found both informative and enjoyable. I must admit to enjoying seeing this author on the BBC where he was obviously well informed but also knows how to tell a story. I had also enjoyed his book about Jerusalem in which he treated the city as if it were a person.I enjoyed this book so much that this copy which I am reviewing was actually a gift to one of my sons, who, like me, has begun an interest in history that did not develop until well after high school and college.

You go to the doctor's, miss the bus, wait for a colleague to arrive, wait for the rain to stop. These and a multitude of similar situations plague our lives. When you have a book, it is some relief but not very much use if the content is complex or the story full of suspense. All you do is lose track if you read in bite-size chunks and need to re-read it or miss out some important facts. The Titans books are ideal. Each snippet is, on my tablet, about 7 minutes reading time. You know the names of these people - Nebuchadnezzar, Sun Tsu, Hannibal, Caligula, Jesus (an interesting Jewish slant), Attila the Hun,Haroun al Raschid, Saladin , Ghengis Khan, Richard the Lion Heart, Eleanore of Aquitaine, Catherine the Great, Jane Austen and many many more. It's all very simple and obviously short but can stimulate you to find out more, become a master quiz player or simply feel just a little more 'educated' (the person who has forgotten more than most people ever learn). Go on; it's cheap, very good value for money and you won't feel so bored or tense waiting for the dentist.

As far as I am aware, and I have read full length biographies of many of the subjects in this book which don't contradict at all, this work is entirely factual. However, Mr Montefiore writes with a very wry sense of humour which, I suppose, is very apt with the number of scoundrels whose nemesis he chronicles along with the good and the great of whom he writes but in the end we are all dead.It reminds me of "1066 and all that" a spoof history book and play popular in my childhood (and doubtless Mr Montefiore's) but without the Latin puns. The difference is that it is a serious work of history and very educational, you need to look quite close to see the humour.I do hope, as Mr Montefiore suggests, that it inspires readers to delve deeper into the lives of the rogues and the honorable of whom he gives a brief glance