Titans of History: The Giants Who Made Our World

This book is fascinating but I found it very irritating. Each "Titan" has their life and times described in manageable chunks, accurately as far as I know. However, I was extremely grateful for the fact you can easily check out the meaning of words because I read it on a Kindle. If I had been reading it as a book and had to look up a dictionary two or three times a page I would have given up after the 2nd chapter. I'm fairly well read but for some reason the author needs to use totally obscure words that the normal person does not understand - frequently. This book should be for the man in the street and the lay-out and the way it is actually written is easily understood but the use of these perplexing words is very annoying. There is no need for it. In every case there are several words that could have been used that would have made the reading experience of this fascinating book far more enjoyable. He has written others but for this reason I won't be buying them

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.

It's just OK. The author's list of 'Titans' is good and well chosen. They each get about 8 pages and, as the author promises, there's enough meat in there to give you an appreciable knowledge of the person in question and enough to whet your appetite to research further. The short biographies are very good and well researched in the early part of the book but, as they approach recent history, the author's own politics starts to creep in until, by the early 20th century, the book has lost its former neutrality and leans towards opinion and (dare I say it?) dustings of prejudice.That aside, if you want a good addition to the history section on your bookshelf, you could do worse than this.

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.

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.

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

A very good historical book telling the truth about all the tyrants that lived and ruled the world in the centuries before a very good book for a student or a historian who is looking to look for more parts of history about the tyrants could not put the book down five stars

A great book to have in the house.Feel ashamed how little I knew of his chosen Titans.Easy read.Well researched as you would expect of Montefiore.A must to give to successive generous generations if you believe history is important

I’ve read and reread these

This is the perfect book to dip in and out of. Well written and v readable. Gt present

Less subjects and more information on them.

Very entertaining mini biography of a whole host of historical characters! The biographical 'Titans' in Montefiore's book range from the great, good, bad and the ugly (the famous...

It is at best, a collection of official histories that offer little truth or fact and quite frankly is a waste of time reading.

I found it rather superficial and with too much sensationalism. I bought it for a long train journey, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

Really nice quick introduction to many Titans of History that you'll want to know more about, and many you may not have heard of.

good