Originally published on Goodreads.
This is a beautifully written account of what history tells us about civilisation but not particularly useful for those who want to learn from history. It is very high level and I was frustrated by the lack of references to the events that the lessons are derived from. Of course, that is what Durant’s 11-volume The Story of Civilization is for if you want to get into the details!
I would still recommend reading this however, because it is so concise, so well written and really does offer insights into the past that can be helpful for the future.