Customer Reviews

12 Books That Changed the World

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Melvyn Bragg's "12 Books That Changed the World" is a wonderful read.

Within Bragg's title, it is important to that it doesn't say: THE 12 books that changed the world. However, it is certain that the books he quotes would be high up on most lists. His list eclectic and sometimes almost esoteric but includes such tomes as Newton's "Principia", Arkwright's patent for a spinning machine, the Magna Carta, the King James Bible, Charles Darwin's Origin of Species and, quixotically, the Rules of Association Football. There could be endless debate about what books should be in and what book should out. Bragg has placed a line in the sand. His choice is brilliant yet, at the same time, sure to generate argument.

Foe each of the twelve books, Bragg provides a brief synopsis of the work and its place in history. The reader comes away feeling enlightened without having been talked down to. Bragg has a writing style that is well paced. This is a book that can be read by any general reader with an interest in history and a love of books.

Let there be no doubt, books have changed the world. We may argue that some books deserve a high or lower reverence than another but we cannot argue about the true impact of books. To have not read is to be a poorer for that fact. Furthermore, it is a brave person who can argue against the King James Bible, the Magna Carta and the works of Darwin and Newton. These books did change the world. We may disagree with the benefit of that impact but we cannot deny that there was an impact.

I strongly recommend this work to lovers of English. Above all else, if Bragg's book shows nothing else, it is English that has become the world's language.

Bragg is a book- lover who in his introduction tries to justify, for what many would probably need no justification, the idea that books have changed the world. He then goes on to explain why he has chosen the twelve particular books he has. He starts off with Newton's 'Principia' a work which certainly is one of the most important ever published. He tells the story of Newton's life and accomplishment in a few very clearly written pages. The Lincolnshire lad during the plague years of 1665-66 sat at home thinking twenty hours a day , and in doing so provided a new and basic understanding of the physical laws of the universe. His last selection is another of the world's most important, Shakespeare's 'Folios'. Here he takes great pains to explain why he has chosen a work of Literature . Imaginative literature he contends does not bring about social change but rather has importance in altering individual lives and consciousnesses. Among his other selections are works which no doubt have made major changes in the world, including 'The Magna Carta' ' The Origin of Species' 'The King James Bible' 'The Wealth of Nations' His other selections are Mary Wollstonecraft's ' A Vindication of the Rights of Women' Faraday's ' Experimental Researches in Electricity' Richard Awkright's " Patent Specification for a Spinning Machine' ' The Rule Book of Association Football' ' Married Love' by Marie Stopes.
As I had never heard of Stopes before it was particularly interesting to read her story. According to Bragg she is a major figure in educating the world in the idea that women should not merely suffer sexual relations with their husbands but actually enjoy them. In another interesting chapter he explains how James Awkwright who was not a great inventor but rather a major entrepreneur created the innovation, the factory system which brought about the Industrial Revolution.
Bragg's does not say that these are the twelve books which have most influenced the world. Clearly most of them do not fit into that category. The book should have perhaps been more honestly titled, 'Twelve English or British books that changed the world' however parochial sounding that might be. He does explain why he includes some which are not really books, but rather 'documents' . He explains that he wanted to provide a lively read and selections from various areas of life. He provides summaries of the books, and traces their influence historically.
This is a readable, informative, enjoyable work if not an especially profound one.

This is a book of 12 essays on 12 British books, all of which indeed help change the world; however, to me they sound like voice overs for 12 programs in a first class TV series -- full of interesting information and anecdotes for people who are not familiar with these works but not daring or particularly enlightening for people who are. And regardless of Mr. Bragg's reasoning, I think all of the books would have been better served had they been put in chronologic order. To start with Newton's "Principia Mathematica" (1687), go to Marie Stopes' "Married Love" (1918) then to Magna Carta (1215) is not only jarring but humbles Stopes' work. At least for me.

The choice of these 12 books could have been different, especialy if you're not born in UK. Anyway, every one is worth reading.