or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
Sorry!
More Buying Choices
178 used & new from $0.48

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
A History of Knowledge: Past, Present, and Future
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

A History of Knowledge: Past, Present, and Future (Paperback)

~ (Author) "BY THE TIME written history began, some fifty centuries ago, mankind had learned much more than our primitive ancestors knew..." (more)
Key Phrases: positional notation, United States, Don Giovanni, City of God (more...)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)

List Price: $16.95
Price: $11.53 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $5.42 (32%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Tuesday, November 10? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
25 new from $6.73 150 used from $0.48 3 collectible from $12.99

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Hardcover, December 31, 1990 -- $32.50 $1.00
  Paperback, March 16, 1992 $11.53 $6.73 $0.48

Best Value

Buy A History of Knowledge: Past, Present, and Future and get Edge of Empire: Lives, Culture, and Conquest in the East, 1750-1850 at an additional 5% off Amazon.com's everyday low price.

A History of Knowledge: Past, Present, and Future + Edge of Empire: Lives, Culture, and Conquest in the East, 1750-1850
Buy Together Today: $21.84

Show availability and shipping details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud

Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud

by Peter Watson
5.0 out of 5 stars (20)  $13.59
The Modern Mind: An Intellectual History of the 20th Century

The Modern Mind: An Intellectual History of the 20th Century

by Peter Watson
4.2 out of 5 stars (32)  $13.84
The Passion of the Western Mind: Understanding the Ideas that Have Shaped Our World View

The Passion of the Western Mind: Understanding the Ideas that Have Shaped Our World View

by Richard Tarnas
4.2 out of 5 stars (63)  $12.21
The World's Greatest Ideas: An Encyclopedia of Social Inventions

The World's Greatest Ideas: An Encyclopedia of Social Inventions

by Nick Albery
The Discoverers

The Discoverers

by Daniel J. Boorstin
4.5 out of 5 stars (82)  $12.89
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Van Doren's provocative, encyclopedic guide to great thinkers, concepts and philosophical trends was a BOMC and History Book Club selection in cloth.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal

Van Doren, once editorial director of the Encyclopedia Brittanica , has produced a miniature encyclopedia, organized to show that there is progress in knowledge. He praises Columbus for giving us "a world well on the way to the unity it experiences today." India is mentioned as the source of the caste system. The Chinese gave us Confucius, but Van Doren notes their main legacy seems to be good recipes for tyranny. He warns that some good knowledge is unpleasant: we must now control our technology. Ultimately, the best knowledge for him is Western scientific knowledge since it is cumulative, meaning that better theories nearly always replace worse ones. An avid reader of Popular Mechanics who went to sleep in Peoria, Illinois in 1920 and awoke today with this book in her/his hands would probably find their ideals intact, needing only new technical knowledge and preparation for Van Doren's predicted revolt of intelligent machines. Van Doren has distilled the ideology of scientific progress into a neat, short drink that should win him a place on every library shelf.
- Leslie Armour, Univ. of Ottawa, Canada
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 17, 1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345373162
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345373168
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,488 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #52 in  Books > History > Historical Study > History of Ideas
    #88 in  Books > History > Historical Study > Reference

More About the Authors

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Inside This Book (learn more)


What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

76 Reviews
5 star:
 (38)
4 star:
 (18)
3 star:
 (7)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (11)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (76 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone interested in history, January 5, 2001
By doc peterson (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
At last a concise and brilliantly connected history of thought. Beginning with the "knowledge of the ancients" (which, to my pleasure, included information from ancient India, China and the Americas as well as from Egypt and the Middle East), Van Doren covers all the great theories and discoveries of the human race. Although I read it cover to cover, it would be just as useful (and enjoyable) to dig in and read it piecemeal.

The contributions of Einstein, Newton and Galileo are here, as are the ideas of Buddha, Martin Luther and Boethius. This is more than just a cataloguing of ideas and discoveries, though. Portraits of these individuals are made, and their contributions are placed in historical context. What is most remarkable, however is that van Doren has managed to squeeze all this information into a mere 412 pages.

The only shortcoming of the book is perhaps is length - but Van Doren sets out only to summarize, highlight and explain. With this in mind, he does an admirable job. The book is simply fascinating, and I highly recommend it.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An ambitious project, May 17, 2003
Charles Van Doren undertook an ambitious project in this book, which according to its cover blurb purports to be 'a compendium of everything that humankind has thought, invented, created, considered, and perfected from the beginning of civilisation into the twenty-first century.'

There are, alas, a few things missing, as this book only has a bit over 400 pages. But that does not really detract from the thesis of the book; it is certainly a worthy outline of human history, particularly approached through the lens of intellectual achievement and the advance of knowledge.

Van Doren, as you may recall, is the Van Doren who got caught up in the quiz show scandals of the 1950s. Ironic that this fate should befall him, as his learning would obviously put to shame the current crop of would-be millionaires so popular on the television today. But, I digress.

Van Doren spent the two decades before writing this book as an editor for Encyclopedia Britannica. He has put together a worthy outline to knowledge, broad in scope and with just enough detail to satisfy the hunger and whet the appetite simultaneously.

`The voluminous literature dealing with the idea of human progress is decidedly a mixed bag. While some of these writings are impressive and even inspiring, many of them are superficial, perhaps even ridiculous, in their reiteration (especially during the nineteenth century) of the comforting prospect that every day in every way we are growing better and better.'

Van Doren does believe in progress, but not in inevitable progress. He distinguishes between general knowledge and knowledge of particulars, and explores the inter-relationship of knowledge and happiness:

`The desire to know, when you realise you do not know, is universal and probably irresistible. It was the original temptation of mankind, and no man or woman, and especially no child, can overcome it for long. But it is a desire, as Shakespeare said, that grows by what it feeds on. It is impossible to slake the thirst for knowledge. And the more intelligent you are, the more this is so.'

Van Doren explores the advance of knowledge by time periods, then divided into general discussions with a specific centre. I give as an example the outline of topics in the chapter entitled An Age of Revolutions

An Age of Revolutions
- The Industrial Revolution
- Human Machines and Mechanical Humans
- An Age of Reason and Revolution
- John Locke and the Revolution of 1688
- Property, Government, and Revolution
- Two Kinds of Revolution
- Thomas Jefferson and the Revolution of 1776
- The Declaration of Independence
- Property in Rights
- Robespierre, Napoleon, and the Revolution of 1789
- The Rise of Equality
- Mozart's Don Giovanni
- Goethe's Faust

Van Doren's own agenda and prejudice show through (a desire for the curbing of the rights of nation-states in favour of a one-world government, for instance -- without much detail about how that government would be constituted; after all, he is a realist who recognises that there's no point to such idle speculation in a history text), but he always returns to his charge of presenting the history of the whole through various parts.

His final chapter, entitled `The Next Hundred Years' examines the possible developments and societal changes (which we are already beginning to see) due to computers, chaos science, increased space exploration, genetic engineering and genome mapping, and an ever-present companion in history, war.

This is a well-written exploration of world history written with clarity and style. It makes an excellent companion piece for almost any intellectual field.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars History of Knowledge-a primer for interesting conversation., November 17, 1997
By A Customer
Charles Van Doren does a fine job of providing an enlightening overview to history and sociology. I've enjoyed the book twice now, given it as gifts, and recommended it to many friends and aquaintenances. I found his insight and perspective on historical characters and discoveries to be most valuable. Being a technical person, I find Van Doren helps me understand the the evolution of history...he combines events, individuals, and discoveries into (what appear to be obvious) relationships. Many times throughout the book, I would think to myself: "Now I understand!" The book comes with a delightful bonus; it provides the reader with a refreshed interest in historical events and personalities. This makes for engaging conversations... topics from Henry XIII to Marco Polo. How about: the history and significance of "zero", or the demise of the Aztecs? Further, Van Doren provides insight into the similarities and origins of different religions. It's a great book you can pick up and put down, read a little, skim a section... fun to have around even as reference.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Every person on earth should read this book!
Yes, and I do mean that! Two things about this book. One is that it is a history book of mankind. As someone said, it is a mini-encyclopedia. Read more
Published 9 days ago by R. Calixto

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but Innacurate
I am currently reading "A History of Knowledge" for an Intellectual History of the West class. The book is interesting, but filled with innacuracies. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Laura M. Young

5.0 out of 5 stars Superior Work
Absolutely the most well written book I have ever had the pleasure to read. That should just about say it all.
Published 2 months ago by M. Cleveland

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't Bother Reading the Last 120 Pages
The first 300 pages of this book is a good overview of the history of ideas in human civilization. In this part of the book, the essentials are highlighted and are well organized... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Doug

1.0 out of 5 stars poor writing with inaccurate "facts"
Poor writing with inaccurate "facts" and that was the first few pages. When I would finish a paragraph I couldn't stop myself from thinking how it could have been written more... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Nic

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful summary of western civilization
I just finished reading this book. It is a book explaining pivotal events, people and achievements of world history. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Raymond Poon

1.0 out of 5 stars A Noble Attempt that Falls Flat
Though sweeping in the expanse of its subject, A History of Knowledge looses focus in its final quarter. Read more
Published on September 14, 2007 by Neil Landis

5.0 out of 5 stars a contribution to our civilization
This is an excellent book...especially the important ideas of our modern times, including the insights of how the success of a democracy rests on the people trusting their... Read more
Published on June 22, 2007 by Shelley J. Korshak MD

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Overview of the Western Tradition -- Some Sweeping Claims
Charles van Doren has written a very readable and thoughtful review of the western cultural tradition that both includes virtually all of the important formative elements and... Read more
Published on June 6, 2007 by Gilbert J. Donahue

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind the gaps?
I read this book a decade ago and it remains one of the most important books in my library.

Many reviewers have rated this book poorly on the basis it is sketchy,... Read more
Published on April 10, 2007 by Timothy Settle

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   




Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.