A History of Western Society

by Bennett D. Hill, John P. McKay, John Buckler, et al.

Book Overview

The past gets real and relevant as you hear the stories of ordinary people in History of Western Society, Combined Volume. Successfully navigate the past by paying close attention to everyday life. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395904315
• ISBN13: 9780395904312
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 1064 Pages
• Weight: 5.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 8.8" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

A History of Western Society

I was pleased with the item and was very satisfied with the price and the time frame in which it was shipped.

great condition

Can't say anything about the written quality of the book, as I am required to have it for history class. However, it is in perfect condition. It is wrapped in plastic and came bubble-wrapped. My one qualm is that it is only the first volume of the hardback textbook, which wasn't listed when I ordered. I now have to order volume 2, which is difficult to find.

Fun to read, and very helpful in prep for AP test

History is one of my favorite subjects, and I have read quite a few textbooks in the area, and I have never found one with the perfect combination of being readable yet comprehensive.I must admit, I found the chapters covering 1200-1800 to be much more interesting than the last few chapters, but even the last chapters had all the characters and events that you need to know.One point that recommends this book is that it acknowledges point of view, something very important on the APEH exam or in any history analysis. Most textbooks force you to extrapolate their point of view and shift your interpretation. I found that McKay and his co-authors present a very neutral account of history, rarely passing judgment on history's actors.The organization worked for me also. It is loosely chronological, but bends for continuity. It adequately covers almost all areas, from the Renaissance to the Thirty Years' War to the Industrial Revolution. Something about the style of writing and the organization helped my memory retention magnificently.I took Euro sophomore year, US junior year, and as a senior I remember about twice as many things from Euro as I remember from US. I largely owe that to this book.Remember to give yourself enough time to read the chapters, which are long and moderately dense. They take a few hours to read them really well, and you wouldn't want to read any of this book too fast or without your full attention.Anyway, buy it, read it, enjoy it! = deeper understanding of Euro History and a 5 on the AP test.

Superb refresher and quick reference

This tome, actually intended to be a textbook (thus the very substantial price), is a wonderful read and great for refreshing one's "Western civ" knowledge after being out of school over 30 years. I've always enjoyed history and it helps to have such a reference as this which presents a cogent overview of events. Certainly the book can't be all things to all people. For those areas of special interest, e.g., the Celts, one desires to obtain more in-depth sources. However, this work accomplishes what it sets out to do, to present in a mentally-digestible chronology the flow of the most significant events in Western society and to make it interesting and fun in the process. The fact that the book makes a fine general reference for home or library is an added benefit, i.e., it is not a publication to be perused just the one time. This is one of the very best history books of its kind!

Three Weeks to CLEP Success

I used this book as my primary resource to study for the Western Civilization I CLEP test. I found it interesting and informative. In three weeks, I read it cover to cover, took the CLEP test, and scored nearly twice the number of points needed to earn college credit. I would recommend it to anyone who is motivated and needs to work within a limited time frame.