Don't Know Much About History

This book is perfectly formatted for the ear. It covers American history chronologically, but each individual topic is organized in a question-and-answer format. What's more, quotations from major figures from different historical eras provide diverse perspectives on key events in addition to the author's own solid explanations. Jeff Woodman and Jonathan Davis's delivery maintains a conversational tone. Their easy pace sounds like they're explaining these complex topics to a friend, and they're quite sensitive to the humor of the book. Enjoyable and educational, the book's only weaknesses are its economic explanations, which aren't as acute as the political ones, and a slight liberal bias when discussing twentieth-century topics. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine


DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HISTORY was the first of what's now a series of books educating the public about complex topics through an accessible question-and-answer format. Here author Kenneth Davis has extensively revised the first edition. The revision was driven by questions from past readers, and this gives a great deal of energy to the book. The narrators work hard to communicate Davis's passion. They seem to really be asking the questions and to be driving home the follow-up questions as if the details deeply mattered, which, of course, they do. Passages from historical texts provide a counterpoint, anchoring Davis's answers within historical periods and letting listeners hear bits of period perspective. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine