Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Condensing the history of the world into one book is a daunting task, but Lloyd tackles the challenge with finesse. Beginning with the big bang theory and the formation of Earth, he introduces the development of life and its evolution. In these easily digestible chapters, the author explains how such factors as climate and the discovery of fire influenced early life, as well as how scientists have made these deductions. With humans firmly established, Lloyd turns to ancient civilizations in what are now Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, highlighting contributions to STEM and the rise of world religions. He continues with an overview of traditional world history topics, including the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, European exploration, revolutions against monarchies, the Industrial Revolution, the scramble for Africa, and WWI and II. The final chapter, however, deviates from typical texts as it introduces stories that remain unfinished, such as the connection between the invention of plastic and current environmental struggles, and the fight for equal rights, from the civil rights movement of the 1960s to ending apartheid in South Africa to today's Black Lives Matter movement. Yet he offers a hopeful summation: humans are superadapters. In addition to bountiful photographs and illustrations, Lloyd's recognition of patterns throughout history and direct questions to readers make this book absolutely enjoyable.--Angela Leeper Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This ambitious volume chronicles life on Earth as we know it, beginning with the big bang. Chronologically, Lloyd covers dinosaurs, the birth of modern humans, ancient civilizations, classical empires, the industrial revolution, and both world wars. Timelines, illustrations, photographs, charts, maps, and other infographics supply a welcome visual element. A final chapter discusses landmark modern events (including the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Neil Armstrong's landing on the moon, and the arrival of the first personal computer). Readers will garner a basic understanding of the scope of geological time, the progression of human civilization, and (although the content skews somewhat toward the Western world) defining historical moments, while the brief presentation is just enough to spark readers' interest in learning more. Ages 9-12. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8-The history of Earth, from the big bang to the Black Lives Matter movement, in a little over 300 pages. That's the premise, anyway, of this attempt at an overview of just about everything. Organized chronologically, with pithy chapter headings such as "Meanwhile, in the Americas" and "Medieval Misery," this title features a lot of text to churn through, with only occasional drawings and captions. That said, the writing is engaging and thoughtful, providing plenty of information, humor, and opportunity for deeper thinking as Lloyd makes connections to things happening across the globe. He takes a surprisingly deep dive into the various prehistorical eras. Human conflicts throughout history share equal time with important inventions and the arts, though individuals are infrequently mentioned-the focus is on groups of people and events. An extensive glossary, a list of further reading, and quote sources are appended, along with a note from the author about his research process. VERDICT Most libraries will want to have this lengthy, detailed volume for students looking to beef up their general knowledge.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A view of human history from the Big Bang to experimental lab-grown meat.With this volume, Lloyd seemingly revises and updates What on Earth Happened?...in Brief (2009) into a rushed survey vaguely positioned as "a gateway to all the knowledge in the world." It's a narrow gateway, for all its substantial heft. The author is more or less through with the cosmos, geology, and biology by Page 75 and on to modern humansbeginning with the invention of cooking, a "gigantic breakthrough" in human development. He goes on to a tally of civilizations that's less Eurocentric than many, although he pays at best scant attention to the Indian subcontinent or to Indigenous North America, not to mention anyone's art, music, or literature. Moreover, his narrative is so telescoped that World War I is finished off in three paragraphs, and he gets from the space race to SpaceX in two. Still, he does carry his story up to Black Lives Matter, concludes by pointing to absolutism and income inequality as issues to watch, and finishes with an optimistic note that we humans are "superadapters" in a world whose true paradigm is adaptation to change. Reinforcing the panoramic feel, many of the colorful photos, images, and, from Forshaw, diversely hued and clad figures from various eras that brighten nearly every page seem to be marching into or out of view along the edges.Comprehensively mistitled but worth considering for its unusual angles, or at least as a replacement for the previous edition. (glossary and index not seen) (Nonfiction. 11-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
