Indeed, since the latter was all I understood, at an age when most boys were reading nursery rhymes I could reel off all the kings and queens of England from William the Conqueror onwards, and the capitals of every country from Ecuador to New Zealand. Hence, History's Greatest Decisions, a companion piece to previously published, History's Worst Decisions, is right up my alley: potted history made interesting by an informative, easy-to-read text printed on glossy paper, with high-class colour illustrations.
With short, snappy pieces, readers can agree or disagree with the author's choice of 50 greatest decisions, beginning with humankind's circa 70,000 BP's decision to leave Africa for a crocodile-free life elsewhere, and ending with the 1998 Good Friday agreement between the Irish Republicans and the Northern Irish to stop murdering each other and sundry innocent bystanders.
Following GD1, there's bit of a leap to GD2, and the 12,000 BP decision by hunters and gatherers to settle down, grow crops and get a mortgage. Then it's on to 3400 BC and the Sumerians' invention of writing.
The beauty of History's Greatest Decisions is that readers who might be ignorant about Copernicus and his publication of On the Revolution of the Celestial Sphere (as I was), or why Michel de Montaigne retired from public life (as I was) can get profound knowledge equal to a university education just by reading three or four pages, and/or glean information useful if answering TV quiz show questions.
And just in case readers want further reading and references as to why George Martin signs the Beatles or Apple re-employs Steve Jobs, there's an appendix that quotes sources.
- Ian Williams is a Dunedin writer and composer.
