Product Description

"Cartoon History of the Modern World" is a wickedly funny take on modern history. In two volumes of engaging and witty graphics, Larry Gonick covers the history, personalities, and big topics that have shaped our universe over the past five centuries. Volume I of the "Carton History of the Modern World" picks up where Gonick's bestselling "Cartoon History of the Universe" left off with Christopher Columbus about to set sail on his fateful voyage to the New World. The book also opens with the history of Aztec and Inca, the empires in Asia, and the formation of the first fully global system of trade and ideas. Next comes the Protestant Reformation, the reorientation of Europe and the birth of modern political philosophy and science. The final section covers the competition between France and Britain in North America and culminates with the American Revolution and U.S. Constitution.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #214739 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

About the Author
LARRY GONICK has been creating comics that explain history, science, and other big subjects for over thirty years, he wrote his first guide in 1971: Blood From a Stone: A Cartoon Guide to Tax Reform. He has been a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT and is currently staff cartoonist for Muse magazine.

Customer Reviews

another work of genius by surely one of the world's greatest living polymaths!
This is Larry Gonick(LG)'s 4th Volume of Cartoon World History (out of 5 - according to the author himself in this Amazon discussion forum) - the final 5th one is yet to be written and will bring us up to the present.
This volume is certainly as enchanting and enlightening as the other 3 volumes.
I would place all 4 volumes in my Top 10 all-time favorite books and they are probably the ones I return to more than any other - for reference, illustrations, wonderful stories (with superb historical accuracy) and above all the delight of gaining an insight into a great mind.
The comic format works brilliantly with world history as it brings a difficult subject alive, and with LG we have a master of story telling, brevity and wit - his work really stays in the memory as he has the knack of illuminating the most influential historical events that also happen to be the most mind-blowing!
As you might gather from what I have already said, these comic books will really help give you a clearer understanding of the world and you will have enormous fun in the process.
There is now only one more volume to go until we have the complete 5 volume set of what in my opinion will end up being one of the most innovative and enjoyable histories of the world ever written. In fact I would go as far as to say that LG himself may well go down in world history!! How many modern day traditionally academic historians have been quite so inventive with their approach, and popular with people of all ages and backgrounds?!
A little about myself: I enjoy reading a variety of world histories as I find they help me to gain a more balanced perspective on the world we live in, and they help me to interpret news and current events in a more independent and free-thinking way. My other favorite authors/historians who have written some highly enjoyable form of world history are: Hendrik Willem Van Loon (like Larry, he is also an artist of genius and a master of brevity!), EH Gombrich, JM Roberts, Eugen Weber, and the great philosopher Bertrand Russell.

Exceptional history
Memorable, humourous, visual, clever, reliable, stimulating, thought-provoking, unmissable for students and for anyone interested in the sweep of history without excess detail or too many words. Excellent annotated select reference list for following up the bits that especially interest readers. Should be required reading, along with all Gonick's History volumes. Can't wait for Part 2 (coming soon!). Thank you Larry Gonick! Keep up the great work.

Superb history - suitable for all ages and levels
Larry Gonick deserves far more recognition than he gets. This book is as wonderful as all the others...why can't he just do them quicker?