"The most beautifully written and thoroughly comparative text that has come to my notice. Its thematic approach and accessible language will engage students and thrill instructors."
— David Sandgren, Concordia College
"The best world history book I have seen. It stands out for its coverage, its analytical style, and its simple, fluent composition. I recommend it highly."
— Claudia Liebeskind, Auburn University
"Strayer’s book embraces the global and comparative approach to history better than any world history textbook."
— William Storey, Millsaps College
"The best organized and best conceived world history textbook yet."
— Eric Mayer, Victor Valley College
"Certainly the best-written textbook I have ever seen."
— Frank J. Wetta, Ocean County College
"This is the text I would have liked to have written; it’s the best world history text that I have read."
— Theodore Kallman, San Joaquin Delta College
"A much more thematic, readable, and accessible text for world history survey courses than any other text."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University
"An incredible masterpiece — it delivers global history. It’s hard to believe one person wrote it. It just works."
— Trevor Getz, San Francisco State University
"A very original and ambitious work that reflects a staggering and impressive grasp of world history."
— Timothy J. Coates, College of Charleston
"This book does history justice."
— Michele G. Scott James, MiraCosta College
"The most exciting manuscript I have read since I started teaching this course. I like its length, its conceptual framework, and its strongly comparative approach."
— Eric Nelson, Missouri State University
"This manuscript is a blessing for all of us that have been looking for an honest, straightforward, engaging world history text that accords dignity to all societies."
— Barbara A. Moss, Clark Atlanta University
"A beautifully written and genuinely global narrative that highlights key world history themes."
— Stephen S. Gosch, University of Wisconsin — Eau Claire
"An excellent brief world history text — highly comparative and thematic."
— Mark Tauger, West Virginia University
"Lucid and accessible. It provides a balanced view of the contributions of world civilizations and sheds important light on their interactions over time."
— Patricia Kollander, Florida Atlantic University
"A global approach to world history that relies on a blending of traditional history with thematic, big picture interpretation. Well written, thought provoking, well organized."
— Eric Bobo, Hinds Community College
"While my students do, in fact, get overwhelmed by names, dates, and events, they are much more interested in precisely the sort of information that appears to be central to Strayer’s vision — cultural and social world history that allow students to better understand how people in different eras and places viewed their own lives."
— David Rayson, Normandale Community College
"Strayer’s ‘big world history’ approach provides the solution to some of the current issues faced in community college world history classrooms."
— Carol A. Keller, San Antonio College
"A relatively succinct textbook of world history with self-contained thematic and topical chapters and a comparative emphasis throughout. Though brevity is a stated goal, the text achieves considerable comprehension of detail and analysis."
— Donna A. Vinson, Salem State College
"An accessible world history text aimed at balancing the basic ‘facts’ needed to provide a structural framework for world history with comparative and thematic approaches."
— Dr. Brian A. Catlos, University of California, Santa Cruz
"A relatively brief, thematically arranged world history text that uses a comparative approach as its chief analytic feature."
— Eric C. Rust, Baylor University
"Presents the best insights of modern world historians in an engaging and stimulating format. Emphasizing global connections amid cultural exchange, Strayer achieves a remarkable synthesis of readability and scholarship."
— John Mack, Labette Community College
Student Quotes
"This author’s writing style drew me into the reading from the first page."
— Teanna Russell, Student at San Joaquin Delta College
"The author’s writing is clear and easy to follow as well as enjoyable to read. Margin questions show the reader what to look for, which makes it easier to find the main points of the chapter."
— Jared Kidd, Student at Victor Valley College
Class-Tester Quote
"The class using the Strayer chapters saw in increase of ten points, or an entire grade, when compared to classes of the last twelve years. It was remarkable. I have never been forced to give so many A grades before."
— Eric Mayer, Victor Valley College
Consonance with instructor goals
"I am not often satisfied with the frameworks of world history texts, but this one works for me. Not only is it theoretically sound, but I like how it has been carried through in practice. I seem to have found a kindred spirit in Robert Strayer."
— Eric Nelson, Missouri State University
"The first brief history textbook I have found to be suitable for class use."
— Theodore A. Nitz, Gonzaga University
"I found an uncanny similarity between the thematic concerns of this text and my approach to the course."
— Theodore Kallman, San Joaquin Delta College
"The themes of the book are exactly what I emphasize in my own lectures."
— John M. Simpson, Pierce College
"This is the type of textbook I’ve been looking for. It fulfills the thematic approach that I teach already."
— Morag Martin, SUNY — Brockport
Thematic approach
"The themes seem to work, and more important, I believe that they would work well for students, too."
— Theodore A. Nitz, Gonzaga University
"[The thematic approach is] one of the features that contribute to this book’s appeal and give it a decisive edge over other world history textbooks."
— Charles Didier Gondola, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
"Strayer’s text is characterized by a commitment to thematic focus and clarity that should be of great assistance to students as they prepare for essays and analytical questions."
— Abel Alves, Ball State University
"Strayer reveals the story of a common humanity (with all its common faults and virtues) pulled and pushed by a variety of forces — technology, ambition, religious faith, economics, race, gender, and other elements that determine or alter the course of history."
— Frank J. Wetta, Ocean County College
"A concise, highly readable history of the world. The author succeeds at consistently treating the themes identified at the outset."
— John K. Hayden, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
"This is one of the few texts that balances themes well by integrating them throughout."
— Trevor Getz, San Francisco State University
"The thematic focus is pulled off here with apparent ease."
— Eben Miller, Southern Maine Community College
Comparative approach
"A ground-up text that, rather than addressing the history regionally, primarily uses the tool of comparison to show the variation and similarities of different topics through the world."
— Eloy Zárate, Pasadena City College
"This text uses comparative history to isolate the commonalities and differences between civilizations, and it situates specific histories of civilizations and regions within a larger global context."
— Eric Mayer, Victor Valley College
"The comparative approach really gets to the heart of what we are doing in history. One cannot read this text and not be forced to reflect deeply about the world that human beings have created."
— Barbara A. Moss, Clark Atlanta University
"This textbook seeks to set a new paradigm. By focusing on comparisons and connections among cultures, the author has written something that is more clearly a world history than many other textbooks offer."
— Laura A. Smoller, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
"This text offers the most thorough comparative perspective I have yet seen in a world history textbook."
— Katherine Clark, SUNY — Brockport
"World civilizations are woven in a multi-layered tapestry that displays similar patterns and distinctive texture."
— Charles Didier Gondola, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
"This book made me appreciate the merits of approaching world history from a comparative perspective."
— Patricia Kollander, Florida Atlantic University
"The best attempt at a truly integrated world history that maintains a comparative focus from beginning to end."
— Brendan McManus, Bemidji State University
"A really unusual textbook, with a unique comparative emphasis that is refreshing and well thought out."
— Daniel Sarefield, Ohio State University
"Instead of a simple chronological retelling of basic facts, Strayer’s text presents the facts of modern world history within a context of comparative analysis that emphasizes both continuity and change."
— John Mack, Labette Community College
"Provides a solid comparative approach to world history. I appreciated the amount of attention it gives to globalization as a historical process."
— Theodore A. Nitz, Gonzaga University
3C’s approach (Comparison, Connections, Change)
"Strayer’s engaging book discusses world history not as separate threads that connect and entangle at some points but as a tapestry where complex events and issues are contextualized in a ‘Big Picture’ approach that emphasizes change, connection, and comparison."
— Charles Didier Gondola, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
"Gives students a nicely and neatly told story while comparing, connecting, and showing the changes amongst various civilizations. Strayer does not bury the student under a multitude of facts; he tells a good story."
— John M. Simpson, Pierce College
"Unlike most world history texts, it avoids the chronological/geographic formula and instead embraces comparison, connections, and change in a deliberately brief text: quite an achievement."
— Timothy J. Coates, College of Charleston
"Stays consistently within the clearly stated thematic structure of the 3C’s, comparison, connections, change."
— Carol A. Keller, San Antonio College
"[The 3C’s] provide a unifying approach. It works and is evident throughout the text."
— Frank J. Wetta, Ocean County College
"Offers greater scope for critical thinking."
— Theresa Jordan, Washington State University
"Well conceived."
— Abel Alves, Ball State University
"Refreshing."
— Barbara A. Moss, Clark Atlanta University
"Excellent."
— Stephen S. Gosch, University of Wisconsin — Eau Claire
Global approach
"This textbook really does ‘think globally’ and attend to the ways that all parts of the world have contributed to our history. The Yoruba and the Iroquois really do occupy the same space on the world stage as the Chinese or the Europeans."
— Cheryl Barkey, Cabrillo College
"Strayer’s volume gives voice to non-civilized societies better than any textbook that I have read. It truly sees world history as a global phenomenon where people are interconnected and conscious of their place in the human scheme of things."
— Kenneth P. Serbin, University of San Diego
"A new framing of world history that avoids the fragmentation of narratives structured around multiple national histories."
— Carol A. Keller, San Antonio College
"I would emphasize the advantage of the thematic and comparative approach for the teaching of often-neglected areas of the globe. Using this text, one can offer a truly global perspective without having to compartmentalize geographical regions."
— Eric Nelson, Missouri State University
"The big ideas upon which the book dwells are precisely those that many in the world history community agree are of the utmost importance: explaining global disparity, emphasizing global interdependence, and preparing students for a far more globally interconnected life than any previous generation of Americans."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University
"An entirely new and engaging approach to the topic. Instead of the traditional chronological slog through various ‘civilizations,’ the author offers a unique cross-continents examination of world systems of trade and social organization."
— Theresa Jordan, Washington State University
"The author shows a remarkable agility and flexibility in dealing with cases and examples from all over the planet."
— James A. Wood, North Carolina A&T State University
"Does a good job of looking at the big picture and the interaction of different cultures that helped form our global world."
— Ken Faunce, University of Idaho
Brevity
"Concise but retains meaning."
— Jane Scimeca, Brookdale Community College
"The length of this text has enormous advantages for college students. Nothing the author could add would outweigh the value of the concise, insightful overview this book provides in its present form and length."
— Jane Scimeca, Brookdale Community College
"[Strayer] summarizes material that other texts spend unnecessary amounts of time on."
— John K. Hayden, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
"A brief world history text that actually succeeds in balancing the coverage of long-term, big-picture developments with an account of specific historic events."
— John K. Hayden, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
"After reading the brief sections, one comes away with a better understanding of these societies than if one had waded through a conventional text."
— Barbara A. Moss, Clark Atlanta University
"I agree completely that most world history texts provide too much detail and not enough basic structure. I like the overall plan for a brief text that is deliberately thematic and comparative."
— Timothy J. Coates, College of Charleston
"Strayer does not pretend to cover everything but emphasizes important and memorable moments from a variety of human cultures."
— Katherine Clark, SUNY — Brockport
"I applaud the shorter, ‘big picture’ approach."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University
Relevance
"The treatment of history is connected throughout to contemporary events and issues."
— Theodore A. Nitz, Gonzaga University
"Students will not be overwhelmed by a rash of details and will take away a big picture about the history of the world that raises interesting questions about today."
— Laura A. Smoller, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
On chapter-opening vignettes: "Every vignette is a good one. They fit my teaching style, as I am constantly connecting the past with the contemporary world."
— Hedrick R. Alixopulos, Santa Rosa Junior College
On chapter-opening vignettes: "I liked all of the vignettes. They are an excellent way to introduce the relevance of history."
— Kenneth P. Serbin, University of San Diego
On chapter-opening vignettes: "Very innovative to have ‘presentist’ opening vignettes. They very well suit the current best practices approach to teaching world history"
— Carol A. Keller, San Antonio College
On chapter-opening vignettes: "The focus on contemporary issues [is a strength of the text]. The opening vignettes are excellent in this regard."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University
Analytical approach
"This text opens the door to investigation, exploration, and interpretation."
— Theresa Jordan, Washington State University
"Successfully challenges students to think comparatively and analytically about major issues."
—Leonora Neville, The Catholic University of America
"Students have no choice but to interact with the text, and learning becomes an active process."
— Eric Mayer, Victor Valley College
"Accessible to students yet intellectually rigorous. The author leads student into considering questions of periodization and causation, the way we study history, and the ways in which human experiences unfold."
— Trevor Getz, San Francisco State University
"Not just a rundown of political history — the ‘names and dates’ approach. Instead, it takes a thoughtful look at the causes behind history, the progression of history, and the peoples that make up history. Most importantly, the text is thoughtful."
— Michele G. Scott James, MiraCosta College
Will stimulate discussion
"Thoughtfully written and well organized. The vignettes that open each chapter and the reflections that close each chapter strive to bring the topics of each chapter into the present. These features should be useful in sparking classroom discussion."
— John Lavalle, Western New Mexico University
"For the first time, I can envision using a text for more. The sustained comparisons in each chapter provide real opportunities to generate classroom discussion. Moreover, the reflections sections provide opportunities to engage students in discussion about the practice of history."
— Eric Nelson, Missouri State University
"An excellent text that would be very useful for encouraging classroom discussion. Engaging and well written."
— David Rayson, Normandale Community College
"A key strength is that the author presents just enough historical detail to begin insightful analysis, explanation, and debate among students."
— Eric Mayer, Victor Valley College
Reflections sections
"One of the great strengths of the book"
— Trevor Getz, San Francisco State University
"Among the text’s most useful tools for helping students see the advantage of the new world history perspective and presentist mode of thinking."
— Carol A. Keller, San Antonio College
"One of the strong points of the text. Should prompt useful consideration of the material and of the role of the historian."
— Eloy Zárate, Pasadena City College
On chapter 23 Reflections: "A solid summing up of the textbook as a whole."
— Theodore A. Nitz, Gonzaga University
On chapter 23 Reflections: "Excellent."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University
On chapter 23 Reflections: "I enjoyed this section enormously [as a way to] prod my students into thinking about what history is good for and what it can teach us about life."
— Jane Scimeca, Brookdale Community College
On chapter 23 Reflections: "I really liked this ending. As a teacher, it will help me bring the semester to a close in a meaningful way."
— John Mack, Labette Community College
Accessibility
"Provides clear explanations of the important macro-level developments in accessible prose."
— Cheryl Barkey, Cabrillo College
"The book is remarkable for its conceptual sophistication and its accessible, readable nature."
— James A. Wood, North Carolina A&T State University
"A pleasure to read."
— Brendan McManus, Bemidji State University
"No dry textbook style here — it is characterized by masterful synthesis, wit, and fascinating examples."
— Frank J. Wetta, Ocean County College
"A very engaging text. The writing is clear, simple, and consistent throughout."
— Kenneth P. Serbin, University of San Diego
"The author effectively conveys subtle and complex historical processes in a manner that is neither confusing nor over-simplified."
— Dr. Brian A. Catlos, University of California, Santa Cruz
"A refreshingly simple and straightforward approach suitable for introducing world history."
— Daniel Sarefield, Ohio State University
"The level is always spot-on."
— Trevor Getz, San Francisco State University
On the clear focus of manuscript: "This should help students assign meaning to the information they read"
— John Mack, Labette Community College
"Students — and instructors — will actually read this and find it engrossing, not overwhelming."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University
"This is the kind of book that students will actually read all the way through."
— Theodore A. Nitz, Gonzaga University
"Not only is this text well written, but it actually simplifies and clarifies certain topics that I have been teaching for years. It put them into a concise language that I have been searching for."
— Theodore Kallman, San Joaquin Delta College
Prologue to Volume 1
"A must-read."
— Eric Mayer, Victor Valley College
"Useful."
— Frank Chartrand, Pierce College
"Especially interesting."
— Frank J. Wetta, Ocean County College
On the prologue to chapter 1: "A beautifully written invitation to read the book. Lucid, learned, and welcoming."
— Stephen S. Gosch, University of Wisconsin — Eau Claire
"Wonderful, provocative, interesting."
— James A. Wood, North Carolina A&T State University
"I really liked this prologue."
— Laura A. Smoller, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Prologue to Volume 2
"a wonderful essay"
— David Sandgren, Concordia College
"straightforward, bold, and unapologetic"
— Barbara A. Moss, Clark Atlanta University
"Does a great job highlighting the main themes I think are most important in this type of class."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University
"Clearly written and provides a clear basis for the global view to follow."
— Timothy J. Coates, College of Charleston
"Excellent."
— John Mack, Labette Community College
"Excellent."
— Jane Scimeca, Brookdale Community College
Big Picture part openers
"Excellent."
— Eric Mayer, Victor Valley College
"Very helpful to students for setting the stage for critical themes."
— Eben Miller, Southern Maine Community College
"One of the real strengths of this text."
— Eric Nelson, Missouri State University
"Effective, relevant, and useful."
— Donna A. Vinson, Salem State College
"Very effective."
— John Lavalle, Western New Mexico University
"Highlight the main themes very successfully."
— James A. Wood, North Carolina A&T State University
"Lay out the broad stages of the big sweep of history."
— Claudia Liebeskind, Florida State University
"Excellent. One of the book features I like best."
— Theresa Jordan, Washington State University
"Well written and work to tie the book together."
— Leonora Neville, The Catholic University of America
"Excellent introductions. Very effective emphasis on keeping the ‘big picture’ in sight."
— Theodore Kallman, San Joaquin Delta College
"Superbly written and very useful."
— David Sandgren, Concordia College
"Excellent."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University, Salvadore Rivera, SUNY — Cobleskill, Jane Scimeca, Brookdale Community College
"Perfect."
— John M. Simpson, Pierce College
"This is the way to get students into a more theoretical and issue-based approach to thinking about history."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University
Snapshots feature
"One of the selling points of the text."
— Donna A. Vinson, Salem State College
"Excellent…short and sweet and very catchy."
— Eli Rubin, Western Michigan University
"Really help the student grasp the essential similarities and differences among civilizations in similar and different regions."
— Eric Mayer, Victor Valley College