THE STORY OF MANKIND

Although published as a world history book for children in 1921, this book functions today as a historical curiosity of the period for adults. The grandmother-like voice of Sneha Mathan lulls us (as if she were reading to children) with a not-too-simple history imbued with the beliefs and biases of its time. Reading a historical textbook of another period can be surprising for its outdated explanations and interpretations ("He died of overwork"), it can test our general knowledge ("The cause of the dinosaur extinction is unknown."), and it can entertain us with infantile simplifications of history that are little gems in themselves. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]