The Readers' Advisory Matrix:
The Penguin History of the World
by J.M. Roberts & Odd Arne Westad
1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum?
Highly Fact Based
2. What is the subject of the book?
The history of the world, particularly, the history of humanity from its beginning to present day.
3. What type of book is it?
Reporting
4. Articulate Appeal
What is the pacing of the book?
Slow and meticulous
Describe the characters of the book.
None. The book is focused on the general history of all humanity, not any individual people.
How does the story feel?
Factual, dry, intellectual.
What is the intent of the author?
To give an accurate and updated recounting of the major events in all of recorded history.
What is the focus of the story?
How humanity grew and evolved into the various civilizations and cultures that led up to how the world exists today.
Does the language matter?
Yes. The author goes to great measures to use accurate and concise language to convey the most amount of detail in the least amount of words.
Is the setting important and well described?
Yes, large parts of each chapter are devoted to describing the context and environment of each particular area of focus.
Are there details and, if so, of what?
Yes, the entire book is an interplay between finding the right amount of details to give proper context without getting too bogged down on any one specific topic.
Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?
There is usually at least one map or diagram in each chapter to show the region or concept being described. They are very clear and useful, especially if the reader is not an expert on world geography.
Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?
The entirety of the book is designed to help the reader learn and have a better understanding of the events that led to the world being that way it is today.
5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?
Scholarly
Comprehensive
Concise
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI am a history buff, so this book sounds like an interesting read. I appreciate that you described it as "dry" and "scholarly" but "concise." Now I have a much better idea of what to expect.
Hi Zach,
ReplyDeleteThis is a good example of a book whose author aims to inform instead of entertain. I do not have much experience reading this type of nonfiction- I usually read memoirs or other works that have a narrative flow similar to fiction works. Reading your post has helped me gauge how an informative book differs from the ones I'm used to. For example, writing is likely more concise instead of detailed, individual character details are less important, etc.
Excellent job fleshing this book out to fill this! It helps add on a whole new dimension not always covered in the summary! I echo what Monique said, you helped make it very clear that this was not an entertaining and easy read, but more of an educational and thought provoking one. Full points!
ReplyDelete