“A brisk and cheerfully traditional trip through our history, from homo erectus to George W. Bush.” —Kirkus Reviews

In The Human Story, James C. Davis takes us on a journey to ancient times, telling how peoples of the world settled down and founded cities, conquered neighbors, and established religions, and continues over the course of history, when they fought two nearly global wars and journeyed into space.

Davis's account is swift and clear, never dull or dry. He lightens it with pungent anecdotes and witty quotes. Although this compact volume may not be hard to pick up, it's definitely hard to put down.

For example, on the death of Alexander the Great, who in a decade had never lost a single battle, and who had staked out an empire that spanned the entire Near East and Egypt, Davis writes: "When they heard how ill he was, the king's devoted troops insisted on seeing him. He couldn't speak, but as his soldiers—every one—filed by in silence, Alexander's eyes uttered his farewells. He died in June 323 B.C., at the ripe old age of thirty-two."

In similar fashion Davis recounts Russia's triumph in the space race as it happened on an autumn night in 1957: "A bugle sounded, flames erupted, and with a roar like rolling thunder, Russia's rocket lifted off. It bore aloft the earth's first artificial satellite, a shiny sphere the size of a basketball. Its name was Sputnik, meaning 'companion' or 'fellow traveler' (through space). The watchers shouted, 'Off. She's off. Our baby's off!' Some danced; others kissed and waved their arms."

Though we live in an age of many doubts, James C. Davis thinks we humans are advancing. As The Human Story ends, he concludes, "The world's still cruel; that's understood, / But once was worse. So far so good."

This brisk and engaging account brings our entire human story into focus, covering:

Ancient Civilizations: From the first cities in Sumer and Egypt to the philosophies of Greece and the might of Rome, see how the foundations of our world were built.
The Great Faiths: Understand the origins and spread of the world religions that shaped societies, from the covenants of the ancient Hebrews to the teachings of the Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad.
Empires and Exploration: Follow the rise and fall of great empires, from Alexander the Great’s conquests to the European Age of Discovery that connected the globe.
Modern Warfare and Technology: Witness the conflicts that defined the modern era, including two world wars, and the technological leaps that took us from the Industrial Revolution to the space race.
An Accessible Narrative: Told with witty quotes and pungent anecdotes, this is a clear, swift, and engaging story of humanity, designed to be hard to put down.