12 Books That Changed The World

How words and wisdom have shaped our lives

By: Melvyn Bragg

Narrated by: Bill Bingham, Hugh Ross, Patricia Hodge, Robert Powell

When we think of great events in the history of the world, we tend to think of war, revolution, political upheaval or natural catastrophe. But throughout history there have been moments of vital importance that have taken place not on the battlefield, or in the palaces of power, or even in the violence of nature, but between the pages of a book.

In our digitised age of instant information it is easy to underestimate the power of the printed word. In his fascinating new book accompanying the ITV series, Melvyn Bragg presents a vivid reminder of the book as agent of social, political and personal revolution. Twelve Books that Changed the World presents a rich variety of human endeavour and a great diversity of characters. There are also surprises. Here are famous books by Darwin, Newton and Shakespeare - but we also discover the stories behind some less well-known works, such as Marie Stopes' Married Love, the original radical feminist Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman - and even the rules to an obscure ball game that became the most popular sport in the world . . .

(p) 2006 Hodder & Stoughton©2006 Melvyn Bragg

Learn a few new things

I did in fact learn a few new things listening to this book. I found my self asking what books I would have chosen if I had to choose 12 world-altering books. I believe that this author has written other more "inspired" books but still it was a worthwhile, short listen.