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Empire
- How Britain Made the Modern World
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 16 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Politics & Government
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Publisher's Summary
Penguin presents the unabridged audiobook edition of Empire by Niall Ferguson, read by Jonathan Keeble.
Once vast swathes of the globe were coloured imperial red, and Britannia ruled not just the waves but the prairies of America, the plains of Asia, the jungles of Africa and the deserts of Arabia. Just how did a small, rainy island in the North Atlantic achieve all this? And why did the empire on which the sun literally never set finally decline and fall?
Niall Ferguson's acclaimed Empire brilliantly unfolds the imperial story in all its splendours and its miseries, showing how a gang of buccaneers and gold diggers planted the seed of the biggest empire in all history - and set the world on the road to modernity.
What the critics say
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What listeners say about Empire
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- David Selke
- 2019-12-26
A fascinating and well performed audio book.
I picked up this book because I enjoyed Niall’s books Civilization. This new work is much like his previous - full of fascinating facts and accounts which bring to life the world of 18th and 19th centuries. It’s clear that the author spent countless hours studying historical records, journals, and facts to prepare this work - a brilliant summary of how the British empire came to be what it was. Modern history lovers are bound to find this summary extensive and fascinating.
Undoubtably, the particular facts and stories which Niall chose to highlight in this book show his particular bias on such controversial topics as how Christianity spread in Africa and Asia. But it’s easy to see how difficult it would be to present an unbiased review of the facts. In the end, although I disagreed with a number of the conclusions made, I enjoyed the presentation.
1 person found this helpful
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- Lisa White
- 2019-10-11
major themes are very interesting
Overall, the ideas are compelling and I learned a lot of interesting stuff. A few chapters go overboard on quotes from stuffy British historical characters. The chapter about the role of religion goes on and on and on and on. But, if you are even considering this title, you know you're in for some heavy learning. A good listen though, and the reader does some good voices.
1 person found this helpful
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- A
- 2021-08-31
pretty good history of the Empire
Pretty good book. It has all the historical accuracy and insight you would expect from Ferguson. The one thing I will say is there is a small section near the end where it just kind of bogs down talking about boring old British men. Besides that the general ideas and scope of the book are very good.
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- Matt
- 2021-03-25
Refreshing
I am sick to the gills with social Marxism and critical race theory. Our University professors and administrative staff have become Communist Puritans who like to ignore historical inconveniences that don't support their version of reality. The same people that claim that 2 + 2 does not equal 4 ... and woe betide you if you disagree! Persecute the unbeliever!
This is not a propaganda piece. It is actually a balanced history with arguments made to both sides of a debate because the author wants you to think!
This book is nicely written, entertaining, informative, and the narration is problem free.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2020-08-10
Imperative Listen For Those That Wonder
I really enjoyed listening to this book. It was very detailed, and the chronology was succinct from the origins of the empire all the way to the selling off of the empire. I believe this book has empowered me to correct individuals that unabashedly utter lazy claims about the origins and motivations of the British Empire. I also believe this book should be taught in schools, and I will be sure to pass down this information to my children. Thank you
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- Wayne Bissky
- 2019-08-21
Extremely biased and unbalanced book.
Very disappointed in this book as it presents an exclusively negative view of the British Empire and especially editorial regarding values and traditions; both religious and otherwise. The bad heavily dominated any good in the writers opinion. I could not finish the book as it became increasingly wearisome and disappointing.
1 person found this helpful
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- Dennis Arve Wilkinson
- 2018-01-18
It wasn’t all bad was it?
Empire building is not a popular idea today. It smacks of abuse and extortion
Ferguson breaks down the good the bad and the ugly of the British Empire, but doesn’t conclude with the expected thumbs down. It’s more of a thumbs sideways perhaps even pointed a little upwards. Can he do that? Both his primary source stories and his reasons are worth listening to!
17 people found this helpful
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- Dorothy
- 2017-11-04
Such a great listen - What a History Lesson
I have listened to Niall Ferguson's book "Civilization" three times. I know I will do the same with this book. There is so much in this book which remains pertinent to the situations and times we are witnessing and living in today. This book pieced together and explained so many shadowy yet prevalent cultural happenings such as the Boar War and Gallipoli: things I knew the NAMES of but really had no understanding of why they had happened or what their importance meant to current events.
While there is much that was arrogant and even brutal about the British Empire, Mr, Ferguson explains the origins and outcomes in an even handed way. The book is written in an easy to comprehend manner, it is not a boring academic tome that people who lack a Phd can understand or enjoy.
I can't emphasize enough how amazing Jonathan Keeble is as a narrator. He is pitch perfect. I often look for his books because he seems to make anything he reads even better. I basically listened to this book in one sitting. It was very, very good.
39 people found this helpful
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- Dan Davis
- 2018-04-14
Enlightening
I am glad I finished this enlightening work. The middle drug out in details, but the body of work is worth the time.
4 people found this helpful
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- Buretto
- 2017-11-15
Worst empire ever, except for all the rest.
An engaging, if a bit of an uneven, account of the British Empire, as the author vacillates between a contemptuous view of the notion of empire and unabashed patriotism. The result is a bit disconcerting, abandoning a more measured style for a one that tends to reach for extremes of emotion. But oddly, it works.
The book gives unique perspectives on the major events of the empire, particularly in America and India. The author does go a bit afield with suppositions of alternate realities regarding slavery and colonialism, which can't strictly be supported, but it's all good food for thought. Where it starts to strain is the repetition of how the British empire's actions could be viewed as similar to the SS in Nazi Germany, but not as bad.... the Boer treatment of Africa, but not as bad... the Japanese colonisation of Asia, but not as bad. While certainly understandable, it's a theme that perhaps could have been made with a slightly subtler hammer.
19 people found this helpful
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- KEITH
- 2018-01-06
How Britain gained and lost the Empire
This is a very easy book to listen to and understand. It takes the reader from the beginning of the Empire (when the goal was to steal what they could from Spain), to the founding of colonies (and the ability of Britain to change its policies after losing America) to owning 1/4 of the land mass on the globe. The author points out that overall Britain wanted to do do the moral thing for its people.
6 people found this helpful
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- John Birkhead
- 2020-08-26
A great summary of the British Empire
I was born in Britain. I think Furguson has put together a great guide to the development and fall of the empire.
While Furguson is a little more gung ho for the empire as a whole than I am, I agree with many of his conclusions.
Definitely recommended for anyone interested in modern history, the current world and how it got that way. For good or bad.
2 people found this helpful
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- Craven Moorehead
- 2020-04-07
Rule Britannica
As a native citizen of the colony of Canada, I have a new appreciation for the contributions of the Great British.
Very good read.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anthony Nana Kwamu
- 2019-08-10
Superbly Informative
This book neither glorifies nor makes an apology for the British Empire. It simply provides information, leaving it up to the reader/listener to make his/her own judgment. More importantly, it really answered the question for me of how a few million people from a tiny country of England came to govern a fifth of the planet and make their culture the most widespread on earth. The book is interesting all the way, with little stories and little known narratives plugged in the enhance the big historical events depicted in this book. Highly recommend this for any history buffs out there (author of "Renee: St. Mary's Virus).
2 people found this helpful
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- J. R.
- 2018-03-21
Enjoyable book
Excellent narrator, good story, the only part I did not care for was the endless "white guilt" complex of the author, and groveling apologies in nearly every chapter...
8 people found this helpful
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- Peter Ryers
- 2018-02-24
Great read
A wonderfully insightful look at the British empire. Understandable and enjoyable for the non-historian.
1 person found this helpful