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J. R. McNeill’s The Webs of Humankind offers a refreshingly clear view of world history through the lens of connective “webs” of interaction—along which trade, religious beliefs, technologies, pathogens, and much else traveled. Instructors have hailed McNeill’s approach as “integrative” and “accessible,” and students call the book “easy-to-absorb” and “fun to read.”
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Each chapter now concludes with 4–6 sources from diverse global perspectives, that enable instructors to bring more sources into their courses while helping students draw comparisons and connections.
The Second Edition table of contents aligns better with a two-term sequence, and enhanced coverage of indigenous peoples throughout the text provides even more inclusive coverage across world history.
Students have flocked to the affordable ebook—and with the Second Edition, this format will provide increased support through embedded assessment and engaging author videos.
J. R. McNeill is a professor of history at Georgetown University. He is the author of award-winning works in world and environmental history. These include The Human Web: A Bird’s-Eye View of World History (co-authored with his father and world history pioneer, William H. McNeill), and Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-Century World, both published by Norton. McNeill is a recent past president of the American Historical Association.
“This is definitely the best history textbook I’ve ever read . . . ever. I will actually remember things that I read in this book for a long time and not even because I was tested on them.”
“. . . I just want to say thank you to the author! History has been hard to understand but reading this textbook made it not only easier to understand world history but also more enjoyable! I felt more connected to the world because I was actually able to comprehend the webs of humankind.”
“I thought it was a great book, and I had a great experience in class using it. It really helped me understand world history from a new perspective.”
“This is the most promising world history text I’ve seen—the writing has energy and a unique voice, and it is immensely learned without being pedantic or dull…. I know of no other text that accomplishes so much with such efficacy and grace.
— Molly Warsh, University of Pittsburgh
“I don’t think I’ve ever been excited about a world history textbook before, but I am now!"
— Karen Carter, Brigham Young University
“The theme of webs of interaction is an ideal tool to explain the contours, textures, and hues of world history to a new generation of students. This is accessible and integrative in offering fresh insights into the complexity of the global past…. [T]he writing is terrific, bold, and accessible.”
— Candice Goucher, Washington State University
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Image Credits: (McNeill photo) Julie Billingsley
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