To Explain It All - by Chris Edwards (Paperback)

About the Book

This ambitious historiography provides a clear and accessible account of the production and scope of the most influential of the grand narratives of world history, from the time of William McNeill's groundbreaking work to what the author considers the failed approach known as "Big History."

Book Synopsis

World history is not a subject; it is all the subjects. Because of this, world history as a discipline has never fit well with the traditional definition of historical research. H.G. Wells wrote the first true book of world history in 1920 and only a few authors have made the attempt to "explain it all" since Wells. In that time, world history has become the chosen subject of polymaths and possesses the most potential to unite all of the fields of knowledge. The subject of world history has developed several approaches, with "Big History" being the most modern, and flawed, of its variants.

Review Quotes

"Ambitious is the author who attempts to write the history of the entire world. Equally daunting is the historiographical challenge of writing an accessible account of the production and scope of the most influential of these grand narratives. Written by a veteran educator with decades of experience teaching and developing world history curricula at the secondary school level, To Explain it All masters this challenge with verve and deft expertise. Refreshing in its clarity of writing and unflinchingly honest in its opinions, this two-volume survey will be of interest to both general readers and those who write or teach world history." --Timothy Parsons, Professor of History and of African and African-American Studies

About the Author

Chris Edwards, EdD, teaches World History, AP World History, and English in the Midwest. He is the author of numerous books on science, philosophy, and educational theory. He directs a summer institute for math and science teachers, is a frequent contributor to Skeptic magazine, and has presented his teaching methodology nationally through publications and presentations through the National Council for Social Studies.