Makes you think

Mr Ferguson always makes me think and has done much to alter my view of history. This is, in general, another excellent book.
I would say that he takes a very macro view of the benefits of empire. Not unrealistic but viewed from a safe distance.
I would also add that I feel he falls into the trap of condemning Ireland for not fighting on the allied side in Ww2. Ireland was a tiny, impoverished nation that had, less than 20 years previously, finally won its freedom from its ancient enemy ie Britain. No government could have asked its citizens to fight for Britain without risking a descent into another bloody civil war.
He further fails to mention how Irelands neutrality was very strongly inclined towards Britain.
On the whole though this is a superb book and leaves you thinking about the world from a different perspective. I enjoyed it immensely.

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24 people found this helpful

Great Listen

It always helps to know a little bit about the subject matter before listening to a book like Empire. But you don't have to be an expert.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed listening to this book. Packed full of little snippets that added to the larger picture. Currently The British Empire is a bit of a dodgy subject, but I felt the good and the bad were reflected and Niall Ferguson gave a balanced view.
Jonathan Keeble the narrator was fabulous.
Loved it.

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Superb

A fair, informative and balanced assessment of an often controversial and misunderstood subject. It taught me so much about perspective of this often difficult area of history. Thoroughly recommended.

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A lot of people would do well to listen to this book

Fantastic book, well written and genuinely informative whilst remaining on the whole balanced
Britannia ruled the waves until its so called two faced friend became a Shylock

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Brilliant!

As a newbie to The Empire I found this book both enjoyable and engaging. Having tried other history narratives I found them difficult to hold the information but the way this is written and narrated kept me listen and learning the whole way through.Highly recommend.

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4 people found this helpful

a gret overhaul of events

i enjoyes this book massively. it touches on alot of events that i didnt know about but at the same time it skirts over a few events that i wish they had actually gone deeper into or in some cases mention at all.

covers alot of world history. good and bad so worth a listen is thats your thing

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Brilliant, well researched, respectful

Cuts through the rhetoric of the British Empire to get at the truth. Ferguson touches the lowest lows and highest highs with dignity to combat the difficult topic of the British Empire.

Keeble's narration is suitably British, but he can't resist the accent of Churchill or American government officials.

If you want to have an intelligent conversation about any aspect of the British Empire, ensure that both sides have read or listened to this book first.

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At last a true account of the British Empire

Niall has clearly and concisely explained and illustrated the reality of what drove the creation of the British Empire. We have reached a crisis in world history because the USA refuses to admit the British Empire was a force for good, stability and prosperity. That failure of comprehension is due directly to the lies and subversion of the Marxist insanity promulgated by Hollywood, the CCP, the cultural Marxists...all the ignorant datk forces that now swarm into the power vacuum with their hatred and evil doctrines, far, far worse than any empirical arrogance which naturally comes from superior strength.

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so good I listened to it twice

I found this to be very informative, the author does not seek to eulogise the empire and provides a well balanced account. The narrator is excellent.

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Enjoyable

An interesting overview of the history of the British empire. I thoroughly enjoyed this and thought it was well read.

Two small criticisms:
1. I did feel the overall structure could have been improved slightly and timelines jumped about a bit though appreciate it's difficult to stick to chronological or geographical structure given the vastness of the topic.
2. There was an undercurrent of the need to justify British Colonialism as being 'not too bad' or 'not as bad as other colonial powers rule'. I don't think this was entirely necessary and slightly undermined the impartiality of the analysis.

Overall I would recommend the book and on the whole it was well balanced and insightful.

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9 people found this helpful