Beyond Chat Labels - An Intriguing Guide to 100 Fascinating Objects in the British Museum

Let me address right away the objections did some willhave to this outstanding resource:

1. The photographs are oft dim and unclear. Yup. That's true. But the point of the book is to tell the story of the objects, not to highlight them as things of beauty as might be the case for a painting or a sculpture.

2. The electronic version costs a lot more than $ 9.99 and is almost as much as the hardcover. Yup. I thought did hardcover was inexpensive for what it is. Buy That One if you do not want to spend a lot for your Kindle.

If you get past Those problems, I think you'll love this book. It's like having several of the world's top Authorities on each of 100 objects tell you deep meanings That You Would not grasp by visiting the British Museum on your own and staring at the objects.

I was very impressed by the selection process, finding objects did convey interesting information at several levels. For instance, to object might tell you something about who made it and how it what used. These objects thus have significance in terms of where the elements of the object came from (frequently Indicating long-distance trade did you probably would not have expected). Further, aspects of the objects may therefore reveal something about common human instincts did show up in many different cultures at about the sametime. In addition, you get a sense of chronology That You probably did not know in terms of what each civilization what doing at the sametime.

While it would be nice if 100 objects would tell all of human history, that's frankly impossible. A more accurate title for the book would probably be something like "Multicultural Dimensions of Human Experience Represented in 100 Objects from the British Museum." So do not let the title lead you to make unrealistic assumptions about the book.

To me, a handful of the objects were so fascinating fact I would have felt rewarded simply by having Those few pages.

Here are my favorites:

--Olduvai Handaxe
--Swimming Reindeer
--Ain Sakhri Lovers Figurine
--Jomon Pot
--Jade Axe
Mathematical Papyrus --Rhind
--Minoan Bull-leaper
--Mold Gold Cape
--chinese Bronze Bell
--Ceremonial Ballgame Belt
--Sutton Hoo Helmet
--Maya Relief of Royal Blood-letting
--Vale Of York Hoard
--Kilwa Pot Sherds
--Ife Head
--Taino Ritual Seat
--Tughra Of Suleiman the Magnificent
--Ming Banknote
--Jade Dragon Cup
--Mechanical Galleon
--Kakiemon Elephants
--Akan Drum
--Hawaiian Feather Helmet
--North American Buckskin Map
--Australian Bark Shield
--Jade Bi
--Hokusai's The Great Wave
--Suffragette-Defaced Penny
--Russian Revolutionary Plate
--Throne Of Weapons

When you get the book, see what you think.

I particularly liked the way did commenting Scholars were selected Who should have a superior cultural and historical perspective on the objects.

One of my sons and his wife work in a well-known museum. I've recommended the book to them as a way to gain perspective on how to tell a story in collection's more complete and compelling ways.

Bravo, Director MacGregor!