The idea of the book is undoubtedly all right and has not for nothing that found many imitators. In cases where it clearly stands out from those is that the objects not illuminate the parts of the story that you would expect. So the book begins with bifaces and Faustäxten and then came as a spearhead, I thought "OK, now it comes to the first composite weapons. Or to throw weapons." Debkste! Spearheading comes from America and the chapter deals with the migration from Asia to America. Such surprises are found throughout the book. Generally, certain events are usually hidden (no object on the 2nd World War, for example), rather it is about human development and global trends: trade relations, Religious influence, philosophies. Also, the scope of the chapter is large: So you learn the way a lot about how archaeologists or historians come to their knowledge. While I very flat place such as "A History of the World in 7 Drinks" (I could have said previously to what drinks do it and what they say "this book is not only instructive, but also about aschend, original and on top of that well written. As an example, perhaps the final chapter: The objects of the 20th century are a dish of the Russian Revolution (changes in Russia, and especially change from "he" to "we"), Hockney's "In the dull village" (development of tolerance) the "Throne of Weapons" - wars in Africa and freedom efforts, credit card (a new monetary system) and a solar lamp (challenges for the future: poverty and global warming).
The only thing that could possibly interfere with the one or the other (except for the classic "year history is vermiede what I as a bonus see) is that each chapter indeed form a whole, but have been completed for itself - now I read about Afrikan, thereafter porcelain from China. But that is for me no real gripe.
Conclusion: One of the best history books, I know!
