Peter Clenott

Building on the strength of Pick Me Up and Do Not Open, we tackle world history in this vibrant and exciting title, The History Book. The book is a chronological exploration of the people and events that have shaped societies through time. From Mesopotamia to Mao, the Incas to Iraq, the Spartans to the Space Shuttle, this history book covers it all. The History Book squeezes together 3,500 years of bloody battles, glorious empires, revolting revolutions, monstrous monarchs, and so much more. It gives everything a good shake and a couple of twists, so the important bits are all there, but the fun stuff rises to the top. Explore the copper, bronze, and iron ages through some heavy metal merchandize, check out the flash crib of Persian emperor Darius I, pick your barbarian warrior in a beat 'em up videogame, and read Napoleon's profile on a social networking site. A cartoon strip retells the horrors of the black death, a news anchorman presents the headlines as the heads roll in the French Revolution, and graffiti on the Berlin Wall details the collapse of communism. Organized chronologically, date tags on every spread aid easy navigation. At the start of each chapter, there is an overview of the period with a map highlighting where all the main action took place. Key movers and shakers are listed and a cultural barometer details what's hot and what's not. A reference section at the back can be edited to suit local market needs. Learning history has never been so innovative or exciting. Find out where you fit in to the story of the world!