The History Book is a fascinating journey through the most significant events in history and the big ideas behind each one, from the dawn of civilization to the lightning-paced culture of today. One hundred crystal-clear articles explore the Law Code of Hammurabi, the Renaissance, the American Revolution, World War II, and much, much more, bringing the events and people of history to life. As part of DK's award-winning Big Ideas Simply Explained series, The History Book uses infographics and images to explain key ideas and themes. Biographies of key leaders, thinkers, and warriors, from Julius Caesar to Barack Obama, offer insight into their lives and further historical insight into these world-changing episodes. The History Book makes the past 4,000 years of history accessible and provides enlightenment on the forces that shaped the world as we know it today, for students and history buffs alike. Series Overview: Big Ideas Simply Explained series uses creative design and innovative graphics, along with straightforward and engaging writing, to make complex subjects easier to understand. These award-winning books provide just the information needed for students, families, or anyone interested in concise, thought-provoking refreshers on a single subject. Reviews: "[The Big Ideas Simply Explained books] are beautifully illustrated with shadow-like cartoons that break down even the most difficult concepts so they are easier to grasp. These step-by-step diagrams are an incredibly clever learning device to include, especially for visual learners." - Examiner.com "The visual layout promotes browsing with illustrations, pull quotes, and simple mind maps to explain concepts quickly." - Library Journal "Accessible guide to the great thinkers." - School Library Journal "Clever and engaging." - Booklist

《二十五史简明读本》是我社1997年开发、出版的、颇受读者欢迎的《二十五史新编》的升级版。自司马迁撰著《史记》以降，历朝历代修史不绝，一套《二十四史》激起无数人探究历史的欲望和热情。然在社会节奏不断加快的今天，卷帙浩繁的《二十四史》令许多人望而生畏。而我社这套《二十五史简明读本》篇幅适宜，短小精悍，通俗易懂。它既保持了《二十四史》的精华，又汲取了现代史学研究成果尤其是考古发现的成果，并增加了中国近代的历史——《晚清史》。特别是在这次升级的修订中，不但在内容上增添了史学研究和考古发现的新成果，还增添了精美的彩图，同时在版面和装帧上也作了符合当今人们审美理念的新的设计，从而使内容与形式完美融合，相得益彰。