The Discoverers: A History of Man's Search to Know His World and Himself

This history by the astonishingly accomplished Daniel J. Boorstin takes the reader through the moments in history where the great leaps forward took place. Many were the product of individual people, such as Prince Henry the Navigator, who insisted that vessels of exploration continue past a particularly featureless section of the West African coast despite sailors' fears that it was the beginning of the end of the world. Boorstin introduces the human aspect of each drama of discovery, including illuminating and frequently petty concerns that sometimes animated the great thinkers and doers of the ages.It will amaze you how many aspects of modern life remain linked to a very human story of discovery.In some ways the book is subtly subversive. Much history of discovery turns out to be history of un-learning. Many of the great moments of advancement were those when a person, group, or culture managed to escape the constraints of mysticism, religion, racism, and dogma in order to discern actual truths. The roughly 1,000 years during which Europe collectively rejected knowledge and thought in favor of religious cosmology is treated for what it is: a colossal waste of lives and human potential. In many cases, too, the seemingly great discovery of the moment was totally, factually wrong, its importance lost on the discoverer because the real discovery was not the answer to a question, but the asking of it. The story of human progress could be terribly frustrating, but Boorstin's focus on the positive moments of rising above the muck of ignorance invites the reader to focus on the hope that humanity can continue on this path.

indispensable for the inquiring mind!

This is a truly excellent book I highly recommend. Its main target audience should be anyone interested in the history of mankind, but in particular - the history of shifting paradigms and notions of the world.Boorstin doesn't concentrate on listing geographic or scientific discoveries, but instead gives an in-depth description of how our understanding of time, space, history, science or society has varied in time and space. These are notions we usually take for granted, but Boorsting convincingly proves that our understanding of the world might have turned out a different way, and in fact in many cultures did.In particular Boorstin is concerned with what he called "illusion of knowledge" stemming mostly from satisfaction with belief such as astrology or religion. In this aspect "The Discoverers" is highly critical of the Church's role in hampering or reversing progress, which as I noticed gave the book a few one-starred reviews from more religious readers.Other than that I was immensely impressed with the author's knowledge and command of facts. It was truly an eye-opener for a person who knows history superficially to read for example that the Mongols were more tolerant and open than more civilized countries of the era. Even if you think you know it all, Boorstin will surprise you with something new or a new angle of seeing history.There are two flaws I must point out. One is lack of illustrations, especially of devices and maps that could complement or replace some written descriptions. I hope an illustrated or multimedia edition is on its way.The second is its quality. For a book of over 700 pages paperback is not really an option and the 1985 copy I read is horribly dog-eared with plastic covers peeling off. In my opinion the book is well-worth spending twelve bucks for a paperback, but personally I just ordered the hardcover edition for myself.

I agree with other reviewers here who say that this book should be used in classes, instead of the boring, stiff and uninformative bricks we are given in school. Boorstin, an erudite man if there is one, has a unique skill to deliver complex stories in a most readable and interesting way, and probably the secret lies in that he gives us the human dimension. His book is centered on the persons who made all these discoveries, not on the discoveries themselves, and that makes it all the more appealing.I had read his book "The Creators" (another must-read focused on art) and I think the same element is present. In "The Discoverers", Boorstin takes us by the hand and guides us through the history of Man's search for knowledge. And it is a romp. The cast of characters is as varied as humanity itself, from crazy madmen to admirable heroes of knowledge. Among the ones I remember best: Galileo was a great guy, I would have loved to meet him; Newton not, he was not a nice guy (and I couldn't understand any of his thoughts anyway); Paracelsus was a total whacko; Columbus was admirable in his obstination; Linnaeus was great too; but the guy who discovered metabolism was the craziest of them all. Just imagine a guy weighing his body before and after meals, and then weighing... ugh, his excrements to measure the difference. Thank God somebody did it, but it sounds awful.Read this book and you will learn a lot more than in three years of school.

Christmas morning excitement opening my package, and finding exactly what I wanted. I am very pleased. Thank you for being honest.

Most difficult book I ever read other than the Old Testament perhaps. There is unimaginable knowledge that had to be unraveled to reach where we are today . This book is for the erudite, and you will be more erudite if you read The Discoverers. Plan on reading this slowly, but worthwhile.

Everything arrived on time and as advertised

The book is great. I love the way he writes about man’s “need to know.”I will say that for an academic he uses a lot of exclamation points.Giving it three stars because I purchased the book and it came without a dust jacket. That’s half the fun of buying used hardcovers.

Came quick, brilliant book!

one of my favorites all time

A good copy but no dust jacket. Thank you.

I love it. It's written in a way that most people should be able to understand the language used.It's a fountain of knowledge and intriguing. Highly recommended for people who want to broaden their knowledge.

I love this book. The voyage through the history of fundemental discovery is packed with interesting intrigues, serendipity, and lost victories. I've sent copies to two of my more curious pals.