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Daniel J. Boorstin
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The Discoverers: A History of Man's Search to Know His World and Himself Paperback – February 12, 1985

by Daniel J. Boorstin (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 590 ratings
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An original history of man's greatest adventure: his search to discover the world around him.  In the compendious history, Boorstin not only traces man's insatiable need to know, but also the obstacles to discovery and the illusion that knowledge can also put in our way. Covering time, the earth and the seas, nature and society, he gathers and analyzes stories of the man's profound quest to understand his world and the cosmos.
Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 3
    Knowledge Series
  2. Print length
    768 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Vintage
  5. Publication date
    February 12, 1985
  6. Dimensions
    8.5 x 5.43 x 0.23 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0394726251
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0394726250
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Perhaps the greatest book by one of our greatest historians, The Discoverers is a volume of sweeping range and majestic interpretation. To call it a history of science is an understatement; this is the story of how humankind has come to know the world, however incompletely ("the eternal mystery of the world," Einstein once said, "is its comprehensibility"). Daniel J. Boorstin first describes the liberating concept of time--"the first grand discovery"--and continues through the age of exploration and the advent of the natural and social sciences. The approach is idiosyncratic, with Boorstin lingering over particular figures and accomplishments rather than rushing on to the next set of names and dates. It's also primarily Western, although Boorstin does ask (and answer) several interesting questions: Why didn't the Chinese "discover" Europe and America? Why didn't the Arabs circumnavigate the planet? His thesis about discovery ultimately turns on what he calls "illusions of knowledge." If we think we know something, then we face an obstacle to innovation. The great discoverers, Boorstin shows, dispel the illusions and reveal something new about the world.

Although The Discoverers easily stands on its own, it is technically the first entry in a trilogy that also includes The Creators and The Seekers. An outstanding book--one of the best works of history to be found anywhere. --John J. Miller

Review

"Compelling readable. . . . A remarkable narrative of the grand intellectual venture of humankind, rich in fascinating, often dramatic details."—The Wall Street Journal

"A sumptuous, totally engaging panorama. No one who reads it will look at the chronicle of human ingenuity in the same way again." —David McCullough

"Written with great verve . . . [Boorstin's] learning, wit, and lucidity should ensure that he will bring pleasure to a large group of reader."  —The New York Review of Books

"History with a human touch."  —Newsday

"A grand and exhilirating voyage, a bold attempt to circumnavigate the intellectual globe."  —The Philadlephia Inquirer

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; First Edition (February 12, 1985)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 768 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0394726251
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0394726250
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.82 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 5.43 x 0.23 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 590 ratings

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Daniel J. Boorstin

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

Water World Wizard
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional "overhead" view of history.
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2024
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The stories and vignettes enhance the historical narrative, bringing History into a personal perspective.
I found myself carried along in the story's stream, which were connected by a common motif.
Very scholarly yet readable.
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Tomasz Stasinski
5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent, eye-opening history of the human knowledge
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2008
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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.
9 people found this helpful
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Guillermo Maynez
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful adventure
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2003
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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.
12 people found this helpful
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RN
4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing trove of knowledge
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2021
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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.
5 people found this helpful
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Bailey
5.0 out of 5 stars Popular History at its Best
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2015
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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.
11 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful books, great quality product
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023
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The paperback versions of this book were terrible. This 2 volume hard cover box set is excellent.
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Top reviews from other countries

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1931
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in Canada on December 11, 2023
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Enjoyed this particular connecting of the dots. Nice essay.
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Francois
5.0 out of 5 stars Incontournable
Reviewed in France on September 2, 2023
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Ce livre est bien écrit, agréable, bourré de savoir et très inspirant. Bien sûr le style est un peu daté et assez académique mais ce livre permet de prendre de la hauteur et de comprendre les grandes étapes de la civilisation occidentale.
One person found this helpful
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Explorer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in India on March 1, 2020
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Awesome Book
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding presentation of the history of mankind
Reviewed in Germany on May 29, 2017
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The content and the way of presentation of this book are unmatched. Boorstin had a deep understanding of history, technology and science. And he mastered the language (the languages, he obviously knew various of these) like few others. If you are fluent in English, try to read this!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2016
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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.
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