"A remarkable tour de force ... An elegant, intelligent and scholarly essay."--J. H. Hexter, New York Times Book Review "A brilliant new interpretation of world history."--David Graber, Los Angeles Times Book Review "There is virtually no one in the profession who can match McNeill as a synthesizer--or, for that matter, as an interdisciplinary historian... There is more insight in this volume than in others of double or triple the length."--David Courtwright, Journal of Interdisciplinary History "How refreshing in this era of foreboding to read an informed analysis of human prospects ending on a positive note that we are the creators rather than the creatures of our destiny."--L.S. Stavrianos, Journal of World History