Neil MacGregor Books
Neil MacGregor is a British art historian and museum director, best known for his tenure as Director of the British Museum from 2002 to 2015. He has been widely recognized for his work in making art and history accessible to the public through exhibitions, radio, and television.
Known for: A History of the World in 100 Objects
Books by Neil MacGregor
A History of the World in 100 Objects
Based on the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series, this book tells the story of humanity through one hundred objects from the British Museum’s collection. From the earliest tools made by humans to modern technological artifacts, Neil MacGregor explores how these objects reveal the shared experiences, beliefs, and innovations that have shaped our world.
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Early Human Innovation
Our story begins not with written words, but with skillful hands chipping stone. The first object I chose for the radio series, and for the book, was a simple yet transformational tool: the Olduvai Gorge hand axe. It stands as a testament to humanity’s earliest triumph of imagination. Two million ye...
From A History of the World in 100 Objects
The Dawn of Agriculture
The shift from wandering to settling was perhaps the greatest revolution in human history. This transformation is chronicled not in written decrees but in pottery shards, stone sickles, and storage jars. They reveal the moment when humans realized that the land could be persuaded to yield food predi...
From A History of the World in 100 Objects
About Neil MacGregor
Neil MacGregor is a British art historian and museum director, best known for his tenure as Director of the British Museum from 2002 to 2015. He has been widely recognized for his work in making art and history accessible to the public through exhibitions, radio, and television.
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Neil MacGregor is a British art historian and museum director, best known for his tenure as Director of the British Museum from 2002 to 2015. He has been widely recognized for his work in making art and history accessible to the public through exhibitions, radio, and television.
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