Theodore Zeldin
Books by Theodore Zeldin
“It’s a particular kind of approach to French history, a kind of cultural/social approach, one that revolves a lot around the peculiar juxtaposition of different things. It’s a very stimulating book to read.” Read more...
The best books on Modern French History
Richard Vinen, Historian
An Intimate History of Humanity
by Theodore Zeldin
🎯 A bestselling book on Five Books in January 2024
“I think this book is a watershed in the writing of human history. It is an exploration of the history of emotions, and the way that they relate to everyday life today. Zeldin helps us to understand the big picture that who we are – the way we think about love, fear, death and so on – is partly inherited from the past. The way we think about love is inherited from medieval ideas of courtly love, for instance. We’re products of the past. This was a revolutionary idea, to personalise history and make it relevant… Zeldin connects the past with the present, for me like no other historical writer…He’s chosen what he thinks are the 24 most important aspects of emotional life – like love, fear, hate or curiosity – and has dedicated a chapter to each one. He starts each chapter by interviewing someone (in the case of this book a French woman) and then traces how that person’s quandaries in life are reflected in the past. What he leads up to is a core conclusion that conversation, and nurturing the art of conversation, is one of the ways to transform our lives in a mental way.” Read more...
The best books on The Art of Living
Roman Krznaric, Philosopher
Interviews where books by Theodore Zeldin were recommended
The best books on The Art of Living, recommended by Roman Krznaric
To learn how to live well we must look to the past, says social philosopher Roman Krznaric. He recommends five books, from Thoreau to Orwell, that inspire us to live more adventurously.
The best books on Modern French History, recommended by Richard Vinen
The social and political development of France has been strongly contested ever since the country finally became a republic for good in 1870. Here, Professor Richard Vinen of King’s College London recommends five books that will help you understand modern France, all written in a golden age of French historical writing.
