{"title":"Dr Neil MacGregor","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the captivating works of Dr Neil MacGregor, a renowned historian and cultural expert, in our carefully curated collection. Known for his ability to weave intricate stories through objects, art, and beliefs, Dr MacGregor offers readers a unique glimpse into the tapestry of human history and culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eA History of the World in 100 Objects\u003c\/em\u003e, Dr MacGregor takes us on an extraordinary journey through time, using artefacts from the British Museum to illuminate the past. With each object, he unravels a tale that tells not only its own story but also how it connects to the greater narrative of humanity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDr MacGregor's book \u003cem\u003eGermany: Memories of a Nation\u003c\/em\u003e provides a profound exploration of German history and identity. Through art, narrative, and artefacts, he crafts an engaging portrait of a nation and its people, offering insight into how history has shaped the Germany of today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eLiving with the Gods\u003c\/em\u003e, Dr MacGregor explores how religions and spiritual beliefs have been interwoven into the fabric of cultures worldwide. This book delves into the ways in which these beliefs influence our understanding of the world and contribute to the collective human experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur collection encapsulates these intriguing themes, inviting you to step into Dr Neil MacGregor's world of history, art, and belief—the perfect addition to any inquisitive reader's library.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"a-history-of-the-world-in-100-objects","title":"A History of the World in 100 Objects","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA History of the World in 100 Objects\u003c\/em\u003e by Dr Neil MacGregor is a captivating journey through human history, uniquely told through the examination of one hundred carefully selected artefacts from the extensive collection of the British Museum. This masterfully crafted narrative spans two million years and delves deep into the past, presenting a mosaic of historical moments that have shaped our civilisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDr Neil MacGregor takes a dramatically original approach to history by using objects—often left behind accidentally by previous civilisations—as prisms through which we can explore past worlds and the lives of the men and women who inhabited them. From a stone chopping tool from the Olduvai Gorge in Africa, one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, to a 21st-century object representing our contemporary world, the book’s range is enormous and awe-inspiring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMore than just a descriptive catalogue, \u003cem\u003eA History of the World in 100 Objects\u003c\/em\u003e provides an illuminating insight into the significance of each item. Neil MacGregor eloquently shows how a stone pillar reveals the philosophies of a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance, how Spanish pieces of eight herald the dawn of global currency, and how an early Victorian tea-set marks the British Empire's far-reaching influence. Every chapter immerses the reader in a different civilisation, effectively guided by MacGregor’s well-informed and engaging narration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSeen through this lens, history becomes a kaleidoscope—ever-shifting, interconnected, and full of surprises, revealing how the past continually shapes our present in ways we might never have imagined. Each piece is not just an artefact but a storyteller in its own right, offering unique insights into human development, cultural exchanges, and societal transformations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAn intellectual and visual feast, this book is one of the most engrossing and innovative history volumes published in years. It successfully combines historical scholarship with storytelling, making it accessible and intriguing for readers from all walks of life. \u003cem\u003eA History of the World in 100 Objects\u003c\/em\u003e is destined to transform how we understand and appreciate our shared human heritage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45695145541868,"sku":"9780241951774","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780241951774.jpg?v=1725621561"},{"product_id":"living-with-the-gods","title":"Living with the Gods","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLiving with the Gods\u003c\/em\u003e by Dr Neil MacGregor offers an extraordinary exploration of humanity's enduring search for meaning and our connections to the divine. This panoramic study investigates how beliefs shape us, tracing the rich tapestry of narratives that societies have developed to understand their place in the cosmos. Far from a simplistic historical recount, MacGregor's examination delves into the core of how belief systems influence cultures, politics, and personal identities across different eras and geographies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this compelling narrative, MacGregor shifts the focus from institutional religions to the shared stories that unite and sometimes divide societies. He artfully uses a kaleidoscope of objects, rituals, and traditions to illustrate how these shared beliefs are manifested in everyday life and societal structures. The book tackles profound questions about the origins of belief, the nature of the divine, and the impact of these beliefs on human behaviour and global events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMankind's myriad beliefs are presented not as isolated systems of thought but as dynamic and interactive elements of human existence. MacGregor examines how these diverse belief systems—ranging from ancient polytheistic practices to modern monotheistic faiths—often intersect, influence, and sometimes conflict with one another. By doing so, he brings nuance to our understanding of faith’s role in contemporary issues such as politics, identity, and ethics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLiving with the Gods\u003c\/em\u003e also contextualises current global conversations about faith and society, showing that rather than becoming marginalised, religion has moved to the forefront of political and social discourse. This shift is expertly explored through the lens of historical and cultural artifacts, allowing for a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness of belief and society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDr Neil MacGregor, celebrated for his work in \u003cem\u003eA History of the World in 100 Objects\u003c\/em\u003e, once again captivates with his insightful and engaging writing. His unique ability to link objects, places, and ideas offers readers a deeply enriching experience, shedding light on humanity’s eternal quest for meaning and connection. \u003cem\u003eLiving with the Gods\u003c\/em\u003e is a must-read for anyone interested in the profound impact of belief systems throughout history and their continuing relevance in our world today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45695482527980,"sku":"9780141986258","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780141986258.jpg?v=1725631198"},{"product_id":"germany-by-dr-neil-macgregor-9780141979786","title":"Germany","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the past 140 years, Germany has been the central power in continental Europe. Twenty-five years ago, a new German state came into being. How much do we really understand this new Germany, and how do its people now understand themselves?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Neil MacGregor, the author of \u003cem\u003eA History of the World in 100 Objects\u003c\/em\u003e, this is a view of \u003cem\u003eGermany\u003c\/em\u003e like no other.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNeil MacGregor argues that, uniquely for any European country, no coherent, overarching narrative of Germany's history can be constructed. In Germany, both geography and history have always been unstable. Its frontiers have constantly floated. Königsberg, home to the greatest German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, is now Kaliningrad, Russia; Strasbourg, in whose cathedral Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany's greatest writer, discovered the distinctiveness of his country's art and history, now lies within the borders of France. For most of the five hundred years covered by this book, Germany has been composed of many separate political units, each with a distinct history. Any comfortable national story Germans might have told themselves before 1914 was destroyed by the events of the following thirty years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGerman history may be inherently fragmented, but it contains a large number of widely shared memories, awarenesses, and experiences; examining some of these is the purpose of this book. Beginning with the fifteenth-century invention of modern printing by Gutenberg, MacGregor chooses objects and ideas, people and places which still resonate in the new Germany—porcelain from Dresden and rubble from its ruins, Bauhaus design and the German sausage, the crown of Charlemagne and the gates of Buchenwald—to show us something of its collective imagination. There has never been a book about \u003cem\u003eGermany\u003c\/em\u003e quite like it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46508048122092,"sku":"9780141979786","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14599843482238.jpg?v=1748731226"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/dr-neil-macgregor.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}