The Things They Carried

摘要

The idea of presenting popular history through objects got a boost from Tom Standage's popular A History of the World in Six Glasses (Walker. 2005), which discusses human development from the Fertile Crescent, where they drank beer, to today's Coca Cola-fueled society. The trend has really taken off lately, though, with readers who like a reference browse delighting in books that explore various aspects of our world and its history through...stuff. Collections of 100 items are particularly the rage, and are also fascinating. More than, say, six drinks, a compilation of 100 objects gives the author space to get a little whimsical or unexpected. Like any list that claims to be definitive, the chosen artifacts can spark some knotty discussions. Which items were chosen, and why? What's missing? Which choices are odd, or expand the definition of the title?