At only 226 pages for volume 1, this is a short collection of readings, which allows the teacher to assign interesting monographs or classics. What the text does it does well, such as to provide handy introductions to the readings, a few questions to consider for each source, provide maps and some pictures, end each chapter with provocative questions, and covers most regions of the world.

Each reading is two pages or less, and that allows students to get their feet wet in a nice variety of historical events, ideas, and personalities. While I wish some of the secondary sources would present a more complete history of their topics, they have been chosen well and many are selections from top scholars such as A.H.M. Jones on Rome and Euan Cameron on the Protestant Reformation.

Is it Eurocentric? Sadly, three of the fifteen chapters concern Europe from the middle ages onward, but Asia is also well represented, and one finds a chapter on the Mongols and nomads of central Asia. Central and South America is slighted, and Islam's chapter is too brief.

It is overpriced at around $53. For a few dollars less one could assign Worlds of History, ed. by Kevin Reilly, and get more sources, a longer text, better introductions, global coverage, and Reilly's expertise. But the Reilly text is the typical B/W, plain, and dense small paperback of 500 pages, whereas this text by Sherman is large size, full of colorful illustrations and maps, and easier for students to look at. Both books are viable options for world history courses.
Prof. Christensen, Biola University

This book is an excellent companion to conventional textbooks in a Global History course. The Introduction and "Consider" feature before each source helps the reader to pinpoint key ideas and important themes in the document as well as provide important background information which aides in the understanding of the source. The wide variety of sources focusing on various aspects of each topic help to provide a well-rounded view of the subject.