Ian Crofton's book does just what he claims it will do. That is, he introduces 200 big ideas ranging from aesthetics, to wave theory. Now, I guess, that I had, at least come across virtually all of these terms ...though maybe not mimesis or exceptionalism. (The first meaning the process by which art represents nature and the second being special claims ...like the Jewish people claiming Palestine). Each topic has just one or two pages devoted to it ...and the book is a tiny size so the information of each topic is pretty focused. But, on the whole, I think it is rather good. He covers a huge range of themes; philosophy, religion, science, politics. economics, society, psychology and the arts. I will not even try to summarise here. And Wikipedia actually seems to have more information than the book. But the book was quite a good refresher and I remember thinking, as I was reading it...."aha...I didn't know that". Though now I can't recall any of those "aha" instances. Easily worth 4 stars. ( )

A very simple, sometimes simplistic explanation of big ideas from Western history. Would suit an absolute beginner as long as it is taken to be just a beginning. ( )