More of a Good Course than a Great Course

I've never yet listened to a production by "The Great Courses" that wasn't worthwhile, and "The Long 19th Century" is no exception. Prof. Weiner is both knowledgeable and engaging, with an obvious love for his subject. In particular, I found the final lectures, with their ties to WWI and to the "short" 20th Century which followed, to be the most interesting and rewarding.

My major complaint about this series is that, unlike the other Great Courses offerings I've listened to previously (and I've probably listened to a couple dozen), Prof. Weiner refers extensively to the suggested reading in the course guide. course guides aren't typically included GC downloads on Audible. Typically, the course guides are a nice compliment to the recorded material, but aren't an integral part of the course. While I don't think they were 'integral' in this lecture by any means, I did feel that the lecture was created with the assumption that readers would read the suggested texts (much as an undergraduate would), which puts the Audible listener at a disadvantage.

This is a quality product, and for anyone seeking a broad overview and thematic analysis of an important but poorly-remembered period in European history, this is probably a great place to start. But for those encountering the Great Courses series for the first time, I'd advise picking a different title.

22 people found this helpful

Not as Good as Most Great Courses

I should start with the positives. First, the professor is clearly enthusiastic, and the last one-third of the course is better than the first two-thirds. That being said, I was mostly disappointed in this course relative to other Great Courses history classes. That's not to say that this course is bad...it is just not as good as what I am used to receiving from the Great Courses. There are several problems with the design of this course:
1. The professor structured the lectures more as commentaries than lessons, making it much more important to read the recommended source materials. The problem with this approach is that I listen to Great Courses precisely because I do not have time to read the source materials. While I appreciate the Great Courses providing a guidebook, and I understand that reading the guidebook can be helpful, I've come to expect Great Courses to be presented in a way that does not rely on the guidebook or recommended readings.
2. The course lacks sufficient chronology. The course is mostly topical and sometimes jumps back and forth through the 19th century to the point of confusion without providing sufficient detail.

Again, I do not want to be too harsh in my review. The Great Courses almost always produces an enjoyable and informative product. This course meets the minimum threshold of quality. However, the structural deficiencies makes this course less stellar as I have come to expect.

8 people found this helpful

Amazing Analysis of WWI Causes

I have sat through countless hours of classroom lecture on the subject of WWI. I have read the best books and discussed this time period many times in the last few decades of my family and professional life. I have never heard a more precise and believable account of the proximate causes of that wars breakout in 1914 than this.

If for no other reason than to gain an understanding of how the tragedy of WWI could occur, listen.

8 people found this helpful

Good overview of lead up to World War I

The positives: the professor is passionate about his subject. Many of his lectures were quite moving - I was especially stirred by the discussion of the lead up and experience of the Great War.

This is a fascinating period and I knew very little about it. He certainly whetted my appetite to know more. I appreciated learning about something I had really missed in school, despite being a history major. It was a confusing period of history as well.

What I didn't like: The lectures were more like an undergrad course, where he assumed I had done the background reading, and was riffing on themes that pervaded the time, rather than any recitation of what actually happened. Because of my lack of background, I was often confused, as was my 18 year old son who also listened. Other Great Courses titles are better about weaving through the facts so that the novice can follow. Even if you are a history nut (as we are), I wouldn't start with this GC, or at least realize that this is not how they are all presented. I'm listening now to Fagan on Ancient Rome, and Desan on the French Revolution, and both are doing a better job of making it understandable to the novice.

6 people found this helpful

A great historical overview with no academic pressure

I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture series. Although this course had its fair share of specific dates and events, the context and overview of the time period made them relevant and easier to comprehend.

The19th century was a pivotal and complex time and Europe was the most powerful and volatile continent. A lot happened.

Professor Weiner is a master of the topic. He offers great insights into the trends of humanity, the effects of the events that shaped 19th century Europe and its impact on the 20th century and beyond.

I had a difficult time keeping track of all the political and social systems that came into play during this century because many were launched and tried during this tumultuous time. If I were to follow the book recommendations of the professor I'm sure I'd have a clearer understanding of 19th century liberalism, early anarchism and socialism - to name a familiar few.

This was my first experience with the "Great Courses" lecture series and I can only hope that my next one will be as informative and fulfilling.

5 people found this helpful

Exceptional insights

Darn good course and I have an MA in the subject. I am still a little fuzzy about the Bismarck alliance system but who isn't? I am 67 years old but I wish I could be an undergraduate again and take these courses. This course puts me back in the classroom.

4 people found this helpful

Not exactly what I was looking for

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The professor gets distracted often, and you can feel it. He will start making longer and longer pauses between words, and then just make a mistake (the wrong country name for example), and then correct himself, and eventually you hear him rally and get his line if thought back.

Any additional comments?

This is a very good summary of the period between the French Revolution and WW1, but it assumes that you've already studied all the separate parts. For example, it will not give you the story of the Crimean war, it will tell you of the events and processes lreading to it, and the impact it had, which lead to another thing which you're also supposed to already know about. So if, like me, you're looking to fill an education gap, because your high school education didn't cover the 19-th century properly, then this is not exactly the course that will do it. Although it might give you a good list of the significant things that you need to reserch further.

3 people found this helpful

Good intro.

I think the four stars are more because of how interesting and complex the topic is, rather than for the actual analysis. I feel I know a bit more, indeed, and it's hard to make sense of such a complex set of circumstances all over the place. I could have done without the side remarks (no, I'm not impressed at Prof. Weiner's having spent New Year's Eve in Berlin once, or by how he and his wife once saw a rally in Paris. Seriously?) and without the over-emphasizing of half the words in a sentence and without him telling us how professional the people at the TC are. I guess I'm more of a barebones kind of reader.

18 people found this helpful

Incredibly Interesting

This was a fascinating review of European history from the French Revolution and Industrial Revolution to the inception of the Great War. The professor began a bit fast but eventually you adjust to the pace of the course and he does a brilliant job explaining each country’s position and role during this captivating period of European history. A++

1 person found this helpful

Skip this. I will never recoup 18 lost hours.

Prof. Robert Weiner amazed me with thus course. It amazed me that anyone with advanced degrees in a specific subject area could know so little about it. It also amazed me that a university would hire and promote such an individual. Finally, as one who lived through the second half of the 20th century, Prof. Weiner several times repeated his baffling but apparently favorite (erroneous) finding - that the he emphatically believes the World War ONE had the single biggest impact on all of the 20th century!?
Prof. Weiner could have compressed the factual, worthwhile information in this course into ONE 30 minute class. However, ONE of his other annoying habits - pausing mid sentence; sometimes mid phrase - would double the class to nearly an hour.

1 person found this helpful