Despite its ponderous title, The Story Of Mankind is a lively book, laced with dry humor and wry observations; readers, for instance, are reminded that during his lifetime, William Shakespeare was viewed "as a sort of circus-fellow.".

Although broad in scope, the book is capable of delving beneath the surface, as in its discussion of the Third World's own three "worlds." Nonetheless, some modern-day topics are given short shrift: AIDS is covered in a mere five sentences, and the Internet is discussed in just a half a paragraph; by contrast, in the same chapter, the rise and fall of the Nicaraguan contras is given over a page.

A book this ambitious deserves better illustrations. The drawing labeled "Refugees" depicts four faceless figures who, with their tote bags, could be mistaken for mall rats. Another drawing, labeled "Amsterdam in 1648," is a windmill--an X surrounded by squiggles. The handwritten words within the illustrations are tiny, and the large-typeface captions are easily confused for chapter subheadings. Black-and-white photos or more detailed drawings would be a major improvement.

Readers won't set out to devour the 600 page-plus volume from beginning to end. Younger readers especially should scan the table of contents for areas of interest and explore from there. Chapters devoted to art and science will interest school-age kids, and multiple-chapter sections on Greece, Rome, and the medieval world, for example, will appeal to young adults.