For the great French sociologist and philosopher Edgar Morin, History has never ceased to be a subject of reflection, without excluding historical events in which he himself actively participated. Born in 1921 in Paris and having experienced firsthand the war of 1939-40 and the resistance against the Germans, Morin remains to this day a curious and insightful observer of upheavals in fields such as economy and ecology, and a scholar of developments in the realm of culture.

In this book, he shares with us "lessons" of History, from all that he has seen and lived through, illuminating both the past and helping us better design the future. From the perspective of the intellectual-observer as well as the active citizen, he points out, among other things, that the unexpected can happen, that destructive forces can also be great civilizers, that myths often decisively influence History, and that sometimes a single individual can change the course of events.

With a synthetic spirit and vivid language, Morin invites us to follow him on a brief journey through the History of humanity, from antiquity to our days.