I've been wanting to read a history of the papacy for a long time. Although Norwich calls himself an agnostic Protestant, he writes fairly of the popes, giving even some of the more infamous ones their due. Along the way, he enlightened me about the reasons for the Avignon Papacy and the background to the various anti-popes and rival elections of popes. He also does a pretty good brief summary of the nineteenth century unification of Italy and the various roles played by Cavour, Gariboldi and Mazzini. And there's more, such as the reputed origin of the belief that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day. ( )

This book is an accessible, informative, and captivating history of the highest office in the Catholic Church. An excellent resource for readers of disparate religious beliefs or no beliefs at all, this well researched chronicle shows the massive impact the papacy has had on world history in an engaging, stimulating way. ( )

A very interesting, highly engaging, and well-researched book about every single Pope, from the "first Pope" St. Peter to the first days of Pope Benedict XVI. No Pope is omitted, even the anti-popes make it in. It's fascinating how each of the men who held this high office were different. Each brought their own approach to the Papacy and were in varying degrees either successes or failures. Some used the office to get what they could out of it, while others genuinely sought to make a positive difference in the world.

Mixed in with the statistics of each Pope's reign are nuggets of biographical gold, stories that make each Pope human. At times, some of the history could get a bit stale. However, if you press on, you'll be rewarded.

Recommended for those interested in Popes, the history of Catholicism, and history in general. ( )

- So. Many. Popes.
- The author takes sides and makes clear where he stands on some issues. It's funny but not very impartial.
- This book also serves as a history of Italy post-Roman Empire. ( )

Extremely and unnecessarily detailed. Surprisingly boring given the subject matter.
Understanding how power was established via the catholic church in rome is integral to understanding the rise of Europe and the tyranny, oppression and genocide that followed.
This has subtle and annoying sexist, xenophobic and racist undercurrents. Western Europeans are described more favorably than Eastern Europeans, Asians and the ever present and ever generic 'Muslims'. At one point the author goes into great detail describing an asian nation as unwashed, eating uncooked meat, etc. I laughed out loud. Europeans during this period and for the next THOUSAND years are famously unwashed and their food is shit. A major driver of colonialism is the hunt for cheaper spices with which to help their nasty ass food.
This continues into colonization where in addition to how to swim, grow cash crops for trade and eventually inoculate against illness West Africans and the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas will teach Europeans to wash their nasty asses. In fact we are living out the effects of the carelessness and nastiness of Europeans. As global warming continues to be driven to by colonialism: which equates to theft and genocide. By Europeans of all flavors.
Just don't be an asshole dude🤷🏽‍♀️ ( )