5.0 out of 5 stars Very good

a. · 1 January 2024

I think Robert C Allen is maybe the only person to have written two VSI books, and his other on Economic History was so good I thought I would read this one too. I would say there's a bit of overlap, maybe a third or so effectively appears in both, but they are both excellent standalone books. The author is such a good writer, has great charts and illustrations to bring the book to life, and while there is a bit of an academic thread running though it that focusses how the book develops (and there are always other perspectives out there) this helps it all fit together in a lovely way.

4.0 out of 5 stars Brought on my Kindle

M. · 17 September 2019

Kindle edition

5.0 out of 5 stars Good business

M.M. · 14 November 2017

This is a very good example of the VSI series. I have read many of them, and not all of them are appealing. Some are republished works and some are out of date. But Robert Allen is able to write very clearly set the industrial revolution firmly in context and have some very interesting insights, particularly the notion of evolving inventions and the fact that many of the inventions were improved upon while they were working. I would recommend this as an introduction to the Industrial Revolution. My only grumble is a generic one again – that the type is very small. I had to read it with a magnifyinvg glass. No great inconvenience but something to think about.

5.0 out of 5 stars Or have a fine base to build upon for deeper knowledge

F.N. · 9 July 2018

This little book is first rate. Read it in conjunction with his other book in this series - Global Economic History - and you will know all you need to know on the big picture of modern economic history. Or have a fine base to build upon for deeper knowledge. Either way: time well spent.

5.0 out of 5 stars Shows how the modern world changed to what it is today

O.A. · 8 November 2021

Shows how the modern world changed to what it is today

5.0 out of 5 stars The ONLY man to read on the Industrial Revolution

S.M. · 6 December 2019

I have never given any one five stars before but Professor Allen deserves them. His analysis is the only plausible explanation of why the Industrial Revolution hapened in Britain and not elsewhere first.

3.0 out of 5 stars Industrious, Efficient

J. · 8 July 2019

This book is part of the OUP's "Very Short Introduction" series of slim volumes (each would fit in a jacket pocket) covering a wide variety of topics, written by an expert in the relevant field, and aimed at the general reader. Each is about 100+ pages long (this one is about 150 pages), complete with maps, illustrations, a bibliography and an index. This one has lots of tables.I’m a fan of the series, having read over two dozen of them. This book is by the same author of a sister volume in this series on 'Global Economic History'. Even if the author had been "Anon" you could see that both were from the same hand as a number of examples are common to both.Chapter 1 , "Then and Now" opens with the question 'why don't we live in a Bruegel painting?' which is how our ancestors lived century in, century out. Allen lists a number of reinforcing revolutions that played their part, technological, demographic, urban, agricultural, commercial, transportation al, and financial.Chapter 2 looks at pre-Industrial Britain, 1500-1700 and the rise of Northern Europe.Chapter 3 asks why the Industrial Revolution started in Britain (the same question is addressed in the same chapter number in'Global Economic History'.) He ascribes it in part to Britain's reaction to the 'globalization' launched by Columbus and da Gama, and in particular to Britain's access to cotton. He also cities a cause that had little to do with globalization i.e. the Scientific revolution - especially the understanding of atmospheric pressure and the vacuum which in turn aided the development of the steam engine.Chapter 4, “The condition of England”, considers rather the condition of English and describes how the IR effected various classes with respect to income, health, education etc.Chapter 5, “Reform and democracy”, deals with the political implications of the IR from 1789 to 1867. He picks the latter year as the "end" of the IR. That year saw, firstly, the publication of Volume 1 of Capital, secondly, the publication of figures showing that wages had risen dramatically over the previous 20 years, something Marx missed, and, thirdly, the Conservative government extended the franchise to give the vote to skilled workers, who now had a stake in the system.Chapter 6 covers the spread of the IR outside Britain and makes the same points that he made in 'Global Economic History'.One factual error I noticed is that on page 105 he refers to Disraeli as being Prime Minister in 1867. He didn't become PM until 1868.

1.0 out of 5 stars It contains an abundance of errors

M. · 10 December 2018

This book reads as if it had been written in an afternoon. There are plenty of errors in the charts and graphics. The information is no more researched than a Wikipedia article.As a History graduate, I find the Industrial Revolution one of the most fascinating periods in human history. This book doesn't do it any justice.

Muy completo.

P.e. · 24 August 2025

Estudio muy exhaustivo y completo tanto de la revolución industrial, de los problemas sociales que acarreó así como de la continuidad en el tiempo del cambio económico en diversos países.

Fascinating

V.B. · 1 November 2018

The book offers a fascinating account on the origin, development, effects and spread of industrial revolution that started in Britain in between 1750 to 1850.

Succinct history of the original industrial revolution and how some countries copied it

R.P. · 17 May 2021

The reasons why the industrial revolution happened in Britain first has been debated by many scholars at length. You have to read multiple longer books to understand all the proposed causes. But this book is a good way to get started and is written by an expert on the subject.The most interesting part of the book is nearer the end where Allen describes how Britain's success led to deindustrialization in countries outside of Britain because they could not compete. Then he describes how some countries used tariffs and other strategies to build up their own industries. This did not work everywhere. His explanations why are too brief and left me dissatisfied on that question.China'srise has driven deindustrialization in some countries and industries. The results are a mixed bag that deserves a book of it's own.

Very informative

k. · 18 September 2025

The book was very informative, starting from 18th century up to the late 20th century. The focus of the book was not just Beitain but all industrialized countries

The best first book to buy on the Industrial Revolution.

J.F. · 28 May 2017

This little book gives an excellent overview and gives the textile industry its proper place in history. I was particularly pleased that it explained principles often mentioned but not explained in other texts e.g. pg 79-81 explains Corn law, Schumpter, and Mathus. It also discusses Creative Destruction which I now understand but never hear of in other texts. Provides some insights not found in other books e.g. Chartist and how they had petitioned the Parliament with 3 million signatures for the right to vote and were turned down. No wonder many people left England for more progressive freedoms and rights.