12 Books That Changed the World

In the book Bragg discusses twelve British books that he contends changed the world. These books are as follows:[1]

• Principia Mathematica by Isaac Newton
• Married Love by Marie Stopes
• Magna Carta
• Book of Rules of Association Football
• On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
• On the Abolition of the Slave Trade
• A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft
• Experimental Researches in Electricity by Michael Faraday
• Richard Arkwright's patent specification for his "Spinning Machine"
• The King James Bible
• The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
• The First Folio by William Shakespeare

12 Books That Changed the World was first published in the United Kingdom in 2006 and was accompanied by a four part special screened on ITV.[2][3]

Upon release 12 Books That Changed the World received criticism from reviewers who noted that several items in the list were not considered books.[4] Others also criticized the list as focusing on works put out by white British men, as well as the length of the list.[5][6] Miles Kingston noted that the list was absent of any foreign texts.[7] Laurie Taylor commented on the criticism in a review for The Independent, writing that he was "put off by the assumption that anyone who doesn't whole-heartedly join Bragg in his latest popularising endeavour is something of a spoilsport or dangerous elitist."[8] Christopher Howse of The Daily Telegraph was also critical, compiling a list of works that he felt had more of a global impact.[6]

Tim Cribb of the South China Morning Post panned the book, writing that it "reads like a rehash of his television treatment for the series of the same name" and that "Even the illustrations look like carefully selected stills from the visual sequences that accompany his dialogue".[9] Paul Callan of the Daily Express was also critical, stating that "selecting 12 books that changed the world is the stuff of which pretentious dinner parties are made".[10]