This is on point. I'm Meghna Chakrabardi.

Simon Seabag Montefiore is an acclaimed historian.

His knowledge of the Middle East, Russian and Soviet history in particular, has been called encyclopedic.

In his most recent book, he turned that encyclopedic mind towards nothing short of

a history of the entire world, this time told through the stories of specific families

throughout human history and across international borders, just as those borders themselves fluctuate along with the rise and fall of empires

and the families that ruled over them. And by the way, the book called The World

A Family History of Humanity, is also very funny, complete with characters

such as Basil the Unibrow Horse Whisperer.

Because let's admit it, humanity also has a deeply absurd streak.

Now, Seabag Montefiore's book was first published in 2022,

but it's that conclusion

that conclusion we'd like to focus on today because in it he writes about what

he calls the beginning of the end of the 70 year peace.

And humanity's creeping and possibly inexorable

return to a time where people around the world

aren't enjoying the fruits of liberty and democracy, but instead are subject to the mercurial

self-interested actions of dynastic rule.

Simon Seabag Montefiore, welcome back to Onpoint. It's great to be with you today, Magna, how are you?

I'm doing quite well and looking forward to this conversation.

But you know, before we get to the new edition to, or new edition and Addition to your book Simon since I mentioned

Basil the Unabrau Horse Whisper I think we need to tell everyone listening a

...