Jaguar: History of a Classic - Philip Porter - Hardcover Book

I used this textbook in my Western Civilization class this fall and really liked it. The book is clear, comprehensive and relatively readable. I think it does a particularly effective job of drawing out ideas and institutions in each period it covers that ultimately help shape the Western tradition. My main criticism of the book is that it tries to do too much - my students were overwhelmed with information. I would like to see it streamlined a little, focusing in on the most significant figures and reserving the rest for higher-level courses. Despite this small issue, I will definitely be teaching from this book in the future. Of all the Western civilization textbooks I've read, it is the most effective at covering the material in a way that highlights the ultimate significance of events.