Today I have continued reading the first volumn of "The Story of Cilivization"
by Will Durant, what many people consider the seminal work on history of the 
twentieth century. Reading about the Indian history, free hospitals in the 
400's, predating the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris by between 200-650 years makes you
really realise just how ignored India is in the west, historically speaking.
Also Will Durant, while a stanch liberal in his day, near 100 years later can 
sometimes come across as crass with statements that begets the white sausage
-fest that was 20th century academia.

I feel that, while I am enjoying it and taking it in, my memory of it is vague
after a few hours. The long series of name of regions, religious figures, 
rulers, and concepts blur once I have moved onto other things. I wonder if 500
pages in, I have any chance of taking in all 12 books, with their hefty page 
counts and unfamiliar names. To be honest my greatest fear is my memory. It 
has always been a weakness of mine, I have found that my memory no so much
fades but with time dissapears entirely. I honestly do not remember anything 
of school, even university and even friends dissapear from my minds eye after
a month or two. It has always been my greatest failing and shame.

Still, one can only try and better themselves and failing to understand history
is preferable then never trying.