The Resume

(April 14, 1889-October 22, 1975)
Born in London, United Kingdom
English historian
Best know for his monumental work 'A Study of History'
Posited that history is a study of civilizations and not individual nation states and/or ethnic groups
Attended Oxford University and Winchester College

Why he might be annoying:

Despite his popularity as a writer, he is not considered an influential historian.
He divorced his wife and mother of his three children to marry his secretary.
He and his father Arnold Sr. (without the J.) are frequently confused with each other.
He thought Indian civilization a model for the West.
He once said the coming of Buddhism would be the most important event of the 20th century.
It took almost thirty years, 1934 - 1961 for him to write 'A Study of History.'
His theories didn't account for the incredible advances in communication, i.e., the internet in the late 20th century.
He thought that the German tribes would have been better off had they never embraced Christianity.

Why he might not be annoying:

He rejected determinism, the idea that civilizations were doomed to fall.
He served in British intelligence during both world wars.
He made the study of history exciting.
He taught at Oxford and the London School of Economics among others.
He famously said 'Civilizations die from suicide not murder.'
He was the rarest of all men, a famous historian.
He recognized the importance of religion in history.
He inspired the incredibly cool Ray Bradbury story, 'The Toynbee Convector' and presumably Toynbee tiles.

Credit: tom_jeffords

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Alien Heads
• Egg Heads
• Historians
• I am an Adulterer
• I Attended Heidelberg University
• I Attended Oxford
• I Died in 1975 (Ranked: 86)
• I Earned a Doctorate
• Influenced by Reinhold Niebuhr
• Look at Me, I'm on the Cover of Time
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Look at My Magazine Cover
• Modern Library's 100 Best Non-Fiction Books of the 20th Century (Ranked: 45)
• Philosophers: 20th Century [1900-2000]
• Playboy Interview Subjects [1960s] (Ranked: 1967)
• Profiles 26751-27000 (Ranked: 26828)
• Served in World War I
• Served in World War II
• Silver Foxes [Gray and Don't Care]
• Teachers
• Tom Jefford's Profiles [Series 02]

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 70.59% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 27 Votes: 59.26% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 21 Votes: 28.57% Annoying