Reviews (3)

Very helpful introduction
History used to be a subject that one could view as somewhat ancillary, as an interesting subject but one that was not really needed to function in the modern world. One could dispense with studying history and still maintain a proper perspective of world events. Any inaccuracies in the reporting of world events were the responsibility of reporters, and historians were viewed in general as occupiers of an ivory tower. They were held to be trustworthy because not much weight was assigned to their scholarly activities.
A book every graduate student and historian should have.
Finding the right sources for a book, article, paper, or project is much more difficult than it seems.Every subject generally has a large list of material available for use.But in order to generate a significant contribution to this field, historians need to sort out the reliable sources that fit their topic.From Reliable Sources helps this process by producing a "guideline" to finding the best material and how it can be put to use.This book is a useful guide to the various techniques professional historians have devised for analyzing sources.It gets across the point of finding the best sources in order to produce quality historical scholarship.
Always check out your source of information
History writing is usually considered to have begun with the Greek Herodotus in the 4th century BC with his efforts to distinguish between myth and verifiable stories and that has been the basic problem of writing history ever since. In his history of the Gallic Wars Julius Caesar celebrated the military power of the Romans, along with his own formidable talents as a military leader. Livy fed Roman chauvinism with a history that celebrated eight proud centuries of the Roman past. Thucydides, Polybius, Sallust, Plutarch and Suetonius each brought their own approach or treatment of characters. Augustine portrayed history as an enactment of God's plan. Others wrote accounts to convince readers of the justice of a cause while Guibert of Nogent painted Mohammed in the worst possible light, not caring if the tales were true but only if they helped his case. Matthias Flacius Illyricus's chief purpose was to demonstrate that the Roman Church's claim to be the direct heir of first-century Christianity had no historical basis. Medieval historiography was designed to serve Christianity and in the Middle Ages historians entered the service of lords, monarchs and the state where their primary task was to create glorious pasts, fabricate evidence or select information to give legitimacy to the elite to whom it was offered.

Subjects:  1. Historiography    2. History    3. History - General History    4. Methodology    5. Philosophy    6. Research    7. History: theory & methods   

Reviews (1)

A Good History-Lite Reader

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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Men    6. Reference    7. Women    8. World - General    9. HISTORY - Hist General TRD HC    10. History / Reference    11. World history   

Reviews (3)

Great for all ages
I should have bought three of these books, one is simply not enough under my roof.My husband won't put it down, my 9 year old daughter uses it for reference in her class studies and I find myself skimming through it when I get a chance to relax.This is an excellent, comprehensive book covering all major historical events and people.Very recent entries including a summary of the US Patriot Act and other recent world events.As a mom I would say this book is appropriate for ages 8 and up (material and reading wise)

A Coffee Table Must
This book should be on everyone's coffee table.I would call it a "Readers Digest" condensed American History masterpiece.We use it constantly to look up historical facts that are a part of every day conversations without having to resort to a computer or a 20 volume history encycolpedia. The handy size should make it a part of every students library.

Excellent reference
Are you interested in American people, events, and/or politics?Are you a student, parent or teacher?Do you have any standardized tests coming up which will includequestions about American History?Are you an American citizen?If so, this book is an absolute must!It is easy to reference and has up-to-date information about relevant historical people and events.Written by two teachers with a dynamic background in American History, this book is a first-rate, accessible look at just about anything you'd like to know about the United States of America.Highest recommendation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dictionaries    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History - U.S.    5. History: American    6. Reference    7. United States    8. United States - General    9. United States History (General)    10. History / United States / General   

Reviews (4)

Best single volume on the war
Even considering James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom, I really think this book is the best single volume on the entire war.It has been exhaustively researched, but it is written very well and is a true page turner, even at nearly 1000 pages.If you wanted to get at least a closer look at topics regarding the war, this is the place to start.Chapters are devoted to antebellum America, wartime politics, battles, the armies, weaponry, the naval war, prisons and POWs, medicine, the home front, reconstruction, and even a chapter on preservation issues.And inside every chapter there are great looks at the personalities on both sides and major issues, whether military or political or personal.Because it is both entertaining reading and so thoroughly researched, this book is truly a must have for a Civil War buff or someone just starting out.As a history buff, I highly recommend it.

Wonderful, wonderful reference work!
I had been looking for something like this for years. A brilliant compendium of information, attractively laid out. Parts of it are well-written enough to read as narratives; other parts are mostly useful as references (similar to encyclopedia entries).Not aimed solely at the hard-core Civil War buff, but useful in the library of anyone interested in American history who wants a solid and user-friendly overview of virtually every facet of the Civil War.

Highly readable and informative single volume
If one wishes to have a single volume of the civil war in all its various aspects, one would be hard pressed to find a better treatise than the nearly 1,000 page Library of Congress Civil War Desk Reference.Read more

Subjects:  1. Chronology    2. Civil War, 1861-1865    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. History: American    6. Reference    7. U.S. History - Civil War And Reconstruction (1860-1877)    8. United States    9. United States - Civil War    10. History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)   

Reviews (19)

Very nice book
I found this book a must have for every one interested in aircraft recognition. Virtually all aircraft we can spot has info about it. The photographs are small, however don't forget this is a pocket guide, very handy to take with you everywhere you go...

Was this book proofed?
It's my fault I bought this book.I all too briefly flipped through it at the bookstore, quickly noting the lack of some details in the specifications.I thought I could tolerate these omissions.I regret that decision now.
Excellent Book
This is a great book and the title explains it well.My only complaint is the Boing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was omitted even with a picture of it on the back cover. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aviation - General    2. History - Military / War    3. Military - Aviation    4. Military Aircraft    5. Military Science    6. Reference    7. Transportation    8. Transportation / Aviation / History   

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. Encyclopedias    3. History    4. History - U.S.    5. North Carolina    6. Reference    7. United States - State & Local - South    8. American studies    9. Reference / Encyclopedias    10. Reference works    11. where to begin?   

Reviews (9)

an excelent read
Like many before me who have writen reviews on this book I to am a mason and I found this book extreemely useful in my studies.
Nothing New, Some Mistakes
This book does not contain much that hasn't already been exhausted in previous books.I read this book the day after finishing Jasper Ridley's volume on Freemasonry, and it seems like the author of this book (for the most part) paraphased Ridley.I recommend Ridley's book.Also, there are some incorrect statements- one being that the eligible age of joining DeMolay is 13.The correct age is 12.That was not well researched.A simple visit to demolay.org would have fixed that problem.As a senior DeMolay and Master Mason, I prefer reading books on Masonry by Masons.Among the great authors are S. Brent Morris, W.L. Wilmshurst, and Allen Roberts.Also recommended are the books by John J. Robinson, who became a mason shortly after writing his 3 books on Freemasonry.

Two Thumbs Up
This book is a must for any persons who are interested in secret societies. The information provided by this book will not only help readers understand the history of Freemasons; it also paves the way for scholars and investigative reporters in comparing secret societies of the West and the East. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Freemasonry    2. Freemasons    3. History    4. History: World    5. Reference    6. Sociology    7. Freemasonry & secret societies   

Reviews (72)

Ranking the pillars of our world
To sit down and attempt to devise a list that limits the billions of human beings that have lived to a mere 100 as the most influential is quite a Herculian Task. However, Michael Hart has essestially succeded where many a writer could have failed. There's no question that a list of this magnitude is open to debate and disagreement indeed I myself question the ranking of some the historical figures on this list. For example, Beethoven at #45, Oliver Cromwell at #41, and Michelangelo at #50, though certainly impressive and accomplished in their fields, should not (IMO) be ranked higher than Henry Ford #91, Joseph Stalin #66, or William the Conqueror #68 all whom have had a much more profound impact/influence on history and western civilation. Certainly many will question his decision to rank the Muhammad as the most influential person who ever lived. However, once one reads his reasons it begins to shed light on why a man who lived nearly 1500 years ago influences our lives even today.Hart's explanation and reasoning for ranking these historical figures where he does is sensible, thought provoking, and well written. This is book is terrific read for anyone interested in learning about the men and women( though only 2 appear on the list Queens Elizabeth and Isabella)who have influenced and continue to influence our lives.

A BOOK THAT SHOULD BE REPUBLISHED
The 100 has been a life-changing book for me.It has "unlocked" history for me - allowed me to relate to it and retain information - like no other book I've read.
Jesus Christ Was the Most Influential Person Who Ever Lived

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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. History - General History    4. Reference    5. World - General    6. Dictionaries of biography (Who's Who)   

Reviews (13)

Have any of you morons ever heard of Spengler?
O.K., as far a birth/life/death cycle in history,
A comment on Evolution of Civilizations
I found Carroll Quigley's writing style to be succinct and to the point.The topic is facinating.The book was well written and difficult to put down.

Tragedy and Hope
Read Quigleys Tragedy and Hope.Its a much more important book(especially the 2nd 600 pgs) and a better read too.After reading it you will feel as though you were just pulled out of the Matrix... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History - General History    2. History: American    3. World - General    4. History: theory & methods    5. Political science & theory    6. USA    7. World history   

Reviews (7)

An Excellent Edition of Collingwood's Art.
This is a very fine edition of Collingwood's magnum opus The Idea of History.It also includes two earlier papers on the philosophy of history, etc.Any student or scholar who studies the discipline of history will need this book, and should read it closely.Van Der Dussen's introductory essay is also very good.Highly recommended.

R. G. Collingwood'sMost Famous Book
Highly Recommended. A magnificent book if you're motivated enough
R. G. Collingwood's The Idea of History would be more correctly classified as a work of philosophy than a work of history, as the primary goal of the work is to present Collingwood's philosophical conception of the nature of history. In terms of methodology, Collingwood's book can be divided into two main sections. Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. General    4. Historiography    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Money & Monetary Policy    9. Philosophy    10. World - General    11. History / Historiography    12. History of ideas, intellectual history    13. History, World    14. History: theory & methods   

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Military    5. Military - Naval    6. Military Science    7. Naval History - Modern    8. Naval art and science    9. Reference   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Globalization    3. Social Science    4. Social aspects    5. Social change    6. Social history    7. Social systems    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - Social Theory    10. History: theory & methods    11. Social theory   

Reviews (3)

Yes,a true Vineyard treasure
Anyone who has spent any time on Martha's Vineyard will quickly recognize the names in this book: Luce, Medeiros, Vanderhoop, Griswold.Many of the interviewees, in addition to being 5th, 6th, or 14th generation Vineyarders, are known worldwide: Dorothy West, Henry Beetle Hough, Dionis Coffin Riggs, Alfred Eisenstaedt. True Vineyard Treasure
Linsey has done the island, and the field of oral history, an invaluable service. This is a true treasure that captures the real feel of the Vineyard, not the prepackaged Vineyard-for-tourists. An incredible read for anyone who wants a look at rural life early in this century.

A real-life look at the people of Martha's Vineyard.
This insightful compilation of true life stories of the Vineyard and the people that have made it what it is today; an island rich with history (not an island of the rich).You can pick it up and put it down 75 times andget a new feel for the island with each interview.If you are intersted intruely learning about the Vineyard, this is the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History: World    3. Martha's Vineyard    4. Oral History    5. Reference   

Reviews (1)

A Librarie's Best Kept Secret
This was not the best book I have ever read,but it was one of those surprise books that jump out at you on the bookshelf as an interestingI cannot put it down read.It was insightful and interesting as well as enjoyable and I would recommend this book to basically anyone young or old. Kudos. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. France    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Reference    7. Revolution, 1789-1799    8. Europe    9. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    10. Revolutions & coups   

Reviews (2)

Slightly flawed revised edition of a useful reference work
The revised edition of Stanton's work is primarily a straight reprint of the 1984 edition. It's worthwhile to have such a reprint, as the original edition was invaluable to someone interested in tracing Army Ground Force units during the Second World War. The new material in the Revised Edition is the Front Matter and an addendum at the end correcting those errors found in the original addition and adding such additional information as has been found over the years. There is no indication in the main text of those entries that have errata or additions. It would have been preferable had the entire text been reset or some simple indicator been placed alongside entries with material in the addendum.
Full of data on every regiment and battalion in US Army
This book is a "must-have" for those who wish to have a comprehensive resource for the organization of the US Army Ground Forces, 1939-1946.Unfortunately, despite the title, the book's information isstrictly limited to Army Ground Forces, and it has nothing on Army ServiceForces, Army Air Forces, or any other service.However, all the Engineerunits are included, even the General Service Regiments.What the book doesprovide is a way of tracing the theaters of service of every battalion orhigher unit covered by it.A brief narrative history is provided for eachdivision.Often, two division organizations are listed to show changesover time, such as the National Guard's switch from "square" to"triangular" divisions 1940-42.The level of informationdecreases with unit size, and for battalions only the startup date, shipdate, return date, disbandment date, and campaigns served in are provided. Dates of attachment to and detachment from higher headquarters are providedfor regiments and divisions, and units temporarily attached to a divisionare listed with it.Unit awards are not addressed at any level, except tolist campaigns served in.The book makes a valiant effort to track thenumerous times that units were re-organized or converted from regiments tobattalions, but I have detected at least one case where the book"lost" a unit.Despite the book's cover, unit patches areprovided only for regiments, and the patches shown are often not the onesused in most of the war.Tables of equipment and personnel are providedfor divisions, regiments, and selected battalion types.In summary, thisbook is a must for the data-hungry, but will probably just gather dust at aVFW post due to lack of unit award and unit patch information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Army    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Military    5. Military - United States    6. Military - World War II    7. Military History - Modern    8. Organization    9. Reference    10. United States.    11. World War II    12. World War, 1939-1945   

Editorial Review

Patterns of growth, power, and conquest, writes cartographic historian Whitfield, can be discerned in changing maps of the world, from that of the medieval Islamic geographer al-Idrisi to the latest Landsat images from NASA. In this scholarly, heavily illustrated survey, Whitfield traces this changing map of the globe from its origins in the ancient Near East to the present. He gives particular attention to fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Europe, when several nations, motivated by reasons of economy and ideology, vied to complete that map with explorations in East Asia and the Americas. Read more

Reviews (1)

A feast for the eyes
As an avid lover of old maps, this book is very prized on my bookshelf.Each page contains large full-color pictures of maps throughout the age of exploration.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cartography    2. Discoveries in geography    3. Discovery And Exploration (General)    4. Earth Sciences - Geography    5. Exploration    6. General    7. Historical Atlases    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Maps    12. Reference    13. Science    14. World - General    15. History / General   

Reviews (16)

Logistics for the Armchair General
It has been said that armchair generals think of strategy, whereas professionals study logistics.If that is true, Martin van Creveld has written a book on logistics for armchair generals.
Accountants, Gamblers and Thieves
Studying this book one gets the distinct impression that some of the most acclaimed military men in history were gamblers with a lucky streak or in other words very successful thieves, who solved their own supply problems by stealing it. the best book about the history of logistics
Martin Van Creveld provides an interesting overview of how logistics influenced the outcome of miltitary operations. The first part of the book deatils warfare during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the armies had to keep advancing in order in replemish their supplies. If the army stayed in the same area over a large amount of time such as Napoleon's army in Moscow, than the army would run out of supplies. This situation did not change during the Franco-Prussian War in which the Prussian army had to scrounge for food at the outskirts of Paris. All though food remained a problem for the armies there was always a plentiful supply of ammunition since armies of the 18th and 19th centuries expended very little of it. Martin Van Creveld makes some surprising claims in the later part of the book describing twentieth century warfare. Martin Van Creveld believes that the Schlieffen Plan was doomed to failure because of the logistical constraints of the German army. Because most of supplies delivered to the German army were by rail, the desturuction of the railways impeded their advance. Also German planners made no plans to deal with the massive traffic jams in Belgum. The next chapter Van Creveld has an revisionist appraisal of the Germany invasion of Russia in 1941. Van Creveld believes that Germany had the supplies to deal with winter warfare but the inability to transport them across Russia. Due to the difference between German and Russian rail tracks and maintance problems of German engines the supplies never reached the front. Van Creveld strongly criticizes Rommel's handling of the North Africam campaign. Rommel advance to far for his supplies to be replenished. The problem of supply duirng the North African War was that the supplies had to be delivered by trucks that were highly vulnerable to air attack. When Rommel tried to solve the problem by taking Tobruk, he only made matters worse. The ships that arrived at Tobruk were in range of Allied aircraft and as a result sunk. The final Chapter, Van Creveld evaluates Allied operations in Western Europe. Van Creveld believes that Patton's success had to due with the fact that Patton ignored logistic officer's plan for a slow a orderly pace but instead took advantage of the situation to advance quickly. Van Creveld theorizes that Montgomery's narrow front approach could have logistically reached Northwest Germany but were have not captured Berlin. I would highly reccomend this book for anyone who wants a new and interesting perspective about operations during the First and Second World Wars. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. Logistics    5. Military - Strategy    6. Military art and science    7. Military history, Modern    8. Reference    9. Europe    10. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    11. History / Europe / General    12. War & defence operations   

Editorial Review

"European arms race and war talk grow" (March 1914). "22,000 Nazis hold rally in New York" (February 1939). "Vietnam Reds launch Tet offensive" (January 1968). "First NATO air attack over Bosnia" (February 1994). Read more

Reviews (6)

Biased towards American news - where is the World Cup?
I've been reading this book since it was called the Chronicles in the early 1990's. I purposely waited till the new millennium because I wanted it to cover every single day (or month, to be precise) of the 20th Century, before actually making that final purchase decision.
Buy this book!!!
What can I say?The book is an incredible collection of every notable historical event in the last 100 years. Five-star History
I was looking for a book that summarized World history during the 20th century and this is the one I chose to buy. I was more than happy with my copy. It is easy to look up specific events, and great for general browsing. I only had two complaints - one, that there was MORE detail in it (although that would have been very hard for a single volume!), and two, it didn't come with the CD that was made to go with it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1900-1999 (20th century)    2. 20th century    3. Chronology    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History, Modern    7. History: World    8. Modern - 20th Century    9. Modern - General    10. Modern history    11. Pictorial works    12. Reference    13. United States - 20th Century (1900-1945)   

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    2. Economics    3. Encyclopedias    4. Geography    5. History    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Multicultural Studies (Young Adult)    8. People & Places - General    9. Reference    10. Reference - Encyclopedias    11. Area / regional studies    12. Reference works   

Subjects:  1. 1970-    2. Civilization    3. Encyclopedias    4. History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: American    7. Nineteen seventies    8. Reference    9. United States    10. United States - 20th Century    11. United States History (General)    12. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    13. Cultural studies    14. Social history    15. USA    16. c 1970 to c 1980