Reviews (1)

BOOK REVIEW:`Bad Faith' Reminds Us How Anti-Semitic Many French Were in 1930s, WW II; Catholic Hierarchy Force Behind Jew Hatr
By David M. Kinchen
Read more

Subjects:  1. Antisemitism    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Europe - France    8. France    9. France - History    10. Historical - General    11. Historical - Holocaust    12. Holocaust    13. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    14. Public officers    15. Vichy    16. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (87)

Somewhat Unfulfilled Promise
I purchased this book for recreational reading -if that tells you anything about what I consider to be fun - shortly after it was published, expecting to read an insider's account of paramilitary forces in Afghanistan and how they interacted with military Special Operations Forces, and in that Berntsen did not disappoint.This book is a fairly quick read and as a first person accounting it makes for some interesting background and fills in some gaps in my understanding of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, especially on the political aspects of how the CIA was willing, on one hand, to provide so much autonomy to a field operative, but yet could not seem to engage in a truly cooperative venture between the agency and military SOFs.
You have to read between the lines
The jacket cover for Gary Berntsen's "Jawbreaker" claims this is "The book the CIA doesn't want you to read!" I find that a little hard to believe since the CIA has already apparently had their chance at redacting sensitive information leaving wide swaths of black ink on about 75% of the pages. Sometimes one black line apparently stands for several pages of redaction while at other times a small rectangle of black eliminates a single word that obviously wasn't very important to the story. The book's subtitle is "The attack on Bin Laden and al-Qaeda: a personal account the CIA's key field commander". That's another good hint that the CIA isn't too upset about the book being published. I personally think they rather enjoy seeing a successful book which details a CIA mission that was exciting, action-packed, and 99% successful. Only at the very end of the book do we find that second guessing on the part of the White House or Pentagon may have cost us the opportunity to kill Bin Laden at the end of the Afghan war.
A Sandwich with no Meat
Gary Berntsen's book "Jawbreaker" is interesting reading, but it makes one feel as if one is eating a sandwich with no meat and the sandwich is wrapped with cellophane of red tape.The author was drastically limited in writing a complete story by the CIA censors.The CIA censors "redacted" a great amount of detail.As a result, the book falls into the category of being a summarized report rather than a story.Special Forces, CIA and FBI personnel with their experience in intelligence work would understand "Jawbreaker" better than the common everyday-person.Agency and SF personnel would be able to, imaginarily, fill in the blanks.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. Intelligence Operations    3. Political Freedom & Security - Intelligence    4. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    5. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    6. Political Science    7. Political Terrorism    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Prevention    11. Sociology    12. Terrorism    13. War on Terrorism, 2001-    14. History / Modern / 21st Century   

Editorial Review

Edith Hamilton loved the ancient Western myths with a passion--and this classic compendium is her tribute. "The tales of Greek mythology do not throw any clear light upon what early mankind was like," Hamilton explains in her introduction. "They do throw an abundance of light upon what early Greeks were like--a matter, it would seem, of more importance to us, who are their descendents intellectually, artistically, and politically. Nothing we learn about them is alien to ourselves." Fans of Greek mythology will find all the great stories and characters here--Perseus, Hercules, and Odysseus--each discussed in generous detail by the voice of an impressively knowledgeable and engaging (with occasional lapses) narrator. This is also an excellent primer for middle- and high-school students who are studying ancient Greek and Roman culture and literature. Read more

Reviews (72)

one of the better written retellings of the Greek Myths
Edith Hamilton (now passed) has a living work of art in her stead by the name of Mythology.This congolmerate work of the world's oldest known tales is likely the most concise and accredited version worthy of the haughtiest bookshelf.
Mythology
This book, mythology by Edith Hamilton is a pretty good book for pleasure and it has pretty good information too. The only downside of this book is that it doesnt keep your intrest that well. After the introduction, most parts are exciting, but there are still a few dull parts.
As Clear as Mud
I've studied Norse Mythology for years.So, this being my first introduction to Greek or Roman mythology, I began interested, thinking I would enjoy learning the tales of the ancient Greek and Roman gods.As this was for a class, I was also hoping to be able to utilise the book in my studies towards the goal of understanding the material enough to write papers on the subject.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical mythology    2. Folklore & Mythology    3. Folklore & Mythology - Mythology    4. General    5. History: World    6. Mythology    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval    10. Myths & mythology    11. Reference works    12. Social Science / Folklore & Mythology   

Reviews (203)

BS
That's all I have to say.The ideas presented in this book are BS, pure and simple.While the Chinese explorations are worth learning about, the delusional fantasies and "facts" put forth by this book can only serve to make humanity far less intelligent than it already is.

Interesting and even credible...
... and the credibility is supported by Australian Broadcasting's radio program in july this yeas (2006) regarding the book, where all scientists supporting Menzies' theory were censored ^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H edited out (now, why would they do that?).
interesting science fiction; poor history; poorly written
The topic addressed is this book is extremelly interesting. It is inspiring, intriguing, and fascinating. However, speculation is presented as a fact everywhere. Potential possibilities are presented as proven facts. The conclusions are thus misleading. The text is poorly written. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Chinese    3. Discoveries in geography    4. Discovery And Exploration (General)    5. Expeditions & Discoveries    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Military - Naval    10. Voyages around the world    11. World - General    12. History / World   

Subjects:  1. Economic conditions    2. General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: World    7. United States    8. United States - General    9. American history    10. History / General    11. USA   

Reviews (18)

A Religion Without Any Pretense of Ethical Foundation
The first amazing thing about this book is just how much is known of what happened in the very distant past.Efraim Karsh's scholarship is thorough and his interpretations compelling.The second thing is that Islam has evolved very little in a thousand years.From the start there was a "fusion of the sacred and the profitable," which was endorsed by Muhammad himself and by successive generations of Islamic leaders.The Prophet himself said, "Stick to jihad and you will be in good health and get sufficient means of livelihood."Jihad was invariably linked to booty.Islam has always been a religion of robbers, initially of camel caravans, and later of oil pipelines.It is easy to see why the umma (the Muslim world) wants to sack Israel and divide up its wealth.Karsh paints a very human picture of Saleh al Din (Saladin), depicting him as just another acquisitive warlord, with no trapping of holy war as justification.When holy war was invoked during the decline of the Ottoman Empire, it provided a gloss of legality to what amounted to ethnic cleansing (of indigenous Armenians).
excellent book
Efraim Karsh is one of those rarities, an academic scholar who is an excellent writer.Karsh is Professor and Head of Mediterranean Studies at King's College, Univ. of London. This book is truly a pleasure to read.
World Conquest for Allah
This is a difficult book to read, but I strongly recommend this timely and critical study.I had purchased another book dealing with the subject of Islamic-based issues, but I found it too speculative and too heavily into the author's opinion, and even bordering on being silly in its scenarios of potential triggers for disaster.That other book was Tony Blankley's "The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations?" Someday I will finish it.However, Efraim Karsh's "Islamic Imperialism" is on a completely different level.Efraim Karsh has done his (and our) homework; and he has done it extensively, and he has done it very well--almost to the point of exhaustion (30 pages of references and a 12-page index).The book is far more history than it is speculation.And, given the history and our own careful consideration of it, our personal speculation can change from an ill-informed guessing game to a confident understanding of what certainly awaits us as Islam continues its relentless and escalating mission of world conquest.
Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Imperialism    5. Islam    6. Islam - History    7. Islamic History    8. Islamic Studies    9. Jihad    10. Middle East - General    11. Asian / Middle Eastern history    12. History / Middle East    13. Middle East   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Budapest    3. Eastern Europe - General    4. Exiles    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Hungary    9. Jews    10. Jews, Hungarian    11. Modern - 20th Century    12. United States    13. History / General   

Reviews (54)

I am not sure what to think...
..but the whole subject is intriguing one, disturbing for orthodox Christians and perplexing for undecided ones.
A must have for a religious history library
Here it is finally published the legendary Gospel of Judas, this will rank as probably the greatest codex find of this century. In this book you will find the first translation released to the public. It is a very brief read at 170 pages with 25 pages devoted to the actual Gospel that is well foot noted to explain most verses content. The book also contains four very well written essays by leaders in the field of religious studies.
Patchy, but Good
Granted, there is not much left of Judas due to where and how it was kept, but it follows in classic Gnostic form:Judas, the "author", is the only disciple who gets it.It is good to get to see the "Judas" perspective after 2 millenia of demonizing.'Tradition' says Judas was evil, but this says what I've always sort of felt and believed, Judas was just doing the job he was put here to do, just playing his part. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - History - General    2. Early Christian And Byzantine Art    3. General    4. Gospel of Judas    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History Of Religion (General)    8. Jesus Christ    9. Judas Iscariot    10. Religion    11. Religion / Antiquities & Archaeology    12. World history   

Editorial Review

In this delightful and illuminating look into a crucial but little-known "hinge" of history, Thomas Cahill takes us to the "island of saints and scholars," the Ireland of St. Patrick and the Book of Kells.Here, far from the barbarian despoliation of the continent, monks and scribes laboriously, lovingly, even playfully preserved the West's written treasury.When stability returned in Europe, these Irish scholars were instrumental in spreading learning, becoming not only the conservators of civilization, but also the shapers of the medieval mind, putting their unique stamp on Western culture. ... Read more

Reviews (232)

history with flavor
Anyone who over-reacted to this book considering it bigotry should lighten up. The title indicates that it has a Irish focus and that it is bravado in its very nature.This is a great story that should not be treated as a the most accurate take on all of civilization and mankind. It has the flavor of the Irish in the very words of the book and the telling of the story. So often do people criticize anything that has any flavor or opinion, but it is so easy to do that. We are not all world historians who get off on reading just the facts. Just as in reading Vasari's "Lives of the Artist's" nobody should complain about how he goes on and on and on about how Michelangelo was God's gift to the world, rather we should have a laugh be entertained and learn a few things about the nature of humanity. Good Read.

Readable, Anecdotal and Enjoyable
Always amazes me to ponder how a single person can change the course of history, as Thomas Cahill shows. For example, if St. Patrick hadn't returned to Ireland to found monasteries, we would be reading a different history of continental Europe. In fact, there might not be a Europe. Really enjoyable book with interesting anecdotes. Very readable, except for occasional flights of political correctness. Makes me want to find out more about Medieval Europe.
Bad Bigoted History.
Read the top most "helpful reviews of this shockingly offensive pamphlet." I am sure you will find the one star reviews far more honest and detailed than the "Naive positive reviewers." There are always people who will whitewash bigotry if it supports their own ethnic delusions of grandeur. I am the third Asian person to boycott this author. I have noticed that many others agree with us. THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 400-1400    2. Books    3. Civilization    4. Civilization, Classical    5. Europe - Ireland    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Ireland    10. Learning and scholarship    11. Medieval, 500-1500    12. Study and teaching    13. History / Ireland    14. History of specific racial & ethnic groups   

Reviews (15)

An okay book on a big topic!!
This book was okay. For the most part, it was good in covering certain subjects like warfare history and religion, but it also lacked in some areas. I did not like the dry humor that Peter Haugen uses, and I thought that the constant refering to similar subjects was also annyoing. That one thing really stopped the flow of thought and reading.
I absolutely love this book.
I absolutely love this book.As a multiple-subject teacher who is teaching 7th grade medieval & renaissance world history plus 8th grade U.S. History, I needed to bone up on history, fast!
Insulting to Dummies
This book is an affront to Dummies.It is also below the standard set by the For Dummies series (Estate Planning for Dummies is excellent).A Dummy would be better advised to get a used copy of a world history textbook, for less money, and just read the table of contents.It's difficult to imagine who Haugen's target reader is, since even Dummies have choices. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. World - General    5. World History    6. History / World    7. Social history   

Reviews (6)

AN EYE OPENER

THOMAS PROVES WHY HE IS THE CONAN EXPERT
On the back dust jacket, former Editor-in-Chief Tom DeFalco refers to Roy Thomas as the world renowned expert on Conan the Barbarian and it's hard to argue that claim.Outside of Robert E. Howard himself, no one knows Conan like Roy Thomas...and Roy wrote about him for far longer than Howard to boot!I still remember the first Conan comic I ever read.It was issue #42 in 1974 and the cover showed Conan battling a gargoyle in mid air.I quickly became a huge Conan fan.And now DK books have released this absolutely gorgeous over-sized hardcover book, "Conan-The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian" written by Roy Thomas.
A letter to Roy Thomas..
First off, EXCELLENT book. Now I think it's time you picked up where Robert E. Howard started, L. Sprague DeCamp and Lin Carter continued, and now YOU MUST FINISH. ONE MORE STORY, is all I (And maybe a million more fans) ask. It's time to take off from where" 'Conan Of The Isles' left off. You ARE the ONLY AUTHORITY LEFT ALIVE. Please consider this, as I have been reading Conan since I was 13.(Now 35) Thanks!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cartoons and comics    2. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    3. Comics & Graphic Novels    4. Conan (Fictitious character)    5. Fantasy Illustration    6. Fine Arts    7. History & Criticism    8. History: World    9. Juvenile literature    10. Literature - Classics / Criticism    11. Movie Tie - In    12. Techniques - Cartooning    13. Performing Arts / Film / Guides & Reviews   

Editorial Review

Geraldine Brooks spent two years as a Middle East news correspondent, covering the death of Khomeini and the like. She also learned a lot about what it's like for Islamic women today.Brooks' book is exceedingly well-done--she knows her Islamic lore and traces the origins of today's practices back to Mohammed's time. Personable and very readable, Brooks takes us through the women's back door entrance of the Middle East for an unusual and provocative view. ... Read more

Reviews (129)

Disappointing rehash
I guess it is a good market now for anything about Islam. This is all old news, looks like reworked columns. Not insightful, not fresh, just tired old stuff mainly about middle to upper class women. Save your money.

Slightly dated but still very informative book
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks details, as the subtitle says, the HIdden World of Islamic Women.Brooks is an Australian reporter who spent the late 80s and early 90s doing a lot of Middle East reporting, and spent a lot of time with Muslim women in various Middle Eastern countries at a time when fundamentalism was on the rise and had already triumphed in a few countries.She spoke with women who embraced a return to traditional women's roles (often symbolized by taking on the veil or chador or otherwise covering oneself and turning away from Western fashion and styles) and those who resisted it in countries like Egypt and Lebanon, which had had a more liberated tradition, and those trying to negotiate for greater liberalism for the first time in areas like Saudi Arabia and the gulf states. A Peek Under The Veil
What a wonderful read!I love all of Brooks' book, but I think this is the best by far!She takes the reader into a forbidden world.What a journey! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Islam - General    4. Middle East    5. Muslim women    6. Muslims    7. Social Science    8. Social conditions    9. Sociology    10. Women    11. Women in the Koran    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Islamic studies    14. Social Science / Women's Studies    15. Women's studies   

Editorial Review

The thesis of this provocative and potentially important book is the increasing threat of violence arising from renewed conflicts between countries and cultures that base their traditions on religious faith and dogma. This argument moves past the notion of ethnicity to examine the growing influence of a handful of major cultures--Western, Eastern Orthodox, Latin American, Islamic, Japanese, Chinese, Hindu, and African--in current struggles across the globe. Samuel P. Huntington, a political scientist at Harvard University and foreign policy aide to President Clinton, argues that policymakers should be mindful of this development when they interfere in other nations' affairs. ... Read more

Reviews (223)

8 Civilizations Or Political Groups?
There aren't really 8 civilizations. The Western European, Eastern European and Latin Americans are all from different branches of a same Judeo-Christian civilization despite their political differences. Japanese is obviously a branch of the Confucian civilization despite their huge economic success. The African world is really split between the Islamic and Judeo-Christian civilizations. So we only have the Judeo-Christian, Confucian, Islamic and Indian civilizations.

A prelude ......
This book is one of the introductory 'literature' preceding and preparing for the principal and more important actions a small bit of which we are witnessing nowadays.
Magnum Opus
This is the eminent Professor Huntinton's magnum opus, and it deserves to be read. No one can profess an understanding of modern global politics without studying this masterful work which was written in 1996.It remains a treasury of prophetic insights for our present day.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1950-    2. 1989-    3. Civilization, Modern    4. International Relations - General    5. Modern - 20th Century    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Post-communism    9. World politics    10. History    11. Political Science / International Relations   

Editorial Review

Abraham Lincoln, who had worked as a riverboat pilot before turning to politics, knew a thing or two about the problems of transporting goods and people from place to place. He was also convinced that the United States would flourish only if its far-flung regions were linked, replacing sectional loyalties with an overarching sense of national destiny.Read more

Reviews (207)

a wonderful journey back in time
we loved this book - transported back to a time where our country was expanding - highly recommend

Very Well Written, Factual and Fulfilling!
Stephen Ambrose did a great job of explaining the complicated details that led to the miracle of the transcontinental railroad. Anyone who appreciates herculean feats and the web of intrigue surrounding their beginnings, eventual birth and their effect on our great country will love this story. A true five star book.

The Great race
An engrossing story about the companies and the men behind the building of the Railroad from Omaha to Sacramento. The US Government with its hands tied in the Civil war, sets up a competition between 2 private companies Union Pacific and the Central Pacific who start laying tracks from Omaho and Sacramento. The book details the progress through each state, with insight into the leaders and the workforce behind the construction. Then it reaches a fast pace once we enter Utah where the two tracks meet.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th centurry    2. 19th century    3. Central Pacific Railroad Compa    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: American    7. Railroad construction workers    8. Railroads    9. Railroads - History    10. U.S. History - Civil War And Reconstruction (1860-1877)    11. United States    12. United States - 19th Century/Old West    13. United States - Civil War    14. United States - Reconstruction Period (1865-1877)    15. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    16. History / United States / General    17. Railway transport industries    18. Trains & railways: general interest    19. USA    20. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (31)

AP European History Students: Please Read!
I just got my AP exam scores today for the 2005 examinations and I am proud to say that I got a 4 on the exam thanks to this book and the Princeton's Review Book. This book has a really good and easy to understand review for each of the topics tested on the AP exam and it really helps alot!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING
I was in an AP class. I did not put my full effort into the AP Euro class and was scared right before the AP. Right about a month before the test I bought this book and read it all the way through. The day before the test I reviewed what I felt were the top 5 most important subjects (French Revolution, WWI, etc.) Needless to say, to my surprise I got a 5 on the test. An I truly would have to say that 85% of that grade came from reading this book.

Partition of Lithuania
I have found one error in this otherwise excellent book, an error that has been repeated in many other books of modern European history.When discussing the partitions of Poland the author discusses the partition of Lithuanian territories as though these territories were a part of Poland.He states that Byelorussia and Polish Ukraine were ceded to Russia by Poland.This is not true.The fact of the matter is that Byelorussia and parts of the Ukraine were ruled by Lithuania and not by Poland.There was a Lithuanian Ukraine but there never was any such thing as the Polish Ukraine.Hopefully these matters will be resolved in later editions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1492-    2. Europe    3. Europe - General    4. History    5. History, Modern    6. History: World    7. Study Guides    8. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    9. History / Europe / General   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Atlases - General    4. History - Baroque & Rococo    5. Maps & Road Atlases    6. Science/Mathematics    7. World - General    8. Antiques & collectables: books, manuscripts, ephemera & printed matter    9. Maps, charts & atlases   

Reviews (15)

Quite intriguing
This book is another in a recent spate of very well written books that explain (and translate into modern terms) key aspects of Spinoza.This book is unique in its seamless style of inserting these concepts as rewordings and quotes.The single most amazing aspect of this book is its ability to humanize and personalize what seem to be necessary aspects of Spinoza's lifestyle and personality.I liked this.

A wonderful book
A wonderful book indeed. Ms. Goldsteinreveals Spinoza's philosophy, but never all at once. No "sound bytes," no "catch phrases," but a gentle and progressive exegesis, slowly building to a denouement, one idea or part of an idea at a time. She claims to be very moved when her college students begin to 'see' Spinoza, begin to understand this remarkable man's philosophy and approach to life - and she wants us, her anonymous readers, to share in this excitment as well...and I, for one, got very excited (knowing very little of Spinoza beforehand, the author has stimulated me to want to go out and learn everything I canabout Spinoza.) It's a wonderfully personal book - I don't know Professor Goldstein, but I suspect she is the only person who could have written this particular book in this particular way. It is a wonderful