Reviews (9)

How Photography Made the Day
The 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center was not only the biggest news event in decades, it was also the most photographed one.Some people by chance got pictures of Flight 11 crashing into the north tower, and after that the cameras never stopped."Men and women by the hundreds, then thousands - bystanders with point-and-shoots, TV news teams, photojournalists by the score - felt compelled to snap history, fiery and cruel against the blue."So writes David Friend, who used to be the director of photography for _Life_ magazine, in _Watching the World Change: The Stories Behind the Images of 9/11_ (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux).You have heard plenty of 9/11 stories, but chances are you remember mostly the images.Friend makes the point that Americans who are old enough remember where they were when they _heard_ about JFK's shooting, but they remember where they were when they _saw_ the 9/11 terror attacks.The book is a lucid and fascinating recounting of how some of the most famous of the photographs came to be.It is not a coffee-table book full of photos; there are only forty or so reproduced here, but the recounting of the shots and the reflections on photography in the modern news era will make intense reading even for those who have seen the images over and over.And all of us have seen the images over and over; we cannot look away, which makes Friend's observations particularly pertinent.
Stunning, touching, excellent book
This book is a riveting read about the stories behind the photos of 9-11. It presents information within a context that explores both the personal point of view of the photographer, as well as different points of view when relevant.
The Craft of a day's shooting pictures
This is a prefect craft of the power of photographs and everything that comes into play around shooting a cataclysmic disaster such as 9/11. The author has navigated the wherabouts of several people and what drove them to shoot that day and the affects of certain photos on our lives. The NOTES section at the end, the bibliography, is the best and most detailed that I've ever seen. Photos in the middle of the book are well used and described throughout the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History: American    3. New York    4. New York (State)    5. Photoessays & Documentaries    6. Photography    7. Pictorial works    8. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    9. Political Terrorism    10. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    11. Terrorism    12. United States - 21st Century    13. United States - State & Local - Middle Atlantic    14. 21st century    15. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    16. Photographic reportage    17. Photography / General    18. World history: postwar, from c 1945 -   

Reviews (22)

A great introduction to Spain
While visiting Spain with my wife we bought this book in Seville. I enjoyed every part of it especially the end of each chapter which holds a list of the monuments relevant to the history of that chapter. I took it on a trip to Spain with my wife and it made the trip magical.
Trust the negative reviews and save your time
Is there substance?Yes, not a lot, but there is a brief overview of history here.
Hollywood Movie
No wonder this book has not been translated into Spanish. It would be an absolute fiasco. "The Story of Spain" was so obviously designed to be a good seller among American tourists, that it would make an excellent Hollywood movie -such is the distortion of history!
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Subjects:  1. Europe - Spain & Portugal    2. History    3. History: World    4. Spain   

Reviews (1)

A text book that teaches
I have been using this text book in my AP World History class for about a year now. The contents of the book are wonderfully organized. This is perfect for the AP exam because it demonstrates continuities from one time period to another and from one place to another. Unlike other text books, this book is organized by region, along with time periods. The chapters will be organized by a place in a certain time. For example, chapter 10 could be China and India from 1914 to 2000, while another is Russia and Japan from 1914 to 2000. Overall, it is well organized and well written. There are enrichment sections on almost all the pages, providing extra knowledge about a subject. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

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Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (8)

Good lord
Wow, this book is about as dense as the crust of the earth.It takes at least a few reads over to understand what the arguments are.While the arguments in this book are very well articulated, I found myself wanting to shoot myself in the face sometimes while reading this book.It can be really boring, but brings up some very interesting ideas of 80's culture and society.

Po-Mo Schmomo?
Ask ten academics about what to call our present fin-de-siecle epoch and you'll get ten different labels, but "postmodernism" seems always the default term. Although it's twelve years old, Harvey's book is the best I've read about the pluralistic fabric we daily inhabit. It's edifyingly reader-friendly (especially compared to some of the Franco-drunk rhetoricians out there trying to get a handle on our current world). In precise prose Harvey outlines the shift to our information-as-capital paradigm since the mid-sixties, and the causes of the growth of the temp sector and "just-in-time" production capabilities. Harvey traces the arrival of "flexible accumulation" to the collapse of Fordist production practices in the 1966-73 waves of recession, but covers far more than just economic factors--architecture, art, literature, cinema--without any self-conscious Neo-Marxist whistling-in-the-dark. In his project to articulate a new (meta?)narrative, Harvey's book will probably give post-structuralists a new constellation of ideas to obfuscate with hip terminology and dense prose... Best overview of modern/postmodern condition I have found
This is a great overview of concepts that are, by definition, very fractured.Harvey clarifies and pulls together a number of seemingly disparate elements in a masterful manner. Though this book could work as a good introduction to these concepts, I think readers with some background in the major writers of modernism and postmodernism will get more out of it. Dogmatic postmodernists may be put off that Harvey has the "temerity" to suggest that postmodernism might be an extension of modernism or that he finds some good in modernism and some excesses in postmodern approaches but, they should get over themselves and realize that their insistence that "all meta-narratives are bad" is their own meta-narrative. Overall, Harvey manages to convincingly express his ideas while maintaining a remarkably evenhanded approach.I especially enjoy the fact that he avoids the postmodernist tendency to ignore the complexities of modernism and, thus create a postmodern meta-narrative about the modernist project. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1950-    2. Capitalism    3. Civilization, Modern    4. Historiography    5. History & Surveys - Modern    6. History - General History    7. History Of Civilization And Culture (General)    8. Modern - 20th Century    9. Philosophy    10. Postmodernism    11. Space and time    12. Historia Moderna    13. Philosophy / Modern    14. Sociology, Social Studies    15. Western philosophy, from c 1900 -   

Reviews (34)

Provocative, appealing and controversial
Fomenko has succeeded to convincingly demonstrate the misconception about what "history" factually is... It is fiction and -like we can read and judge for ourselves- no science. It indeed is "make belief" only. I "discovered" Fomenko while studying the "old" history of Al Andaluz, Spain. Having found too many contradictions in available data, having seen too many forgeries as to pretend the importance of christianity for its decline, I ventured out to find Fomenko, who convinced me that we know little if anything for sure of the epoch before the XI-century. However, the integration of the Arabic-Islamic cultural history into the heavily distorted Western fails... There are some attempts to fit "the budding new religion" (Islam) into Fomenko's scheme, but they are too weak to be taken seriously and too often focussing on Turkey as the region where things started to influence the West, which is untrue at all.
pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD
Traces of white wine were found in Tutankhamen's tomb however there were no record of white wine in Egypt until the 3rd century AD, 1600 years after the young pharaoh died according to the traditional chronology. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18925395.400
Immensely stimulating!
Fomenko's thesis that all of ancient history was either invented during the Renaissance or at least only based on recent medieval events provided me with an enormous trigger "to see for myself". Having been interested in history for a number of decades, but having got tired of always the same topics in only a new jacket, Fomenko's book opened wide avenues to study new topics to test the author's thesis. To give just some examples: medieval history of the Middle East (Islamic history), the history of the Mongols, Tamerelane, the Ottoman empire; the origins of Christianity and Islam, the development of cartography, language, technology, astronomy.
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Civilization    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Medieval    7. Study & Teaching    8. History of science    9. Science / History   

Reviews (2)

"Our Eastern Affairs are Complex Beyond All Words"
History is useful not only for revealing the past, but also in foreshadowing what the future might hold.In the case of Iraq, this is a very important matter.This book by Liora Likutz, a scholar who is currently at the Truman Institute in Jerusalem, describes the making of modern Iraq through the life of one the two key protagonists who drew its boundaries on the map following World War I.Those two individuals were T.E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell.While the broad outline of Lawrence's life and exploits in the Middle East are well known to many, Gertrude Bell remains more of a mystery.This book attempts to pull back that veil.Anyone who seeks to understand the currents and tides swirling underneath modern Iraq needs to understand how this country came to be, and the complex life of Gertrude Bell is a good place to start.
Understanding Irak
Facinating and exciting point of view of Irak through Gertrude Bell's life.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Colonial administrators    5. Great Britain    6. Historical - General    7. History    8. History: World    9. Iraq - History    10. Middle East - General    11. Middle East - History    12. Sociology    13. Women    14. Women Middle East specialists    15. Women's Studies - General    16. 20th century    17. Asian / Middle Eastern history: from c 1900 -    18. Asian studies    19. Biography: historical    20. Imperialism    21. Iran   

Editorial Review

One of the beautiful things about comics is that it is possibly the best medium for combining education and entertainment. No one knows this better than Larry Gonick, whose Cartoon History series spans many subjects.Whether you are a fan of history, comics, or Gonick's books, Read more

Reviews (46)

Great Classroom Library Addition
I bought this book for my 6th grade classroom and ended up reading it myself.It's a favorite with the students though there is a bit of nudity that I had to censor with a black marker.

superb
Larry Gonick's book on statistics inspired me. I still don't understand probability but I was amused. His history text shows again that he is smarter then I am but I understoond the text and learned about the time it took to get here from the beginning of time and the maze of attorcities that leads from one powerful kingdom to another. Cartoons help make powerful messages more tolerable. I may buy all of his work.

More Informative Than A Semester In World Civ 101
The first and best volume in Mr. Gonick's history series (just when IS the fourth book coming out???) truly does present more practical information about the history of our planet and the rise of the human species, than any history class I was ever in. And whatsmore, the author has made it fun to learn all this. I understand this book was edited by the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and what a gem she found to give us! Not only would I enthusiastically recommend this and all works in Larry Gonick's series to historian or casual reader alike, I would go so far as to say these are all masterpieces of erudition and intelligent presentation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caricatures and cartoons    2. Cartoons and caricatures    3. Comics & Cartoons    4. Graphic Satire And Humor    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Reference    8. World history    9. Cartoons & comic strips    10. Comics & Graphic Novels / Comics & Cartoons   

Reviews (23)

Proud to have ridden with 'The Iron Pony Express'
Col Schumacher explores the world of the civilian contractor in Iraq in a way that no one else has. He gives an honest, accuate portrayal of who we are and what we have done in Iraq. It is a great tribute to the brave warriors of the 1544th Transportation Company, Illinois National Guard that gave their all to escort our mail convoys in Iraq. I am honored to have worked on the trucking contractor section with Col Schumacher. His military background and insight makes this book a must read. Mark R. 'Uglypuppy' Taylor Convoy Commander - JMMT-I 2004-2005 'The Iron Pony Express'.
The Colonel nails it!!!
I've lived in Iraq for the past year and a half and while my job isn't quite as "sexy" as the books subjects, I do get to see a lot of the lifestyle first hand.I get to meet guys like this all the time.Colonel Schumacher nails story of the contractor right on the head... good job!When he gives you the "basics" of who contractors are, I could tell he was talking about "me".

GREAT BOOK
IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT GOING OVER SEAS YOU BETTER READ THIS BOOK FIRST ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Corporate & Business History - General    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Iraq    5. Iraq War, 2003    6. Mercenary troops    7. Military    8. Military - Iraq War    9. Military - Other    10. United States    11. History / Modern / General    12. Mercenaries    13. USA   

Reviews (21)

FANTASTIC AND BRILLIANT
I am only about 20 percent finished Empires of the Word and cannot put it down. One of the most interesting perspectives on World History I have ever read, and I am an avid History buff.
good work
This work, although focuses its attention on the main languages of the world, accesorily informs us on the importance and destiny of many other languages, so that who looks for a general historyof the languages will no be dissapointed. Matters as the pervivence of Sanskrit in the Far East, the diffusion of Spanish in Latin America together with the survival of the "lenguas generales", or the undisputed predominance of English in North America finds a detailed chronicle and a sagacious interpretation. Also does the failure of German, Japanese and Russian in their attempts to unify peoples under their linguistic expression. Or the role of French, that surpasses the failure of a dissapointing colonial policy thanks to the intellectual brightness of its cultural legacy.
The travails of tongues
Language is a touchy issue.Here in Canada, it's the foundation for our "Two Solitudes" of Anglo- and Franco-Canadians.Social mores, politics and education are bound up with the native language of the people engaging in debates.While this may seem like a local and limited problem, Ostler provides a sweeping picture of how language issues have permeated human history. Some have risen only to be swept away by invasions or shifts in population.Others, under the same stresses, have endured and even prospered.Is there a key to understanding why some languages have sustained their use while others fade?With immense scholarship and some fine language of his own, the author attempts to answer this and other questions about the durability of languages.
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Subjects:  1. Historical Linguistics    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Language    6. Language and languages    7. Linguistics    8. Social History    9. World - General    10. History / World   

Subjects:  1. 1918-    2. Africa - History    3. Africa - South - South Africa    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Discrimination & Racism    7. General    8. Historical - General    9. History    10. History: World    11. Leadership    12. Mandela, Nelson,    13. Pictorial works    14. Political    15. Presidents    16. South Africa    17. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (7)

I think Japanese should cherish the culture as Japanese too.
I have lived in Tokyo, Japan since I was born here. Though I can say about the case in Tokyo only, even I can not look at the Japanese historical things in my ordinaly Tokyo life. Tokyo is same as another big town over the world, developed town with high stores building, the imported fashion from mainly U.S.A etc. Certainly, the modern life in Tokyo may be comfortable, but I think that the life is not truth things, that is, that may be physical comfot, not mental.
10,000 Years In 300 Pages
The tracings of Japanese culture go back some 10,000 years - speaking conservatively.Since then there has been a remarkable continuity of inhabitation on the Japanese islands, which has resulted in one of the richest and complex cultures in the world today.Originally heavily influenced by the neighboring Chinese culture in the period from 300 BC to 300 AD, the islands quickly found their own way and over the ensuing years have developed a breadth of integrated experience that is often baffling to the outsider or curious student.
Typical history
This book is good.I'm not going to call it great, nor will I say that it isn't a worthwhile read; however, it gets wordy at points.It could be improved with an overview of each chapter and then have the in-depth information to follow.Regardless, there is a wealth of information within!I personally love the history parts because I fell asleep when I took east asian history, and this is a good way of refreshing my memory to prepare for my college major of East Asian Studies come 2005 ;). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Civilization    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Japan    7. Sociology - General    8. Anthropology    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history    10. Cultural studies   

Subjects:  1. 63 B.C.-14 A.D    2. Ancient - Rome    3. Ancient Rome - History    4. Augustus,    5. Augustus, 30 B.C.-14 A.D    6. Biography    7. Biography & Autobiography    8. Biography / Autobiography    9. Biography/Autobiography    10. Emperor of Rome,    11. Emperors    12. Historical - General    13. History    14. Rome    15. Biography & Autobiography / Political   

Reviews (7)

Want a Good Start on an Education?
"Caesar and Christ" is the third thick volume of an amazing 45-year life work by Will Durant. I strongly advise you do not heed the academic reviews of "The Story of Civilization." There is no reason to assume the critics even read one volume of Durant's work. Be aware that academic philosophy professors list Hanna Arendt, a second rate intellectual, as the only significant female philosopher and ignore one of the most powerful minds of the post WWII era, Ayn Rand. Sure, she is flawed but she is greater than a Camus or a Chomsky. I strongly recommend reading "Caesar and Christ" and the entire 10 volume set of "Story of Civilization" - if you truly seek to be generally educated. You will learn more from Durant than from years of liberal arts schooling in any university. I never heard a professor mention Durant to students but I saw the entire set on the shelves of the private libraries of some major historians. Would you buy, own, read and keep 10 volumes of books you knew to be worthless? Ignore the academic mantra and decide for yourself.
HISTORY WELL DONE
It this third volume, Durant continues the story of man through the time of the height of Rome and Christ.Like the other volumes it is quite well done and despite what another reviewer's opinion is, quite comprehensive.Granted, I you want to read more about battles, etc. they you should probably look elswhere.I am of the school that a time period can only be understood by what they left behind, i.e. art, literature, politics, etc. rather than who they defeated in battle, or who defeated them.This is only my opinion though, others look at it differently.Also, I suppose if you are teaching a college course addressing this period of time, you would certainly want to gleen information from other sources.That not being the case on my part, I thought this was a wonderful overview of a very important epoch.I thought it was quite well presented.Recommend highly.

Civilization vs. History
The book has wonderful moments.It is lovingly written and often witty.However readers should be aware of Durant's definition of civilization.According to Durant: Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Rome    2. Christianity    3. Church history    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600    7. Rome    8. World - General    9. History / General   

Reviews (17)

The Protestant Corruption of Orthodoxy?
Bearing in mind that most Americans--and most devotees of the Germanic historical critical method--are Protestants or ex-Protestants, I will, briefly, try to explain what is wrong with this book. Yes, Ehrman does make plausible connections between a few variations in New Testament manuscripts and Christological controversies in the early Church. And, in all fairness, that is his point of inquiry.
Excellent, but have a proper Torah perspective
I am a great fan of Ehrman's work - have most of his books and several of his lectures on video. A note of caution - one must approach the material such as this coming out of the New Testament textual criticism efforts carefully. If one is intellectually honest, and willing to look at all the evidence then the conclusions are clear - there are tremendous problems with the texts and beliefs that were introduced for a variety of reasons. These will and should cause the real truth seekers to question what they know and believe - for that is the hallmark of the truth seeker.
Daniel2
I'm always amazed about people who study the Bible in order to find there errors. They have a lot to say, but it is vanity of vanities.
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Subjects:  1. Africa - General    2. Bible - CriticismInterpretation - New Testament    3. Christianity - Theology - Christology    4. History    5. History: World    6. Religion    7. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    8. Africa    9. Early Church    10. New Testament    11. Religion & Theology | Biblical Studies | New Testament    12. Religion / Christianity / Theology / Christology    13. Translation & interpretation   

Reviews (2)

Father of the Queen of the Skies
There have been many books written about the 747, but none of them tell the human side of taking one of the largest aircraft off the drawing board and into the skies in two years time.Joe Sutter is the consumate engineer, he engages you in a voice that keeps you interested all of the way through the book.He does it in such a way that makes you feel that maybe you where there.Boeing bet the company on the 747, if it had been a failure the company would probably be a footnote in history.The company put their trust in one single man, who claims he and Boeing grew up together.Joe also includes the stories of many others along the way, he never takes credit for himself but always makes you aware that it was a team effort.In fact he leads off with a disclaimer that if he remembered it wrong he was sorry.
Joe SutterIS " one of the great ones "
The above partial quote is plagerized from Joes book as he quotes Charles Linderbergh comments about the 747 which in its entirety was " This is one of the great ones "
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Subjects:  1. Aeronautical engineers    2. Aircraft Design And Construction    3. Aviation - General    4. Aviation - History    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography / Autobiography    8. Boeing 747 (Jet transports)    9. Design and construction    10. Historical - General    11. History Of Specific Companies    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Scientists - General    14. Transportation    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (15)

U.S. History for Dummies
Good Book.I is very detailed with the necessary fact about US history that I require.
Bit Slanted Toward Popular/PC History
My only complaint is what's in the title of my review. The history here is not groundbreaking but it is more than just the standard basics. Someone with a background lacking in historical knowledge can benefit from this book, and anyone who enjoys reading about history will be at home here. Nice brush-up for those who feel they'd like to update what they know in this subject. Compacts its information well into its space and breaks it down into chapters and sub-headings so certain eras can be focused on as needed. All but the most keenly educated historian can learn something from US History For Dummies.

An awesome book
This book is very interesting. It reads like a story. You justfind yourself reading along and then you realize you've learned several facts of history.The book is written very well. There is plenty of interesting trivia and little known facts. It is well worth buying the book. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

A biography of Meriwether Lewis that relies heavily on the journals of both Lewis and Clark, this book is also backed up by the author's personal travels along Lewis and Clark's route to the Pacific. Ambrose is not content to simply chronicle the events of the "Corps of Discovery" as the explorers called their ventures. He often pauses to assess the military leadership of Lewis and Clark, how they negotiated with various native peoples and what they reported to Jefferson. Though the expedition failed to find Jefferson's hoped for water route to the Pacific, it fired interest among fur traders and other Americans, changing the face of the West forever. ... Read more

Reviews (318)

Vivid and entertaining
When I read this book it helped me get ahead in history amazingly. I may just be one of those odd people, but to me, the 200 year old mistakes and goof-ups were hilarious. Although he is descriptive, Ambrose does not mince words.
great book
i loved this book. i knew i would before picking it up, and i wonder if that had anything to do with the 5 star approval on my part. ambrose can tell history like no other. i tried a few other lewis and clark books, but i like a good story rather than history books, and this one is both.

Absolutely Wonderful Reading
Stephen Ambrose takes history and turns it into a fascinating, easy read. It was exciting to learn so much while at the same time enjoying every turn. History has never been this much fun! The author writes in such a way that you feel as if you are actually watching the events take place before your very eyes. This is a definate, must read!
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Subjects:  1. (1804-1806)    2. 1774-1809    3. Biography    4. Explorers    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History - U.S.    8. History: World    9. Lewis and Clark Expedition    10. Lewis, Meriwether,    11. United States    12. United States - 19th Century    13. United States - 19th Century/Old West    14. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    15. Geographical discovery & exploration    16. History / United States / General    17. USA   

Reviews (15)

Written for a 12 Year-Old
What a disappointment!It is only lacking cartoon illustrations to make it seem competely childish.But more disturbingly it is deceptively simplistic.Told through rose-colored glasses, leaving out what is convenient to ensure a "happy" ending.