My paternal grandmother and her second husband, Christian, were so very good to me as a child. Quite a reader herself, Lajla belonged to book clubs anMy paternal grandmother and her second husband, Christian, were so very good to me as a child. Quite a reader herself, Lajla belonged to book clubs and acquired several Time-Life sets for me during the period spanning late elementary thru early high school. Of them all, the Great Ages of Man was my favorite set, the only one I did not give up upon outgrowing them. The reasons for such favoritism are, one, the superior bindings of these twenty-one hardcovers and, two, the superb photographic illustrations. Not a reason, but it should have been were I a rational being, were the authors of the various volumes, many of them well-known experts for the cultural histories covered.
Although written, like all Time-Life publications, for literate children, the individual volumes of the series serve as valuable introductions for those who know nothing or nearly nothing about the topic. I would probably benefit by rereading Early Islam as a matter of fact....more
This was the American history textbook employed by Mr. Ellenberger at Maine Township High School South in Park Ridge, Illinois for its junior year A.PThis was the American history textbook employed by Mr. Ellenberger at Maine Township High School South in Park Ridge, Illinois for its junior year A.P. course on the subject. A good choice, a remarkable choice given the reactionary character of the department head, The American Pageant was readable, entertaining and educational.
Interestingly, many of my younger friends, persons in their twenties and thirties, also used editions of this book....more
Having read Tuchman's The Proud Tower, about Europe in the two decades before the war, I plunged into her The Guns of August, the first history I was Having read Tuchman's The Proud Tower, about Europe in the two decades before the war, I plunged into her The Guns of August, the first history I was to read about the origins and first days of World War I--just about as far as both our high school World History and European History courses got....more
This was the first book I ever read about Europe just prior to the first world war. Tuchman's accessible style and choice of topics representative of This was the first book I ever read about Europe just prior to the first world war. Tuchman's accessible style and choice of topics representative of the period inspired the reading of her book about the onset of the war itself, The Guns of August, immediately thereafter.
Decades later, in 1990, I reread the thing....more
This is both a tremendously ponderous and important book in the fine tradition of German biblical scholarship. Von Harnack had surveyed all the sourceThis is both a tremendously ponderous and important book in the fine tradition of German biblical scholarship. Von Harnack had surveyed all the sources available by the beginning of the twentieth century in constructing this tome. He not only provides copious notes, documenting his claims, but even footnotes some of his footnotes which sometimes occupy more space in a page than the text of the book does. God, I love this kind of pedantry!
If you are really interested in the history of the expansion of the early church, read this--everyone else in the field has.
These volumes were read over a series of nights while between rounds as a security guard at Union Theological Seminary in New York, the work-study job I had throughout the four years resident there....more
It is unfortunate that Vintage lists this as "Memoir/History" as it isn't history in any serious sense. Amis is no historian. While indexed, the book It is unfortunate that Vintage lists this as "Memoir/History" as it isn't history in any serious sense. Amis is no historian. While indexed, the book lacks both bibliography and substantiating footnotes. Amis' primary sources as cited in the text, lean, as he admits, to the right.
The book is, however, partly a personal memoir and mostly an polemical essay or series of essays attacking the Soviet system in general and Stalin in particular. On the personal side, it is interesting that Amis is an old friend of Christopher Hitchens. Not knowing that until he mentioned it, Amis' style reminded me of Hitchens': clever and opinionated, if not so learned. (Now what would be really interesting would have been a book of Amis and Hitchens arguing about Communism given that Amis has no real investment while Hitchens had Trotskyist roots).
That said, it is a well-written essay, a quick read. Amis actually does manage to evoke dark chuckles as he recounts the terrors of the Soviet system without making light of the suffering. Indeed, he bludgeons the reader with tales of terror and suffering, enough perhaps to make even a diehard apologist take note and pursue a modern history of the subject....more
John Marks coauthored The CIA & the Cult of Intelligence with Victor Marchetti after working as a Senate aide and a State Department official. His pubJohn Marks coauthored The CIA & the Cult of Intelligence with Victor Marchetti after working as a Senate aide and a State Department official. His publishing credentials are primarily as a journalist. His writing style is clear as are his methods of documentation. The Search for the Manchurian Candidate appears to be his second book. I cannot recommend it too much.
Since the claims, however well-documented, that agencies of the U.S. government systematically hurt citizens and break laws, both domestic and international, in their pursuit of power and control are so repugnant as to be hard to absorb, I suggest one read this book and several of the others about the CIA's MKULTRA: Black, David '98 Acid: The Secret History of LSD. London: Vision 1901250113 Bowart, W.H. '78 Operation Mind Control: Our Secret Governments's War Against Its Own People. NY: Dell 0440167558 Camper, Frank '97 The Mk/Ultra Secret. Savannah: Christopher Scott Publishing 1889149020 Collins, Anne '88/'98 In the Sleep Room: The Story of CIA Brainwashing Experiments in Canada. Toronto: Key Porter Books 1550139320 Douglass, Joseph '02 Betrayed. 1st Books Library, 492 140330131X Douglass, Joseph '99 Red Cocaine: The Drugging of America & the West. Edward Harle, 178 1899798048 Fahey, Todd '96 Wisdom's Maw. Far Gone Books, 224 0965183904 Lee, Martin; Shlain, Bruce '85 Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the 60s & Beyond. NY: Grove Press 0802130623 McCoy, Alfred '06 A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror. Metropolitan Books, 21 sqq 0805080414 Ranelagh, John '88 The Agency: The Rise & Decline of the CIA. Sceptre, 208-10 0340412305 Ronson, Jon '04 The Men Who Stare at Goats. Picador 0330375482 Stevens, Jay '87 Storming Heaven: LSD & The American Dream. NY: Grove Press 0802135870 Thomas, Gordon '89 Journey into Madness: The True Story of Secret CIA Mind Control & Medical Abuse. NY: Bantam 0553284134 Vankin, Jonathan; Whalin, John '04 80 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time. Citadel Press 0806525312. Ch. 1, "CIAcid Drop"...more
Huxley's, The Devils of Loudun, reading as easily as a well-written novel, purports to be the true story of a seventeenth century case of witchcraft iHuxley's, The Devils of Loudun, reading as easily as a well-written novel, purports to be the true story of a seventeenth century case of witchcraft in France. At one level it is the biography of Urbain Grandier, the Catholic priest so condemned. On another, it is an examination of mass psycho-sexual psychosis as represented in such cases--and of the religious bases for the underlying repression. On yet another, it is a mystery, exploring the possible motives of the main players in the drama in the context of the hegemonizing Catholic nation-state and its executive head at the time, Cardinal Richelieu. On all three levels it worked for me.
Ken Russell's film adaptation of the book, entitled The Devils (1971), also deserves note as a fine piece of work which manages to survey all three levels of the narrative outlined above. In my opinion, it is Russell's best film and one of Oliver Reed's best roles. See it. ...more
Weiss is representative of the best German scholarship as regards the history and theology of the early Christian movement. A seminal thinker, he is rWeiss is representative of the best German scholarship as regards the history and theology of the early Christian movement. A seminal thinker, he is responsible for the development of both form criticism and the Q hypothesis. Like Albert Schweitzer, he traces the theology of the church back to an original eschatological faith, a belief which gradually moved into the background as it became evident that the world was not about to end.
The memory of reading these two volumes is a pleasant one. My work-study job at seminary was as a security guard. Given that the campus ranged from 120-125th Street and from Riverside Park to the block just past Broadway in Manhattan, it was often 'interesting'. My regular shift was at night, when I'd be alone on duty, ranging the campus on four rounds, reading the rest of the time in the Women's Center on the ground floor of Knox Hall. That's where I did Weiss over the course of several days, his text being dense--so dense, in fact, that some of his footnotes had footnotes. Ah, those Germans!...more
Samuel Eliot Morison is primarily known as a naval historian and this expertise is reflected in the real excitement he exudes during discussions of naSamuel Eliot Morison is primarily known as a naval historian and this expertise is reflected in the real excitement he exudes during discussions of naval affairs. He is also, though I have no evidence for this but the relevant portions of this text itself, an expert as regards horsemanship.
The Oxford History of the American People is both a political and a social history. Available in either the original one volume edition or a current three-volume one, the book ranges from the earliest voyages of discovery until just after the assassination of President Kennedy. While most of the study is excellent, I felt that the quality fell off as he approached contemporary times. Unlike many historians, Morison is not adverse to second-guessing the politicians. Throughout, he gives his opinions of the qualities and judgements of the presidents and their major advisors.
Canadian readers may be pleased to note that a running history of our northern neighbor is presented as well....more
This general history of Russia, used as a text in college, is a competent introduction to the field. The author, covering years through 1966 in this eThis general history of Russia, used as a text in college, is a competent introduction to the field. The author, covering years through 1966 in this edition, is prejudiced against the Soviet period. Upon entering Grinnell College I enrolled in a two-semester Russian history course, focusing my research on reform movements prior to the Bolshevik revolution. The teacher, Greg Guroff, was the most demanding of my college career in terms of how much he required us to write. Twenty pages a week was normal. In reaction to this, one of the upperclassmen produced an almost one hundred page paper for his weekly assignment (others helped with the typing). Guroff took it with a quickly suppressed raising of an eyebrow, ultimately giving the thing an A-. Doubtless, he was aware of the implied critique, but I don't recall it making any difference in our workload. This is not the text we used, but it was recommended in the syllabus. The prospect of more classes with Guroff if I continued on in Russian history prompted me in other directions, but the interest in Russia continued. Upon graduation, when I finally had time for such things again, I got around to reading some of the works he had recommended. Guroff himself went on to the U.S. State Department... ...more
A light, popular read concerning the discovery of body parts dating from the first century in an English bog. Very highly speculative, the portions abA light, popular read concerning the discovery of body parts dating from the first century in an English bog. Very highly speculative, the portions about the exhumation of ancient remains are interesting, those detailing the authors' theories are unconvincing....more
I've read at least seven of Bob Woodward's instant history books so far. Like sugar candies, they go down easy. Like sugar candies they aren't satisfyI've read at least seven of Bob Woodward's instant history books so far. Like sugar candies, they go down easy. Like sugar candies they aren't satisfying.
Read Woodward with caution. His background raises an eyebrow. He comes out of Naval Intelligence, having been, among other things, General Alexander Haig's briefer. His contacts there, and the very figures he relies on for his insider accounts of events qualify his objectivity and his candor. Were he to be open, frank and honest, he would lose sources and the possibility of another off-the-assembly-line book....more
This was not a fun book. Following the substantiation of the claim that IBM and subsidiaries knowingly facilitated the murder of millions of Jews, SocThis was not a fun book. Following the substantiation of the claim that IBM and subsidiaries knowingly facilitated the murder of millions of Jews, Socialists, Communists, pacifists, prisoners of war, gypsies, homosexuals and other "deviants" as part of their normal business practices is almost too much to take--not because it is difficult or because the proofs are obscure--they are not, but because this is too much the way of the corporate world, our American world. Similar practices are going on now, more efficiently. We don't want to think about it, but we must.
Black and his hundreds of research assistants throughout the world, many of them victims of the very IBM technologies which made such suffering possible, have done a very credible job which apparently has successfully resisted a number of lawsuits. They are to be applauded. This book ought be read by everyone....more
I read this, mostly up in NW Wisconsin, instead of reading the actual journals of Lewis and Clark because I was feeling lazy and thought a modern summI read this, mostly up in NW Wisconsin, instead of reading the actual journals of Lewis and Clark because I was feeling lazy and thought a modern summary would serve as a better, lighter read. Indeed, it is a light read, part history, part travel....more
This was the first, really serious grownup book I ever read.
My sole brother being almost eight years younger and no cousins being in the States, I wasThis was the first, really serious grownup book I ever read.
My sole brother being almost eight years younger and no cousins being in the States, I was virtually an only child, condemned to the weekly dinner parties of my parents and paternal grandparents and their friends, most of them held elsewhere than our own home. At one particularly excruciatingly boring party held at Great Aunt Synnove's I was scanning the magazines and bookshelves for something to occupy the time. Being ten, the great swastika on the cover of one otherwise unknown book caught my eye. Nazis! I picked it up, checked out the maps on the inside covers and started to read . . . When, finally, they, the Old Ones, were ready to go, I was far enough into it to not want to stop. Aunt Synnove was kind enough to loan it out.
The reading went on for probably a couple of weeks. I recall reading about the Lutheran pastor, Niedemeyer (not looking it up--it may be misspelled, but I remember this in detail after all these years), who, almost alone amongst German churchmen, stood up publicly against the Nazis--and this in the backyard, at the juncture of our rickety garage and decaying white picket fence amidst the early flowers of springtime. I recall, days later, now on my sun-warmed bed downstairs at grandmother's cottage in Michigan, reading with fascinated horror about the death camps and the "scientific experiments" conducted in them.
Now a thirteen year old friend of mine has picked up Shirer, buying it in hardcover himself at a local used bookstore. He, not normally a big reader (he has a sister, two brothers and lots of cousins and friends), says he likes it because Shirer writes so clearly. Now, while all of us are, as citizens, in moral positions uncomfortably similar to those occupied by Germans sixty years or so ago, it is good to see that a book like this and the story it tells can still be read with interest by the young....more
This book recounts how Soviet counterintelligence manipulated the C.I.A. and anti-communist paranoia in the immediate postwar period in order to purgeThis book recounts how Soviet counterintelligence manipulated the C.I.A. and anti-communist paranoia in the immediate postwar period in order to purge the Eastern European Left of its nationalist elements and install pro-Soviet regimes. A cautionary tale, it deserves retelling....more
I just read a recent edition of Zinn's long-popular history "from the bottom up" of the United States of America after having read the first edition lI just read a recent edition of Zinn's long-popular history "from the bottom up" of the United States of America after having read the first edition long ago. The additions were a disappointment, a cut and paste job, so be happy if you find the book used for a buck and don't worry about not having a bright, new copy. The good stuff is the original stuff.
Zinn's concept of balance, of including the great mass of ordinary people like you and me along with the usual political history of elites was nothing new. I've read "people's histories" of both Great Britain and of Sweden and suspect he took his idea from the first. Still, it's a good idea and I'm grateful he did it.
Will and Ariel Durant, like Abelard and Heloise, were teacher and student, were punished and went on to write together. Unlike their mediaeval prototyWill and Ariel Durant, like Abelard and Heloise, were teacher and student, were punished and went on to write together. Unlike their mediaeval prototypes, however, they wed and appear to have been rather happy. They certainly were productive.
Will started the series, the two of them carried it through to "the age of Napolean". Together, they travelled a great deal, visiting many of the places they wrote about in this magisterial eleven volume (twelve if you count a companion volume on historiography which I've yet to read) history of almost everything.
I don't know if it's Ariel's influence, but, unlike H.G. Wells' own, much shorter, attempt at a history of human civilization, their work is remarkable for the attention it pays to culture, domestic life and women in addition to the usual account of literate elites and their doings.
The first volume, Our Oriental Heritage, Will's work, is the only disappointment. It attempts to cover both the earliest civilizations and also the history of Asia up to the time of writing. Given the attention paid the West, this is disproportionately little, reflecting either his ignorance or his prejudice. Indeed, were this volume excluded, it would be almost fair to retitle the whole The Story of Western Civilization.
Otherwise this is the best general history of the world I've ever seen. Other, equally long series exist, but they are by multiple authors and therefore lack the single voice (or harmonious duo) of the Durants.
Naturally, specialists will find the sections they know most about inadequate, but for the general reader the work is just right and there are likely few specialist historians who could equal their work overall.
Although long, the reading goes quickly, like a novel. I handled it as bedtime reading over a period of a few months and you can too.
One note: The Book of the Month Club has long featured the hardback series as one of their come-ons for something like $29.99. Look for it....more
The world might benefit from another introduction to Greek culture, but this is neither among the best nor does it justify its existence by any speciaThe world might benefit from another introduction to Greek culture, but this is neither among the best nor does it justify its existence by any special merits. It is not original. It lacks any explanatory conception, any special insight. It is not particularly well-written. It is not well-edited. It even fails in adequately covering its ostensible subject.
Sowerby, classicist and English teacher, does not promise much. He only claims to be addressing "those enquiring into the Greek legacy for the first time" (ix). Judging by the standards of Classics 101, he does a fair job of representing the conventions and limitations of classicism. In other words, he represents an approach to the ancient Greek world that goes back to the late eighteenth century. He evinces no awareness of any advances in research since the early part of this century. The book may as well have been written then.
For Sowerby, apparently, and for his unfortunate students, Greek culture is a unique flowering, an extraordinary and ultimately inexplicable thing. It may be glowingly described, but not critically explained. His history is sketchy at best, focussing on the Persian through Peloponnesian Wars. Herodotus is more fun to read as regards the former. Thucydides is not improved upon, but virtually parroted, as regards the latter. Geographical, climactic, economic considerations?--Sowerby hardly addresses them or anything materially pertinent to the matrix out of which this culture arose. This is a sketch without a background or shadows, an immediately familiar caricature. Greek culture is a plant without roots. The writing, while adequate, is pedestrian. There is no engagement, no charm, no humor--nothing to involve or challenge the reader. There are no surprises. The editing, however, is atrocious. The Academy, we are informed, was "situated in the grave of a hero named Academus" (129). Herodotus' "work" for foreigner is, we are told, barbaroi (41). The substitution of a dash for a hyphen makes nonsense of a sentence (22). Pylos is located on the wrong coast (54). Clytemnestra's family relations are expressed ambiguously (2).
Most damning of all, this book is not about the Greeks, not even about several generations of Greeks. It is about the Athenians in general and about their few short decades as successful imperialists in particular. That is the focus, that the frame of reference. The book should have been titled The Golden Age of Athens and put out, with better pictures, by Time/Life. But they've already done that, haven't they?
The hypothetical first-year student will come out of this thoughtless confirmation of a hackneyed canon with all the stock prejudices and studied ignorance of well-schooled liberal politicians who, seeing the United States as the new Athens, would make us and our institutions just as insufferable to the rest of the world as the Athenians under Pericles were to theirs....more
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