Average customer rating:
- Biased, speculative and wrong
- Nice overview
- used in history class
- Brief and Concise
- A history of a little of the world
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A Little History of the World
E. H. Gombrich
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
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![Little History of the World: Classic Collection (Classic Collection) [UNABRIDGED] (Classic Collection)](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/078617286X.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Little History of the World: Classic Collection (Classic Collection) [UNABRIDGED] (Classic Collection)
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ASIN: 0300108834 |
Book Description
In 1935, with a doctorate in art history and no prospect of a job, the 26-year-old Ernst Gombrich was invited by a publishing acquaintance to attempt a history of the world for younger readers. Amazingly, he completed the task in an intense six weeks, and Eine kurze Weltgeschichte für junge Leser was published in Vienna to immediate success, and is now available in seventeen languages across the world.
Toward the end of his long life, Gombrich embarked upon a revision and, at last, an English translation. A Little History of the World presents his lively and involving history to English-language readers for the first time. Superbly designed and freshly illustrated, this is a book to be savored and collected.
In forty concise chapters, Gombrich tells the story of man from the stone age to the atomic bomb. In between emerges a colorful picture of wars and conquests, grand works of art, and the spread and limitations of science. This is a text dominated not by dates and facts, but by the sweep of mankind’s experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity’s achievements and an acute witness to its frailties.
The product of a generous and humane sensibility, this timeless account makes intelligible the full span of human history.
Customer Reviews:
Biased, speculative and wrong.......2007-10-15
This book was worse than bad - it is well-written misinformation that will leave the reader thinking he or she has been well-informed. Clearly written from a Christian perspective, the author bends and twists history to the breaking point to make it fit his world-view. In this book, all of the historical claims of the bible are accepted as fact, when many are in dispute or are seriously doubted by serious historians. Characters of the Old Testament that may have never existed, and events that may have never happened are presented as if they have as much legitimacy as secular history. At one point, the author claims that the Dark Ages were actually more like a starry night because the people of Europe had the guiding light of "their Lord" shining on them. Ugh!
In addition, the author characterizes other historical figures in overly romantic terms. Alexander, Julius Caesar and Augustus are spoken of with great reverance, with little notice of their brutal, amoral behavior. Modern historians understand that history is written by the winners, and take a dim view of simply assuming that powerful world figures were as noble and wise as their propanganda claimed.
This is history for people who don't want their worldview challenged - even by the truth - if they learned most of their history before 1975. If you want to actually learn something useful, look elsewhere.
Nice overview.......2007-05-31
It is hard to condence history, but Gombrich does a great job at the overview. I will save this book for my kids when they get older and want to have a better understanding of the 'big picture' of history.
used in history class.......2007-05-27
I used this book in a history methods class. We had to rewrite the chapters using the methods we learned in the class. It was a lot of fun. Gombrich explains history in his book in simple language for young readers; it was also fun to read it from an adult's point of view. This book is a good starting point for anyone interested in learning history.
Brief and Concise.......2007-02-21
What a marvellous discovery this slim volume is. We recommend it to all our friends. The author covers most world events in depth. His style is concise and well thought out. I wish that I could meet him but he is no longer living. Now I must explore his books of art. In reading fine books, one begins a chain---which is what pleasurable reading is all about.
A history of a little of the world.......2007-02-17
I was recommended this book on the basis that it offered a broader view of world history than was typically taught (Egypt to Greece to Rome to Dark Ages to French Revolution). Unfortunately, this is exactly the trajectory that this book takes. For a book that claims to be a little history of the world, India and China barely rate a mention. A more appropriate title is perhaps "A history of a little of the world".
In fairness, the book was written in the 1930s. The prose is still beautifully written and enjoyable to read. I just wish there was more "world" in it.
Amazon.com
"Climate change is the ignored player on the historical stage," writes archeologist Brian Fagan. But it shouldn't be, not if we know what's good for us. We can't judge what future climate change will mean unless we know something about its effects in the past: "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." And Fagan's story of the last thousand years, centered on the "Little Ice Age," reminds us of what we could end up repeating: flood, fire, and famine--acts of God exacerbated by acts of man.
For all that he takes a broad--a very broad--view of European history, Fagan's writing is laced with human faces, fascinating anecdotes, and a gift for the telling detail that makes history live, very much in the style of Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror. When Fagan talks about the voyages of Basque fishermen to American shores (probably landing before Columbus sailed), he puts in the taste of dried cod and the terrifying suddenness of fogs on the Grand Banks. The Great Fire of London, what it was like when the Dutch dikes broke, the Irish Potato Famine, the year without a summer, ice fairs on the Thames, and volcanoes in the South Pacific--Fagan makes history a ripping yarn in which we are all actors, on a stage that has always been changing. --Mary Ellen Curtin
Book Description
"[The Little Ice Age] could do for the historical study of climate what Michel Foucault's classic Madness and Civilization did for the historical study of mental illness: make it a respectable subject for scholarly inquiry." --Scientific American.
The Little Ice Age tells the story of the turbulent, unpredictable, and often very cold years of modern European history, how this altered climate affected historical events, and what it means for today's global warming. Building on research that has only recently confirmed that the world endured a 500year cold snap, renowned archaeologist Brian Fagan shows how the increasing cold influenced familiar events from Norse exploration to the settlement of North America to the Industrial Revolution. This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in history, climate, and how they interact.
Customer Reviews:
Delightful survey of medieval history.......2007-08-26
This book is subtitled "How climate made history" and this is indeed the topic of the book. It is a delightful survey of medieval history carefully integrated with a succinct history of climate to demonstrate the influence of changing climate on medieval history. Three factors are discussed as possible contributors to The Little Ice Age (1300-1850): a reduction in the solar output, the massive production of atmospheric aerosols from volcanos, and the alteration of ocean currents. This book is relevant reading for anyone interested global warming.
Puts a sharp stick in the eye of Al Gore and his followers.......2007-06-19
Now this book has been made into a documentary for the History Channel, and is good TV viewing. I didn't even need popcorn!
The book explains how THE SUN and THE OCEANS are really to blame for this thing called "global warming"--not our driving, oil consumption, or anything else we do.
As the title says, climate made history once--and is doing so again. The only difference is now we have an educated society that complains a lot when things get uncomfortable and inconvenient.
Comfortable Reading.......2007-05-15
"The Little Ice Age" is an informative and well-founded research that reveals trends that point to the delicate environment where we live in. It brings light on the responsibilities, causes and effects on weather change with a wit that catches the reader in a world that had its consequences in the past, but which still can affect our future. It is a pleasure to read.
A new view on the causes of historic events.......2007-03-10
I bought this book because of the History Channel Special about the Little Ice Age. I was hoping the book would have been a little longer, but I enjoyed every minute of reading it.
While I don't believe humanity caused Global Warming. I believe human activity affects the environment. Heck! A beaver dam affects an environment. I do not believe the Earth is so fragile that adding CO2 to the atmosphere will destroy it. It might kill us, but the Earth will continue. And the effects of the climate on us is something we should all be interested in.
In college, they taught about the socialogical causes of history. The climate? At best, it was a footnote--stage dressing for the pageant that was displayed for our education. It was never considered a cause for events, but Fagan ably demonstrates that it was a cause for some of the pivotal events in history.
I would have liked a bit more. The book is a bit thin, and occasionally, Fagan gets preachy, but this book is a keeper!
This book left me cold.......2007-02-27
I bought this book after watching the History Channel special of the same title in the hope of learning more on the subject. Unfortunately, this book added little to my knowledge base. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. In his "Acknowledgments" section, the author admits that his treatment "glosses over many passionate historical controversies." Of course, I didn't read that little warning label until it was too late. Oh well. In any event, what the author failed to mention is that his book is more of a polemic on global warming than a treatise exploring a fascinating period of history. That's too bad. If you want to learn about this subject, I would strongly recommend the aforementioned History Channel show. Not only does the show more thoroughly examine how the Little Ice Age changed European history, it can be viewed in less than two hours. I spent more time than that reading this book, hoping to learn something that I didn't already know. I wish I hadn't.
Book Description
The New York Times bestseller Now I Can Die in Peace is now available in paperback with a new afterword (and more footnotes) by the author"The Red Sox won the World Series." To Citizen No. 1 of Red Sox Nation, those seven words meant "No more 1918' chants. No more smug glances from Yankee fans. No more worrying about living an entire life -- that's eighty years, followed by death -- without seeing the Red Sox win a Series." But once he was able -- finally -- to type those life-changing words, Bill Simmons decided to look back at his "Sports Guy" columns for the last five years to find out how the miracle came to pass. And that's where the trouble began.The result is Now I Can Die in Peace, a hilarious and fresh new look at some of the best sportswriting in America, with sharp, critical commentary (and fresh insights) from the guy who wrote it in the first place.
Customer Reviews:
Red Sox Fanatic.......2007-09-29
My husband is a Red Sox fan! He is not much of a reader but when I surprised him with this, he fell in love. Since buying it, he has read it several times! highly recommended!
a journey out of sports purgatory.......2007-08-29
"...And he was one-third of the infamous 1996 Boston coaching staff (along with Tim Johnson and Kevin Kennedy)that stood motionless on the top step of the dugout, wearing matching bushy mustaches, Raybans and warmup jackets, looking like they were participating in a photo shoot for gay baseball porn."
The book contains articles written between 1998 and 2006 (in the new paperback), and it covers those Red Sox teams pretty extensively, with a HUGE focus on the 2003-2004 teams. Even so, Simmons occaionally provides the readers with tales from earlier Red Sox seasons (and other Boston sport teams too).
He's not an objective columnist by any standard: he lives and dies with the Red Sox, and it makes his book both personal and entertaining. Through his writing, we get to know his friends, wife and most significantly, his father. He weaves in college anecdotes, family arguments, weddings, drunkalogues, and a myriad of pop-culture references into most of his articles. They fit in and add to his topics.
It's a fun book. A must for any Red Sox fan, and along with "Mind Game", it's the best book about the 2004 Red Sox.
One final note: I'm a Yankee fan.
Inspirational.......2007-07-27
A great book if you are a sports fan, who enjoys narratives, passion and motivation from another human being and a moving story.
Simmons hits a homerun.......2007-05-19
I purchased this book from Books-A-Million last September, and loved it. Despite being a St. Louis sports fan, I was obliged to pick up this book. I've always been a Simmons fan because of the humor he includes in what he writes and his witty writing altogether. He displays many archives from 1998 to 2004 on the title run. And the asides on the left and right columns on the page are excellent as to what he then thought of the columns he wrote in different sections of how he wrote them. I recommend this book to any Red Sox fan (all Sox fans probably have it now though), anyone who is much like me that is a fan of Simmons, or any general baseball fan.
Humor for Boston Fans.......2007-04-10
Boston Red Sox fans will laugh hysterically while they read this book on the history of the Red Sox and their 2004 World Series win.
Book Description
Think you know Walt Disney World?
Do you know the backstory of Dinoland U.S.A. that unifies the entire land? Do you know how the former attraction named Dreamflight is commemorated in today's Magic Kingdom? Do you know how Ellen's Energy Adventure mentions the ride which preceded it? Do you know where the references to Horizons and World of Motion are? Do you know how Disney's Animal Kingdom pays tribute to the land it planned but never created? Do you know where the Hidden Kermit is located? Do you know how the four theme parks honor the years in which they opened?
You have probably heard a few "interesting facts" about Walt Disney World over the years. Perhaps you've heard that the windows on the second story of the buildings on Main Street honor individuals of note in WDW history? Or that the company plane Walt used to survey the eventual WDW property from the air now lives at the studios park? It's all true... but these are only two of the interesting facts pointed out in "101 Things You Never Knew About Walt Disney World." And those are only two of the best-known examples. Many of these stories deal with much more obscure, yet equally interesting, pieces of history of the theme parks. You haven't heard all these stories before!
Customer Reviews:
Good Book.......2007-10-11
Great book for those who have never been to WDW and for those who have been before. There really were things I never knew.
I want my money back.......2007-08-25
This was an unsatisfactory book. Beyond the lack of content, it was poorly edited with entire paragraphs being duplicated in various instances of the 101 'things'. There was little of value that I gained from the book. I bought this because our family will travel to disney for the first time next year and I can't say I have taken much away from it. This book seemed like the type of content that would be handed out on a promotional flyer which had a map of disney on it.
:(.......2007-08-13
This book contained 101 things I already knew. This book would be great for someone who is going to visit the park for the first time. If you have been studying Disney trivia for awhile you will already know these things
Really Nice Information for the World..........2007-01-10
This is a really good source of cool information for those who wn to add details and depth to their visit to Walt Disney World. Excellent resource for the novice or seasoned visitor.
101 Things You Never Knew About Walt Disney World: An Unauthorized Look.......2007-01-04
This is an entertaining book. Info. contained within is concise and often repeated in other similar titles. Layout is a bit unsophisticated, but if you are a fan of the Parks, it is worthwhile to read.
Book Description
Critical Acclaim for ADENAUER
"A gripping narrative . . . brings to life an intriguing historical figure . . . an enthralling perspective on the processes that shaped the postwar world."--Daily Telegraph (London)
"Charts the ironies of Adenauer's complicated life. This is the story of a marathon man, but it is narrated at the pace of a sprinter and with the elegance of a hurdler."--The Times (London)
"Lucid and engaging. This is a well-researched and elegantly written volume which deserves a wider readership than the purely political."--The Herald (Glasgow)
"A highly readable, thoroughly reliable, intelligently critical life-and-times. . . . This portrait does justice to a man who is often invoked as a prophet of a United States of Europe, but who was in truth the greatest of German patriots."--Literary Review (London)
"Well-researched and admirably written . . . reveals Adenauer the man--with all his authority and strength, his persistence and endurance, and his streak of ruthlessness and political cunning."--The Independent (London)
THE LAST GREAT FRENCHMAN
"Knowledgeable, lucid . . . the best English biography of de Gaulle."--The New York Times Book Review
"Charles Williams has matched a great subject by something near to a great book."--Daily Telegraph (London)
Customer Reviews:
Well crafted biography of one of the 20th century's great figures.......2006-10-30
This biography recounts the public and private life of Konrad Adenauer, the first chancellor of Germany after WW II. Adenauer was certainly one of the great men of the 20th century, carefully crafting policies to rebuild Germany after the war and to ensure that West Germany remained free from Soviet domination. As Williams states in his introduction, Adenauer lived three very different lives. He was the mayor of Cologne (and a powerful force in the Zentrum party) until the Nazis came to power in the early 30s. He spent the next 15 years or so trying to lie low and avoid too much attention from the Gestapo. He had several close calls, particularly after the failed assasination attempt on Hitler in July of 1944, but he and his family managed to survive the war. Adenauer really came into his own after the war though. He was again appointed mayor of Cologne by the occupying powers, but was relieved of this position. Difficult at the time, it allowed him to become the undisputed leader of the newly formed Christian Democrat Party (CDP) and to guide Germany through a very difficult time.
This is a wonderful biography in my view. Williams has done a great job capturing Adenauer, both in his private and his public persona. I don't think that Adenauer personally was a particularly likable man. He had few friends, was domineering with his family, and certainly neither outgoing nor personable. We was, however, a great politician who was guided by a strong moral (Catholic) compass. As a political fighter, there were probably few men of any era that were as shrewed as Adenauer. His (mostly successful) 50 years as a politician are proof of that. He knew how to maneuver situations and opponents to benefit himself personally as well as acheive his larger political goals.
This book is divided into four sections. The first covers KA's life as a youth and student, the other three roughly correspond to his time as mayor of Cologne, avoiding the attention of the Nazis, and as Chancellor. I think that Williams has wonderfully captured many of the nuances of the political life of a complex, and in some ways enigmatic, man. This is not a hagiography, Adenauer certainly had his share of human weaknesses and these are not glossed over. He was also somewhat of a street fighter when it came to politics and I got the sense that Adenauer actually enjoyed the rough and tumble of the political world (particularly since he usually came out on top).
One other aspect of this book really intrigued me. This book is a wonderful vignette on the Cold War from a German perspective. When reading about the 50s and the Cold War, most American readers will be intimately familiar with the Korean War, McCarthyism, and the atomic bomb. The German perspective was somewhat different, and the issues facing Adenauer give the reader an interesting perspective on the events of this era. The Soviet threat loomed right over the border, not 5000 miles away over the Arctic Circle. Other issues of great import to Germany (and Adenauer) include rearmament, sovreignity, and re-unification with the East.
Overall, I thought this was a wonderful biography. I knew very little about Adenauer and the events described in this book, and it has certainly filled my gaps in my knowledge. There isn't a whole lot about Adenauer written in English, so I would highly recommend this to anyone with even moderate interest. I agree with one of the other reviewers that the last section is a little light. It occupies over 200 pages in the book, but the events and details surrounding the treaties, reforms, and political machinations of Adenaeur's tenure as chancellor could have been expanded.
Thoughtful biography on one of Germany's great leaders.......2003-03-13
This book is the biography of the great Konrad Adenauer, the long serving German Kanzeller charged with rebuilding a shattered Germany following WW2. His childhood, education, and involvement in the Köln government are all described in detail. He is shown in an honest light and at times comes across as egotistical, greedy, and unfaithful. But he was also very determined, highly competent, and utterly committed to seeing Germany reunited under a peaceful, democratic government.
Overall, the book is a worthwhile read but tended to be a bit dry and sometimes got bogged down in detail. The complex issues facing him after the war and how he dealt with them are really the most important parts of this book and I would have liked to have seen this covered in a bit more detail. For those looking for an informative and comprehensive history of Herr Adenauer, this should do.
A heavy reliance on secondary sources........2002-12-06
When I bought this book I had high expections. The cover photograph is awesome! The book however, turned out to be a disapointment. In terms of research, it's similar to an undergraduate paper. Williams uses very few primary sources, relying instead on the work of others. It's kind of a cut and past job. An examination of the citations will confirm this.
I was especially looking forward to a discussion of what many consider Adenauer's finest hour. His decision, despite intense opposition, to push for reparations for Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Williams barely mentions the reparations and dosn't even attempt to examine Adenaurer's motivations.
In terms of of giving an overview of Adenauer's life the book's ok. But this giant of the 20th Century deserves better.
A heavy reliance on secondary sources........2002-12-06
When I bought this book I had high expections. The cover photograph is awesome! The book however, turned out to be a disapointment. In terms of research, it's similar to an undergraduate paper. Williams uses very few primary sources, relying instead on the work of others. It's kind of a cut and past job. An examination of the citations will confirm this.
I was especially looking forward to a discussion of what many consider Adenauer's finest hour. His decision, despite intense opposition, to push for reparations for Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Williams barely mentions the reparations and dosn't even attempt to examine Adenaurer's motivations.
In terms of of giving an overview of Adenauer's life the book's ok. But this giant of the 20th Century deserves better.
Spiritual Grand Architect of German Phoenix.......2002-09-25
Charles Williams narrates with panache the life of stern and energetic Konrad Adenauer who came to the attention of the world well in the twilight of his life. Adenauer, staunch defender of the Catholic faith and strong German patriot, was born in a very modest family a few years after the proclamation of the Second Reich. After serving in the pre-war imperial bureaucracy, Adenauer gradually became the deserving, leading political figure in his native city of Cologne by the end of WWI. Adenauer assumed with cunning ability and efficiency the mayoralty of Cologne under the Weimar Republic before the Nazis obliged him to resign from his elected position in his late fifties. At that time, Adenauer himself thought that he was "kaput": he was a political liability in the eyes of the Nazis and close to financial bankruptcy. To his credit, Adenauer kept a low profile in Nazi Germany, put order in his finances with the help of (Jewish) friends and emerged with his political credentials relatively intact from the ruins of the Third Reich at the end of WWII. After neutralizing his political adversaries with ruthless efficiency and obstinacy, Adenauer was successively elected leader of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) and then first post-war Chancellor of former West Germany with the approval of the occupying allies. To the victors and German internal opposition, Adenauer quickly revealed himself as a tough negotiator who was very good at dividing his adversaries by exploiting their weaknesses, in order to progressively restore the sovereignty and dignity of his beloved fatherland under the leadership of the CDU. Furthermore, Adenauer progressively overcame his parochialism by taking a leading role in the reconstruction of a unified, prosperous Western Europe at peace with itself on an equal footing with such personalities as Robert Schuman, Jean Monnet, Alcide de Gasperi and Paul-Henri Spaak. Although Adenauer died in 1967, his political legacy must remain a source of inspiration to his successors. Germany, aware of its not always glorious past and its long time pro-European stance, is called to take over the leadership in the further construction of a democratic, prosperous, and strong Europe to the chagrin of especially one nation. The center of gravity of the European Union will be moving eastwards in the coming years after the integration of Middle-European and Eastern European Nations. Future German chancellors will play a key role in the undertaking of eventually turning the dream of a United States of Europe into a reality in partnership with the United States of America. Only a Europe speaking with one voice in economic, military, political and social matters will be systematically taken seriously by the other great powers of this world.
Book Description
Ward Churchill has achieved an unparalleled reputation as a scholar-activist and analyst of indigenous issues in North America. Here, he explores the history of holocaust and denial in this hemisphere, beginning with the arrival of Columbus and continuing on into the present.
He frames the matter by examining both "revisionist" denial of the nazi-perpatrated Holocaust and the opposing claim of its exclusive "uniqueness," using the full scope of what happened in Europe as a backdrop against which to demonstrate that genocide is precisely what has been-and still is-carried out against the American Indians.
Churchill lays bare the means by which many of these realities have remained hidden, how public understanding of this most monstrous of crimes has been subverted not only by its perpetrators and their beneficiaries but by the institutions and individuals who perceive advantages in the confusion. In particular, he outlines the reasons underlying the United States's 40-year refusal to ratify the Genocide Convention, as well as the implications of the attempt to exempt itself from compliance when it finally offered its "endorsement."
In conclusion, Churchill proposes a more adequate and coherent definition of the crime as a basis for identifying, punishing, and preventing genocidal practices, wherever and whenever they occur.
Ward Churchill (enrolled Keetoowah Cherokee) is Professor of American Indian Studies with the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder. A member of the American Indian Movement since 1972, he has been a leader of the Colorado chapter for the past fifteen years. Among his previous books have been Fantasies of a Master Race, Struggle for the Land, Since Predator Came, and From a Native Son.
Customer Reviews:
American History From the Victims' Perspective.......2006-07-03
This book is a must read for anyone seriously interested in the true historical origins of the United States. Ward Churchill wastes no time dispelling the myth that the German Nazis were the originators of the systematic extermination of a cultural group. Likewise, he demonstrates that the Jewish people were not the first nor the last to be the victims of a Holocaust. Through his meticulous research of historical records, Churchill gives us the facts surrounding the theft of this nation from its native peoples. Afterwards, you may never look at Columbus and the discovery of the "New World" with the same rose-colored glasses.
A Little Matter of Genocide review.......2006-03-05
Professor Churchill has done a magnificant job writing this very comprehensive,extremely well-researched book.This book makes people aware that the Jews are not the only victims of Genocide.This book examines the history of Genocides dating back to 1492 to the present day .This book is very important because it educates people about the many occurances of Genocide.Mankind needs to know the past so that mankind can strive to make certain that the tragedies of history will not be repeated.
States of Denial.......2006-02-15
"A Little Matter" is worth reading simply for its discussion of the term "genocide". But there's so much more. If I get started I'm going to blather on at extreme length, so I won't.
The content of this book has been well covered by the reviewers before me, so I simply want to add my 5 stars. If you're interested in the issues suggested by the title, you've found an insightful, solidly referenced, powerfully argued resource.
Ward Churchill has an axe to grind, certainly, but he also has a forest to cut through. There are so many lies abroad in the world that we are all choking on them, I think, both victors and victims. This is a book I'm grateful to have read.
Stannard's wonderful and terrible "American Holocaust" is another. As are John Pilger's "Secret Country", and "Blood on the Wattle" by Bruce Elder, both of which concern Australia, my own sad, similarly haunted homeland.
Fast and Perfect Condition.......2005-09-30
I will continue to purchase all of my texts from Amazon.com.
An Eye-Opener.......2005-06-13
This book is primarily a collection of essays that Churchill has written and published elsewhere. Churchill's main focus in this book is on the genocide perpetrated in the Americas by the Europeans against the various indigenous peoples, and documents how the livelihoods, cultures, and lives of these peoples were decimated over the course of several centuries. What makes the book most worthwhile is the extended discussion on the meaning of the term "genocide" - a term that I consider used often incorrectly, and way too narrowly - towards the beginning and end of the book. The definition of genocide that he uses can be readily applied to various other atrocities, such as the genocide that occurred in Rwanda, Israel (Israelis against Palestinians), Vietnam (first by the French, and later the US), and most recently Iraq (perpetrated by the US) and Sudan.
Recommended for social scientists attempting to understand the causes and consequences of genocide, and well-suited to an educated lay audience as well. The book is a recommended companion to Stannard's "American Holocaust."
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely profound.......2004-08-28
This book stirred up and anger and passion in my in me that I cannot express in words. You have to read it to beleive it!
The Little School.......2004-04-23
Imagine being kidnapped and being taken to a concentration camp, blindfolded, tied up and not knowing when you will ever see your family and friends again. What would you do if someone put a gun in your mouth? Alicia Partnoy proved to be a brave woman among others.
What you must know is that this is a true story. It is like if you are reading something made up, but it is sadly true. It is greatly detailed and it even has a sense of humor at points. It is really amazing to see how Alicia talks about her experience and the other "disappeared" s' experiences.
She was kidnapped. Did not know the whereabouts of her daughter. Her husband was kidnapped also, but they were not able to see each other. Even though she was away from them, she managed to think of them as little as possible, because she thought it would weaken her in trying to survive for them.
She was always helping others in one way or another. Since they did not know when they were going to die, Alicia showed her compassion in their last hours. She was very generous when everything else was so ruthless.
She shares part of her hideous life lived in the Little School, because even though she tells you what happened to her and her friends, she keeps the darkest moments to herself. It is personal, a very personal story. You should be thankful that she even wrote this book because she is informing you about what really happened at those times and how the guards treated them inside the Little School.
This book demonstrates the true value of life. Some people overlook small things in life, but these small things grow to be very significant to Alicia when she was a prisoner. It shows the importance of your five senses, the ability to smell, to touch, to hear, to taste and to talk. She was able to see through her nose given that she was blindfolded and was able to create small balls out of bread. Talk about using your imagination at miserable times. This is just one of the things she learned to do when held captive. Read this book to find out how she did this and what else she discovered inside the concentration camp.
the little school.......2004-04-22
What would you say if one day while you were doing your chores like every day in your house, spending time with your family and then suddenly a man barges the door throgh wearing military uniforms and takes you away without an explation. What would you do? How would you react?
Well unfortunately this is what happened to Alicia Partnoy. On January 12, 1977 Alicia was taken away from her house while her husband was working. This sad event took place in Argentina during the time when people were struggling for a better life, striking on streets, demanding better wages. "The Little School" not only tells you the story of Alicia Portnoy, but the stories of people who experience the brutality, the night mares they had to go through while being kept in captivity by the military in a camp called "The Little School".
I would recommend this book because it gives the reader an idea about how life was in Argentina when govern by evil dictatorship. It will show you how life was while being kept in captivity by the military. For example, the prisoners were blindfolded and by being blindfolded they lost any memory of themselves leaving them hopeless, miserable, and humiliated without any energy left for the future. People would like reading this book because is not only interesting, but it opens your eyes and gives you an idea of how cruel the world can be if its run by the wrong people. Many families were ruined and many people died because they believe in a better world and wanted a better life for the future. "The Little School" is a book that tells us the stories of many people who suffered in the in the hands of thier leaders and teaches us that things like this are happening all around the world and just because we don't hear about it, it doesn't mean we cant do anything about it. You will like this book that you might read it several times because is an unbelievable story of survival.
The Little School.......2004-04-12
Slippers, bread and a toothbrush: these everyday items are simple enough to most people in the United States, and other parts of the world, to take advantage of or even ignore. In Argentina in the mid to late 70's, however, these common items were enough to keep one young woman sane enough to escape captivity. In The Little School, Alicia Partnoy tells the very real stories of her capture and imprisonment in a government- run concentration camp. Partnoy spins tales of survival in a climate of oppression and death. These amazingly well told stories draw the reader into a terrifying world in which young men and women create and keep intensely strong bonds of camaraderie and friendship even as they have their human dignity is denied to them.
The Little School is a book of short stories devoted to telling the true history of the 30,000 "disappeared" Argentines at the hands of the government from 1976 to 1979. Thousands of Argentines were taken captive in retaliation for civil disobedience to the government. In this book, Alicia Partnoy takes on the challenge of refuting the official statements made by the government denying the disappearances and making the truth achingly real. As a way of dealing with the reality of her ordeal, Partnoy uses her gift of storytelling to draw in the reader and make her feel what the prisoners felt.
One of the key techniques that Partnoy employs in the telling of the stories in The Little School is continually changing the perspective from which the story is told. The story of Partnoy's own capture is told from a third person point of view as if a narrator is watching it take place. This is a very powerful tool because it shows that Partnoy uses her own encounter and terror as a means of showing how many, if not all, of the other imprisonments took place. Partnoy expends a lot of energy, as evidenced by this technique, in telling the stories of other people as well as her own. While she does, indeed, spend a fair deal of time telling her own experiences, she also speaks from the perspective of her friend Graciela and her experience being in the school throughout her pregnancy. In doing this, Partnoy takes one of life's most pure experiences and shows the inhumanity of the Argentinean government as they keep, and even torture, a woman who is with child. The stories told from Graciela's perspective shine a light on the true dignity that the prisoners displayed throughout their ordeals.
While many people read books as a way of escaping into another world, Partnoy writes the stories in The Little School as a way to confront the very real ways in which she and others managed to band together in small acts of compassion toward each other and disobedience against their captors in order to mentally escape their confinement. Alicia Partnoy chose to, in writing The Little School, relive her experience in order to make the world understand what really happened to her and 30,000 others. In Partnoy's words, "Beware: in little schools the boundaries between story and history are so subtle that even I can hardly find them."
I highly recommend this book to all readers. It has historical significance as well as a deep human side. Alicia Partnoy chose to revisit the horror that she experienced in the hope that she could help people everywhere understand the circumstances surrounding her disappearance as well as those of so many more.
Heart-wrenching Yet Heart-Warming.......2003-09-11
Partnoy's book is a great balance of fiction and nonfiction that allows readers to see not only the facts of the situation in Argentina during the Dirty War, but to feel the emotions, fears, and hopes of a disappeared person. The book's first person narrative and stylistics made it a book that interested me and made me want to keep reading until the end. I especially enjoyed the Appendices, which had accounts of other prisoners at the Little School and even further demonstrates the horrific actions of the military dictatorship in a simple, heart wrenching way.
Product Description
The international bestseller available in English for the first time: E. H. Gombrichs world history for the curious of all ages.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding!.......2007-09-15
This was right up there with A Child's History of the World by Hillyer, but better--which I never thought I'd say. The very author revised and translated his own 1930's text before his death in 2002. It is for children but any adult with enjoy it immensely. We listened to a great it during a summer trip, children from 6 to 20 were enthralled. We love the way the author dealt with the Reformation, and the fact that is a whole chapter on the Counter-Reformation, which is largely ignored by the American public when studying European history. Highly recommended. This is a great addition to our homeschool audio library.
Excellent.......2007-08-14
Bought it for the kids to listen too during long drive. Could not have been more impressed. Started listening to it myself. Excellent content and excellent delivery.
Book Description
Over the course of a legendary career, Will Durant was often asked about the most significant events in history, the best books, the best ideas, and so on. The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time draws on Durant's encyclopedic knowledge to present a world history "best of" that hits humanity's high points. Included are "The Ten Greatest Thinkers," "The Ten Greatest Poets," "The Ten Peaks of Human Progress," "Twelve Vital Dates in World History," as well as engaging profiles of pioneers like Darwin, Keats, and Whitman. This audio edition showcases Durant's eloquence, originality, and his ability to compare and contrast an array of historical figures and achievements.
Customer Reviews:
Inspirational Introduction to Will Durant.......2007-09-09
This was my first introduction to Will Durant and it did not dissapoint. It was a very quick and easy read as well as being both a great historical refresher and a great insight into the mind of this legendary figure. The book includes top ten lists of the greatest thinkers, poets, and peaks of human progress among others. Durant's commentary is very insightful and his selection methodology is well reasoned. This has inspired me to read more of his works and texts from his Top 100 Best Books for Education.
Great CD.....full of wonderful historical info!.......2007-07-03
Will Durant and his wife Ariel devoted over 50 years to the study of history and philosophy; creating 11 sage volumes of "The Story of Civilization."
His dedication and hard work ultimately earned him a Pulitzer Prize in literature, followed by the highest award granted by the United States government to civilians, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ford in 1977.
Durant endeavored to make history more than just dates committed to memory and to bring our human heritage richly alive in the men and women who've walked before us and influenced our lives.
Often called THE GENTLE PHILOSOPHER, his words are laced with warmth and humor as he brings these great thinkers to life!
His lists include the best books for an education, the ten greatest thinkers, the ten greatest poets, twelve vital dates in human history, and the ten peaks of human progress.
I have listened to this in the car and have learned that I have many books and authors with which I have yet to acquaint myself!
It's read with wit, warmth, and wisdom.
Highly recommended!
"The most interesting thing in the world is another human being who wonders, suffers and raises the questions that have bothered him to the last day of his life, knowing he will never get the answers."
Will Durant
A place to begin.......2007-03-29
As the Durant himself acknowledges, all lists have their limitations. This is no exception; it isn't perfect and never claims to be. That said, it's an excellent starting point for anyone looking to educate themselves on the history of philosophy and culture. It has an unquestionable bent on western authors, but within that bent, he made his choices based on solid reasoning.
Bottom line: you will have begun to give yourself an invaluable education if you read any of the books or authors that Durant suggests. Therefore, this slim volume is worth more than whatever you're about to pay for it.
For all those who slept in their Western Civilzation courses!.......2007-01-25
Heard THE GREATEST MINDS AND IDEAS OF ALL TIME by
Will Durant, a best-selling historian and philosopher, who devoted his
life to studying human history . . . his efforts earned him a Pulitzer
Prize.
Although I never read anything by Durant, this work gave me
a feel for his writing . . . in addition, it made me realize that though
I have spent many years in both undergraduate and graduate education,
I should now return to many books that I missed along the way if
I want to attain a true liberal arts education.
This book is actually a summation of Durant's work . . . it presents
a series of somewhat brief essays with titles ranging from
"The One Hundred Best Books for an Education" to "The Ten Greatest
Thinkers" and including "The Ten Greatest Poets," "The Ten Peaks
of Human Progress" and "Twelve Vital Dates in Human History."
I particularly liked those dealing with people . . . the ones dealing
with dates and events were less interesting.
Overall, I'd recommend THE GREATEST MINDS AND IDEAS OF
ALL TIME, particularly if you slept in or never took a course in
Western Civilization . . . Durant makes the material come alive,
particularly when he makes such observations as the following:
Confucius was one of the top thinkers. (He then explains why.)
You might as well not lived until you have heard Bach's work.
Balzac is almost as illuminating as life itself.
Miss not a word of Flaubert's MADAM BOVARY.
You will marvel at the delicacies of Anatole France.
Meander through the 1,700 pages of WAR AND PEACE.
Poe is a little bit overrated.
Whitman is our only American giant.
hard to follow.......2007-01-15
this seems to jump around alot, good information just hard to follow
Books:
- All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror
- Atlas Major
- Between Dignity and Despair: Jewish Life in Nazi Germany (Studies in Jewish History)
- Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves
- Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)
- Captives and Cousins: Slavery, Kinship, and Community in the Southwest Borderlands
- Civilization in the West, Volume II (since 1555) (Book Alone) (6th Edition)
- Columbus's Outpost among the Taínos: Spain and America at La Isabela, 1493-1498
- Construction Project Management
- Conversations with God : An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Cost Management: Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Performance
- The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship: Basics for Beginners/D Level
- The Asiatics: A Novel
- The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East
- The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography
- The Ultimate Math Refresher for the GRE, GMAT, and SAT
- Underwater Wilderness: Life in America's National Marine Sanctuaries and Reserves
- Unions and Workers: Limitations and Possibilities
- Take This Job and Love It: How to Change Your Work Without Changing Your Job
- The Day Trader's Quick Reference to the Stock Market
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