Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Introduction to a Fascinating Continent.......2005-05-21
I loved this book. It's extremely well-written, sensitive, and demonstrates a wealth of knowledge about African cultures, politics, religions, economies, gender relations, and, in one of the best chapters in the book, literature. You don't often see such a skillful sketch of the impressive African novels and poems that have been written in the past few generations.
This is the perfect book to assign to students who have no exposure to anything African (which, unfortunately, is most undergraduates). Although it's an introduction to the topic, those who know a great deal about it will find that almost all of it resonates with the other literature they have read, whether historical, political, or otherwise. It's a very compassionate and progressive look at Africa. All modern challenges to the continent are presented so that students get a multi-dimensional look at Africa's struggles. Environmental and agricultural problems are presented in tandem with economic and political ones, so that students will have a real context in which to put all future readings about Africa. But unlike so many African books, the text provides sections such as the one on literature, to show that Africa has many achievements, instead of focusing only on negativity, as unfortunately many books on the topic do. At the same time, it does not gloss over the tragedies on the continent and their causes, and difficult topics such as the AIDS crisis are treated in a sensitive manner.
It is a great book and I can't imagine there's one better out there. However, were I to make suggestions to the editors they would be the following:
1. The historical section could be slightly larger. The historical context is dealt with in one chapter, and yet a more extensive discussion of certain historical events would help students better understand some of the continent's present difficulties.
2. The literature section could be extended to include popular culture, music, every day entertainments, festivals, etc. Students would enjoy some additional stories showing the richness of so many African cultures. Although the literature section does this, it could do so more thoroughly.
3. The economic section would benefit from more success stories. Although it has an excellent discussion of the crushing debt burden and the role of international financial institutions in African economies, which students must know about, it would help to see some dicussions not just of how local business and initiative is stifled, but descriptions of these businesses.
I've read some fascinating things about African entrepreneurship and ingenuity in industry against all kinds of odds. Although many of these efforts were stifled by the state, I think students would benefit from knowing about dynamic efforts such as these.
3
Understanding Contemporary Africa.......2001-02-14
Understanding Contemporary Africa is a general textbook that is perfect for introductory courses in African studies. Authors of the various chapters are university-level scholars and teachers of history, political science, sociology, religion, and African studies. The subjects covered are African history, politics, national economies, international relations, population growth and urbanization, the environment, familial structures, women's effect in society, religion, and literature. There is an entire chapter devoted to South Africa.
This book contains many helpful references. Full page maps are near the beginning of the book, showing major physical features, the ITCZ and vegetation zones, natural resources compared to railroads and navigable rivers, early states and empires, colonies in 1914, and current countries and their capitals. I needed to refer to them often enough that I put a paperclip on the pages. Table 5.1 is a current export chart. Each chapter ends in a lengthy bibliography for further study. At the end of the book, acronyms are defined and there is a thorough glossary to which I referred many times. Basic Political Data is the third appendix. Each country is traced from independence to the present day in terms of its leaders.
Although the book suffers from sweeping generalizations, many times these are acknowledged by the authors. There are too few examples of these generalizations for my own taste. I personally prefer more "real people" stories to demonstrate points being made. This does not detract from the excellence of this intended introductory textbook for college-level African studies courses.
The last chapter of the book leaves the reader on the upbeat. There is hope for Africa in the current generation of young, educated middle and upper class men and women. They are seeing a bright future for Africa with hope in place of despair. Autocrats are being replaced with democratic leaders. Small businesses are on the rise; this is always a healthy sign in an economy. Health services and public education have increased since independence. The book closes with the observation that it will take a world partnership with Africa to make things work to neutralize the long term effects of exploitation of the African continent.
Book Description
The massive disorder and economic ruin following the Second World War inevitably predetermined the scope and intensity of the Cold War. But why did it last so long? And what impact did it have on the United States, the Soviet Union, Europe, and the Third World? Finally, how did it affect the broader history of the second half of the twentieth century - what were the human and financial costs? This Very Short Introduction provides a clear and stimulating interpretive overview of the Cold War, one that will both invite debate and encourage deeper investigation.
Customer Reviews:
Quick and to the point.......2005-12-03
This is exactly what the title says, the entire Cold War in 168 pages. Oxford University Press has started this "Very Short Introductions" series on many different subjects for those with short attention spans or those teaching undergraduate courses (two categories which aren't necessarily mutually excusive). I decided to read this one to see what there books were like, and to see if this book could be used in one of my future classes. For anybody that has some in depth knowledge of the Cold War, or certain aspects thereof, this book can be very frustrating, since it is a brief overview of events. However, everything is covered, from the origins to the battle for the Third World to Cold War culture to the collapse of the Eastern Block. For someone wanting a short intro to the Cold War outside of a University, this would serve them well, though the book pays much more attention to the US than the Soviet Union. When I cover this subject in future classes I will cover most of the areas covered in this book in lectures, and will assign reading looking at one or two aspects of the Cold War in more detail.
Excellent introduction to the Cold War........2005-05-21
This is a pocket sized book with a title that implies it offers a brief overview of the Cold War but make no mistake, there is nothing lacking in this little gem. Starting with World War II and the destruction of the old Eurocentric world order, the book progresses to the origins of the Cold War, through developing problems in South East Asia, the rise of the Superpowers and finally ends with the fall of Communism in the former USSR.
There are many illustrations and some useful maps along with a very useful chapter pointing to further reading for anyone wishing to extend their knowledge of the subject. This book contains more than enough information to give a good grounding in the subject, not only for the casual reader but also for the student. It may be a `very short introduction' but it is an extremely thorough one.
Very well written........2005-03-05
I'm a Political Science/History major at the University of Pittsburgh, and this was one of the books in a ps class I took. It's very well written, and very informative. McMahon gives a brief rundown of the history and policy of the United States and the Soviet Union during this era in a way that's not at all hard on the reader. It was actually a very fun read, and is quite helpful if you don't know much about the Cold War. It's also short enough that it can easily be read in one sitting in a couple of hours. Great read, and a good book to pick up.
Good on the Facts but Limitied in its Understanding.......2004-11-11
Although McMahon hits all of the salient events in the Cold War, he views the Cold War as a rivalry only between the USA and USSR, one in which their respective allies have little or no abiding national interest but, with few exceptions, act at the direction of their overseers in Washington and Moscow. Perhaps a broader analysis of the multiple national interests in the Cold War would give the work a dimension that could not qualify as a "very short introduction." But that doesn't seem to be McMahon's issue. He defines the Cold War solely in terms of a conflict between the superpowers:
"In brief, it was the divergent aspirations, needs, histories, governing institutions, and ideologies of the Untied States and the Soviet Union that turned unavoidable tensions into the epic four-decade confrontation that we call the Cold War" (p. 5).
McMahon is quite good when he shows how the conflicts in the Cold War were principally played out through third-world countries. He needs to discuss a bit more the frequent devastating effects the conflict had for the lives, prosperity, sovereignty and dignity of the people in these nations. Multiple millions of people died as a result of the international chess game among the major powers.
McMahon is one of the few writers to point out that Stalin offered the West a unified Germany with free elections as long as Germany was demilitarized (much like Japan was after World War 2) and was not a part of NATO, reasonable conditions given that Germany had invaded Russia twice in the 20th century. But the USA turned down the deal thinking that an armed partitioned West Germany met the USA's strategic interest by providing an advanced front line abutting the Warsaw Pact nations.
McMahon gets high marks for showing that it was principally the unilateral actions taken by Gorbachev that led to the end of Cold War and not, as in the USA propagandists' fantasy, Ronald Reagan.
The ideal introduction to the Cold War.......2003-07-10
McMahon presents this survey of the Cold War with authority, insight, and balance. He takes us from the events of WWII that set the scene, to the US and Soviet disagreement over the disposition of Germany after the war, to the competing ideologies that led to a global competition, to the detente of the 70's, and to the end of the Cold War. He puts the key events and players in their correct Cold War perspective, and he doesn't shrink from making moral judgements along the way. I came away with a much firmer grasp on this important episode in our history.
Book Description
Especially after the September 11 attacks, books on the Middle East are flooding bookstore shelves. Yet, regarding the Palestine-Israel conflict -- the most notrious and ingrained conflict of the twentieth century -- the general reader is left with very little in the way of introductory explanations. The Palestine-Israel Conflict: A Basic Introduction provides the student and general reader with a comprehensive yet clear and easy rendering of not only the conflict, but the entire history of the region (Canaan and Palestine). By including the ancient background, the common assumption that the Israelis and Palestinians have been "fighting for thousands of years" is put to rest.
Broken up into three sections -- Background History, Pre-Conflict, and Conflict -- the reader is walked through Ancient Israel, Muhammad and Islam, and on through two world wars and up to the current situation covered on the evening news. In addition to the brief history, the
reader is also provided with further direction, such as detailed citing of sources, and suggested reading lists and resources (books, periodicals, web sites, etc.).
Written in a comfortable style, people wanting to look beyond the myths and death-tallying news coverage now have available to them a balanced and accessible introduction to the nucleus of Middle Eastern affairs.
"An indispensable, basic introduction ... There is no better single volume -- [this is] objective in every way."
-- Gabriel Kolko, Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus at York University in Toronto, and author of Another Century of War?
" Written with a relaxed informality, [this book] is especially good at highlighting key issues."
-- Arthur Goldschmidt Jr., Professor Emeritus of Middle East History at Penn State University, and author of A Concise History of the Middle East
"Comprehensive, detailed, yet lively and readable ... A tour-de-force in the depth and breadth of its research and in its clarity."
-- John K. Cooley, veteran foreign correspondent, and author of Unholy Wars
About the Authors:
Gregory Harms is a freelance writer and researcher. He lectures on the
Middle East and US foreign policy, and has traveled throughout Israel,
the West Bank, and Gaza.
Todd M. Ferry studied Syro-Palestinian archaeology at the University of
Chicago and has worked as a supervisor at both the sites of Ashkelon
and Tel Beth Shemesh in Israel.
Both authors live in Chicago.
Customer Reviews:
A balanced, accessible primer on the conflict.......2007-05-07
This is an excellent primer, covering everything from scholarship about the Biblical and pre-Biblical settlement of the Levant, to the Al-Aqsa intifada.
The style of the book is accessible and non-academic -- a change when compared with most books on the Middle East -- but not "cutesy" in the style of Dummies or Idiot's books. A high school student should not have a problem reading this book, but some other readers might find the definitions and asides jarring (like the one explaining a "Pyrrhic victory").
If you're interested in what you see in the news, or wonder about the reasons for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, get this book.
However, if you believe that God gave either side a deed to the land, or that the promises of the Ottoman or British empires should be enforced in blood, you might be disappointed.
The Paistine-Israel Conflict.......2007-03-08
Good quick summary of history. Necessarily limited for its brevity, but a useful primer. Reasonably balanced.
A detailed and fair overview of both perspectives.......2006-09-13
Of the books I have read this is by far the most balanced description of the conflict. I have purchased and read several books in an effort to get a better understanding of the nature of the conflict in the Middle East. The two prior books on the subject claimed objectivity, but but were soon to show a clear favoritism. One book strongly favored the Arab side, while the other was blatant propaganda for Israel.
This book delivered was the least biased of any I have read, providing an insight into the plight of both sides involved and why each side feel they have the rightful claim to the disputed land. This book will not attempt to solve the conflict, but it will leave you with an understanding of how the conflict reached its current position. Of the books I have read this is by far the most balanced description of the conflict.
A wolf in sheeps clothing.......2006-02-08
I had not read a history of the conflict before reading this book. I liked the quotes on the back of the book about it being a basic introduction and being "balanced". I was a little teeny bit leery of the references to Chomsky in the reading list, but not enough to pass it by.
As I read the book, I became increasingly suspicious that I was not getting an unbiased perspective at all. One example of this is the author spending only one paragraph on the holocaust, saying that is was basically beside the point of the book. This seemed odd to me at the time.
If you read only this book, you will come away from it with a deep sympathy for the Palestinians, a deep anger at Israel, and a mild annnoyance with some of the neighboring Arab states and other countries such as Britian. But you will have been deceived.
After I read the book, I started reading "A Case For Israel" by Dershowitz. The more I read that book, the more incensed I became at the ommisions in this book. Going back to the holocaust example, I realized that the author had failed to mention the close ties and active collaboration between the Palestinian leadership and the Nazis during the Second World War. The Palestinian leadership (the grand mufti Husseini) clearly envisioned his own "Final Solution" to the Isreal problem. Beside the point? I hardly think so!
This is but one example of the egregious ommisions. The fact that this book is described as unbiased is laughable. Now it is true that if you read "The Case for Israel" you will hear the other side of the same coin. But there is a difference. Dershowitz openly admits his agenda at the beginning of his book, and states that he is making a case, advocating a certain position. I appreciate that honesty. But if someone writes a blatantly biased book and presents it as a unbiased overview - that I have little respect for. The sad thing is that I wouldn't be surprised if the author of this book actually thinks that he is unbiased.
Having said all this, reading both books isn't a bad way to go. You'll get both sides of the argument. Just don't buy the line that this book is "balanced". It is anything but that.
Excellent Primer........2006-01-24
This is a good book to pick up if you want to spend a day or two finding out about what is at the heart of the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Unlike mainstream sources of US media and blatent anti-Palestinian sources of information, this book actualy deals with the social and historical issues at hand.
Read this if you want a source heavy on HISTORY and INFORMATION and light on POLEMICS.
Book Description
Extensively revised and updated, the fifth edition of British Civilization includes new illustrations, devolution, more debate and cultural material and covers right up to 2001.
Average customer rating:
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British Culture Of The Postwar: An Introduction to Literature and Society 1945-1999
Alastair, Ed. Davies
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Literature & Fiction
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ASIN: 0415128110 |
Book Description
The second half of the twentieth century was a period which saw unprecedented social, technological and economic changes. These upheavals are reflected in the development of literature, music and cinema in the post-war period.
From Kingsley Amis to Salman Rushdie, British Culture of the Postwar is an ideal starting point for those studying cultural developments in Britain during this period. Chapters on individual people and art forms give a clear and concise overview of the progression of different genres. They also discuss the wider issues of Britain's relationships with America and Europe, and the idea of Englishness.
Each section is introduced with a short discussion of the major historical events of the period. Read as a whole British Culture of the Postwar will give students a comprehensive introduction to this turbulent and exciting period, and a greater understanding of the cultural production arising from it.
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Modern Britain: An Introduction
John Irwin
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Textbook Binding
General
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ASIN: 0415095638 |
Book Description
Since its first publication in 1976,
Modern Britain has been widely used as a comprehensive account of the key features of British cultural and political life today. John Irwin examines a wide range of topics which are essential to understanding British culture and the British way of life, including the system of government, the structure of its educational system, social services, family life, and the mass media.
This third edition has been fully revised to incorporate the many significant developments in British life that have occurred since its first publication, such as material on the decision of the Queen to pay tax and the General Synod's vote to allow the ordination of female clergy in the Church of England. Wide-ranging in its coverage and thoroughly up to date, this book is the ideal guide to how modern British institutions developed and how they work today.
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The Cold War and After: Capitalism, Revolution and Superpower Politics (Critical Introductions to World Politics)
Richard Saull
Manufacturer: Pluto Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0745320945 |
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French Popular Culture: An Introduction (Arnold Publication)
Manufacturer: A Hodder Arnold Publication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Popular Culture
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ASIN: 0340808810 |
Book Description
This introductory textbook sets out the key concepts in the study of French popular culture. Looking at topics such as the media, music, and fashion, it provides a structured and coherent analysis of the economics and politics behind popular culture, as well as a discussion of it social and
cultural significance. Bringing together an international team of experts in French Studies, the book focuses on the period 1945-2000, and supports its discussion with a range of pedagogic tools such as a series of case studies, topics for discussion, an annotated reading list and a glossary of
terms.
Books:
- Van Day Truex: The Man Who Defined Twentieth-Century Taste and Style
- Voices of a People's History of the United States
- Western Civilization: Volume II: Since 1500
- What's the Matter with Kansas?: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America
- When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise And Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty
- You Won't Get Fooled Again: More Than 101 Brilliant Ways to Bust Any Bald-Faced Liar (Even If the Liar is Lying Beside You!)
- 32 problems in world history;: Source readings and interpretaions
- 500 Nations: An Illustrated History of North American Indians
- A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900
- Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution
Books Index
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Global Studies: Africa (Global Studies Africa)
Things Fall Apart: A Novel
The African Experience: An Introduction (2nd Edition)
Africans and Their History: Second Revised Edition
Modern Africa: A Social and Political History (3rd Edition)
