Rating: 
Summary: A great overview of the 20th century.
Review: Unlike many who read this book,I didn't expectfor this to be a complete and detailed history. When you look at it as a historical overview of the growth of people in the 20th century. and their sometimes downful,it can be very wonderful reading. Some of the personal stories felt and sounded like stories I heard from my Grandfather and Father and later stories I told my children. Bravo for this wonderful readbradley2@
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and accessible for those who thing history is "bor
Review: I liked this book, and so will some people who think they hate history - which is all to the good in my opinion. The first-hand accounts are really riveting and should enlighten those who pine for the "good old days". Maybe it's not scholarly, but most of us would never get a feel for the period or see these wonderful photos without a book like this. I do object to the title, but Harold Evans already has "The American Century". Two years after the Titanic sunk with the loss of 1500 people, as many as 22,000 a day were being killed in France alone, making the sinking a blip on the historical radar screen.
Rating:
Summary: OUR times as seen by a "Thorough Breed" American
Review: A picture is most definatly worth a thousand words, and this book is full of them. Have you ever seen a Buddhist Monk in the midst of a mountain of fire, sitting there in perfect "meditation" as he burns himself to death in protest in downtown Siagon? Or the worlds first "TV Dinner" Commercial? This book is masterful at providing an at-a-glance view of the most astounding century in history. Five full stars for this one. If your looking for a detailed, in-depth history of the times go elsewhere. If your looking for a stunningy illustrated book that provides "pure" pictures that capture each and every step of humanity in this century, then BUY THIS BOOK! (what, it's like 5$ now? it would be an injustice to NOT buy it)
Rating: 
Summary: Not Quite a Century
Review: The Century surely can spark discussion of what was covered and what was not, but it should be complimented for much of what it does include. The narrative is well-written, the photos are wonderful, and the individual anecdotes give real meaning to what it was like to experience these historical events. The effort to include the African-American experience was noteworthy. The volume also seemed to capture the overall tone for most decades; for example, the Fifties' coverage of suburbia and Little Rock. It was impossible to include everything, even when limiting scope to an American perspective. However, my list of omissions would include the Depression era for rural and agricultural America; Latin America and Hispanic immigration; South Africa; and women in our society. I also question the authors' judgment in calling Reagan's contribution "significant" and then totally ignoring President Clinton,the eight years of prosperity and the growth of global trade we have experienced during his leadership. Perhaps, the book should have been called "Not Quite a Century."
Rating:
Summary: The history everyone will want to read!
Review: I love the book! I love history too, but this book isn't like the typical history book. You are mesmerized by the photographs and real life accounts, so the 20th century history of the world doesn't become so entangled. The proof that this book is amazing? My roommate who hates history liked it as well as my mother. Thank you for making history exciting and fun to read.
Rating:
Summary: an interesting and accessible history
Review: "The Century" is a large coffee table style book that covers the history of the 20th century. While 600 pages can contain a fairly large amount of text, there are many events that can be deemed important enough to be covered in a history of the 20th century. There are enough events that 600 pages quickly fills up and many things that could be covered in detail can only be glossed over, and some things are only given a passing mention. This is to be expected. Every major world event that happened in a 100 year period cannot be adequately covered in a 600 page book (it would take two or three times as many pages to even come close). What is needed is a filter. The filter, as I see it, is two-fold. First, since this book is intended primarily for an American audience, the world events are seen through American (or perhaps just "Western") eyes. The events that are covered the most are those that directly impact America. The second filter is that events are covered that may not directly impact America, but they are so big and so iconic that to dismiss them would be folly. So, what we do have covered is the American 20th Century, and the biggest world events that indirectly impact America. By no means is this a condemnation of the book. The topic of the 20th Century is simply too broad to cover every event of importance. This is not an in depth history, but rather a well written survey of the 20th century. It is a jumping off point for a reader to find something that is interesting and decide to read more about a given topic (segregation, the Berlin Wall, McCarthyism, etc). In every chapter, and touching most of the major subjects, there are personal testimonies written by people who actually lived through the events. This gives a personal look at what could be abstract history. When I finished this book I was glad that I had read it. I find history surveys interesting because they give the bigger picture of what was going on. The text in this book flows smoothly and it is an easy and interesting read (though time consuming).
Rating: 
Summary: Where are the Negative Integers When You Need Them?
Review: Marilyn Vos Savant (listed in the Guiness Book of World's Records for having the highest recorded I.Q.) says she lost respect for Peter Jennings for being so dishonest. I agree with her. If you're smart enough to see through the chronic lies in this book then buy it for a good laugh. Otherwise, save your money. Remember, Jennings is the same drama queen that got so mentally overwhelmed that he had to leave the station during a live broadcast. The country sat there watching dead air while the ding dong tried to deal with his mental illnesses off stage. Reading this book, you'll see he's still "off stage."
Rating: 
Summary: Great Audio
Review: Having listened to a number of audiobooks on various historical subjects, I rate this one pretty highly. Rather than a reading of a text, this is the sound track to the ABC/History Channel show. The inclusion of speeches, interviews and music brings to life what can be pretty dry stuff--especially if you're listening to relieve the tedium of a long drive. The section on pre-WWII was especially compelling--I will not so easily forget the juxtaposition of a Hitler speech with the interview of an elderly German who tried to explain what this man meant to a country that had been crushed by WWI reparations, runaway inflation, and the Depression. No these types of books and tapes are not for college level history courses--but we are a country in which a junior high school student seriously asked a German friend of mine whether Hitler was still the President of Germany! Under the circumstances, I'm all in favor of a little "pop" history!
Rating:
Summary: An American Pop Diary of the 20th Century
Review: While a nice compilation, this is clearly history for the casual student (or those gearing up for a date with Regis or a game of Trival Pursuit). The book is nostalgic not scholarly. While thought provoking in places it clearly presents the 20th Century in typical American style... by sound bite and snap shot. The volume is long on highlights, celebrity and sensational events and short on analysis or cultural milestones in music, art, exploration, literature, and science. This book certainly fills a niche (coffee table, middle schooler strugging to get a handle on mom and dad's past, etc.) but Jennings would do well to leave history to the historians. Readable, entertaining, but don't pack it to college.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting recap of the last century!
Review: The Century is an informative book that is must have for anyone remotely interested in history. The pictures are very clear and the text is concise. one can not however, read this book in on e sitting and therfore it can be seen as a lengthy dictionary or handbook in history.
|
