Japan Examined: Perspectives on Modern Japanese History

Rating:
Summary: provocative, but almost TOO wide-ranging
Review: A collection of short excerpts from various monographs and articles about modern Japanese history. These excerpts are organized topically, usually in opposition to each other. This is a format that encourages thoughtful reflection on important issues of Japanese history, and there is no other single volume I know of that offers so many diverse viewpoints. BUT, it's not a one-volume source for learning history. Rather, it would be a useful supplement to a reliable textbook for stimulating classroom discussions.