Is the Holocaust Unique?: Perspectives on Comparative Genocide

Rating:
Summary: For the open-minded historian
Review: Most of the writing is excellent, though often thick, as academic writing can be. I'd say it is written for educated readers, but the tone isn't pompous or esoteric for the most part.
Keep an open mind throughout; you'll encounter writers with whom you can agree and vice-versa.

I love the idea behind this, that the language is so powerful, to make the WWII Holocaust a proper noun seems to suggest that other genocides and decimations are less historically relevant. Indeed, which came first, the genocide of the hundreds of tribes of native inhabitants of North America or the SS "final solution" in the 40's?


In pop-historical culture (A and E, the History channel, high school textbooks) the extermination of the Jews, cripples, homosexuals and others in the death camps is highlighted much more than any other genocide. Certainly, little if any mention is taught about European-Americans decimating aboriginal and native peoples in the US. Who has heard much of the Rwanda machete genocide of the Tutsis, before this new movie Hotel Rwanda? Maybe we recall a brief newsflash in 1994, but not much is made of this tragedy today.

An excellent written debate on various aspects of the Holocaust and other shameful periods in human history. Very thoughtful compilation.

Rating:
Summary: Worth it for Stannard
Review: This is a fine collection taken as a whole, but the standout essay is certainly David Stannard's "Uniqueness as Denial." Indeed, it is one of the finest and bravest essays I have ever read, although absolutely merciless in its polemic against "uniqueness" theories.

Rating:
Summary: Worth it for Stannard
Review: This is a fine collection taken as a whole, but the standout essay is certainly David Stannard's "Uniqueness as Denial." Indeed, it is one of the finest and bravest essays I have ever read, although absolutely merciless in its polemic against "uniqueness" theories.

Rating:
Summary: Worth it for Stannard
Review: This is a fine collection taken as a whole, but the standout essay is certainly David Stannard's "Uniqueness as Denial." Indeed, it is one of the finest and bravest essays I have ever read, although absolutely merciless in its polemic against "uniqueness" theories.

Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking and insightful.
Review: This is a very interesting book that discusses matters that are usually overlooked in discussions of the Holocaust. It gives a good introduction and comparison of other historical events that involved the elimination of thousands of people and that are sometimes ignored in mainstream discussions about genocide. Topics include the killings of the Gypsies, Armenians, Ukrainians and Native Americans.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent discussion about a pseudo-issue
Review: To any person who has the ability of thinking in a more or less logical fashion, the statement that the Nazi holocaust of the Jews was "unique" is simply absurd. The politically motivated proponents of this concept not only confuse "unique" with "different", but also do so for morally suspicious reasons. This book reflects the current state of the debate; especially important is the essay by David E. Stannard ("Uniqueness as Denial: The Politics of Genocide Scholarship") in which he totally demolishes all pro-uniqueness arguments, and the foreword by Israel S. Charny where he discusses various data-doctoring attempts by the writers presented in the volume. All in all, "Is the Holocaust Unique?" should be required reading in any Holocaust studies curriculum.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent discussion about a pseudo-issue
Review: To any person who has the ability of thinking in a more or less logical fashion, the statement that the Nazi holocaust of the Jews was "unique" is simply absurd. The politically motivated proponents of this concept not only confuse "unique" with "different", but also do so for morally suspicious reasons. This book reflects the current state of the debate; especially important is the essay by David E. Stannard ("Uniqueness as Denial: The Politics of Genocide Scholarship") in which he totally demolishes all pro-uniqueness arguments, and the foreword by Israel S. Charny where he discusses various data-doctoring attempts by the writers presented in the volume. All in all, "Is the Holocaust Unique?" should be required reading in any Holocaust studies curriculum.