This is a very good book on a subject that I did not know a lot about. I have read a bit about the Congo under Belgian rule and a bit about its indepeThis is a very good book on a subject that I did not know a lot about. I have read a bit about the Congo under Belgian rule and a bit about its independence. I have not read anything about the history of the country from Mobuto to present other than short articles. This book is very comprehensive it also explains how tiny Rwanda has had such an influence on its recent history. The book is not for the faint of heart. It is detailed and discusses individuals, political parties and movements and places that are not familiar with someone who has not studied the issue before.
I read this simultaneously with the book Cobalt Red about cobalt mining in the country. While exploitation of the mineral wealth was mentioned, it was mostly in context with early copper mining and the diamond trade. Cobalt and lithium not discussed and have a major impact on the politics in the country. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in politics and the military situation in this African nation....more
Did you ever buy a book on history and find the title to be completely misleading? Did you ever buy a book, and have it ruined by the author's trying Did you ever buy a book on history and find the title to be completely misleading? Did you ever buy a book, and have it ruined by the author's trying to imprint modern views on something that happened almost 500 years ago?
If you like this kind of book, Summer of Fire and Blood may be just the thing for you. About 1/3 of the book concerns the Peasent's War. The greater portion of the book describes the leading German leaders of the Reformation. The style is scholarly. The conclusion was unnecessary. I have no interest in the application of the Reformation to modern politics.
This was a great book. It is a very readable history of bookstores in the US. I first went to bookstores in the 70s at about age 10. I didn't realize This was a great book. It is a very readable history of bookstores in the US. I first went to bookstores in the 70s at about age 10. I didn't realize that bookstores at that time, were probably rare in my area. In particular the sections on Marshall Fields, the rise of the chain outlets, and the origins of Amazon were my favorites.
Having said this, I cut my book buying teeth in small independent stores. They are what I enjoy. I like independents that have a mix of books and magazines, I don't care about the side items they sell. I don't have any desire to browse specialty bookstores such as LBGTQ, race-based books or screaming political tomes. I do read books in these genres, but when I go to browse, I want to see a whole buffet, not an array of indescribable soups.
If you want to know how it all began and how bookstores evolved over time this is a good book to start with. It has pointers on things would be booksellers should consider. This is a book I recommend for bibliophiles....more
This book gives a solid overview of the exploitation of Congolese men, women, and children in the Katangan cobalt mines. It lays out the manner in whiThis book gives a solid overview of the exploitation of Congolese men, women, and children in the Katangan cobalt mines. It lays out the manner in which cobalt is mine by artisanal miners and resold to clean it of any taint associated with slavery, abuse and child exploitation. It lays clear the hazards of working in this industry in a failed state.
The book has two main shortcomings. First, the author rails about how the cobalt is being used by wealthy consumers in the west but fails to acknowledge his own contribution to this. He doesn't need to fall on his sword, but he should admit he is part of the issue. Second, a good conclusion rather than a slim epilogue would be great. The author makes great points and should summarize these points. Despite these issues, it is an excellent book.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Congo, exploitation of workers, child labor, failure of UN protections, and the duplicitous nature of "Big Green" environmentalism. ...more
This is a good solid book about the politics in Kazakhstan after the breakup of the Soviet Union. It describes the growth of the Kazakh population froThis is a good solid book about the politics in Kazakhstan after the breakup of the Soviet Union. It describes the growth of the Kazakh population from being a minority in its own country to being a majority. It describes minority rights issues as well as issues facing Kazakhs in Mongolia and China. A description of the major players in Kazakh politics and their circumstances shows a parallel to the Russia during the same time period. Environmental issues including the disappearing Aral Sea and efforts to bring it back are also described.
If you are interested in the current state of this little understood country this book is a good place to start....more
This a very good book. It covers the life of a feminist activist who grew up during the Soviet, Taliban, and US eras of government in that war torn naThis a very good book. It covers the life of a feminist activist who grew up during the Soviet, Taliban, and US eras of government in that war torn nation. It describes issues faced by other members in her family and the impact felt by the assassinations of her father and grandfather. Zarifa Ghafari went on to be governor of Maidan Warduk and survived multiple assassination attempts before escaping to Germany. Her efforts to push forward with her plans and work with the women of her nation is inspiring.
This is a good book that provides an over about the resistance to Nazis all across Europe during WWII. None of the chapters is heavily detailed thoughThis is a good book that provides an over about the resistance to Nazis all across Europe during WWII. None of the chapters is heavily detailed though they are as the author/editor says an up-to-date presentation of the current understanding of resistance following decades of nationalistic narratives and revisionism. ...more
This is a good book for anyone who wants to read about women's issues in impoverished areas. It is not what I was looking for. There is a large sectioThis is a good book for anyone who wants to read about women's issues in impoverished areas. It is not what I was looking for. There is a large section of the book taking place in the southern part of the US that left me completely bewildered. I can only describe it as filler.
My heart goes out to the family of Krystal Senyk and anyone else impacted by the events described in this book, but I cannot give it any better rating....more
I began reading what is referred to as Scandinavian noir more than 15 years ago. I read Nesbo, Indridasson, Manning, Keplar, Fossum, Adler-Olsson, LäcI began reading what is referred to as Scandinavian noir more than 15 years ago. I read Nesbo, Indridasson, Manning, Keplar, Fossum, Adler-Olsson, Läckberg, Petersen and others. Jonasson is a great addition to the pantheon of Scandinavian mystery/thriller writers. Always dark, always brooding, this book is set on series of events in isolated eastern Iceland that begin just with a missing girl in 1987, a stranger arriving before Christmas and culminating in murders which are discovered the following February when no one has heard from snowbound victims for several months. I believe the plot twists will leave you aghast.
If you like Scandinavian Noir, this book and author are probably right up your ally....more
This is a good book on the subject of absinthe. I learned that it started in Switzerland and not France. I learned what goes into the drink and that tThis is a good book on the subject of absinthe. I learned that it started in Switzerland and not France. I learned what goes into the drink and that the poisonous wormwood is not that poisonous. It seemed to me that the high alcohol content was the biggest issue and that even the more toxic element - thujone, was perhaps not much more hazardous than the once reviled poinsettia. The sleuthing done and the explanation on the use of the gas chromatograph were very interesting to me because of my work with hazardous materials. For this I would have given it a 4-star rating.
The book is about a crime. The criminal is known. To only identify the criminal by his first name, Christian and not provide his last name or names is weak. Overall, if you want to know about absinthe and have a neat detective story, this is a great book. If you want to know "whodunnit" it falls far short of expectations. ...more
Let me start by saying this book would not be everyone's cup of tea. It is about something many of us take for granted. It is about escape and evacuatLet me start by saying this book would not be everyone's cup of tea. It is about something many of us take for granted. It is about escape and evacuation in the face of an emergency and about how to plan for these events. The author examines numerous cases from around the world. It SHOULD be something everyone should read and understand. It is one of the things I have spent the last 33 years teaching people.
This book was unimpressive. It is not a history of the Andaman Islands or the Sentinelese. It is almost a travelogue. There are some interesting pointThis book was unimpressive. It is not a history of the Andaman Islands or the Sentinelese. It is almost a travelogue. There are some interesting points regarding the history of the islands and the Jarawa tribe. The discovery of missing portfolios of photographs of the islanders was interesting. The British official who got native men drunk with alcohol laced with opium and buggered them was reflection they quality of British administration.
Dolin writes an interesting book about hurricanes in North America. It is well researched and describes many incidences that are probably long forgottDolin writes an interesting book about hurricanes in North America. It is well researched and describes many incidences that are probably long forgotten particularly by the current crop of environmental doomsayers who think that everything that they have seen since they got their job or stop wearing short pants the church is the worst thing ever. The descriptions of more recent hurricanes other than Katrina do not get as much attention as some of the older ones. The hurricane that devastated my state known as hurricane Irene doesn't even get a mention. The biggest problem that I saw with the book is that like many he tries to link current weather issues with catastrophic predictions about global warming and does not present the data for this. As a geologist looking at warming cycles of the earth over much longer time period I cannot agree with his opinions on this. Despite this other than the epilogue it is an excellent book....more
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