Rating: 
Summary: Superior writing.
Review: Each article reads like a well written magazine article. This works for an against the book as some ideas are just skeletal. One article is bound to upset the religious as it speculates on the effect of a 90 year old Jesus and his impact on history. This series of books is excellent as it keeps one thinking and shows how the most important events can hang on the most random of influences
Rating:
Summary: It is what it is
Review: It is impossible for this book, or any book similar to it, to please everyone. Many have complained that so-and-so "completely ignored ____." Well, that is rather the point: What if ____ had had a different opinion, pursued a different tactical or strategic objective, or not been as lucky. All this book can possibly be is "fluff" -- a pointless exercise in fun. If you want a quick, entertaining, and novel read, get the book. If you are someone who delights in pointing out the faults of others, get the book. If you are looking for serious analysis, both strategic and tactical, read Delbruck instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Most of the essays contained in the book are mere accounts of things that actually happened. Only at the very end of each chapter is there any mention of actual alternate history and then it is often very short and only presents a general overview of what the world would be like if different events had taken place. The exceptions are probably the essays about World War I, Hitler and Midway; otherwise the book is just a collection of information that could be readily found in textbooks.
Rating: 
Summary: A look into what might have happened
Review: History is immutable fact; perhaps that's why looking at how things could have turned out differently is such an intriguing subject. "What If" offers up a dozen or so essays written about potential turning points in recorded history, where a slight change in events could have altered the course of history for all time. The writing syles of the various essays (examples include a notional Allied failure on the Normandy beaches and Arab victory at Tours) are brisk and easy to follow. I wasn't immediately sold on some of scenaraios invoked by the essays, but that has caused me to further research those ideas, includin reading dissenting opinion, and isn't that what a good book is suposed to do? Make you interested to read some more about a topic? Bottom line: this is a good intro book for someone interested in counterfactual history. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: well worth buying, well worth reading
Review: I thought this book was great! "What If?" is a series of articles examining what could have happened in certain historial situations. What would have happened if the Persians had won at Salamis? What if Alexander the Great had been killed in battle at the age of 21? What if Charles Martel, aka "Charles the Hammer" had lost the battle of Tours, and Islam had become the domiant religion of Europe? All these scenarios, and more, are presented here. And yes, the ever popular "What if the South had won the Civil War?" is here too, but if this seems to be a too obivious selection, it is forgivable because that conflict was such a pivotal part of United States history. The article that really struck me was the one dealing with how we won the Revolutionary War, and how close we came to losing...how, in fact, that we should have lost it, with the US becoming a 'southern' verison of Canada. We came very close to remaining English as it was...or what of the Aztecs almost capturing Cortes? If they had, the author of this piece suggests an westward expanding US might have run into a Native American Empire on its borders...What would have happened then?"What If?" does two of the most important jobs a book has, it makes you learn and best of all, it makes you THINK!! History is made up of small happenstances building on each other. Don't deny yourself the chance to see what our world could have been like...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent- Serious, educational, and fun
Review: This book was an excellent of counterfactual history. The fact that some of the world's finest modern historians, like David McCullough, John Keegan and Stephen Ambrose all contributed among others was a definate plus. Though a few of the scenarios written about don't seem to me to be the single most significant military event in history (the criteria stated in the Introduction); other scenarios that would, at first glance seem relatively insignificant, could definately be serious competitors for the number one position in the rankings of history's most important battle (The first chapter for example). All in all a realistic and educational book, useful for military and political leaders to see how much weather, disease, the actions (or inactions) of a single man, and just old-fashioned luck, determine the fate of battles, wars and history ever since.
Rating: 
Summary: What If?
Review: The basic premise is that authors identified historical turning points and hypothesized as to how history might have been altered with a different outcome. A great idea. I liked it, but found a lot of variability w/in the authors' interpretations of this premise, and their assumptions about their readers' knowledge levels. So sometimes when reading an unfamiliar scenario, I would get truly lost between fact and conjecture. I read very little history, which didn't help. At the time it seemed somewhat boring, but several times found myself mentally returning to some of the essays and ideas. There was substantial variability in the writing quality as well.
Rating:
Summary: Rewritten History!
Review: WHAT IF?
ESSAYES by:
Stephen E. Ambtose, John Keegan, David McCullough, James M. McPherson and Others
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster
REVIEWED BY: Barbara Rhoades BOOK REVIEW: What If? is a fascinating trip into historical events. The various authors discuss the chance of weather conditions, timing, leadership, and political concerns have affected the outcome of Western Civilization. The authors give sufficient details of the back round and circumstances surrounding these events to better illustrated why people made the decisions they did. They exam the possible consequences IF events had turned out a different way. Two of the examples that were discussed were the Battle of Solomus and The Battle for Jerusalem. The authors gave the required background information relating to the subject matter and if the circumstances would have been different, the way modern Western Europe would have had a more Eastern thought process and development. There would have possibility not been a monolith God-type religion centered on Jewish beliefs. This book would be a must read for anyone who enjoys a good story, is interested in history, and has ever wondered why certain events turned out as they did today. The book would have been easier to manipulate if each CD had an end marker.
Rating:
Summary: It Had its Moments
Review: You have to have an ear for history to even pick up this book I suppose. So if you did give it a look, or care enough to read reviews of this book, you must be interested in history. And if you are a complete novice to reading history or an expert - keep looking. If you are just getting into military history, this book will confuse you as much as enlighten you. It can be confusing to read the detailed counter factual material in "What If" if you don't know the "real" history. And many of the better written passages do not provide street signs for when the reader has left what did happen for what might have happened. On the other hand, if you're an expert in military history or a scholar of specific period, you will be able to pick apart the leaps, assumptions and wishful thinking in many sections. My only other complaint is that some authors (the editor specifically) seem more interested in showing off their knowledge of their subject than giving the reader something to think about. This problem caused me to completely skip two sections in the book because the author assumed I was already an expert in their field. But don't get me wrong. The book was a fun and good read. If you rate your military history awareness between a three and an eight out of ten, I think you'll enjoy "What If." If not, there's plenty of other good material out there. Best of luck.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting mix of possibilities
Review: This book presents a number of "counterfactual" scenarios - historical events that are considered turning points, with possibilities as to what might have happened had the event turned out differently. The most well-known examples (to westerners) are included, such as "What if the fog had lifted while Washington was evacuating Long Island" (American Revolution won by British), "What if Lee's general order hadn't been lost" (Confederacy fights Union to stand-still and gains independence), and "What if Germany had not transferred troops to the east prematurely in 1914" (Schlieffen Plan succeeds, no WWII, no Communism in Russia, etc.). But, to the credit of the book, there is much more. Historians from all eras were invited to contribute, so we have counterfactuals from the Roman Empire and Jerusalem in 701 BC up to Mao Zedong's long march. The essays are uniformly enjoyable and interesting. As pointed out by another reviewer, there is more describing what happened rather than speculating too far into the future on the consequences. For example, if Lee's order hadn't fallen into Union hands, the result may have been a decisive Confederate victory in 1862. The author (J.M. McPherson) only goes so far as to say this might have led to an armistice and recognition of the CSA. But he goes no farther - what would the world be like today if that had been the case? It might have been more appropriate (given the name of the book) for a little more speculation on long-term consequences. Having said that, many (including myself) would argue that the history does not hinge directly on single events or single people. For example, if Washington had been captured on Long Island in 1776, would the American Revolution have failed? Maybe. If so, would it have have significantly altered world history? Probably not - the French Revolution would still have occurred, and the US would have achieved independence anyway (as did England's other colonies). However, it's impossible to forsee the consequences of the fall of Jerusalem in 701 BC - would Judaism have been wiped out, and therefore would Christianity and Islam never have existed? I don't think anyone would say the only difference that seige makes is the deity to which St. Paul's Basilica is dedicated. So, whether you believe in the ability of "small" events to change history for all time or not, this is a very interesting and informative book, including a wide variety of scenarios and turning points in history, and what might have happened had the outcome been different.
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