Century

Rating:
Summary: Keeps this mother of 2 up late reading!
Review: Although I am only 150 pages into this book, and must write that I find it truly fascinating. This is the stuff that put this thirtysomething, full-time mother of two-under-two to sleep in high school World History class, but now keeps me up reading until 1 o'clock in the morning! I enjoy the form in which it is written - not like a history textbook, but like Peter Jennings is telling me how it was. I also find the individual testimonials highly interesting - these people saw and felt it happen! For those readers wondering why the Titanic sinking, the Armenian massacre, and the Hindenberg disaster were omitted, the answer lies in the introduction. These events, though news-worthy and long-since remembered, did not "force an evolution", Americans are not different because it happened. While the OJ trial was a tabloid circus, and people are now ashamed at how much attention they paid to it, the event definitely caused Americans to change the way they view the law, the media, and the other race (black of white and white of black). Historically worthy individuals, like Amelia Earhart, and singular events, such as John Lennon's death, may not get mention in this book if it did not affect change or shape the century in some significant way. In the 150 pages that I have read, you will see how Charles Lindberg's historic flight brought 4.5 million people to the streets for a parade and caused investors to pour money into the airplane industry so that air travel later became possible for all of us. Miss Amelia did not do that. I trust that I am not too enthusiastic about this book prematurely, but in the short amount that I have read (and I believe that it is a book that can be read cover-to-cover - not just a coffee table decoration), I would recommend it to anyone a rusty on their history who is interested in gaining a little insight and knowledge on how this century evolved.

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Summary: Coffee Table Books For Dummies
Review: Isn't it funny that a book allegedly written by "Journalists" and "Reporters" can be so poorly fact-checked as this one is? First off, Jennings purports that the 20th Century ends at December 31, 1999. It doesn't. It ends December 31, 2000, so says the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the United States Naval Observatory.

Besides that, as others have pointed out in these reviews, way too many people have been left out of "The Century" - as if their contributions to history do not matter nor exist.

It's a nice-looking coffee table book, but those who buy it should not think for a second that it is anything more than a glossy and large (if narrow) view of the past 98 1/2 years. There are many better history books out there if that's what you're after.

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: 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."

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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.

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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)

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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."

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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.

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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.