Century

Rating:
Summary: Fantasic, but missing some key moments
Review: Although I thought this was a very stirring book that is sweeping in both its expanse and ambition, I found that it was missing some key moments of the 20th Century. Where was the sinking of the Titanic? The Hindenberg? Lennon's death? The Falkland's War? While not all of these may be epic in their own right, surely they rank higher in the scope of history than the debacle that was O.J. Simpson.

Rating:
Summary: More Than A History Book!
Review: If the authors had waited a few more years to write this book they would have lost many eye witnesses, which give this historic book perspective. The personal accounts, interviewed one-on-one by Peter Jennings, make The Century stand out among other history books. Real reporting, four years in the making, almost 100 years of history...your coffee table will be naked without it! --Beth Jannery, author of Shut the Hell Up: 101 Reasons to Appreciate Your Life, Government & Society Today!

Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Gift for Anyone
Review: Never before have l read a book with such emotional impact and understanding. I am personally buying a copy for my father, my 17 year old younger brother, and my husband. It's a history lesson, an engaging story, and a coffee table book all in one. Share the knowledge, buy your gifts today.

Rating:
Summary: Something for life !!
Review: A wonderful book, something you should keep with your collection. A reference for generations to come.

Rating:
Summary: You are there!
Review: This is a coffee table book that should not be left to sit on the coffee table. Once you get started, it is very hard to put it down and walk away. This book is so well done, that you do not have to be a "history buff" to get into it. Granted, there are no surprise endings, for after all, history is history, but, I have found many items that I was not aware of, and found interesting and new photographs that easily caught my attention. "The Century" will captivate, enlighten and educate. This is the type of book which can easily allow you to say "I didn't know that", and not feel foolish for saying it. The authors stimulate your mind's juices, and you really can't ask for any more than that.

Rating:
Summary: This book is compelling.
Review: This book is compelling because it allows anonymous people to tell their own stories and how the events shaped their lives in the 20th century. I am in the book on page 201. My father was the electrician in charge of the 1939 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows. I can remember the lights going out in the Polish Pavillion when the Germans marched into Poland during WW11. It only takes a few pages to realize the great accomplishments of this past century.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable
Review: The succinct writing of Brewster and Jennings and the exciting capsules of history are unsurpassed. This is a book to be treasured for years. Can't wait for the TV series.

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Summary: Great text about the last century
Review: The CENTURY is an excellent collection of narrative and photography from the last century. If you know who Peter Jennings is and what he sounds like, you can hear his voice as you read this book. It is not a fast read, more of a coffee table book to browse thru and most likely to spark conversation. Some of the photos could have been better edited.-ex. There is a BEATLES photo that catches all four of them with their eyes in between blinks. That seemed to be a poor choice by the editors of this book.

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: 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)