Rating: Summary: Great Tool for a Social Studies Student Review: As a social studies teacher, I got this book to have as a tool for my students. Although some of the text might have a bias, it is overall a very informative text. The book also brings to light many interesting questions which have sparked my students' attention. While I do not use it as an assigned text, I do allow them to look at it when they are doing individual projects. Overall, I think this a great book for the humanities student or someone who is looking to broaden their knowledge about the world. (but doesn't have alot of time to do it)
Rating: Summary: Fantastic and on target. Review: Bravo! In these times when the big media (ahem, the FCC's vote last week...) make it hard for America to get full pictures of what's going on in the world, What Every American Should Know About the Rest of the World is a fantastic resource. Rossi provides a great range of important information, throws in humor to keep it digestible, and--best of all--enticed me not only to read the whole book but to dig deeper, check other resources, and continue learning about this wonderful and complicated world. Somebody send a copy to W.
Rating: Summary: Innacurate and simplistic Review: Disclosure: I read only 1 page of the book.
Recently I saw this book in a book store and checked the page about my country - Bulgaria.
According to the book, Bulgaria gained independency in 1991 from the Soviet Union. Well, actually Bulgaria was never part of the Soviet Union and it gained independency for the last time (the first Bulgarian state was founded in the 7th century but then we are on the Balkans ;))) from Turkey in 1878.
The book also leaves the impression that Bulgaria is ruled by the local mafia. Of course crime is a problem for Bulgaria but this is an overstretch, to put it mildly. Then the autor says that the economy is in bad shape (an absolute truth) but the $1 billion loan from the IMF might help. Which $1 billion exactly? Bulgaria is constantly repaying old and getting new loans from the IMF, etc. Is this a book for 5 year olds?
To sum up. As an international student in the US and with many of the most intelligent people I have ever met in my life being Americans, I have a hard time fighting against the proliferated opinion that Americans are ignorants. Instead of helping this book makes matters worse. I believe Americans are smarter that the author thinks.
Rating: Summary: Skin deep Review: First thing I looked up was Liberia. Not mentioned, at all. Good book when waiting for elevators or a bus.
Rating: Summary: Reading the reviews truly does help Review: I have purchased many books from Amazon.com recently and absolutely love this site for the great values and excellent condition of the used books. I was just about to purchase "What Every American Should Know About the Rest of the World" but after reading the reviews, I certainly will not. Although I can't review the book since I haven't read it, just the fact that many of the reviews state Ms. Rossi's book is full of her left leaning twist on the facts makes me say, no way! I'd like to read a book of this type written by someone with the facts and leave out their opinion, most especially when it's slanted to the left. I really don't care to read more dribble about President Bush, I'm just looking to educate myself about the rest of the world. Can anyone suggest a book of this type that's written with just the facts without an author's slanted and unwanted opinion? Thank you in advance.
Rating: Summary: Informative But Opinionated Review: I must give credit where credit is due - the author has put a lot of hard work with the gathering of the facts, however, the book is quite opinionated at times.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyable Reading Review: I really enjoyed the book. It was easy reading,informative and fun. It has a simple format that allowes me to reserch "hot spots" in the world. I also appreciate the author's humor. I believe every school in the US should have this book in it's library.
Rating: Summary: I love it! Review: I think this is a great book. It is concise in it's information and easy for the reader to use. It contains information on politics and the people it involves, and has been a great help to me to understanding other nations of the world.
Rating: Summary: A much needed book! Review: I try very hard to keep informed of world events, but it can be daunting to try and unravel all the history and facts behind the world's latest conflicts. So what's an American to do in this age of deregulated corporate media conglomerates and embedded journalists? Luckily we now have this guide to help fill in the blanks. While it never purports to be the last word on global politics, it IS a very helpful primer for learning more in depth. Read this entertaining and informative book, and then dive into some of the wonderful links Ms. Rossi has provided. I guarantee you'll astound and amaze your Canadian and European friends on your next vacation with your background knowledge. :-) Dare I call it Cliff Notes for Geopolitics? It's close! Buy it and send to your isolated friends across the United States, or send them to the companion site, armchairdiplomat.com
Rating: Summary: Fair and Balanced Review: Ironically, the TV News channel which uses the above slogan is anything but. I travel all over the world, particularly Europe, Middle East and South East Asia, and I am acutely aware of how commercial media is sensitive to what the people want to hear and see. Newspapers and TV channels are very good at filtering the news items they want the public to know about, because in the end, it is all about making money. No where in the world is this more extreme than it is in the US. For example, when President Bush visited the UK last year, there were huge protests against him because of the war in Iraq. The crowds were so big, that even Bush had to make a remark about them in the Parliament. The highlight of the event was a huge effigy of Bush, which was toppled to the the ground (much the same way as the Statue of Saddam Hussain) right outside the parliament house. However, not a single American News Channel (including CNN and Fox), nor Newspapers covered it. I only saw it on the BBC. The American media was busy covering the Michael Jackson trial. Similarly, in the present Israeli/palestinian conflict, the American media has made the wall issue merely that of Israels right to defend itself. However, why is no American journalist questioning as to why this wall is being built THROUGH Palestinian territory. If the Israelis want to build a wall to defend themselves, then they should build it on their side of the border. What Rossi has done is that she has shown us many different sides of the story. True they may be opinionated, but sometimes that is necessary to make people think. The reader is not supposed to take everything in the book for granted. It is only a starting point. It is only supposed to make you think and to make you make a deeper enquiry into the world around you. Americans have tremendous influence on the world. As Arundhati Roy said, that the only thing more powerful than the American Government is the American Civil society. It is extremely important that americans make informed decisions about who they put into power.
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