Western Civilization: Volume II: Since 1550

Rating:
Summary: A bit too much info for Intro to Western Civ, sadly
Review: I am not joking. I wish it were realistic to use this textbook in an intro to western civ class for students with no previous knowledge, but it's too complicated. It's also hard to lecture with it as it jumps around between national histories (keep having to say, "when last we left English history...". I would like to use a text like this one but am convinced that it is simply too much for our average students.

Rating:
Summary: A bit too much info for Intro to Western Civ, sadly
Review: I am not joking. I wish it were realistic to use this textbook in an intro to western civ class for students with no previous knowledge, but it's too complicated. It's also hard to lecture with it as it jumps around between national histories (keep having to say, "when last we left English history...". I would like to use a text like this one but am convinced that it is simply too much for our average students.

Rating:
Summary: J. Spielvogel's Western Civ from 1500 (3rd edition)
Review: I'm a teacher and educated general reader who ordered this book after learning of Spielvogel's popularity and brilliance as a professor at our mutual alma mater: Penn State. It arrived just today. Already, from reading the "intro to students," I've learned what the enigmatic B.C.E. means but that the author chooses to use B.C. (as in A.D.) The voice that wrote that introduction is the voice of the entire text. I am delighted with the heft of the book, the maps and illustrations, and the prospects ahead.

Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK SUCKS
Review: Jackson J. Spielvogel has no sense of organization whatsoever. And as for those people who read this book for fun, SERIOUSLY need a life. I, however, am using this book as a text book for AP Euro and think it is absolutely ludicrous that we have to use it. It's confusing and needs to be written better. A LOT better. This book should get -1000000 stars.