A History of Ethiopia Updated Edition

Rating:
Summary: A decent but often confusing coverage of Ethiopia
Review: Ethiopia history is more than what is written in this book, but I recommend this book for any one interested to know about Ethiopia

Rating:
Summary: A decent but often confusing coverage of Ethiopia
Review: I found this book to be helpful as a general resource of information about Ethiopia's history. However, the reading often becomes confusing, most likely because of the lack of a "big picture" view. The text centers too much on individual events, especially in the first half. Also, I often became unclear of who the author was speaking of when he mentioned "the emperor" or "the king". This feeling was probably caused by the overly rapid introduction of new people.

Rating:
Summary: The author is biased !
Review: I personally appreciate all writers' accounts about the African history, especially those about the older civilizations like that of Abyssinia, Aoudal (Adal), Ifat (Yifat), Banadir, Oroma etc. Most of the histories from this region are either written by early travelers, who were apparently subject to their respective contact's account(s). Likewise some writers are subject to either personal inclination to one group or influenced by local authorities to make their fictitious political claims printed in the history in order to subdue others. We therefore should be very careful about the writer's tone vis-à-vis historical realities and events. The author falls to the second category trap (personal or Authority influence). For instance, he gives more credit to Amhara actions while undermining all other nationals in Ethiopia. He even reached a stage where he distorted the really of geographical history maps. Look the maps at the end of book. It is typical dreams of all Abyssinian emperors' ambitions. History is history no body can rewrite but can be corrected when grave distortions like those presented in this book are circulated. The writer is a good writer in literature wise but his story is biased!

Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: This was the first History book I have read for leisure and I was supprised at how interested I was. A very well written and researched work. The only complaint I have is that the vocabulary was to much for me in places. Im used to looking things up in the dictionary, but not this much. Overall a very good read, will leave you wanting more.