Weimar Culture: The Outsider as Insider

Rating:
Summary: intellectual junk-food
Review: This book is hardly bad, and what it lacks in substance is made up for in its entertainment value. But it is essentially light-wieght intellectual history, similar in level to NY times book reviews. For academics, it is virtually useless. It may be a good introduction, but it assumes a lot from the reader - which may be the greatest flaw of the book. If one is that familiar with Weimar and its participants, then you will come away with little; if you know little, you may be rather lost, despite the inclusion of an historical overview in the back.

In sum, good for history sophmores with some time on their hands: a bit flashy, but ultimately not deep enough to satisfy the truly serious.

Rating:
Summary: intellectual junk-food
Review: This book is hardly bad, and what it lacks in substance is made up for in its entertainment value. But it is essentially light-wieght intellectual history, similar in level to NY times book reviews. For academics, it is virtually useless. It may be a good introduction, but it assumes a lot from the reader - which may be the greatest flaw of the book. If one is that familiar with Weimar and its participants, then you will come away with little; if you know little, you may be rather lost, despite the inclusion of an historical overview in the back.

In sum, good for history sophmores with some time on their hands: a bit flashy, but ultimately not deep enough to satisfy the truly serious.