Slavery and Rebellion in the Roman World, 140 B.C.-70 B.C.

Customer Reviews:

good collection but uneven in quality.......2000-05-18

This is a collection of several articles by Bradley which examine the role of slavery in the Roman world. The articles do not flow smoothly together so they are best read separately though best understood as a whole. Too often for a five star rating, I found myself wondering where he got his evidence for certain statements.

SLAVERY AND REBELLION IN THE ROMAN WORLD 140 B.C. - 70 B.C.

Average customer rating:

SLAVERY AND REBELLION IN THE ROMAN WORLD 140 B.C. - 70 B.C.
K.R. Bradley
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQ2QT8

Book Description

The Illustrated History of the World is a lavishly illustrated edition of J. M. Roberts's bestselling History of the World. Now completely revised and updated, each volume of this comprehensive reference work traces the tumultuous story of humankind from prehistory to the end of the 20th
century. The rise and fall of civilizations; the impact of powerful individuals on world events; the interplay of state and religion; the social and economic factors that influence societies--these are some of the themes of this masterful, sweeping narrative. Over 2,000 photographs in color and
black-and-white present a unique visual panoply of the march of history. In addition, more than 200 maps and artworks in full color underscore important events. Fully integrated sidebars and feature boxes narrow in on key themes, providing an additional layer of interest. Each volume also contains a
double-page, illustrated chronology of major events, plus a bibliography and detailed index. Authoritative, brilliantly written, and superbly illustrated, this outstanding and popular work of scholarship makes the whole sweep of history vivid and accessible as never before.

Customer Reviews:

A nice addition to a wonderful series.......2003-06-28

This book is the fifth volume in the wonderful Illustrated History of the World Series. This one covers India (from ~325 B.C. to ~1700 A.D.), China (also from ~325 B.C to ~1700 A.D.), Japan (from ~645 A.D. to ~1700 A.D.), Sub-Saharan Africa, Pre-Columbian America (mainly the Mayas, Aztecs and Incas), and Europe (from ~1000 A.D. to ~1500 A.D.). Along the way, the reader is treated to many colorful maps and pictures, and interesting sidebars.

This book is very good, and a nice addition to a wonderful series. I found the book (particularly on India) to be very informative, and quite interesting. Overall, I liked the book, and highly recommend it.

Brief history of the first half of the second millennium.......2002-05-29

The Far East and a New Europe is volume five of a ten volume series called The Illustrated History of the World. The first volume covered the origins of the human race through the first civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. The second volume in the series reviewed the early cultures of India and China and then moved on to discuss Greek civilization. The third volume covered the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, from 800 BCE to 600 CE. The fourth volume surveyed the rise of Islam, the Arab empires, the decline of the Byzentine Empire, and the beginnings of modern Europe. This fifth volume gives us a first look at Japanese, African, and American cultures. It also brings the stories of India, China, and Europe, begun in earlier volumes, up to the 18th century.

The book is filled with beautiful color illustrations. Every page has at least one and most are photographs of artifacts, art works, or scenes. The text is well written and emphasizes brief summaries rather than scholarly examination. This makes it a good basic introduction and outline, but may be less useful to someone who wants to look at these subjects in greater depth. The lack of any bibliography of further readings is also a drawback for those wanting to seek more information. A two-page time chart of the period helps to put events in perspective. The chapter contents are confusingly placed at the end of the book, but they are well done and helpful for getting an overview of the author's approach. A two page listing of all the books in the series with their section and chapter titles helps to put the material into the broader view of all world history.

The chapters on India and China pick up the thread of the story begun in Volume 2 of the series and bring both histories up to the 17th Century. One chapter is devoted to Japanese history up to the 17th Century. Another chapter briefly outlines African and American cultures. Then the second half of the book is devoted to European history from the "Middle Ages" through the 16th Century. All in all this is a great brief introduction to the first half of the second millennium. Although the emphasis is decidely European, the coverage is global, at least as far as major civilizations are concerned.

Book Description

The financial turmoil of the late 1990s resulted partly from an excessive dependency between countries and regions. This important and timely new book examines the growing interdependency between Europe and East Asia and provides suggestions to prevent financial crises in the future.

Special attention is given to the contributions of international trade and investment to deeper regional and global integration, and particular emphasis is placed on major issues such as:

* the organization of multinationals and the relationship between exports and foreign direct investment
* Asian and European firms as global actors and the role of trade in the integration of the two regions
* the changing patterns of East Asian economies as host and home countries for direct investment

In conclusion the authors argue that more emphasis should be placed on direct investment rather than speculative inflows. This will create a more stable environment for the contribution of foreign capital to the growth of East Asian economies, and reduce both dependency between regions and the risk of financial instability in the future.

Customer Reviews:

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime : Prospects for the 21s.......2000-02-01

Seems disjointed and ill informed, particularly Lavoy's submission. I recommend Sagan's work in this area.

The World 1997-1998: A Third World Guide

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The World 1997-1998: A Third World Guide
New Internationalist Publications
Manufacturer: Humanities Press Intl Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History & Theory | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Social Work | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Amazon.com

The Third World Institute's World Guide provides an unconventional look at the world: the focus is on health and economy, food and education, women, labor, refugees, trade, arms, global warming, and indigenous people's rights. Covering 236 countries and territories from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the World Guide strives to present the relevant information and unique traits of each. The Institute acknowledges that it's not objective, harboring definite sympathies for women, workers, and native peoples, but every so-called objective reference has its bias; the Institute is just more up-front, with a point of view that is missing from most World Guides.

Longitudes & Attitudes: Exploring the World After September 11

Average customer rating:

Great Book
An insightful look at a new world...
Interesting Insight
An important book
Thomas L. Friedman was born a ramblin' man

Longitudes & Attitudes: Exploring the World After September 11
Thomas L Friedman
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
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ASIN: B00008MOWJ

Book Description

America's leading observer of the international scene on the minute-by-minute events of September 11th--before, during and after

As the Foreign Affairs columnist for the The New York Times, Thomas L. Friedman is in a unique position to interpret the world for American readers. Twice a week, Friedman's celebrated commentary provides the most trenchant, pithy,and illuminating perspective in journalism.

Longitudes and Attitudes contains the columns Friedman has published about the most momentous news story of our time, as well as a diary of his experiences and reactions during this period of crisis. As the author writes, the book is "not meant to be a comprehensive study of September 11 and all the factors that went into it. Rather, my hope is that it will constitute a 'word album' that captures and preserves the raw, unpolished, emotional and analytical responses that illustrate how I, and others, felt as we tried to grapple with September and its aftermath, as they were unfolding."

Readers have repeatedly said that Friedman has expressed the essence of their own feelings, helping them not only by explaining who "they" are, but also by reassuring us about who "we" are. More than any other journalist writing, Friedman gives voice to America's awakening sense of its role in a changed world.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-05-07

Perfect book for those that want to learn about the issues going on in the Middle East. Easy to understand for those not that familiar with current world issues. Very informative and I would highly recommend.

An insightful look at a new world..........2007-01-29

In Longitudes and Attitudes, Friedman pulls writings from his column at the New York Times that describes his position on what he calls, "the super-story." There are two important components to this book that will stick with me: the first is his belief that globalization has paved the way for an individual to influence the masses, and the second is that even in "friendly" nations, there are fundamental, cultural and religious differences that influence a negative perception of the United States... and we need to pay attention to this.

Friedman substantiates his insightful conjectures by traveling the world and tapping into each individual society. He asks tough questions and receives harsh ridicule. This type of substantive journalism is what makes his writing so multi-dimensional... It's not merely his opinion, but the opinions of citizens around the world... and they offer a clear understanding.

There is a pile of information to absorb, so take your time with it (I read about ten to fifteen pages at a time). You'll get some history, you'll get some opinions, and most importantly, you might get a new perspective.

Have fun,

David Tobias
Redondo Beach, CA

Interesting Insight.......2006-09-08

I was not familiar with Thomas Friedman's New York Times columns. This book contains a sampling of his columns. The book mainly portrays the difference in the Arab vs. the culture of the West. The book opens with the shock of the events of 9/11, considered a tragedy by the West and a cause for celebration for many places in the Arab and Muslim world.
The author goes onto explain the Arab world's rage against America is the result of the idea that America represents, globalization , modernity, plurality. Muslim populations in the middle east are generally ruled by oppressive regimes that are failing their populace, providing a limited world vision, while censoring information. The author made an interesting observation, India has the second largest Muslim population of any country in the world, but the Muslim rage in not present, as the author notes, chanting "death to America" is not the favored occupation of its populace. The reason, India is a democracy, the people are concerned with bettering themselves through government.
And so it goes, The author's main point is that when the Middle East can be democratized, and the poverty alleviated it will be ready to join the modern world.
I really believe Tom Freidman is right on target with the ideas within this book.

An important book.......2006-08-04

Friedman's writing is consistently thoughtful, and this book is no exception. I appreciate deeply the care with which this book has been prepared. It belongs in every thinking person's library.

Thomas L. Friedman was born a ramblin' man.......2006-08-01

Thomas Friedman's "Longitudes and Attitudes" is a very readable book based on a collection of columns he wrote for the New York Times just before the attacks of 9/11 and for the year following those attacks. The last quarter of the book contains a kind of diary in which he attempts to put into context where he was in the world when he wrote these columns and how he was personally feeling at the time.

It is a very personal collection, often invoking the image of his children's future. Friedman's primary mission, as he relates it in meetings with educated people across the Middle East, is his search for the rationale of the terrorists, why they killed, and how they were radicalized. He frequently relates how depressed he got when talking to educated Middle Easterners who unflinchingly believed in conspiracy theories of the highest order. The most common canard he constantly ran across was that four thousand Jews were notified on the morning of 9/11 not to go to the World Trade Towers. Another astonishing "fact" he constantly confronted from academics, clerics and the media in the Middle East was that there is no proof that Muslims were the 9/11 hijackers in the first place. In general, Friedman relates, most Muslims in the Middle East also believe that the attack was a plot by the CIA (or Jews) to discredit Muslims and that all the American media is run by Jews.

Throughout the book, Friedman does not shy away from the fact that he is Jewish. He is balanced and critical of both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - decrying the brutality of the Israelis and Palestinians and he especially singles out the stubbornness of Arafat in that Arab leader's failure to accept the Clinton peace plan, which would have given Palestinians a state encompassing 95% of what they asked for and could have stanched the bloodshed.

Friedman relates his amazement that the Middle East is bombarded by an incessant 24-hour-a-day attack in the Arab media upon Israel and the United States, particularly via TV programs that run through the night simply playing martial music and showing images of Israeli brutality against Palestinians - which is always portrayed as one-sided.

He is unabashedly and constantly critical of the Saudi Arabia regime, from which, we are frequently reminded, was home to 15 of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers. Friedman seems particularly upset that Saudi Arabia did not apologize for the involvement of its nationals in the attack against the US and has refused to cooperate with the FBI in their investigation. He also makes it abundantly clear that Saudi Arabia, along with Iran, seem to be in a race to provide money to Islamic madras's across the globe that teach virulent intolerance and hatred against America and Israel.

Friedman doesn't simpy rail against the world as he sees it, he does prescribe some remedies for what he refers to as an ongoing "Clash of Civilizations," a term he borrows from Samuel Huntington. If we don't address the tumult we find ourselves in and Usama bin Laden "wins," Friedman warns us that, "The war of civilizations will be coming to a theater near to you."

First and foremost, he calls upon Arab nations to forge a new future for their citizens by letting go of the past and looking to the future. Too often Arab nations and leaders deflect true change by blaming all their troubles on someone else... their problems are America's fault, or Bush's fault, or Israel's fault and so on ad infinitum. True leaders in the Middle East should create plans for the future, not just laying blame for present and past real and perceived slights. Arab leaders should come up with plans for educating their children, making governments more responsive and creating jobs for the exploding number of young people in the Middle East. Friedman goads Arab leaders by saying things such as, while other emerging nations "make microchips, you are making potato chips," and that the GDP of Spain is greater than that of all 22 Arab states combined.

Friedman could be called a liberal hawk. He firmly believes in globalization, with a caveat that the Internet can be "an open sewer." He also believes that the concept of engaging and talking with your enemy is the only way that problems can truly be resolved. An example: The U.S. and Israel engaged Arafat and came up with a plan that gave the Palestinians a state encompassing 95% of what they wanted. This pleased Friedman the liberal. Arafat torched the olive branch that was extended to him and Friedman the hawk reminds us that Arafat had many maps that did not even show modern Israel on them. Friedman the hawk also applauded the fall of Saddam from a humanitarian viewpoint (reminding us that Saddam killed more Muslims in the 20th century than any other individual) and asked his readers to "give the CIA a break," and "give war a chance."

One of the most important ideas this book relates is that, unlike Christianity and the Jewish faith, Islam never went though Enlightenment or a Reformation. What this means is that Islam never separated church and state the way that the West has done and therefore Islam has not been able to move its society and culture forward because of the constant influence of clerics who can't effectively run a modern nation.

Lastly, the last quarter of the book that was written in a diary format was primarily a rehash of ideas spelled out earlier in the book - merely reformatted to fit the geographic contours of where and when Friedman wrote his columns. This part of the book added little new information and seemed that it was almost an afterthought... an awkward attempt to tie together all the canned columns.

Average customer rating:

A good coffee table book

Eccentric Contraptions: and Amazing Gadgets, Gizmos and Thingamabobs
Maurice Collins , and Ian Kearey
Manufacturer: David & Charles Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Curiosities & Wonders | Fun Facts | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
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Ingenious Gadgets: Guess the Obscure Purpose of Over 100 Eccentric Contraptions

From Altoids to Zima: The Surprising Stories Behind 125 Famous Brand Names

The Largest U.S. Cities Named After a Food: and Other Mind-Boggling Geography Lists from Around the World

Make Cool Gadgets for Your Room (Popular Mechanics for Kids)

Electric Mischief: Battery-Powered Gadgets Kids Can Build (Kids Can Do It)

ASIN: 0715318217

Book Description

Mind-boggling technology from the days of yore. An amazing collection of fascinating and visually intriguing gadgets which will engage and amuse everyone.

The incredible clockwork teasmade on the cover is just one of over 100 bizarre and ingenious gadgets in Maurice Collins? collection from the complexity of mechanical fruit peelers and a hand-pumped automatic shaver to the simplicity of the ?toe socks? of the 1920s which claimed to cut hosiery bills by 80%.

If you thought burglar alarms were a modern invention, there is a Victorian brass clockwork one in the collection, if you?ve always found striking matches too taxing, someone in the 1920s invented an automated self-striking match box to save you the trouble.

Fascinating and humorous Eccentric Contraptions will intrigue and amuse and is a testament to human ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Customer Reviews:

A good coffee table book.......2007-07-26

Actually I bought this book as a gift to my brother. After flipping through the pages, I decided to read it cover to cover. It's a very interesting and easy read. You can finish it in a couple hours. What I did was I looked at the picture and tried to guess what the gadget was before reading the description. That added more fun to the book.

If you enjoy this book, you might also like Ingenious Gadgets by the same authors. I got both books for my brother. They're good gift books.

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