The Century by Peter Jennings, Todd Brewster Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Century
Book Review: Coffee Table Books For Dummies
Summary: 2 Stars
Isn't it funny that a book allegedly written by "Journalists" and "Reporters" can be so poorly fact-checked as this one is? First off, Jennings purports that the 20th Century ends at December 31, 1999. It doesn't. It ends December 31, 2000, so says the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the United States Naval Observatory.Besides that, as others have pointed out in these reviews, way too many people have been left out of "The Century" - as if their contributions to history do not matter nor exist.
It's a nice-looking coffee table book, but those who buy it should not think for a second that it is anything more than a glossy and large (if narrow) view of the past 98 1/2 years. There are many better history books out there if that's what you're after.
Book Review: Don't buy unless
Summary: 1 Stars
I was sent this book as a Xmas present. Don't buy it unless you want fires, floods, depression, etc,( just like the evening news) in your house. Nothing about the accomplishments, gains, wonders of the century. Where are our inventors, musicians, explorers (space) and just ordinary hard working people. A waste of paper and time preparing. Thanks to the Amazon return policy I had it out of the house in 24 hours. Admittedly, I only glanced at the pictures and looked at the table of contents, but that was enough!Book Review: Don't look to this book to cover everything
Summary: 4 Stars
The point of the book (as well as the History Channel series) is to provide historical accounts by people who witnessed these events first hand. Sure, it is somewhat lacking before 1920, but that is because most of the people who were around for those events are dead. That is also why some of the later events are more complete. There is a bigger supply of witnesses. There is no way to include everything. I thought that it made a good attempt to show the history from the common man's perspective. Sure, it is biased, and it does not include every major event. Don't read it for interpretation of the events, read it for the personal accounts. That is something that you won't get from most history books. I recommend the audio book. There's nothing like hearing the voices.Book Review: Dust in the eyes
Summary: 2 Stars
PETER JENNINGS conveniently forgot to mention the first GENOCIDE of the 20th century, the Armenian genocide of 1915,where 1and a half million innocent Armenians were massacred at the hands of the ottoman turks. Interestingly, the Holocaust was not left out.Book Review: Enjoyable reading with great personal accounts
Summary: 4 Stars
I was pleased with the ease at which one can read this book. Unlike the majority of history books, this book keeps the reader's attention and provides interesting personal accounts by people who experienced these monumental events and periods of history. It is much easier to identify with a person who is telling you about their life and how history shaped their activities than to read a narrative account of "the way it was.." I think the average reader as well as history buffs alike will enjoy this book.