The Century by Peter Jennings, Todd Brewster Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Century
Book Review: Invest in a good paperweight instead!
Summary: 1 Stars
This book, which purports to be an historical account of our century, is nothing but a colossal flop and big disappointment. All the glossy pictures and captions are interesting for about five or ten minutes, and then this book will start taking up space and collecting dust on your coffee table or bookcase. Jennings and Brewster claim to cover the history of the 20th century in this book, but what they have produced instead is a dumbed down, jaded, and insultingly simplistic work of tabloid journalism masquarading as history. My condolences to anyone who was duped into buying this book by all of the hype. For those of you who have not yet plopped down the 40+ dollars for this book, don't do it! Invest in a good paperweight instead! Or better yet, read one of the many well-written books about historical events that occurred in the 20th century. At least then you will have a better idea of what you are getting and will not be disappointed, insulted, and misinformed by Jennings' media spin machine.Book Review: Jennings neglects Titanic movie and Armenians
Summary: 2 Stars
In his book that presumes to review the past century, Jennings neglects to cover three important things that happened this century - the sinking of the Titanic, the release of the Titanic movie, and the Armenian genocide or something. For this reason, I must strongly denounce the book and its author and call on all decent Armenians, Love Boat passengers and all those who watched "The Titanic" to boycott the sale of this utterly wreckless pillorying or something of the last hundred years.Book Review: Keeps this mother of 2 up late reading!
Summary: 5 Stars
Although I am only 150 pages into this book, and must write that I find it truly fascinating. This is the stuff that put this thirtysomething, full-time mother of two-under-two to sleep in high school World History class, but now keeps me up reading until 1 o'clock in the morning! I enjoy the form in which it is written - not like a history textbook, but like Peter Jennings is telling me how it was. I also find the individual testimonials highly interesting - these people saw and felt it happen! For those readers wondering why the Titanic sinking, the Armenian massacre, and the Hindenberg disaster were omitted, the answer lies in the introduction. These events, though news-worthy and long-since remembered, did not "force an evolution", Americans are not different because it happened. While the OJ trial was a tabloid circus, and people are now ashamed at how much attention they paid to it, the event definitely caused Americans to change the way they view the law, the media, and the other race (black of white and white of black). Historically worthy individuals, like Amelia Earhart, and singular events, such as John Lennon's death, may not get mention in this book if it did not affect change or shape the century in some significant way. In the 150 pages that I have read, you will see how Charles Lindberg's historic flight brought 4.5 million people to the streets for a parade and caused investors to pour money into the airplane industry so that air travel later became possible for all of us. Miss Amelia did not do that. I trust that I am not too enthusiastic about this book prematurely, but in the short amount that I have read (and I believe that it is a book that can be read cover-to-cover - not just a coffee table decoration), I would recommend it to anyone a rusty on their history who is interested in gaining a little insight and knowledge on how this century evolved.Book Review: Look for what's INSIDE, not for what's left out !
Summary: 5 Stars
The Century has been accused by some of being "pop" history and leaving out key events - the Titanic, etc. What is important to realize is that history is an ART and the historian is an artist. What Jennings has done is create a visually appealing version (that does not claim to be comprehensive) of the events of the 20th century. For sheer readability for the layman, this book is worth 5 stars.Book Review: More Than A History Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
If the authors had waited a few more years to write this book they would have lost many eye witnesses, which give this historic book perspective. The personal accounts, interviewed one-on-one by Peter Jennings, make The Century stand out among other history books. Real reporting, four years in the making, almost 100 years of history...your coffee table will be naked without it! --Beth Jannery, author of Shut the Hell Up: 101 Reasons to Appreciate Your Life, Government & Society Today!