Tag Archives: survey

The History of Japan

Posted on March 3, 2011 by smellincoffee

The History of Japan© 1918, 1947 Kenneth Scott Latourette282 pages ““Under a Wave off Kanagawa”, Katsushika Hokusai In Fall 2009 I took a class in Japanese history and enjoyed it tremendously, but given that it’s been well over a year, I figure I’m … Continue reading →

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The Outline of History

Posted on February 23, 2011 by smellincoffee

The Outline of History, Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind (Volume I)© 1920 H.G. Wells, revised edition by G.P. Wells and Raymond Postgate © 1970550 pages At the close of the Great War, people wondered how such a … Continue reading →

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The Near East

Posted on February 13, 2011 by smellincoffee

The Near East: 10,000 Years of History © 1968 Isaac Asimov 277 pages Come, let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings. (“Richard II”, William Shakespeare) Civilization first began in the ‘land between … Continue reading →

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The Earth Shall Weep

Posted on December 7, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Earth Shall Weep: A History of Native America © 2000 James Wilson466 pages Having grown up in Alabama, I don’t know what it’s like to live among buildings that testify to history. I’ve never stepped onto a sidewalk with paving … Continue reading →

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Britain: At the Edge of the World?

Posted on November 18, 2010 by smellincoffee

A History of Britain: At the Edge of the World? 3500 B.C. – 1603 A.D.© 2000 Simon Schama414 pages Image from audio-book version, as I could not find a suitable image for the standard cover. I get the feeling that … Continue reading →

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Caesar and Christ

Posted on October 12, 2010 by smellincoffee

Caesar and Christ© 1944 Will Durant752 pages Ave, Caesar! Athens’ grip on my imagination is rivaled only by Rome — Rome, navel of the world; Rome, which established the languages laws, and religion of western Europe. Like Our Oriental Heritage … Continue reading →

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Our Oriental Heritage

Posted on September 3, 2010 by smellincoffee

The Story of Civilization: Our Oriental Heritage © 1935 Will Durant 1048 pages “Civilization is social order promoting cultural creation.”  (Opening sentence.) Our Oriental Heritage is the introductory volume of a greater work, an eleven-book set covering prehistory to the last days of Napoleon. Judging … Continue reading →

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La Belle France

Posted on August 3, 2010 by smellincoffee

La Belle France: a Short History© 2005 Alistair Horne485 pages I have rarely enjoyed any book as much as La Belle France, a quick sprint through French history that begins in the Roman era. Initially focusing on a small town … Continue reading →

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Constantinople: the Forgotten Empire

Posted on September 19, 2009 by smellincoffee

Constantinople: the Forgotten Empire © Isaac Asimov 1970 289 pages The history of the eastern Roman empire, ruled from Constantinople, has long been a weak point in my own historical literacy. When I spotted a book on its history by … Continue reading →

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The Japanese Experience

Posted on August 24, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Japanese Experience: A Short History of Japan © 1999 W. G. Beasley 299 pages, including glossary and index. I checked this book out in April 2007. I remember this well, because I tried reading it on April 22. It … Continue reading →

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