#32: History of the Twentieth Century by Martin Gilbert

Tags

100 books, book review, books, history

After a tremendously slow May (one book), I begin June with high hopes.  My studying for Jeopardy is going well and I will definitely increase my pace now that I am done teaching for a few months.  As part of both my game show training and my reading challenge, I chose History of the Twentieth Century by the eminent British historian Martin Gilbert for my thirty-second book.  As the title suggests, this book aims to chronicle the major events that occurred between 1900 and 2000.  I read the concise edition, which is Gilbert’s abridgement of his original three-volume history.  The single-volume version clocks in at just under 700 pages, entirely reasonable for a century of history.  I enjoyed this book but felt that it suffered from its brevity.  The breadth of social, political, economic, and cultural events discussed prevents any issues being discussed in much depth.  The result is a good read for the casual history buff (or person looking to refresh their memories before a Jeopardy audition).  There have already been several questions on Jeopardy in the past few days to which this book provided me the answer.  If you want a deeper analysis of the twentieth century, however, look for the three-volume edition.  Gilbert is an excellent writer but the abridgement seems to have led to a few poorly constructed segments.  None was too glaring, but together they were enough to make me question the book’s editorial staff.  Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting but not exhaustive look at twentieth century history.

I am continuing my Jeopardy preparations by memorizing all of the countries in the world and their capitals (I have A through R down), and reading An Incomplete Education.  My audition is June 13th, after which I will lift my moratorium on novels and get my challenge back on track.  I will post my summer reading list in the next few days.  Stay tuned!

The Current Count:

32 Read, 68 To Go

#30: The Sistine Secrets by Blech and Doliner

Tags

art, book review, books, history

For my thirtieth book, I indulged one of my many obsessions– The Sistine Chapel.  For nearly as long as I can remember, I have been consumed by a curiosity about and a desire to visit this incredible place.  Michelangelo’s ceiling is indisputably one of the greatest achievements by any individual in human history.  I have never seen it in person, but even in reproduction the artwork is stunning.  I am not exaggerating when I say that I dream about the Sistine ceiling many nights.  Fortunately, my wife has accepted a life that includes my many quirks and unusual preoccupations. 

The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican by Benjamin Blech and Roy Doliner is an intriguing book.  It’s thesis is that Michelangelo encoded a number of secret messages in his Sistine artworks.  These messages are largely based on knowledge of Jewish scriptural tradition and Kabbalah that Michelangelo obtained during his years in the liberal-minded household of Lorenzo de’ Medici.  The authors support their arguments with visual evidence from Michelangelo’s paintings (including some details revealed by the extensive cleaning of the frescoes at the end of the last century) and clues from Michelangelo’s personal history and writings.  Their arguments are well-reasoned and well-documented.  Overall, the book  is a fascinating new look at the greatest works of art by the greatest artist in history. 

(Image courtesy Christus Rex)

That said, I do not necessarily agree with all of the interpretations offered by the authors.  This book suffers from the same weakness as nearly all books that offer interpretations of art, music, film, or literature.  The problem is tunnel vision.  Such works become so focused on their thesis that they ignore all other possibilities.  Tunnel vision is necessary to some degree, but an author should still acknowledge the possibility of other correct interpretations.  Michelangelo is long dead and left no clear indication of his intentions when painting the ceiling.  For that reason, no argument can definitively prove the artist’s purpose.  Blech and Doliner make a very strong case, and many of their interpretations seem indisputable.  My only complaint is that they don’t acknowledge other possibilities.

The Current Count–

30 Read, 70 To Go

Can your Kindle do this?

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books

You've got nothing on this, Kindle!

In case you didn’t know, I am an old man.  Not physically (I’m 24), but attitudinally speaking I am an antique.  My old age is most evident when it comes to technology (read a previous rant here).  I am not the biggest fan of newfangled electronic devices.  That said, I am beginning to come around.  I recently upgraded to a smart phone and I even admire the utility of the iPad. 

One device I have not warmed up to is the Amazon Kindle.  I know, I know– it can hold a million books.  It has a built-in dictionary.  It has access to free classic books.  It can download magazines.  It is so much more convenient than lugging around a stack of hardbacks. 

What’s my problem with the Kindle?  The problem isn’t so much what’s wrong with the Kindle, but what is right with books.  The Kindle doesn’t have the old book smell.  The Kindle doesn’t give you the satisfaction of closing the cover when you finally get through all of those pages.  Most of all, the Kindle doesn’t come with a story of its own.

Every book has two stories to tell.  The first is the most obvious– the story written on the pages.  The second story is the story of the book itself, what journey it took to land in a particular reader’s hands.  The book pictured above is the perfect example.  This is a copy of “Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord (Third Edition)” by Richard Chenevix Trench, published in 1850.  This book came to me from my Grandma, as one book in a large box full.  She in turn had been given them by the widow of a long-time family friend.  This family friend was a pastor, which explains the obscure volume of Biblical commentary.  How it came to the pastor, I do not know.

What I do know is that a Mr. Andrew of Glasgow, Scotland acquired this book in September 1920.  I know this because Mr. Andrew recorded his acquisition on the flyleaf.  What a story!  This book journeyed from Glasgow, Scotland in the 1920’s to Canadian, Texas in the 1990’s to Dallas, Texas in the 2000’s.  That is just the tip of the iceberg.

Pictured to the left is the inside cover.  It features two remarkable elements– a seal and an inscription.  The seal (close-up here) reads “Sig[illum] universitatis doctorum magistrorum et scolarium Sanctee Andree.”  Translated that is “Seal of the doctors, masters, and scholars of the University of Saint Andrew.”  This is the seal of St. Andrews University in Scotland.  As in the oldest university in Scotland.  The image of the seal is incredible.  The inscription is even better.  It reads “Awarded as a prize to Mr. Robert Bell for a valuable essay on the reasonableness and utility of confessions of the faith by Geo. Buist, Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Theology, St. Mary’s College, 25th March 1857.” (Close-up here)  A bit of internet research has informed me that George Buist was born in 1805 and died in 1860.  In addition to being a well-respected professor, Buist served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1848 and was consulted by Parliament numerous times on matters related to education.  Robert Bell studied Greek, Latin, and Humanities at St. Andrews before continuing his studies in theology.  George Buist had this book on his bookshelf.  Robert Bell earned it by a well-written essay in 1857.  Mr. Andrew got his hands on it in 1920.  Now it is part of my library.

When the Kindle can offer a pedigree like that, I might consider making the purchase.

#25: My African Journey by Winston S. Churchill

Tags

100 books, book review, books, Churchill, history

Twenty-five down!  I will post tomorrow reviewing my progress at this major milestone, but tonight I will limit myself to a review of Winston Churchill’s My African Journey.  In 1905, Churchill was appointed Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies.  He undertook an informal tour of British possessions and protectorates in Africa, reporting in serial fashion to newspapers.  In 1908 he assembled those reports and published the result as My African Journey.  I have made no secret of my Churchill obsession.  He is one of the most fascinating individuals to grace the pages of history.  This book, like his others, drips wit and personality from every page.  I am not blind to Churchill’s flaws, and many are on display in My African Journey.  His antiquated view on race relations and the superiority of the European to the African natives would be unbearable were they espoused today.  While his views certainly evolved after 1908, they represent his unique position straddling the Victorian and the modern eras.  It was this conflict between two ages that helped shape Churchill into the guiding light for Britain in the darkest days of World War II.  My African Journey offers a look at the man before he was a legend.  Churchill’s extensive literary output over the course of his life gives readers the rare chance to watch him grow from ambitious youth to national hero.  My African Journey is an entertaining stop along that journey, and I wholeheartedly recommend it as such.

The Current Count:

25 Read, 75 To Go

#17: Commentaries on the Gallic War by Julius Caesar

Tags

100 books, book review, books, classics, history, Rome

It never ceases to amaze me that individuals who died centuries or millenia ago can still command the attention of a modern audience.  Gaius Julius Caesar is one of those remarkable individuals.  Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War are worth reading both for the insight into their author’s mind and for the image the offer of Rome as it transitioned from powerful republic to world-ruling empire.  The Penguin Classics edition (entitled The Conquest of Gaul) uses the translation of S.A. Handford and is a very enjoyable read.  The Commentaries trace the progress of Caesar’s efforts to subdue Gaul (modern France) from 58 BC to 50 BC.  This is on the eve of the civil war that will eventually lead to Caesar’s assassination and the emergence of his great-nephew Octavian (the future emperor Augustus) as a political force in Rome.  The Commentaries can be confusing at times, as they are full of important people and place names.  It can be difficult to keep the various Roman generals, barbarian tribes, and Gallic strongholds clear in your mind.  This is true of many ancient chronicles and does not present an insurmountable obstacle.  The Commentaries read like bulletins from the front.  They are not encumbered by unnecessary detail, and contain many interesting anecdotes.  For anyone who watched the TV series Rome, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo make their only appearance on the historical record in the fifth book of The Commentaries.  If you have an interest in Rome or Caesar, The Commentaries on the Gallic War are well worth your time.

The Current Count:

17 Read, 83 To Go

#16: The New Concise History of the Crusades by Thomas F. Madden

Tags

100 books, book review, books, history, Middle East, religion

Professor Thomas Madden’s New Concise History of the Crusades is a textbook that reads like a novel.  In an easily digestible fashion, Madden explores the intricacies of European politics and religion that lead to the birth of the Crusading movement, and traces the development of that movement until it disappeared in the wake of the Protestant Reformation.  He follows the course of events in good detail, without drowning his reader in documentary evidence.  Each chapter has suggestions for further reading, with a list of original sources in translation.  Madden stays very focused on his topic and does not stray into discussions of events unrelated to the Crusades.  Some knowledge of the history of the High Middle Ages is helpful in placing Madden’s narrative in context, but is not necessary to enjoy or learn from this book.

Richard the Lionheart

The Crusades are a fascinating episode in world history.  They feature some of the most notable names of the Middle Ages, including Richard the Lionheart of England, Phillip II Augustus of France, Frederick Barbarossa of Germany, Saint Louis of France, and the noble barbarian of Romantic lore, Saladin.  The tales of chivalry and heroism from this period are awe-inspiring.  Anyone with an interest in the Crusades should begin by reading Madden’s book.

With the current unrest in the Middle East and the threat of Islamic terrorism, the Crusades have assumed a tremendous importance in the modern world.  Many writers have sought the source of present conflicts in the events of distant centuries.  Madden does an excellent job explaining the significance of the Crusades to the modern international situation, and dispels many of the myths that have come to be accepted about these endeavors.  He expertly refutes interpretations of the Crusade that attempt to put them in a modern context, and demonstrates the true nature of their genesis.  The final two chapters of the book should be required reading for anyone studying modern foreign relations.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in medieval European history or the modern Middle East. 

The Current Count:

16 Read, 84 To Go

#8: Churchill: An Unruly Life by Norman Rose

Tags

100 books, book review, books, Churchill, history

One month and eight books down!  As noted previously, I am obsessed with Winston Churchill.  The man was fascinating.  No single 20th century figure looms larger over the Western world than Churchill.  The story of his life ensures that any biography will be an entertaining read.  This particular volume is relatively short, with 346 pages of text and roughly another 100 of Notes and References.  Compare that to the excellent single volume biography by Roy Jenkins (1000 pages), William Manchester’s two-volume (so far) The Last Lion (roughly 900 pages each), or the massive official biography by Randolph Churchill and Martin Gilbert (8 volumes and a dozen companions).  If you want a biography that gives you every detail of Churchill’s life, Rose’s book is not for you.  It does include several interesting anecdotes that I had not read in other sources.  The difficulty in writing a shorter biography of Churchill is deciding how many pages to spend on the different periods of his life.  Rose’s book gives roughly equal space to all phases of Churchill’s life and career.  The result is that some chapters give far less detail than desired (specifically the WW2 and post-war chapters).  Ultimately, I would only recommend Rose’s book to people who have read numerous other Churchill biographies.  Rose’s goal from beginning to end is to show the ‘other side’ of Churchill, the unpredictable and unreliable genius whose one paramount triumph overshadows his numerous failures.  I do not think that Churchill is perfect.  He made many, many mistakes.  My complaint with Rose is that in his effort to avoid hagiography he has produced a negatively skewed book.  It is a good book for Churchill fanatics that need to be reminded that Winston is human, but is not a fair portrait of one of history’s great individuals.

The Current Count:

8 Read, 92 To Go

#2: The River War by Winston S. Churchill

Tags

100 books, Africa, book review, books, Churchill, history, Nobel Prize, Sudan

Last night I finished my second book of the year, The River War by Sir Winston Churchill.  The River War is a history of the joint British-Egyptian reconquest of the Sudan in the late 1890’s.  Churchill participated in the campaign as a cavalry officer.  I greatly enjoyed the book, but would not recommend it to another reader unless he or she is either a history nut or a Churchill fan.  I am both, and subsequently loved it.  Churchill’s analysis of a modern, scientific campaign against an ill-equipped and untrained yet fanatical foe is particularly interesting in light of the recent war in Iraq and the ongoing struggle in Afghanistan.  Churchill is a member of that elite group of authors who elevate the English language to an art form.

The Current Count:

2 Read, 98 To Go