1968: The Year That Rocked the World by Mark Kurlansky
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Book Reviews of 1968: The Year That Rocked the World
Book Review: Informative and Encompassing
Summary: 4 Stars
Having been born in the spring of 1968, I find myself drawn to finding out about the chaos rampant in that particular time of history. Naturally, Mark Kurlansky's 1968: The Year That Rocked the World appealed to me when I first saw it. For me, it's quite comprehensive not only in the activities it bears witness to in 1968, but also in giving background information about how these world-changing events came into play in the first place. Because of Kurlansky's book, I now have a better grasp of more than just the American civil rights fight, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, more than the seemingly endless Vietnam War. The author reports what was happening in nearly every corner of the globe: from America to Czechoslovakia and Poland, Israel to Mexico, Canada to Africa. Kurlansky uses economics, politics and government, religion, and especially worldwide student protests to round out his view of 1968. I recommend his book to anyone who would like a good overall understanding of how and why the year 1968 stands out as one of the major turning points in world history, with an aftermath that can still be felt nearly forty years later.Book Review: A fun history but a fun historian
Summary: 4 Stars
Kurlansky is usually known for writing more off the wall histories so I was fairly surprised to see this one. Despite his eclectic nature this book is very well done and really highlights how 1968 was a defining year for the world. From riots in the United States to the Prague Spring Kurlansky goes through the traumatic events of the year. He ties them together and although he does not offer a definite thesis it still makes for interesting reading.Book Review: Not one of my favorite Kurlansky's
Summary: 3 Stars
Mark Kurlansky is one of my favorite historians and has been since I first stumbled upon 'Salt." One of the things I like so much about the way he writes is that he seems to zero in one single factor (like salt) and ascribe every single aspect of history according to that factor. One might call that 'opinionated;' generally I think he is exaggerating to make a point. I find it a fascinating approach, and his books are not only informative, but so engaging they are difficult to put down. However, I had trouble with 1968, and just have not been able to get engrossed the way I usually do. Perhaps I was hoping for a more balanced approached. Usually, I find Kurlansky's passion infectious, but in 1968, perhaps because he was so involved in the events of the time, the book seems more biased than his usual work. (I'm too young to have participated in the events of the time, and don't have any strong political leanings either.) I didn't pay too much attention before I bought it, mainly since I simply like everything else I've read of his. Be forewarned that '1968' is a bit more personal than Kurlansky's other work. enjoy!Book Review: So-So
Summary: 3 Stars
Receives three stars for covering an interesting set of events that are often neglected. Receives only three stars for overly romanticizing the student-led movements in the West to the point of trivalizing the bravery of those in the Communist bloc and elsewhere. If you're an aging and nostalgic hippy/New Lefter, you'll like it. If you're honest, perhaps not.Book Review: Just a timeline of facts with little or no insight...boring
Summary: 1 Stars
Take your Websters dictionary, re-arrange the pages so there is no comprehensible order, place a new binder on it and retitle it "English, the langauage that rocked the world" and you've pretty much accomplished the same thing that this author has. I borrowed the audio book from the local library (I'm so glad I didn't pay for it)and expected a first hand insightful philosophical treatise on how and why the 1960's culture came into existence and how we are impacted today as a result of it. Instead, I suffered through 2 hours of cold impersonal disparate fact after fact after fact after fact with absolutely no insight or substance behind them until I could not bear the boredom anymore. There doesn't seem to be any logical order, cohesion or method to this approach...not even in a timeline format. It's like listening to 4 hours of random news stories, or like standing in front of a machine with a button that says "Press to generate random facts about 1968". I didn't think it was possible to make such an exciting year sound so dull and boring.