History of The World - Simon Adams

Advantages: One of the best Polish history books around
Disadvantages: Some areas go into less depth than others

...The English language coverage of Polish history is uneven at best. It often carries a Western bias, and can reduce the turbulent history of the country to stereotypes. However, Adam Zamoyski~{!/~}s book The Polish Way in a major exception. The book details the rich cultural heritage and complex politics of Poland over the past thousand years, from its foundation in the 10th century right up until its recent problems, with a great deal in between. Not many people in the West realise that Poland was once a powerful commonwealth covering almost all of Eastern Europe, and the book goes into great depth about the spectacular rise and dramatic fall of the Polish commonwealth. The military aspect of Polish empire building is also very well covered. Possibly the greatest aspect of this book, however, is its coverage of Poland... Read review

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Advantages: Amusing, quirky insight full of historical detail
Disadvantages: Absolutely none.

...decades before Adam Smith formalised the concepts. We follow the general thrust of European and then World history…and the role the Basque nation or, more often, individuals of Basque nationality or descent play in it. Some of these are of global significance such as Loyola or Simon Bolivar (who was of Vizcayan stock), but many are the forgotten people...burned as witches or not even achieving that (in)fame…simple ordinary people. Their story is told here too. The villages that rivalled Salem for mass hysteria in confession. The recipes handed down through the years. The design of the houses, the sun worship, the bread & salt blessings. The truth of the whale and the myth of the billy goat. If the first part of the book might be thought to focus on the whimsical characteristics of the Basque heritage - insofar as the persecution... Read review

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Advantages: Really great and well written ideas
Disadvantages: No movie, and the sad news of Douglas Adams’s death

...Of The Soul), co wrote ‘Last Chance To See’ - a zoology book - also a radio series + CD ROM, co-wrote ‘The Meaning Of Liff’, done TV and radio shows about the Internet and computers, talks on Apple Computers (he bought the first two sold in Britain), written computer games and numerous other things, more detail and info on the Douglas Adams web site - http://www.douglasadams.com/, he also named Pink Floyd’s album ‘The Division Bell’ (his friends - they offered to make a donation to one of his favourite charities if he gave them a name). ~~History~~ Born on the 11th March 1952, and named Douglas Noel Adams (DNA, and also known as bop ad), he was considered a strange child and a little slow (walking into lampposts and taking a while to learn to talk). He was 12 when he first got anything into print that being a short story in the Eagle, about... Read review

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