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Great Introduction

Revisado: 06-22-24

This is a classic overview of the Pacific War that has largely stood the test of time.

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Best Single-Volume History of the 30 Years' War

Revisado: 10-09-23

This is easily the best single volume history of the Thirty Years' War hands down. Wilson covers a lot of ground here while also effectively contesting a number of perceptions and narratives about the conflict (particularly those of political scientists/IR academics). That being said, it probably is better read on the page than an audible listen, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

A solid introduction to a great, flawed folk hero

Revisado: 06-11-23

The audio is uneven at times, dropping in volume or cutting out entirely.

Content itself is generally good and interesting, but one is left wanting more detail often.

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A Personalized Story

Revisado: 06-06-23

This was among the best biographies I've read thus far. That being said, some readers may be disappointed that the book does not spend significant amounts of time on Bush's specific policies, voting records, and such. I, however, found that radically refreshing for presidential biographies because the author does a splendid job of portraying Bush's personal life, making extensive use of his diaries & interviews, and how he approached decision-making.

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An Erudite Single-Volume Review

Revisado: 03-17-23

Perhaps the most succinct review of a subject so vast it fills multi-volume series. Of course, Showalter could have included much more, but that is not the point of this work (he has written much on the army of the Kaiserreich and I'd recommend his other books for a more granular perspective).

This book is the accumulated reflections on the First World War German military from one of the best English-language historians of the German military of the past century. Its value, therefore, is primarily in driving an understanding of larger concepts and perspectives on various debates surrounding myths of the First World War.

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Bold...but seemingly unsubstantiated

Revisado: 09-20-22

Highly contrarian and apolgetic which are not themselves bad things, but when backed up with little more than the author's speculation (precisely when they claim that the object of their criticism is simple speculation) is perhaps too risky and could've used some peer reviewers.

The author certainly does a service in encouraging readers to think more critically about the subject at hand (American military dominance), but is so thoroughly blasé about their own assertions that it's difficult to take the author seriously outside of their critiques of establishment thinking.

Moreover, for all the author's claims of Americans lacking conceptions of war and strategy, he himself appears ignorant of maritime strategy in any sense and nearly conflates continental strategy with economies of scale.

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A Great Introduction to East Asia

Revisado: 03-13-21

The majority of the lectures were great. Once they reached modern times, however, they became a little too much like breif overviews. Perhaps that was just due to personal familiarity with the modern history though.

Many comments criticize the lecturer's lack of CCP criticism which is valid enough. However, I don't think that invalidates the series as a whole. I would be pretty skeptical of saying "x thing the Chinese communist party has done" has fundamentally influenced East Asian culture writ large. They probably should've just avoided that whole minefield and ended the series when it reached the 19th century.

Some comments have also lamented the centrality of China in the course. This seems to be rather silly since China has historically been the center of East Asian culture and geopolitics. That being said, it would've enhanced the series to spend more time on other cultures, but it is already quite lengthy.

In any case, the lecturer presented the course wonderfully, articulate and cogent.

I definitely recommend it as an introduction to East Asian history and culture.

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