David Anderson

Excellent, concise and balanced history

Revisado: 05-15-24

Sometimes books about complex historical topics are difficult to follow or get bogged down in uninteresting or unnecessary trivia. This history explains things well, in an easily digestible and straight forward telling. It has many great details and analyses of decisions made. With such a topic, strange biases about one side or another can often frustrate, but his recounting respects heroes in an honest way, describes more negative characters fairly, and represents both perspectives of the two civilizations reasonably and with interest. I feel I understand this series of conflicts much better now.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Good though tinged with some ideological issues.

Revisado: 10-24-23

This is a very informative and concise summary of Gullah history and culture. I learned alot while listening. There was one major complaint and one minor one, connected to ideology I think.

First, it begins with a very positive and respectful description of the Gullah. But then it lists some well known people connected to it: Michelle Obama, Jim Brown and I think it was Joe Louis. They were a little loosely connected. However, the supreme court justice, Clarence Thomas not only grew up in a Gullah community, but spoke the language as his primary language, growing up, learning English later. He's one of the most powerful men in the country. There is no way the author was not aware of that. That causes me to question how much he actually respects the people, or just the ones that fit with his ideology.

Second, the minor qualm, he refers to the white slaveowners as "deluded" for believing black people had thicker skin. However, he deals with beliefs about "boo hags" from the Gullah, along with other superstitions with understanding and a lack of disparagement. That's distracting.

Overall though, it was a great concise history.

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Eye opening

Revisado: 05-01-21

I expected this to have racist anti-immigrant undertones. But the discussion of where culture comes from and some of the ideas and beliefs we take for granted, in contrast with many of the worldviews of islamic immigrants that have entered Europe recently was straight forward and thoughtful.

Honestly, it was a little depressing to listen to. I'm not European. I'm concerned for them though.

This was a good and important book to listen through, though difficult due to the content. I recommend it.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Excellent

Revisado: 04-10-21

A thought-provoking book that explained a great deal of how individuals and society make decisions with limited knowledge. It is a must-listen, if a bit dense at times. I had to review a couple chapters to follow along.

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Excellent, informative and well-written

Revisado: 10-21-20

This book answers so many questions I didn't even know how to articulate, about the economy. It simplifies large concepts that seem unobtainable, so they can be understood by the not well-versed reader--but also instills an understanding of the complexity of specific issues that are often portrayed as straightforward. It was very informative and I will listen to it again.

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