Christopher

Becomes boring half way through

Revisado: 01-28-24

First contact comes at the very end and is completely uninspired. Then one character makes a book’s worth of assumptions about the visitors in one thought. There’s also several chapters about non-characters in the middle of the book with no connection to anything, and no real resolution. What a waste.

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Gossip for people who don’t care about gossip

Revisado: 12-10-22

Well written, fascinating, engaging. Not made-up celebrities but actual historical figures. Which makes their drama so much more fascinating. A great book for those of us who would never bother watching Netflix nonsense about Kardashians or other commoners.

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World History through the lens of the silk roads

Revisado: 10-23-18

Very good book, large, sweeping arcs of history made comprehensible. For general history enthusiasts, an entertaining and fulfilling read. My only gripe is the political stance of the writer, which becomes apparent in later chapters dealing with modern history. There's a little too much criticism of Western European governments and civilization, which is of course de rigueur among modern academics, and of course the all-too-predictable glowing praise of medieval Middle Eastern civilization, with analysis of modern Middle Eastern and Persian Gulf civilization that borders on the apologetic. Otherwise, good read.

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More uncomfortable truths

Revisado: 02-13-18

Lots of intellectuals, critics, culturists, an social arbiters make a name for themselves with their pronouncements, advice, criticisms, opinions, etc., and of course, the more controversial and the more stridently and loudly then make them, the more notoriety and publicity they garner. Camille, happily for us, has chosen as her attention-getting angle, to pronounce TRUTH!

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No one's going to do any of that stuff.

Revisado: 02-13-18

The book's strength is making the reader aware of the countless vulnerabilities we face every day in our technological society. The book's weakness is the lengthy and obnoxious steps outlined to protect yourself, that no one is actually going to do. After all tedious and impractical advice given, the most I did was put a 4 digit passcode on my iphone.

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LOL, these last couple of years ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

Revisado: 02-13-18

Great book, you will laugh out loud at some of the moments and situations described in this book. You have to keep reminding yourself it isn't fiction. Well, you'll laugh out loud if you are happy with Trump becoming president. You might cry if you are not. But we can all agree that we live in historically significant times, and this book is admittedly a gloat-fest by the "side" that "won". I put those words in quotes because 100 years from now all of this hyper-emotional and hyper-political sentiment will most likely be interpreted and thought about differently.

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Deprogram yourself from a lifetime of propaganda.

Revisado: 02-13-18

If you feel actual physical pleasure from having a lifetime of social, historical, cultural, and academic programming broken down and swept away, and replaced with logic and uncomfortable truths, this is the book for you!

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Good Sci-Fi. Becomes less interesting as you go

Revisado: 02-13-18

I really LOVED this book, for the first half or so. Great, original Sci-Fi. Then it sort of becomes a sequence of battles, and the futuristic insights and creative thoughts drop off precipitously. The sequences in which the main character's consciousness fades into hallucinations constructed from half-remembered failing memories grows old quickly. The reader does not speak in especially different, distinguished voices for each character, which makes the performance a bit dull. And the story ends without much of resolution - perhaps the writer is leaving it open for sequels. Overall, it was OK, but about halfway through I dropped my intention to recommend it to my other Sci-Fi appreciating friend.

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Time well spent for history buffs!

Revisado: 10-28-15

WWII from inside Japan. I said the same thing for "Red Flag - A History of Communism" - the books fills in much detail and perspective otherwise omitted when we normally encounter this history.

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Time well spent for history buffs

Revisado: 10-28-15

Provides a wide and deep perspective on world events in the last century. The reader is EXTRAORDINARY in his pronunciation of names and places in many languages. Not the most exciting book, but fills in a lot of detail on a subject that is oversimplified in every other place we encounter it.

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