Leglessbird Reading guide

China: A Macro History (East Gate Books) (buy from Amazon) by Ray Huang

Type: History
Author: Ray Huang
My rating: 5

Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
The Chinese history from a Macro prospective. It talks about the tax system, the economical system of China.

My review:
Very interesting reading, taking a very different angle than the history book that I was taught as a kid. Instead of glorifying what the emperors had done during their era, the book examines the economic impact and the government systems.

Posted by irene

An Introduction to Modern European History, 1890-1990 (Access to History - Context S.) (buy from Amazon) by Alan FarmerType: History
Author: Alan Farmer
My rating: 3
Book introduction:
Published by Hodder & Stoughton. Content covers:
1. The Domestic Scene 1890-1914
2. The Orgins of the First World War
3. The Impact of the First World War
4. The Soviet Union 1917-41
5. Germany 1918-39
6. Italy, Spain and France 1918-39
7. The Causes of the Second World War
8. The Second World War and the Holocaust
9. Europe and the Cold War 1945-90

My review:
It is a good book for students. The historiographical biography boxes, "points to consider" sections, "key issues" boxes, and source material help you to follow more easily.

The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History (buy from Amazon) by Michael H. Hart
Type: History
Author: Michael Hart
My rating: 4
Book introduction:
This book attempts to rank the 100 most influential people of mankind of all time.

My review:
You may or may not agree with the author, but it is a very interesting book. Reading through this book is like reading the world history in just one book.

1421: The Year China Discovered America (buy from Amazon) by Gavin Menzies

Type: History
Author: Gavin Menzies
My rating: 5

Book introduction:
Based on 10 years of research by Gavin Menzies, piecing together evidence that Zheng He had conducted a great sea voyage to explore the world in the early 15th century. Many of the evidence, ideas and facts contradicts the conventional beliefs that many of the places were discovered by European explorers. This includes America, Australia and more. Gavin went as far to claim that the European explorers already had some maps obtained directly/indirectly from Chinese. If the research work of this book are proven correct, history books will have to be rewritten. It also explains technical breakthrough and long history of star charting practice, for example the Chinese technique to accurately measure longtitude, 300 years before the Western world was able to master the technology.

My review:
Gavin Menzies has an interesting combination of background that makes him unique in undertaking this research work, his link to China (he spent his years in China), he is an experienced navy navigator and is able to comprehen deeper meaning and extract more information of ancient maps.

Chinese has long known about the great exploration by Zheng He during the Ming dynasty, this is a more complete and extensive collection of evidence.

This is certainly a very interesting and easy to read book, whether you agree with its findings.

View more information from the official website http://www.1421.tv

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