Excellent look at history from the people's level
342055
In this book Moorhouse seeks to tell the story of life in the German capital during WWII, a surprising story perhaps for many who already have a picture of life during the Nazi regime. Using many sources (some rather well-known and others not so well-known) the author describes life in the city during the uncertain early months of the war, confusion as the battle includes the occupation of Norway and Denmark and elation when it seemed as if the war would be over following the Fall of France. Topics studied include the effect of air raids, the megalomaniacal construction program to make Berlin the showpiece of Europe (even as bombs fell from the skies), food rationing, evacuations, the secret police, slave labor, the Holocaust... all of these subjects are dealt with in this book and in many ways this book is a microcosm of every day life in the Third Reich during the war. Well-written, Berlin at War is an excellent study and an easy read. Illustrated with two sets of photos corresponding to segments in the text.
4511346
Wonderful book to learn history from a personal account.
430361
A wonderful trip through time and history seen through the eyes of 'normal' people that experienced the moment. A must read!
546639
Walter McDougall is a giant of the History field. This book and his follow-up "Throes of Democracy" cover American History from the earliest settlers through Reconstruction. The "Freedom" book covers up to the rise of Jackson. McDougal writes about the people who shape each era, smaller interesting contributors and those who made a huge impact but are now largely forgotten. Dr. McDougal's way with words makes this a page turner. It is a long read, but I was sorry to see it end. Whether you are a casual non-fiction reader or serious historian, reading this book is both an interesting and learning experience. I highly recommend it.
363373
This book brought such insight into a time in our history that does not get much personal attention.  To take history and make it as personal as this takes a very talented writer as well as an avid historian and someone with a true heart.
4521349
Does a great job of helping to understand people we all know in terms of their historical perspective.
4211562
Great insight into the culture, People and sites.
4384990
It is a shame that more Americans don't have an appreciation for U.S. history.  This book is able to fill in all that so many of us once learned in school, but since forgot.
Davis offers an entertaining, accessible approach to history.  Including the little anecdotes that make history fun, as well as some of the perspectives that we might not have learned in school.  I actaully read this before I started teaching social studies and am glad that I did.  This does not "dumb down" history, but refreshes the details of events.  LEt's face it- who really remembers the details of the tea pot dome scandal?
This fun and useful to have around.  Also, his Civil War volume is great, too!
2775128
This book illustrates history through the eyes of ordinary people and extraordinary people. The midwife is new to this era of history (the Revolutionary  War).  The role of women at this time is also interesting. The book discusses the wife of John Adams and how she was able to bear his long absences during this time. The pace was brisk and you wanted to get to the next part.
4830550
HISTORY THROUGH THE EYES OF THOSE WHO LIVED SHARED IT
713389
If history isa feast, as Margaret MacMillan puts it, the savour comes from its people. Indeed, MacMillans People should be a required dish for anyone interested in the study of history not only because of the fascinating personalities she discusses, but because of the way she does it.

In short, her writing is lucid, engaging, and scholarly without being elitist or condescending.  Much ink has been spilt discussing Bismarck, FDR, Hitler, Stalin or Thatcher, but rarely has reading about them been so muchfun (this adjective, of course, is not a judgment of their actions). Moreover, apart from these historical giants which she categorizes by their personality traits, Macmillan adds a wonderful homage to the less know figures in Canadian history, intrepid women explorers, and a concluding tribute to select diary keepers who make the study of history not only more interesting, but often possible.

One final note. No, MacMillan does not deny the importance of larger political, economic, or social forces which, as it were, make history, but she suggests that it is the specific personalities of the aforementioned people that resulted in their seizing power and inflicting such powerful historical shifts we live (and grapple with) even today.

This is history par excellence from an excellent historian and a writer.
243803
Suetonius, one of the great Roman historians, gives a detailed account of the lives and follies of twelve of the Roman Caesars.  He goes not only into their political lives but their personal lives as well, looking at the  faults and their sometimes humorous shortcomings.  It is a very vivid and  racy history, but that is what good history does, it exposes the innermost  facets of the past, and like Suetonius, without being bias.  This is an  excellent book, not just for history students, but for any who would like a  more personal and informative look at the men behind the deified  personalities of Imperial Rome.  Not only does it include the histories of  the Caesars but also maps, genealogical tables, an index of names, and a  helpful little key of names and places of the past and where the present  day location is located. Overall this is a very good book that is well  translated and very fun to read.  It is both informative and amusing at the  same time.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone, and am glad to  see that a high school student has read and taken the time to give a  review.  Not many high school students get a chance to read, let alone such  authors as Suetonius and the like.  I hope others will continue to read and  encourage others to do the same.
214657
This is not a light read, but it is well worth the time and effort. You just take it chapter by chapter, as there is a lot to digest. Sometimes you might double back to recall details and dates of developments. It puts s human face to the major Human Rights developments in modern history. It showcases how the civilized world came about - via highly-talented, highly-motivated people who had vision. Their vision has not always been followed in the manner they envisaged.
3584353
Wonderful history of the writing of our Constitution.  Written to be read by non-history-buffs as well as serious historians.  Covers the issues and the personalities that colored the formation of our unique government, the myriad discussions (many heated) on subjects that we still debate today, the ability of these highly educated men of many different backgrounds to compromise and agree on major points and bring a new country into being.
A great read----and highly regarded by history experts.
4533075
Great personal account with interesting history thrown in.
131592
This is an excellent work by a fine writer who is in the know. Many have a fuzzy awareness of history but as the reality of the reality of the American Empire and the people involved in its founding are brought t o light it does raise one's brows. It is a companion piece to
the Untold History of the United State that presents much of the same from the perspective of looking at the Presidents and their administrations from FDR to Obama. I can't say enough about both of these books-just excellent and what needs to be taught in U.S. History classes.
229036
This is as good of a historical overview of pre-Revolutionary War America you are going to find anywhere. I have always considered myself a good student of American history compared to so many of my fellow citizens. I have learned so much from reading just the first few chapters of this book.  The vast amount of information is impressive, and this is not a book that someone wants to rush through - I am taking my time digesting the depth and breadth of the complexities that contributed to our nation's beginnings.

Highly recommended to understand that the ideals and principles of our Founding Fathers were not so clear cut (as is widely believed), and there was a great deal of public political disagreement between many of this countries founders.  The roots of mankind's first Democracy were messy and wide-ranging. Yet, the end result was the birth of the world's eventually beacon of freedom and liberty.

Our current politicians could take a lesson or two from this book in order to understand that politically purity and refusing to compromise is an utterly ignorant way to fashion and govern a democratic republic.  Engaging in simplistic political rhetoric and revisionist history is not the embodiment of leadership. Rather, they would find that leading requires learning how to integrate opposing principles into a well-reasoned, balanced, and unified vision for all Americans. Not just pandering to a narrow constituency.