Great book for the serious history lover
342939
I purchased this book for myself before taking a trip following the Oregon Trail.  I was overwhelmed by the detail of the maps so I gave the book as a gift to my travel partner and he LOVES it!  It is a great companion to Franzwa's 'The Oregon Trail Revisited'.
I used that for the turn by turn instructions and my 'navigator' used these maps.  If you are a serious trail follower you need this book of maps!
4416882
Full disclosure: I wrote a short piece for this volume.  And, after getting a look at the finished product, I can tell you without reservation I am so proud to have been allowed to participate.

Chuck and Gary have put together a great book, the type of thing that both entertains and - here's the cool part - inspires an interest in history.  (This book needs to be thrown into the hands of impressionable middle-schoolers everywhere.)

Wonderful art, well-researched stories, and factoids abound.  Worth your time whether you're a lover of history or solid storytelling.
2842152
This second volume proved to be a great sequel to the first volume. I was hoping that it would continue all the way to the Edict of Nantes, but it ended at the time of the death of Charles IX, a time when the Huguenots were recovering from the St. Bartholemew Day's massacre. However, what it covered it described in great and interesting detail. The descriptions in the book were lively and vivid and I really felt as though I was right there watching what was taking place. This is history at its best.

Of course, this is not the book for the casual reader. One has to want to know the details of this persecuted people, as well as the intrigues that were going on in the French court at the time, to really appreciate this book. But for someone who is a serious student of history, I would highly recommend this.

It would also be helpful to know some French, since many of the quotations in the footnotes (although not in the text) are not translated into English. But that's a minor problem, all things considered.
4571352
This isn't your average book.  It combines eastern front fighting and italy, along with the inside of the soviet union and gulag camps, so you are really getting more bang for your buck !  This history isn't dry at all.  And this guy had me laughing pretty hard, because he is so down to earth and tells things as he remembers them.  Its so hard to pick out a favorite "discovery/fact", but one of the best is the volkswagen kubelwagen versus jeep race.  I have the vw thing which is its cousin, and this just thrilled me to pieces.  I don't think you will be sorry you bought this book, with its large amount of pages.  I read a lot about the soviet union, gulags, germany, and the eastern front, and this book just sets itself apart.  I highly recommend it.
1910646
I LOVE this book, and I honestly can't say enough good things about it. It is easy to read and comprehensive in both the breadth and depth of its subject matter. That said, it is not a casual read. This was fine by me since I was motivated to actually learn the history and not some fairy-tale, romanticized version of it. The prose is clear, and the author does a tremendous job or helping you put aside your own prejudices on the subject prior to reading the book and puts you in the mind of our fellow citizens at that time and place. WONDERFUL!
4965485
this is a wonderfully written book, especially for the students and lovers of history. easy to read, well documented and highly recommended. joshua stein knows his "stuff".

Howard R.
4894967
Meticulously researched, this book is a must for avid history buffs.  As for the casual reader, it's overloaded with minute details about everything.  There is just too much detail to get drawn into the actual drama of the amazing story.  The narrator of the audio book has a great delivery, and it's a nice story to listen to as you can tune out all of the excesses.  The English perspective offers interesting insights and some amusing moments.
184692
I pretend to shrink from what one might call "this sort of history". I have learned to call it  "guilty pleasure" of history in that it is of a sort that does not have so much a role in forming history as it is fun to read. I should be paying more attention to the revisionist deconstruction of opposing memoirs of the Gallic Wars, but I am weak.

This is a book of serious history. It is also fun, which I slightly prefer to the term for a page-turner a.k.a. "riveting". The extra-textual sections testify amply.

The writing itself is never sensationalist or affected. It is clear by intent and easy to consume. The appendices are:
 - Key Dates
 - Praetorian Pay and Organization
 - Praetorian Prefects
 - Glossary

Then come seventeen pages of notes. This is a working historian, not some sensationalist cream-puff.

Wait, there is more... near five pages of top notch commentary on references (you hardly eve see the author's ideas on this stuff).
And finally the references themselves, as well as a nice bibliography.

We are left with things to ponder. Forces behind the throne today. As Aretha Franklin would say "Who'se Zoomin' whom?"
4715988
Really liked this book. Filled with lots of history, which isn't my area of expertise but still enjoyed it!
3905983
As a history major I throughly enjoyed reading this book. It's an easy read (a little under 300 pages) and it will not bore you to death, like some other history books I have read in the past. Feinman does a great job story-telling the scenerios in which presidents have gotten assassinated, and almost assassinated. In addition, the back story to each assassination/assassination attempt is written very well, and you will get a clear understanding to why each assassin had their reasons. I highly recommend this book, even to those who are not history buffs. Get the book you will not be disappointed.
4242482
I had read To Try Men's Souls and loved it, so bought this book at a specialty shop (discounted hardback). I love these authors' approach to bringing history to life. You can read nonfiction history books and get somewhat of a feel for what went on, but in a thoroughly researched and well-written novel like this one, you feel that you live the history along with the characters. Highly recommended.
1430372
I enjoyed this book. I knew little about Paul Vl but was always curious about him. This book is very detailed & for the serious seeker of history very satisfying.

I bought this book second hand through Amazon's service & was very satisfied. Don't be afraid to use this service. I got an old Library copy that was hardly ever used & came with a very good book jacket.
772114
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to students studying this time period  and everyone who has an interest in history.  It is beautifully written and illustrated and extremely well resourced.
4506315
I chose this book to review because I thoroughly enjoy history, and in this volume you get a varied glimpse of the history of America, I especially enjoyed viewing the copies of various documents that shaped our nation, such as the Constitution, and Abe Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. I would easily say that my two favorite section of this book was at the very beginning. One was about five pages and is titled The American Patriot, the other is title Twelve Great Reasons To Love A Great Country. These reasons will remind us, if we need reminders, of why we should be grateful and proud to live in the greatest country in the world.

Each chapter of this book is actually a month of the year, and for each day of the month you are provided a list of historical events that happened on that day in history. It was quite interesting to look up what happened on my birthday, and a friend of mine was surprised that the Civil War began on her birthday in 1861.

There are articles peppered throughout such as The History of The Stars and Stripes, Flag Etiquette, The Bill of Rights and the Pledge of Allegiance to name just a few. It is really amazing that so much information can be packed in this book, it seems like each time I open it I find something new to read.

This book is a definite keeper and would make a great gift for anyone that loves American History. I think it would also be a valuable tool for homeschoolers. I think it would be great in public schools as well,because children need to know what makes our country great and this book does just that without making it boring!

Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review by Booksneeze it in no way alters my opinion of this book.
408135
Awesome book of history, easy to understand and also easy to read. The author motivates you to search more about this topics and is not another boring history book that you will left at the middle, it's totally different. I recommended for those who like and want to learn about military history and everything related with the world war.
868812
I am so interested in history, but typically I find it hard to read history books due to their dull tone. This book is so engaging and informative. His writing style is more like a conversation - asking questions and engaging the reader to deeply explore cause and effect. I was recommended this book on several different occasions before I finally took the time to order it. Now I am recommending it to you!
4968887
Great book. Highly recommended for any military history enthusiast.