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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
informative
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
informative
fast-paced
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
slow-paced
informative
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
8/10. Tim Marshall is no academic, and A Flag Worth Dying For is not a sophisticated read. And that's okay. I do not think this book deserves to be punished for its casual tone, corny jokes, and overall simplicity. There's a valuable place on any book shelf for a book that packs a lot of digestible information into a lean package that requires a low time commitment.
I am not saying that this book works as an adequate substitute for learning about the rise of European nation states, the complex relationships between religion and national identity in the Islamic world, Latin American revolutions, post-colonial independence movements, or the ideologies and theologies of terrorist groups. However, this book succeeds as an entry point for people who want to dip their toes into the kid's pool of international affairs, history, and culture.
I do, however, have to take some points off for Marshall's at times immature writing and poor editing. In the introduction, Marshall admits that he never set out to write a comprehensive text covering all the flags of the world, but the end result seems like it did not quite get to the point of being "complete enough." Some discussions of flags (e.g. Peru) were so bare-bones they felt like incomplete filler that should either have been fleshed out or removed entirely. Personally, I found the chapters on the Middle East, Africa, and terrorist groups most interesting. The closing chapter on non-state flags was by far the weakest.
Overall, I think this book is a good pit stop for readers of all levels, but should be the final destination for none.
I am not saying that this book works as an adequate substitute for learning about the rise of European nation states, the complex relationships between religion and national identity in the Islamic world, Latin American revolutions, post-colonial independence movements, or the ideologies and theologies of terrorist groups. However, this book succeeds as an entry point for people who want to dip their toes into the kid's pool of international affairs, history, and culture.
I do, however, have to take some points off for Marshall's at times immature writing and poor editing. In the introduction, Marshall admits that he never set out to write a comprehensive text covering all the flags of the world, but the end result seems like it did not quite get to the point of being "complete enough." Some discussions of flags (e.g. Peru) were so bare-bones they felt like incomplete filler that should either have been fleshed out or removed entirely. Personally, I found the chapters on the Middle East, Africa, and terrorist groups most interesting. The closing chapter on non-state flags was by far the weakest.
Overall, I think this book is a good pit stop for readers of all levels, but should be the final destination for none.