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coldinaugust's review
4.0
I am so, so curious to know what happened to all of the families in this 1993-1994 book. Where are they now? Who has died? How? Who had more kids? Who moved to another country? How have their countries progressed, and how has that affected them? Maybe in a few years they'll do a twentieth anniversary update. That'd be swell.
engpunk77's review
4.0
Well, this book consumed my Sunday, and I feel that I've taken a quick tour of the average family in 20 countries. The content via photograph was amazing, but I felt that there wasn't enough explanation. I'd have preferred a documentary, I suppose, as I didn't feel that was able to learn enough from the pictures. Perhaps I didn't dedicate enough time to each photograph, but I ended up with way more questions than answers.
I think my son will enjoy this, but the text is too difficult for him. He's the type that enjoys examining every detail in a photograph/picture, so I think this will be the perfect match for him anyway.
I think my son will enjoy this, but the text is too difficult for him. He's the type that enjoys examining every detail in a photograph/picture, so I think this will be the perfect match for him anyway.
maxandrambo's review against another edition
4.0
I first came across this book as a sixth grader (maybe) in my middle school's library c. 1999. It stuck with me. Reading it all these years later is a completely different experience as now it's not only a commentary on the way people live all around the world but it also serves as a sort of global time capsule. So much has changed since the book was published in '94 and it is fascinating to behold.
jenniferclaire's review against another edition
5.0
There needs to be a copy of this book in every home. Would love to see this updated every decade.
libscote's review against another edition
3.0
I'm giving this only three stars because it's dated, but otherwise it's a really excellent look at what material goods people own around the world, using the average family in each country to calculate. I can see why a teacher would use this as a basis for country reports.
bibliocyclist's review against another edition
4.0
Created in honor of the UN's Year of the Family in 1994, this is a fascinating photograph-and-essay collection that catalogues the ways of life and material possessions of thirty "statistically average" families in thirty countries, from Mali to the U.S. to Iraq.
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