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ohevsfarim's review against another edition
1.0
I was perhaps a third through this book before I hoisted a white flag of surrender and quit. I was careful not to return it early to the library, however, in the hopes that I might save some other poor soul who might be as foolish as I to give it a read.
The book is rambling and poorly edited. Facts repeat themselves within the space of two pages, and the narrative seems more stream of consciousness than a well structured presentation of information.
The research is poor. Citations are marked with inverted commas, but the source isn’t always given. Proud though the author may have been to send emails to important persons and to receive (or not) responses, it’s not really pleasurable reading that emails tend to be the long and the short of the independent research. At least, I hope that’s all he did, because some of the information presented in the book proves to be incomplete or inaccurate with a bit of online research.
Simply, the book reads as though written by a calmer version of a position ventured by ‘the red-faced, argumentative man down at the pub’ the author mentions, rambling a bit from topic to topic, repeating itself, putting forth some factoids that seem of interest but are untrustworthy, and probably not as pleasurable as just drinking one’s pint in peace.
The book is rambling and poorly edited. Facts repeat themselves within the space of two pages, and the narrative seems more stream of consciousness than a well structured presentation of information.
The research is poor. Citations are marked with inverted commas, but the source isn’t always given. Proud though the author may have been to send emails to important persons and to receive (or not) responses, it’s not really pleasurable reading that emails tend to be the long and the short of the independent research. At least, I hope that’s all he did, because some of the information presented in the book proves to be incomplete or inaccurate with a bit of online research.
Simply, the book reads as though written by a calmer version of a position ventured by ‘the red-faced, argumentative man down at the pub’ the author mentions, rambling a bit from topic to topic, repeating itself, putting forth some factoids that seem of interest but are untrustworthy, and probably not as pleasurable as just drinking one’s pint in peace.
qwertyatty's review against another edition
4.0
A nice tour of the world through significant flags, then and now.
veecaswell's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and really gave a new perspective of how important religion is when it comes to National Identity - this is particularly clear in the 'Flags Of Fear' chapter.
An informed and well researched book that gives real insight in the significance of flags around the world that displays the humour of the author well. If you like writers such as Bill Bryson you'll like this.
An informed and well researched book that gives real insight in the significance of flags around the world that displays the humour of the author well. If you like writers such as Bill Bryson you'll like this.