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gbeckner's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
devonforest's review against another edition
5.0
This is the type of non-fiction book that I enjoy. While I was disappointed to find that this only covered the first half of the war (I've already ordered the second book) it's the part of the war that I don't know much about. Definitely a good first hand insight into what was going on. It was interesting to see how much was censored by the German media/military and how they twisted the facts to meet their needs. Very informative and interesting read. Plus being in a journal/diary format made it much easier to read and not so much like a history textbook. I learned a lot from this; looking forward to getting the next one in the mail
pinkgallah's review
4.0
I'm so glad this exists. A real-time, eloquent account of so many horrible things. A few dabs of humour and beauty but mostly horrible things.
Nearly 5 stars. Only not because I could have done without some of the details.
This worked well as an audiobook.
Nearly 5 stars. Only not because I could have done without some of the details.
This worked well as an audiobook.
a_beautiful_soup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
graceless's review
5.0
Finally finished this on my last morning visiting Berlin. What a fantastic book. I usually struggle with straight up history and this was perfect for me - history written as it was happening. Highly recommend it
maria_pulver's review
5.0
A real and only slightly edited diary that documented Shirer’s life as a foreign correspondent in Nazi Germany provides a day-to-day observations into various aspects of the country that started WW2.
Though sometimes Shirer is too judgmental and biased towards the German people or various Europeans governments and is not understanding or attentive enough of the prosecution of the Jews, the book describes a society built on lies, propaganda and promotion of false values. It reads as a cautionary tale, especially nowadays, when Putin’s Russia employs the same strategy and the same justification while invading Ukraine.
Though sometimes Shirer is too judgmental and biased towards the German people or various Europeans governments and is not understanding or attentive enough of the prosecution of the Jews, the book describes a society built on lies, propaganda and promotion of false values. It reads as a cautionary tale, especially nowadays, when Putin’s Russia employs the same strategy and the same justification while invading Ukraine.
socorrobaptista's review
3.0
Diários costumam ser muito pessoais, o que não é, certamente, o caso deste livro de Shirer. Claro que há momentos muito pessoais narrados no texto, como o nascimento de sua filha e os riscos que ele e a família correram nos anos de guerra, mas o principal foco são os eventos ocorridos durante o tempo que o jornalista passou como correspondente estrangeiro em Berlin, e a forma como ele vê e percebe as ações tanto dos alemães como dos aliados, embora nem sempre possa narrar os fatos, devido a uma forte censura por parte dos militares alemães que o vigiavam durante suas transmissões radiofônicas. É uma forma muito interessante de ver a histórica contata por alguém que, mesmo sem ter acessos a todas as informações, consegue nos passar uma imagem muito precisa dos acontecimentos. Gostei, e recomendo.
#ReadHarderChallenge2019
#ReadHarderChallenge2019
kiperoo's review
4.0
Fabulous first-hand accout of the years leading up to and then the beginning of WWII by a correspondent based (mostly) in Berlin.