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mj470's review
4.0
This is a sweeping overview of Europe through both world wars. The commentary asks all the questions I've had about how the current world order was set after these upheavals. It gives so much clarity to the conflicts we are begging to live through again.
I have read some of Ian Kershaw's books about Stalingrad and I really like how he presents historical ideologies.
I have read some of Ian Kershaw's books about Stalingrad and I really like how he presents historical ideologies.
brokenlikefour's review
4.0
A clear, cohesive and refreshing take on the events leading up to the First and Second World War. Every chapter is build up from different perspectives (societal, individual, political, economical), allowing the reader to form a plain overview of these defining periods in recent history.
wescovington's review
4.0
Despite my on and off reading of this book, I really enjoyed it. Kershaw makes a topic that most people know quite a bit about already and still makes it relevant. While most histories of Europe at this tend to fall in to histories of the biggest countries (Britain, France, Germany, and Russia), Kershaw covers just about every country in Europe at the time, and not just to mention them being overrun by the Nazis.
The history of Europe in the first half of the 20th Century may seem like a history of wars, it was far more than that. I can't say though that from reading this book, I would have liked to have lived in any country of Europe at this time with the possible exception of Switzerland.
The history of Europe in the first half of the 20th Century may seem like a history of wars, it was far more than that. I can't say though that from reading this book, I would have liked to have lived in any country of Europe at this time with the possible exception of Switzerland.
cncept's review against another edition
4.0
Anyone who wants a very well written and interesting, compressed Exposition of the events in the first half of the 20th century should read this book! While it can be a bit exhausting for like 50 pages near the end, it really informs you better than the mere eduaction you are exposed to in school..
theycallmemorty's review
4.0
Dense, comprehensive and deep. Not light reading. That said, everyone should read this to understand the rise of Nazism and the roles of liberalism, communism and fascism in European history.
felitfelix's review against another edition
5.0
作为目前中译本的《企鹅欧洲史》收官之作，这本书无疑是个压轴大戏。作者在叙述一战二战的时候并没有将过多的笔墨放在战争过程上，而是将大部分力气放在了前因后果以及边缘的影响，比如意识形态、党政、文化与艺术、边疆的变迁、组织的立废等等。这样的好处就是读者不会卡在一长串地名、人名中间而不能切身感受到两战发生的逻辑，而历史的逻辑在我看来是从任何一部史书中能学到最重要的东西。《企鹅欧洲史》的中译本自此也就告一段落了，不知道已经写好的第九本什么时候会被翻译，而第四本，也是我最喜欢的文艺复兴时期估计要到2021年才能写完，有译本出来可能也是2022年了。总体来说这套书还是有挑战性的，并不是通俗历史读物。但是从另一个角度来讲，读完必定也是比那种一睹为快的读物要学到更多的东西。我很开心在过去的将近两个月的时间内马不停地刷完了这套书。问起欧洲史，我会推荐给任何人，但是一定要做好下苦功的准备，而不是蜻蜓点水的愉快阅读体验能带过的。