You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
icfasntw 's review for:
The Penguin History of New Zealand
by Michael King
QUICK PITCH: A quick history of New Zealand, written in layman's terms.
VERDICT: Although it wasn't the most thrilling book I've ever read, this history was exactly what I wanted--a well-written and approachable overview of New Zealand's history for someone coming from a different country.
THINGS TO NOTE:
In some places, the author shifts around in time so he can speak about a specific aspect of history for an entire chapter. Basically, he chooses to focus on a topic (or, often, to focus on either Maori history or Pakeha history) rather than on the straight timeline. This jumping is a bit disorienting the first time, but I preferred the topic-based organization, so I got over the disoriented feeling.
As someone from the US, I found the discussion of the Maori/Pakeha relationship in New Zealand illuminating. The Maori/Pakeha relationship in NZ isn't perfect, but even with its flaws it is still better than than the relationship white people (in particular) have with Native Americans/First Nations people in the US. Hearing about how New Zealand has dealt with that relationship in the modern era was useful to see what the US might do (or avoid doing) in our future.
VERDICT: Although it wasn't the most thrilling book I've ever read, this history was exactly what I wanted--a well-written and approachable overview of New Zealand's history for someone coming from a different country.
THINGS TO NOTE:
In some places, the author shifts around in time so he can speak about a specific aspect of history for an entire chapter. Basically, he chooses to focus on a topic (or, often, to focus on either Maori history or Pakeha history) rather than on the straight timeline. This jumping is a bit disorienting the first time, but I preferred the topic-based organization, so I got over the disoriented feeling.
As someone from the US, I found the discussion of the Maori/Pakeha relationship in New Zealand illuminating. The Maori/Pakeha relationship in NZ isn't perfect, but even with its flaws it is still better than than the relationship white people (in particular) have with Native Americans/First Nations people in the US. Hearing about how New Zealand has dealt with that relationship in the modern era was useful to see what the US might do (or avoid doing) in our future.