This book was very enjoyable, narrative, and engaging effort to explain what is perhaps one of the most facinating and famous clashes of all time. TheThis book was very enjoyable, narrative, and engaging effort to explain what is perhaps one of the most facinating and famous clashes of all time. The author took efforts to make the reader understand not only the personalities of the conflict, but the atmosphere and environs in which the events took place. The result is a clear and consise history, with every effort made to remain unbaised and retain historical details, without completely sacrificing the story itself. It is certainly not a boring play-by-play of the seige.
If you are not generally familiar with the Ottomans or the Byzantine Empire, you might want to read a few online sources before reading this book.
My only complaint was that, in an effort to make the text readable for the average person and more narrative in general, the author does not cite sources, but includes a chapter on original sources at the end....more
I read just the intro and then put this aside (it was a heavy intro). For my work, it doesn't pay to waste another week wading through this book for wI read just the intro and then put this aside (it was a heavy intro). For my work, it doesn't pay to waste another week wading through this book for what may not be useful. In the end, I know it will be a handy reference later on in my thesis writing process, but I need to get a better handle on some specifics first.
It's well written and tries not to read like a chronology, though it can't help it. It's dry reading, but simply written, so its a great resource if you know what aspects of Maori politics you need to grasp....more
This book worked for me as it allowed me to formulate some of my thesis questions with an attention to identity development and the role of moko. WhilThis book worked for me as it allowed me to formulate some of my thesis questions with an attention to identity development and the role of moko. While the book deals most with ethnicity, it does not attempt to point out a single answer to why identity conflicts develope or how identities themselves are formulated. Furthermore, the authors are unafraid to tread into anthro a bit, talking about ritual and traditions and their role in the formation of collective notions of identity....more
I read Ted Turner's article, The Social Skin, as it was valid to my thesis. While the particular article did not do anything ground-breaking for me, iI read Ted Turner's article, The Social Skin, as it was valid to my thesis. While the particular article did not do anything ground-breaking for me, it certainly is a capstone for that time. Consider it necessary reading when attempting to get at why humans are so focused on clothing, accesories, and bodily decorations....more
I got what little I needed from the book. Sadly, it did not explore anything new about body art and I sometimes have to remind myself that even ClaudeI got what little I needed from the book. Sadly, it did not explore anything new about body art and I sometimes have to remind myself that even Claude was a man of his times, guilty of objectification, which is evident in his treatment of the people as "subjects". I only read a few chapters, though, so my opinion is potentially biased....more
I am going to read this again, so I thought I would add that I at least found it good enough to keep all these years and to consider reflecting on agaI am going to read this again, so I thought I would add that I at least found it good enough to keep all these years and to consider reflecting on again later....more
I consumed this book in one day, having swiped it from the read-and-trade bookshelf at a local homegrown coffeeshop in Akron, OH. That should tell youI consumed this book in one day, having swiped it from the read-and-trade bookshelf at a local homegrown coffeeshop in Akron, OH. That should tell you how much I appreciated it. Then again, I adore and admire Sedaris' clever wit. It's a shame that whenever he has a public speaking event, it costs too damn much to go and see him. I wound up reading about two more of his books after this....more
I was able to pull out numerous things from this that pertained to misappropriation and the reinterpretation of various art forms in a global frameworI was able to pull out numerous things from this that pertained to misappropriation and the reinterpretation of various art forms in a global framework.
Many of the articles appeared more directed to the media element to be useful for cultural studies, but there were also more than enough articles that I found engaging enough to read, despite the fact that they were of little use to my thesis.
I gave this book a high rating because several articles are well-formulated approaches to concepts I had been trying to summarize for some time now....more
This book was very thorough and enjoyable, but I did find a few problems. First, I hate non-fic history authors that make broad interpretations from tThis book was very thorough and enjoyable, but I did find a few problems. First, I hate non-fic history authors that make broad interpretations from their sources in an attempt to draw something like a conclusion. History is not about conclusions. Life goes on and historic events are consistantly reinterpreted by those in power, as history *is* power. But to try and lock down how things *actually* were without hard evidence is just silly. Let's not have theory, but fact...although I admit sometimes it is amusing!
Secondly, the authors are a bit careless in their math (if someone is born in 1431, that would make them 30 years old in 1461 and *not* 40) and date things without citing sources...and they do not include an original biography, though they allude to researching original historical materials. It makes me wonder how much history gets away with in the academic community, while the rest of us suckers slave away with MLA format.
I admit I did not read the chapter or two about the Bram Stoker/Vampire myth connections, as they do not really interest me and have little bearing on the existing history. I appreciate that the authors here did not bog down the material with too much of the pop culture, putting it off to the side, as it were....more
I liked the topics, though many contributors talked about the same thing. The book appeared to be suffering from a lack of contributors as most of theI liked the topics, though many contributors talked about the same thing. The book appeared to be suffering from a lack of contributors as most of the authors were grad students/PhD. candidates. I guess many were afraid to step up to the plate and hit on original historical sources. Furthermore, no attention was paid to the modern, self-made "freak". I agree that many people do not consider the man who drives a spike through his penis to be a freak, though I think it would have been useful to examine those who desire to identify with the word.
Only the article on Typee was of use to my thesis....more
A very human exploration of what it means to be spiritual. In a non-exploitive manner, the writer spends time among a community of charismatics who prA very human exploration of what it means to be spiritual. In a non-exploitive manner, the writer spends time among a community of charismatics who practice snake handling. As every anthropologist knows, the way to truly understand is to be both participant and observer and the writer does this without straying too far from his goal of an unbiased introduction. Very facinating read - and a bit of a southern travelogue as well....more
I actually have read most of this and now will return to it to extract thesis material. One of the few *modern* very thorough treatments of Pacific IsI actually have read most of this and now will return to it to extract thesis material. One of the few *modern* very thorough treatments of Pacific Island tattooing history....more
One of my top favorites. If the opening sequence does not grab you, then you've got some major problems. Humorous and deep, all at the same time. One of my top favorites. If the opening sequence does not grab you, then you've got some major problems. Humorous and deep, all at the same time. ...more
I know some have their issues with Stephenson, but I for one loved this book and think of it often. It brings to light much of the nature-vs-nuture coI know some have their issues with Stephenson, but I for one loved this book and think of it often. It brings to light much of the nature-vs-nuture concept and also some social commentary, which is never to heavy but very gripping. Read it. You won't be disappointed. ...more
Proving yet again that doing a concept first will get you immortalized, while doing it WELL will make you an unknown and forgotten writer at best, I aProving yet again that doing a concept first will get you immortalized, while doing it WELL will make you an unknown and forgotten writer at best, I also learned that in Conrad's time, people could drone on and on with metaphors and it wasn't considered cliched, but "art." I blame this book and others like it for some of the most painful literature created by students and professional writers alike.
It was like raking my fingernails across a chalkboard while breathing in a pail of flaming cat hair and drinking spoiled milk, meanwhile Conrad is screaming DARKNESS DARKNESS OOOH LOOK AT MY METAPHOR ABOUT THE DARKNESSSSSSSSSSS like a fucking goth on a loudspeaker....more
Not nearly as good as The Songlines, Chatwin still weaves a good story, crossing the borders between fact and fiction over and over. While his quest hNot nearly as good as The Songlines, Chatwin still weaves a good story, crossing the borders between fact and fiction over and over. While his quest has it's basis in true-to-life legends, often the people he meets and the stories he tells of his adventure seem less like a travelogue and more like fiction.
And I think that's what I like about him. It's only a wonder that he died young and so strangely at that....more
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