Customer Reviews

Blood and Splendor: The Lives of Five Tyrants, From Nero to Saddam Hussein

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Blood and Splendor is an interesting read, since unlike most historical textbooks, the book reads more like a fictional novel. In fact sometimes you get lost in the literary style that you feel you're getting a first-hand account of the events. The downside is that the accuracy of some of the events is subject to question. For one the section on Hitler is very controversial with regards to the last days of the war, but the book seems to suggest that the facts stated were in fact what happenned. Overall this is a good book to read to get you started on researching more on the characters presented, but don't take everything written as the gospel truth.

The book is very well written and entertaining. I recommend it for someone who wants an easy introduction to the topic at hand.
However, I can't take it completely seriously. There are no sources detailed for the information the author has gathered. There are no footnotes for the quotes used, there are no corroborating documents listed. Much of the analysis given seems to be the author's opinions about the people, including their mental states, motives, values, and reasons for particular actions, rather than an actual factual analysis based on what can be proven. I would not recommend that any of the information in this book be used for research papers, etc., unless it is corroborated elsewhere. Too much seems to be imagined as opposed to discovered.

Most of us are used to a particular way of writing and reading, Daniel breaks that like so many good published writers. The biography apsect is broken by making conclusions on the individuals, adopting the most likely reason each person in question lived the way they did. That of course is done from the research this author in fact did do, and did a accurate job of that. That leaves the book biased, but here is the clincher as to what is biased, things we don't know or have had any evidense on these persons. I like that, made me think of other motivations as well. This book isn't just about these 5 persons, it's worth the buy if this is an interest.
I have to recommend another book that speaks of one more coming horror tryrant, also predicted our current situation accurately, SB 1 or God by Karl Mark Maddox

Myerson does an alright job in detailing the bloody regimes of five tyrants. How does he pick these five top contenders, he does not tell. Since he cannot dwell on either of these five in great detail, the reader learns only the rudiments of each of these five leading contenders (Nero, Ivan the Terrible, Hitler, Stalin, and Saddam Hussein). As a previous reviewer has already noted, some of the aspects of Hitler's life is open to contention, so one cannot believe all of this story. Since Myerson does not detail any of his sources, one wonders where he received all the details.
This is an easy read. If one wants to learn any detail of any of these five dictators, one must read elsewhere. As I said, this is a good summary of their lives, but don't believe everything you read.

The best historical perspective on tiranny I have ever read! It is easy to read and filled with fascinating facts I've never heard of before...I could not put it down. A must for any history buff.

As has been stated in other reviews this book has a nice literary style to it which makes the history contained therein come alive. In other words you don't get bogged down with stodgy facts and boring detail but become enthralled with the chilling tales of insanity and cruelty committed by these tyrants. It's really interesting to consider the parallels of these different rulers and the similarities they had to each other regarding different aspects of their lives (such as rough childhoods etc.). Some people have questioned the merit of this book based upon the idea that some details may not be 100% accurate. However, that really makes no difference since all of history as told by historians is always history based upon inclusions of certain details and exclusions of other areas. This isn't to say that the historian shouldn't try to be completely factual but rather that many so-called "sacred" elements of history are brought into question later. So enjoy the ride and be shocked and awed by the brutal tales of these tyrants.

I highly recommend this book. Myerson gives a fascinating perspective on these tyrannical characters of history and the present day, in a style that's easy to read. I also think it's a 'natural' for a TV documentary, e.g., a series on PBS with a segment on each of these larger than life figures.

Myerson has written a tremendous collection of short biographies. Don't be foooled by its short size. Each biography is not only full and rich; the writing is as gripping as a first-class novel.

Most impressive is Myerson's remarkable insight into these historic villans. He has an incredible gift for revealing the layers and contradictions of this "rogue" gallery. He also displays a sensitivity to what inspired these people to succumbing so completely to the darkest part of human nature.

The writing is matched by Myerson's excellent "writer's eye" for picking the most offbeat yet revealing moments in the lives of his topics. This keen eye is in use right away with the biography of Adolf Hitler. Of all the moments one could pick for this man of infinite horrors, Myerson introduces us to Hitler as the Fuhrer is sitting down to watch Gone With The Wind. This isn't just a clever introduction; this anecdote is used to bridge us to Hitler's own grand and apocalyptic concept of destiny and history.

In short, this is one terrific book. Forget about history; this is a book for anyone who simply wants a gripping read.

Wow, just wow... I will grant that the author does have a gift for the dramatic and he does an excellent job of drawing the reader into his world and his ideas, but I had no idea that you could just make stuff up when writing a book about history.

There is no supporting evidence for any of his statements. Which is not a problem if you are writing your opinions, but he tries to pass all this information off as fact. And that is my main issue with the book. I have the feeling that he did no research what-so-ever and simply went to the library for the afternoon and flipped through the encyclopedia (it was written in '92 so no Wikipedia yet) jotted down some notes on each "tyrant" and called it a day.

Then he went home and elaborated each character (because that is what they are, they are not the historical actors) into an over blown version to fit into the authors "tyrannical" model. This is where I will give the author credit, he does have an ability to create a compelling story. With each tyrant I found myself becoming more and more enraged by the inaccuracy's yet more and more compelled to continue reading, simply because of the story the author was able to weave throughout the fabric of history.

TL;DR: Good author tells a unforgivably inaccurate story. There is no reason to read this book unless you want to learn about the misconceptions and misinformation that permeates history.

I read this book it is very inteeresting and is written in a way that it is a page turner. Unlike other history books out there this book was meant to keep you on the pages. A must for anyone