Customer Reviews

The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part 1: From Columbus to the U.S. Constitution (Pt. 1)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Good: The story redistributes usual takes on the Age of Exploration by focusing on Cortes and Meso-American while taking some undeserved focus off Columbus and Magellan, both of whom are traditionally used as landmarks in the timeline. The Lutheran Reformation and the effects it creates are explained fairly well for the uninitiated as well as the first two modern European attempts at republicanism, namely Cromwell's Commonwealth (although it was almost a veiled monarchy) and the Netherlands. The sections about the intricate politics during Carlos V's reign was an especially nice part of this.

The coverage of America's effect on European politics, as well as India's role in all this is a VERY welcome departure from typical accounts, which shows that Mr. Gonick's work isn't revisionist at all- it's accurately world-oriented. But credit is still given to the West's new Enlightenment-era thinkers as well as the more immediate effects of their theorizing, something that many historians seem to trip on.

The Bad: It was a shame to see less coverage of Portugal's (and later other European countries) effects on Africa, which sets the stage for almost everything that happens in Africa from this point on. That Mr. Gonick didn't cover the further spread of the Ming, ongoing contact with the West, the beginning of the Manchu people, or the short but very interesting flare-up of Western culture and technology in Japan seems a terrible shame even if these will be topics covered in the next volume.

A few more Enlightenment thinkers could have been more closely examined as well as the noticeable absence of Russia and Eastern Europe in all this commotion. Again, while much of this may be included by the author in the next volume, even a few passing mentions would have lent a lot more strength to how Mr. Gonick lives to weave these overlapping threads of history together.

The Ugly: Just about anyone reading this book who follows modern politics will find at least a dozen (if not more) veiled references to the state of current foreign policy, especially in Iraq. It is arguable, however, how much of a role relating past history to current events is, but the author could have either been more upfront or otherwise tabled the entire theme. With that said, even the subtle references to how superpowers fall and the contributing factors in their leaderships' foreign policy, are a nice added touch to how relevant the history in this volume is to our modern world.

I read this book through in one day and still want more. The complicated history of diplomacy between England, Spain and France continues to intrigue as most of the reversals and diplomatic snafus were probably too complicated for such an endeavor. I was a little disappointed to see Queen Elizabeth given such a small part on the world stage that Gonick draws. I also felt that there could have been more material on the pre-Columbus Indians, but I was happy to enjoy the background on the Aztecs and Mayans at least.

With every book in this series I look forward to three things 1. Learning material that I never knew, 2. Reading about material that I knew already but from a completely different perspective and 3. the humor which runs the gammit from hilarious to juvenile. And this book definitely delivers. I knew that the Netherlands played a role in the rise of modern commerce from Neal Stephenson's books and I knew about the tulip crisis but I didn't know about the ways the major powers fought over the Netherlands until they couldn't take over. I never knew anything about the origins of Sikhism, especially not as a fusion religion that tried to take the best of Islam and Hinduism.

Of course, it's also delightful to go over familiar history. King Henry VIII is dismissed as an ambitious despot. Gonick comes down on the Marlowe as a royal spy against Catholic side of the conspiracy theory (of course, we all pretty much agree that he wasn't just killed in the barroom brawl) and the American Revolution is seen in perspective as an opportune rebellion against an England temporarily sick of fighting for its colonies. One hopes that the next installment is a trifle more indepth when dealing with America than Gonick's first attempt which was decidedly Howard Zinn inspired.

Overall, this is an amazing book and you should buy it for all your friends and relatives.

Informative and funny, but Larry Gonick made a rather odd mistake. He seems to have conflated Thomas More and Thomas Becket. More was not Archbishop of Canterbury, he was Lord Chancellor. He wasn't stabbed to death as Gonick shows--Henry VIII had him beheaded.

Of course all the Cartoon histories are really great, illuminating, and educational, but on this one, I kept being irritated by with it references to today's events - references that a in a few years will be incomprehensible. A historian should write for the ages.

The references and asides to modern international problems were not gratuitous, as some readers seem to believe. The point is that certain considerations and dynamics recur throughout history. I guess those of you who complained don't agree with my assessment our recent administration's handling of those dynamics. In that case, you'll have even more to complain about in Part 2.

To those who want more depth: I wish I could. Space is tight, so if you want one thing covered in more detail, you'll have to suffer something else being left out. I guess it really is true that history got more complicated in the last 500 years.

Sorry to give myself a 5-star rating. Amazon wouldn't let me post without picking something, and I didn't want to dilute my average!!

When "Cartoon History of the Universe Part III" closed with "Next: Quetzalcoatl!" many probably didn't realize they were teetering on the edge of a 5-year cliff hanger. The next installment, namely this one, didn't appear until 2007. But this fits right in line with the monumental nature and timeline of the "Cartoon History" series itself. Those who bought the first book way back in 1990 aged almost twenty years before the series' end (which finally happened last year, but more on that another time). In any case, a few shockers awaited nail-biters clawing at book store doors for "The Cartoon History of the Universe IV." First, had they asked for that title the book store sales clerks would think them insane. No such book exists. For reasons that remain a little inexplicable, the series title changed to "The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part I." Now where's the continuity in that? Gonick, the almost insanely persistent author of this series, claimed it was the publisher's idea. Well, how can starving artists disagree with the hand that feeds? So it has a new title, many can deal with that. The biggest mandible yanker, however, was the size, or lack of it. The previous three books were giant in comparison with the almost meager new installment (which should be called book IV, nyah! Blah!). Consequently, the art doesn't leap out like before and eyestrain may occur when scouring some of the not-to-be-missed marginal details that dot almost every page. Though things seemed less than ideal, the best parts were not missing. The new installment still was a funny, sad, poingnant, insightful and dang well-drawn comic with real educational value. Parents the world over (except in Japan) recoil at the very concept. But even adults who were victims of almost any of the world's educational systems will learn from these hand-inked tomes. History comes alive here in words and pictures. Learn something, already!

As expected, and as promised, this book picks up where Book III left off. It begins with the rise of the great ancient civilizations of Mexico and walks through their brutal and often heartbreaking fall to explorers and conquistadors. Columbus in particular comes off rather shoddy. Gonick calls his subsection "Visionary Bungler." He also takes some stabs at people who conveniently record that many native deaths were from disease. One memorable panel shows three smiling modern types who say in turn: "Gosh, our ancestors didn't mean to kill so many!" "Yes, they hardly shot or stabbed or starved more than a few million!" "I feel strangely relieved!" Moments like this, when Gonick injects moral viewpoints into the narrative, make the series all the more enjoyable. Potosí, the famous hill of silver, looms over the second section as do conflicts between the Portugese and Spanish. The Mughals also show up starting with Babur, their famous founder and first emperor. Not only that, the origins of the Sikhs under the itinerant Nanak also receive apt space. Then back to the west and the events leading up to the Reformation and the ominous reach of Carlos V (depicted wearing a tower of crowns). Machiavelli also peeks in before the rise of Calvinism and the Jesuits. All of the drama around Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Hugenots, peasant uprisings, and the forming of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. And suddenly science via Galileo, Brahe, Kepler, Newton and more, ending with suppression by the church until Charles II allowed the formation of the Royal society. Gonick also gets in a quick bash at France-bashers. Beaver-rich Canada attracted feuding protestants and Catholics which led asuccession of skirmishes and treaties with the Iriquois and Huron. But then the "new world" really picks up after King James I allows more frills in church. The Puritans, extreme Calvinists, pack off to Holland (which they find too tolerant) and finally North America. But Charles I caused far more uproar by dissolving parliament. He was executed and Oliver Cromwell slowly became dictator. After Charles II's return, Gonick delineates the ups and downs of John Locke's philosophy. An entire page is devoted to debunking some of Locke's ideas. Finally, the last section begins around 1700 and ends with the signing of the American Constitution. The strange paradox of slave owners founding a free society does not go unmentioned. So ends another whirlwind and overwhelming book in this astounding cartoon series. More to come.

This installment completely maintains the quality of the previous installments. The five year interval goes almost unnoticed. Here again stands another crash course in world history. Given the space and format this remains a rather cursory course, but the major points peek through the mass saliently. Though the history sticks to the major political events (wars, revolutions, etc.) the common folk get their word in now and then in typical Gonick fashion. His political stance becomes rather clear (even George W. Bush makes a rather uncomplimentary cameo), but this won't surprise readers of the previous books. Thankfully, we didn't have to wait too long for the final conclusion of this, one of cartooning's most impressive achievements. "The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part II" (or, better, "The Cartoon History of the Universe V") appeared in late 2009. But Gonick, twenty years older like the rest of us, still keeps plenty busy. Anyway, enough snibbering, on to Part II...

Cartoon History of the Modern World I is actually Cartoon History of the Universe IV, and picks up where Cartoon History of the Universe III left off. I especially enjoyed this one, as my world history classes always ended in 1492 and my American history classes pretty much started in 1776, so I really had no idea what happened between then. Now I know! (And knowing is half the battle)

He always uses humor to bring low the ego of man and the pomposities of our forefathers, and hence ourselves. It's good we don't take ourselves too seriously. We will make better choices for our future that way.

For those who might criticize this book as glossing over certain episodes: Well, I hope this isn't someone's *only* history book. It should just be in everyone's collection along with other reputable history volumes. These books are good for pointing out the history hidden well between the lines in most history texts.

The most enjoyable entry in Mr. Gonick's series since I read his first volume in 1993. This book covers history from roughly 1300-1750, with a refreshing and rare emphasis on pre-Columbian American cultures, such as the Aztecs and Incas. Gonick also delves into the might of India's Moghul Empire, dishes on the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, the first stirrings of the Enlightenment, global trade in the great age of sail, and more importantly, the sex lives of the rich and famous. Gonick pays particular attention to philosophers and scientists of all stripe, and does so with his trademark good humor and gift for turning what could be dry information into something genuinely fun to read. I'll say it again, you can learn more from one of Larry Gonick's books than from a semester in college!

This is a necessary read if you have read his other Cartoon History book. Accessible, funny, seriously correct and well drawn, Mr. Gonick has a spectacular knack for explaining in plain English with a superb sarcastic wit to put together a book everyone should read if you have any interest in history!