From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-A well-digested summary of the recent economic and political history of Central and Eastern Europe that strives for objectivity, but seems to blame communism for the Cold War and ignores related events in Asia, particularly the conflict between the USSR and China. After giving a general history of dissent in the region, Pietrusza conveys a sense of the "unfinished revolution" by documenting the continuing conflict in the former Soviet republics. To his credit, he doesn't shrink from admitting that "The overthrow of the communist system did little to bring prosperity to Russia." In a final chapter, which is somewhat less well integrated than the rest of the book, he describes Eastern European developments after the fall of Gorbachev. His style is clear and forceful. All quotes are documented, although only one has a date later than 1992. In comparison, Nigel Hawkes's Glasnost and Perestroika (Rourke, 1990) and Gail Stewart's The Soviet Union (Crestwood, 1990) are obsolete. Bernard Harbor's Conflicts (New Discovery, 1993) is also not as up-to-date. Plentiful, well-reproduced, well-captioned black-and-white photographs and appropriate sidebars are scattered throughout. For its forthright, involving style and currency, this title is a worthy addition.
Jonathan Betz-Zall, Sno-Isle Regional Library System, Edmonds, WA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Jonathan Betz-Zall, Sno-Isle Regional Library System, Edmonds, WA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
Called one "of the best historians in the United States," David Pietrusza has produced a number of critically-acclaimed works concerning 20th century American history.
His book 1960: LBJ vs JFK vs Nixon: The Epic Campaign that Forged Three Presidencies was named by ForeWord Magazine as among the best political biographies.
Pietrusza's "1920: The Year of the Six Presidents" received a Kirkus starred review, was honored as a Kirkus "Best Books of 2007" title, and was named an alternate selection of the History Book Club. Historian Richard Norton Smith has listed "1920: The Year of the Six Presidents" as being among the best studies of presidential campaigns. "1920" reached #1 best-selling rank in three amazon.com non-fiction categories.
Pietrusza's biography of Arnold Rothstein entitled "Rothstein: The Life, Times & Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series" was a finalist for the 2003 Edgar Award.
Pietrusza's "Judge and Jury, his biography of baseball's first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis," received the 1998 CASEY Award.
Pietrusza collaborated with baseball legend Ted Williams on an autobiography called "Ted Williams: My Life in Pictures."
He has been interviewed on NPR, MSNBC, C-SPAN, ESPN, the Fox News Channel, EBRU-TV, and the Fox Sports Channel. He has produced and written the PBS-affiliate documentary, "Local Heroes." He has served as a regular panelist on FoxNews.com Live.
Pietrusza holds a master's degrees in history from the University at Albany and has served on the City Council in Amsterdam, New York.
Pietrusza is the Recipient of the 2011 Excellence in Arts & Letters Award of the Alumni Association of the University at Albany.
His book 1960: LBJ vs JFK vs Nixon: The Epic Campaign that Forged Three Presidencies was named by ForeWord Magazine as among the best political biographies.
Pietrusza's "1920: The Year of the Six Presidents" received a Kirkus starred review, was honored as a Kirkus "Best Books of 2007" title, and was named an alternate selection of the History Book Club. Historian Richard Norton Smith has listed "1920: The Year of the Six Presidents" as being among the best studies of presidential campaigns. "1920" reached #1 best-selling rank in three amazon.com non-fiction categories.
Pietrusza's biography of Arnold Rothstein entitled "Rothstein: The Life, Times & Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series" was a finalist for the 2003 Edgar Award.
Pietrusza's "Judge and Jury, his biography of baseball's first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis," received the 1998 CASEY Award.
Pietrusza collaborated with baseball legend Ted Williams on an autobiography called "Ted Williams: My Life in Pictures."
He has been interviewed on NPR, MSNBC, C-SPAN, ESPN, the Fox News Channel, EBRU-TV, and the Fox Sports Channel. He has produced and written the PBS-affiliate documentary, "Local Heroes." He has served as a regular panelist on FoxNews.com Live.
Pietrusza holds a master's degrees in history from the University at Albany and has served on the City Council in Amsterdam, New York.
Pietrusza is the Recipient of the 2011 Excellence in Arts & Letters Award of the Alumni Association of the University at Albany.
His study of 1948's dramatic Truman-Dewey-Wallace-Thurmond presidential campaign is scheduled for publication by Union Square Press.
