Customer Reviews

Instant European History: From the French Revolution to the Cold War

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't often read history just for the enjoyment factor, but this book may have changed that. It is written in a straight forward manner, with humor and lightness that does not take away from the scholarship included. A true joy to read, even if you are familiar with many of the events, and you are sure to learn something new in the process.

Other books in this series, including the one on Physics, are equally entertaining and get their information across quite effectively. Highly recommended.

This book is exactly what I hoped it would be when I ordered it. A cheap, easy to read refresher of all the things I am embarrassed to admit I don't know or had forgotten. Each chapter starts w.a few important dates and there are a few pages within each section devoted to lists of important names and dates (great for skipping back when you can't quite remember what no-longer-existant country was run by the guy you're reading about in another chapter).

This book isn't made to make people suddenly experts on Europe. It is, however, a great way to quickly catch up on what you think you should have known. Personally, since I've only studied Chinese history for the past six years, I used it as a way to get the basics of this period back into my head before trying to read a book that would have been too in-depth after not studying Europe since high school. I read it in two one-hour blocks before bed, got the names down, and can look at it if I need a map, the one-paragraph version of the Prussian war or the end of World War I or to remember why exactly France kept replacing its governments. One of the best buys I've found.

Kudos to Robert Libbon! This is a book for everyone from true history buffs to those who don't know the difference between Napoleon(s) I and III. A great deal of information is fit into a novel-size book. The info is clear, and presented in an entertaining way - expect laugter when reading this book. When you're done, you'll feel smarter (for having purchased and read this book.) A fine work, Mr. Libbon!

Robert Libbon's writing is humorous and reminds me of Dave Barry. Yet, his explanation is very clear about what caused each historical event. The summary and outline of each chapter are also very helpful. This book is a great introduction to European History from 1700, and makes me wish to learn more!

I absolutely love the format of this book. If you're planning a trip to Europe and want a background study before you go (without going back to college) then this book is for you! It's also cheap and the perfect length and I already know three people I intend to buy it for as a gift. WHAT I LIKED BEST: the boxes of information at beginning of each of the four sections with bullets of important events and a summary paragraph outlining highlights; the "who's who" boxes sprinkled throughout; the photos/pictures; the sidebar boxes of additional information; and the summary highlights at the end of each section. It is all very easy to read and highlights what you really need to know. WHAT I LIKED LEAST: the silly jokes throughout got very irritating by the time I was half-way through. It could be confusing for older readers who won't "get" or recognize some of the jokes/comments related to current events. However, besides that, the book is so good that I still give it a 5.

I bought this book because I was learning about European history in school; let's just say that my teacher wasn't cutting it when he taught us about European history. I wanted to know more so I got on Amazon.com and I looked up European history, and low and behold there it was "Instant European History: From the French Revolution to the Cold War", I started reading this book the day I got it, I finished within 3 days, this book instantly put me ahead of the class by three chapters, in our text books, while other kids were struggling to grasp European history, I understood it perfectly. This is a must have for a history buff, or anyone wanting to know more about Europe. This book is very concise, has humor to it and is an all around awesome book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is an excellent romp through history. Reviewers who criticize it's superficiality miss the point of the book, which is to clearly describe the broad overview of what happened. Mr. Libbon's narrative traces major themes and forces that drive incidents, trends, famous moments, and famous people. Major events flow from one to another and affect one another. Relationships between them are clarified. In other words, he builds a framework.

The framework is fun. It is the big picture of the human experience. That is worthwhile in itself.

I find it incredibly valuable to have this framework for another reason, as well. Without this framework, history becomes mere isolated facts. With a good framework, history assumes meaningful context. You can place things in the big picture. Mr. Liddon builds the framework artfully and with style.

The Kindle formatting is excellent. Sidebars are click-able links that take you to the sidebar text. While there are no pictures, navigating from sidebar to main text is very easy, and is appears that no text is lost.

This book was recommended by my daughter's AP World History teacher and it made studying so-o-o much easier for her than the regular text which was as dull as dirt!

Easy to read and packed with info.

Mr. Libbon is a genius! He has managed to teach me more about European history with one book than I learned in all those years languishing in boring public school history classes. Easy to read and comprehend, extremely well researched and loaded with fun facts, this book should be integrated into the school system immediately. Let's give our kids the chance to learn true European History not just the watered down, colorless version currently taught in schools. Buy a copy for yourself and enjoy. While you're at it buy a copy for your local library or the local history teacher, share the knowledge and the fun.

If your planning on passing a history exam, bypass this book and pickup Birdsall Vault's "Modern European History." What Libbon did was take a serious historical topic and gum it up and whip it up into what amounts to a microwave meal. Yeah it'll fill you up with something, but you won't remember any of it later. If you're not historically inclined and want something light hearted to reat, then maybe Libbon is the ticket, if you can get past the middle school level writing he employs. Although I know many students in my classes who would benefit from this reading. Then again they are also the type to not pick up the required textbook. If your looking for the highlights, Libbon has it, but he won't answer the why? And remember "why?" is the most important question a historian (and a professor) will ask.