Revolution in Eastern Europe: Understanding the Collapse of Communism in Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania and the Soviet Union (Our Changing World) [Paperback]

Peter Cipkowski (Author)

Book Description

Series: Our Changing World | Publication Date: May 2, 1991

Written by an expert in European studies for young adults. Explains and analyzes the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. Scores of photographs, political cartoons and maps make this book visually appealing. Country by country, the author covers the enormous changes that occurred throughout the Fall of 1989 as well as events in the nine months that followed.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The inclusive subheading tells just what's here: a country-by-country examination of the turbulence of 1989, looking back for understanding in each case at events from 1945 to December 1990. The author, a Polish historian now living in the U.S., clarifies his topic by interweaving issues pertinent to each country--the role of a leader, religious debate, ecological crises. He also methodically differentiates one revolution from another, analyzing why the Romanian revolt was violent and looking at its potential outcome. Probably finding a niche as a reference volume, the material is clearly laid out and supported by many photographs. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Written by an expert in European studies for young adults. Explains and analyzes the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. Scores of photographs, political cartoons and maps make this book visually appealing. Country by country, the author covers the enormous changes that occurred throughout the Fall of 1989 as well as events in the nine months that followed.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (May 2, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471539686
• ISBN-13: 978-0471539681
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #644,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > History > Europe > Romania
  • #67 in Books > History > Europe > Czech Republic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A useful but superficial retelling, January 23, 2005

By 

G. Otis (Brooklyn NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Revolution in Eastern Europe: Understanding the Collapse of Communism in Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania and the Soviet Union (Our Changing World) (Paperback)

I picked this up when the 15th anniversary of the overthrow of the Communist governments of Eastern Europe went almost unnoticed in the media, and I was curious to recall the events of that tumultuous year. This book is intended for young adults and is a nation-by-nation retelling of the quiet cataclysm that changed Europe. Hastily written, it runs only as deep as a newspaper article--there are no interviews, either with political figures or the man-in-the-street, or, as far as I can tell, any original research. In so short a book it would be impossible to really treat the subject as it deserves, but if all you want is to recall what happened in 1989, without an investigation of their root causes or a deeper understanding of the cultures of these countries, this would do the job.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Overview of the Communism fall, March 3, 2007

By 

J. lorenzo (Mexico Df, DF Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Revolution in Eastern Europe: Understanding the Collapse of Communism in Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania and the Soviet Union (Our Changing World) (Paperback)

I Think it's a good book because it gives a general overview of each country and how they achieved freedom ,human rights and democracy, sometimes fast and without violence other times with violence or very slowly. But it serves as a good introduction to the topic without going too deep into it.