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Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization by [Baker, Nicholson]

Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization Kindle Edition

by Nicholson Baker (Author)

147 customer reviews

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Bestselling author Nicholson Baker, recognized as one of the most dexterous and talented writers in America today, has created a compelling work of nonfiction bound to provoke discussion and controversy -- a wide-ranging, astonishingly fresh perspective on the political and social landscape that gave rise to World War II.

Human Smoke delivers a closely textured, deeply moving indictment of the treasured myths that have romanticized much of the 1930s and '40s. Incorporating meticulous research and well-documented sources -- including newspaper and magazine articles, radio speeches, memoirs, and diaries -- the book juxtaposes hundreds of interrelated moments of decision, brutality, suffering, and mercy. Vivid glimpses of political leaders and their dissenters illuminate and examine the gradual, horrifying advance toward overt global war and Holocaust.

Praised by critics and readers alike for his exquisitely observant eye and deft, inimitable prose, Baker has assembled a narrative within Human Smoke that unfolds gracefully, tragically, and persuasively. This is an unforgettable book that makes a profound impact on our perceptions of historical events and mourns the unthinkable loss humanity has borne at its own hand.

Length: 577 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Page Flip: Enabled

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Product details

File Size: 1162 KB
Print Length: 577 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Reprint edition (March 11, 2008)
Publication Date: March 11, 2008
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B0013TPVVU
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

X-Ray:

Not Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #628,453 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #1442 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Modern (16th-21st Centuries) > 20th Century
- #2747 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Military > World War II
- #4780 in Kindle Store > Whispersync for Voice > History

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The Blade

Five Stars

September 28, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

No complains, everything went the way it is supposed to. Will use again.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Yes

rt mondene

Heads up

December 19, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Really interesting reading. A very good read. Enjoyed the short narrations of events in the timeline given. Enjoyed reading how the leaders interreacted to the events as they began and played out. A good read.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

M. fisher

History with no commentary. Very interesting.

October 5, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I love this book, the presentation, and the story. Insight for the naive...I read it twice the first time. Very good read.

0Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Val the Valiant

Fascinating!

April 7, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I have had so many people want to borrow this book and read it. Most of them have gone on to buy it for themselves. GREAT READ!! BUY IT!!

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

John D. Wright

Read this book

April 10, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Wonderful book if you are a history buff it is a must read. It really shows the hypocrisy and inhumanity of politics and politicians.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Charles Rotmil

Five Stars

June 27, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

powerful book using newspapers to convey the stories of the wars

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C. Lee

Great perspective on 20th century wars

March 27, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Nothing like words from the days things happened to give you a perspective. So much of history revised to make the government look like saints when .... (self-censored) ... Check it out. So much applies to today...

0Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

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Christopher M Gacek

Five Stars

September 15, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

A significant book on the period.

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Yes

Most recent customer reviews

WillDecker

"Human Smoke" is a great place to start re-learning history

This week I heard historian Thaddeus Russell tell a 19-year-old drop out who does not read books that "Human Smoke" is one he must get and read.Read more

Published 1 month ago

P. Palmisano

I was amazed and fascinated

It took me a little while to get used to the fact that the book was a sort of chronological "listing" of events leading up to the US entering the war, but once I realized...Read more

Published 2 months ago

Margaret N. Flynn

An amazing piece of research

An amazing piece of research. And writing. I thought that I knew about how and why WWII began. It turned out that I had no idea about the machinations that went on, especially...Read more

Published 4 months ago

tx reader

a book you'll never forget...

Extremely well written, this book is an eye opener for anyone who might wonder what people around the world actually knew, while the atrocities of WWII Germany were actually...Read more

Published 5 months ago

Eric H. Edwards

easy to read

The cubist approach to history
with one overwhelming point,
easy to read, impossible not to see...Read more

Published 5 months ago

CJA

A Brilliant Moral Vision

A growing mountain of books have been written about World War II, the general theme being that this was the Good War and marked the triumph of good over evil.Read more

Published 11 months ago

Scott

I enjoyed, if that's the right word

I enjoyed, if that's the right word, the wealth of detail and the writing. However, the way Baker's structured his narrative I found exceedingly annoying.Read more

Published 1 year ago

Richard Murphy

Good Read

A good, but at time scary read. The book contains a lot of what you did not learn in history class.

Published 1 year ago

M. Rose

Annoying style.

I thought this book was quite well done, albeit somewhat biased. But what was irksome was the author's incessant use of "It was April, 1940" (p.Read more

Published 1 year ago

Virginia music lover

WWI-WWII Period Explained Through Anecdotes

This book presents a series of anecdotes from the years between WWI and WWII. Most are by well known figures of the era, e.g.Read more

Published 1 year ago

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