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Title: An Incomplete Education, Revised Edition by William Wilson, Judy Jones ISBN: 0-345-39137-3 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 17 October, 1995 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $32.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.07 (44 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Great book but don't take it too seriously!
Comment: This book was given to me as a gift upon completion of my MBA to "round out" my education. I read it cover to cover and enjoyed it very much (I am ordering a new copy because a friend "borrowed" it). I had great fun with the witty commentary. In fact, at times, I thought that absurd analogies actually helped explain esoteric and abstract concepts in a more simple and understandable manner (maybe my philosophy prof should consider these methods). I understand the criticism of many people who claim that the book is a shallow and "incomplete" coverage of the topics - it absolutely is. Reading the section on opera by no means makes one an expert or replaces the experience, nor does it intend to. Instead, I think it either gives a novice a fun introduction or presents the expert with a funny perspective on what they already know. So, having been to both Wagner and Mozart operas, I enjoyed reading how they could contrast the two in layman's terms (a great chapter, I might add). Simply put: If you are capable of not taking it too seriously, you'll love this book. If not, don't take yourself too seriously, and then buy it!
Rating: 5
Summary: Hard to find, but grab it anyway!
Comment: Everything you ever wanted to know, or needed to know but didn't even know it, is probably in this book.
Think of this book as an abridged encyclopedia. Judy Jones and William Wilson have compiled more information than you could imagine in one easy-to-read, even fun-to-read, volume. Clearly organized, well written, respectful, and intelligent, this book will make you an instant experton topics you hadn't even thought of.
Read from start to end, or just pick a page at random, you'll be entertained, informed, and educated. Art, History, Politics, Religion, Sciences, Music, Philosophy, Architecture, Lierature, and Psychology. Even a crash couse on the do's and don'ts of writing English. You name it, it's in here somewhere.
My only complaint, it's time for an update. Or a Volume 2. This one's a must have
Rating: 3
Summary: Incomplete And Holding...
Comment: The authors make a valiant attempt to encapsulate vast expanses of social, political, economic and religious history; complete with the appropriate personalities and technological advances. They barely survive the effort. While entertaining in most cases, they approach the material with a sarcasm (and at times a contempt)that detracts from their original intent.Case in point: "The Egyptians used the number zero (0), but did not know what they had". This statement effectively dismisses the intellectual achievment of the Egyptians in the area of mathematics and simultaneously implies a sort of ineptness. they then go on to praise Greek mathematical accomplishments. The authors ignore the fact that Pythagoras , the " Father" of Greek mathematics, studied in Egypt for 22 years. Pythagoras did not go to Egypt to teach anyone anything;he went to be taught by the best and brightest minds in the ancient world. More importantly, a cursory examination of the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus which is conservatively estimated to be 2-3 thousand years old, would have effectively put to rest the issue of mathematical primacy and origin. I assume here that the gratuitous put-down of Egyptian mathematical genius had the implied objective of establishing Greek contributions as first and greatest with respect to ranking and chronology on the world stage. Interesting...
I had other concerns about the book, but soon concluded that this was merely the authors take on the worlds institutions and personalities filtered through their Western education. The book is a selective distillation of what the authors consider the most important elements of their education which is, by no small leap of faith, assumed to be shared by the reader. Its well written, but incomplete and holding...
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