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Title: A History of Western Society by John P. McKay ISBN: 0-395-90431-5 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company Pub. Date: 01 August, 1998 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $108.36 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.09 (11 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent
Comment: I don't know what you kids are talking about; this book rocks. Yes, it's somewhat general, some events are drawn in broadstrokes, there are simplificatios etc. etc., but how else would you manage to go from antiquity through the modern era in such short space? I defy anyone to name a better survey of Western history. Honestly, if there is one, one that isn't overly specialized and jargonistic, I'd be glad to hear of it. I used this book nearly 10 years ago and I still remember what it said about the defenestration of Prague, the development of "real Politik", and the Treaty of Versailles, among other things.
Rating: 5
Summary: Fun to read, and very helpful in prep for AP test
Comment: History is one of my favorite subjects, and I have read quite a few textbooks in the area, and I have never found one with the perfect combination of being readable yet comprehensive.
I must admit, I found the chapters covering 1200-1800 to be much more interesting than the last few chapters, but even the last chapters had all the characters and events that you need to know.
One point that recommends this book is that it acknowledges point of view, something very important on the APEH exam or in any history analysis. Most textbooks force you to extrapolate their point of view and shift your interpretation. I found that McKay and his co-authors present a very neutral account of history, rarely passing judgment on history's actors.
The organization worked for me also. It is loosely chronological, but bends for continuity. It adequately covers almost all areas, from the Renaissance to the Thirty Years' War to the Industrial Revolution. Something about the style of writing and the organization helped my memory retention magnificently.
I took Euro sophomore year, US junior year, and as a senior I remember about twice as many things from Euro as I remember from US. I largely owe that to this book.
Remember to give yourself enough time to read the chapters, which are long and moderately dense. They take a few hours to read them really well, and you wouldn't want to read any of this book too fast or without your full attention.
Anyway, buy it, read it, enjoy it! = deeper understanding of Euro History and a 5 on the AP test.
Rating: 5
Summary: Superb refresher and quick reference
Comment: This tome, actually intended to be a textbook (thus the very substantial price), is a wonderful read and great for refreshing one's "Western civ" knowledge after being out of school over 30 years. I've always enjoyed history and it helps to have such a reference as this which presents a cogent overview of events. Certainly the book can't be all things to all people. For those areas of special interest, e.g., the Celts, one desires to obtain more in-depth sources. However, this work accomplishes what it sets out to do, to present in a mentally-digestible chronology the flow of the most significant events in Western society and to make it interesting and fun in the process. The fact that the book makes a fine general reference for home or library is an added benefit, i.e., it is not a publication to be perused just the one time. This is one of the very best history books of its kind!
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Title: A History of Western Society Since 1300 by John P. McKay, Benneta Hill, John Buckler ISBN: 0618004599 Publisher: Not Avail Pub. Date: 01 June, 1999 List Price(USD): $90.36 |
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Title: The Princeton Review: Cracking the Ap European History Exam : 2004-2005 Edition (PRINCETON REVIEW SERIES) by Kenneth Pearl ISBN: 0375763864 Publisher: Princeton Review Pub. Date: 01 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
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Title: Somos Asi Listos by James Funston, Alejandro V. Bonilla, Daphne Sherman ISBN: 082191913X Publisher: Emc Pub Pub. Date: 01 January, 2000 List Price(USD): $88.23 |
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Title: Written on Our Hearts: The Old Testament Story of God's Love by Mary Reed Newland, Barbara Allaire ISBN: 0884897761 Publisher: Saint Mary's Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $17.60 |
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Title: Sources of the Western Tradition: From the Renaissance to the Present by Marvin Perry, Joseph R. Peden, Theodore H. Von Laue ISBN: 0395892023 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company Pub. Date: 01 June, 1997 List Price(USD): $46.76 |
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