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paulrules's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good. Very concise, but that is to be expected. A few glaring factual errors loses one star.
hrlukz's review against another edition
4.0
As Fulbrook says: books like these are far easier to criticise than write. The bits I know a lot about seemed too concise and oversimplified, the bits I know nothing about seemed too in depth and detailed. So this book probably did its job.
jdintr's review against another edition
4.0
Talk about "concise." In just 250 pages, Fulbrook stuffs almost 2,000 years of history, three devastating world wars (I'm including the 30 Years' War as the first), and many other highs and lows.
With that written, these are 250 very dense pages of 9-point font and minimal maps and graphics. It took me awhile to get through this, but I'm glad that I did. I consider myself pretty well-read on German history, but there were a score of new insights provided, particularly on two eras: the Industrial Revoliution from 1810 to 1848, and on the era of divided Germany after the second world war.
For those interested in a deep dive into the history of the Germans--of which the "Germany" of empires and republics makes up 1/13th of that span--or those looking for a handy reference, this concise history is a good history for you.
With that written, these are 250 very dense pages of 9-point font and minimal maps and graphics. It took me awhile to get through this, but I'm glad that I did. I consider myself pretty well-read on German history, but there were a score of new insights provided, particularly on two eras: the Industrial Revoliution from 1810 to 1848, and on the era of divided Germany after the second world war.
For those interested in a deep dive into the history of the Germans--of which the "Germany" of empires and republics makes up 1/13th of that span--or those looking for a handy reference, this concise history is a good history for you.
thndrkat's review against another edition
As someone hoping to learn about a country I was preparing to visit, I did not find most of this book “accessible to the general reader.” Given the title, I was expecting an overview of historical events, but this is more of an overview of different theories and perspectives on the historical events, and it seems to be written while anticipating debate or critique from other academics, which was not what I was looking for.
rubymacbeth's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.25
It’s necessarily limited in what it can detail, and in the sections of the medieval ages and confessionalism, assumes things about the culture that are misleading, but is nevertheless a factually useful resource, pointing to wider literature, overall.
adamvolle's review against another edition
1.0
Fulbrook seems so paranoid about making a challengeable comment that she almost completely sacrifices readability and informativeness.
roclarenett's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Antisemitism, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Minor: Suicide