adamvolle's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think any other general history of a country I've read this year has left me feeling I had a better grasp of the subject matter - and I began reading it almost completely ignorant.
krayfish1's review against another edition
3.0
This is a good overview text. Heavier emphasis on more recent history, vast majority of the book is post 1824.
Got a better picture of royalty in Malaysia, why the railroads are built up on the west side, where tin and rubber development happened and didn't.
Learned that Sarawak was ruled by a British family who held the position of raja for ~100 years because Britain didn't actually want to rule that area, but the navy wouldn't abandon its citizen. Learned that there are more Christians in Borneo than peninsular Malaysia due to missionary activity.
Got a better picture of royalty in Malaysia, why the railroads are built up on the west side, where tin and rubber development happened and didn't.
Learned that Sarawak was ruled by a British family who held the position of raja for ~100 years because Britain didn't actually want to rule that area, but the navy wouldn't abandon its citizen. Learned that there are more Christians in Borneo than peninsular Malaysia due to missionary activity.
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