In this sweeping and deeply penetrating work, distinguished historian Michael Burleigh explores the nature of terrorism from its origins in the... read full description
reviews
Aug 03, 2011
After the first chapters - I have to say I´m still disappointed about the way the author treats the subject. Since he´s British the first chapter is about the IRA - but it doesn´t mention once the source of all the terrorist action. Just listing terrorist activities and state´s reprisals is not enough to call the result a cultural history. The whole approach seems rather biased. I have skipped to the chapter on the German RAF - and OK it´s just a few pages and it surely cannot encompass all the
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Aug 13, 2010
Seth
rated it: 
I can't, in good conscience, recommend this book as a cultural history of terrorism because, uh, it's not.
It is kind of a history of terrorism, not a really complete one, and isn't by any means comprehensive. It can be a good start, and what Burleigh focuses on, he goes into great detail. I haven't read anything else by this guy, but I found him to be a pretty frustrating read, largely because I like to think historians try to be unbiased, or at least want to pretend to be. I wasn't su More...
It is kind of a history of terrorism, not a really complete one, and isn't by any means comprehensive. It can be a good start, and what Burleigh focuses on, he goes into great detail. I haven't read anything else by this guy, but I found him to be a pretty frustrating read, largely because I like to think historians try to be unbiased, or at least want to pretend to be. I wasn't su More...
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Jan 27, 2009
In the 19th century the French poet Tailharde said "What do the victims matter as long as the gesture is beautiful?"
In the 21st century an al-Qaeda spokesman commented on the Madrid bombings: "You love life and we love death." On September 16 2001 Karlheinz Stockhausen was asked about 9/11 and said "Well, what happened there is, of course — now all of you must adjust your brains — the biggest work of art there has ever been". And of course many decent, sincere More...
In the 21st century an al-Qaeda spokesman commented on the Madrid bombings: "You love life and we love death." On September 16 2001 Karlheinz Stockhausen was asked about 9/11 and said "Well, what happened there is, of course — now all of you must adjust your brains — the biggest work of art there has ever been". And of course many decent, sincere More...
Apr 22, 2009
Diane
rated it: 
Interesting history of terrorism in the 20th and 21st centuries. Very detailed and somewhat dense, but filled with lots of information. Good analysis of the overall problem at the end.
May 19, 2011
Jon
rated it:
Didn't finish and don't want to. I'm going to give myself credit for reading it as this book was very small font and I got through 201 pages. Way to meticulous and drab of writing.
Aug 03, 2011
Brad
rated it: 
An enthralling and infuriating book in equal measure. Burleigh excels when he sticks to pure historical fact, but far too often he lets his right-wing axe-grinding get in the way. As it was, I felt that I may have enjoyed it more if I were a regular reader of the Daily Mail or Daily Telegraph.
Aug 29, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
The bloodthirsty and deranged, and the cold and calculating - they're all there. Sobering reading, but don't devour too much at once - there's thousands of appalling events described.
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