What Every American Should Know About the Rest of the World: Your Guide to Today's Hot Spots, Hot Shots and Incendiary Issues

by Melissa L. Rossi

Confused about the news? Slip out of the room when friends talk current events? Now you can keep up with ease and learn to talk like a diplomat.Among the things you’ll soon be able to slip into everyday conversation:


What is the difference between Kurdistan and Kazakhstan?


Why did North Korea’s leader kidnap his favorite actress?


Why is Osama bin Laden so mad?


Which countries still have slaves?


Why is Kashmir “the most dangerous place in the world?”


What country has the most Muslims?


Why are they fighting in Chechnya?


What little box prompted Hutus to kill Tutsis?


Who is Prince Turki and how did his hunting trip change history?


How are cows fueling the fighting between India's Muslims and Hindus?


Which country drew maps that have resulted in the most intractable wars?


What is controversial UN Resolution 242?


What makes Qatar stand out?


What country does Sumatran coffee come from?


What country’s fakes forced the US to redesign the $100 bill?


Who is the FARC and why have they been fighting for decades?


An entertaining guide to political science, current events, foreign affairs, and history, What Every American Should Know about the Rest of the World gives you the vocabulary and background you need to decipher the modern world in a simple-to-understand format.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Reference

382 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2003

Reviews

[Aysheh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book as a refresher on global affairs as I recently changed my major to International Studies and legitimately 15 pages in you encounter blatant racism against Arabs. This author wrote Palestinians are most 'known for' suicide bombers and despite not having an army, they have 'plenty of suicide bombers'. As a Palestinian, I know my people are most known for their beautiful customs and traditions such as our unique embroidery and folk dance. This vile human being has reduced us to harmful stereotypes perpetuated by Western media. We are not suicide bombers. We are an indigenous people under suffering under Israeli apartheid. This woman should be ashamed of herself, she has no authority to be writing such disgusting opinions about a people she has probably never encountered in real life. To the author, your disgusting display of prejudice is nauseating, much more so than the snarky attitude you wrote this book in. Why haven't you mentioned Israel's habit of arresting Palestinian children and interrogating them without legal representation. I'm guessing you don't care about the Palestinian children that were slaughtered at the hands of the IDF just this year because to you, they're just terrorists in the making? To you, we're only good at 'curing olives and making soap'. I hope readers see this book for what it is, nasty, racist rhetoric aimed at demonizing an entire group of people and normalizing their ongoing ethnic cleansing.

[Laura]

Didn't actually finish this, as it's more of a reference book than anything, but it is very good. It has concise summaries about different countries in the world and provides some background to all the current issues occurring between countries. For example, I now know that Osama bin-Laden was originally from a section of Saudi Arabia where many extremists live. He was too extreme, so the royal family kicked him out. He then went to Sudan, where many terrorists have gone, before finally going to Afghanistan/Pakistan.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very useful reference book. It doesn't make for very good reading page-to-page, but if you are wondering, say, what the capital of Tajikistan is (Dushanbe) and what percentage of people in that country live in poverty (80), you can quickly look it up without getting online and thus irrevocably distracted by Go Fug Yourself or People Magazine. There's nothing here you can't get from Wikipedia, but what is here gives me the illusion of being cosmopolitan.

[Danae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. It's broken up into countries and regions with smaller sections, but even though its not a gripping novel, it really does keep your attention. Very humourous as well. Only downside is that it is probably pretty outdated by the time you read it. I know newer version have been released, but I imagine that's probably not enough.
This book is a great way to "catch up" on the world and finally know about the things that you've been pretending you understood all along.

[G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly a bit dated, but you should be able to find a an updated copy. I read this while preparing for the Morehead interviews and read Al Jazeera every day. I became incredibly engrossed in the movements of things beyond America and It has founded a good perspective for examining international relations. LCL.

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough companion for understanding daily world news. Even slightly outdated, this little handbook provides an amazing amount of material in a compact package. Do not attempt to read in one sitting, or even five. Even the author recommends that the reader digest it in small chunks. Would love to see an updated second edition.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book gives background for the various struggles taking place around the world... or, rather it did in 2003. ;) It helped me place current events in context. It is ten years old, so will not include more recent happenings.

[Steven E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amateurish.

[Henry McCalla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her prejudice and opinions tend to overshadow the facts at times.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot has happened since this book was written, but as my point was to locate the historical origins of the worldwide turmoil we are currently experiencing, it has served me well. I would recommend supplying your own atlas or globe with which to follow along rather than rely on the maps presented in the book. There's just so much room on the page with which they had to work.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only "catch" with this book is that it is a bit dated by now (this is the only reason I only gave it 3 stars). Published in 2003, the world has changed a lot since then. Having said that, the book is still a very good primer for people needing to know what is going on around the world. Basically, this book is a nice and quick way to get background and "the bottom line" on various nations and world issues. For well-read people, this book may not be as essential, but it may be worth browsing. For people who are simply not informed at all, a book like this is essential. If nothing else, it may help people get a better grasp of the world around them.

By the way, I agree with a couple other reviewers on the site. Don't try to read this in one sitting. Rather, read a bit here and a bit there. If a particular topic grabs your attention, go there first. This book really lends itself to browsing.

I borrowed my copy via Interlibrary Loan.

[Valerie Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title explains itself.

Great overview of international relations and geopolitics. Provides brief historical backgrounds and perspectives to help you better understand our world and foreign affairs.

My French husband laughed at this book, but I caught him reading it and he reluctantly admitted that he also learned a thing or two.

Thanks to Aunt T for a great gift.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply written, but very informative. Easier to read than a text book, and now when Kim Jong-Il is in the news I know more about him than they tell you, and I was able to identify a book at the library last night written by Muomar Qadafi (the Muomar Qadafi) and buy it for a dollar. I wish everyone in the US would read this.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd always felt that the term 'mental midget' was unnecessarily harsh and best avoided. Until I read this piece of crap. It's hard to imagine a more fitting description of Melissa L. Rossi, if this book exemplifies her work.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening, and at times a bit depressing -- I would say this works best in small doses, as to not overload.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though it's pretty dated, there's is a LOT of good information here. It's a very good reference book.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for dummies but not so much for those of us who are a tad more worldly.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me realize how little I knew about the rest of the world! Not a book you sit down and read cover to cover-- it's more like read it one country at a time.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

very informative...

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare books that I really believe should be required reading for every American.

[Paul Laureano]

A reference great book for the geographically challenged,but very full of interesting and unusual information on every country in the world.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read to brush up on how crazy/different the cultures and governments of all the other countries in the world are. A quick read but very informative.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect, bite-sized chapter of every corner of the earth that regularly makes the news. Or, a primer for current affairs. Either way, read it on public transit to increase its visibility!

[Tayfay540 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this won't be for everyone, but I learned so much from it. It isn't necessarily meant to be read from cover to cover but that's how I read it because it sucked me in.

[Dustin Dye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference on geopolitics. Needs an updated version.

[Robert Kiehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, informative, fun to read.

[Randolph Breschini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brace yourself...this book will REALLY upset you about what is really going on in the world!

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice book of stuff from around the world!

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get a clue.
This book's got lots of em!

[Matty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains some very interesting information, but is just not interesting enough.