Defining Moments in History: Over a Century of the People, Discoveries, Disasters, and Political and Cultural Events that Rocked the World

by Bianca Jackson (Editor), Jonathan Morton (Editor)

Two earth-shattering World Wars; the dawn and dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the countries formed in its wake; the establishment of the EU; the end of apartheid; the push for equal rights; the Kyoto agreement: these and many other changes—great and small—happened in the last century and shaped the world we know today. This decade by decade review charts the most significant historical, social, political, and cultural moments of the last 100 years and places each event, person, movement, and idea in context. Brought to you by a superb selection of international historians, journalists and experts, and beautifully illustrated throughout with more than 350 archival images, it’s an invaluable reference that no home library should be without.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Reference

800 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2008

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: I was the editor/author of this book, which makes me clearly the best positioned to recommend it….

What is it for? We wanted to make something which did not impose a narrative on the last hundred years, which left disparate and unconnected events to rub up against each other in unusual ways. We attempted to include events from the far-flung corners of the globe, and find the more interesting and unusual ways to illuminate a particular issue. I think the resulting book aint half bad. We were also, of course, asked by the publisher to do it, so were limited by their requirements.

It is what may be termed a "bathroom book", rather than a textbook. A scrapbook rather than an essay.

We also tried hard to be as international as possible, to reject the traditional Western dominance, though this was hard, not least because the way Power operates means that the majority of "globally important" events have a Western origin.

It is impossible to get this sort of thing completely right, though we tried hard and thought about it a great deal.

*- later addition - having just looked on Amazon we apparently seriously annoyed one reviewer with our "undergraduate" (actually we are both post-grads) liberal agenda.

[Sule Yahya]

Iwant to read chapter two

[Anton Klink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a serviceable and balanced, although not a very exciting overview of the events of the past 100+ years. The content is fairly text-heavy and neutral, with the monotony of text broken up by full-page photos every few pages. Unlike in some other history books, I didn't notice any glaring errors or inaccuracies apart from a few obvious mistakes in a dates here and there.

So does the book do its job and achieves what it sets out to do? Yes and that would be fine, if it wasn't for some stiff competition from similar books (for example "1001 Events That Changed The World" comes to mind as one). In a crowded marketplace, a book would have to stand out and although this book is good, it not a standout. It reads a bit dry at times and doesn't really surprise you with anything.

Another problem with a book of this kind is that the closer we get to present day, the more questionable the choices of events become. Mike Tyson's rape charge? First brothel listed on a stock exchange? Are these really defining moments in history? Would those really be included in a similarly titled book published a 100 years from now? Who knows, but without the added benefit of perspective, it is understandably difficult for the editors to choose, which recent events will be of lasting value and which will fade into obscurity.

For a balanced overview of recent history, I can certainly recommend this book. If however you want more colour, attitude and surprises from your history book, you may want to keep looking.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good bathroom reader. One page summary of major events of the last Century.