This May Help You Understand the World: From Bush's Blunderings to Global Glitches - The Problems of a Troubled World Made Easy

by Lawrence Potter

Everyone has insecurities about what they think they should know—the popularity of Lawrence Potter’s previous book, Mathematics Minus Fear, proves that. With its humorous style, his book makes knowledge accessible to anyone. Each day, newspapers deliver fresh information on conflicts all around the world. This May Help You Understand the World assures you that it is okay to need more information than what is carried in today’s papers. People do want to understand the facts behind the headlines, and Potter makes it his business to enable this by discussing the following

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Stuart Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indeed, it did exactly what it said on the 'tin'.
But this is the world as it was 14 years ago.
Can't fault it on that count though, but would be great to have a sequel.

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This May Help You Understand the World by Lawrence Potter.

In this edition the work is 287 pages across a number of chapters/works dealing with different interesting subjects, for example, Where did the developing world debt come from? Or What was the six day war all about? Or What is an eco city? And so on.

Although slightly out of date, published in 2011, it contains a wealth of information regarding the world around us, and how we ended up here!!!

[Farah Shahirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading! even though it was published 18 years ago, all the events are really useful because they are part of history and looking forward to the sequel of the 2nd edition!!

Besides, the writing of this book is really easy to understand and not biased which similar to one of the Malaysian writers on geopolitical events, Ayman Rashdan Wong💥. For someone who wants to understand geopolitical and environmental events in depth but in a light way reading, this is your book!

[Nicola Atkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Breaks down the issues and conflicts for everyone to understand. I hope he writes another book.

[Andreea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explica pe înțelesul tuturor cateva probleme de politica mondiala relevante mai ales la momentul scrierii cartii, dar si in prezent.

[GD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is still new enough to be useful. The problem with books like this, even great ones, is that the information will be outdated so quickly. I think the one I read was an updated edition that went up to 2011, but already some major shit has happened since then, Bin Laden and Kim Jong Il are both dead, for one thing, and there is a South Sudan now. Nevertheless, this book totally succeeds at what it sets out to do, which is fill you in all the details of new stories that most people hear about all the time, but really don't know a thing about. Like, for example, I remember when Darfur was on the news all the time, but I couldn't tell you a thing about it except the word "genocide" got thrown around a lot. It makes you wonder who these news stories are aimed at, who's reading them, because no one I know really has any idea what they're about. Sunni and Shia Muslims? Here's your answer. Basically Sunnis are like Protestants, and Shias like Catholics, with their infallible leaders. I even learned more about the American election system, which always kind of confused me, and which is pretty embarrassing considering I'm American myself. So I'd recommend the book, but it's heading away from current events and moving towards history.

[Katherina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm grateful that I picked up this book the day I did. It proved to be very helpful and insightful, just as I was about to talk about world politics the next day. So I got a better understanding of what has happened in the world and what's the situation now. Of course, it's a tad old, being published in 2011, but since I keep up with the news anyway, I just drew parallels with what was said in the book.
I've enjoyed it. I was able to read it in two days. For a non-fiction book I'd have to say that's fast.
Just goes to show how accessible the material is. Provided you knew what the world was up to in the first place and just needed to clarify some details.
This book, indeed, helped me understand the World.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives a very useful and easy to read background on many of the world events. As the author comments in the Introduction, usually the media only report on isolated events, such as a suicide bombing, and knowledge and understanding of all the events that led to event is a given; so this book really fills a gap.
It would be great to see an update which includes ISIS, Ukraine, Greece, whats been happening in Afganistan and middle east etc etc

[Cassandra Carico · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I much of it is stuff I have covered in my countless college courses, so the information was not new. I like the manner in which is was presented though. The author has a fabulous sense of humor....

[Mohammed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings a concise background information to all important topics in the world (even contemporary headlines in media) - not detailed as per a research - good for a start on information gathering. Good at writing, humour and flow - so is my 4 star

[Bookhuw · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book. The world seems that tiny little bit less bewildering now.

[Rebecca Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview on current affairs (most of which are still current now despite being published in 2007). I think of us would admit to not knowing it all already!

[Lightupvirginmary]

Really good read but I still dont understand the world. I think I need three or four more of these.

[Kellog Mcpussy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My debate reference material #2