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The Social Contract (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: Jean-Jacques Rousseau

October 01, 1998
This book is a work of genius for the whole, exquisitely written it offers wisdom on most pages and nonsense on the others. It's been a very long time since I learnt such a large amount, the language has a poetic beauty to it and anybody interested in governance should read this. The thesis of the book is well known (as it indeed should be) but there are some startling facts about the author. Rousseau was serial child abandoner; he seems to have left five children in foundling hospitals and when attacked by his critic, a certain Voltaire, his defence was that the he would have been a poor father and his children would fair better in a foundling hospital. A slightly implausible fact given the high mortality rate at the founding hospital. Still, ... Read More:

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Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The Story of an African Childhood

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: Robyn Scott

May 06, 2008
Wherever you are going for your summer vacation, or even if you are just sitting at home, do read Robyn Scott's delightful book. It has a charm and warmth which combined with the unique philosophy of the big characters within the Scott family will charm you. For those of us who know and love Africa - despite the dark side that we hear reported everyday - this book reminds us of why we can never give up on Southern Africa. At the end of it all I can say is thank you to this remarkable young lady for filling a long flight with such a pleasurable read and ask her when will see her next book?

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Poetics (Penguin Classics)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: Aristotle

September 26, 1996
If you have an interest in writing, or in Literature, or even philosophy or psychology, then Aristotle's Poetics is a very good book for you to read: Aristotle had a burning desire to understand the drives and ambitions of human beings -- he yearned to understand the human world. In the book, Malcolm Heath explains (very well, I might add) the thoughts of Aristotle, concerning his understanding of the human necessity for expression. If you want to be a writer, or want to comprehend the roots of Literature, Poetics is a vital source of essential and fundamental information. Heath additionally refers to many of Aristotle's other notes in order to present an unbiased and comprehensive case. I very much recommend this book to anyone, especially those who wish to ... Read More:

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Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: Max Hastings

October 01, 2007
At the Winchester Festival, reviewing his book, Hastings made a misguided and alarming remark, "that the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, other than Taranto Raid, played no significant part in WW2". It is therefore no wonder that he has omitted to include in his book the British Pacific Forces's successful attack on the Japanese oil refineries at Palembang (Java) in January 1945. Four British fleet carriers with 244 aircraft embarked disabled the refineries that were supplying Japan precious aviation fuel. Glancing through the book Hastings does not do justice to the Royal Navy in the Far East during 1944-45 period, until he educates himselve on the Fleet Air Arm's war effort, I will stay clear of his books. Question for you Max, which allied torpedo bomber aircraft ... Read More:

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Studying History (Palgrave Study Guides)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: Black J

August 10, 2007
I had the pleasure of being taught by Don MacRaild at university, and this book is as vibrant, relevant and accessible as his lectures. Highly recommended for students, especially the sections on essay writing. Also offers a clear and concise overview of the discipline of History. A must!

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1968: The Year That Rocked the World

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: Mark Kurlansky

February 03, 2005
For me the book lacked precisely what the subject should have been about: imagination. Its focus is mainly on politics (the emergence of a radical politics); especially American politics. And yet the political is, like Moses, a guide destined never to experience the true wonder of '68, which was more anti-politics and anarchist than commentators such as Kurlansky tend to acknowledge. After all, we only have to look around us to see what happened when the sixty-eighters themselves came to power and became, what, New Labour? There is a quote in one of the chapters that when the '68 generation became thirty years old, it was at least certain that they would not be working in advertising. Au contraire, mon ami. They turned out to be one of the most media-friendly (and savvy and manipulative) ... Read More:

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The New Penguin History of the World

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: J.M. Roberts

August 30, 2007
The definitive guide to world history. I haven't quite finished it yet (it's taken me a year!) but it gives you an amazing synopsis and helps to put events into perspective. World events that you previously would not have considered as important as others are given greater prominence, and vice versa. It shows that many of the current problems are certainly not new or different. A book every politician (and every other member of the planet for that matter) should read!!

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The Classical World: An Epic History of Greece and Rome

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: Robin Lane Fox

July 06, 2006
Broad strokes indeed from the historical brush of Robin Lane Fox as he describes the world of the ancient Greeks and Romans. If you know nothing about this kind of history then this is a good a place as any to start. The book begins with the world of Homer and the Dark Ages before Classical Greece began and moves swiftly forward until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian some eight hundred odd years later.

Hadrian might seem a strange place to stop telling the story seeing as there are still many more things to be said about the Roman Empire after him. In another way however this is a natural place to stop. Quite apart from the fact that any more to this book would make it longer than its almost seven hundred pages, Hadrian was a huge philhellene and so he neatly brings the two worlds ... Read More:

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Fighting Fit: Complete SAS Fitness Training Handbook

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: Adrian Weale

January 06, 1997
Really good book on fitness. Makes it so easy to read and has a step by step timestable which you follow to get to peak fitness and realistic targets. Great how he emphasises the correct food to eat even with a timetable on what you should eat from breakfast to dinner and even turns into a little cook book with recipes and shopping lists haha. Worth gettin and its great because you will get fit reading it and offers some good advice

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Dinner with Mugabe: The Untold Story of a Freedom Fighter Who Became a Tyrant

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > History
by: Heidi Holland

April 01, 2008
I am a white Zimbabwean and I was delighted to have the opportunity to read an unbiased attempt at recording history. I certainly learned a few things and being white does not make me proud. The only consolation is that blacks are no better. But I applaud the author's endeavours and the kindness with which the subject matter is managed regarding the actions of all parties involved.