Anatol Lieven

a neat book, Well written. The problem with Levien (as with any lefty writer) is that he agrees with my prejudices. JPH

Love it or hate it -- this book takes a strong view on politically sensitive topics, and is going to infuriate some readers as much as it gratifies others. In my view, it is a thorough and revealing picture of how American patriotism developed, and what strands of patriotism are in play today. The author is particularly incisive on the links between one type of American patriotism and fundamentalist Christianity, and on the impact of Israel on US views and politics. But I am approaching the book from a decidedly left of center stance: those who have different views are far less likely to be impressed. For those who like this sort of thing, it will be the sort of thing they like. For those who don't, it won't. APM… (más)

Reading this book must be eaqual to attending to a scholarship in asian studies - how to understand a non-european world. The corruption, the weak state, the river, the feudal and personal power, the rural reforms - all this gives us pieces from a rather complicated and streneous puzzle. Just when reaching a nearly complete picture, someone stumbles into the puzzle and all the pieces are torn and split. We than have to start it all over again. This needs reading and rereading several times to catch the almost uncatchable.… (más)