RaveLibrary JournalAbsorbing ... An essential history of the infuriatingly tragic creation of Bangladesh amid a devastating storm, genocide, war, political intrigue, and hope.
Ramachandra Guha
PositiveLibrary JournalThe book offers a novel perspective of India’s fight for independence ... It will be helpful for context and geography if readers of Guha’s book have some background knowledge of India and its struggle for independence, though isn’t necessary ... For those looking for a new perspective on India’s fight for independence and beyond, and what drives people to devote their life and freedom to a cause not their own.
Nick Offerman
PositiveLibrary JournalOfferman shares observations from the road with wry humor and sarcasm and an understanding of the privilege that allowed the Parks and Recreation actor to make these journeys ... Offerman’s narrative thread is peppered with tangential discussions that are almost always entertaining and informative, aside from somewhat overdone references to Aldo Leopold and Wendell Barry ... A great mix of wit and perceptive observation from travels in the United States and the United Kingdom just before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a surprising amount of history, nature, and ecology thrown in.
Laurie Woolever
PositiveLibrary JournalWoolever offers good insight about these aspects of Bourdain and his world ... Any Anthony Bourdain fan, of which there are many, will enjoy this thoughtful tribute to an impactful cultural figure.
Philip D'Anieri
PositiveLibrary Journal... a unique narrative ... For readers interested in the outdoors. The complicated and colorful people who brought the AT to life deliver a distinctive view of its creation.
Patrick Dean
PositiveLibrary JournalFrom the Texas frontier to North America’s tallest peak, this balanced biography of Hudson Stuck offers provide plenty of adventure, setbacks, turmoil, and seeking a way to impact the world, and will engage[.]
Ed Douglas
PositiveLibrary JournalMost of the history is drawn from European sources and viewpoints, first from missionaries and traders, followed by East India Company and British officials, and expanding to include some local sources closer to present day. Nonetheless, a comprehensive outsiders’ view of tribal and royal intrigue is explored in detail, often to dizzying effect given the vast locations, time, and number of individuals involved ... Douglas helpfully includes details of how Buddhism gained prominence in the region, the influence of trade routes, and how the tectonic forces that created the world’s tallest mountain shaped events as much as the two regional superpowers, China and India, with an invasive and oversized role played by the East India Company and Britain ... For readers interested in a detailed, wide-ranging overview of the history and people of the Himalaya in relation to outside influences.
Scott Ellsworth
RaveLibrary JournalEllsworth...writes a comprehensive introduction to high-altitude mountaineering ... A helpful appendix details important figures in the sport as well as expeditions and climbing terms ... An excellent overview of mountaineering and exploration in the Himalayas and Karakoram, set against the backdrop of 20th-century history, that will appeal to mountaineers and armchair adventurers.
Jon Gertner
PositiveLibrary JournalIn this wide-ranging book, Gertner...demonstrates the same excitement for scientific exploration as for the adventures of early polar explorers ... A brief paragraph of climate change pseudoscience quick fixes somewhat diminishes the overall tenor ... There\'s something for everyone here: adventure, the Cold War, science, and analysis of how melting ice sheets will influence future climates.
Alan Wolfe
MixedLibrary JournalSome modern readers may have difficulty following the frequent references to midcentury intellectuals such as Lionel Trilling and Reinhold Niebuhr. Wolfe reminds readers to treat every vote as if the future of democracy depends on it—because it does. He also offers sage advice ... This review of how we, as citizens, created the current political state with immature political leadership in the context of midcentury intellectual thought will mainly interest readers of political theory and those seeking a deeper understanding of the current political climate.
