Koncocoo

Best Scandinavian History

The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb
Mr. Bascomb’s research and, especially, his storytelling skills are first-rate.”— The Wall Street Journal “Weaving together his typically intense research and a riveting narrative, Neal Bascomb’s The Winter Fortress is a spellbinding piece of historical writing.” — Martin Dugard, author of Into Africa and co-author of the Killing series. In 1942, the Nazis were racing to complete the first atomic bomb. All they needed was a single, incredibly rare ingredient: heavy water, which was produced solely at Norway’s Vemork plant. Based on a trove of top-secret documents and never-before-seen diaries and letters of the saboteurs, The Winter Fortress is an arresting chronicle of a brilliant scientist, a band of spies on skis, perilous survival in the wild, Gestapo manhunts, and a last-minute operation that would alter the course of the war. "Weaving together his typically intense research and a riveting narrative, Neal Bascomb's The Winter Fortress is a spellbinding piece of historical writing." –Martin Dugard, author of Into Africa and co-author of the " Killing " series. "Neal Bascomb's The Winter Fortress is a riveting, high-action World War II thriller with nothing less than the fate of Planet Earth on the line. In The Winter Fortress , Neal Bascomb brilliantly tells the extraordinary true story of arguably the most important and daring commando raid of WWII: how an amazing band of men on skis made sure Hitler never got to drop the ultimate bomb." “Brilliantly written, The Winter Fortress cinematically captures a commando team’s efforts to destroy one of the most important secret facilities in World War II. Bascomb’s riveting prose puts the reader into one of the more daring missions of the war and the Allies’ efforts to sabotage a crucial aspect of Germany's nuclear program. "This well-told and deeply researched account sheds light on an aspect of World War II that is little known or remembered, creating a valuable history that will be beneficial for most collections." "Bascomb, a WWII historian and former journalist, thrillingly recounts the commando effort to destroy the Norwegian Vemork hydroelectric plant . A fascinating read about how a small group of Norwegians refused to submit to the brutal occupation of their country and contributed significantly to Allied victory." “Bascomb brings this overlooked tale of wartime nuclear sabotage to life while taking care to explain the science behind the story.” -- Scientific American. .Bascomb interweaves the stories of Hitler’s ‘Uranium Club’ and of atomic chemist Leif Tronstad, who directed the Allied operation, with the thriller-esque tale of the commandos who put the plant out of action in 1943."
Reviews
"These brave Norwegians (Spec Ops) soldiers and freedom fighters were called upon to do what few of their conventional Allied counterparts, all fighting against the Germans in several fronts, were asked."
"The narrative gets a little bogged down in the history and mechanics of the A bomb at times, but overall the action and intrigue will keep you reading."
"At times the atomic research part was a bit slow, but it did add a bit of background that was needed to show why the teams task was so important."
"It is meticulously researched and I learned a lot about the German attitude towards the possibility of a nuclear weapon and the fierce Norwegian resistance toward their occupiers."
"However, my patience was rewarded by a gripping story of heroes who withstood tremendous adversity to cripple the Nazi efforts to obtain sufficient heavy water for their atomic research."
"Thanks, Professor Tronstad, and all of the other patriots, who frustrated the NAZIs attempt to build an atomic weapon, and thanks, Neal, for brining us their personal stories."
"Expertly written, this true story is a page-turning thriller, and left me full of admiration for the bravery of these men who risked all to help defeat a madman."
"We're so certain in our current cultures that we have all the information we need at our finger (phone) tips, and forget that the portrayals in the movies oversimplify the human cost of war and espionage, and the uncertainty that accompanies these battles."
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The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb
Mr. Bascomb’s research and, especially, his storytelling skills are first-rate.”— The Wall Street Journal “Weaving together his typically intense research and a riveting narrative, Neal Bascomb’s The Winter Fortress is a spellbinding piece of historical writing.” — Martin Dugard, author of Into Africa and co-author of the Killing series. In 1942, the Nazis were racing to complete the first atomic bomb. All they needed was a single, incredibly rare ingredient: heavy water, which was produced solely at Norway’s Vemork plant. Based on a trove of top-secret documents and never-before-seen diaries and letters of the saboteurs, The Winter Fortress is an arresting chronicle of a brilliant scientist, a band of spies on skis, perilous survival in the wild, Gestapo manhunts, and a last-minute operation that would alter the course of the war. Based on a trove of top-secret documents and never-before-seen diaries and letters of the saboteurs, The Winter Fortress is an arresting chronicle of a brilliant scientist, a band of spies on skies, perilous survival in the wild, sacrifice for one’s country, Gestapo manhunts, soul-crushing setbacks, and a last-minute operation that would end any chance Hitler could obtain the atomic bomb—and alter the course of the war.
Reviews
"These brave Norwegians (Spec Ops) soldiers and freedom fighters were called upon to do what few of their conventional Allied counterparts, all fighting against the Germans in several fronts, were asked."
"The narrative gets a little bogged down in the history and mechanics of the A bomb at times, but overall the action and intrigue will keep you reading."
"At times the atomic research part was a bit slow, but it did add a bit of background that was needed to show why the teams task was so important."
"It is meticulously researched and I learned a lot about the German attitude towards the possibility of a nuclear weapon and the fierce Norwegian resistance toward their occupiers."
"However, my patience was rewarded by a gripping story of heroes who withstood tremendous adversity to cripple the Nazi efforts to obtain sufficient heavy water for their atomic research."
"Thanks, Professor Tronstad, and all of the other patriots, who frustrated the NAZIs attempt to build an atomic weapon, and thanks, Neal, for brining us their personal stories."
"Expertly written, this true story is a page-turning thriller, and left me full of admiration for the bravery of these men who risked all to help defeat a madman."
"We're so certain in our current cultures that we have all the information we need at our finger (phone) tips, and forget that the portrayals in the movies oversimplify the human cost of war and espionage, and the uncertainty that accompanies these battles."
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The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn’t Disneyland, but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries. -- Sandi Toksvig 'Russell is possessed of a razor-sharp wit and a winning self-deprecation - two of the things that make this book such a delight.'. * The Independent * 'A hugely enjoyable romp through the pleasures and pitfalls of setting up home in a foreign land' -- PD Smith * Guardian * 'A wryly amusing account of a new life in a strange land.'. Helen Russell was a high-flying glossy magazine editor before moving to rural Jutland in Denmark which, despite its long dark winters, is also statistically the happiest nation on earth.
Reviews
"When her husband was offered the chance to move to Denmark and work for Lego, Russell went from initially skeptical to seriously intrigued once she learned that Denmark has routinely been named as the happiest country in the world. In this memoir, Russell captures the adventure of moving to a new country and setting up a new life, while providing lots of interesting insight into what might make Denmark such an ideal place to live in. The cast of characters that make up Russell and her husband’s social life in Denmark – like the neighbors Mr. Russell divides the book into 12 chapters (one per month for her first 12 months in Denmark), with each chapter having a loose focus on one of the aspects of society/culture/economics that may contribute to the country’s status as happiest on Earth. Russell could have written this book as a straight up guide to what life is like in Denmark, but I think her personal story and perspective really contributed to the narrative. Some of the studies cited by Russell about different aspects of life in Denmark sounded more rigorous or believable than others, and I wished I had the time to investigate them further – which was impossible because to her credit Russell mentions many different studies throughout the book."
"The Scandinavian countries are very first-world and western, but are shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding (especially the understanding of 'socialism' and their economies...which are often described as being 'welfare states' or 'nanny states', but in listening to this Brit's firsthand account of her experience, is no such thing...just a different way of organizing and prioritizing for the good of the majority of its citizens, with the understanding that the expectation is for full-employment and contributions through a hefty tax-structure to supporting an economic model that allows everyone to have the basics and an opportunity for economic and personal self-improvement)."
"And this is A Good Thing.”. I wanted a light and fun, but deeply interesting read to bring on a summer trip, and this book turned out to be the perfect choice. It offered a pretty entertaining look at Danish culture and society, all through the lens of why they continually rank among the highest countries in terms of happiness. After a while you get the formula of each chapter: an anecdote, a few statistics, an interview with a randomly found “expert,” and the constant questioning of various Danes about how happy they are on a scale of 1 to 10."
"And mostly, the Danish way of life this book reveals is just refreshing."
"You can feel the author’s joy about her experience flow from the pages as you vicariously experience her year in Denmark."
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Best Denmark History

The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn’t Disneyland, but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries. -- Sandi Toksvig 'Russell is possessed of a razor-sharp wit and a winning self-deprecation - two of the things that make this book such a delight.'. * The Independent * 'A hugely enjoyable romp through the pleasures and pitfalls of setting up home in a foreign land' -- PD Smith * Guardian * 'A wryly amusing account of a new life in a strange land.'. Helen Russell was a high-flying glossy magazine editor before moving to rural Jutland in Denmark which, despite its long dark winters, is also statistically the happiest nation on earth.
Reviews
"When her husband was offered the chance to move to Denmark and work for Lego, Russell went from initially skeptical to seriously intrigued once she learned that Denmark has routinely been named as the happiest country in the world. In this memoir, Russell captures the adventure of moving to a new country and setting up a new life, while providing lots of interesting insight into what might make Denmark such an ideal place to live in. The cast of characters that make up Russell and her husband’s social life in Denmark – like the neighbors Mr. Russell divides the book into 12 chapters (one per month for her first 12 months in Denmark), with each chapter having a loose focus on one of the aspects of society/culture/economics that may contribute to the country’s status as happiest on Earth. Russell could have written this book as a straight up guide to what life is like in Denmark, but I think her personal story and perspective really contributed to the narrative. Some of the studies cited by Russell about different aspects of life in Denmark sounded more rigorous or believable than others, and I wished I had the time to investigate them further – which was impossible because to her credit Russell mentions many different studies throughout the book."
"And this is A Good Thing.”. I wanted a light and fun, but deeply interesting read to bring on a summer trip, and this book turned out to be the perfect choice. It offered a pretty entertaining look at Danish culture and society, all through the lens of why they continually rank among the highest countries in terms of happiness. After a while you get the formula of each chapter: an anecdote, a few statistics, an interview with a randomly found “expert,” and the constant questioning of various Danes about how happy they are on a scale of 1 to 10."
"And mostly, the Danish way of life this book reveals is just refreshing."
"You can feel the author’s joy about her experience flow from the pages as you vicariously experience her year in Denmark."
"As a freelance journalist and her husband decide to move to Denmark for a year, she decides to find out why the Danish people are listed as having the highest ratings for happiness in their lives."
"I'm really intrigued by this whole hygge thing, this snuggly, warm, comforting cozy Danish lifestyle."
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Best Norway History

The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb
Based on a trove of top secret documents and never-before-seen diaries and letters of the saboteurs, The Winter Fortress is an arresting chronicle of a brilliant scientist, a band of spies on skies, perilous survival in the wild, sacrifice for one’s country, Gestapo manhunts, soul-crushing setbacks, and a last-minute operation that would end any chance Hitler could obtain the atomic bomb—and alter the course of the war.
Reviews
"I learned a part of World War II history I knew nothing about."
"May freedom loving people always be as ready to sacrifice as these Norwegian patriots."
"This book was a little bit hard for me to get in to but once I did it was a page turner."
"Someone without that might find it a bit dry if they got hung up on heavy water and fission designs and missed the resistance story."
"The book is well written and reading about the hardships they suffered before and during the raid, you almost feel like you are with the patriots."
"Maybe too much detail,but still very interesting."
"Later, allied bombing struck the heavy water plant and limited production of heavy water."
"The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb A great story and well-written."
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Best Sweden History

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Norway
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Norway will lead you straight to the best attractions this breathtaking country has to offer. Experience the culture, history, wildlife, and architecture of Norway with walks and hikes through dramatic landscapes and scenic routes, and guidance on Norwegian cuisine. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Norway truly shows you this country as no one else can. "Known… for its four-color maps, photos and illustrations, the [DK] Eyewitness Guides are extremely user-friendly for travelers who want their information delivered in a concise, visual way."
Reviews
"Very good."
"Great guide to Norway."
"Fabulous guide to Norway with tons of photos and descriptions."
"This is an excellent guide for anyone planning a trip to Norway."
"I use them in conjunction with Rick Steves for all our trip planning."
"DK Eyewitness Travel Guides are the best out there!"
"Had to return as print is so small."
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Best Italian History

The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (The Liberation Trilogy)
Now, in The Day of Battle , he follows the strengthening American and British armies as they invade Sicily in July 1943 and then, mile by bloody mile, fight their way north toward Rome. “In The Day of Battle , Rick Atkinson picks up where he left off in An Army at Dawn , his history of the North African campaign, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2003. A planned third volume, on the Normandy invasion and the war in Europe, will complete The Liberation Trilogy , which is shaping up as a triumph of narrative history, elegantly written, thick with unforgettable description and rooted in the sights and sounds of battle . Mr. Atkinson, a longtime correspondent and editor for The Washington Post , conveys all of this with sharp-edged immediacy and a keen eye for the monstrous and the absurd.” ― William Grimes, The New York Times. “Monumental … With this book, Rick Atkinson cements his place among America's great popular historians, in the tradition of Bruce Catton and Stephen Ambrose.” ― The Washington Post.
Reviews
"The Italian campaign cost a great number of lives, and Atkinson doesn't disrespect their sacrifice; however, I had a difficult time connecting with the flow of events - the terrain, the battles, and the personalities of the different "players" - American, German, and Italian...I thought the sidelight on Mussolini was great, but too short...and the disposition of troops and the campaign after Rome / D-day was non-existent - although the Italian campaign continued to the end of the war..."
"I knew of the slow progress Allied forces made in awful winter conditions, with the Germans holding out for months and months from brutal attacks amid heavy Allied losses. I was filled with an immense respect for those men, many of whom were scarcely a year or two older than I was at the time in '43 and '44. Imagine my shock of recognition, and my gratitude for Rick Atkinson magnificent second World War II book, "The Day of Battle: The War In Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944". Having seen that beautiful and awfully forbidding terrain, I found his descriptions more than adequate, they are unmatched in their narrative power to inform and to engage the reader emotionally and spiritually in recalling what mere human beings, on both sides, were able to will themselves to accomplish in a great moral cataclysm."
"We see clearly the command friction between U.S. and British civilian and military leaders along with the rigors faced by the common troops involved in the ground war and a slight glimpse at the first real use of heavy bombers in providing tactical air support to overwhelmed ground forces along with the travails faced by naval forces supporting the operations."
"All aspects of the conflict from the strategy, tactics, the politics, logistics and the daily grind on everyone, from the multi-star generals to the dog face infantry trooper on the line, is exceptionally well researched and the picture painted with vivid clarity."
"If I have any qualms it is the length of it and the sheer incompetence of our allied commanders, especially in North Africa and Italy."
"As I read the text, I would like to follow along on the maps, but having a kindle makes that difficult."
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Best Belgian History

Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles
Reviews
"Cornwell does a great job of not only setting the strategic and operational stage, helping us understand Wellington, Blucher, and Napoleon, but also weaving in personal anecdotes of the soldiers who fought and died on the battlefield. In this Cornwell was able to rely on the original work of historians - Cornwell's strength in this book is not original research, there's nothing new historically, but what makes his book worth reading is the way he painlessly tells the tale in a very understandable manner. If you're familiar with some of the post-war finger-pointing among the allies you'll understand, after reading the book, Cornwell's conclusion that, "The battle of Waterloo was an allied victory."
"very readable account of the battle (including key events before and after). Author gives one a very good understanding of the high level strategy of the battle as well as a good understanding of the experience of soldiers involved in the battle and the weapons and tactics of the Napoleonic era.. Great use of quotes from journals and other accounts of the battles written by participants in the conflict."
"Cornwell does have a funny way of mixing past tense and present tense without any clear strategy for doing so, and he does repeat himself, but I liked his doing the latter because it kept everything straight in my mind, so I didn't have to look back in the text to reassure myself that I knew which flank we were talking about or correctly recalled some other important detail that might have got lost in the fog of the battle in my mind. So from the book I got a big picture view of the battlefield, the tactics of each side, how the columns and lines were formed and how they fought, what it felt like and looked like on the field, and the critical moments when the battle could have turned or did turn.... And also important: The account was balanced; there was none of the usual prejudice in books by many writers, even biographers, and especially British ones, against Napoleon."
"The Duke of Wellington made three winning moves: he chose the right ground to defend, he never showed fear to his men even in the face of what looked like certain defeat, and he never lost trust in his ally Blucher the head of the Prussian army. We say that the Duke of Wellington won the Battle of Waterloo, but really Blucher and the Prussians won that battle as much or more than the British."
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Best German History

A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II
It was the encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years until, as old men, they would search the world for each other, a last mission that could change their lives forever. Simply told, splendid, and well worth the read.”—Joe Galloway, co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller We Were Soldiers Once...and Young. “It is often said that ‘war is hell’—and it is—however, this story reveals how the human spirit can shine in the darkest hours.”—Colonel Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airman, WWII. “ A Higher Call exemplifies beautifully the brotherhood of warriors and will forever change how you look at World War II.”—Eric Blehm, author of the New York Times bestseller, Fearless.
Reviews
"You are introduced to Franz (the German pilot) first and then Charlie's story (the American pilot) is intertwined later on."
"His Catholic background and his having been exposed to the honorable men he flew with, such as Ludwig Franzisket, Gustav Rodel, Werner Schroer, Johannes Steinhoff, Eduard Neumann, Emil Clade, Friedrich Korner, Adolf Galland, and especially Hans-Joachim Marseille reinforced that sense of chivalry, and code of honor among these airmen that is often overlooked in the post war propaganda and the maelstrom of uneducated bias. I suggest that this book, which is ironically in competetion with The Star of Africa, written by my wife and I, be read in public schools and by the average American. His experiences with JG-27 in North Africa, and the exposure he had to the previously mentioned men, especially Marseille, and the impressions left upon him, helped mold his attitude."
"A Higher Call by Adam Makos: Review by Tom Gauthier. How often do you have trouble reading the last page of an action packed war story because of the blur of tears? After eight years of painstaking research, Makos has produced a singular piece of work: the true and incredible story of two pilots who locked eyes--and I feel locked souls--across a span of deadly sky over Nazi Germany in 1943, changing the fortunes and the futures of all who were there. Engines failed, damage was extensive to flight surfaces, yet under the strong hands of their young pilot, Charlie Brown, the ship remained precariously in the air. As they approached the European coastline, Charlie knew that any moment the coastal flak guns would open up and finish them off. The story of their meeting decades later and the ability to share the personal feelings of all who were touched by the incident near Christmas 1943 over Germany."
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Best Romania History

In Europe's Shadow: Two Cold Wars and a Thirty-Year Journey Through Romania and Beyond
From the New York Times bestselling author Robert D. Kaplan, named one of the world’s Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine, comes a riveting journey through one of Europe’s frontier countries—and a potent examination of the forces that will determine Europe’s fate in the postmodern age. Robert Kaplan first visited Romania in the 1970s, when he was a young journalist and the country was a bleak Communist backwater. Here Kaplan illuminates the fusion of the Latin West and the Greek East that created Romania, the country that gave rise to Ion Antonescu, Hitler’s chief foreign accomplice during World War II, and the country that was home to the most brutal strain of Communism under Nicolae Ceaușescu. Upon his return to Romania in 2013 and 2014, Kaplan found the country transformed yet again—now a traveler’s destination shaped by Western tastes, yet still emerging from the long shadows of Hitler and Stalin. In Europe’s Shadow is the story of an ideological and geographic frontier—and the book you must read in order to truly understand the crisis Europe faces, from Russia and from within. Kaplan’s account of the centuries leading up to the most turbulent of all—the twentieth—is both sweeping and replete with alluring detail.” —Alison Smale, The New York Times Book Review “This book reveals the confident, poetical Kaplan . Kaplan’s Romania offers lessons on the value of malleability, and what ­endures.” —Alison Smale, The New York Times Book Review “This book reveals the confident, poetical Kaplan . but also a reflective, political Kaplan, seeking at times to submerge his gift for romantic generalization in respectful attention to the ideas of others. [Kaplan’s] method is that of a foreign correspondent, firing off dispatches from the South China Sea to North Yemen to the darkest corners of Eastern Europe when it was still Iron Curtain country, and his approach has a Thucydidean texture: a gimlet-eyed realism as gathered by evidence, and guided by an understanding that the knee-jerk of history is self-interest. Kaplan is a regional geographer par excellence—undeniably, whatever you think of his conclusions—a big-picture man.” — The Christian Science Monitor “Kaplan is one of America’s foremost writers on the region. In a series of deep dives into the region’s past—Byzantine, Ottoman, Habsburg and Soviet—he finds parallels and echoes that help us understand the present.” — The Wall Street Journal “Kaplan moves seamlessly from sights, sounds, and conversations to the resonance of history. In Kaplan’s hands, Romania emerges as no mere footnote, but as a historical and political pivot.” — Foreign Affairs. “Kaplan’s work exemplifies rare intellectual, moral and political engagement with the political order—and disorder—of our world. Kaplan’s writing is like the places he visits. “Kaplan’s is travel writing at its contemporary finest, weaving in the sights and sounds of a faraway land alongside interviews with its philosophers and politicians. “A masterly work of important history, analysis, and prophecy about the ancient and modern rise of Romania as a roundabout between Russia and Europe . Robert D. Kaplan is a master.” —Tom Brokaw “A tour de force of cultural and political travel writing in which Romania’s complex past and uncertain present become vivid and newly urgent.” —Colin Thubron, author of Shadow of the Silk Road and co-editor of Patrick Leigh Fermor’s The Broken Road “Robert D. Kaplan has the remarkable ability to see over the geopolitical horizon, and he now turns his attention to Europe’s marchlands—the former ‘Greater Romania’ lying between the Balkans and a resurgent Russia. Timely, insightful, and deeply honest.” —Charles King, professor of international affairs, Georgetown University, and author of Midnight at the Pera Palace: The Birth of Modern Istanbul “For an appreciation of contemporary Romanian attitudes, Robert Kaplan’s book has no equal. His sparkling, suggestive reflections, drawing upon history and landscape, capture the DNA of the country and its inhabitants.” —Dennis Deletant, Ion Rațiu Visiting Professor of Romanian Studies, Georgetown University, and emeritus professor, University College London “A moving book—an illuminating and compassionate guide through the labyrinth of Romania’s immensely convoluted and often traumatic past . In spite of the many dark, distressing moments that no one should ignore, In Europe’s Shadow conveys a sense of hope, promise, and continuous renewal.” — Vladimir Tismăneanu, professor of politics, University of Maryland, and. author of The Devil in History: Communism, Fascism, and Some Lessons of the Twentieth Century “Kaplan illuminates the extraordinary journey of the people of Romania, as well as millions of other East Europeans, from the tragic Soviet despotism of the decades after the Second World War to their more hopeful and democratic future as members of NATO and the European Union. Kaplan’s ability to weave together complex histories, religion, memory, and political thought is nearly unmatched.” —Nicholas Burns, professor, Harvard Kennedy School, and former undersecretary of state for political affairs “A favorite of mine for years, Robert D. Kaplan is a thoughtful and insight-driven historian who writes clear and compelling prose, but what I like most about him is his political sophistication.
Reviews
"I've learned to turn to Kaplan for deepening my understanding of current geo-political realities by his illuminating comments and detailed descriptions of the past."
"Planning a cruise of the lower Danube which includes several days in Romania led me to purchase a travel guide on Romania which recommended this book for further reading."
"Robert D. Kaplan is at his best in this book covering a land that he has personally traveled through and covered over many decades while Romania has transitioned through various political reigns."
"As in all his travel books, Kaplan includes historical prospective, geopolitical analysis, and philosophical musing, along with excellent descriptive passages."
"This book is for anyone interested in geopolitics of the future, and people interested in Romanian society."
"Excellent book."
"I have been reading Kaplan's works since Balkan Ghosts and I always find his insights thoughtful and fresh."
"I will be traveling around this area."
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Best Great Britain History

Killing England: The Brutal Struggle for American Independence (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series)
The Revolutionary War as never told before. Bill O'Reilly is a trailblazing TV journalist who has experienced unprecedented success on cable news and in writing thirteen national number-one bestselling nonfiction books.
Reviews
"While an easy read and not that long, the detail of how George Washington along with his army barely escaped numerous times was enthralling."
"I am a history buff and often have to dig through wordy and complex descriptions of times and events written by well meaning historians."
"Killing England does do a nice (though superficial) job of explaining why it wasn't as simple for them as just letting the colonies go, even as the costs and losses started piling up. All in all, like all the Killing books for me, it's an effective, well written "Starter Kit" to get people into an historical topic that many just don't know about and might decide to explore further. For those already knowledgeable, it's easy popcorn reading with a "human story" slant that makes for a good page-turning re-introduction to a topic one might have stopped exploring long ago and might enjoy getting back into."
"Maybe because of all the crazy stuff with the statues, changing names of our schools, wanted to see if it is true the left wants to change the constitution."
"This book also didn't have the suspenseful buildup to a particular event like the other Killing books did."
"While Mr. O'Reilly describes the hardships endured by our Patriot fathers are engaging and heartbreakingly real, what makes this book a winner is he takes us into the mindset of the average man and the major players in this war on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean."
"Very informative book about the intimate details of the very men who founded our young country."
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Best French History

The Saboteur: The Aristocrat Who Became France's Most Daring Anti-Nazi Commando
When the Nazis invaded and imprisoned his father, La Rochefoucauld escaped to England and learned the dark arts of anarchy and combat—cracking safes and planting bombs and killing with his bare hands—from the officers of Special Operations Executive, the collection of British spies, beloved by Winston Churchill, who altered the war in Europe with tactics that earned it notoriety as the “Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” With his newfound skills, La Rochefoucauld returned to France and organized Resistance cells, blew up fortified compounds and munitions factories, interfered with Germans’ war-time missions, and executed Nazi officers. Like only the very best historical biographers, Paul Kix has turned years of deep reporting into a tightly coiled narrative that you never want to put down.” (Eli Saslow, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Ten Letters: The Stories Americans Tell Their President ). “Set in motion by a steamed-open letter and a burning hatred of Hitler, a dashing young aristocrat embarks on a campaign of clandestine warfare. The Saboteur sounds like a World War II spy thriller, but in fact it is a rip-roaring true story, wonderfully told by Paul Kix.” (Mitchell Zuckoff, New York Times bestselling author of 13 Hours and Lost in Shangri-La ). “This thoroughly sourced account is highly readable and effectively showcases the life of a fascinating, complex man whose too-little-known role in the Resistance will be of great interest to followers of WWII history.” ( Booklist ).
Reviews
"It's a quick read but a little bogged down with place names and no reference to major geographic cities/areas/landmarks."
"The author has done a great job of research and analysis and applying what he learned to the story of this brave and honorable man."
"The true story also the growth of the resistance and the brutal German response."
"Fans of espionage fiction will appreciate this true life story of a young aristocrat who battles the Nazi occupiers of France during WWII."
"Kix pored over family records, military records, and personal accounts to put together this gripping account of Robert de la Rochefoucauld's activities during WW2. As the German occupation set in, Robert de la Rochefoucauld, a brash teenager from a family with a long aristocratic history, became angrier and angrier. When he got to Spain he was thrown in prison, along with a couple of RAF pilots, while they awaited intervention from the U.K. One of his primary roles was leading sabotage missions, strategically placing explosives to shut down an arms plant. In a scene that might be unbelievable in an action movie, he evaded his pursuers' gunshots, stole a Nazi dignitary's car, drove it through a Nazi roadblock, and dumped the car in a quarry. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!"
"Reading this book for the first time, I just couldn't believe it was all real."
"Paul Kix’s debut nonfiction account is based on La Rochefoucauld’s own memoir, but he has supplemented it with careful research to broaden the focus and provide context for his subject’s remarkable story. Kix’s description of hanging from netting above a casement that surrounded a Nazi stronghold is vivid, and La Rochefoucauld’s success in destroying the almost impregnable garrison was celebrated by his confrères. In a surprising twist, years after the war, La Rochefoucauld found himself confronting a man accused of collaborating with the Nazis and was forced to decide if he believed in his innocence. THE SABOTEUR is a book about one man overcoming his own fear in service of his homeland, but Paul Kix uses Robert de La Rochefoucauld’s experiences to explore what it was like to survive in a country overtaken by the enemy, and the courage it took to fight back when those around you have acquiesced."
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Best Dutch History

The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom
“I pray that God forgive them...”. Corrie Ten Boom stood naked with her older sister Betsie, watching a concentration camp matron beating a prisoner. Corrie Ten Boom stood naked with her older sister Betsie, watching a concentration camp matron beating a prisoner.
Reviews
"This is the remarkable story of a remarkable family that literally laid their lives out to save Jews in Holland during WWII. I only wish that I could do something good for any person that would give respect for the wonderful people in this story."
"Inspiring to say the least."
"I read this book many, many years ago."
"What a story."
"I started this book with curiosity about how they hid people during this time and became quickly humbled by their faith and lives."
"This is a book that everyone should read."
"Spellbinding, heartbreaking, spiritual, heartwarming."
"I have known about this book for many years, but put off reading it - mistakenly thinking it would be too depressing."
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