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Who Hates Whom: Well-Armed Fanatics, Intractable Conflicts, and Various Things Blowing Up A Woefully Incomplete Guide
The daily news gives you events but rarely context. So what do al-Qaeda, North Korea, and Iran really want? Which faction is which in Iraq and who’s arming whom? What’s the deal with Somalia, Darfur, and Kashmir? Fatah, Hamas, and Hezbollah?
Finally, here’s Who Hates Whom —a handy, often stunning guide to the world’s recent conflicts, from the large and important to the completely absurd.
• Which countries are fighting over an uninhabitable glacier with no real strategic value—at an annual cost of half a billion dollars?
• Which underreported war has been the deadliest since World War II—worse even than Vietnam—with a continuing aftermath worse than most current conflicts combined?
• Which royal family members were respected as gods—until the crown prince machine-gunned the king and queen?
• Which country’s high school students think the Nazis had a “good side”? Which nation’s readers recently put Mein Kampf on the bestseller list? And which other country watches itself with four million security cameras? ( All three are U.S. allies.)
Detailed with more than fifty original maps, photographs, and illustrations, Who Hates Whom summarizes more than thirty global hotspots with concise essays, eye-catching diagrams, and (where possible) glimmers of kindness and hope.
In which bodies of water can you find most of the world’s active pirates? Which dictatorship is bulldozing its own villages? Where exactly are Waziristan, Bangsamoro, Kurdistan, Ituri, Baluchistan, and Jubaland—and how will they affect your life and security? Find out in Who Hates Whom , a seriously amusing look at global humanity—and the lack thereof.
Finally, here’s Who Hates Whom —a handy, often stunning guide to the world’s recent conflicts, from the large and important to the completely absurd.
• Which countries are fighting over an uninhabitable glacier with no real strategic value—at an annual cost of half a billion dollars?
• Which underreported war has been the deadliest since World War II—worse even than Vietnam—with a continuing aftermath worse than most current conflicts combined?
• Which royal family members were respected as gods—until the crown prince machine-gunned the king and queen?
• Which country’s high school students think the Nazis had a “good side”? Which nation’s readers recently put Mein Kampf on the bestseller list? And which other country watches itself with four million security cameras? ( All three are U.S. allies.)
Detailed with more than fifty original maps, photographs, and illustrations, Who Hates Whom summarizes more than thirty global hotspots with concise essays, eye-catching diagrams, and (where possible) glimmers of kindness and hope.
In which bodies of water can you find most of the world’s active pirates? Which dictatorship is bulldozing its own villages? Where exactly are Waziristan, Bangsamoro, Kurdistan, Ituri, Baluchistan, and Jubaland—and how will they affect your life and security? Find out in Who Hates Whom , a seriously amusing look at global humanity—and the lack thereof.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2007
9 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
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June 4, 2014
There's an element of historical value that does help flesh out the current events described in Who Hates Whom. But a book written in 2007 is hardly "current events" to the reader in 2014.
A great concept, but difficult to execute, particularly in such a short book.A book this size, devoted to almost any one of the conflicts it covers would be over simplified.
Too,somehow the sarcasm doesn't quite play the way it might with a different subject matter. How hysterically funny can one make the slaughter of millions of people? Not at all, actually. This mission was doomed by it's nature before it got started.
Add to that the author's repeated reminders that he is no expert and it's not long before I wonder why I am struggling to finish this book. And so, I stop struggling and send the book back to the library,'almost read'.
A great concept, but difficult to execute, particularly in such a short book.A book this size, devoted to almost any one of the conflicts it covers would be over simplified.
Too,somehow the sarcasm doesn't quite play the way it might with a different subject matter. How hysterically funny can one make the slaughter of millions of people? Not at all, actually. This mission was doomed by it's nature before it got started.
Add to that the author's repeated reminders that he is no expert and it's not long before I wonder why I am struggling to finish this book. And so, I stop struggling and send the book back to the library,'almost read'.
November 23, 2008
Subtitled “Well-Armed Fanatics, Intractable Conflicts, and Various Things Blowing Up: A Woefully Incomplete Guide,” this book gives short essays on the various “little wars” going on around the world.
Where is the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II? Try the Democratic Republic of the Congo, right in the middle of Africa, where nearly 4 million people have been killed in the last six years. Huge deposits of gold, diamonds and copper, all over the country, have not helped the situation. The term “blood diamonds” came from the simultaneous civil wars in the west African countries of Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone (also paid for with diamond mining).
Burma is full of various ethnic groups who have had a hard time getting along with each other. Currently, it is like a Third World Soviet Union, a group of diverse lands controlled by police state tactics. Did you know that the official calendar in North Korea says that time began with the birth of Kim Il-Sung? While it’s 2008 in the rest of the world, in North Korea, it’s the year 97.
In a way, America is financing both sides in the civil war in Colombia. On one side, the US Government sends millions of dollars in aid, usually military, to the right-wing government. On the other side, Colombia produces 80% of the world’s cocaine, of which America consumes more than half, so American drug users are financing the rebels.
The national motto of Scotland, translated into English, is “Nobody provokes me with impunity.” Seriously. The nationalist symbol of Wales is the leek, a type of large green onion. Nobody knows why.
Who Hates Whom? may be intended as a humor book, but it does a really good job at explaining the various wars and insurrections that sometimes reach the evening news.
Where is the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II? Try the Democratic Republic of the Congo, right in the middle of Africa, where nearly 4 million people have been killed in the last six years. Huge deposits of gold, diamonds and copper, all over the country, have not helped the situation. The term “blood diamonds” came from the simultaneous civil wars in the west African countries of Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone (also paid for with diamond mining).
Burma is full of various ethnic groups who have had a hard time getting along with each other. Currently, it is like a Third World Soviet Union, a group of diverse lands controlled by police state tactics. Did you know that the official calendar in North Korea says that time began with the birth of Kim Il-Sung? While it’s 2008 in the rest of the world, in North Korea, it’s the year 97.
In a way, America is financing both sides in the civil war in Colombia. On one side, the US Government sends millions of dollars in aid, usually military, to the right-wing government. On the other side, Colombia produces 80% of the world’s cocaine, of which America consumes more than half, so American drug users are financing the rebels.
The national motto of Scotland, translated into English, is “Nobody provokes me with impunity.” Seriously. The nationalist symbol of Wales is the leek, a type of large green onion. Nobody knows why.
Who Hates Whom? may be intended as a humor book, but it does a really good job at explaining the various wars and insurrections that sometimes reach the evening news.
July 20, 2017
"Who Hates Whom" was a fantastic read, even if it is a couple years out of date. Published in 2007, "Who Hates Whom" was written to give context to global conflicts that most people have no idea about. For instance, 600,000 people died in the American Civil War, but from 1998 to 2003 nearly 10 times that number died in the Great African War between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. The author, Bob Harris, is a stand-up comedian who uses his humor to lighten the situations writing a book about nations hating each other inevitably puts him in. This book is not for everybody, as squeamish people may have a hard time dealing with all the horrible dictators and terrorist groups. However, as stated before, Bob Harris is hilarious and should be commended for this great book.
April 1, 2024
A bit out of date, though. (This is being written in 2024.)
Bob Harris was a comedian who one day decided to try out for Jeopardy!. In another of his books, he talks about the preparations that he made to learn and retain a large amount of information. (For instance, he drew a picture of Carmen Miranda next to a cactus. This was to represent the case Arizona vs. Miranda, which is why criminals are read their rights when being arrested.) Every now and then, I get the feeling that he's channelling one of those pictures in his descriptions.
Harris doesn't mention it, but the movie he talks about on p. 120 appears to be "Pulgasari."
Bob Harris was a comedian who one day decided to try out for Jeopardy!. In another of his books, he talks about the preparations that he made to learn and retain a large amount of information. (For instance, he drew a picture of Carmen Miranda next to a cactus. This was to represent the case Arizona vs. Miranda, which is why criminals are read their rights when being arrested.) Every now and then, I get the feeling that he's channelling one of those pictures in his descriptions.
Harris doesn't mention it, but the movie he talks about on p. 120 appears to be "Pulgasari."
December 12, 2024
This was a fun read providing a informative scan of all the major hotspots in the world circa 2007. The author provides a decent background and context altho his political proclivities sometimes causes him to oversimplify events - the other side isn't typically presented in all cases. Regardless, the casual reader can get a good sense of world conflicts at this point in time - an update would be a great encore to this book. The ending section about how dictators start wars was particularly interesting as it foreshadowed developments by a certain political movement and political leader that occurred since the book was written -a warning for us all.
March 29, 2015
Inhabitants, famously, of a country surrounded by oceans and allies, Americans have a reputation for not knowing what's going on in the rest of the world. While not exclusively for U.S. readers, Bob Harris's Who Hates Whom tackles such ignorance from an idiosyncratic angle, per the subtitle: Well-Armed Fanatics, Intractable Conflicts, and Various Things Blowing Up: A Woefully Incomplete Guide.
As the tone of that title (and subtitle) indicates, you should not expect from Who Hates Whom a formal -- or even TV documentary-style -- study of the causes of war, despotism, and long-simmering international hatreds. To the extent possible with such a cheerless topic, what you actually get here is a breezy race through large-scale violent current events, and the history behind them.
Harris makes no secret of his "qualifications" for writing this. He's been a television host (for a show about urban legends) and writer (for CSI, Bones, and other shows), a stand-up comedian, a successful game-show contestant (according to his Web site, he's accumulated cash and prizes worth over $350,000 on Jeopardy! and other shows), and a designer of puzzles. His educational background? Electrical engineering. His previous book, Adventures in Trebekistan, recounted his history of success (and otherwise) on Jeopardy! All of which, he notes, "qualifies me for squat. I'm lucky I'm allowed to drive."
But as I knew before picking this up, he's also an incisive commentator on current events. On the right subjects, politics and current events among others, he's less joke machine than satirist.
In working on this review, I couldn't think of a single example of the book's major shortcomings which Harris doesn't concede right at the outset. Yes, it was out of date the minute it came out. (Publication date: 2007.) True, he's a US citizen (and has lived here most but not all of his life), born in 1963, and this can't help biasing his choices and his observations. And fair enough: at 218 pages, Who Hates Whom can't present a complete picture of a single conflict, let alone dozens of them.
None of those problems prevents it from achieving its central aim: to provide a clear, concise understanding of the world's major trouble spots. "This book is meant to be handy when you see something explode on CNN but they switch to Anna Nicole Smith still being dead before you're sure what went kaboom."
Right. He jokes about Anna Nicole Smith media coverage. (And that, from the Introduction, was just the first of numerous references to it.) But that the joke is dated doesn't make it unfunny, and it doesn't invalidate the joke's point, and it didn't weaken my desire for even a superficial, not too out-of-date understanding of the subject.
The book is organized geographically. It covers conflicts, first, in the Middle East and central Asia, moves on to Africa, then to south Asia, east and southeast Asia, the Americas, and wraps up in Europe. Reading about so many different historical and current events, in so many countries, one after another, can be exhausting: it exhausts the mind (the "my brain is ready to explode" effect), and it exhausts the soul ("human beings sure are cruel and they sure are stupid"). You may begin thinking that kidding at all about such stuff trivializes it; yet you may come (as I did) to look forward to the next joke, even a weak and easy one, just for a little psychological relief.
One of the best things about Who Hates Whom, for me, was -- despite Harris's built-in and unavoidable biases -- its neutrality:
If you seek ammunition for a current-events debate about which side is "right," in other words, you need to look elsewhere. Harris does note paragons of nobility and innocent victims. It's just that they all turn out, or so it seems, not to be the principal parties in any conflict. They're individuals. Exceptions and bystanders.
So do you put down Who Hates Whom in despair, believing that nowhere is safe and sane? Not if you read it through the last chapter, which notes:
[NOTE: this review originally appeared, in slightly different form, at The Book Book.]
As the tone of that title (and subtitle) indicates, you should not expect from Who Hates Whom a formal -- or even TV documentary-style -- study of the causes of war, despotism, and long-simmering international hatreds. To the extent possible with such a cheerless topic, what you actually get here is a breezy race through large-scale violent current events, and the history behind them.
Harris makes no secret of his "qualifications" for writing this. He's been a television host (for a show about urban legends) and writer (for CSI, Bones, and other shows), a stand-up comedian, a successful game-show contestant (according to his Web site, he's accumulated cash and prizes worth over $350,000 on Jeopardy! and other shows), and a designer of puzzles. His educational background? Electrical engineering. His previous book, Adventures in Trebekistan, recounted his history of success (and otherwise) on Jeopardy! All of which, he notes, "qualifies me for squat. I'm lucky I'm allowed to drive."
But as I knew before picking this up, he's also an incisive commentator on current events. On the right subjects, politics and current events among others, he's less joke machine than satirist.
In working on this review, I couldn't think of a single example of the book's major shortcomings which Harris doesn't concede right at the outset. Yes, it was out of date the minute it came out. (Publication date: 2007.) True, he's a US citizen (and has lived here most but not all of his life), born in 1963, and this can't help biasing his choices and his observations. And fair enough: at 218 pages, Who Hates Whom can't present a complete picture of a single conflict, let alone dozens of them.
None of those problems prevents it from achieving its central aim: to provide a clear, concise understanding of the world's major trouble spots. "This book is meant to be handy when you see something explode on CNN but they switch to Anna Nicole Smith still being dead before you're sure what went kaboom."
Right. He jokes about Anna Nicole Smith media coverage. (And that, from the Introduction, was just the first of numerous references to it.) But that the joke is dated doesn't make it unfunny, and it doesn't invalidate the joke's point, and it didn't weaken my desire for even a superficial, not too out-of-date understanding of the subject.
The book is organized geographically. It covers conflicts, first, in the Middle East and central Asia, moves on to Africa, then to south Asia, east and southeast Asia, the Americas, and wraps up in Europe. Reading about so many different historical and current events, in so many countries, one after another, can be exhausting: it exhausts the mind (the "my brain is ready to explode" effect), and it exhausts the soul ("human beings sure are cruel and they sure are stupid"). You may begin thinking that kidding at all about such stuff trivializes it; yet you may come (as I did) to look forward to the next joke, even a weak and easy one, just for a little psychological relief.
One of the best things about Who Hates Whom, for me, was -- despite Harris's built-in and unavoidable biases -- its neutrality:
I have come to recommend strongly against looking for "good guys." Conflicts often aren't two-sided, and our capacity for rationalization means even the "right" side usually does lousy things. So be ready for conflicts with two marginally bad guys, three bad guys and no good guys, etc.(See that cover? The two opposing forces are identical; they're differently-colored mirror images.)
If you seek ammunition for a current-events debate about which side is "right," in other words, you need to look elsewhere. Harris does note paragons of nobility and innocent victims. It's just that they all turn out, or so it seems, not to be the principal parties in any conflict. They're individuals. Exceptions and bystanders.
So do you put down Who Hates Whom in despair, believing that nowhere is safe and sane? Not if you read it through the last chapter, which notes:
Get an atlas and cross off the countries that you'd really never visit any part of because you know that they're just too dangerous. There may be dozens, but even then, you'll be surprised at how little you trim.The book's last few lines may strike you as insufficiently cynical, given all the mass murder and insanity, fear and egotism and self-certainty in the world which you've just read about. Hope and common sense may feel like pretty flimsy weapons to be matched up against bullets and machetes. But really, y'know? They're the only things that have ever worked, consistently. And they have worked: despite official assurances to the contrary, the world has grown demonstrably safer over the course of decades and centuries.
[NOTE: this review originally appeared, in slightly different form, at The Book Book.]
January 13, 2018
Pithy summary of major world conflicts by a Jeopardy multi-champ and stand-up comic. Includes hand-drawn maps with hysterical captions around border conflicts. Very highly recommended if you sometimes have trouble remembering where the Suni and Shia live, or get Guinea, Guyana, and Ghana confused.
March 4, 2018
It is so frustrating to see how many of today's despots and dictators were at one time funded, armed or trained by our own government.
April 3, 2021
It was published in 2008 so the humor is a bit dated as are some of the conflicts, but this was a great overview of history--basically, it's a primer and leads to a lot of googling further stuff
September 19, 2021
Although a little dated, it does quite a remarkable job at describing most of the world’s conflicts and hotspots—past, present and future.
November 14, 2022
Foolish of me to think this would be viable so long after it had been written. If I could go back in time, surely four stars, maybe five.
September 25, 2023
Out of date (kind of simple of out of necessity) but still interesting.
October 13, 2007
Let me begin by saying that ever since I heard about Bob Harris, it was on a television set. He was the underdog favorite on Jeopardy! and I simply adored him. Fast forward a wee bit. One of my favorite political cartoons is entitled, "This Modern World," by an ex-San Franciscan named Tom Tomorrow. Mister Tomorrow has a blog called, of all things, "www.thismodernworld.com". And, in that blog, you can read the highlights of other peoples' blogs. AND, long story short that has been lengthened somewhat, Bob Harris has been (and still is!) featured! I heard about his book "Prisoner of Trebekistan", and, seeing as how much I adore Jeopardy!, I snatched it up. What a great book! Enough of that. Which brings me to the fact that not only do I read Mister Harris' blog on a regular basis ( www.bobharris.com ), but I also picked up his new book, WHO HATES WHOM. Let me put it this way (I'll try to be quick, without seguing into what a cool character Bob Harris is in any way): This book is absolutely necessary. From the Americas to the Middle East, to Europe, and Southeast Asia, and to the Pacific Islands to Africa, he writes a deceptively simple treatise on (literally) WHO HATES WHOM. And why. And for how long. And who the major haters are, and who they hate, and what's been happening as regards that hatred. And, somehow, Mister Harris makes it funny, easy to read, and easy to understand. He even throws in maps. After finishing this book earlier this evening, I came to the realization that this book MUST be mandatory reading. MUST BE. Those who do not understand the past are doomed to repeat it, right? Well, frankly, I feel that WHO HATES WHOM is THE book to turn to in order to understand the past. WHY DO SUNNIS HATE SHIITES? HOW DID BIN LADEN COME TO SUCH PROMINENCE? HOW DID NORTHERN IRELAND AND ENGLAND COME TO BLOWS? WHATS THE SCOOP IN DARFUR? HOW DID APARTHEID COME ABOUT? HOW DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE FAMINE AND BANKRUPTCY OF ZIMBABWE? WHY ARE INDIA AND PAKISTAN FIGHTING OVER AN UNINHABITABLE GLACIER? WHO'S THE REAL LOSER IN THE WAR ON DRUGS IN COLUMBIA?
Read the damn book already! FIVE STARS. Read it, read his blog, and read his other book, PRISONER OF TREBEKISTAN. You will not be disappointed!
Read the damn book already! FIVE STARS. Read it, read his blog, and read his other book, PRISONER OF TREBEKISTAN. You will not be disappointed!
February 28, 2008
I really like Bob Harris' writing style. It is very smart, with light humorous touches, and a very warm empathy towards his fellow man. In fact, it was initially difficult to imagine him taking on a topic as dour and misanthropic as a catalog of world conflicts. But when I finished, I rather wished the book was longer. And I hope that more folks who would like to understand more about the current conflicts in the world -- even if at times only superficially -- well, this book would be a great first step to filling some well needed holes in anyone's knowledge of geo-political history.
It is short, and pithy, but it covers modern world history much better and in much more detail than you would believe. It ought to be assigned reading for high school kids, especially for those still stuck with history courses that never reach the modern era. "And during this last month, we will cover everything else in history with Bob Harris' book. So you understand just why the world is currently the way it is."
Much like Gonick's Cartoon History books, this book has a way of opening your eyes and wanting to learn more. The sections on Africa were so depressing, but I had never had a ton of African history before. Now I am curious to read more colonial and post-colonial history, which is in part due to Who Hates Whom.
Anyone who bemoans the state of the world, but also admits to not knowing much about it, really ought to read this book. It won't even take too long. And Harris has a way of making you feel hopeful in the end, too.
It is short, and pithy, but it covers modern world history much better and in much more detail than you would believe. It ought to be assigned reading for high school kids, especially for those still stuck with history courses that never reach the modern era. "And during this last month, we will cover everything else in history with Bob Harris' book. So you understand just why the world is currently the way it is."
Much like Gonick's Cartoon History books, this book has a way of opening your eyes and wanting to learn more. The sections on Africa were so depressing, but I had never had a ton of African history before. Now I am curious to read more colonial and post-colonial history, which is in part due to Who Hates Whom.
Anyone who bemoans the state of the world, but also admits to not knowing much about it, really ought to read this book. It won't even take too long. And Harris has a way of making you feel hopeful in the end, too.
February 21, 2010
"Pithy summary of major world conflicts by a Jeopardy multi-champ and stand-up comic. Includes hand-drawn maps with hysterical captions around border conflicts. Very highly recommended if you sometimes have trouble remembering where the Suni and Shia live, or get Guinea, Guyana, and Ghana confused. Selected quotes:
North Korea. The official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. However, the first three words are lies. I have a limit of two lies per country name.
Meanwhile, Iran has tested a new missile system with the capacity to strike U.S. ships in the Gulf; this wasn't a big deal in the U.S. media, however, because it happened on the same day that Anna Nicole Smith died. (I swear.)
Along the way Al-Bashir has also abolished Sudan's parliament and named himself prime minister, president, chief of state, and defense minister. I haven't checked, but he's probably also the sole judge and winner of each year's Sudanese Idol
The globe currently has four Guineas--Equitorial, Bissau, regular, and Papua New--multiple Guyanas, and a Ghana, which is nowhere near Guinea, which is where Ghana was. Confusing, yes. But we manage to keep our Yorks--England, New, Dick, and Peppermint Patty--separate. We can manage this, too."
February 21, 2016
Although this book is by now almost ten years out of date, it's a fun introduction to world conflicts for the sort of people (like me) who always feel like watching the news is like coming into the 71st episode of a long-running soap opera. Who are these people? Why are they angry at each other?
The tone is very glib and flippant, which is amusing, but may come off as disrespectful to the people involved. On the other hand, the subject is so very sad that the lighthearted tone kept it from being overly depressing in parts. Well, it sort of kept it. It's hard to read about centuries of conflict--torture and murder and famine and displacement--without feeling touched.
I came away from this book feeling that any peace we have is a rare treasure, like an orchid blooming, and not the norm. I also decided I don't ever want to buy a diamond, or invest in people who manufacture weapons, because I don't want to contribute to the bloodshed.
And it's already made me better informed about the world. When that Indian soldier recently was trapped under the avalanche on the glacier, and they left managed to get him out after five days and he was still alive, I didn't have to ask "WTF was he doing up there in the first place?" because this book explained why India has soldiers on the glacier in the Himalayas.
The tone is very glib and flippant, which is amusing, but may come off as disrespectful to the people involved. On the other hand, the subject is so very sad that the lighthearted tone kept it from being overly depressing in parts. Well, it sort of kept it. It's hard to read about centuries of conflict--torture and murder and famine and displacement--without feeling touched.
I came away from this book feeling that any peace we have is a rare treasure, like an orchid blooming, and not the norm. I also decided I don't ever want to buy a diamond, or invest in people who manufacture weapons, because I don't want to contribute to the bloodshed.
And it's already made me better informed about the world. When that Indian soldier recently was trapped under the avalanche on the glacier, and they left managed to get him out after five days and he was still alive, I didn't have to ask "WTF was he doing up there in the first place?" because this book explained why India has soldiers on the glacier in the Himalayas.
March 9, 2013
I admit that my understanding of many of the conflicts Harris outlines in this book was limited. And I also admit that I will never be compelled to dive deeply into every conflict for which he offers an overview. However, I am motivated to go ahead and read The Fear by Peter Goodwin now that I understand a little more about Africa's history. I've been putting off reading it because I know it's a tough read emotionally; but the concise history in Who Hates Whom has piqued my interest and given me enough background knowledge to feel like I'm not diving into it woefully uninformed.
The author himself doesn't pretend that his book is anything other than what it is: a brief and simplified overview of conflicts around the world. But for someone like me, who gets overwhelmed by media and points of view and the magnitude of multiple genocides all over the planet, this book does a really nice job of breaking it down into digestible bits. It inspires me to learn more about the history of our planet's people. And for the conflicts that are not all that appealing to me, I am thankful for now knowing what I know.
Next on my list: The International Bank of Bob about Harris and his 5,000 micro loans. Very cool.
The author himself doesn't pretend that his book is anything other than what it is: a brief and simplified overview of conflicts around the world. But for someone like me, who gets overwhelmed by media and points of view and the magnitude of multiple genocides all over the planet, this book does a really nice job of breaking it down into digestible bits. It inspires me to learn more about the history of our planet's people. And for the conflicts that are not all that appealing to me, I am thankful for now knowing what I know.
Next on my list: The International Bank of Bob about Harris and his 5,000 micro loans. Very cool.
December 10, 2009
"Sandino was executed by Nicaragua's U.S.-trained National Guard, headed by Anastasio Somoza, who went on to rule Nicaragu for more than twenty years. In 1956, Somoza was fatally shot by a poet, proving that the gun is mightier than the pen. One of Somoza's sons, also named Anastasio, became the new dictator. Nicaragua clearly needed more poets."
The previous is a good example of what you will encounter here: snippets of history and current realities for dozens of countries around the globe delivered with Bob's dark wit and hopeful asides. While the 2007 date of publication means that some of the information is outdated, the book is well worth reading for the brief introductions to conflicts around the world. He calls it a "woefully incomplete guide" but that is a challenge to the reader to go learn more (to find out why Bob Harris is obssessed with learning more and visiting the world, go read Prisoner of Trebekistan--seriously, that is a great book, go read it now!).
Finished with Prisoner of Trebekistan? Good, now go pick up this book and, as an added bonus, you will learn how to launch a war in ten easy steps.
The previous is a good example of what you will encounter here: snippets of history and current realities for dozens of countries around the globe delivered with Bob's dark wit and hopeful asides. While the 2007 date of publication means that some of the information is outdated, the book is well worth reading for the brief introductions to conflicts around the world. He calls it a "woefully incomplete guide" but that is a challenge to the reader to go learn more (to find out why Bob Harris is obssessed with learning more and visiting the world, go read Prisoner of Trebekistan--seriously, that is a great book, go read it now!).
Finished with Prisoner of Trebekistan? Good, now go pick up this book and, as an added bonus, you will learn how to launch a war in ten easy steps.
July 14, 2008
An absolutely stellar overview of the current state of much of the more violent parts of modern politics. The author tackles pithy descriptions of the major conflicts around the world in a somewhat light-hearted fashion while providing a surprising amount of context and background for the length of the material.
My only disappointment is that after he finishes the world wind tour of Africa the descriptions in the later half of the book tend to involve a fair amount of shorthand descriptions for much of the same that has been described earlier. It is however somewhat understandable as it is obvious that the subject matter must have gotten taxing. After all, how many times can you describe genocide and other atrocities done by all sides to everyone else for whatever they thought was a good reason at the time?
My only disappointment is that after he finishes the world wind tour of Africa the descriptions in the later half of the book tend to involve a fair amount of shorthand descriptions for much of the same that has been described earlier. It is however somewhat understandable as it is obvious that the subject matter must have gotten taxing. After all, how many times can you describe genocide and other atrocities done by all sides to everyone else for whatever they thought was a good reason at the time?
March 10, 2017
Highly enjoyable, amusing book covering the recent history that led to major world conflicts. Not as amusing as the title promises, but it's still a remarkable feat to write about atrocities and have me laughing out loud a paragraph later. It covers so much that it's handy as a reference guide--next time a major conflict breaks out, pull out this book, brush up on the relevant geographical region, and look absurdly well-read at your next dinner party.
And, of course, be a more informed global citizen and have a greater understanding of the forces that shape our world (which you can show off at dinner parties).
My only complaint is that world events change so much that this book may quickly become dated. I wish the author would publish a new edition.
And, of course, be a more informed global citizen and have a greater understanding of the forces that shape our world (which you can show off at dinner parties).
My only complaint is that world events change so much that this book may quickly become dated. I wish the author would publish a new edition.
January 5, 2016
I couldn't finish it.
I'm really interested in this sort of thing. I've read several books on conflicts around the world, both non-fiction and fiction. I had hoped that this would be once place where the basis of these conflicts would be clearly and succinctly stated. Or, you know, close to that. And it might be, but I cannot stand the author's flippant attitude and glossing over of the motives of different factions. The information in this book is all stuff that can easily be gleaned by normal news channels (as long as it's not Fox News). Actually, foreign news sourses are better because US news tends to be stupid and not at all focused on events that are actually important.
So read something else, this book is a waste of time.
I'm really interested in this sort of thing. I've read several books on conflicts around the world, both non-fiction and fiction. I had hoped that this would be once place where the basis of these conflicts would be clearly and succinctly stated. Or, you know, close to that. And it might be, but I cannot stand the author's flippant attitude and glossing over of the motives of different factions. The information in this book is all stuff that can easily be gleaned by normal news channels (as long as it's not Fox News). Actually, foreign news sourses are better because US news tends to be stupid and not at all focused on events that are actually important.
So read something else, this book is a waste of time.
March 10, 2008
This is a very good way to get up to speed on a lot of the world conflicts. It skews toward current events and recent history, but gives you enough of a background for things that have been ongoing for a long time that you can get an idea how things have progressed. Harris does try to keep it reasonably light, and drops in jokes here and there. They are occasionally strained, but usually come off fine, and there's a running theme of major events that occurred the same day Anna Nicole Smith died, so they got buried in the news cycle.
John Hodgman notes that it's "not totally depressing". However, it is fairly depressing. So, don't read it when you're already glum.
John Hodgman notes that it's "not totally depressing". However, it is fairly depressing. So, don't read it when you're already glum.
November 11, 2015
I loved this book. It was funny and entertaining while offering the most concise but highly descriptive overview of each of the world's trouble spots. I learned more about geo-politics by reading this book then by watching the major news networks or reading the major news magazines. It was a quick and engaging read. The only downside is that it reduced my confidence that the world is moving away from big egos, power struggles, land grabs, and war mongering toward a more peaceful, enlightened approach to things. While the world may actually be getting better, reading this book will make you aware that the world is still riddled with trouble spots and many less than fully enlightened leaders.
July 25, 2012
Brisk, humorous trot through the world's conflicts. Generally good, but some weak areas: the troubles of Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone are barely disentangled, but perhaps clarifying that particular mess would take a much longer book.
I especially like the way Bob Harris picks out the lessons: colonialism caused a lot of these problems, interference from the US is another common theme, ancient grudges nursed by the wrongheaded a third source of violence (weird how Ireland and Bosnia have that in common). Harris doesn't pull back from apportioning blame and that's refreshing.
I especially like the way Bob Harris picks out the lessons: colonialism caused a lot of these problems, interference from the US is another common theme, ancient grudges nursed by the wrongheaded a third source of violence (weird how Ireland and Bosnia have that in common). Harris doesn't pull back from apportioning blame and that's refreshing.
January 27, 2008
This sat on my nightstand for about a month, and I'd read little snippets when I had a chance. This is a simple, well-written guide to various conflicts around the world. Its handy to have around when places far away come up in the news. I'm bad with geography, politics and history, and I get my southeast Asian conflicts all mixed up, so its nice to have a simple reference guide I can consult when needed.
August 4, 2008
Bob Harris manages to combine very serious information with a lovely, funny writing style. In any other format, the events detailed in this book would be enough to make you cry, but Bob pulls a laugh out at all the right places to make the content bearable. You'll learn an unbelievable amount from this book, and you'll enjoy it all the way through. He's also done all the illustrations and photography for the book, and these additions are hugely enjoyable.
December 13, 2016
This author is a muse. He balances touchy subjects perfectly with enough seriousness to make you realize the level of evil, enough humor to keep you in, and enough positivity to keep you from becoming emo. He beautifully describes current conflicts. Even though this book was publishes in 2006, most information is still up to date. I also do believe that a new edition is coming out. Although this isn't a full review, this book deserves a nod.
February 26, 2008
This is great for anyone who wants to understand the world a little better but doesn't want to spend a lot of time studying it. Bob Harris offers an overview of conflicts the world over--the histories, the major players, the absurdities. It's all livened up with humor to the extent possible. OK, sometimes the humor is more bitter or caustic than otherwise, but there's no helping that.
October 26, 2009
Harris walks a fine line throughout this book, trying to be funny without being glib, and mostly succeeds. It's entertaining and pretty educational, considering the format. If you're a world history or current affairs buff, you'll like this. But I recommend skipping the Africa section altogether if you don't want to be depressed for the rest of the day.
December 18, 2010
A short book not written by a historian, and the author is well aware of it. But for a quick-n-dirty guide to conflicts around the world and their backgrounds this is actually a great read. I blazed through it in a couple of days, really enjoyed the writing style, and learned the basics about several conflicts I barely knew anything about.
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