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Well snoopcester Send a noteboard - 01/09/2009 09:18:55 PM
I have enjoyed Niall Ferguson's books (possibly the last one aside, which though interesting wasn't well written), as he clearly has an excellent knowledge of the subjects he writes about and relies on careful research. He also is fiscally conservative and internationally is an interventionist, which makes him an interesting read for me as he does challenge my world view.


While Ferguson is not someone that I would share a worldview with, I agree with you that he has made some interesting points (one of my favourites being that the opinion that the second world war began in 1939 is a very western view of things). I would however strongly disagree with you about him relying on careful research. One of the principal criticisms of his work has been of the lack of solid research (with the exception of his Rothschild work) and his habit of jumping to conclusions without strong evidence.


From what I have seen of that line of criticism, it seems to be people like Johan Hari who are strongly opposed to the conclusions he draws. It always tends to be in very partizan little catfights... as a result, I don't take the sources of that criticism seriously.
*MySmiley*

Robert Graves "There is no money in poetry, but then there is no poetry in money, either."

Henning Mankell "We must defend the open society, because if we start locking our doors, if we let fear decide, the person who committed the act of terror will win"
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Review: Robert Fisk's The Great War for Civilisation - 31/08/2009 06:37:15 PM 5063 Views
I can easily answer the first two hesitations... - 31/08/2009 06:50:20 PM 1480 Views
This does look like an interesting book. - 31/08/2009 06:55:09 PM 1413 Views
Thanks for the review - 31/08/2009 08:01:55 PM 1413 Views
I really need to read it. Thanks for the review. *NM* - 31/08/2009 09:31:37 PM 755 Views
I've started reading it. - 02/09/2009 05:34:12 PM 1370 Views
Thank you for the recommendation. - 31/08/2009 10:15:51 PM 1392 Views
What sort of time frame does he cover? - 01/09/2009 01:29:50 AM 1439 Views
It isn't a history book. - 01/09/2009 03:10:23 PM 1356 Views
It is an excellent book - 01/09/2009 12:18:51 PM 1317 Views
Care to recommend one or two to me? - 01/09/2009 03:11:27 PM 1338 Views
These are the main ones - 01/09/2009 03:40:35 PM 1346 Views
Hmmm - 01/09/2009 04:49:26 PM 1408 Views
Well - 01/09/2009 09:18:55 PM 1548 Views
Sounds like something I should probably read. *NM* - 02/09/2009 01:00:05 AM 691 Views

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