America's Hidden History

America's Hidden History is a truly compelling and historical account of early American and European history. Agreeing with the previous blogger, Jane Austin, this book contributes a great amount of factual information in an interesting way, making it a great history-read for anyone. After reading America's Hidden History, I feel I am definitely more knowledgable about past American affairs involving the British, French, and the Spanish. However, I disagree with Jane Austin about one thing; the best part of the book was "Isabella's Pigs". This was, in my opinion, the best part of the book because it really went into detail about how present-day America was influenced by so many rival European nations, such as the French and Spanish. From the massacre of Fort Caroline to the first settlement in America, St. Augustine, "Isabella's Pigs" covers a large timespan in an interesting way. There are many unknown facts in this part of the book, such as the Spanish being the first nation to bring slaves to America instead of the British. However, early European expansion to Florida is not the only subject of the book. The Native Americans as allies and eneemies, Fort Ticonderoga, The American Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold, and the fight for American Independence are all several themes that relay the early battles and struggles American people faced. This is a great read and I would recommend it to any one who is interested in American affairs and European religious and cultural expansion. I truly learned a lot! - Confucius

Pepper, Guns, and Parleys

It was a slow read that took too much focus to get into with any sort or rhythm. The topic sounded interesting first because China is a main exporter as well as player in the world market. However this book was filled with turns, as the Dutch managed to loose and gain Chinese permission for trade. several times through the 19 year span that this book is focused on. This novel could have been written in half the pages with half the information provided. The writing style was good however and once the book took off a little it became bearable. Maybe this opinion of this book is biased because of the time of which is was read but personally I still feel as if the book repeated on its self way too many times for it to contain any sort of message to the reader other than China during the mid to late 17th century was not a nation that business could be done with, despite the abundance of resources.

-- Vlad. Putin