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Part of a comprehensive series for the study of localities in countries around the world, this book looks at the Soviet Union. ... Read more

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Nuclear power, one of the most controversial examples of high-risk technology, often sparks debates concerning safety and environmental contamination. Much of the opposition to nuclear power plants stems from the issue of plant siting, mostly because of its direct impact on individuals. This is the first book to study the controversy created by high-risk technology within the former Soviet Union. The U.S.S.R., particularly since the Chernobyl accident, has undergone a number of changes in the decision-making processes, participants, and policies utilized in the choosing of plant site. Charles K. Dodd explores the decision-making processes that were used in the U.S.S.R. when nuclear power plant sites were chosen and examines how they were manipulated over time. This is an important contribution to the historical study of policy formulation and compromise in the U.S.S.R. ... Read more

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Descriptions of hunting birds such as eagles, hawks, vultures, and owls and their habits. Includes drawings of each in characteristic poses. ... Read more

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Part of a series looking at places which feature most prominently in the news. This book considers the historical development, major personalities, the central issues and the future prospects for Eastern Europe. The books are aimed at providing the foundation for informal discussion and analysis of significant development and issues in today's world. ... Read more

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An excellent quick read
This short book is a great introduction to the awesome disaster of Chernobyl. The story is still unfolding, with new revelations and radiation-caused deaths and illnesses continuing unabated. The compounding of errors, from the reactor design, to the top-down Moscow policies, to the actual sequence of decsions by inexperienced staff, is an amazing saga. ... Read more

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With 50 maps and easily accessible text, the newest title in the Palgrave Concise Historical Atlas series presents the Cold War in a form which is both useful and understandable. Covering popular issues such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Berlin Blockade, and the arms race, the book also examines less obvious themes such as cultural issues, détente, and many more, giving readers a comprehensive and thorough overview the Cold War and all its complexities.
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Too vague on most issues
This book is really not a good book to learn about the cold war.The book is poorly put together and it has no page number so that you can look up a topic from the index.Swift's book in my opinion tells about the Cold War vaguely and really don't go into details. Some topics are useful but many topics in this book are very vague. I'm also dissapointed in the maps that Swift has in this book all maps are just in two colors that can hardly be of any help because the colors are almost the same really can't tell the colors apart.

I also bought this book to learn more about Reagan's Star War's program, but Swift only talks about Reagan's early administration , the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, the Iran Contra Affair and the infamous run in with Libya's president Qadhafi.

I still use the book and a reference but now i have to buy another book that details all the events of the cold war in more detail. I think this book is a good reference for people who want to start out leaning about the cold war. This book is more as a supplementary tool to the more comprehensive texts as the preface points out. Like I said good book for first timers. ... Read more

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Political histories of the Soviet Union have portrayed a powerful Kremlin leadership whose will was passively implemented by regional Party officials and institutions. Drawing on his research in recently opened archives in Moscow and the Urals--a vast territory that is a vital center of the Russian mining and metallurgy industries--James R. Harris overturns this view. He argues here that the regions have for centuries had strong identities and interests and that they cumulatively exerted a significant influence on Soviet policy-making and on the evolution of the Soviet system.After tracing the development of local interests prior to the Revolution, Harris demonstrates that a desperate need for capital investment caused the Urals and other Soviet regions to press Moscow to increase the investment and production targets of the first five year plan. He provides conclusive evidence that local leaders established the pace for carrying out such radical policies as breakneck industrialization and the construction of forced labor camps. When the production targets could not be met, regional officials falsified data and blamed "saboteurs" for their shortfalls. Harris argues that such deception contributed to the personal and suspicious nature of Stalin's rule and to the beginning of his onslaught on the Party apparatus.Most of the region's communist leaders were executed during the Great Terror of 193638. In his conclusion, Harris measures the impact of their interests on the collapse of the communist system, and the fate of reform under Gorbachev and Yeltsin. ... Read more

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This is a discussion of the changing relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, and their relations with the rest of the world. The book provides case studies, discussion questions and other information which is intended to stimulate discussion. ... Read more

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Country on the Move presents original research and acomprehensive multidisciplinary analysis of the spatial aspects ofmigration. It considers the spatial results of two diametricallyopposed policies: planning from above to settle the North African andAsian newcomers in the 1950s, and planning by market forces forimmigrants from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s. Unlike otherbooks on immigration, Country on the Move also analyzes internalmigration within Israel, which is an outcome of the regionaldisparities produced by immigration. Moreover, it compares theempirical findings in Israel with international trends, and itsanalysis can serve as a foundation for setting spatial immigrationpolicy. Audience: Researchers specializing in population geography,migration, and regional development; university students on all levelswho are taking courses in these subjects; and top officials ingovernment ministries that deal with immigration. ... Read more

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This study examines why the USSR - a political system that originally prided itself on its internationalism - devoted such efforts to controlling its borders, sealing its society from the outside world. It provides a revealing case study of the strengths and weaknesses of the Soviet state. ... Read more

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This work evaluates the fragmentations of power in the former Soviet Union which have reduced the Russian state to its pre-war boundries both in Europe and to the East. Contributions come from a variety of sources, including members of the Research Institute for the Study of Conflict and Terrorism. ... Read more

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This work documents the inter-governmental relations between Russia and its newly independent neighbours from the early 1990's - highlighting these relations over the fragmentation of the USSR, and focusing on Russia's identification with the separatist nations that had once been a part of it. ... Read more

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Part of a series on major countries, this book describes the people and history of the Soviet Union, their land, towns and cities, family life, food, sports and past times, the arts and farming industry, ... Read more

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Examines Iran and the nature of its relations with neighbouring states in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Soviet Union, and around the Indian Ocean. Its wide-ranging geopolitical analysis takes into account the impact of historical events, regional demography, past conflicts and the psychological attitudes and political rationale of neighbouring nations. The author's thesis is that certain aspects of Iran's foreign relations are likely to recur and influence future policies regardless of the regime in power. ... Read more

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How did the wartime alliance of Britain, the USA and the USSR split into two armed camps threatening each other across a divided Germany and Europe? The author tells the story of the Cold War through the lives of 14 key individuals. ... Read more

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Introduces countries using large modern photography and simple text ... Read more

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Ukraine is Europe's second state and this lavishly illustrated volume provides a concise and easy to read historical survey of the country from earliest times to the present.Each of the book's forty-six chapters is framed by a historical map, which graphically depicts the key elements of the chronological period or theme addressed within. In addition, the entire text is accompanied by over 300 historic photographs, line drawings, portraits, and reproductions of books and art works, which bring the rich past of Ukraine to life.

Rather than limiting his study to an examination of the country's numerically largest population - ethnic Ukrainians - acclaimed scholar Paul Robert Magocsi emphasizes the multicultural nature of Ukraine throughout its history. While ethnic Ukrainians figure prominently, Magocsi also deals with all the other peoples who live or who have lived within the borders of present-day Ukraine: Russians, Poles, Jews, Crimean Tatars, Germans (including Mennonites), and Greeks, among others. This book is not only an indispensable resource for European area and Slavic studies specialists; it is sure to appeal to people interested in having easy access to information about political, economic, and cultural development in Ukraine.

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Pictorial Rendition of Ukraine's History with Generally Balanced Information--a Superb Supplement to Subtelny's Book!
Author Paul Robert Magocsi, Ph.D., an acclaimed scholar, emphasizes the multicultural nature of Ukraine throughout her history rather than limiting his study to an examination of Ukraine's numerically largest population--ethnic Ukrainians. All other peoples who've lived or who live within the borders of present-day Ukraine are also analyzed: Russians, Poles, Crimean Tatars, Jews, Germans (including Mennonites), and Greeks, among others. Political, economic, and cultural developments in Ukraine are examined, which makes Ukraine: An Illustrated History not only a reference resource for European area and Slavic studies specialists, but also makes it one which will appeal to people wishing an easy-to read/easy-to-understand informational reference.

Paul Robert Magocsi, Ph.D., is Professor of History and Political Science at the University of Toronto (since 1980), permanent Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (since 1996), and member of the Canadian Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences. Professor Magocsi is the President of the World Congress of Rusyns and author of many books on Rusyn history. He holds the chair of Ukrainian studies at the University of Toronto. Born in New Jersey, Dr. Magocsi completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University (B.A., 1966; M.A., 1967) and graduate studies at Princeton University (M.A., 1969; Ph.D., 1972). He then went to Harvard University, where he was a member of the Society of Fellows between 1973 and 1976. Professor Magocsi has taught at Harvard University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

The dust jacket illustration is a monument to the legendary founders of Kyiv along the shores of the Dnipro River. According to a widely known legend, Kyiv was founded by three brothers, Kyy, Shchek, Khorev, and their sister, Lybid, in 482. Kyy, the prince of the Slavic tribes of Polians, is considered the city founder, and it's for him that the city is named. Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine, and 'was the capital city of the mighty state of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine and the seat of the Ukrainian Orthodox Metopolitanate.' The apropos jacket design is by Katherine Patton. University of Toronto Press printed and bound this volume in Toronto, Buffalo, and London in 2007. This volume was published in the United States by University of Washington Press in Seattle.

The back of the dust jacket provides two endorsements. Dr. Serhy Yekelchyk, Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies, University of Victoria, provides one endorsement: "This is a magisterial introduction to the history of Ukraine. Combining excellent maps with an erudite historical narrative, Professor Magocsi's new work is a tour de force. He offers a wealth of data, makes sound judgments on controversial issues, and guides the reader through almost two millennia in the space of 350 (sic, 336) pages."

Another endorsement is from a colleague, Dr. Serhii Plokhii, Department of History, Harvard University, who writes: "There is a strong need in the English-speaking world for a short history of Ukraine--something that visitors could take along on a trip, or that high school and university students could use in their classes. Professor Magocsi has fulfilled that need with this well-written, generally balanced, and informative survey of Ukrainian history."

Wholeheartedly I concur with both Professors Yekelchyk and Plokhii. Additionally, this large-sized illustrated history is easy to read and digest; the placement of photos and illustrations (which are a decent size) enhance the generally balanced history of Ukraine, which is presented in an engaging, engrossing style.

Heartily recommended, each page of Ukraine: An Illustrated History has at least one or two, sometimes an entire page of black-and-white illustrations, images, line drawings, maps, portraits, and reproductions of books and art works. Many of the images are unique to this book; all of them are captioned with informative details.Indeed, this volume is an illustrated history of Ukraine, and the title and contents complement each other.Since all of the illustrations and images are in black-and-white, there is a continuity throughout the book; it would have been nice, however, to have had some of the photos appear in color.

For those wishing to see Ukraine's history depicted via color images, outstanding supplements to Professor Magocsi's Ukraine:An Illustrated History and also to Professor Subtelny's Ukraine:A History, are books by Peter Kardash, Ukrainian-Australian activist and author of Ukraine: Its History and Its Arts (see my review)and Ukraine and Ukrainians (see my review).In his 1988 book, Ukraine and Ukrainians, Kardash states that: "Soviet authorities did not take kindly to photographs being made of buildings and monuments with a history rooted in the Ukrainian national consciousness, so some were taken at great risk." Both books contains a treasure trove of color photos that are rarely encountered in other books--and all are captioned with informative details.My Listmania list entitled "Guaranteed Outstanding--Fortuna Company" has links to books mentioned above.Additionally, outstanding color photography is showcased in Simply Ukraine (see my review)by Ukrainian-American photographer Tania D'Avignon, who has worked for National Geographic Magazine.

The Contents page of Dr. Magocsi's monograph includes: a List of 16 Tables, List of 46 full-page Historical Maps, a one-page Introduction, 46 chapters, a 23-page Index, and a four-page Illustration Sources and Credits section.

Financial assistance was received from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. The book was published with the help of grants from the Chair of Ukrainian Studies Foundation in Toronto, and from the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Also, the University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial support for its publishing activities of the Government of Canada, through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP).

Five stars plus for an informative pictorial history of Ukraine with over 300 large, captioned images and informative, easy-to-read historical references, which put Ukraine's history into clear context. Undoubtedly, this book will be referenced often not only for its illustrations, but also for its succinct, objective text. For a more detailed text, refer to Professor Orest Subtelny's monograph, Ukraine: A History. The author of this book, Dr. Magocsi, described Dr. Subtelny's book (please see my review) in the Journal of Ukrainian Studies as "an excellent history of Ukrainians." Both books superbly supplement each other, both deserve to be on your library shelves, and both books together will fulfill your quest for an impartial history of Ukraine.

As a supplement to the historic photos in Professor Magocsi's excellent book, Ukraine: An Illustrated History, you're invited to view some of my photos of Ukraine; as an example, I've posted 92 images from my trips to Ukraine on the product detail page of A History of Ukraine by Hrushevsky, which is another excellent reference (please see my review).

Visit each of my reviews--most of them have photos that I took in Ukraine (over 600)--you'll learn lots about Ukraine and Ukrainians. The image gallery shows smaller photos, which are out of sequence. The preferable way is to see each review through my profile page since photos that are germane to that particular book/VHS/DVD are posted there with notes and are in sequential order.

To visit my reviews: click on my pseudonym, Mandrivnyk, to get to my profile page; click on the tab called review; scroll to the bottom of the section, and click on see all reviews; click on each title, and on the left-hand side, click on see all images. The thumbnail images at the top of the page show whether photos have notes; roll your mouse over the image to find notes posted.

Also, you're invited to visit my Listmania lists, which have materials sorted by subject matter. ... Read more

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This book explains what happened at Chernobyl and why as well as the impact it had on the surrounding area. Through primary source material - including eye-witness and second-hand accounts - presents historical evidence of different viewpoints of the accident and the pro and con debates which surround nuclear energy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent overview on the pros and cons of nuclear power
My father-in-law was a nuclear physicist, my father and brother engineers for the US gov't. I found this book to be excellent background for laymen. I am not an engineer-merely an author, reader and dentist. This book has become required reading for my kids and nieces.

An ok book
This book hits some good points.It has alot of good things to say and it would be great for a kid just starting to read.It talks about the shear devastation that handling accidents with nucleur power and some day how we will be able to handle nuclear energy better.So I think this is a goodbook to read. ... Read more