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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on July 23, 2004, at 10:10:22
OK, so I'm teasing about Nikki -- in fact would love to hear a NikkiT Review of Mr Boorstin's work from another perspective.
I just started "Hidden History" last night, although I'm not sure I"ll be able to finish it right now. (Going into that depressive "can't read at all" phase again.) Mr Boorstin has special relevance for me, because he came to see my mother's collection some years ago, and then she went to see his collection at the Library of Congress. Mother was very much impressed by him -- and while she would never know it, I'm sure he was equally impressed by her, but that's a different story. (I come by my insecurities honestly...)
After reading only a very short section, I'm already impressed by what he's written. I'm still in the first chapter, where he details the elements involved in the survival of source materials. Most of it is not news to me, and the parts I recognize are things that I believe myself, so that helps raise his writing in my opinion, but what really blows me away is how much *is* new to me. It's always nice to learn something new, rather than just retreading familiar ground. (Of course, I know more European history than American history, so that makes it a little easier to surprise me...)
Who else has read his work? And what did you think?
Posted by NikkiT2 on July 24, 2004, at 6:23:40
In reply to D. Boorstin (Nikki can't play this time...), posted by Racer on July 23, 2004, at 10:10:22
Not read it.. but done some searching and it does seem.. rather interesting!!
Though, I do fear that my personal views on Europe may differ from is!! I will have to hunt this out.. though it doesn't appear to be released in the UK yet..
Though.. maybe for my own sanity I shouldn't read it, as just the write ups are making me argue with the page!! *l* The line "our geographical isolation" with regards the USA makes me laugh, as I really don't consider the US geographically isolated.. yes, its isolated from Europe, but it mentions Europe later in the sentance - "and our remoteness from Europe".. It seems, from the write ups, to be a "We've been so hard done by, but we're so great" kind of book..
But maybe the I am getting totally the wrong end of the stick!!!
Nikki xx
Posted by Racer on July 24, 2004, at 9:30:23
In reply to Re: D. Boorstin (Nikki can't play this time...) » Racer, posted by NikkiT2 on July 24, 2004, at 6:23:40
At least from what I've read so far, I'm loving it because he is discussing such things as why some material survives and other doesn't -- you know, the books used everyday in the classrooms fall apart, so we can't look at them, but the books no one read are in fine shape.
As for the geographic isolation from Europe, that's related to the period of our founding, *not* the current time. The first chapter is all about how the early period of American life involved what he calls "fertile verges" -- the verge between the wilderness and the city; the verge between the land and the sea; the verge between the German and the English settlers; etc. That not having the city already established, not having the generations of traditions, not having a roadmap to life in America created a tradition of frontierism that was different from the traditions of the Old World.
This book came out in 1987, so it may be hard to find because it's too old. Too bad, what I've read about him makes me want his contribution to survive. He died a few months ago, and I know my mother had a few moments of sadness about that.
Honestly, Nikki, I hope you try to find a copy, because I'd love to hear what you have to say about it. I can read it as a critical history reader, but only as an American who is critical of most history she's read. I'd love to get a different perspective from a reader with a different background. (Maybe we can start our own book club? LoL! But only if I can get to where I can read consistently again. I'm already back to 'mostly unable to read' after getting through only two books normally... {{sigh}})
Posted by NikkiT2 on July 25, 2004, at 5:23:15
In reply to You are getting the wrong end of the stick! » NikkiT2, posted by Racer on July 24, 2004, at 9:30:23
Thats the problem with only reading write ups.. you get the spin the other person puts on it!!! *laughing*
I am now throughly intrigued though.. its avilable at US amazon, so think I'll put in an order there (but slow delivery - otherwise its V expensive!)!!
I remember the days before UK amazon launched.. I was a regular shopper on the US one *lol* I just usedit the other day to send a giant puzzle book, and "The Life of Pi" to a friend in Pittsburgh who is in hospital (poor guy had an awful fall.. broken his hip in 3 places and basically smashed his jaw).. annoyingly the hoispital moved him to a rehab place the day before my parcel arrived though, so I am hoping and hoping the hospital are nice enough to pass it onto him at the new place!!
Nikki x
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