A Concise Economic History of the World: From Paleolithic Times to the Present

A Concise Economic History of the World: From Paleolithic Times to the Present
Average customer rating:

Simple history lacking theory

Adequate but roundly lacking work

Excellent Work

Not Bad

The total economic history of the world in laymans words

A Concise Economic History of the World: From Paleolithic Times to the Present
Rondo Cameron , and Larry Neal
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0195127056

Book Description

This classic book offers a broad sweep of economic history from prehistoric times to the present and explores the disparity of wealth among nations. Now in its fourth edition, A Concise Economic History of the World has been updated to reflect the stunning changes in the world economy since 1989. Truly a definitive history of globalization, the new edition has been expanded to include coverage of the most recent developments in the European Union, East Asia, and, in general, transition economies. Comprehensive and global in scope, this concise text features ample illustrations and a fully updated annotated bibliography that guides readers to the relevant scholarly literature. Now available in eleven languages, including Spanish (second edition), French, German (two volumes), Polish, and Chinese, this unique work remains an invaluable, lively, and accessible text for both undergraduate and graduate students of European economic history, the history of globalization, and world development.

Customer Reviews:

Simple history lacking theory.......2007-09-06

This book is too elementary, in terms of economic history, for even an intro level book on the subject. For a better introduction see Braudel's "Wheels of Commerce". In addition, it lacks any discussion of theory(ies) or presentations thereof as to what drives growth and why it has occured in some areas and not others. After all, is this not the purpose of studying history?

Adequate but roundly lacking work.......2007-04-24

If one looks to today's world he overarching political and economic structure is that of westernized globalization. It seems that most political movements are either for globalization who to varying degrees either against or promoting the slowing of its effects. How does this relate to the world we have seen previously in the world?

Cameron and Neal hope to give a complete history of the trends and stages of the world economy from the first humans to today's world (circa 2001) and cram it into fewer than 500 pages. In this fourth edition of their 1989 original, they have produced an adequate work. They take surprising stands on certain issues, like the Industrial Revolution while not accounting for some recent scholarship on effects of neo-liberal globalization.

Their thesis of the logistic (the S shaped growth curve of biology) to help explain periods of European growth may help to enlighten some trends in world economic history. The first logistic happens in the early fourteenth century; while the second takes place in the seventeenth century. After the logistic the "life for ordinary men and women were becoming increasingly difficult in the decelerating phases" (p. 17). Cameron and Neal place the third logistic in the first part of the nineteenth century.

As the nineteenth century is considered the beginning of "modern industry," the effects of the "industrial revolution" have become a major determinant of modern growth. Yet, Cameron and Neal call this a misnomer. The growth of population and agricultural efficiency in the period can help to explain the third logistic. Therefore for Cameron and Neal the Industrial Revolution was no revolution. One can look to Marx' description of what we think of as revolution: it is only the big bang at the end of real social revolution. Is it not possible that the industrial revolution was a revolution; just due to a dearth of ready capital there was no big bang but a steady growth of investment into the world of iron and coal?

The spend time discussing the revolutions of 1989 as the prelude to the more modern era of both economics and politics. The year 2001 is declared a watershed, as we will view the successes and failures of globalization. Here they follow neo-liberal party line. Let's quote Adam Smith about growth but ignore his portions of the Wealth of Nations regarding equality.

At no point in the work do I recall the terms "equality," "inequality," "Gini coefficient," or "Lorenz Curve;" and, none of these terms appear in the index. (Stolper-Samuelson and Hecksher-Ohlin are equally shirked). The fact is they turn blinders to the growing inequality found at stages of globalization of the economy, neither mentioning the scholarship nor even attempting to excuse the matter.

While the actual trends of inequality in today's globalization may not have been readily available in 2001, there were those who had not drank the neo-liberal Kool Aid and were already challenging some of the assumptions. Jefferey Williamson's 1997 paper "Globalization and Inequality, Past and Present" shows that while there was overall growth in the world economy's first major globalization from 1890-1914, the fruits were seldom shared by the working class. This is the dirty little secret of globalization, which is invariably ignored by Cameron and Neal. Perhaps they can use the excuse they only had 500 pages to tell the history of the economic world.

I am going to give this book two stars. I see no reason to read it if it were not assigned for a class. Yet, if it assigned it will be one of the easier economic textbooks to read which you'll ever be assigned.

Excellent Work.......2005-04-27

This is one of the best works by Neal. While yes it is heavy on Europe, the explanations of Egypt and China are exceptional.

A sure buy is you want to study the topic better.

Not Bad.......2002-01-07

The title of this book should read "An Economic History of Europe," because 90% of the material focuses on the economic development of Europe. This is understandable considering that the industrial revolution first occured in Europe, and pulsated outwards. However, the amount of time given towards explaining the economies of the middle east, Asia, Oceania, Australasia, Africa, Latin America, and even the USA are so minute that the title is decieving and for all intensive purposes incorrect.

Nevertheless, the book is quite interesting, as it progresses from the dawn of human civilization with very concise and brief summaries well in to the twentieth century becoming more desciptive and detailed. If you are interested in how the world economy arrived to its current level, then I would suggest that this book is a good read and worth your while. Since this edition was published in 1997, it is excusable for the author to omit the economic consequences of the Euro, the rise of China and the rest of Asia, and the economic implications of Septemer 11. The author also refuses to offer his speculative view on the future of the world economies, thereby leaving the reader to do his or her on guess work. Although the introduction of the book, on the current inequality of world economies, is quite interesting, it is not elaborated upon towards the end of the book, and causes a lack of continuity. If you wish to understand better the world economy, you would be better off reading the encyclopedia, Lonely Planet travel guides, or perhaps even better, (what I have done) which is to travel and see these countries for yourself with your own eyes.

The total economic history of the world in laymans words.......1999-01-25

Rondo Cameron certainly explains the hold economic history of the world. Rondo takes you from the ages before Christ to the twenthieth century. Why did the Roman Empire went down?, Why Spain was not able to achieve higher levels of economical well-being despite their big colonies overseas?: Questions like these are answered in Rondo's excellent book. If a man wants to forsee the future, he has to go back and learn where he comes from. Economics and History were successfully married in the book, so historians, economists and financiers will find it helpfull.

The Elements of Music: Concepts and Applications, Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

Great textbook

The Elements of Music: Concepts and Applications, Vol. 2
Ralph Turek
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Plastic Comb

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ASIN: 0070654751

Customer Reviews:

Great textbook.......2001-10-14

I am a student, and I am currently using this book. This book continues on from the first volume in a successful way. It makes learning Neopolitan chords a little easier; it explains everything clearly, and allows the student to apply it in the right way. Good informative book.

Caprice and Rondo (The House of Niccolo, 7)

Average customer rating:

Finally Some Explanations
The Niccolo Series begins to draw to a conclusion
Rich and complex
A Soap Opera with a Masterýs Degree
waiting for conclusion

Caprice and Rondo (The House of Niccolo, 7)
Dorothy Dunnett
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375706127
Release Date: 1999-07-27

Book Description

With the bravura storytelling and pungent authenticity of detail she brought to her acclaimed Lymond Chronicles, Dorothy Dunnett, grande dame of the historical novel, presents The House of Niccolò series. The time is the 15th century, when intrepid merchants became the new knighthood of Europe. Among them, none is bolder or more cunning than Nicholas vander Poele of Bruges, the good-natured dyer's apprentice who schemes and swashbuckles his way to the helm of a mercantile empire.
Winter 1474 finds Nicholas exiled in the frozen port of Danzig, Poland. His Machiavellian exploits in Scotland have cost him friends and family--not to mention countless riches. As the ice melts, temptations arise. Will he assist the Muslim Prince Uzum Hasan against the Turks? Will he lose himself among the secret, scented gardens of the Crimea in the arms of a close friend's bride? As Nicholas pursues his future, his estranged wife, Gelis, seeks the truth about his past, only to discover the secret identity of his latest comrade in arms--a tantalizing ghost from the past poised to deal him the crowning death blow.
Shimmering with detail, alive with intrigue, Caprice and Rondo is Dorothy Dunnett's quicksilver evocation of a world where joy is fleeting, love is unexpected, and truth the rarest commodity of all.

Customer Reviews:

Finally Some Explanations.......2001-09-01

This the seventh book in the Niccolo series does offer some explanations of Nicholas's early life and gives some reasons as to why he did the things that he did. Brilliant Nicholas has been exciled to Poland. He tries to forget all of his previous life and become a devil-may-care pirate, but his history keeps coming in to interfere, and he has to resume his life in order to protect those that are dearest to him. In this book we contine to see the beautiful Anna, Julius's wife, and without giving the story away she is certainly not what she seems.
We also see Nicholas and Gelis get back together at the end of the story. That is indeed a happy occasion, but it puzzles me where Katalejne fits into this. We don't see much of her in this story, and that is a great loss since I for one feel that she is by far the superior heroine in this series.

I can't wait to read the last book in the series. Perhaps then things will all make sense. I found that there were some similarities between this series and the Lymond series, and that disappoints a bit, since the Lymond series is so superior. But this is still a good series and it's well worth the time spent to read it. I recommend reading all the books in the series in the order that they written.

The Niccolo Series begins to draw to a conclusion.......2000-11-17

The seventh of Dorothy Dunnett's eight book House of Niccolo series is Caprice and Rondo. The Niccolo books have never engaged me quite as thoroughly as her earlier series The Lymond Chronicles did. Those are among my very favorite historical novels ever. The Niccolo novels are good, but I have tended to find them a bit harder to follow. However, in the particular case of Caprice and Rondo, I was able to follow the action quite readily. Perhaps as the series comes to a conclusion the answers to the many mysteries are becoming clear.

This book opens with Nicholas in Poland. He's been kicked out of his company and exiled from Scotland and the Netherlands as a result of his actions in the last book. (This is another reason the Niccolo books are a bit harder to like: Nicholas does some pretty clearly bad stuff. Whenever Lymond seemed to be up to something bad, it turned out he was being misunderstood.) In Poland he spends a winter womanizing and drinking with the pirate Pauel Benecke, who wants him to join in a pirate mission the following summer. But Anselm Adorne, the upright burgomaster from Bruges who misunderstands Nicholas pretty comprehensively, and who stands in a role vaguely similar to Lymond's brother Richard Crawford in the Lymond books: a good man who tends to regard the hero as an enemy because he doesn't understand him, shows up on a mission to try to recover damages from an earlier piracy committed by Benecke. Also, Adorne and the Patriarch of Antioch, Ludovico da Bologna, intend to head to Tabriz to negotiate with the Persian Uzum Hasan for support against the Turks. (So far, every character I have mentioned except Nicholas is an actual historical character. Dunnett does this extravagantly, on occasion, I think, using characters mentioned very briefly in historical records, which allows her to claim a character is historical but treat said person just like a fictional character.) And Nicholas' long-time friend Julius and his wife Anna also intend to go East, to Caffa in the Crimea, to negotiate new trade agreements for their part of Nicholas' former Bank. Inevitably, Nicholas is drawn into accompanying Anna and the Patriarch to Caffa and Tabriz, and he's also drawn into (or does he do it on purpose???) shooting Julius so he can't come, and frustrating Adorne's plans so he has to go home, mad at Nicholas again. Follows then plenty of action and danger and sexual tension, (this last as Nicholas, frustrated by 8 years of separation from his wife Gelis, must resist his attraction to Julius' beautiful wife), as things go horribly bad in Caffa, and Nicholas ends up trekking to Moscow, and a meeting with the mysterious Greek with a Wooden Leg, Acciajouli, who was involved in the very first of Nicholas' escapades from Book 1.

In parallel, we follow Gelis and Katelijne back in Scotland and Bruges, as the evil David de Salmeton hoves into view again, ready perhaps to revenge himself on Nicholas by attacking those close to him. At the same time Gelis begins to work to resolve her conflicted feeling about Nicholas. Of course, eventually Nicholas is lured back to the west, to confront difficult revelations about his family, and about his relationship with Gelis, and with others, and to try to rebuff various threats to his family and friends.

Much is resolved: perhaps almost too much. Some of the eventual revelations are a bit lurid, and perhaps a bit too reminiscent of some "revelations" in the Lymond books. Nonetheless, the book is fascinating reading, absorbing, colourful, complex. Another fine chapter in an excellent series of historical novels.

Rich and complex.......2000-02-10

Caprice was everything I expected from Dorothy Dunnet, and I expect a lot. Great atmosphere, great story. But warning, don't start with this book. Read others in the series first. Like all the Niccolo and Lymond books, Caprice is beautifully researched and difficult to follow in the beginning pages. There are dozens of characters, most witty, and they often read each other's minds. Even minor players have large roles, so that following their conversations--and indeed who's talking--takes some getting used to. But there's a reward. Soon, you catch on and and it's a joy. Dunnet's ellipses let you participate much more than a simpler presentation that gives every character's every thought to you straight up. These people become your own family, friends, acquaintances and enemies. Unlike another reviewer, I found the characters exquisite, but then I know them from several prior books. It really helps to read the first book, Niccolo Rising, if not the ones between, to understand Nicolas and sympathize with him. And I doubt Gelis, Nicolas'wife, or her actions would have any meaning at all to readers who had not sufferred through her betrayal in earlier books. But it's still a great story. This edition does have a nice list of characters and summary of the plots from previous books, which are very welcome.

A Soap Opera with a Masterýs Degree.......2000-01-12

I was disappointed with this book. It had received a good deal of critical praise. I don't really understand why. It's not a bad book, but it's not particularly good either.

Our hero, Nicholas, is a jack of all trades deluxe. Businessman, engineer, fighter, singer, horseman, archer, diviner, lover - he does it all, and does it all well. Why, the only person who can thwart him is...himself. Ugh. Being good at everything is nice, but it does make for a boring character. Furthermore, by the end of the book we learn that he's so darn clever, he knew what was going on all along. Well. That does drain the tension from the novel, doesn't it? Nicholas isn't the only problem. The characters - and there are a lot of them - speak with more or less the same voice, and a suspiciously modern voice at that. I suppose they must be in the Renaissance - after all, they're wearing the right clothes and eating the right food - but you could drop them in England in 1920 and I bet they wouldn't miss a beat. Their emotional relationships are right out of a television soap opera, including a truly odd shyness about...you know..."the act"...(soft focus, please). Lacking distinction, lacking personality, the cast becomes a dull blur.

In general, there's just too much going on in this book: too many plot lines, too many characters and too many places. Of course complexity is not a bad thing. But "plot" should mean more than "things happening one after another". One would like to see possibilities develop, then watch some mature, some wither and some die as the characters make their choices. There's no time for that in Caprice & Rondo. Here's a murder, there's a coup, there's a seduction, here's a revelation, there's a betrayal. How will they get out of this mess? Like this! Bang! On to the next episode! Let's go! go! go! To Caffa! To Tabriz! To Moscow! To Bruges! Oh my! It's a deus ex machina perpetua, and you can never forget the author's heavy hand grinding behind the scenery.

To be fair, Caprice & Rondo is part seven in a series. If you had read books 1 through 6 the characters, at least, would seem far more vivid and real, and the novel more enjoyable. But I can't imagine putting in that much effort for the promise of so little in return. Caprice & Rondo is too lofty to be good pulp and too workmanlike to be good literature.

waiting for conclusion.......2000-01-11

Another wonderful step in the journey, but am eager to know when the eighth book is due out, anyone know? My son checked in London in the fall and it is not out yet there, and they usually get it before the USA does, so does anyone have an idea of when to look forward to this next, and last?, book?

Average customer rating:

Great tool for use in an Elementary Music Class
Students taking "ownership" of rhythm

The Body Rondo Book
Jim Solomon
Manufacturer: Memphis Musicraft Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 093401728X

Book Description

Twelve easy to challenging body percussion (snaps, claps, stomps, thigh slaps) rondos to delight students and teachers. Even the easy pieces are musican and fun because of Jim's skillful rhythmic combinations. The multi-meter and syncopated pieces are a hoot; truly unique collection

Customer Reviews:

Great tool for use in an Elementary Music Class.......2007-01-10

I am an Elementary School Music Teacher, and use The Body Rondo Book with all of my classes. It is very useful in the general music classroom. The students always have a lot of fun with the pieces. They work very well as written. But, are also adaptable to using different drum rhythms from programs such as Garage Band as accompaniment.

Students taking "ownership" of rhythm.......2006-11-05

Developing coordination and understanding form are important musical concepts. The Body Rondo Book provides several body percussion pieces that help teacher's accomplish this with students. As an elementary school music teacher in New York City, I have taught some of these pieces to my students. Depending on the ages you teach, the pieces will range from moderately easy-to-learn to difficult. Each piece has a clear, concise, suggested teaching process at the bottom of the score.

I taught the first piece in the book to my elementary school students in one period. A few of them -- mainly the ones who practiced it at home -- almost mastered the entire thing with that one experience. Many of them required more work on it and were then able to master it with more work together. (These pieces are meant to be learned over several periods).

Some important observations: the students loved learning and performing the pieces, I noticed a high level of concentration as they tried to master each section and each difficult part, and, if students can "own" rhythm in their bodies -- as they learn to do in these pieces -- they can more authentically transfer that "ownership" to musical instruments. Also, the pieces just sound great and look great at a performance.

Average customer rating:

Rondo: An artist book
Miriam Schapiro
Manufacturer: Bedford Arts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 093849113X

Average customer rating:

Blue Rondo
John Lawton
Manufacturer: Weidenfeld & Nicholson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Sweet Sunday
A Little White Death
Riptide
Bluffing Mr. Churchill (Frederick Troy Novels)
Black Out

ASIN: 0297646796

Average customer rating:

Great collection with a caveat (or not).

Four Horn Concertos and Concert Rondo
Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang
Manufacturer: Schirmer Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0793526108

Book Description

Contents: Concert Rondo in E Flat Major (K. 371) ¥ Concerto No. 1 in D Major (K. 412) ¥ Concerto No. 2 in E Flat Major (K. 417) ¥ Concerto No. 3 in E Flat Major (K. 447) ¥ Concerto No. 4 in E Flat Major (K. 495).

Customer Reviews:

Great collection with a caveat (or not)........2006-06-08

This is a convenient and affordable collection of Mozart's works for the horn. If you're reading this, you're probably already familiar with these wonderful works. This particular edition is a quality one, physically durable and tastefully edited by Barry Tuckwell.

Hornists should be aware that the parts within are transposed to the key of F rather than printed in the original keys of D for K. 412 and Eb for the other pieces. This removes the need for the hornist to do the transposition mentally, but those who would prefer an edition with untransposed parts instead of or in addition to the transposed ones should look elsewhere.

I believe the Schirmer editions of these works that are sold individually have both transposed and untransposed parts. The International editions are also quite nice.

This volume remains by far the cheapest way to get your hands on all four concertos and the rondo, and if you don't need parts in the original keys, then for this price the Schirmer offering is a no-brainer.

Concert Rondo in D Major, K. 382: for Piano and Orchestra

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Concert Rondo in D Major, K. 382: for Piano and Orchestra
Viktor Junk
Manufacturer: Eulenburg
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 3795768713

Bagatelles, Rondos and Other Shorter Works for Piano

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A Different Beethoven

Bagatelles, Rondos and Other Shorter Works for Piano
Ludwig van Beethoven
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Shorter Works for Pianoforte Solo
The Well-Tempered Clavier: Books I and II, Complete
Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 1-5 Transcribed for Solo Piano
Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 6-9 Transcribed for Solo Piano
Complete Sonatas for Pianoforte Solo

ASIN: 0486253929

Book Description

Most popular and most performed shorter works, including Rondo a capriccio in G and Andante in F. Breitkopf & Hartel edition.

Customer Reviews:

A Different Beethoven.......2003-08-12

The Bagatelles (the word loosely means 'trifle') of Beethoven reveal the miniaturist. We commonly think of Beethoven as a writer of sprawling sonatas, symphonies, etc. But he wrote some very fine smaller pieces. The Bagatelles are rewarding to play.

The Rondos in this volume, especially the one titled 'Rage Over A Lost Penny' are interesting, and well within the capabilities of intermediate to advanced pianists.

Book Description

The darker side of Alice has started revealing itself to make a move on Aruto and his Alice Society. It looks like Aruto's encounter with these gifted girls isn't going to be a tea party with bunny ears and a fluffy tail. But not to worry, maiden's fantasy is just two shakes of a bunny tail away.

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