Reappraisals

Reflections on the Forgotten 20th Century

By: Tony Judt

Narrated by: James Adams

The accelerating changes of the past generation have been accompanied by a similarly accelerated amnesia. The 20th century has become "history" at an unprecedented rate. The world of 2007 was so utterly unlike that of even 1987, much less any earlier time, that we have lost touch with our immediate past even before we have begun to make sense of it - and the results are proving calamitous.

In less than a generation, the headlong advance of globalization has altered structures of thought that had been essentially unchanged since the European industrial revolution. As a result, we have lost touch with a century of social thought and socially motivated activism. In the 24 essays in Reappraisals, Judt resurrects the key aspects of the world we have lost to remind us how important they still are to us now and to our future.

©2008 Tony Judt (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"As a fascinating exploration of the world we have recently lost - for good or bad, or both - this collection...cannot be bested." ( Publishers Weekly)

Profound reflections on history and politics.

What did you love best about Reappraisals?

The late Tony Judt was the most eloquent, balanced and perceptive historian of modern Europe we had. He was also a uniquely well-informed and lucid political commentator on issues ranging from the Six-Day War to the ideal role of the state. Can't recommend this highly enough.

A Deep Well of Information and Opinion

I wasn't familiar with Judt before reading this book, and I had only a passing knowledge of many of the featured people.
The essays seem somewhat Judeo-centric, but they are fascinating and they have introduced me to people and philosophies I'll enjoy pursuing.
The essays on the more recent time periods (newer than 2003) seemed hollow, considering the economic and political changes of the past 18 months. I enjoyed all the others.

essential

wonderful full of thought and indispensible information

Irreplaceable

What did you love best about Reappraisals?

Brilliant analyses, mordant excoriations of the militarists self-justifying their Vietnam war, great critique of Israel

How could the performance have been better?

It's the wrong reader - the plummy British accent makes Judt sound like like a Mandarin, pronouncing disdainfully on mere mortals.His mispronounciation of all the Hebrew names compounds the tone of an authority impossible remote from his subjects.

Exceptional. A pure intellectual gift. It makes one’s brain bloom.

Reading Tony Judy’s essays in REAPPRAISALS is an exceptional delight. These essays, more specifically reviews mostly from The New York Times Review of Books from the late 1990 through the 2000s, address a wide range of issues that Judt adds his intellectual insights. This was one of the most stimulating and enjoyable nonfiction works I have read recently. Additionally, James Adams adds his warm sophisticated British baritone for which it is well suited, well modulated with a pace that’s easy to follow and understand. Everything comes together in this book: clear and engaging writing, intellectually stimulating analysis and argument, and a well performed narration.