This study is an account of the rise and fall of empires in the last vast unexplored corner of the inhabitable Earth; an area occupying one-sixth of the globe. The book chronicles 400 years of voyages of discovery; feats of pioneering heroism; engineering marvels; political plots; business chicanery; racial clashes and brutal wars. Walter McDougall lets the people who lived the events interpret them - the American-loving ambassador to Washington on the eve of Pearl Harbor; the Russian builder of the Trans-Siberian railway; a Hawaiian queen from the first period of Western competition for the Islands; the American Secretary of State infamous for his "folly" in purchasing Alaska; a Spanish missionary from the period when it looked like the whole area might have become part of the Spanish realm. From the tropical paradise of Hawaii to the island fortress of Japan; from the frozen wastes of Siberia to the California coastline and into the power centres of London; Washington; Tokyo and St Petersburg; the book offers insights into all the twists and turns of the Pacific empire. Walter McDougall is the author of "The Heavens and the Earth".
#90569 in Books Elaine Tyler May 2011-09-06 2011-09-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x .63 x 5.50l; .50 #File Name: 0465024599232 pagesAmerica and the Pill A History of Promise Peril and Liberation
Review
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. The Pill That Changed The World…Or Did It?By Frederick S. GoethelThis book provides a short; but interesting history of the birth control pill in America and discusses some of the positives and some of the negatives that have come to be associated with the pill.I doubt many younger people are aware that birth control was illegal in many states until about 1960. If fact; it remained illegal in Connecticut and Massachusetts until the Griswold case in 1965. Doctors who prescribed any sort of birth control were in danger of going to jail; and the primary method of birth control was rhythm roulette or the withdrawal method. The doctors who undertook the work of developing the pill did so under the cloak of controlling "women's issues" rather than as birth control.It was believed that when the pill came out; the level of promiscuity among women would rise. In fact; no such thing happened; although women in marriage had a bump in their libidos; as they no longer had to worry about getting pregnant at every turn. The release of the pill really didn't unleash the wave of sexual freedom that was feared and sometimes credited to the pill.The book discusses issues for women such as side effects of the pill and the gradual movement toward a low dose pill that was much safer than the original pill. Some women had real issues with the pill while others had no problems at all. It was interesting to see the mix.The book also described the effort to invent a birth control pill for males; although so far; all efforts of that front have been unsuccessful. Indeed; many women pointed out that if men had to take the pill; they would be a whole lot less interested in sex; as it is documented that men's libidos are tied directly to their fertility.The book was a very interesting read on the history of the pill; as well as some of the societal and physical side effects. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't know the history of the pill as it is quite enlightening!3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. While an interesting and easy read; May lacks a critical eye on many ...By Nicole RanaeWhile an interesting and easy read; May lacks a critical eye on many issues she encounters in this book. Her dismissal of the problematic way the pill was tested on women in Puerto Rico is just one example.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent pricing. Good reference materialBy Michael TachetUsed this ebook in my doctoral dissertation. Excellent pricing. Good reference material.
