Drawing on her own memory; her parents’ written reflections; interviews with contemporaries; and newly-available documents; former US Secretary of State and New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Albright recounts a tale that is by turns harrowing and inspiring.Before she turned twelve; Madeleine Albright’s life was shaken by some of the most cataclysmic events of the 20th century: the Nazi invasion of her native Prague; the Battle of Britain; the attempted genocide of European Jewry; the allied victory in World War II; the rise of communism; and the onset of the Cold War. In Prague Winter; Albright reflects on her discovery of her family’s Jewish heritage many decades after the war; on her Czech homeland’s tangled history; and on the stark moral choices faced by her parents and their generation. Often relying on eyewitness descriptions; she tells the story of how millions of ordinary citizens were ripped from familiar surroundings and forced into new roles as exile leaders and freedom fighters; resistance organizers and collaborators; victims and killers. These events of enormous complexity are shaped by concepts familiar to any growing child: fear; trust; adaptation; the search for identity; the pressure to conform; the quest for independence; and the difference between right and wrong. Prague Winter is an exploration of the past with timeless dilemmas in mind; a journey with universal lessons that is simultaneously a deeply personal memoir and an incisive work of history. It serves as a guide to the future through the lessons of the past; as seen through the eyes of one of the international community’s most respected and fascinating figures. Albright and her family’s experiences provide an intensely human lens through which to view the most political and tumultuous years in modern history.
#264584 in Books David Batstone 2010-10-12 2010-10-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .68 x 5.31l; .50 #File Name: 0061998834304 pagesNot for Sale The Return of the Global Slave Trade and How We Can Fight It
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. If You Want to Help Combat Slavery; This Book Is One of the Tools You NeedBy David CrummMany people think of slavery as a high-school history lesson related to the Civil War; but that's hardly the case. Slavery has been a tragic part of world culture for thousands of years and exists to this day.Fortunately in recent years; several well-organized groups have been fanning out around the world - providing educational materials to volunteers and taking direct action in many cases to change laws and free slaves.If you're on the verge of purchasing this book by David Batstone; a leading authority on modern slavery; then you're already interested in this issue and what you really want is a hands-on; heavy-duty book that investigates modern systems of human trafficking.This is the book you want. It carries an advisory to readers: "This book deals with mature subject matter." That's because this is grim stuff about slave laborers; child soldiers and enslaved sex workers.Batstone is professor of ethics at the University of San Francisco and; for six years; also was executive editor of Sojourners Magazine. He understands the issue - and the actions needed. In the final section of the book is an extensive overview of groups and Web sites around the world that can help to connect you with this modern-day abolitionist campaign.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. No longer blindBy Katelyn McKenzieAs a senior in high school I was completely unaware of the modern day slave trade. This was the first book I've read that revealed that there was slavery still going on even here in the United States. This book contained graphic images and legitimate statistics that will open ones eyes to what most Americans have never seen before. Batstone used both logical and emotional appeal to strongly encourage the audience to take action. I strongly recommend this but want to warn others that the graphic imagery may be disturbing. I recommend this book especially to the younger generation; those who are figuring out their vocation or passion; because it will effect our future. The author uses imagery and expanded vocabulary to paint a clear picture of what is actually going in our world. Not only that but Batstone uses multiple real-life examples to make you feel connected to the victims. After reading this book I myself a senior in high school felt a call to action. I don't have a college education yet; I'm not some professional lawyer; and this is my first time finding out about this issue but even I felt passion from this book and want to get involved some how or some way. This book shows that you don't have to be a certain age or certain socio-economic status to make a difference; and I loved knowing this encouraging idea.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good references for practical opportunities to aid victims.By Sandra WageniusI am reading a series of books on this subject; and found this to be the most informative. I liked that it gave some practical advice about how a person can become involved in helping alleviate some of this horrific suffering. It contained some good "case histories"; but it was the applicable hands on advice that was of particular interest to me; personally. I also passed the information on to my recent college graduate grandson I thought might be interested in following up on some of the opportunities to help in this area.
