Germany Books

I read this book with intensity, and believe me I don't read very much. I never understood the complexity or the intensity of WWII until I read this book.
I am a navy sailor and I have spent most of my time not realizing what that ment. I read this book after 9/11 and it helped me understand the sevarity of war and how tragic it is.
And even though it might be thought that I have a biased opinion towards my father's book, this is one that you will not put down!

Some books of this type are tedious and rehash the same stories of an awful time in our recent history. I began this reading with reservations, but immediately found it not only an easy read but a page turner. Being written in the first person gives life and excitement to what could have been just another story. This book puts you there. You feel their anxiety. You experience their near hopelessness and rejoice in their triumph. This is a must read for anyone.

David's story starts on the day the German army attacked Poland at the beginning of World War II. It chronicles one man's struggle to save his family from the Nazis and the heroic efforts he made to save hundreds of other people in the process. David never stopped believing in life and he never stopped believing in God. Through every twist and turn first, while hiding from the Nazis then in the Warsaw Ghetto and finally in Bergen Belsen his quick thinking kept his family safe.

You will not put this book down until David's final liberation. This book is a tribute to his zest for life. Through all the death and destruction David never lost his faith.

David Gilbert is a true hero. His story makes personal what now seems so far removed. It should be read by all those who want to learn from the inhumanity of the Nazi era. This book should be required high school reading. David's story is about life and one man's triumph over incredible odds.

The glorious work of Leni Riefenstahl (admit it: love her or hate her, she is incredibly gifted as a photographic artist!!) is shown off on the printed pages of this impressive edition. Fans of her films will love it...sports fans will love it...anyone impressed by the beauty of the human form will love it. You must fall into at least one of those categories, eh? A treasure for your library!

I read "Olympia", so to speak, with greatest pleasure--for this is really a picture-book of the most exquisite kind and, like the best of them, one that can be enjoyed by adults as well as children. It is made of stills from the film "Olympia" directed by the German woman Helene (Leni) Riefenstahl, which is of course about the 1936 Berlin Olympiad. As well as being a filmaker, Leni was a dancer, mountaineer, skier, and actress, all of which gave her a great understanding of the primary subject-matter shown in "Olympia"--the art of the moving human body. Though this artist has been much slandered by many a critic, her film is a festival of beauty and nations, lauding the aesthetics, athletics, and daring of mankind no matter the race, religion, or creed. I have seen the film, and can attest that this book gives a fine and thorough overview thereof, doing justice not only to one of the finest films ever made, but also to art, life, and humanity

In the 1937 preface to the first edition of this book, Leni Riefenstahl remarked 'it is the timeless document of a great idea -- a hymn to beauty and competetive endeavour.' Sixty-five years later, the graceful images of athletes competing in the 1936 Berlin games has more than withstood the test of time and validated Riefenstahl's original estimation of this work's ground-breaking importance, not only as a document, but as an exercise in the aesthetics of the idealised beauty of the human body in movement.

Leni Riefenstahl was something of a Renaissance woman: Photographer, motion picture director, editor, dancer, skier, and all-around athlete, no one could have been a better match for documenting the 1936 Olympics on film, from which stills were culled to create this volume. True to the spirit of Ancient Greece, it is fitting that it was captured on silver nitrate by this gifted cinematographer christened Helene (her birth name, for which 'Leni' is a German nickname).

Actually, the term 'stills' does injustice to the photographs contained with -- so alive are they, capturing the essence of athleticism and motive power.

The beginning of the book is devoted to Ancient Greece, and documenting the ruins which monumentalise her greatness: The Parthenon, Myron's discus thrower, the gods, such as Apollo and Achilles. Riefenstahl has brought many of the famous statues of athletes alive, as she photographs naked men and women engaged in the ancient sports, such as the javelin throw, the shot put, eurythmics, dance and the discus throw. Her athletes epitomise the grace, sensuousness and taut, muscular efficiency of the male and female bodies.

Another striking sequence is of the young Greek torch bearer, who ignites the torch at Athens and delivers it on his long route through Thermopaylae, the Grecian shore, Delphi and Corinth. The poise and determination in the runner's body and eyes convey the Olympic spirit with the same glowing certitude as the eternal flame, which the runner holds aloft like a beacon in the night.

Once in Berlin, the bulk of this volume is dedicated to the athletes themselves. Leni's cameramen captured all the events, and some of the images are just astounding for their sense of motion and eloquent simplicity of composition. Among my favourites are: p. 60, the Flame from Greece, which shows a German youth standing before the crowd of athletes, holding the flame erect before lighting the stadium torch; p.62, Start of the 80 meter hurdles, as seen from the timekeeper's point-of-view, the lines demarcating the oval track's lanes sweep into a bird's eye view of the pensive hurdlers as they await the starter's gun; p. 68, Jesse Owens in the starting blocks, the great athlete is the very embodiment of concentration; pp. 98, 99, German Gisela Mauermayer, discus thrower, shows the female athlete in motion, and in joyous release on her way to the gold medal; p. 137, shadows of marathon runners, which convey the fleeting rush of the events; p. 247, finale, which shows the Berlin Olympicstadion encircled by pillars of searchlights just before the flame is extinguished.

'Olympia' is, to me, the greatest expression of graceful motion ever captured by a photographer. A tone poem for camera, these images better convey the concept of motion than 99% of the movies today, which are motion pictures in name only.

Luigi Albertini's magnificent history of the origins of World War I ought to be required reading for anyone wishing to debate this fascinating subject intelligently. Enigma (whoever they are) has performed a stellar service in publishing a paperback edition this year. Used copies were going for over $1000.

The three volumes are each over 700 pages, but make for riveting reading. The question of the responsibility for the outbreak of this disastrous war is probably the greatest whodunit in European history. I don't think I'm giving anything away to say that two and a half decades before Fritz Fischer, Albertini fingered the Germans. His evidence, in the end, is overwhelming. (Different responses by England and Russia could have altered the course of events in July, naturally.)

Albertini was an influential Italian newspaper editor and senator until ousted by Mussolini. He observed events in 1914 as a political insider, knew many of the protagonists, and was able to interview a number of them after the war. He had another advantage: by the time he completed the book, the diplomatic papers of each of the combatants had been published in their entirety, the memoirs had been written, the charges and counter-charges issued and disputed, etc. There is naturally more coverage of the Italian role in the crisis than in other studies, but the book is so well written (in Isabella Massey's splendid translation) that even readers not interested in Italy's response to its allies' machinations are likely to find these chapters engrossing.

The re-publication of this book is especially valuable because of the curious persistence of revisionist myths from the 1920s. The idea of collective guilt--that the nations of Europe "slithered into war," in Lloyd George's phrase--is not only attractive to ideologues on both the Left and Right, for various reasons, but continues to appeal to people wishing to think of themselves as compassionate and non-judgmental. Unfortunately, it was not abstractions like imperialism, militarism, nationalism, capitalism, or "secret diplomacy" that were responsible for the conflict, but the decisions of a few individuals in Germany who either wished to wage a preventative war or were willing to risk war to achieve a diplomatic coup.

Albertini does not spare the other parties to the conflict, however. He exposes the incompetence, myopia, and malfeasance in all the European capitals deftly and pitilessly.

Grey, the British Foreign Secretary, and Bethmann Hollweg, the German Chancellor, are sometimes depicted as the tragic figures of the crisis. Albertini will have none of this; he is quite critical of each. Some of the more sympathetic characters are actually the German ambassadors to the Entente countries, particularly Lichnowski in London-humane and civilized men appalled at the instructions they were receiving from Berlin. One of the things the book does so well is to expose the rivalries and animosities within the governments of the countries involved in the crisis.

Though I've not yet had a chance to look at this edition, I'm sure Samuel Williamson's introduction is illuminating.

Like other WW I history buffs, I had long searched for Albertini's legendary work. Used copies of the three volume set I found on the net were both incomplete and too expensive. It was with great pleasure that I saw the Enigma Press reissuance of this work offered through the History Book Club for only $45.00. To my great disappointment, the newly released work was riddled with typographical errors of the most disconcerting kind: sentences running together for lack of periods; numbers inserted into words; incorrect spacing withing words and between words in sentences; incomprehensible symbols for times and dates. Every page of this work is riddled with incomprehensible errors. This new and updated version is also an example of false advertising since there is no new information or interpretation of Albertini's research or his own role during the war. Because my search for any usable copy of this book was so extensive and frustrating, I have decided to hold on to this wretched reissuance rather than use it to wrap dead fish.

This work has been out-of-print too long. It is THE work on the origins of WWI, and a must for the serious bookshelf. I first read this some years ago from the library, and have been searching for it since at reasonable cost -- and here it is.

It's long, it's detailed. But I know of no other book, and there are a number of admirable ones, that provides as complete a picture of this subject. Some examples. Frequently overlooked is the factor of Italy, it's drive for territory in N. Africa, and it's conflict w. Turkey over Greek islands immediately preceding WWI. From this we can see that much of this policy carried over into the inter-war era and was not entirely a creation of Mussolini. Albertini's long-running discussion of Austria's possible drive to the Black Sea, and it's attempts to block Serbia from the Adriatic through Montenegro are enlightening as a backdrop for conditions in the Balkans today. And the recent, and continuing, conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Serb relations with Montenegro and Albania are all pre-figured here beginning in the 19th century. And then there's the Sanjak of Novibazar -- too much to detail here.

There are few books I could as highly recommend.

Mais um excelente livro do autor (que já publicou outros títulos também sobre uniformes alemães) e que praticamente não apresenta nenhum defeito.

Este tipo de livro tem em comum com os títulos publicados pela antiga editora (e acho que já não existe mais) Windrow&Greene e que por sua vez pode se traçar também um paralelo com as publicações da editora francesa Histoire&Collections (a mesma que edita a revista Militaria).

O livro tem 128 páginas repletas de informações e fotos (são 250) de modelos contemporâneos vestindo as roupas dos soldados pertencentes às divisões blindaddas alemãs (panzer)da 2ª Guerra Mundial. Se por um lado não cobre todos os uniformes, mostra de forma profunda os uniformes disponíveis, além de disponibilizar também fotos da época (em preto e branco).

Imperdível para os colecionadores de equipamentos da 2ª Guerra Mundial além de modelistas, historiadores e entusiastas. E por falar em modelistas, a parte final do livro, onde são apresentados réplicas de blindados feitos na época é imperdível! Tais réplicas eram fabricadas na escala 1:20 e serviam (provavelmente) para o treinamento nos cursos de tanques e canhões anti-tanques.

Ecellent book on this subject - great photos and a great help for collectors. Another great book from this author.

Another fine effort from the author, following up upon his earlier works on Army uniforms, and Waffen SS uniforms & insignia. Large, clear photos, with knowledgable text. A valuable addition to anyone's library on Wehrmacht uniforms, a subject that seems to draw from an unexhaustable well. Personally , I hope the author turns his attention to the Luftwaffe, a personal favorite of mine.

Although it is getting harder to find, The German Library's Schopenhauer entry, volume 27, entitled "Philosophical Writings," has long been the best collection of Schopenhauer's works in one book. Here edited by Wolfgang Schirmacher and in translations by E.F.J. Payne (who produced the definitive translation of all of Schopenhauer's major works) are 300 pages worth of selections from Schopenhauer's canon. From his seminal tract _The World As Will and Representation_ to his later-life essay collection _Parerga and Paralipomena_, this book has it all.

The 16 chapters here correspond to chapters in his works, although there are no indications from where in Schopenhauer's oeuvre they are being pulled-- the collections's major flaw. However there is literally no aspect of Schopenhauer's major points that is not given a voice here. "On Thinking For Oneself" is a chapter out of the second volume of the Parerga; as is his essay "On Suicide" and "Additional Remarks on the Doctrine of the Suffering of the World." From the second volume of _The World as Will and Representation_ we get an essay "On the Fundamental View of Idealism" as well as "On the Affirmation of the Will-To-Live." "The Foundation of Ethics" is a lengthy section of _On the Basis of Morality_. Only 2 of the 16 sections feature abridgment of any kind: "Aphorisms on the Wisdom of Life" has long been available as a separate book, although it is part of the first volume of the Parega; and Schopenhauer's summary statement, the important fourth section of the first volume of _The World as Will and Representation_, is here in a 75 page chunk of the original 143 pages.

If there is a complaint to this book, it is that it does not give full expression to Schopenhauer's personality-- for example, his views on women. However this is not essential, and as stated this compilation does excellently in presenting the force and insight of Schopenhauer's thought in one set of covers. Schirmacher's introduction is lively and presents Schopenhauer as a still-important, still-relevant presence in the contemporary world-- easy to say of someone who forshadowed the advancements of Einstein, Freud and Darwin.

With statements on ethics, metaphysics, aesthetics, and politics, I would point anyone who wants Schopenhauer in 300 pages or less to make this purchase. As an avid reader of the man I honestly recommend Schopenhauer's larger works in their entirety; however for the reader prohibited by time or schedule, this is the best selection available, and can serve as an introductory text as well.

Schirmacher's brilliant introduction alone justifies this fascinating collection of Germany's most popular philosopher today - and Schopenhauer wrote and breathed in the 19th century!

Schopenhaur, the philosopher who first brought Buddhist insights into mainstream European philosophy, remains a paradox. On one hand, he acknowledges that life is a disappointment and almost all is vanity. On the other hand, sensual pleasure provides some solace and a solid foundation for an ethics of compassion.

While I often had to reread several passages a few times to extract some clear understanding, this influential tome provides an excellent overview of a controversial philosopher whose ideas continue to inspire and confuse.

I found Schopenhaur's harsh denunciation of nationalism particularly interesting given the fact that he was writing at a time of rising German nationalism. "The cheapest form of pride is national pride; for the man affected therewith betrays a want of individual qualities of which he might be proud since he would not otherwise resort to that which he shares with so many millions." (p.276)

Given the tragic consequences that extreme nationalism lead to in Germany during the 20th century, it seems a safe bet that Schopenhaur will remain a strong philosophical presence in 21st Europe.

As an understudy of Kant, Schopenhauer fluidly writes an entirely feasible and origional philosophy which has proven to forshadow and inspire the thoughts of Nietsche. Schpenhauer represents German idealism at its apex

This is the true story of America's first espionage service the OSS. This book contains story of adenture and heroism. For anybody that likes adventure and spies this book is for you. ONe of the truely great spy books of the century

This is the amazing story the the O.S.S america's first true intelligence service. This is the dazaling story of the 200 O.S.S agents that risked their life and pierced the German 3rd reich. it will compell you with it's stories of heroism and danger. This is truly one of the greatest spy books ever written and if you don't read you miss a part of America's classic spy history.

This is a superb book on a little-told aspect of World War II espionage -- the infiltration of OSS spies into Nazi Germany, and their tales of survival (or capture) while trying to collect intelligence, and send it to the Allies, from inside one of the most repressive police states during wartime. This book is FULL of fascinating tales and insights, providing enough detail to be rich, but not enough to be stilted. The book reads like a good spy novel, except fiction is bounded by realm of the possible, and these are real people.
This book goes well beyond "this happened, and then that happened." The author explains the relevant history and structure of Nazi Germany, and examines the political and psychological pressures on the various countries, spy organizations, and on the agents themselves. Worker activists and communists were helpful to the Allies as spies during the war, but dumped soon afterward.
One tale is of "Cicero," the Albanian valet to the British ambassador to Ankara, who stole volumes of critical information from the ambassador's safe and sold it to the Germans, including the "Overlord" code name of the Normandy invasion. Even after being warned, the British allowed Cicero to stay in his position for months. Yet another twist happens as conflicts and jealousies within German intelligence led the Germans to discount the actual intelligence Cicero provided. And as the final twist, the £300,000 paid by the Germans to Cicero was all counterfeit money.
One of the most fascinating stories is how the Germans came to build their "last stand" National Redoubt in Austria. It started as a wholly mistaken OSS intelligence rumor -- the Germans had no such plan. But when the Germans intercepted the American radio report of such "German plans," the National Redoubt idea was sent to Hitler and implemented. A lot of our scarce espionage capabilities were misdirected to examining enemy plans in the "National Redoubt" area during the war. American troops at the end of the European war left Berlin to the Russians, and turned to Austria to vanquish the very same almost-empty "National Redoubt" chimera we'd created.
One helpful insight of the book was on the issue of whether the majority of ordinary Germans knew the purpose of the concentration camps. One capable spy, doing his best to make observations, with an anti-Nazi bias (both characteristics unlike most Germans), reported that the only information most Germans had of the purpose of the concentration camps came from what they may have heard from American propaganda, which they dismissed, because Allied anti-German propaganda in World War I had been so exaggerated. The majority of Germans, if they knew of the camps, assumed they were places of confinement and not extermination. This did not apply, of course, to the minority of Germans involved with the camps, and perhaps those living near the camps.
The author goes into the psychology of what makes a good spy, in a very paranoid "papers, please" regime, who is always pushing the envelope, always at the the risk of capture and torture and perhaps execution, but yet must survive in order to pass his/her information back to the Allies. What was the right type of man or woman to send into Nazi Germany with an important and delicate mission? (One description: "The ideal candidate was honest and devious, inconspicuous and audacious, quick and prudent, zealous and cool.") Should the OSS recruit ordinary captured German soldiers? Was it ethical to make promises to potential spies which couldn't be kept? How could the OSS tell who was telling the truth, and who had contrary motives -- or determine who had the character to perform well in extreme circumstances?
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in politics, history, or espionage.

I happen to be a kind of guy whose greatest turn-on is a nude portrait of a beautiful woman who is in a sensitive period, who is expecting, in a family way, in her pregnancy in late stages. When I first opened this volume and saw the cover of smiling preggy lady I just knew that I had finally come up with the photo book of my dream! And in color! Sensual, but with a lot of "class"! This is a photo anthology created by a cameraman Ralf Mohr who himself is a fanatic lover of pregnant figures. Absolutely a great job my dear Ralf, I really admire your works. Next time perhaps, please do include shots of their most intimate female anatomy and with some ropeworks added to spice up the scenes even more!

An absolutely beautiful piece of work. These women, and Mohr, have provided a wonderful gift in this book. Few things compare to the images of these women full of life. My only recommendation, more. More photos, more women from a broader spectrum of ethnic backgrounds.

So says one of the models, describing her own state.

This is a very different vision of a woman's beauty. Mohr has captured about twenty models in the later months of their pregnancies. It's a beautiful, joyous collection - these women all want to be photographed, want to be seen at their fullest. They want to be celebrated in that part of their life that is uniquely womanly. Most of them talk about how their curves are loved within their families, and are generous enough to let the viewer love them too, just a little.

These are very strong people, as Martina and especially Katrin show. They have friends or lovers, as Andrea shows. Their figures are elegant, as Andrea, Anke, Cara, and Sarah show. They are more than just bellies, as Kolja shows, they people first with other lives. But they are women, too, sometimes more womanly because of their grand figures and because of all the other changes in their bodies.

There are many collections dedicated to women's beauty. Very few of them describe the whole woman, in all the ways that she can be. The may skip early life, or later life, or giving life. Pregnancy may be the most important time of life, because every living person, even you, came from a pregnancy.

//wiredweird

"Prisoners Of Nazis" by Harry Spiller. Subtitled: "Accounts Bt American POWs In World War II". McFarland & company, Publishers, Jefferson, N.C. 1998.

This book has nineteen (19) different stories, told by individuals who had been captured and who served as Prisoners Of War (POWs) in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). The Editor, Harry Spiller, who has also written about American POWs in Viet Nam, has taken the 19 stories and grouped them according to time and place: the invasion of Italy, then the invasion of France, followed by the Battle of the Bulge. He has a section on the bombing raids over Germany and finally, the invasion of Germany, itself. There are only two officers among the 19 stories, with the other 17 POW ranks ranging from Private to Technical Sergeant. The stories are told in their own words, typically with a section devoted to how they were captured, how they were initially treated and then the German POW camp. Some of the narrators had to evacuate from the east: eastern Germany or from Poland, as the Red Army advanced towards Berlin. These individuals recount the tragedy of winter travel as they fled into Greater Germany.

Before each of the 19 stories, the Editor has included a short vignette, telling where the soldier came from, when he was inducted in the Army (or when he volunteered), the date he was captured and the date he was liberated. Where possible, the Editor has included a contemporary photo of the individual, or, perhaps, of the camp he was imprisoned in. It appears that the Editor did not change the writings of the POWs. So, for example, on page 67, you have an individual who was a POW from November 24, 1944 until March 27, 1945, stating that he returned to the Sates on June 1, 1945, spent sixty days at home, and was sent to Fort Riley, where he was discharged in March 1945. Clearly, he meant to write 1946. There are these minor little discrepancies here and there, which indicate that this book is truly a primary source: excellent for those studying the POW history of World War II.

Prisoners of Nazis. A very good book with interesting stories. Two valuable appendices are included, one listing the names and locations of the camps which contained Americans and the other describing the German Regulations Concerning Prisoners of War.

This well-crafted literary mosaic features 19 firsthand accounts by American soldiers and airmen. Author Spiller introduces each former POW's tale with a brief. italicized biographical sketch. When each ex-POW is brought front and center, the reader gets comprehensive glimpses of the war in both the European and Mediterranean theaters. The reader can purgatorial existence within 12 different stalags and two lazarets(hospitals) At this point each POW fights his toughest battle. Strangely enough, the more the Allies become victorious the worse conditions become in the camps. Eventually, the most-populated camps are hastily evacuated and the prisoners are herded across Europe in nonsensical forced marches during the worse winter in 20 years. Spiller has orchestrated 19 highly qualified voices into a symphony which celebrates the triumph of the human spirit.

I bought this book in the hopes that I would learn more about a significant, but rather unknown WW1 pilot, and I was not disappointed. Whiteside has left no stone unturned during his research, accessing military records, personal memoirs, and previously published material. I think it was nice that the author left a lot of the minute details for the endnotes, as this helped the story of the 'Black Knight' to flow more freely. It is amazing to read about some of the private matters concerning this ace, and from this we get a good idea about his character and self-determination. As the last reviewer stated, he may have been a Nazi member, but this association did little to harm his reputation as he is known today. In fact, Schleich's dealings with the Nazi party only enhances the intrigue of this book. One thing the reader gets from reading this book is that von Schleich was highly motivated, and he very much enjoyed a good challenge.

There is a rather large appendix, which concisely spells out his military assignments, aerial victories, awards, ect. I especially liked the photo section (over 40 pages!). I found the images to be very interesting, adding even more detail to this already comprehensive account. Probably the best part about the book was the way it was organized; the chapters are broken-down into easily digestible parts - complete with sub-headings to tell the reader what the section is about.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in WW1 aviation, or even to those who enjoy reading about people whose lives were full of intrigue and danger.

"Rampant Lion" is a fitting testament to an honorable man whose life, though little-known even to WW1 aviation enthusiasts, was filled with aerial victories, defeats, triumphs and tragedies. Known as the Black Knight, the career and personal life of Eduard Ritter von Schleich are vividly brought to life by Darren Whiteside in this entertaining book. A coveted "Blue Max" recipient, von Schleich epitomized the classic Flying Ace of the early days of combat aviation. A victor in 35 air battles and a Jasta leader, he was also a Lufthansa pioneer and key figure in the rise of the Luftwaffe -- his association with the Nazi Party may be distateful to some readers, but as Whiteside's narrative explains, the Black Knight's love of his country made him an obvious recruit for what he perceived as a chance to bring Germany out of the ashes and humiliation of the First World War. Great photos, most of which will be unfamiliar even to die-hard fans of WW1 aviation, add to the appeal of this excellent book.

The Rampant Lion, the life story and the adventures of Eduard Ritter von Schleich is an in depth look into one of Germany's top flying ace's of WWI and WW2. It is a well written biography and an easy read. This book tells the story of his humble beginnings as a child in a small town in Bavaria, and his love and dedication to country. He joined military as a young man. He developed a keen interest in flying, and soon his talents were recognized by his superiors. During the first world war, his talent's as a leader and a top gun fighter pilot were soon recognized. His trouble's and his determintation soon gained him the title of "The Black Knight". This book is a must read for all people who admire men of honor and determination.

I recently spent a month in Europe. I was suprised after visiting Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, and London- that Berlin emerged as my favorite place.... that despite what I thought beforehand, I left my heart in Berlin, not Prague.

I only went to Berlin because I studied many historical events that took place there, and Berlin was the epicenter of The Cold War! West Berlin was THE capitalist showpiece and East Berlin was THE communist showpiece. United, Berlin will become (when all the construction has been completed) Europe's showpiece and greatest city- WITHOUT A DOUBT.

This book is the story of the awesome history of Berlin, a history that seems more embedded in tragedy than triumph. But, alas, Berlin has survived two devastating wars and the harsh reality of the WALL. Now, it is Berlin's turn. It's Berlin's turn to show the world what a magnificant place she was, is, and will become.

The Rebuilding of the Reichstag not only talks about the post-Wall renovations, but illustrates in great detail the history of the building, and thus the history of Berlin- you are taken on a journey of the history of a city and it's people....the people of Berlin who always seem to have to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and begin again. In this book, the Reichstag shares with you what she has witnessed. You are there in 1933 when Hitler's men torched the place. You are there in 1945 witnessing the hollow shell of the war damaged Reichstag. You are there witnessing the division of the city as the Wall ran directly behind the building. You are there witnessing the divisions end as the wall comes tumbling down, and you are witness to the jubilation outside the Reichstag upon German unification.

After reading through this great book, I realized what a centerpiece to Berlin's history the Reichstag truly is. It's not just a parliament building- it's Berlin! The Reichstag speaks for Berlin's history. The fate of the Reichstag seems to run parallel to that of Berlin. What has happened to the Reichstag has happened to Berlin.

This book is full of awesome illustrations, from grand photos, to models, to architectural plans. Not only does it show the evolution of the Reichstag- it shows various plans for the building from the beginning and throughout its history. That is perhaps the most interesting part- the plans that people came up with. It's really too bad the "Big Roof" idea didn't pan out- because it would have been truly awe inspiring.

Even if you are only interested in architecture and have no interest in history- this book is still definitely for you.

That is why this book is so great.... I thought upon first seeing it, it would be pure architecture... it is pure architecture, but Foster has managed to capture something huge and so great. Foster has managed to capture Berlin.... a city on the verge of finally becoming.

If you want to know more about Lord Norman Foster's contribution towards Germany, then, this book would be it. It tells you all you need to know about Reichstag, probably the most controversial building ever built in the history of Germany. Along the way, you get to learn more about Germany as a country. This book was well presented with high quality pictures abound, taken by several prominent photographers of all aspects & angles of Reichstag, pictures of Lord Foster's previous works (to understand his way of seeing things), pictures of Reichstag's past and present (to let us appreciate how far that building has gone through). Moreover, to enhance diversity & to understand Reichstag from many prespectives, Norman Foster invited several scholars to complement his own writings. The final result was simply spectacular. I wouldn't find this book academic. Rather, I found it highly entertaining & I came out of it a better knowledgeable person. Definitely a must-have for architecture enthusiast or if you want to have a cerebral hard bound book to display on top of your coffee table. Among the highlights of the book was reading about the competition stage, about Lord Foster pitching against other international superarchitects (such as Santiago Calatrava) and local architects from Germany, & of his reservation if Germany was sincere towards its invitation of international people other than Germans to participate or the whole thing was just for show; his emphasis of 4 points, ie. Parliament being intertwined with Reichstag's history, an understanding of the institution & its inner workings, economics in terms of meeting the budget in the restoration of Reichstag & the savings achieved through reduced running costs via technology advancement & clever planning, & lastly the emphasis on energy ecology by using sustainable environment friendly for sources of energy other than its reliance on fossil fuels- reinforcing Germany's image as the country that takes the lead in fostering better technology that would reduce the unfavourable impacts towards our fragile environment; a project all on its own for Lord Foster to design the eagle or better known as the "fat hen" that signified Germany; Lord Foster's involvement with avantgarde artists such as Jenny Holzers (American), Christian Boltanski (French), Gerhard Richter & Sigmar Polke (German) & many others -reminding readers that Reichstag is not merely acting as a Parliament but also as an important Art Gallery (3% of the construction cost of the building, already 1% higher than the norm); the evolving stage of deriving the iconic dome, which was deemed as a 'boiled egg' by some critics at one stage but eventually, being deemed as the icon that all Germans are proud with in the end; Lord Foster's invitation of Danish graphic artist, Per Arnoldi to look into colour coordination of the place; the intensity (at times, heartbreak) but effectiveness of constant dialogues with the Building Committees, the techniques used in the restoration process re the graffitis left behind by the Allies armies after WW2, Claude Engle (lighting consultant)'s invaluable contribution of the lighting design by channelling xenon lights towards the cone & thus, channelling them through all corners of German, symbolising the democracy at work & spreading thru all corners of the land, & so forth. The book also contained a proper Reichstag's chronology, end credits, postscripts to bombard us with even more information. Lord Foster stressed the significance of getting in touch with the past, to live the present, & anticipate the future with optimism, sensitivity towards the history of a building to come up with a building solution that is appropriate for its time rather than having to resort to brutal reconstruction, the necessity of having transparency & lightness interior in contrast with the solid mass exterior to show the passage of time & the changes made in terms of thinking. Highly recommended.

I recently spent a month in Europe. I was suprised after visiting Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, and London- that Berlin emerged as my favorite place.... that despite what I thought beforehand, I left my heart in Berlin, not Prague.

I only went to Berlin because I studied many historical events that took place there, and Berlin was the epicenter of The Cold War! West Berlin was THE capitalist showpiece and East Berlin was THE communist showpiece. United, Berlin will become (when all the construction has been completed) Europe's showpiece and greatest city- WITHOUT A DOUBT.

This book is the story of the awesome history of Berlin, a history that seems more embedded in tragedy than triumph. But, alas, Berlin has survived two devastating wars and the harsh reality of the WALL. Now, it is Berlin's turn. It's Berlin's turn to show the world what a magnificant place she was, is, and will become.

The Rebuilding of the Reichstag not only talks about the post-Wall renovations, but illustrates in great detail the history of the building, and thus the history of Berlin- you are taken on a journey of the history of a city and it's people....the people of Berlin who always seem to have to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and begin again. In this book, the Reichstag shares with you what she has witnessed. You are there in 1945 witnessing the hollow shell of the war damaged Reichstag. You are there witnessing the division of the city as the Wall ran directly behind the building. You are there witnessing the divisions end as the wall comes tumbling down, and you are witness to the jubilation outside the Reichstag upon German unification.

After reading through this great book, I realized what a centerpiece to Berlin's history the Reichstag truly is. It's not just a parliament building- it's Berlin! The Reichstag speaks for Berlin's history. The fate of the Reichstag seems to run parallel to that of Berlin. What has happened to the Reichstag has happened to Berlin.

This book is full of awesome illustrations, from grand photos, to models, to architectural plans. Not only does it show the evolution of the Reichstag- it shows various plans for the building from the beginning and throughout its history. That is perhaps the most interesting part- the plans that people came up with. It's really too bad the "Big Roof" idea didn't pan out- because it would have been truly awe inspiring.

Even if you are only interested in architecture and have no interest in history- this book is still definitely for you.

That is why this book is so great.... I thought upon first seeing it, it would be pure architecture... it is pure architecture, but Foster has managed to capture something huge and so great. Foster has managed to capture Berlin.... a city on the verge of finally becoming.