Loved the title and the cover. Many very good reviews of interesting books. Many articles on subjects that bored the bejesus out of me as I struggled to read my way through..like wading through molasses. Very erudite and in spots had me questioning my own intelligence and attention span. I have this book on my Kindle...if it were a paperback I would give it away because I will not reread this one. ( )

Good fun, sometimes informative, here and there moving. Highlights: how Churchill saved civilisation with the spoken word; defence of his TV history of Britain; comparison of UK & US on slavery abolition. Piece on Ruskin & Carlyle's style reminded me to keep them off my reading list, though it's not quite clear if Schama loves them or hates them. He's a bit in love with his own written voice: sometimes so clever and self-aware as to intrude into smooth reading. But his heart is generally in the right place and he does seem to have read everything in a vast number of fields. Surprised to find his popular culture references match mine and that he's the same age as me - thought him much younger. ( )

Schama is one of our celebrities, respected both in academia and as a populariser of history and art in books, television and other media. This book consists 50 essays, articles and speeches from various sources published, with a handful of exceptions, between 2000 and 2009. The pieces are grouped under a number of themes covering traditional historical and art subjects through current affairs, views on life in America (where Schama lived) and cooking.

All are interesting and only a few have lost their relevance through their original publication as 'current' affairs (I am thinking here of the pieces on Bush and Obama, particularly). A few of the newspaper articles are too short to properly develop and discuss his ideas and themes. On the other hand, the longer pieces were written for specific academic symposia or for inclusion in art catalogues and assume a level of background knowledge sadly lacking in this reader. So, what is the purpose of this collection (forgetting the obvious opportunity to generate additional revenue with little effort by reusing the source material)? Schama is intelligent, erudite and rarely talks down to his audience. He often comes at his subject from unexpected angles, reveals new insights and relationships between facts and says what he thinks. He uses language with the same intelligence and unorthodox approach.

This does not make him an easy read, but always a worthwhile one. ( )

Simon Schama's great range and lively writing style are on full display in this volume of his short essays, reviews, lectures, and more. From political screeds on elections in both the US and UK to ice cream recipes to a fantastic review of Robert Darnton's The Business of Enlightenment, there's a bit of everything here. And no matter whether you agree with him or not, Schama's wittiness makes his writing fun to read. Good for dipping in and out of at random, I found, but it could probably be read straight through just as easily. ( )

A wonderful book, mind and wit. Our favorite Herr Doktor Professor gifts us anther view of what is in his heart and his mind, the self-proclaimed "Yid with an id" (Forward, p. xx) reveals not only himself but his urgent, desperate need to illuminate history, food (some great recipes)art, literature and what his Mum thinks too!

Having one watched him perform in his History of Britain for the BBC, and a lecture, I have the added pleasure of hearing his voice in my head as I read his 'voice' as a (great) author.

VERY thoroughly recommended - one of those books where you actually feel resentment that it comes to an end.