The Cartoon History of the Modern World, Part II: From the Bastille to Baghdad

The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part II provides a lively survey from Bastille days to modern times and offers a hilarious graphic take on modern history's personalities and events. This concludes Gonick's award-winning series and examines world events, ideologies, and more, using funny cartoons to show how world events are linked. An easy way of refreshing one's world history knowledge, The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part II will appeal to students and adults alike.

I adore Gonick's history books (though I was less fond of his science books). This is another fine entry (and apparently the last). Through humor and a complete irreverence for being politically correct, Gonick presents history that is not only enjoyable but illuminating. Gonick is not afraid to show humanity at its money and power grubbing worst. For me, Gonick's history, which is similar to Howard Zinn's, makes sense of so many issues I had when I was originally taught world history and American history. I received nothing but American whitewash when I was in the public school system, which is probably why I didn't like history then. Now I find History viable and titillating as Gonick lays bare the human condition. You can either laugh along with him...or cry at his straightforward and unflinching look at human history.

The only thing I found disappointing about this final volume in Gonick's classic Cartoon Histories was the fact that it he hadn't made it a couple hundred pages longer by being more detailed about certain periods - but that only emphasizes how much fun these books are to read. Another brilliantly-written and drawn chronicle that you'll want to read again and again over time.

I've probably read Gonick's "Cartoon History" series at least a dozen times now. It's a brilliant refresher on the history of our world. It's straight forward, entertaining and informative. The ONLY complaint I could levy at Mr. Gonick's work is that the last few pages seemed rushed. I feel that his modern world series would have benefited from being delivered in 3 volumes rather than 2. Thank you Mr. Gonick for this awesome series!

I first read Gonick's original volume of this series - The Cartoon History of the Universe Volume 1 - back in the early 90's as a teenager. Since then I have kept up with each of the new volumes, so it was with both great excitement and a little sadness that I finally cracked open this final volume. This volume does not disappoint. Gonick keeps up the fast paced run through of history that we have come to expect in the books, covering from the 1700's all the way through 9/11 and today. Finally getting up to a century that I know well - the one we were all born in - it was interesting reading his take on events that I actually knew in great detail. There were a few things that I was bummed were left out - though planes start appearing in panels, the beginnings of flight are not covered. While Sputnik is mentioned and ICBMs, the space race is not covered. However, knowing Gonick's work as well as I do, I know this wasn't due to any ignorance or forgetfulness on the author's part - he simply could not put everything in. As I said before, fans can rejoice because this volume is no different than the others. It is more of the same wonderful history and cartoons fans have come to expect.