RED: A HISTORY OF THE REDHEAD is the first book to explore the history of red hair and red-headedness throughout the world. With an obsessive fascination that is as contagious as it is compelling; author Jacky Colliss Harvey begins her quest in prehistory and traces the redhead gene as it made its way out of Africa with the early human diaspora; to its emergence under Northern skies. She goes on to explore red hair in the ancient world (from the Tarim mummies in China to the Islamic kingdom of the Khazars); the prejudice manifested against red hair across medieval Europe; red hair during the Renaissance as both an indicator of Jewishness during the Inquisition and the height of fashion in Protestant England; where it was made famous by the Henry VIII and Elizabeth I; the modern age of art; and literature; and the first positive symbols of red hair in children's characters; modern medicine and science and the genetic and chemical decoding of red hair; and finally; red hair in contemporary culture; from advertising and exploitation to "gingerism"; and the new movement against bullying.
#230811 in Books Angelo Codevilla 2006-07-01Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.96 x 1.17 x 6.06l; 1.28 #File Name: 157488610X320 pagesWar Ends and Means
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Title says it allBy A CustomerRead this book and the thought may occur to you: "This is so bloody obvious; who needs to read it in a book?" But then put the book down; read the newspapers; listen to the talking heads on TV; or attend a university lecture on the same subjects; and you quickly realize: none of it is obvious to anyone that matters. On second or third reading; you realize that what it's saying is not "obvious" at all; the book's genius consists in making a radical and controversial thesis sound self-evident.I have one quibble; but the quibble doesn't detract sufficiently from the book to subtract a star: because the authors discuss warfare out of relation to morality; an incautious reader could easily get the impression that they are "Machiavellian" amoralists whose advice can be dismissed as "amoral realism." It isn't true; but they might have been more explicit about why not.It really is a sad commentary on our culture that this book is as obscure as it is.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. To Understand Our Current Situation...And What Needs To Be DoneBy CustomerA great far ranging analysis of military and political strategy; his serious analysis of terrorism and what needs to be done is worth the price of this book. After reading this book; one will know why our efforts are at least partially not working; what needs to be done; and when we know things are going the right way. It also indirectly tells us what we should do about Iran. Another great effort; similar to his columns in the Claremont Review and his previous book; "No Victory; No Peace."16 of 17 people found the following review helpful. PrimerBy Richard A. AubreyThe authors refer to their book as a primer on war. It is the clearest; most useful book for those who nothing of war (or who only know things which are wrong)I have ever read. I recommended it; to no avail; to a committee of faith-based Social Justice and Peacemaking types. They; no doubt clinging to their useful errors; avoided the subject. The authors specifically refer to those who know little or nothing of war (most students these days)and they say the book is written for these folks.One myth or old chestnut after another is analyzed and demolished. Their use of simple (and I emphasize "simple"--nothing complex) logic and historical examples known to almost all of us--nothing abstruse here--are brutal in the rapid and total destruction of some of the most commonly-accepted misunderstandings of war. For example; they discuss the Phoenix program of Viet Nam days. While acknowledging that it turned sour; they make plain what those involved knew. The Phoenix program worked; killing the cadres; the troublemakers; without killing scores or hundreds of unwilling conscripts and unlucky civilians. While being successful; it deprived the anti-war side of their masses of civilian casualties they needed to make their case. It was a two-fer. Thus; it had to be; as it was; demonized. They make frequent use of Aquinas and Augustine and the Just War Doctrine. It is not that we like war; Augustine said; but that our enemy's peace may be deadly to us. People may be murdered en masse; as we see in this century; without being in war; and fighting to avoid that is certainly moral. This book suffers from one disadvantage: Those who need it most may feel themselves superior to its message.
