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eamcmahon3's review against another edition
4.0
I loved it. An educated and well-researched examination of land and ownership.
nickedkins's review against another edition
4.0
Plenty of interesting stories and some elegant language. Let down a few times by what looks like very light editing—repeated phrases and stories that could have been cut, and a few clunker sentences.
scandleriv's review against another edition
4.0
A thoroughly researched yet approachable survey of a concept that touches innumerable aspects of our world more than we realize; however, this work does not reach the sustained level of engagement of Mr. Winchester’s earlier book: The Perfectionists. As opposed to the historical/scientific subject matter of the latter, Land tells more of a politically historical story, and the author does not shy away from editorializing - although perhaps not obviously. It is still recommended for those who appreciate history and how the world around us works, but this recommendation is extended with the aforesaid minor caveats.
algorithm0392's review against another edition
4.0
3.75/5 stars rounded up. Pretty cover and interesting subtitle caught my eye in a Park City bookstore when visiting in January.
A solidly educational and engaging book, though many parts felt more like historical snippets (with great stories and fun facts) as opposed to supporting evidence for a central thesis. I felt at times Winchester perhaps oversimplifies complex disputes to being solely or primarily about land (e.g. Israel/Palestine or Indian removal in the United States) in a way that loses sight of other factors and places land on a deterministic and superior pedastal. For example, from a section about Japanese internment during WWII: "The racial hostility may have been unworthy, and the theft and vandalism unacceptably terrible. But the misappropriation of land was on an entirely different level, and quite unforgivable."
Points for how uncannily the description of land conflict between Russia and Ukraine foresaw the current invasion and war and connecting land ownership and use to the climate crisis. The last part (Part V) did not make sense to me in terms of its depth or connection to the rest of the book's argument; while interesting, the topics felt like they were taken from the cutting room floor. I learned some things, but will also say that not a lot stuck has stuck too deep. Maybe 3.75/5 should round down to 3?
A solidly educational and engaging book, though many parts felt more like historical snippets (with great stories and fun facts) as opposed to supporting evidence for a central thesis. I felt at times Winchester perhaps oversimplifies complex disputes to being solely or primarily about land (e.g. Israel/Palestine or Indian removal in the United States) in a way that loses sight of other factors and places land on a deterministic and superior pedastal. For example, from a section about Japanese internment during WWII: "The racial hostility may have been unworthy, and the theft and vandalism unacceptably terrible. But the misappropriation of land was on an entirely different level, and quite unforgivable."
Points for how uncannily the description of land conflict between Russia and Ukraine foresaw the current invasion and war and connecting land ownership and use to the climate crisis. The last part (Part V) did not make sense to me in terms of its depth or connection to the rest of the book's argument; while interesting, the topics felt like they were taken from the cutting room floor. I learned some things, but will also say that not a lot stuck has stuck too deep. Maybe 3.75/5 should round down to 3?
rharlow95's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting thoughts and histories but I think I can dominate any game of Scrabble with the vocab usage. Sentences ran for whole paragraphs, attempting to find a way to include 9 adjectives for how a person saw land.
emoryp's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting view of land ownership told through border disputes, conquests, and philosophies of ownership. At times, it ends up telling very surface-level stories to give background on the book's many subjects. So, in a way, it becomes too broad and doesn't really answer the book's subtitle, but nonetheless provides intriguing coverage of land topics.
Winchester's writing on Indigenous Americans is a bit outdated and paternalistic, though sympathetic.
Maybe a 3.5
Winchester's writing on Indigenous Americans is a bit outdated and paternalistic, though sympathetic.
Maybe a 3.5
not_coles's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting read, an anthology of the human experience. Some stories were magnificent and inspiring, such as the Dutch and their eternal fight against the ocean. Others nearly brought a tear to my eye, like the various plights of Native Americans. The author could ramble on and get preachy, at times seeming to nearly fetishize the "purity" of indigenous peoples, but overall I enjoyed the book.