World without civilization : mass murder and the Holocaust history and analysis /

Is another general history of the Holocaust needed? Spector's long, multivolume work that strives for comprehension illustrates great passion for its subject and the author has read widely, but readers wanting to learn anything new about the Holocaust will be disappointed. The book contains no pictures or maps and weaves between a narrative and an analysis that can be difficult to follow. The author is prone to relying on lists or becoming mired in minutiae. The book does not really transition from point to point as much as it shifts abruptly from situation to situation. Its organization seems haphazard. The project's scope really is too large; more vigorous editing could have helped. The penultimate chapter on the points of controversy is the most interesting and relevant for students and might be the seed for a briefer look into some of the historical controversy, but much of the book is a synthesis of other sources that are more accessible elsewhere. Spector's goal is a worthy one, but this work does not do what the author intends. Faculty who are looking for a readable work for students would be better served with Doris Bergen's War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust (CH, Jun'03, 40-6026). ^BSumming Up: Not recommended. G. R. Sharfman Manchester College