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I agree with what both Jonathan Beard and Jeffrey Grey state about the relative merits of Second World War textbooks, but I would like to put it in a different light. It is important to consider your audience. I have been teaching a Second World War survey course (2nd year university level) for about 6 years. A majority of the students in the class are not history majors and are taking the class out of general interest and to meet degree requirements. Over the years I have tried a number of different texts. Gerhard Weinberg's A World at Arms is one of the best on the market and I used it for a couple of years. It is comprehensive, well-researched and provides thoroughly up-to-date interpretations of the Second World War. It is also, however, a very dense and sophisticated read. I have returned to using Keegan's book, not because it is the most accurate or detailed, but because it is the best written and best organized book on the market. For most of my students, this is the first time they have taken a military history course and I have found that it is much preferable to assign Keegan which I know they will read, as opposed to Weinberg which many students find too difficult and too daunting to read and understand thoroughly. The problems and holes found in Keegan can then be supplemented with lecture material and assorted supplementary handouts and articles. For an upper year course, or a graduate course, I would undoubtably use a different text, but for this course Keegan is by far the best choice. Mike Bechthold Department of History Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3C5 Canada (519) 884-0710 ext.4594 (519) 886-5057 fax mbechtho@wlu.ca
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