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The Great Big Book of Horrible Things

the Definitive Chronicle of History's 100 Worst Atrocities
Jul 16, 2012Janice21383 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A good "read next" suggestion for connoisseurs of The Guinness Book of World Records. Rating atrocities is like naming the highest star; it depends on your perspective. Overall numbers killed? Pain and suffering? Cultural genocide? Is an atrocity less bad if the result is at least somewhat good? Is killing a spirit as bad as killing a body? Are educated killers worse than uneducated killers? Matthew White wrestles with these questions, but his focus is hard numbers. Some of his conclusions are highly debatable, but usually interesting. This is a commendable effort to look at the issue without sentimentality or cultural bias. A dead body is a dead body, after all.