1968 - Mark Kurlansky

1968 - Mark Kurlansky, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

America is embroiled in a war that it can't seem to extract itself from. The Olympics take pace amidst clamp downs and mass arrests. Europe is plagued by riots and protests by students and workers unhappy with their governments. Sound familiar?

I just finished reading Mark Kurlansky's fascinating, if sometimes flawed account of 1968. I enjoyed the breadth of the story and the attempt to tell a story that doesn't limit itself to just Paris and US campuses. Its a tale told with wit and bravado but sometimes the sheer size of the task means that shortcuts have to be made.

If you liked this I'd also recommend:

1968: Marching in the Streets by Tariq Ali and Susan Watkins

and

The Armies of the Night by Norman Mailer