By focussing on Berlin Richie has produced a superb history of Germany. The broad time-span clarifies the origins of the two world wars and the origins of Nazism.
I've just finished read Die Stadt by Hermann Hesse. The origins of his fictional city are close to Berlin's. ( )

I have only become interested in German history recently. I have read another book about the history of Berlin, [b:Berlin|784885|Berlin|David Clay Large|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348516982s/784885.jpg|770885] and so was already familiar with Berlin's history. This book went further, starting in the Middle Ages, when Berlin was founded. The chapters I most enjoyed were about the First World War, the Golden Twenties, and the Nazis. I also enjoyed the chapters about the Second World War, the Battle of Berlin, and the Cold War. I was disappointed that the book ended before Berlin became Germany's capital again.
After reading this book, I intend to read more about German history, especially about the aftermath of the Second World War and how Germany (West Germany in particular) picked itself up and became a successful democracy for the first time in its long history. ( )

This was an AMAZING book. A complete history from the inception of Berlin to the near-modern age. While certain aspects were glossed over, this provided an abundance of writing on the nature of Berlin and also of Germany itself. Very impressive-- 5 stars! ( )

Pretty good. Maybe a little too much of the Nazi era of 1933 to 1945; that ground has been covered elsewhere, i.e. the pieces that aren't directly related to Berlin.

The addendum gets a little preachy for my taste. Also, you'd think Helmut Kohl was a genius. It is revealed that either the author's father-in-law or husband was a friend of Kohl's (mostly likely the former).

Having lived in Berlin for a season (thankfully, that season was summer!), I disagreed on some of her observations on Berliners (see, all my in-laws are Berliners and almost all of my wife's friends...). ( )

Un libro che racconta la storia della città dalla fondazione XII secolo) ai giorni nostri. Ogni evento viene analizzato e permette di capire le cause che hanno sconvolto l'Europa e il mondo. ( )