Review: The Basque History of the World

The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This needs an update at this point, since it is over 20 years old. However, it is a great rundown of a fascinating people and history. And I use rundown because I felt like it could have gone in much more detail. However, if you are curious and want to start learning about Basque history, people and their land, this is a good place to do so.


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Review: Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe

Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe by Laurence Bergreen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite a good book about a momentous voyage and an interesting man. I mean, more than anything he seems to be in the right place at the right time. He was obviously quite a good sailor (the method in which the 4 other boats were going to mutiny against his boat, and he was able to turn it around in his favor was very impressive). However, as a human he seems pretty terrible. Between capturing the natives in South America, being completely back-handed with them all over, and finally letting everything going to his head at the very end, you can't help concluding he sort of deserved the end he got (ambushed and kills by locals in the Philippines, and possibly betrayed by his own men). 

However, the voyage itself was quite momentous, and it is interesting to see how ill-fated pretty much all of its crew were. 

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