Kurlansky

I have loved several of his books.

Still, read this book review and form your own conclusions on the man's reasoning skills...

"(Isn't it curious that Asians carry out "sneak attacks," whereas Westerners launch "preemptive strikes"?)"

Whatever you think of the Iraq situation this conflation is pathetic. Giving an opposing force a set date and staging your build up candidly- even if he thought you were bluffing- is analogous to the Japanese strike?

That snide comment with it's suggestion towards contemporary racism (he writes a litany on the allied racism and gives a pass to the Japanese etc.?) I thought was beneath what skills this individual possesses...but this review proves otherwise.

Update: a City-Journal review of the Baker book titled "History for Losers" here.