Berlin: Life and Death in the City at the Center of the World
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- Create Date：2022-08-27 10:19:37
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Sinclair McKay
- ISBN：1250277507
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Reviews
Monica
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Fell short for me。 Though it did look at the viewpoint of the citizens， it drug on and on。 I did find some parts interesting， it just didn't work for me。 The interesting part to me was the Berlin Wall。 It was always there when I was growing up， and I remember when it was on TV when Regan told Gorbachev to， 'Tear that wall down。' I think that will always stick with me。Thanks to Netgalley for the Kindle Version of the book。 All thoughts and opinions are my own。 Fell short for me。 Though it did look at the viewpoint of the citizens， it drug on and on。 I did find some parts interesting， it just didn't work for me。 The interesting part to me was the Berlin Wall。 It was always there when I was growing up， and I remember when it was on TV when Regan told Gorbachev to， 'Tear that wall down。' I think that will always stick with me。Thanks to Netgalley for the Kindle Version of the book。 All thoughts and opinions are my own。 。。。more
Sayo -bibliotequeish-
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I have always enjoyed nonfiction， informative books。 Unfortunately this one was not for me。 。This book was well researched but the writing could not hold my attention。 I went through pages that were so interesting followed by pages that felt like worlds on a page rather than information
Nancy
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A Slice of Berlin’s Turbulent HistoryAmid rising and falling fortunes， Berlin and it’s people have been survivors。 This history covers one of most tumultuous eras of Berlin from 1919 after WWI to 1989。 The courage of the Berliners is seen after WWI when the devastated city rose to become a sophisticated cultural center。 However， the seeds of Hitler’s rise and WWII were sown in this period。 The author does a good job of giving us a view of how this horrific transformation took place。 The terrible A Slice of Berlin’s Turbulent HistoryAmid rising and falling fortunes， Berlin and it’s people have been survivors。 This history covers one of most tumultuous eras of Berlin from 1919 after WWI to 1989。 The courage of the Berliners is seen after WWI when the devastated city rose to become a sophisticated cultural center。 However， the seeds of Hitler’s rise and WWII were sown in this period。 The author does a good job of giving us a view of how this horrific transformation took place。 The terrible events of WWII are described including the destruction of Berlin at the end of the war and the Berlin Wall being erected during the Cold War tension between the US and the USSR。 I thought the author did an excellent job showing how the people of Berlin were affected by a wall sometimes separating families and friends。 What I liked best about the book was that it focused on the people and their individual stories。 This is not just one more retelling of the events in Germany leading up to WWII and the aftermath。 This is a book worth reading to gain an understanding of how the people of Berlin could suffer unimaginable hardships and be ready to rebuild their city。 I received this book from St。 Martin’s Press for this review。 。。。more
Jean Kolinofsky
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I have seen Berlin from both sides of the Berlin Wall as well as the modern city。 When I was given the opportunity to read this history of the city I was fascinated to see the changes that it has gone through over seventy years。 Sinclair McKay takes you from the end of the Weimar era， when it was a cultural center， to a ruin as the Russians approached。 Children were given arms and expected to defend the city while the women lived in fear of the Russian occupiers。 The end of the war divided the c I have seen Berlin from both sides of the Berlin Wall as well as the modern city。 When I was given the opportunity to read this history of the city I was fascinated to see the changes that it has gone through over seventy years。 Sinclair McKay takes you from the end of the Weimar era， when it was a cultural center， to a ruin as the Russians approached。 Children were given arms and expected to defend the city while the women lived in fear of the Russian occupiers。 The end of the war divided the city among the Allies。 When it was evident that the Allie’s intended to stay， the Soviets instituted a blockade to attempt to force their departure， resulting in the Berlin airlift to bring supplies to the western sector。 1961 brought the construction of the Berlin Wall， which stood until 1989。 McKay fills his book with stories of the people who lived through these changes。 The Jews who lived in fear of deportation as well as those who lived in hiding through the war， the people who were separated from other members of their families by restricted travel through districts and those who lost their lives attempting to cross over， under or through the wall are all represented。 The importance of the cinema as a propaganda tool， the Nuremberg Laws， Kristallnacht and the Potsdam Conference are some of the many things that McKay discusses。 The appearance of major political figures and scientific developments are all explored as Berlin evolves into the city that we know today。 This is a fascinating look at the city that is recommended to anyone with a fondness for history。 I would like to thank NetGalley and St。 Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review。 。。。more
Sara K
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This is definitely not your quick， easy beach read… however， I think that it is a fascinating， important book for anyone。 You’re taken on a tour of Berlin - from its rise to wealth and power after the first war in 1919…through the rise of Hitler and its eventual demise。 Your given personal stories - stories of hope and determination。 Through tragedy and destruction， the people of Berlin wanted to their city and its beauty back。 It was a fascinating read - clearly lots of time， effort and emotion This is definitely not your quick， easy beach read… however， I think that it is a fascinating， important book for anyone。 You’re taken on a tour of Berlin - from its rise to wealth and power after the first war in 1919…through the rise of Hitler and its eventual demise。 Your given personal stories - stories of hope and determination。 Through tragedy and destruction， the people of Berlin wanted to their city and its beauty back。 It was a fascinating read - clearly lots of time， effort and emotion went into writing this。 As a fan of history， this was such an interesting and important book。 Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy 。。。more
Annette
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My Thoughts: I've read more books on World War II than after the war。 This is what drew me to read this book。 It is the main reason that held my interest。 Several reasons on what I learned or why I enjoyed this book: The bombing raids over Berlin were filled with women and children。 I have empathy for them。 McKay is descriptive about the shelters， bombings; and later when the Russians are in Berlin at the close of the war， the raping of the women-women of all ages。 Brief memoirs are given of peo My Thoughts: I've read more books on World War II than after the war。 This is what drew me to read this book。 It is the main reason that held my interest。 Several reasons on what I learned or why I enjoyed this book: The bombing raids over Berlin were filled with women and children。 I have empathy for them。 McKay is descriptive about the shelters， bombings; and later when the Russians are in Berlin at the close of the war， the raping of the women-women of all ages。 Brief memoirs are given of people who lived in Berlin。 These are not lengthy but serve a strong purpose to personalize the book rather than let it be academic in nature。 Some of the memoirs are of Jews who hid during the entirety of the war。 The Nazis used the poverty and sadness of the people after World War I for their agenda。 Their agenda included the young people in Hitler youth groups。 It is eye-opening and disturbing how people can be taken advantage of and misled to the extent of indoctrination to mass murders and war。 I have empathy for the beginnings of how they must have felt after World War I。 I cannot agree to decisions that were made。 Several things I'd not heard of before about Berlin society and culture。 For example， there was a craze to be a nudist。 This happened right after World War I。 I did not know that there were revolutionary demonstrations after World War I。 I knew the Nazis began to rise and have demonstrations。 I did not know about other political groups。 There is a chapter with a focus on the history of film。 There were 300 cinemas in Berlin at the time of World War II。 Hitler loved film， and he chronicled his ideology and work。 Berlin had been a place that was tolerant of the gay culture。 There were doctors who had helped people transition。 This changed during the Nazi years。 I had mentioned this in number 1 above。 There is a disturbing story of a young woman who worked in a grocery store during the time the Russians came into Berlin。 She was raped on the counter during the time the store was open。 This rape was public。 It was done with the intention to dishonor and shame her in view of other people。 By 1960 there were over 200，000 people who in East Berlin left to live in freedom on the other side。 This is such an important chapter， to share memoirs about those who tried to escape。 I want to clarify。 I do not have empathy for the Nazi machine。 They were mass murderers and instigated a war that led to defeat。 I have great empathy for those like the woman who was raped in a grocery store。 I have empathy for any child who was abused and suffered。 I am also not going to state something as equally hateful as "you got what you deserved。" I am not that kind of person。 However， the Nazis were despicable people。 I believe many of them， civilians， were unaware of the consequences in believing Hitler was their savior。I received a complimentary e-book copy from NetGalley。 I am not required to write a positive review。 。。。more
Janilyn Kocher
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McKay examines the life of Berlin from 1945-present， with most of the emphasis on the aftermath of WWII， Occupation， and then division。Berlin is a survivor as the main character and focal point。 The author ruminates on the changing edifice of the city and every challenge that was tossed it’s way。’It’s an interesting read for anyone intrigued by the capital of Germany and all the different roles and functions it has served。Thanks to St。 Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the early read。
Toni Osborne
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Life and Death in the City at the Center of the World“Berlin”， explores the city’s human history from the end of the Great War to the Blockade， rise of the Wall and beyond。 The author begins in 1919 when Berliner’s went through stages of deprivation， disorder， intolerance and inflation was crippling their economy。 Berliners were nevertheless resilient even with all the constraints their creativity in cinema and literature was flourishing。 Then， the Nazi came to power and by the end of 1945 Berli Life and Death in the City at the Center of the World“Berlin”， explores the city’s human history from the end of the Great War to the Blockade， rise of the Wall and beyond。 The author begins in 1919 when Berliner’s went through stages of deprivation， disorder， intolerance and inflation was crippling their economy。 Berliners were nevertheless resilient even with all the constraints their creativity in cinema and literature was flourishing。 Then， the Nazi came to power and by the end of 1945 Berlin was a city in rubble。 The Nazi regime collapsed， Russian arrived and the city divided soon after the Berlin Wall went up and stood there till it was dismantled in 1989。What an overwhelming and dissatisfying read this portrayed of one of the world’s great city turned out to be。 The author devoted inordinate amount of details to the fall of the Third Reich and the action Red Army towards Berliners and raced through the years of the Weimar Republic between the construction of the wall till it was torn down。 Nevertheless he did mention the American airlift， the Soviet blockade and the atomic research at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute。 Considering the years covered in this book it is to be expected that the author may have overlooked some major topics along the way。 I may not have enjoyed this book at its fullest it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be read。 The style although I did find it to be quite heavy is nevertheless richly written to pique our interest in learning more about Berlin and her turbulent years。。。。。 Right， this book reads like a textbook。。。。I received a copy from the publisher St-Martin Press through NetGalley。 。。。more
Henry
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great little history told through a dozen or so berliners。 stayed very much at the ground level - occasionally wished it had zoomed out a bit more。
Suzanne
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I anticipated a different book。 Having now read BERLIN: LIFE AND DEATH IN THE CITY AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD， I am left wondering what exactly I thought I was going to learn in this book before I started it。 I thought I would be reading a book about Berlin 1918 - 1980。 But really this book is centered around WWII with brief forays into other eras， mostly to explain how Nazism came to be， with a focus on events in Berlin。 The point of view is peculiar in this book because it’s ephemeral。 Whose a I anticipated a different book。 Having now read BERLIN: LIFE AND DEATH IN THE CITY AT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD， I am left wondering what exactly I thought I was going to learn in this book before I started it。 I thought I would be reading a book about Berlin 1918 - 1980。 But really this book is centered around WWII with brief forays into other eras， mostly to explain how Nazism came to be， with a focus on events in Berlin。 The point of view is peculiar in this book because it’s ephemeral。 Whose are we exploring？ Berliners who lived？ Died？ Fled？ Returned？ Or perhaps others who seized power and ran amok？Author Sinclair McKay offers much in this book but it is by and large idiosyncratic。 His curiosities were fulfilled but the framework for them are never well articulated。 I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley。 。。。more
Brenda
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To say that Berlin is a city of multitudinous cultural and historical layers is a massive understatement。 But Berliners before， during and after the world wars have proven their resiliency and perseverance。 Author Sinclair McKay has meticulously researched and gathered information to write this book which focuses on the people， culture， art， history， music， cinema and architecture from 1919 to just after the tearing down of the wall seventy years later。Berlin is raw and open in spirit and mental To say that Berlin is a city of multitudinous cultural and historical layers is a massive understatement。 But Berliners before， during and after the world wars have proven their resiliency and perseverance。 Author Sinclair McKay has meticulously researched and gathered information to write this book which focuses on the people， culture， art， history， music， cinema and architecture from 1919 to just after the tearing down of the wall seventy years later。Berlin is raw and open in spirit and mentality， cosmopolitan and fiercely proud。 The monuments to the past are real and emotive， not glossed over or glorified as they can be elsewhere。 Berliners have lived through heartache after heartache， the building of the infamous wall which severed families and friends， the Cold War and despicable propaganda。 Yet Berlin remains。 We all know about indescribable atrocities of the Holocaust but this book also describes what led to it and what happened after。 Amongst other things I learned more about the Spartakus League， brilliant minds such as Rosa Luxemborg and Leise Meitner， atomic fission discovery which led to atomic weaponry， Nazi worship of Hitler with the adding on of extra stanzas to hymns， the fate of Berlin zoo animals during WWII， "allotment colonies" and "Uncle Wiggle Wings"。 Also included are the aftermaths including Soviet rapes of women （some men took gifts to their victims later）， Goering's intense greed of priceless art， Grosz's "Degenerate Art" and the world's discovery in 1945 of the heinous wholesale murder of Jews。 It is the ordinary people whose stories are emotionally charged as desperate times in time of starvation which caused people to do unimaginable things such as the mother who killed her children in a barrel， the sixteen year-old boy who tender searched fresh corpses and a boy's International Detective Agency。Those interested in learning more about Berlin and her turbulent history ought to read this compelling， emotional and important book。 In ways it reads like a textbook with dense information yet grabs emotions in a thoughtful and caring way by drawing on written documents and anecdotes。 My sincere thank you to St。 Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege of learning more about incomparable Berlin。 。。。more
Rennie
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Ausgezeichnet。 I knew I would be in for something special with this， having read his Dresden book last year， but this surpassed all expectations。 If only all history was written like this - he has this gorgeous lyrical， descriptive writing style。I only just wish it had covered just a little more ground time-wise， but he writes with so much detail from so many perspectives that I guess anything longer would be way too unwieldy。 Amazing as is！I hope he covers Hamburg next。 Please oh please！！ More Ausgezeichnet。 I knew I would be in for something special with this， having read his Dresden book last year， but this surpassed all expectations。 If only all history was written like this - he has this gorgeous lyrical， descriptive writing style。I only just wish it had covered just a little more ground time-wise， but he writes with so much detail from so many perspectives that I guess anything longer would be way too unwieldy。 Amazing as is！I hope he covers Hamburg next。 Please oh please！！ More biographies of specific periods in German cities from him！ They are perfection！ 。。。more
Michael Perkins
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I had fairly high expectations given the author's publishing background， but I agree with both of these professional reviews that the book fell significantly short。 Disappointed。 Don't recommend。 https://www。kirkusreviews。com/book-re。。。https://www。publishersweekly。com/9781。。。=========The author does cover the notorious Franz von Papen， the ultimate enabler of Hitler。 I wrote a separate review about him awhile back。。。。https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 I had fairly high expectations given the author's publishing background， but I agree with both of these professional reviews that the book fell significantly short。 Disappointed。 Don't recommend。 https://www。kirkusreviews。com/book-re。。。https://www。publishersweekly。com/9781。。。=========The author does cover the notorious Franz von Papen， the ultimate enabler of Hitler。 I wrote a separate review about him awhile back。。。。https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 。。。more
David Lowther
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Sinclair McKay has written a superb sociological and political （with both small and large Ps） history of Berlin from 1918 to 1989。 He tends to deal in topics rather than writing chronologically。 Thus we have sections on music， science， sexual behaviour， policing， industry and so on。Much of the book is devoted to the period between the battle for and a eventual fall of Berlin between April 1945 and the establishment of the GDR in 1949。 The Berlin airlift is brilliantly described as is the buildin Sinclair McKay has written a superb sociological and political （with both small and large Ps） history of Berlin from 1918 to 1989。 He tends to deal in topics rather than writing chronologically。 Thus we have sections on music， science， sexual behaviour， policing， industry and so on。Much of the book is devoted to the period between the battle for and a eventual fall of Berlin between April 1945 and the establishment of the GDR in 1949。 The Berlin airlift is brilliantly described as is the building and eventual destruction of the Wall。A thrilling history book。David Lowther。 Author of The Blue Pencil， Liberating Belsen， Two Families at War and The Summer of ‘39， all published by Sacristy Press。 。。。more
Kevin
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“Other European capitals acknowledge the dark past with elegantly aestheticized monuments; they seek to smooth the jagged edges of history。 Not here。”Covering the history of Berlin from 1919 to 1989， author Sinclair McKay chronicles the city’s socioeconomic rise and fall and rise and fall and rise。 Starting with the post-WWI Weimar Republic， McKay guides us through a metropolis forever changed by the advent of Nazism， the maniacal vision of Adolf Hitler， and the terror of Kristallnacht。 When the “Other European capitals acknowledge the dark past with elegantly aestheticized monuments; they seek to smooth the jagged edges of history。 Not here。”Covering the history of Berlin from 1919 to 1989， author Sinclair McKay chronicles the city’s socioeconomic rise and fall and rise and fall and rise。 Starting with the post-WWI Weimar Republic， McKay guides us through a metropolis forever changed by the advent of Nazism， the maniacal vision of Adolf Hitler， and the terror of Kristallnacht。 When the tide of World War II turned decidedly against Germany （roughly 1943）， Berlin， once thought imperishable， became the preferred landing zone of countless allied bombs and explosive artillery shells。 In the aftermath the rubbled capital was quartered between the Soviets， the French， the British， and the Americans。 Ultimately socialist-capitalist frictions between the USSR and the US deteriorated into a near endless cycle of retributions and reprisals—culminating in the storied ’Berlin Wall’ which infamously went up in 1961 and famously came down in 1989。 Through it all， Berlin and its people persevered。 “Every city has history， but Berlin has too much。” ~David Chipperfield， architect I am impressed by Sinclair McKay’s ability to infuse new life into an era of world history that has been written about ad nauseam。 This is an exquisitely composed account that should appeal to most every History Buff on the planet; ‘extensively researched and nicely written。 4 Stars。 。。。more
all_day_dream_about_books
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This is thoroughly researched and well written book by the author。 It is very detailed and sometimes the reader might get bogged down with minute details。 It is not written as a history textbook would provide us facts。 It is interspersed with the accounts of some residents who gave their honest opinion。This book is for anyone who wants to read about the happenings and incidents inside Berlin and what the city and its inhabitants had to endure who had nothing to do with any politics and were tryi This is thoroughly researched and well written book by the author。 It is very detailed and sometimes the reader might get bogged down with minute details。 It is not written as a history textbook would provide us facts。 It is interspersed with the accounts of some residents who gave their honest opinion。This book is for anyone who wants to read about the happenings and incidents inside Berlin and what the city and its inhabitants had to endure who had nothing to do with any politics and were trying to make a living or helping their neighbors。 We have seen or read a lot of books and accounts about various atrocities that made our hearts crumble when we read about what inhumane activities a human could do as well as endurance of the survivors。 This book takes us inside the place where a part of it was happening and it's effects on it's population。I thank St。 Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ecopy 。。。more
Joe Hilley
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Received a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaway - Wow！ Magnificent prose。 Thoroughly researched。 Sucked me in from the Preface and told me things I never knew about Berlin， about Germany， about history - about us。 Great book。
Autumn Danner
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History books are not my forte， but this account had my attention from the beginning。 I was both appalled and impressed by the Berlinites （my word）。 It is easy for me to pass judgement for things done during this period， but it was a hard life lived by people in Berlin through the years。 They suffered so much by everyone that made decisions for them and rolled over/through their city。 This account had me crying for numerous reasons。 These people had to rebuild multiple times。 They had to be very History books are not my forte， but this account had my attention from the beginning。 I was both appalled and impressed by the Berlinites （my word）。 It is easy for me to pass judgement for things done during this period， but it was a hard life lived by people in Berlin through the years。 They suffered so much by everyone that made decisions for them and rolled over/through their city。 This account had me crying for numerous reasons。 These people had to rebuild multiple times。 They had to be very resilient and resourceful。 This book is an incredible account of people who were determined to stand the test of times and get through any trial。 This book is a very well written unbiased account， and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about history。 。。。more
Nicole
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Consider this post my pre-review and thank you to Goodreads--just received this book from a Goodreads giveaway last week。 Arrived within in a week from notification。 I'm psyched to read it and already have a friend lined up to get the book after I read it。 Consider this post my pre-review and thank you to Goodreads--just received this book from a Goodreads giveaway last week。 Arrived within in a week from notification。 I'm psyched to read it and already have a friend lined up to get the book after I read it。 。。。more
Sheila
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From a marvelously poetic introduction springs forth the history of the City of Berlin， starting in 1945。 Most of the history of the bombing and wartime deprivations in the City are told anecdotally by civilians who were there。 Throughout， it is a story by and of the people of Berlin。This is a highly engrossing read starting with commentary going back and forth between 1919 and 1945。 The beginning itself explains a lot of German history and HOW the Nazi Party rose to control the country by talki From a marvelously poetic introduction springs forth the history of the City of Berlin， starting in 1945。 Most of the history of the bombing and wartime deprivations in the City are told anecdotally by civilians who were there。 Throughout， it is a story by and of the people of Berlin。This is a highly engrossing read starting with commentary going back and forth between 1919 and 1945。 The beginning itself explains a lot of German history and HOW the Nazi Party rose to control the country by talking about previous events and personalities。 Later， the story continues to move on through the end of the war and the post-war years。 There is a lot covered about the Cold War years that I didn’t know。The most notable aspect about this text is that it is really about the people who lived in Berlin， both celebrities and average citizens。 That’s why it was so hard to put down as the people who were there were quoted as to feelings and events， and even when they weren’t， we learned so much about their lives。Only a couple of quibbles about the technical aspects of the text。 One is an issue at about 87% of the text which is about what a punk rocker’s hairstyle should be called。 The style in which the head is shaved except for the ridge of hair running along the middle of the skull is called a “Mohawk，” NOT a “Mohican。” I’m of the age group that saw them in person （London） and won’t forget what a real one looked like （not a cute one on a female singer or model！）。 Maybe this terminology is different outside of the U。S。？ Also， the author is very fond of the word “bathos;” that’s not one that you usually see in print in the U。S。， or even the U。K。 as I read a lot of books by U。K。 authors。 It stuck out a bit。 Finally， there are some typos that I expect will be fixed prior to publication。This is a great book and not at all what I expected。 Engaging and interesting， I was very crabby when interrupted while reading it！ Please DO read this history of Berlin。A special thank you to Sinclair McKay， St。 Martin’s Press， and NetGalley for allowing me to read a pre-publication eGalley of this work！ I didn’t receive anything for reading or reviewing it except for knowledge and enjoyment。 Cheers！ 。。。more
Bonnye Reed
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