Compare and contrast #2

There are the reviews I wrote -- and the ones that were actually published. Which do you prefer?

Below you will find two versions of each of four book reviews. The first in each case is the one I submitted to the editor of Teach Secondary magazine, while the second in each case is the version he actually published. In this article I invite readers to say which version you like, and why.

The books reviewed were:

• Conversations With Third Reich Contemporaries

• Level Up Your Lesson Plans

• Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home

• Renaturing: Small Ways to Wild the World

Covers of the books reviewed

Conversations With Third Reich Contemporaries: : From Luke Holland’s Final Account

My version

(Rauch, UCL, £45 or free pdf)

The contemporaries referred to in the title are those who were children or a little older during the Hitler years. Like Evans’ Hitler’s People (reviewed in Teach Secondary 14.1), Rauch puts people into different categories, which in her case are victims, perpetrators and bystanders. However, a key insight is that these roles are malleable. For example, bystanders may become perpetrators. Furthermore bystanders, by seeming to tolerate or even approve of injustices, violence and crime, become, in effect, accomplices.

Because the book grapples with questions surrounding complicity, and different ideas of responsibility and accountability, it could be a source of deep discussions in the history classroom or PSHE lessons. The recollections and current views of the people who lived through this era as children are sometimes disappointing. To a large extent, the book serves as a warning for our times, the recollections from “the other side” providing a fresh perspective.

The published version

The ‘Contemporaries’ of the title are individuals who were children or teens during the Hitler years. Rauch assigns them different categories - ‘victims’, ‘perpetrators’, ‘bystanders’ - but it soon becomes clear just how malleable these roles are. With sufficient toleration and tacit approval, bystanders can become accomplices to, or even perpetrators of the Nazi regime’s crimes.

Given how the book grapples with questions of complicity, responsibility and accountability, it could be a useful source of inspiration for discussion topics in history and PSHE lessons. Hearing the views held now and back then from people who lived through the era as children provides an important warning for our times, and gives us an illuminating alternative perspective of the period.

Level Up Your Lesson Plans: Ignite the Joy of Learning with Fun and Educational Materials

My version

(Kwant, Jossey-Bass, £22.99)

This book is awash with ideas, many of which are set out in bullet points. This makes it very easy to skim through, select a couple of ideas that you like, and put them into practice. The commentary surrounding the suggestions is sound, and not full of jargon or academic phraseology.

Although on balance I would recommend Level Up as a useful resource to have to hand, it needs to be said that it’s American, meaning that the schemes of work for maths and literacy don’t fully align with our own.

Also, it seems to have a mainly primary school focus, although of course many of the ideas could be adapted. Bear in mind, however, that it seems to me that some of the ideas would take a long time to implement. Nevertheless it’s a great book to dip into, especially when you’re not feeling particularly creative!

The published version

This book is awash with ideas that are frequently presented in the form of bullet points, making it easy to skim through, select a couple of ideas that you like and put them into practice. The commentary surrounding the suggestions presents some sound advice and is refreshingly light on academic jargon. While on balance I would recommend Level Up... as a useful resource to have on hand, it should be noted that it’s written for an American audience, so don’t expect the schemes of work for maths and literacy to fully align with our own. It also seems to have more of a primary focus, though that’s not to say that many of its featured ideas can’t be adapted. A few of the suggestions may take some time for busy teachers to prepare and implement - but it’s nevertheless a great book to dip into and draw creative inspiration from.

Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home

My version

(Rubens, Bodleian, £30)

In 1922 just 150,000 people listened to the radio. Fewer than twenty years later, that number had expanded to 34 million. Back then, radio was the cutting edge technology in the home. A couple of generations before the first internet café was set up, someone established what amounted to a radio café in an electrical shop, and the digital natives of the day were building their own rudimentary radios. The advent of the radio made a huge impact on all areas of life, not least the speed with which news could be transmitted, and even the establishment of a standard time across the country. There are photographs, old advertisements (including for something called the electrophone) and cartoons. And all on the usual sumptuous quality paper we associate with the Bodleian. Listen In provides a fascinating and detailed insight into the potential game-changing impact of technology.

Published version

(Beaty Rubens, Bodleian, £30)

As told in this history of the wireless, in 1922 just 150,000 people regularly listened to the radio. Fewer than 20 years later, that number had expanded to 34 million. Radio was once the cutting edge in home entertainment. A couple of generations before the first internet cafés were opened, someone attempted pretty much the same thing by opening a ‘radio café’ in an electrical shop. Enthusiasts of the medium built radio sets of their own. The advent of the radio had a huge impact - particularly on the speed of broadcast news - and even prompted the adoption of ‘standard time’ across the country. Listen In contains contemporary photographs, adverts and even cartoons, all presented in the sumptuous manner you’d expect from the Bodleian. It’s a fascinating and detailed document of the game-changing impact of an historically consequential technology.

Renaturing: Small Ways to Wild the World

My version

(Canton, Canongate, £13.99)

It would seem that “renaturing” is essentially rewilding, but on a smaller scale. Indeed, the author goes so far as to say that something as humble as planting flowers in a window counts. Therefore, to some extent this book could prove useful to schools wishing to cultivate their own “back-to-nature” area. Students will potentially gain insights into the sorts of changes to look out for, and the kind of things that people might do in order to lend Nature a helping hand. The mini-essays at the beginnings of chapters are informative, but most pages are descriptive rather than explanatory. For example, at one point we are told that there are a huge number of ladybirds around, but not told why. This approach renders the book a rather frustrating experience in some ways. Still, Renaturing is beautifully written, adopting a diary format written in the present tense, providing a gentle reading experience.

Published version

(James Canton, Canongate, £13.99)

To the uninitiated, ‘renaturing’ is essentially rewilding, just on a smaller scale. Indeed, Canton goes so far as to state that even an act as humble as planting flowers in a window box counts. This book could therefore prove useful to schools keen to cultivate their own dedicated ‘back to nature’ area. Readers will learn about the kind of changes to look out for, and the methods that can be deployed to lend nature a helping hand. The mini-essays at the start of each chapter are informative, but the book as a whole is more descriptive than explanatory. We’re told, for example, that there are a huge number of ladybirds around, but not given any reasons as to why. Renaturing is, however, beautifully written and presented in the manner of a diary recorded in the present tense, making for a gentle, yet compelling read.