" A] fine, arresting book with a clear and novel thesis and a firm grasp of geography. Good stuff, in short . . . strongly recommended." --William H. McNeill
"The reader will find here useful information and much food for thought; a book of such a broad scope is rare and has much to recommend it." --Speculum
" . . . encyclopedic . . . there is no book quite like this one." --Choice
" . . . a colorful canvas depicting the torrential...