Here is a review left by a customer on a product. Would you say he was satisfied or dissatisfied?
Title: Not for the Lay Reader
Review: This is an exceedingly dry, academic overview of Japanese foreign policy from 1894-1945. For the academic, it is probably an invaluable resource, but for the lay reader, it is a very slow read and not worthwhile.There are two major problems with the work. First, Beasley's style is extremely dry. The writing style is not in any way bad, just boring.Two, Beasley's treatment is very methodical and he avoids analyzing Japanese actions in any larger context (with the exception of the first and last chapters). This means that each chapter devolves into a recitation of actions relevant to the chapter topic only without any larger historical arc. Larger social, economic and military trends and decisions are not discussed -- rather we get a very narrow review of Japanese foreign policy decisions only.Really, a better title for the volume would have been "A History of Japanese Foreign Policy Memos, 1894-1945."
