I can only echo the many superlatives that are expressed in the reviews: it's a great overview of the 20th century in Europe, handsomely told through travelogues. I noticed a few historical errors and dated views, but I certainly do not want to undervalue the merit of this book. In my opinion the strongest chapter was on the second world war. In the chapters starting with the 1950's the tempo was a bit too high and the stories Geert Mak relates inevitably became more personal and subjective.