Ideas and Adventures 1200-1700
Sonia Seherr Thoss
Synergy Books

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The work begins in the thirteenth century with reference to The Americas, France, England, Spain, Italy, Africa, The Crusades, The Mongols, China, Japan, Cambodia, Burma, India, Persia and Turkey. The writer was an ardent world traveler who spent much time studying social groups and exploring ancient ruins worldwide. Prior to her death at nearly 90 in 2006; she became a recognized avid photographer and history expert. Adding much to the overall interest and understanding of "Ideas and Adventures 1200-1700"; the work is filled with many photographs.

Structures from elaborate and ornate to stark and boxy, vistas, rivers, temples, ornate facades, examples of creativity, gods, goddesses, idols, glazed tiles and brickwork, cave paintings, underground water conduction, windmills, dovecotes, burial chambers, pottery, drawings and paintings, clothing all became subjects of Seherr-Thoss’ camera. They add much to the charm of the book.

Beginning with an Introduction, the centuries beginning with The Thirteenth, and continuing through the Seventeenth, followed by a Conclusion and Endnotes the books comprises eight separate sections.

The appellation “time traveler” became Sonia (Sunny) Seherr-Thoss’ sobriquet during a long career publishing results of her world travels. "Ideas and Adventures 1200 to 1700" is a fascinating sequence of events available to a broad-spectrum of readers who have a love for, or desire to learn something of the collective past of people, customs and cultures.

The conversational tone used by Writer Seherr-Thoss is much like the visit of a friend who has taken part in the activities she has recorded with her camera and is now sharing with the reader. Portraying and writing of many pretty mundane situations, and activities along with many that are more momentous, "Ideas and Adventures 1200 to 1700" leaves the recording of the bloodshed of war, performance of sovereignty and heads of state as well as the sorting and labeling of dates and maps to others. Seherr-Thoss’ moderate, more reachable revelation of the past is more a presentation regarding progress as well as an examination of our collective legacy than it is a history text.

"Ideas and Adventures 1200 to 1700" visualization of times past meets reader expectations with a gentler, more accessible vision of history. One characteristic of the book is author's inclusion of areas that are not considered as representative modern history or social study works. Seherr-Thoss’ verbiage promotes cover-to-cover reading of the book. "Ideas and Adventures 1200 to 1700" takes a contemporary, multi-disciplinary view of world history.

Readers having comparable inquisitiveness to that drawing travelers to the ruins of past civilizations, to centuries old pottery shards, or beautiful buildings, clothing and sculptures, as well as or apart from, an enhanced desire to know more of the social mores, taboos, and folklore will find much to read, see and think about on the pages of " Ideas and Adventures, 1200 to 1700".

Authored by late writer Sonia P. Seherr-Thoss, "Ideas and Adventures 1200-1700" sets down five centuries of essential historical data documenting cultural and historic endeavors relating to societies and populations which often receive little to no play in many modern history books. Taking a broad approach to study of world history "Ideas and Adventures 1200-1700" is written in clear, lucid prose which promotes cover-to-cover reading of the text. Because the work spans such a large duration of time; the author presents a general impression rather than an in depth study of particular cultures. The work is a well formatted, engaging, and instructive world history chronicle, and it is a very good study. Happy to recommend.

NOTE: The book is very heavy to hold which may present problem for those having arthritis. Pages are all slick paper suitable for presenting the wonderful photographs. Suggestion for future printings would be limit the heavier paper for the photographs and use another type, less weighty paper for the prose. Despite this drawback and the fact that I do not keep all of the books I receive for review, "Ideas and Adventures 1200-1700" is a book that will be placed on my own bookshelf and taken down for further study at later dates.