Highly enjoyable, amusing book covering the recent history that led to major world conflicts. Not as amusing as the title promises, but it's still a remarkable feat to write about atrocities and have me laughing out loud a paragraph later. It covers so much that it's handy as a reference guide--next time a major conflict breaks out, pull out this book, brush up on the relevant geographical region, and look absurdly well-read at your next dinner party.

And, of course, be a more informed global citizen and have a greater understanding of the forces that shape our world (which you can show off at dinner parties).

My only complaint is that world events change so much that this book may quickly become dated. I wish the author would publish a new edition. ( )

Slowly getting out of date, but a great overview nonetheless with probably the right sense of humor to keep it from being depressing ( )

For a history buff, this is a marvelous romp into current events. The sheer inanity of some of the conflicts is overwhelming. Mr. Harris's disclaimer at the beginning lets the reader know this will be a broad overview, not an incisive look at world conflicts. Not meant to be an exhaustive guide, Harris' humor lets the reader trot around the globe to various hot-spots without becoming clinically depressed. Well worth the time. ( )

Summary: Who Hates Whom is essentially a Cliff Notes guide to current events. Ever hear about some conflict on the news and can't remember which side is which, who's giving money and arms to whom, and what they're fighting over/about anyways? This is the book for you. Each of the world's current conflict hotspots gets a list of the main factions fighting; a map showing the area with factions, resources, bombings, religious tensions, pirates, and other relevant features clearly marked; and a short (5-10 page) write-up in which Harris gives the relevant history and explains the current state of each conflict.

Review: I am not a huge news-reader; it would not be an exaggeration to say that I get more of my current events knowledge from NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me than I probably should. (It used to be The Daily Show, but I no longer have cable TV.) So, while this is not my ordinary kind of book, I am perhaps one of its target audience. And Harris does a very good job of presenting global politics at a level that even the chronically-underinformed like me can appreciate. Not only is he clear, concise, and informative, but he's also funny as heck, and manages to inject some much-needed humor - and a surprising amount of hope - in amongst the death tolls and lists of atrocities. Even the maps manage to have a sense of black humor to them: in the chapter on Haiti, Haiti is in white, and the Dominican Republic and Cuba are in grey - colors which, as the legend informs us, indicate "areas where the Spanish never found giant assloads of gold" and "countries that still have trees", respectively.

This isn't exactly your average coffee-table book, but it would be an excellent reference, and I think it would work best as something that was dipped into on occasion. Reading it straight through in large chunks got pretty depressing, not to mention that the various rebel groups in all start to blend together (not a lot of creative naming power, there.) On that same tip, this book could really have used an index; as it is, if you see a news report about the Revolutionary United Front blowing something up somewhere and want more information, you're just going to have to thumb through until you see the right acronym. But, overall, while it wasn't the kind of book that had me dying to dive back in and read more, it did a very nice job at its stated purpose: providing an accessible and entertaining layman's guide to wars around the world. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: I can see a news buff really enjoying this, but even for those who aren't big into current events, it's a pretty painless and interesting way to get up-to-speed. ( )

Good overview of the recent history and the basics about armed conflicts throughout the world. Not comprehensive nor scholarly, but then Harris makes not pretense of either. Honest and straightforward attempt by an average college-educated person to comprehend the current state of the world. ( )