Review of The Errors of Mankind

[Sofia Monteiro]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Errors of Mankind" by Curt A Canfield.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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"The Errors of Mankind" is a fictional book about war, history, and philosophy. The story is narrated in first person by the main character, Will, a U.S. Marine veteran, an English and History major, and a now-retired consultant.

The story begins with his interest in researching the origins of his maternal family, which he knew had long come from Germany. Searching for people related to this branch of his family, he found Johann, a 91-year-old resident of an Assisted Living Facility. The main plot of the book starts after Will decides to talk to the man and learns that he is a German veteran of World War II.

Initially, Will wanted to hear from Johann about the family's history. However, as the conversations delved into the topic of war, Will began to question his previous knowledge and relate to the older man's experiences. This, of course, was something he was reluctant to admit. Johann being a former SS soldier was appalling to Will. Yet, he couldn't shake off the feelings of empathy towards the older man, as both of them had started in the military at a young age. Will even empathized with Germany when confronted with unfamiliar Western behavior.

However, amid these discussions, we are introduced to a new central character, Lena, a survivor of Auschwitz and a peer of Johann in the facility. Lena comes in with a different point of view, as a victim of it all, to question the justifications put forward. She highlights the hypocrisy and the system of ideologies that gave rise to the violence and crimes of the war. We, as readers, are taken on a journey of self-discovery and questioning our worldview by Will as we explore politics, philosophy, and history.

Based on the author's bio, the story intertwines with his experiences and academic background as a war veteran and an English and History major, similar to Will's. This could be perceived in the philosophical discussions on war and history's depth. The historical facts addressed were interesting and mostly new to me: the analysis of the different concentration camps and human experiments was mind-blowing. Besides, the presence of references at the end was reassuring.

The story pacing bothered me a little, as it was a long book, and some of the information was repetitive, making me drag my feet at some points. However, it wasn't a big problem as we were given breaks due to the issues in Will’s personal life. I will have to complain about the cover, though. The style was simple, which is not a problem in itself, but it didn't match the professional and profound vibe of the book, besides not appealing to the reader.

Overall, I liked that while Johann and Lena are characters connected to World War II, the book does not confine itself to a single series of events, digging into facts from the Spanish Civil War to the more recent U.S. interventions in the Middle East. Also, while the characters may be fictional, their opinions, ideas, references, and experiences are not. That makes the book even more essential, especially in times when old conflicts resurface. Besides, the quotations from actual speeches — such as Muhammad Ali's and Smedley Butler's — and documents only further approximate the story and reality. Considering all that I have mentioned, despite the criticism, this was an awesome read, definitely recommendable, and a 4 out of 5 stars book.

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The Errors of Mankind
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Miracle Oge Adaeze]

"The story pacing bothered me a little, as it was a long book, and some of the information was repetitive, making me drag my feet at some points." It must have been a herculean task going through the book. I don't think I want to read it. Thank you for the honest review.

[Chuks Ogechukwu Bianca]

A beautifully done and brutally honest review. Pace is one of the most important things I like about a book. An awfully dragged book with repetitive information is not just for me.

[Abraham Ozo]

Lena's unique perspective challenges the justifications and exposes the underlying hypocrisy of war, leading readers on a profound journey of self-discovery through history and philosophy. While the book's pacing could be improved, the intriguing historical analysis and thought-provoking discussions make it a worthwhile read.

[Cara Wilding]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Errors of Mankind" by Curt A Canfield.]

"The Errors of Mankind" is a fictional book about war, history, and philosophy. The story is narrated in first person by the main character, Will, a U.S. Marine veteran, an English and History major, and a now-retired consultant.

Initially, Will wanted to hear from Johann about the family's history. However, as the conversations delved into the topic of war, Will began to question his previous knowledge and relate to the older man's experiences. This, of course, was something he was reluctant to admit. Johann being a former SS soldier was appalling to Will. Yet, he couldn't shake off the feelings of empathy towards the older man, as both of them had started in the military at a young age. Will even empathized with Germany when confronted with unfamiliar Western behavior.

Based on the author's bio, the story intertwines with his experiences and academic background as a war veteran and an English and History major, similar to Will's. This could be perceived in the philosophical discussions on war and history's depth. The historical facts addressed were interesting and mostly new to me: the analysis of the different concentration camps and human experiments was mind-blowing. Besides, the presence of references at the end was reassuring.

That makes the book even more essential, especially in times when old conflicts resurface.

I'm a sucker for a good title, this one drew me in! What an interesting plot too! I found myself wondering how I would react and feel if in Will's situation. I can only imagine what great dialogue's this must have provided! Introducing Lena's perspective, ouch! Again, the changes in perspectives are intriguing. I can see what you mean about the book cover. When I first saw it, after reading the title, it did make me question the content. What I enjoyed the most about your review was your mention of how it becomes more essential as old conflicts resurface. As I watch what is going on today in the news around the world, this particular comment spoke to me. This is a well-written review, I enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more from you!