The 1970s Reviewed

The non-fiction book that I chose for my webpage is Picture History of the 20th Century-The 1970s by Tim Healey. This book provides a photographic historical timeline of 10 years of the world in 20 categories, spread out over 48 pages, with each section accompanied by a few paragraphs of informative text. To see this much recent history telescoped in a single book makes it easily and immediately understood. The book uses direct, informative language. This is highly appropriate for the teenage audience that the book is directed towards, for example, "Lasers also came into wide use. A laser is a device that produces a beam of intensely pure light." (Page 20, paragraph 2, lines 10-12.)
The Shakespearean quote "All the World's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances" from As You Like It relates to the book in the sense that the decade of the 1970s housed the rise and fall of many significant people, places, and cultural phenomena. For example, Richard Nixon's fall from grace after the Watergate scandal which resulted in his resignation. This shows that even a world leader has but a brief moment in the light. Juxtaposing Nixon's decline were the feminist movements that took place in many democratic countries, particularly in the U.S. and Britain. Although women had the right to vote in these countries, they were still not treated as equal to men, and were far too often discriminated against for being themselves. Through countless demonstrations and rallies, these women succeeded in changing the law when an Equal Rights Amendment banning discrimination due to gender was passed by the Senate in 1972. Women triumphed further throughout the '70s by having America appoint its first female generals in 1970, legalizing abortion in the U.S. in 1973, and Britain's first women Prime Minister being appointed in 1979.

TED Lecture Connection

A TED Lecture that relates to Picture History of the 20th Century-The 1970s is the lecture by Kavita Ramdas. This lecture relates to the section of the book that details women's rights being won over and their rise to equality. Ramdas is the president and CEO of Global Fund for Women, a publicly supported grant making foundation that advances human rights by investing in women-led organizations worldwide. They are continuing the work of the feminist leaders of the '70s by improving women's economic security, helping to end gender-based violence, and encouraging women to take public leadership roles. In my opinion, it is wonderful that women today are still as empowered, and have continued to help one another become equals all over the world. However, I also think it is depressing that this is still a necessity.
In comparison, this TED Lecture also contrast a section of my book, titled The Muslim Revival. This section of Picture History of the 20th Century-The 1970s depicts the reoccurrence of traditional hostile ways of the Muslim people. These included repressing women, strict Islamic punishments for disobedience, "honor killings", and stern traditional dressing.
This return to a strict religious fundamentalism that entirely handicaps women is the entire opposite of Kavita Ramdas' organization and her lecture.

Illustrated Quotes

(1) "In December 1973 the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) vastly increased prices; at the same time they agreed to limit output."
This quote is significant to the text because it details a major world-wide crisis of the 1970s. The oil shortage was caused by a fierce war in the middle east between Israel and Egypt. When peace was reached, prices of oil increased and caused industries to fail, which in turn caused many people to lose their jobs.

(2) "Events began at Rome in July 1968 with the first Palestinian hijack of an Israeli aircraft. And the violence increased over the years as groups elsewhere made contact with the Palestinians, sometimes receiving training from them."
This quote is significant because it discusses one of the first acts of modern day terrorism-a fear that is still greatly alive in the world, and especially America, today.

(3) "By 1972, twelve astronauts had been on the Moon's surface, exploring not only on foot but using lunar roving vehicles, or Moon buggies as they were known."
This quote is significant because it details the aftermath of one of the most historic events, not just of the 1970s, but of all time. The Moon landings of the '70s and late '60s were the start of the modern space age.

(4) "Fashion was transformed after 1976, however, by the punk revolution. For shock effect punks cut their hair short and spiky; sometimes in Mohican style or dyed vivid colors."
This quote is significant because it depicts the start of a new type of lifestyle-one that has defined generations and countless lives. Punk music is also discussed further in the book.

(5) "...movie-makers were still able to create films with sensational special effects which television studios could not hope to copy. The science-fiction blockbuster Star Wars (1977), for example, broke all box office records."
This quote is significant because it discusses the start of the world-renowned phenomenon that is Star Wars. Movies with special effects such as those in Star Wars were practically unheard of in the 1970s, and helped to launch the career of one of the greatest directors of all time, George Lucas.