Book reviews of 'Worse Than War' by Daniel Goldhagen and 'Stripping Bare the Body' by Mark Danner

WORSE

THAN WAR

Genocide, Eliminationism, And the Ongoing Assault on Humanity

By Daniel Jonah Goldhagen

PublicAffairs. 658 pp. $29.95

STRIPPING BARE THE BODY

Politics Violence War

By Mark Danner

Nation. 626 pp. $28.95

WP BOOKSTORE

Daniel Goldhagen is on the side of the victims of war, massacre and genocide. He hears their cries and sees their maimed bodies; most of all, he is outraged that the international community refuses to protect them. His ambitious new book, "Worse Than War," springs from an immersion in their sufferings and the heartfelt desire to end it.

But even victims -- or, perhaps, especially victims -- deserve books that are clearly argued and clearly written. "Worse Than War" is not that book.