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One of the best professors I've had. Very approachable. Courses are very relevant to today's issues. Very refreshing to see a professor who still enjoys lecturing AND talking to his students.

The most interesting Political Science professor on the campus thus far.

Best prof at Berkeley, no contest

This man is a superb professor! He is extremely knowledgable and interesting. He is fair in grading an tells every student what is on the final/midterms and how to prepare. Highly reccommend

Awesome, nice, intelligent

Great professor; he presented the material in a creative, straightforward manner. The class is easy if you're interested in political science and actually show up to lecture. As always, if you know your stuff (show up to lecture) you'll get an A

All I have to say is that Zook is an amazing professor.

The best professor at Cal

He's an ok guy, explains things well and seems to be very approachable. Beware his corniness, though, and those students who like to laugh at *every damn thing he says*. Really, guys, he's not that funny.

Zook is FREAKING rad!

Best Professor I have had at Cal so far. Very approachable, and very lively in his lectures.

Zook made summer school fun. Every day in ps2 was like a party. His quirky sense of humor and his obvious enjoyment of his subject matter are two things he has going for him. Zook is definitely one of the best professors I've had at Berkeley.

He is a great teacher, he has the appropriate attitude combined with deep knowledge about the subject.

great

I've heard a lot of wonderful things about Dr. Zook before I took PS 149, so I really wanted to take one of his classes before I graduate. I'm a junior majoring in Molecular Env. Biology... Dr. Zook makes me wish that I were a freshman again so that I can change my major to Political Science.

Dr. Zook is an excellent educator: very passionate, very dynamic, and very very funny. His demeanor makes learning a very intimidating topic fun and exciting.

I took Darren Zook's Southeast Asia course for a few weeks two years ago but didn't complete it, taking time off from school to work instead. When I went back, I jumped at the chance to take it again. He's a dedicated teacher, a talented communicator, and the most colorful, adorable person.

Awesome awesome awesome. The guy knows how to make the subject matter interesting, even for non PS majors. Take his class.

Great professor who went out of his way to make sure we understood everything and do well on his exams. His lectures can get slightly boring but it's mostly because of the subject matter.

A great instructor; energetic, dynamic lectures. However, he is difficult to get to know on a personal level.

Best professor ever.

Professor Zook is my favorite professor at Berkeley. He has very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and committed. Although he can be a little disorganized, I think he definitely makes up for it with his committment to teaching. I loved every class I took with him and wish I could take more!

Darren Zook is the reason that I chose to go to grad school and become an academic. He is not only extremely insightful and critical, but he offers a much needed alternative to the methodological orthodoxy in Berkeley's Poli Sci dept!

Love love love loved this class. Professor Zook is so amazing and talented that I'm surprised the campus hasn't offered him tenure yet. He is so brilliant that it completely boggles my mind and makes anything he lectures interesting. I highly recommend taking this class no matter what background you have.

Best lecturer ever.

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I love Professor Zook!

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very energetic

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THis professor is awesome, always full of anecdotes and was willing to help clarify all the time. He always kept the class interested and knew what he was talking about.

Awesome and funny and knows what the hell he is doing!

Zook is affable and silver-tongued with popular peacenik ideas, but also UTTERLY IRRESPONSIBLE, PARANOID, AND INFANTILE. However, he's courteous towards 99% of his students. I was an exception. I grudgingly recommend him. He's a good teacher, and I don't want him to lose the popularity his ego so desperately craves. A confounding man.

He's left-leaning but that's irrelevant. He's a compelling speaker with a humanitarian compass behind his ideas, hence his appeal. He gave me a B despite my flipping him off by writing godawful, empty, last-minute papers. Not a hard class at all if you're not distracted by other crap. Take Nader too for another good leftist perspective.

NEVER EVER idealize your profs--reality bites. That said, I think Zook's ideas, while initially appealing, could use more depth, complexity, and relevance. He will benefit from pulling hmself out of his vaccuum of adoring, unquestioning undergrads and engaging in public debates with other profs. Constructive criticism is NECESSARY.

The best PS professor at UCB hands down. Great lecturer and keeps up with current events.

Awesome Prof. Really knows his material. one of the few classes that i actually enjoy going to. Each day is something interesting.

Zook is THE MAN. Not only does he know everything about every country, he somehow manages to make class funny and himself quite engaging. You can tell that he loves what he does. He even showed up late to class a couple of times because he was being interviewed for NBC News!!! I highly recommend him to anyone remotely interested in anything.

Very enthusiastic! This class is probably the only class at Berkeley that I would call "fun." His humor is contagious. Only complaint is that his exams are almost too broad, it's hard to hammer out an "A" answer because it's mostly up to interpretation. Otherwise excellent!

He is such a great professor, he really knows his stuff. Plus classes are easy to sit through, not at all boring. No matter what major you are, you need to take at least one of his classes before you graduate.

A great professor! Truly knows everything and anything about every country and current events. Keeps class interesting with funny anecdotes and questions. One of the few classes I actually look forward to. Very approachable man, who clarifies anything you ask. Take a class taught by him and be inspired with politics and everything in between!

Has been EVERYWHERE and come back with plenty of stories. Makes a cheap reader that's short, interesting, and appropriate. Organizes his class well. Tells a lot of corny jokes. Doesn't waste too much time (though he does like random tangents). Prepares students for all tests well in advance. Does not grade on a curve. Wonderful man.

Awesome!!

Professor Zook is hilarious, and brilliant. He brings a positive side to the depressing subject matter of war, violence, and terrorism.

I hate comparative politics but Zook actually made lecture fun;he threw candy at the class on Halloween. He makes it clear terrorism is evil but actually explains why people commit terrorism (unlike certain cable news channel). 1 take home MT,1 term paper,1 take home final so three chances to make the grade.

He is a good lecturer and you will learn a lot if you go to lectures. He is not as entertaining as other students think, but he tries. Doing all the readings is not necessary. There was one midterm, a research paper, and a final.

He's the type of lecturer who prefers to complement the reading by bringing forth the humanness of these topics and ideas. Yeah, the gags can be a distraction, but the point of his interested rhetoric is that this stuff can't be confined just to textbooks.

i took two classes w/ him and loved his teaching style. like the previous post said, he really wants to complement the materials that he assigns. the interweaving of assigned readings and outside materials is great for class and your understanding.

I absolutely loved this class. The best class i took through the extension program. His interest was contagious. The class format became slightly monotonous towards the end but i still highly recommend the class.

The best professor at Berkeley.

Best professor at Berkeley. It's rare to have such a great professor here. Too bad he keeps getting shafted by the Poli Sci Department....

Incredible professor. He deals with intersting and different topics that most poli sci teachers don't touch. A lot of people take the class for his "easy rep" and those are the same people who get burned and complain about him and say he's overrated. Everyone should take this guy at least once.

The best.

The best prof. i have had at Cal, inspiring, passionate and interesting. Great lecturer and very accessible.

He's a dead ringer for Nicholas Cage. I got an A because my GSI liked my writing style, but not everybody was so lucky. He is too focused on civil society and seems to be a free market liberal, but other than that he's OK. Not a spectacular lecturer and definately NOT funny. Doesnt mention the readings at all, but you need to use them in papers

The best professor at UC Berkeley. It's a shame what has happened. Save Zook!

The best professor I ever had. He's interesting and really smart. He's also very easy to approach.

Amazing lecturer. He was extremely entertaining and charismatic, making the material itself interesting. This could have been a boring and unenjoyable class but because of him I loved the class. If you can take any class with him I highly recommend it. He is the best professor I have had at Berkeley so far!

"Politics of music."Nice guy. Okay lectures, which got boring and were limited at times. Readings were okay. Class was organized, but tried to do too much in so little time. Grading was arbitrary, lacking reasoning. Overall, class lacked and Zook failed to live up to the hype. Overrated professor!

I had heard that Zook was a great professor before taking Southeast Asian politics, but I have to say I am truly impressed. Great sense of humor, interesting topics, extremely engaging and thought-provoking, very helpful in office hours, and just a great class in general! Tests are take home and there is no section. can't ask for more than that!

Politics of Music- Like others said, way too much information, I wish the class just focused on a few countries or a few genres and was more focused. Zook is an amazing lecturer, however, and tries to pull it off. The grading in this class, from my experience, is unfair, since its based on your GSI (essays) which is sometimes random and unfair.

He is a very enthusiastic, intelligent professor. He is a world-traveler. He has a fantastic sense of humor and can relate to students. He's great!

Great professor- engaging lectures, clear. Need to take good notes, can do readings selectively because midterms and final are take home--you only need to read what you write about. I did well b/c my GSI liked my writing, but not everyone is so lucky. Go to office hours, get to know Zook, and you'll learn a LOT about SE Asia.

I loved this class- The Politics of Music. He did cover a lot, but the world is a big place. Learned about politics, struggle , marginalization. Great class.

HE IS AMAZING!!!!! I looove Professor Zook. Incredibly interesting class. Learned tons about SE Asia. Inspires a passion for the area that makes you really want to learn. Gives a total education about the culture, current events, history, area conflicts, etc. Incredible class! I wish I could take it again!

He was easily the best professor I have taken so far at Cal. He is engaging, very funny, and informative. He makes you love southeast Asia and instills the passion he has for it in you. You will love this class

Clear and interesting explanations (and jokes).

This guy's amazing. He's engaging and vastly intelligent and you can tell he really knows what he's talking about, and he'll communicate that knowledge in a clear and entertaining manner. His class wasn't too hard but it was really effective. Definitely try to take a class from him sometime before you graduate!

Best professor I have EVER taken by far.

DEFINITELY take this class!! Zook makes any topic he talks about interesting. He's engaging, funny, nice, and really easy. One 5 page midterm, one 12-15 page research paper, one 5 page final (all take home). There's a lot of choice in the assignments too. He shows music vid clips/short vid clips too which just adds to how interesting and fun he is!

Best professor I've had so far.

I just LOVE Prof. Zook. I can't imagine Berkeley without him. He is one of the best at CAL. Go to class, listen to his interesting lectures, and surley you will succeed. Essays are fun, and he really helps with everything. Vitally, if you want to go to his office hours, go 30 minutes early, so you can see him. Loved him and his class. Best of all..

Prof Zook is one of those rare professors at Berkeley whose students come first. His lectures revolve around the material he believes is most relevant to students and teaches in an accesible manner than allows students to absorb material and retain it for years. His enthusiasm made my methodology class the favorite class I took that semester.

Professor Zook is the coolest! He's so funny and he is so helpful. I went to his office hours and he is so fun to just chat with. His assignments were pretty easy and the reader was interesting. Get a good GSI!! I had Dan he was awesome and he really likes the Congo!

Professor Zook is, hands down, the best professor I've had at Berkeley. His lectures are clear, relevant, and, interesting, and he's not afraid to veer off course a little in order to provide helpful and fun anecdotes or facts. His style of teaching is engaging and his own personal interest in the subject matter is contagious. Take this class!!!

SUCH A GOOD PROFESSOR! I find myself referencing facts from his class in almost every conversation I have now. And it's definitely not hard to get an A if you just attend his lectures (which you'll want to anyways)! Not to mention, extremely helpful in office hours. This is the only class I've ever taken where I didn't want the semester to end.

Zook is an absolutely amazing professor. His lectures are clear, interesting, and very engaging. Even though the class is big, it still feels like a conversation. I would definitely recommend going to office hours, to ask a specific question or just talk in general. PACS 10 is an awesome class and I would recommend it to anyone interested.

Fun lectures filled with cheesy jokes and funny videos. I really liked Professor Zook. Hot GSI is a plus. There is a take home midterm and a final, 5 pages each. One long paper, 12-15 pages which is the hardest part of the entire class. All and all decent class.

Just need to interject because it's obvious the same disgruntled student has posted the 5 or so most recent reviews. Prof. Zook is an outstanding professor, there are NO pop quizzes, there is only ONE research paper and 2 3-5 pagers. If English is your second language like I'm guessing is the case with this other guy, you may struggle.

Zook is a wonderful and engaging lecturer who makes you instantly interested in the material. His humor is spot-on and really makes the lectures fun. Grades are based on take-home midterm, take-home final, and research paper. Please ignore the student who clearly posted 7 times in a row. There have never been pop quizzes, that is a complete lie.

Professor Zook is amazing !! he really really knows his stuff and the lectures are incredibly interesting

Prof Zook is incredible. The class is super clear and interesting. Even with a GSI that isn't stellar i love this class! Work load is very manageable, 2 papers and a final project with about 40 pgs of reading a week. Def take this class with zook!

Great professor. Engaging and funny lecturer. Well rounded knowledge and clearly presented. The attendance to the lectures is not mandatory; however, the discussion section requires attendance. Had a fabulous GSI as well!

Best professor I've ever had! Makes the material interesting and really knows what he's talking about.

Zook rocks! He is the best professor I had this semester! I took the papers seriously and did well. Make sure you pick a good GSI. DO TAKE ZOOK! He's awesome!

He is AMAZING! One of the best classes I ever took. Do take the time and take one of his classes. Definitely worth your time.

Best Professor at Berkeley. Though I never went to office hrs (b/c there was always a long waiting line) I still felt totally connected to him. He is so down-to-earth, SMART, unpretentious, interesting, entertaining. I learned about methodology but I also learned a lot of random info! Like, about the hidden man behind the Beatles!

super great professor, very clear, definitely knows what hes talking about, and very approachable during office hours. i kind of got lost in my discussion section but it was always clearer during lecture (backwards no?). anyways i would take any class with him again

I loved professor Zook! His lectures were always funny and informative and kept me interested throughout. I never missed a lecture. The lectures were very organized with powerpoints everyday so it was easy to take notes. Grade was based on 3 papers, which was slightly intimidating but the topics were interesting and fun to research.

Zook's a great professor, no question about it. Very enthusiastic, he will go out of his way to make sure that you are entertained in some way, even if the lecture is covering the driest material. Only lecture, no section (but gsi's do grading). Two papers and a research paper. Make sure you get to know your gsi and what they expect of you!

This class is very fun. The lectures are structured craftily and appropriately. Zook is an engaging teacher, who wants to absolutely convey varying points of view and solid methods for potential change. Cheerful and funny guy.

Zook guaranteed my declaring PACS as my major. His class is entertaining and extremely informative. He is a wealth of information but humble enough to tell you when he doesn't know something. AND, when he asks you to send him the same question via email, he actually gets back to you! Assignments/Essays are very creative.

fantastic professor

ok he is a great lecturer, enthusiastic and his classes are fun. but: i always had the feeling that he never went into ANY depth with any particular topic (contrary to the readings) and there are NO tests, only essays, so i ended up not remembering anything of this class after the semester. could do nothing and still get an A, just write well.

Interesting lectures and course material. Though entertaining, Zook treats his students like children, sending out passive aggressive e-mails on due dates that are generally annoying and unnecessary. Easy class, just know how to write an essay.

Zook is a cool guy, but I was a bit disappointed in the class. If you want to get a good grade, you have to write well. It doesn't really matter how much of the info you know. The 3 writing assignments were fairly straight forward. The previous person is correct. He does write passive aggressive e-mails. His GSI's were terrible. Over-all good class

Prof. Zooks lectures are very clear, direct, and well organized. I enjoyed it very much! Unfortunately he is big on writing good essays. If you write well, you can expect an A... if not, then oh well.

best lecturer that ive had at berkeley. funny, engaging, clear, and he is very well versed on the subject and impresses his passion upon the students well.

Southeast Asian class was pretty straight forward. Some readings were dry, most were pretty good.I got stuck with GSI who didn't really know what the hell she was doing. B's on my papers, but the comments were generic and unhelpful. One of the better classes at Cal, but be warned: Siti is terrible and you might be better off switching out.

Zook was a lot of fun and classes were full of interesting stuff. Readings were fun, dense, but interesting. Essays were pretty straight forward, GSI? She was pretty bad. But if you ignore her and focus on the class, its a great class. If you focus on her, you will probably not enjoy going. Focus on the class, not the GSI

This class brought unnecessary drama into my semester with constant passive emails, then "i'm sorry." The professor is intelligent & skilled in lectures. The information is interesting, but he doesnt "deliver" anything.The class doesn't have a focus, its just sort of...information.Focus more on the structure of an essay than what the essay says?

Matt was amazing. He was insightful and really helped me put things together. He responded to emails quickly, was bright, and helped me structure my outlines. Great class, Matt was a great GSI! Really enjoyed it!

I am not sure whats up with all the negativity on the TA's. I got a pretty low grade, but I earned it because I wrote a poor essays. Its almost 2am and Siti just wrote me back advising on my topic. Give her a break, guys. The class is fair. Plus Zook presents information in a unique manner: art, politics, music. its a refreshing take on the field.

Zook's lectures are clear, his lectures are interesting, and he easily connects with his audience. His OH have long lines, but he answers all your questions. Regardless of whether you're a social science or a STEM major, this class is worth taking. Just remember that the GSIs can be a little tough and that winging an essay is not a good idea.

Burma, Singapore, and the Philippines are now some of the most interesting cases in the world. Zook provides you information and you can pretty much write on whatever you want (as long as you justify it to the question he provides, or run it by your GSI as an alternative). I was excited writing my last paper on how religion influenced politics.

Fantastic lecturer! Zook is engaging and funny. PACS 10 is an easy course and not particularly mind-blowing, but it's a good introduction into international relations and surprisingly academic. The reader articles are actually interesting, too. Definitely recommend this professor!

Pros: Class is enjoyable, fun, interesting, and uses typical lenses to discuss conflicts. Beyond that lens, it also uses art, history, symbolism, music in politics. Cons:the class is driven by 3 essays focusing more on structure than substance, to which you are not given a rubric.Overall: the class is good, but needs a better system of grading.

Professor Zook is a fantastic professor and I love his class! Siti is a very nice and helpful GSI, the first thing she taught me is to add a closing sentence for each paragraph and explain how does the para. relate to your thesis. The second thing is to have good transitions so the essays flows perfectly. Must go to OH. I got an A in the class.

Uses power points well and very entertaining. Received helpful advice and learned a lot. Amazing lecturer

DARREN ZOOK IS AMAZING! He is so passionate about his field of study. His lectures are interesting, up-to-date, and relevant to todays happenings. If you have the opportunity to take his class..DO IT!

Prof. Zook is the most awesome prof. in Berkeley probably. He is very lenient. He is also extremely passionate about what he teaches about, he's a very confident professor, also he has a lot of background knowledge. DEFINITELY take a class with him! You will not regret it!!!

Zook is a pretty cool guy...corny...as ever, but cool enough. I didn't think I'd have any interest in this class at all, but! surprisingly it turned out to be my favorite of the semester. The reason was because of how he presents the info. 3 assignments. All Essays. If you write/structure well then that's what the GSIs care about. Give it a shot.

Cool guy this professor Zook. His lectures were quite interesting. Focuses on a few countries in Southeast Asia. Assignments are pretty easy, GSIs were mainly concerned with HOW your essays were written, it didn't really seem like they cared about the content. Make sure your thesis can argue something and at the very LEAST you'll get a B+.

He's awesome. This is the third class I have taken with him and I like it just as much as I liked PACS 10 my first semester at Cal. HE'S awesome and super approachable, his GSIs.... well they leave room for improvement for sure but it's so worth taking anything he teaches.

5-page paper midterm, 8-12 page research paper, &a 5-page final paper. No sections. Zook's a nice guy, makes little corny jokes to alleviate inevitable tension one comes across when talking about human rights issues like genocide, trafficking, etc. That being said, you'lll either love this class, or hate how biased the teacher's opinions are.

Zook is super fun, really interesting material. 3 papers for the whole semester and no section, whoot whoot! Makes topics that can be deadly boring into something you really care about. He's very corny and likes to make jokes, but it really helps the mood of the class. Prob the best class I've taken at cal. Great guy, very enthusiastic.

Great lecturer!! Hes very specific on the material and uses case studies to clarify. Need reader for midterm & final. 3 papers, midterm & final are take home & 1 research paper 10pgs he lets you pick the topic. No section. If your interested in human rights than this is highly recommend & if your thinking of law school. Loved his class!!

Zook is an awesome professor! He does tend to give rather opinionated lectures, but it is just because he is passionate about the subject matter. Remember that he doesn't expect you to agree, and you should look into issues and formulate your own opinions! Respect the subject matter and you will be fine and have a great time in class

Hands down my favorite professor at Cal. He is hilarious and really cares about engaging with the class. No exams!!!! Only 3 essay assignments that require significant amounts of research, but are graded fairly.

Assigns readings that are gone over by GSIs in discussion sections. Also assigns 3 assignments that require students to relate learned concepts to a given prompt (all 3 are take-home essays including mid-term and final). Gives prompt at least 1 week before the essays are due. GSIs grade your essays, and Zook reviews the essays. No quizzes. Easy.

This is the class I will think of when I think back on my time at Berkeley. His lecture/readings are so well curated - he uses lecture to give you the historical/cultural/current events context behind the readings so that you are much more equipped to tie them together.

Best part: no tests. Just two midterm essays and a final essay. Professor Zook is like a fun uncle who tells terrible/amazing dad jokes. His lectures are never dull and they are incredibly straightforward, not to mention very interesting. It is possible for anyone to do well and enjoy this class.

Would definitely take again

If you expect an easy A in this class, sorry to get your hopes up. I've taken southeast asian politics and international human rights with him. His lectures are interesting but I wish he would put more content on his slides. As far as grades go, very hard. Class average is usually a B/ B+ He's very nice and always has office hours.

Great class.

As long as you show up to lectures, do the small amount of reading, and get your GSI to give you the green light on the thesis for each of the three take home essays, you should get an a good grade in this class while also enjoying the material. Zook's lectures are funny and unique, and he tries to makes your life easier. A must take professor.

The class was a nice introduction class and relatively interesting. Zook is extremely passionate, but it seemed as though he simplified to include a lot of case studies rather than focus on a select few. Grades dependent on GSIs (2 papers, participation, 1 test), just be straightforward in papers, actually pays off more than being creative.

Zook is a great lecturer. I have hella respect for him, and he has taught me so much about South Asian political climates. Would highly recommend for anyone who is interested in human rights, cares about the world, and came to Berkeley to learn about change-making! Go ZOOK!

Incredible lecturer, really knows his stuff and so eager to share it with you. Super accessible in office hours. Midterms are fair (no tricks!), and marked quickly. You'll never want to skip a lecture!

Really passionate about his research! So glad I took this class.

Excellent prof, made this class so much more interesting and insightful. Highly recommend anyone to take this class. I am an engineering major, and I still thoroughly enjoyed every lecture. Great guy.

Such an enlightening and inspiring course, and useful even if you aren't a political science/global studies major. Will truly shift your paradigm

The freshman seminar, PACS 24 Diversity and Identity was so incredible. Prof. Zook moderated our weekly discussions with his great wisdom and made the class have an easy workload so we could focus on engaging in great conversations. This was only a one unit seminar, but I would recommend Zook for any class!

Loved everything about this course, from his lecture style to his helpfulness in OH. I had no interest in SEA before taking this course, but his lectures always engaged me. Essays are easy A's if you meet with him or the GSI consistently.

This is my 2nd class I've taken with Zook, after taking PACs 10 last year. He has an energetic and captivating way of teaching. I never wanted to miss his lectures. He has a way of making you learn with realizing you're learning. He'll inspire passion for the subject within you. The first midterm is a trip though because it seems easier than it is.

Zook is a phenomenal professor. His engaging lectures are enlightening and sprinkled with his cute sense of humor. He knows how to balance heavier topics of political corruption with more lighthearted information on civil society. Definitely would take him again. He's amazing. 2 5-page midterms and 1 8-page research paper.

Professor Zook was amazing; I would love to have him as a professor again. I wasn't too interested in the subject, but he made it interesting, and I never once zoned out during his lectures (which would be incredible even if I was fascinated with the subject). He's witty and kind, and you can tell he's passionate about what he does.

Grading based on GSIs. Amazing individual and lecturer!

Zook is amazing and is wonderful for discussing current events. The freshman seminar was very enlightening and basically student led.

Took pacs 10 at 6pm, do well on your take home essays and final and you will do fine, show up to your discussion because thats where ur attendance grade comes from, amazinggg lecturer will take again !

Amazing professor! one of the most entertaining, engaging, and understanding professor I have met so far. Lectures are amazing and the course load is doable. He is one of those teachers that does not drill you with immense reading and essays, yet you still get to learn so much.

He prefers students to know a little bit of material WELL instead of a lot of material poorly. Very manageable coursework therefore, which made the class really enjoyable.

Zook's classes are highly sought after for a reason. He is incredibly knowledgeable and is able to present even the most sobering topics in an interesting, entertaining, or memorable manner. To be honest your GSI makes or breaks your grade for this class. Great class for anyone regardless of their major.

My favorite class this semester! Zook is a hilarious and engaging lecturer. I didn't know much about the subject before, but he explains everything so well. I'm taking a class w him next semester b/c he's THAT awesome! Grading is super easy- he just wants you to learn.

Prof. Zook is a very entertaining lecturer and gives good insight into many of the subjects of the class. However, PS 149E can feel like a shallow dive at times, though that may be a product of the sheer volume of interesting material on each country. First midterm is easy, second can be tough if you begin late as can the final.

Was incredibly helpful and addressed all discrepancies students had trouble comprehending! Also very well organized when it comes to his lectures, which made them that much more engaging. HIGHLY recommended!

I love this professor! He genuinely cares about how much you learn, no redundant midterms and readings. Talk to him outside of class, he's done a ton of interesting research and is really accessible. Do the readings, they aren't necessary for lecture but will make a huge difference in your discussion participation grade. Wish I could take again!

The first professor that I write a comment on. Super hilarious!!Be ready to laugh a lot! Zook is very knowledgeable, professional, and interdisciplinary. Lectures are eye-opening and inspiring. A light weekly reading workload. A very easy midterm , more like a 15-minute quiz. No final exam, only a 8-page final paper, which takes time and efforts.

I gave Zook a 5 because he deserves it. He is amazing. His lectures are funny/entertaining. He's extremely knowledgeable. I really looked forward to going to class. BUT I have a bad taste in my mouth from his class because of his readers. They graded so harshly, I couldn't believe it. Ruined my experience. One easy midterm and then two papers.

Greatest teacher I've ever had. He is wise, but also personable which inspires his whole class to want to learn. He allows students to give their views, then works with them to expand their perspectives on the world. He is funny, quick, and will make sure that you leave each class wanting to think & engage w/ the world. I'll miss this class!

Best prof I've had at Berkeley. Lectures are informative, and engaging and the way he gives them makes the class fun. There is a decent amount of reading, but not too much. The material is very lecture-based and he doesn't post lecture slides online so attendance is HIGHLY recommended, but not mandatory.

Zook is an awesome lecturer. His stories are super entertaining and he integrates them really well into the material. While the class seems very relaxed, exams and essays are graded pretty tough. Regardless I'd recommend the class to any Cal student.

Zook engages students and cares a LOT about subject matter, making lecture entertaining and great to attend. There is one midterm and two essays, with fewer readings than most PolSci classes. Didn't like how grading is done on a 5-point scale, so mistakes are costly (i.e. you go from a 90 to an 85). Otherwise, it's a great and one-of-a-kind class!

Zook's lectures were really entertaining and made me actually like going to class. The only thing I didn't like about the class was how unclear he was about what he wanted in papers. Besides that, we had one midterm test that was more like a quiz which wasn't horrible, just poorly worded.

Professor Zook had interesting and engaging lectures, however I disliked that he was unclear for the 2nd paper, so a lot of people didnt do well on it and it made it difficult to recover with the final paper. We were graded on only a midterm and two papers. I did well on the midterm and final paper, but the 2nd paper dropped my grade.

Loved Zook, wish I could take another one of his classes. Real class act.

Zook was a very caring professor and a great lecturer. There were not too many assignments for the course and our grades were based on three assignments. An in-class midterm that was actually very easy and two papers about 6-8 pg's each. Zook does not upload his lectures and does not allow you to use laptops in class, so attendance is necessary.

I LOVE Zook! I took Global 10a Sp2019 with him which inspired me to be a GS major. He often teaches through stories and examples that are connected to larger themes (really engaging). Took 10b with him last semester (also great). You're mostly graded on a MC midterm and 2 or 3 essays (based on broad prompts that allow for creativity/exploration).

Prof Zook is amazing. He's funny and really knows his stuff. Take him - you won't regret it!

Professor Zook is the most compassionate and relatable professor I have had at UC Berkeley to date! While the limited number of assignments can be intimidating (a midterm paper, final exam, and "map quiz" (which is an easy A), his lectures are super engaging! The array of topics you cover sparks good/engaging dialogue that helps you with papers :)

This is my favorite class Ive taken at Berkeley so far. The online lectures are brilliant, both in terms of production and content. I genuinely looked forward to watching them. Readings are short and informative and papers are graded fairly. You will not regret taking 149E with Professor Zook.

Prof Zook has been one of my favorite profs at Cal! He is engaged and loves the course material which makes you love it, intern. Lectures are interesting and informative. I had no interest in South East Asia prior to this course and now I'm going there after graduation!

Darren Zook was very nice and accommodating this semester. He made changes to his grading policies and was flexible with due dates. I do wish, however, that he would have been more clear with assignment expectations because he made it hard to find out what I needed to improve on. He never returned our last paper so I have no idea what I did wrong.

Professor Zook is one of the best professors I've had during my time at Berkeley! He is not only knowledgable in his field but also very accommodating for students' needs and has a caring heart. He creates a warm environment for students to feel comfortable asking questions or bringing up concerns. Take Global C10A!

Professor Zook tried his best to make the lecture videos engaging despite it being completely asynchronous. The content was interesting to learn. He wasn't as transparent with his grading, though, and he probably won't be available via email if you have questions about those. Despite this, the content of his teaching was good.

Everything you hear about him is true - amazing professor and a must take for any Poli Sci major at Cal. Lectures are entertaining and inspirational, even if you aren't interested in the topic. To make things even better, his class was the easiest PS class I've ever taken, both in terms of workload and grading. Take his class, you won't regret it!

ily zook. so intellectual and a genuinely good human being. so are his GSIs. paper heavy (grade2 papers, participation in discussions), same structure as AP history DBQs and I thought they ez. OH are AMAZING, definitely go. It's like 10 other ppl all vibing w zook, getting Qs answered & just asking his input on extra unrelated fun topics.

I loved this class so much. You can tell he loves what he's teaching about and he's extremely passionate about the topics. Such an inspirational individual who can merge his experiences with the coursework in a humble way.

A good professor who tries to make the classroom fun - also easiest PoliSci class I've ever taken, a 4-page midterm paper and a 6-page final paper are the only assignments for the whole semester. Interesting content too. However, he rubbed me the wrong way and was difficult to deal with when I got sick, and was super rude during office hours.

The Zookster is one of a kind! Without a doubt one of the funniest and most enjoyable Professor's I've ever had. Lectures were just as fun and engaging as they were informative. If you show up to lecture, keep up with readings, and put effort into your essays, there's an A waiting for you! Only downside is he wasn't very available for office hours.

Great professor that had very interesting, engaging lectures and cared for the wellbeing of his students. Lectures aren't recorded tho, he only gives recordings from 2020 zoom lectures. Grade is only a midterm and a final paper based on readings, very manageable but grading can be kinda tough so try to do ur best on them.

Favorite professor of all time & the sweetest person on the planet, he makes everything fun and always has jokes and fun stories for every lecture. He always makes sure students know they can come see him (and his extensive collection of imported japanese kitkats) at any time. I always get excited when I have room to take one of his classes.

My favorite professor ever, I love all of his classes so much, his lectures are always so interesting and boost my mood for the whole week. I always look forward to them. Third class I took with him, I hope to take more. Also he's definitely the funniest professor at Berkeley, he's always got jokes to tell during lectures.

One of the best professors I've had at Cal! He gave us the prompts/topics for the midterm and final from the start and gave us weeks before each paper was due for "skill-building modules" where he told us exactly what he expected from the paper as well as writing advice. He really wants you to succeed and grades really fairly.

Light workload, 20-30 pp readings per week, one midterm paper and one final research paper. Lectures are amazing for those who are unfamiliar with SEA. He covers 4 SEA countries in depth each semester, and has recorded bonus lectures for several other countries too. His lectures reshaped my understanding of comparative politics. Take it if you can!

Zook is an amazing professor with so much passion for what he teaches! The lectures were interesting and engaging and really taken to a new level because of how much he cares. The material does not go too quickly, there were 2 papers, and the workload was very manageable. Take notes to succeed on the papers! Take this class, it was great!

Fun, charismatic lecturer. Class is very very easy but you learn a lot about the region just by showing up. Would have been nice to have more readings to go in more depth.

Funny and interesting content. Every class should be like this

Zook is an engaging lecturer, very accommodating when it comes to assignments and exams. Clearly passionate about what he teachers and is open to student questions. Readings are light, 1-2 articles/week. Wants students to succeed and not stress. Felt very lucky to take his class in my first semester here at Cal.

His lectures are super interesting and informative and he's hilarious! He engages with the students and always extends the deadlines for the essays. Theres also only 2 papers, an exam and a map quiz for the course.100% recommend his class, great guy fr !

Professor Zook is by far my favorite professor here at Berkeley. He cares about his students and accommodates with deadlines. Your grade is made up of an online final exam, a midterm essay, and a final essay. His lectures are very engaging and leaves you on a cliff hanger that makes u want to show up to class.

Bro made me believe in good people. He is a phenomenal lecturer; you WILL learn about the topic in class and you will have fun doing so (shock! who knew learning could be fun!!) He is so knowledgeable, understanding, and humble. Will think about this class far beyond my time at Berkeley and to say that his class is a must-take is an understatement.

Professor Zook is one of my favorite professors so far at Berkeley! He presents the topics in such an interesting way that sometimes lectures don't feel like 1 hour and 30 mins. He is really funny too and always tries to find a way to make students laugh. Very accommodating and homework and readings arent too bad. Two papers and an online final.

map quiz(20%),2 papers(30%) and 1 final exam(20%). There is not a lot of reading, as long as you work hard, you can get good grades.

Best class I've taken thus far - lectures were inspirational and easily digestible. Lectures were also given as if a soap opera which made it extremely interesting to listen to. Graded on very few things (2 papers, map quiz) so can be as involved/attend as much as you want, and are rewarded for doing so, but not punished for not attending

I won't deny the obvious as this would be unfair. Professor Zook is the best lecturer I have ever had. His classes are talk shows and when my girlfriend came to visit, I brought her to class so that she could see the magic for herself. Yet, I have found grading harsh and I have never managed to get an email answer from him.

Lectures were nice because they were 50/50 droning/answering questions from the class, where he would show his happy personality. The paper source requirements are awful and he didn't give us an explicit guide. He expects you to be a prospective law student. Test answers are all from lecture and readings so if you miss a couple it's kind of over.

Hilarious professor, engaging lectures on a boring subject. one midterm paper, one final paper, online multiple choice final, one extremely easy quiz taken for credit. An easy class, with an A guaranteed if you do well on the papers. Take Zookster!

Zook is, without a doubt, one of the most compassionate, hilarious, and knowledgeable instructors at Cal. I took the class because I met some people at a national park who still remembered the class a decade later. Very very chill grading and one of those class where you will be on the edge of your seat during lecture (esp the Malaysia lectures!)

Nice guy, passionate about his class. Took his seminar class which had lots of leftist discourse. I had more moderate views on given topics so it sometimes was hard to give my input without sounding like I was constantly disagreeing. Still, all opinion's were respected by professor even when controversial. Show up and participate and you will pass

He is such a great professor who cares about his students. The only homework was readings, and exams were online, open notes. He makes the subject fascinating and incorporates humor into his lectures. Definitely recommend him and hope to take another class with him!

Very passionate teacher and engaging during lectures. Class consists of a midterm paper and a final paper. There is also an easy A guaranteed vocab quiz and an online, open-note final where you might have to look over the slides if you didn't attend lecture. There might seem like a lot of reading but you really don't have to keep up with it.

The kindest man. Very talented at breaking down complex matters into approachable, interesting content. Ask questions, he likes that! Go to open office hours and engage! Super approachable especially in Open Office hours, very down to earth. Highly recommend, class is amazing and so is he!

Professor Zook has been my favorite professor at Cal! His lectures are super engaging and interesting, and not too much reading. There are two large papers, an easy map quiz, and fairly simple final exam (easy if you payed attention in lectures). Overall great class!

Darren Zook is an awesome professor, his classes are educational and fun. He knows what he teaches and he is well prepared. Easy to communicate and he is always there to support his students regarding assignments, advise, and letters of recommendation. Best class and professor at UCB.

The only class that you do not want to end. Seriously.

Professor Zook is phenomenal, and the lectures are so incredible that they will leave you astonished, shaken, and humbled (if not stirred). My only complaint about this course is that it eventually ended, which was a very somber day, to put it bluntly. I strongly encourage EVERYONE (including non-political science majors) to take this course!

Although the course felt more like political history instead of a comparative political study, Zook was an incredible lecturer that helped me understand pressing political issues for each of the countries spotlighted in the course. The assignments, which include two incredibly easy online tests and two papers are very simple if you attend lecture.

Hands down the best Political Science class at Cal. Can't recommend Professor Zook enough, especially if it's your first semester. The only class where you actually do not want to miss the lectures. Take him!

Look was an amazing professor, if not he was the best professor I had at Berkeley. I respect his passion and work every class. Even when he lectures he has personal stories of every country he has visited and studied its politics and culture. If you fail this class then thats on you because he was a really easy class to take and very entertaining.

Took Prof Zook's seminar on Identity, Diversity, and Social Justice this spring. He encourages participation and will respectfully play Devil's advocate to show students the other side of the argument. His seminar provided a safe space for us to rant abt today's administration and the like. Very personable professor!

He's a really fun teacher and you can tell that he really enjoys this topic. Unfortunately, he doesn't record the lectures so, even though attendance isn't mandatory, you literally will suffer if you don't go to them. Reading is crucial and there's an 8-page research paper at the end.

Prof. Zook's reputation as one of the best Political Science professors at Berkeley is so deserved. I have NEVER enjoyed a PS class this much! The lectures are genuinely so engaging that it's as if he's telling a story, not just teaching. Prof. Zook's class reminded me why I love learning in the first place!

Amazing Professor. Zook is funny, smart, and very engaging. Best lectures ive had at Berkeley. Class is not too hard at all, and you really learn alot.

I genuinely enjoyed this class so much, lectures are engaging and interesting, you do have to attend in person since they aren't recorded but do it!

ZOOK IS THE GOAT.