U Books

Just like in "Deep Politics and the Death of JFK,"
Peter Dale Scott here gives us something so often missed
by focusing exclusively on the surface events:
a stark yet densely detailed map of
the subterranean sewers that are the sources of 9/11.

Scott is that rare thinker-writer whose sustained attention
and audacious inquiry have pursued the ugly truth to its deepest roots:
To read this fearless document is to be denied
the comfort offered by our systemic denial.

So be forewarned:
delusions and simplistic reductionisms die on the very first pages;
for reading the rest of the book, one must at times remind oneself to breath.

One of America's most respected and and cogent sociopolitical scientists, Peter Dale Scott (UC at Berkley) has answered the most important questions about the Neocons and Bush Administration by connecting the hidden, and often times secret, historical facts that culminated with the appointment of George W. Bush as an illegitimate president and his assault on the U.S.Constitution and rush toward America world hegemony - -all in the name of Christianity. For the first time ever in print, Professor Scott has articlulated the events, forces and personalities that came to treasonous birth after WW-II, grew to early childhood shortly after the JFK assassination, enjoyed some control within the Reagan and Bush Senior administrations at adolescence and came to full adulthood within the present Bush administration. In a profusely documented, step by step, easy to read narrative, the author enlightens, astounds and cautions, building a case for his thesis that America is in deep trouble unless the electorate understands the issues and stops the Neocons (radical conservatives) in their tracks in 2008. His method is not conspiratorial, but honest without being apologetic or overly alarmist. If you what to understand what has gone on in this country since WW-II and the forces at battle behind the scenes and beneath the propagandist headlines, this is the book for you - - worth the price of one-hundred books and just as monumentally educational. If not, then go back to sleep and become part of the problem and not the solution. The work is undoubtedly one of the most important books written since 1970, given that it demonstrates how the Neocons do not believe in Democracy, the American voter or sovereign nations entitled to design and implement their own destinies. They do not trust the American people, the world or God - - instead, they are motivated by fear and the lust for greed and power. They have fascism written all over their foreheads - - perhaps the true Mark of the Beast that the religious right believes in and warns about so much. Do not walk, but run to buy this book.

The American author Peter Dale Scott shows how the richest 1% control key covert parts of the US state, including the Pentagon and the CIA. The private power of this military-financial complex has been secretly growing ever since President Truman founded the CIA. The US state serves the class interests of Wall Street's owners, not the national interest.

The US state is becoming more repressive: in 1970, 31% of California's budget went to higher education and 4% to prisons, by 2005, 12% and 20% respectively.

Scott shows how the US state built up fundamentalist Islam. From the 1950s, the CIA, allied with MI6, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, used the mullahs and the Muslim Brotherhood against secular nationalism across the Middle East. Later the CIA outsourced its operations to MI6, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, the Saudis, the Shah, the French intelligence service, Egypt and Morocco. In Latin America, the US state backed the fascist Operation Condor run by the military dictatorships of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay, funded by South Korea, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.

Scott describes how the US and British states have fomented wars across Asia. From 1986, the CIA, MI6 and Pakistan's intelligence service launched guerrilla attacks from Afghanistan into Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In 1988 the US and Pakistani states promised to end military aid to the mujehadin when Soviet forces left Afghanistan; Thatcher and Bush ensured that they broke that promise.

Scott shows how the drive for oil determines much of US foreign policy. For example, in 1997, the Wall Street Journal stated, "The Taliban are the players most capable of achieving peace. Moreover, they are crucial to secure the country as a prime trans-shipment route for the export of Central Asia's vast oil, gas and other natural resources."

In sum, Scott shows how the US state is not a force for peace and progress, as Gordon Brown fondly believes, but backs war and reaction. Its ruling class wants to continue their disastrous attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan: it believes what Kissinger said in 2005, "Victory over the insurgency is the only meaningful exit strategy."

Not a conspiracy book at all, but more a historical analysis of what's happened to US power over the past 50 years: how the "deep state" has swallowed what remained of the Public State. When people wonder why there seems to be a total de-link between what the American people desire and vote for, and what they actually get -- here is the answer. In November 2006, the US voted for the end of the Iraq War, the readjustment of the Bush Vampire tax burden, and for greater accountability(investigations, public hearings, supoenas issued, etc). What they got was the exact opposite. Why? This book is a good place to start to find the answer.

When Professor Scott gets to 9/11/01, he goes into very minute detail over the very strange discrepencies involving Dick Cheney's whereabouts from 9:25 to 9:55 the morning of the attacks. Cheney has just flat out lied about where he was and what he was doing. He tells the 9/11 Commission that he did not enter the security bunker/command post just off the EOB until 9:50. Yet several witnesses swore that he was inside the bunker(including Leon Panetta) as early as 9:25, repeatedly going off to make phone calls in the tunnel which leads from the bunker to the EOB, on secured, untraceable phones. Why lie about this? Who was he talking to and about what?

Even stranger is the testimony of an Air Force Lieutenant who kept asking Cheney the same question over and over: "Do the orders still stand? Do the orders still stand?" Eventually, Cheney got angry and responded: "Have you heard anything different?!"

What were the orders? The assumption is that they were orders to shoot down incoming planes. Yet, this query had already been asked at least once before the plane plowed into the Pentagon. And if they were the logical shoot-down orders, why would the Lt. keep asking for confirmation? Scott theorizes that the orders in fact were STAND DOWN orders.

A magnificent, chilling work by our greatest political historian.

This book is something of a curiosity. Published by the University of California Press, it is likely to have the most prestigious imprint of any book willing to entertain the possibility that Bush administration figures (above all, Cheney) may have in some way been complicit in 9-11. As it happens, Scott's case for this insinuation isn't all that strong. Cheney gave somewhat contradictory explanations of his whereabouts for about a half hour on 9-11. A plausible case can be made that there was a space of about ten minutes during which Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Bush may have had a private phone call on that day. And Cheney earlier approved a change in procedure around hijacked planes that may have slowed response to the 9-11 crisis, although it seems equally possible that this rule change was simply an unwise bureaucratic revision (as most people who've ever worked in an organization are aware, those kinds of things happen all the time, without any dark motives). Scott uses this evidence to suggest (although he is definitely circumspect and cautious in his claims) that Cheney facilitated 9-11 in order to create an opportunity to put into action continuity of government (COG) plans that had been evolving since the Reagan administration to exploit a crisis to deepen authoritarian tendencies of the US state. Ultimately the evidence falls short of that necessary to convince a critical reader, although the idea that the COG plans were around and used after 9-11 to initiate programs like warrantless wiretaps and the partial suspension of habeus corpus isn't particularly unreasonable.

Even if you find the evidence of Cheney's intentionality weak, you might still find The Road to 9-11 an intriguing read. Scott's vision of the world is that extremely powerful people (by virtue of considerable wealth and connections) operate through and often around the US government to achieve their goals. This is the 'deep state/overworld' that only momentarilly becomes visible during crises like the Iran-Contra scandal. Other scandals, like Watergate, may be the result of deep state activities and conflicts without being widely understood as such. Figures in US intelligence agencies have developed ties with their counterparts in Saudi, Pakistani, Israeli agencies and can operate without the explicit consent of their respective executive branches. Although it's not entirely unfamiliar territory, Scott's narrative of the US role in creating jihadists to torment the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and further afield is vividly wrought. Without being too explicit about this, Scott suggests that Democratic presidents like Carter tend to be the victims of these plots, while Republicans like Reagan and Bush empower the deep government figures. Although most conspiratorial thinkers are ultimately pessimists who believe that history is engineered by a handful of all powerful figures, Scott leavens this view with claims that the 'prevailing will' of a country cannot be easily denied (some examples of prevailing will--the desire of Iran to be rid of the Shah, the desire of the Vietnamese to be unified without foreign occupiers, the civil rights movement in the South). In his political assessments, Scott is a judicious left-liberal with some surprising insights. He argues, for example, that the much maligned Helsinki accords may have weakened the Soviet Empire by signaling to Eastern Europe that Western Europe no longer had expansionist designs. He argues for a movement in the US somewhere in between Move-On (which gets so close to the Democratic leadership as to compromise itself) and 'black-flag' anarchists, not bad advice. In describing the needed movement as a 'truth movement', however, I wish he had made more of an effort to distance himself from writers and activists who use that term to advocate blatantly crackpot theories about missiles hitting the pentagon, 'controlled demolition', robot planes, etc.

Russian Tarot of St Petersberg is my first deck.
I believe it is one of the best waite clone decks.
Many people recommend beginners to start with a Rider Waite deck, but I think the artwork of Waite Smith deck is quite poorly done. Beginners who are looking for a good looking version of Waite deck should buy Russian Tarot of St Petersberg.
The artwork is delicate and detailed. Conservative individuals should buy this deck as well as there are nearly no nudities.
I strongly advise those who wish to buy this deck to buy the book written by Cynthia Giles as well. The text is informative and interesting. It would let readers look deeper into the symbolism of the deck.

Ever since my eyes fell on this deck I was drawn to it. I am of Eastern European heriatage and it appeals to me. The artwork is beautiful and makes for great readings. I am one who interprets the cards and the artwork, as well as the meaning, when reading the cards, and this deck is wonderful for doing just that. I also love the feeling I get when I'm reading these cards. I can't quite describe it, but it is special. Perhaps it is reconnecting with my family heriatage.
I love this deck!

This deck has delightful illustrations and is a joy to read. I find this to be a pleasant change of pace from my Universal Dali tarot deck. If you want to learn tarot, but the Rider Waite deck is not your thing, I suggest you take a peek into this one. The size of the cards are pleasant.

I have a number of tarot decks that I actively work with,
more for spell work than reading the future, but this particular
tarot deck, the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg, is without
doubt the most beautiful tarot set I have ever seen. Each card
is elegantly painted by the very talented Yury Shakov and
really captures the spirit and images of old Russia. But, more
importantly, at least to me it seems that Yury Shakov must have
also been a talented magician, because each card is filled with
mystical and occult symbols that are truly amazing. A wonderful,
beautiful tarot deck, regardless if you wish to read the future,
create spells or simply gaze upon them as artistic masterpieces.

Russian artist Yuri Shakov's miniature art work (he painted them at normal card size) is a crystaline cathedral of 78 stained-glass plates. Mr. Shakov incorporated historical icons where symbolically referential. Example: The rotting skull on the Death card may be that of Ivan The Terrible, and as has been mentioned, Stalin is the Devil. The Two of Clubs is a Russian 'Boyer', an influential man, akin to a 'Burger', to which the word is probably related anyway. The Fool is a rag-tagged 'scomorhoki'. Mr. Shakov passed away during his illustration of The Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg, and so not all of the cards were actually painted by Yuri Shakov.

The accompanying book by Cynthia Giles is not at all childish, but rather sophisticated and scholarly. Some very interesting Russian history is presented, which sets the stage for some of the characters on which the cards are modelled. Especially useful are the "keys", or one-word meaning of the card, written underneath the card name. The court cards and the major arcana do not use these keys, however. Be mindful about nuances of meaning that vary from those traditionally given for the Ryder-Waite deck. The Death card, for instance, can in fact indicate physical death. But these things are always subject to context. The arrangement of the court cards together, breaking them out of the more orthodox habit of listing cards One through King, is a bit difficult, and impedes the ease of looking up cards. For example, if you want to look up the Page of Clubs, you don't start with the One of Clubs and flip through to the Ten of Clubs and then Page of Clubs; oh no, this would be too easy. You have to find the section marked "The Court: Card By Card".

The cards are startlingly beautiful, and capture an essence of psychic experience not unlike that revealed by hallucinogenic mushrooms, where a dark "outer space" background frames illuminated colors and strictly define textures. Mood is precisely captured. In some ways, these cards are cold, dark, isolated and lonely, in contrast to the Ryder-Waite, which can be warm, sunny, and in the company of friends or family. I've imagined that this is what existence may look like if our spirits roamed randomly throughout the spirit world, like the Vietnamese girl in the film Hair, who, after becoming a war casualty, was shown floating through space, aware and melancholy.

The integrity of the elemental significance is not well preserved, I think. Clubs and wands are traditionally assigned to the element of fire, but the clubs of the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg are simply war maces, as opposed to green staves (Ryder-Waite) or torches. Ryder-Waite uses plenty of hints to indicate the suit of wands as belonging to fire: red-haired knights, kings and pages; green buds issuing from staves (inner flame or life force). Still, each and every card has depth and character. Nothing about this deck is dreary, including rendered meanings.

I rarely open the box, and when I do it is mostly to admire the artwork, rather than conduct a metaphysical assay. Imagine the gilt leaded crystal in your fine china cabinet--that glass set you take out on maybe one dinner party a year, and you will have an idea of what I'm talking about. The backs of the cards are gilt bordered, with fine floral scrolling. You will not be disappointed.

It is a terrific book.... My four girls have all enjoyed it... It's been taped over and over... Other books I wouldn't have gone to the trouble, but this one is just too precious to get rid of!!

I really enjoyed this book considering that it's extremely short. The best part about it is the pop-up. It's a great beggining reading book. This book also teaches numbers and counting. It's all put woderfully together inside this book. Ideally I would get this book for a first grader who was just learning how to read, and count. The last thing about the book that is good is that they try to hide some things to try and make you find them.

I have a three month old daughter and her eyes light up when she sees the pictures of the animals and the bugs! The pictures are so bright and capture her attention! Hope to see more books, perhaps with sea creatures, birds, rain forest animals....! Great job!

As always, this Snappy book is adorable and loved by our 2 year old! This book is the greates number book I've ever seen (as a preschool teacher, I've seen many), because it really encourages kids to count, in a fun manner. Each page coordinates with the number, for example, the page with the number seven has a lion with seven whiskers, but all the other creatures on the page, are pictured in sevens. The book also shows the written out and the numerical form for each number. It was an instant hit in our household!

My daughter received this book when she was a couple months old and she is now 6. She still loves it! The pictures are wonderfully colorful and the pop-ups are amazing. The book is not thick, but big, which lets for big, colorful pictures. Also, the pop-ups do a cute action as you open the page up. This book is vivid and entertaining enough to even capture an adult's attention. A definite buy!

The evolution of American medicine is a fascinating story and it is told very well. The analysis is excellent and this really provides a great perspective about how the US got to the corporate system we are now on. I wish there would be an update that would take us from 1980-2000. The debate over how socialized medicine did not take root is very interesting and well done in the book. If you are getting started or an expert this book has something for everyone. Highly recommend for those who are trying to understand how doctors and hospitals developed in America.

This book traces the evolution of America's disjointed healthcare system, from the horror of the early hospitals to the formation of the medical profession. It also explains how, as the early profession was fighting for the right to exist, it took virtual possession of the rest of the healthcare system. Every Democratic president since FDR has attempted some type of major healthcare reform, only to be opposed by the American Medical Association (AMA) because organized doctorhood thought it had too much to lose.

This book is an effortless read for students of sociology or those that have a great interest in the history of medicine. Published in 1983, it easily predicts some of the current problems in American healthcare, because the powerful interests that determine the delivery of healthcare are still the same. It also predicts some of the circumstances that will finally bring America around to some sort of rational, universal, healthcare coverage.

For anyone interested in the healthcare as a profession or area of study, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Despite the 20 years since its publication, Paul Starr's Pulitzer prize winner is still relevant today and in retrospect his projections made of the future of healthcare in America are surpisingly prescient.

The first book describes the development of the medical profession in early America providing a fascinating look at the social evolution of American society. The second book delineates the rise of doctors, hospitals and medical schools in latter half of the 19th to the early 20th century with the rise of science and a professional authority. The third book shifts the focus from the doctors and to the industry that medicine became as well as the various attempts at healthcare reform in response to rising healthcare costs.

My only criticism is that Starr should have devoted more pages to the root causes behind the rising healthcare costs that drove the reforms of the 1960-70s described in the third book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone in the health care industry or anyone interested in the history of American medicine.
Starr basically explores why/how physicians so powerful politically, socially, and economically. GREAT BOOK!

This is a must read for understanding American medicine. It actually has a straightforward point of view in its focus on the autonomy and status of the medical profession and the distinguishing feature in the evolution of health care institutions. The role of the medical profession in health care is unique in our society and this books historically follows how the profession has used its position to counter capital enterprise and public programs to meet pressing social needs. He makes clear that the development of valid scientific theories and their applicating into effective treatments was critical to affirming the control of physicians. Otherwise the political disputes over licensing and accreditation could not have succeeded. Obviously the emergence of HMO's and other health insurers represent the latest source of conflict. Again this work presents the issues clearly and objectively.

the supreme court is my life, i love it, i am doing a project oon the supreme court and i love it!i bought this cd-rom and i have not put it own since, my computer hasnt bee sut down in like 2 months, all it does is play this CD-ROM, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! OH I LOVE THE SUPREME COURT, JUSTICE REQUEST IS SOOO FINE!!

Until Jerry Goldman created his innovative Oyez website, the experience of listening to an actual Supreme Court oral argument was available only to the lucky few hundred people who could secure a seat in the Court's formal courtroom (and to those who would travel to Washington, DC and listen to the tapes at the National Archives). Now that experience is available to anyone who has a reasonably good computer with speakers and a CD drive. Drawing on but also adding to material available on the groundbreaking Oyez site, Goldman has created a remarkable resource that makes history come alive. Litigators can listen, and learn from, some of the best appellate advocates in the country. Law students can also gain many lessons here in the craft of argument, as well as insights into some of the Court's most important decisions. This CD should be in the collection of everyone who is interested in the Supreme Court and how it functions. Especially impressive are the "highlights" links that take the listener to key exchanges between the Justices and the lawyers. Often these are points on which the decision turned. A must-have for any serious student of the Court and of appellate advocacy.

I am not a lawyer. My interest in the Supreme Court is that of an interested observer, who has particular interest in certain topics (such as Establishment Clause, Religious Freedom, etc). Even so, or perhaps especially so, I find Goldmans' product wonderful. It has everything that was missing from Peter Irons' audio series "May it Please The Court" (which wasn't much to begin with).

The Supreme Court hears oral arguments on cases, and these arguments have been recorded since the fifties. Goldman's CD contains the full audio arguments for a number of cases, and, for a few of them, also the public announcement of the decision on the case. Each case also includes a summary, which has a brief description of the facts of the case, the final decision, and final vote (which justices voted in the majority, which in the minority). That alone would make this a wonderful addition to anybody interested in the Bill of Rights or the Supreme Court. But this is not all that Goldman brings to the party.

Also included are the full text of the decisions of the cases included (Majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions), which were sorely missed in Peter Irons' book. Also, for each case, a photograph of the Court's justices is provided, with a halo effect identifying majority and minority. By clicking on a particular justice, you can hear a voice clip, to help you identify their voices when, during the arguments, they interrupt or ask questions. There is also a "highlights" option, whereby specific points in the argument are mentioned, with time index stamps, so you can listen only to those points (the presentation of the case, particular questions regarding certain issues and their replies, summary, etc). You can also use this as a sort of abbreviated program when listening to the entire arguments (which can run over 1 hour). As opposed to Peter Irons' _May it Please The Court_, there is no commentary on the arguments, which are presented completely unedited, and also no transcripts. Finally, if there are any cases which were argued or decided together with the one you are looking at, it is so noted and you can take a look at that one as well.

You can look at the cases sorted by name or by date, and also by broad topic ("Religious Freedom", "Commerce", "Sexual Discrimination", etc), by Justices sitting on the Court, or all together. The cases include some of the more important and controversial of the past 50 years: Roe v. Wade (abortion), Abington v. Schemp (school prayer), Nixon v. U.S. (executive power), New York Times v. U.S. (pentagon papers), Johnson v. Texas (flag burning), Bakke v. Regents (reverse discrimination), and many more among its more than 50 cases.

I have no complaints about the final product, and only a few wishes: I hope to see sequels, with more cases, available; although pretty close to my wish list of cases, a couple I would love are still missing (e.g. Edwards v. Aguillard). I would also have liked to be able to look at cases by author of the opinion, but this is such a minor thing that it is hardly worth mentioning. Transcripts of the arguments would be a nice addition. These are such minor quibbles, however, that they cannot mute your enjoyment of this wonderful program.

If you are a lawyer, or a student of the law, you will find this CD-ROM especially illuminating as it illuminates famous Sup. Ct. cases with the actual audio arguments and questions by the judges. The subsequent reasoning and decision of the Court is a lot clearer when viewed in the context of how the oral pleadings went. RealAudio compression allows dozens of hours of listenable audio to be burnt onto a single CD. Well worth it.

Jerry Goldman has brought forth a veritable treasure trove: full-length oral arguments from fifty landmark Supreme Court cases! Words really cannot describe what a remarkable resource SCGH is--the promise of Peter Irons's audio-tape series "May It Please the Court" is here brought to full fruition. Listen to all or only the most salient parts of an argument: nobody acts as a gatekeeper to the material. Hear the verbal inflections of the justices as they ask questions--nuances that do not come across on the written page. A separate image of the particular Court deciding the case is available, along with the opportunity to hear voice samples of each Justice, so to familiarize yourself with who is talking during arguments. A halo effect comes across the members of the majority when the word itself is clicked, and the same thing happens to members of the minority. All this, along with oral announcements of the opinions, biographical data on the justices, and text of the full opinions. That this is contained on one compact disc is mind-boggling; SCGH is essential for those with any interest in Constitutional Law.

After seeing a 60 MINUTES interview with Judge Scalia recently I wanted to know more about the Supreme Court. This was one of the most interesting books I have read in years. I read it in just a few days and would highly recommend it to anyone. It talks about the evolution of the Supreme court and their most important decisons, decisions that effect us everyday. Also it is written in plain english so you do not need to be a lawyer to understand and enjoy it. Great book!

From Marbury v. Madison to Gore v. Bush, this book covers the most important cases in Supreme Court history. It's very clear and concise, an absolute delight to read.

Sure, you've heard of many of the cases in this book. But do you know what the legal underpinnings of "Roe vs. Wade" actually are? Do you know how the court derives its power?

I've been talking to everyone I know about this little gem, because it is so darn readable, and so relevant. Yesterday my local paper ran a story about filtering software the local library may soon install. And this morning I finished the book after reading about the cases that are directly tied to this course of action. So I can speak more intelligently about this issue, and I can read the paper with a more informed perspective.

Many of the cases are introduced by discussing a logical framework that parallels the facts of the case. The case is then introduced, and the arguments and reasoning that drove the court are discussed. Wow, that makes it sound really boring. But on the contrary, its a fun read and each chapter is short and encapsulated. Highly recommended.

I bought this as a gift, decided I'd better preview it first, and now I don't want to give it up. I'm ordering another one. Believe what the other 5-star reviewers have written.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It is by no means a definitive legal dissertation on the landmark cases of the Supreme Court. Nor it is especially informative about the law.

What this book does is give a general audience something to think about. Thirty-four somethings to be exact.

The author goes over the cases with broad brushstrokes. The prose is easy to understand and consciously avoids the legalese that would turn off most readers. Instead, the purpose is to get the reader thinking about the ramifications of each case and how it affects our lives (for better or for worse) today.

Alright, this is my favorite book. I began reading and watching Trek in June and even if I wasn't a Trekker, I would love this book. I picked it up at the library b/c it had Tasha Yar on the front, my favorite character (and I'm not asking for hatred for speaking my beliefs: I get that enough!) and I had no idea what a great book this was. If I hated Tasha Yar, I would still like it. It is well written and well paced, and a fine book all-around.

'SURVIVORS' IS (AS OF THIS WRITING) THE ONLY STAR TREK BOOK TO FOCUS (BASICALLY) ON LT. NATASHA YAR. IN THIS NOVEL, YOU LEARN ALL OF THE THINGS ABOUT HER PAST THAT TNG EPISODES HINTED AT, BUT NEVER TOLD.

THIS BOOK CHRONICLES TASHA YAR'S BRUTAL UPBRINGING ON THE PLANET TURKANA IV, HER RESCUE BY STARFLEET, HER ACADEMY DAYS, AND, FINALLY, HER DEATH ON VAGRA II.

I HIGHLY RECOMMENED THIS BOOK TO ANY STAR TREK FAN WHO WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST UNDERUSED CHARACTERS IN STAR TREK'S HISTORY.

Survivors centers around my two favorite ST:TNG characters, namely Lt. Tasha Yar and Lt Cmrd. Data. It reveals intimate details of Tasha's past that were never allowed into the series due to her untimely demise at the hands of the creature Armus (she was killed because he was BORED?! How dumb is that?!). Her relationship with Dare, a man from her past, as well as her friend Data, the android, create an air of tension you normally wouldn't find in a story invovling Data pre-emotion chip. His constant thoughts about the event that 'never happened' and his jealousy (if it can be called such) directed at Dare and Tasha's rekindling relationship create a very 'humanizing' face for the seemingly emotionless android.

This is a touching, emotional must-read for any Data or Tasha fans. Tasha/Data shippers unite!

Trust me, this is one fine novel.

I'm a 57 year old, very practical, lawyer. I'm not a particular Trekkie, though I have watched and read a fair amount of it. And of all I've ever seen, this is absolutely the finest.

But it would be excellent if it weren't Star Trek. This is a story of God's greatest effort, human beings, sentient, feeling, caring, helping-one-another beings, as you will ever find. In my experience developing characters is the hardest of all things for writers to do well. This is as fine a job as I recall seeing.

Star Trek or not, READ THIS BOOK!!

Of all of the early Star Trek The Next Generation novels, this one definitely stands out among the rest as being one of the better ones. Granted, there are a few back story or canon errors within this one but that is to be expected as this one was written very early in the series run on television and the author had no idea where the series was going to go with respect to certain aspects. The sad thing is that this fine author has only published four novels in the Star Trek arena, two Original Series novels and two STNG novels. Considering how well she wrote these novels, it would be very nice to see her make a foray back into Gene Roddenberry's universe. For fans of Lieutenant Tasha Yar, this quick but excellent novel is a real treat.

The premise:

As this was written very early in the television series, the author picked up well on the dynamic interpersonal relationship between Commander Data and Lieutenant Tasha Yar. In doing so, she put these two characters in the midst of away mission on their own, dropping them off on a human colony known as Treva. They quickly become embroiled in the situation to include running into a Starfleet fugitive that just so happens to have been Tasha's former fiancé. While this human colony "was" intent on becoming a Federation member (which is a bit of an irony considering that it is a "human" colony), they find themselves having to deal with a violent revolution. Now Data and Yar find themselves in the middle of a bloody revolution and having to find a way to end the bloodshed and stay alive at the same time.

What follows is as I stated above, an excellent early STNG novel that captures the dynamic of the relationship between Data and Yar extremely well. The last chapter of this outstanding novel is also quite intriguing as well.

I highly recommend this novel to any and all fans; die hard or casual, of the Star Trek genre as it well exceeds the Star Trek novels of its time. {ssintrepid}

Outstanding book for anyone who ever wants to run of elected office. Matt Lewis gives expert tips that are easy to forget when running a full time campaign. After reading this book, it is fun to look back at both winning and losing campaigns and see the mistakes candidates made. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in politics.

Matt is brilliant at campaign communications. I read the book over a year ago and still refer to it for my campaigns. With primary elections a little over 30 days away, I have spent much more time reviewing the chapters.
Not to mention, Matt is a very down to earth guy who I have been fortunate enough to recieve training from in person. Amazingly, he even responds to my email questions. Just a great book by a stand-up guy who will run a Presidential race here in the near future.

This is a great little book covering the basics of public relations. It's full of handy tips. Highly reccommended for Republican campaign workers...

Teaching Elephants to Talk is a quick read and a great handbook for anyone trying to move up in politics. Too often you hear "Republicans don't know how to communicate with voters" but no remedies. Matt offers those remedies.

Teaching Elephants to Talk is a practical and useful tool for campaigns of all types, political, PR or advertising. Matt Lewis shows the reader, in an easy to read format, how to connect to the targeted audience with a succinct and powerful message. It's a great read.

I read this book many years ago and then lost my copy of it, so I ordered another one on Amazon. This is the most moving book I have ever read. If you're into non-fiction westerns, this is the book for you. I found the first half a tad slow but the second half was fantastic. To this day, when I think about it, it almost brings tears to my eyes. The story was written from the memoirs of Andrew Garcia, a scout for Custer and tells of his adventures traveling through the west with his native american wives. I loaned this book to a friend and he shares my enthusiasm for it.

I purchased this book for my husband. He enjoyed it and passed it on to other readers.

Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice
This book's handwritten manuscript was found in a dynamite box in its author's Montana cabin after his death at age 88. Garcia was an original Western settler, arriving in Montana in 1878, one year after the famous Nez Perce Chief Joseph's surrender. If you want authentic Old West, here it is. Garcia tells it like he saw it, favoring neither Native Americans or Europeans. He marries three Indian women (sequentially) and leaves his past world behind. This book has romance, beauty, humor, deadly adventure. Danger. Thrillers come nowhere near this true story. Most of all, Andrew Garcia's soul shines through his writing. What a dear, good man. I wish I could have met him.

A Spanish-Texan quits his job wrangling for the Army in Montana to set out trapping and trading with the Indians. His stories - full of grandeur, intrigue, death and romance - never cease to have a ring of truth.
In Garcia's accounts he is never the hero, but rather the hapless greenhorn who escapes by the skin of his teeth and a generous apportionment of luck.
Written in true trapper/trader/rancher dialect, this book is a joy to read and a pity to finish. I love his insights and Tom Sawyer wisdom, self deprecation, and observations about life with the Indians (and life with whites).

this is a great story from one who lived with the indians during the time before their decline. this book is hard to put down.

While browsing thru the Boston Public Library in 1970 I accidentally came across this book. I have read it at least ten times over the years, have kept in touch with the editor, Sue Eakin, an expert on the South and cultural matters of this kind. This book is an inspiration to everyone. You will be amazed at the tenacity and sheer courage of Northup as he makes his way thru 12 long years on the plantation, and remember that he did not KNOW it would be 12 years. Every Jan 3 or 4th I wake up and think to myself, this is the day Solomon was set free! This book is clearly a treasure that is relatively unknown. You will not read this book only once-----

Until I read Solomon Northup's riveting first hand account of his life as a slave, I had only imagined the degredation and cruelty with absolute and total submission by those who had no choices, no chances for liberty. Early in my own life in the 1930s, as a young boy and son of a sugar plantation overseer along the banks of Bayou Bouef in Louisiana, the exact same location as Solomon's narrative, I recognized the lingering stains of an enslaved society, in my friends...the field hands who lived in the Quarters. As a white kid, I had chances and choices, however choices based on the social and economic order that existed in my life and where I lived, which in reality, cast their net over my life, too. I've written my own narrative...my book "The Last Witness From a Dirt Road" which after reading Twelve Years a Slave, I see that my narrative could almost stand as a sequel to Solomon's book, but written a hundred and fifty years later. My heart is still broken for all the souls whose lives were so badly tormented and taken by a vile system devised and placed on humankind. The lesson: We must be diligent and precise in our approach to anyone whose ideology in religion and politics, teaches or wishes, to take away or diminish the freedom of man. I'm grateful for the courage and power of Solomon Northup.

This book presents its readers with a first-hand account of not only the cruelties of United States slavery itself, but more importantly it touches upon the ways in which other areas of social life were negatively influenced by the institution. Solomon Northup was a black man who was born a free black man in New York in 1808. In 1841, Northup was kidnapped in Boston and take to the south to be sold as a slave. He spent the next 12 years as a slave, and this book was written after he was rescued in 1853.

Many people have associated this book with "Uncle Tom's Cabin" ever since the former was published. While the story line is not exactly the same, there are a lot of similarities. Most notably, both books have evil Northerners and benevolent Southerners, a feature that I think is too often overlooked. This adds credibility to Northup's account, insofar as he does not simply condemn all Southerners. Other themes, such as the break-up of slave families, the harsh treatment of slaves (especially female slaves who had the misfortune of handsomeness), and camaraderie between slaves also reflect those written about in "Uncle Tom's Cabin".

In the past the credibility of Northup's work had been in question, especially since a newspaper worker helped him write his account. However, in light of the vast number of particular details the Northup provides and the extent to which those details match up with other records, historians generally view this work as an authentic and truthful account of a free man sold into slavery. This is an incredible read, and the fact that it is a real account makes it even more fascinating. This book should be required reading for high school or college American history classes that cover the Civil War era.

A compelling and wrenchingly honest first-hand account of slavery, many
times breaking my heart and making me think of the children of Africa
today. A new book, "The Last Witness From a Dirt Road" which takes
place in 1946, was given to me after commenting about Solomon Northup's
narrative, and it could almost be a sequel to Twelve Years a Slave,
written a 100 years later by the son of an overseer on a plantation
along the banks of Bayou Bouef in the same location in Louisiana. Old
social and economic orders seemed little changed from 1841 to 1946,
tragic, heart rendering but both books are riveting and honest, are
timely and universal.

Solomon Northup's slave narrative follows in the line of scores of other enlightening first-hand accounts of African American enslavement. What makes Northrup's account so unique is the fact that he was free when kidnapped and enslaved.

His harrowing description of his kidnapping in Washington, D. C., and of his fellow kidnappees, will melt the hardest heart. Yet, his interactions with other abducted African Americans also portrays the beauty and power of shared sorrow.

Another fascinating distinction found in "Twelve Years a Slave" is Northrup's almost uncanny ability to fairly depict his slave owners. In some cases, he ruthlessly exposes the one-dimensional ruthlessness of cruel masters. Yet, in one case, with his owner Pastor Ford (yes, Pastor), he calls Ford one of the most godly, caring, Christians he has ever known. He describes the biblical preaching and personal ministry that Ford provided to him. It is difficult for us today to see how the hypocrisy of a slave-owning Pastor could occur. But for Northrup, an intelligent, educated, articulate man, who could be blistering in his verbal attack on slavers, Ford was not a one-dimensional man. He was flawed, yet could still display admirable attributes.

"Twelve Years a Slave" is perhaps the most important first-hand account of enslavement ever written. The end of the story, which I will not ruin, must be read. Of course, with riveting writing like this, only the rare reader would dare stop before the end of the journey.

Reviwer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.