Events Books

Wow! He's almost as smart as his son

Gerald F. Uelmen is a professor and former dean of the School of Law at Santa Clara University. He was part of O. J. Simpson's defense team from the beginning, and can speak with authority about this trial. The sixteen chapters contain the lessons that readers may learn. There is no index. You should be familiar with this case or have read some other books before reading this overview of a Trial of the Century. After the jury verdict there was an abundance of proposed solutions which were thoughtless and wrong (p.1). A knowledge of history would correct these errors for those "unhappy with the verdict" (p.3). These proposals have led California to intellectual, fiscal, and moral bankruptcy in the criminal system, which is weighted heavily in favor of the prosecution (p.4). Many innocents have been convicted because of mistaken identification, police perjury, or simple incompetence by a defense lawyer (p.5). The foolish call for reforms have occurred in the past (p.7). The first lesson from this trial was how the Corporate Media fooled the people and fueled this controversy (p.8). [Joe Bosco said the trial he witnessed was different from the trial broadcast by the media.]

The media blitz led by DA Garcetti affected public opinion. But this allowed the defense to bypass the grand jury and go to a preliminary hearings (p.23). The double-dealing of the prosecution's grand jury is described on page 25. Fuhrman and Vannatter "contradicted each other on many key points" (p.35). Page 39 tells of the effect of the exclusionary rule, and why judges won't do anything. Do judges lack "moral courage" (p.45)? The "narcissistic personality disorder" (p.47) is defined as "a grandiose sense of self-importance, a need for excessive admiration, and fantasies of unlimited power and brilliance". [Does this remind you of some of your managers?] Uelmen shows his wisdom on page 65, unlike the critics. The need for press interviews by defense lawyers is explained (pp.69-70).

Their concern about evidence tampering and forging is explained (p.72). California law allows a lawyer to protect his client from prejudicial publicity (p.75). The foolish actions of "knee-jerk" politicians is described on page 77. The "National Enquirer" is more honest than "TIME" (p.78). A juror's race is part of their life experience, which affects judgments (p.81). Uelmen explains the death penalty (pp.82-83), and why selecting jurors is very important (pp.88-89). Video recording of trials could be a good teaching tool, but television allows reporters to comment as if they knew what happened (p.94)! The bias of commentators is explained on page 95. They had no idea! Television helped to find witnesses (p.99). But TV is for entertainment, not justice (p.101).

The murders of Nicole and Ron had nothing to do with domestic violence, based on the evidence; it was smear tactics (p.103)! The problems with the blood evidence and its collections are on page 122. The prosecution delayed the defense's testing of the samples (pp.123-4). The flip-flop testimony about OJ's blood sample is on page 126. The Fuhrman tapes were "the most devastating evidence" to completely destroy the credibility of this police officer (p.129). Fuhrman had been extolled as a model officer. When the Prosecutors learned of these tapes, they tried to get a mistrial (p.145)! I think the original intent of the Fifth Amendment was to prevent torture by forcing a person to testify against himself (p.155). "Third degree" methods were still used in the early 20th century. The Prosecutors would do anything to convict (p.165). A defendant can be convicted on the basis of circumstantial evidence only if no other conclusion is possible (p.167). Were the threats to Cochran meant to force him to accept guards (p.171)? The jury quickly said "not guilty", there was "something wrong" with the prosecution's case (p.180). Watching a trial on TV gives the illusion of actually being there (p.182). Uelmen explains the difference between a criminal trial and a civil trial (p.195). [The example of Lizzie Borden shows flawed research (p.196).] A trial isn't a search for truth, but to have a vision of truth prevail 9p.199). Civil liberties in America are documented in the criminal courtrooms, where the Government infringes on the individual's rights for the weak and powerless (p.205). Chapter 16 summarizes the lessons from this trial.

Uelmen writes as few can, a legal professor and scholar who himself was part of defense team of this trial.

He provides healthy, worthy set of lessons to be taken from this experience. This is more vital than disputing the outcome, for it must be all about a legal system with the best chance for a true and fair outcome for all parties, including society.

Agree with the author that biggest lesson is that trials as this are flashpoints for what is really on culture's mind at the time, here race, decreasing attention spans and bias without basis, spousal abuse, etc.

Further, we learned that tv and courtroom don't mix well. That massive DNA data without certifiable collection/preservation. Uelmen also contends that this trial was an aberration of the real, normal trial system.

Well done, and fascinating, insightful read.

Professor Uelmen is doubly blessed. First, he has one of the finest legal minds in the country and, second, he writes in such a clear, cogent style that one need not be a lawyer to understand him. Despite knowing the outcome from the start, this book is a real page-turner. One cannot help but think that if the prosecution had a lawyer nearly as capable as Uelmen they might have won instead of the defense. But the best part of all is the insider's view: no other book on the trial comes close to explaining how the defense won a case that seemed at the outset to be unwinnable. Whether or not you agreed with the defense, this book demonstrates their superior lawyering.

Who would have thought you'd be able to find a book with five easy steps for creating something as huge as world peace? An ambitious undertaking, if a bit naive and idealistic. The journal entries about the Iraqi war are especially interesting because you can see what the author was thinking during that time, and it helps explain where she's coming from. This is a quick and easy read, it's practical and it's inspiring for those, like me, who want to make a difference.

Let It Begin With You is a lifeboat for those of us who want to make our world a better place to live but don't know where to start. In these modern times of inner and outer turmoil, we can get lost in negativity. Hurst brings us back to the reality of our personal impact on the world and the belief that each one of us can make a difference. Along with an inspirational account of Peace Pilgrim's journey for world peace, Hurst provides practical suggestions to use in our own journeys. This is a beautifully written book that creates a positive force for nurturing a fulfilling life.

Hurst's ideas are amazingly timely and much needed! As our world conflicts spiral seemingly out of the "control" of world leaders and armies, it has become crystal clear that unheralded individuals must take an active part in promoting peace and quelling the remarkable violence we are witnessing in our world.

This beautiful little book is a powerhouse of ideas about what YOU can do--actions you can take to contribute to creating a more peaceful future for human beings. It's too easy to sit back and criticize world leaders and terrorists calling the shots. Each of us CAN and SHOULD use our individual talents to affect peace.

This book is uplifting, practical, and inspiring. It outlines ways to discover your own true calling, and offers numerous peaceful ideas and examples of how you personally can counteract the upheaval in our world.

Unlike the "peace movement" of the 60s and 70s, this book WALKS ITS TALK. It doesn't promote vigilanteeism or combativeness. It is inclusive of all walks of life--paying proper respect to those serving in the armed forces.

"Great ideas...come into the world as gently as doves." said Albert Camus. As the author travels around the US in this year with her website emblazoned on the side of her "Peacemobile" the sound of this dove is slightly louder! www.yourworldpeace.com

Hurst's third book makes a giant leap into the realm of personal transformation. An inspiring and deeply beautiful homage to the life of Peace Pilgrim, a woman who felt called to walk the Country to spread her divine message about peace, controversial during the time of the Vietnam War made relevant to our turbulent and Iraqi war time now. This book is a golden journey beginning from a personal view about our piece and peace on our planet. Hurst stimulates our deeper and truer nature through provocative contemplations and lessons for the legend Peace Pilgrim. Her unique contribution is engaging us in the concept of "Peacewalks for our time", personal reflective journeys about connecting with our sacred personal truths. Hurst gives us a step by step method to conduct these private journeys. By our own divine rememberence to our source, with true peace as our intention, we gain clarity about our important role in creating more peace in our lives, in harmony with others and in our world. This book is an antidote to the fear stimulated by the current conflicts in the world and restlessness in our souls-
Beth Levin,M.A., O.T.R./L Work-Life Coach www.bethlevin.com

I used this book so much that I wore it out! I had to get it re-binded. I needed this book for just about every course I took in Labor
Studies. It is a great reference book to have.

I first purchased this book two years ago. I have used it in every labor studies class that I have taken and I wouldn't dream of not using it. The definitions are precise and clear. I feel so strongly about this book that I recently purchased another copy for my Local Union President. This book is a must have.

This book has a lot of history and definitions included. Awsome book. Every worker should know the struggle labor has indured.

For 12 bucks, no one could find a more rich, and most important, more concise compendium of the American labor movement and American labor at work. Murray et. al. have done a service to everyone with this thoughtful, experienced addition to the record of American toilers.

Joseph Agassi is a thoughtful philosopher, whose recent book, Liberal Nationalism in Israel, presents a profound analysis of national identity, political processes, and the relation between religion and the state. He makes a passionate plea for the separation of religion from government in Israel, arguing that the result will be greater security for the nation, a more open political life, and a healthier religious life. It should be read by every one concerned with fundamental questions in political philosophy and with the special case of Israeli society.

_Who is an Israeali? Who is a Jew?_ On May 14, 1948 David Ben Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel. At the time there were about seven hundred thousand Jews in the country. On the threshold of the third millenium about five million Jews live in Israel, nearly one million Arabs, Druse and Circassians, hundreds of thousands of foreign workers and non-Jewish new immigrants from the Commonwealth of Independent States. Israeli Society and its political system are still engaged, perhaps excessively so, with the problem of national identity and the question of the political status of religion. The Israeli "melting pot" does not manage to smelt this great people into a homogenous "Israeli" entity. On the contrary, the chasm is deepening and it is as if it threatens to tear apart Israeli society. Professor Joseph Agassi, one of the important Jewish Israeli philosophers of our time, designs a platform for the normalization of Israel in the accepted western liberal style, and does this in the internal, regional and global contexts of Israel. This book is an absolute must for anyone who cares about the future of Israel. Professor Shevah Weiss, Chairman of the Thirteenth Knesset

Joseph Agassi is a thoughtful philosopher, whose recent book, Liberal Nationalism in Israel, presents a profound analysis of national identity, political processes, and the relation between religion and the state. He makes a passionate plea for the separation of religion from government in Israel, arguing that the result will be greater security for the nation, a more open political life, and a healthier religious life. It should be read by every one concerned with fundamental questions in political philosophy and with the special case of Israeli society.

This is a brilliant book by a leading Israeli public intellectual on the vexing question of Israeli national identity and the relationship between church and state, religion and nation in Israel. Agassi provides a brief synopsis of the history of nationalism and Zionism from the perspective of "liberal nationalism" and develops a program for radical revision of Zionist goals and Israel's "constitution" in light of progressive enlightenment ideals. He demonstrates that "normalization" in accordance with the Western model of nation-state would have beneficial effects for Israel, the Jewish Diaspora, and the Palestinians. When the book first appeared in 1983 in Hebrew, it evoked a lively discussion, but few were willing to consider seriously Agassi's vision of a secular Israeli identity. Since then a second edition has been published, and the number of Israelis willing to follow the book's inexorable logic is constantly on the rise. An excellent translation and wonderful design enhance the pleasure of reading. A must read for anyone wishing to understand Israel's abiding dilemma.

As both a teacher of intelligence and national security classes as well as a writer about intelligence, Lathrop's book is only the second indispensable book I have come across. The other is Polmar and Allen's Spy Book.

I have used The Literary Spy in the last four articles or chapters I have published. It not only provides some of the best insights of both scholars and practitioners on a variety of intelligence topics, but it also provides very helpful introductions to each of those topics.

I have even been tempted to use the book as a textbook for a class I teach on intelligence. By the time a student has read through all of the pithy comments on, for example, "Counterintelligence," he or she would have been exposed to the essence of some of the very best writing on that topic.

But the book is most helpful to researchers and writers on intelligence. It is like having one's own miniature Google-like search through the best of intelligence writing in one's own hand. And all of the quotations used are fully documented. I am hooked on it. This volume occupies all too valuable and minimal desk space next to my keyboard and will do so for a long time.

Finally, it is a book that can be read just for the fun of reading. It makes wonderful reading on cold Winter nights or hot Summer evenings. One does not have to be an expert on intelligence to enjoy it.

A majority of Americans do not understand intelligence, given its necessarily sensitive and exclusionary nature. Greater news coverage of the subject, generally in the context of national security issues, does not appear to have enlightened a public that prefers to view things through an increasingly partisan political lens.

For those who do not subscribe to simplistic reductions of the complex ideas surrounding the theory and practice of intelligence, Charles Lathrop has compiled and annotated a solution in the form of The Literary Spy. LitSpy is a collection of over 3,000 quotations, infused with the wit and wisdom of the author. The result is a masterful collection of powerful ideas and observations articulated in a very memorable way.

Examples? The reader is treated to quotes from sources as diverse as the Bible and Socrates to the late Washington Post scribe and perennial CIA critic Mary McGrory. Better still, Lathrop uses his insider access as a CIA officer to provide quotes that we otherwise would not have access to. One especially memorable offer was solicited to the Agency by a dentist offering his services "for the interrogation of anybody you choose" in the wake of the September 11th attacks. Lathrop assures us the individual was not hired, despite the patriotic sentiments expressed in the e-mail.

From a structural standpoint, LitSpy is remarkably user-friendly. Its sixty-five categories of quotations are arranged alphabetically and can be accessed by subject or source index. Lathrop also includes a select bibliography for the reader. While he modestly states that his book "does not pretend to be comprehensive," it is difficult not to marvel at the breadth and depth of effort that went into this magnificent compilation made better by the humorous asides and insightful comments of this former military officer, analyst, speechwriter, and intel boss-jock shop honcho.

This book is for insiders and outsiders, critics and defenders, and should be on the shelf of anyone with any interest in the true nature of intelligence. Lathrop is to be commended for this unique contribution to the field of intelligence literature.

This is a rare type of book--unique, fun, and useful all at the same time. To my knowledge, no other book brings together so many quotes and comments about the world of intelligence. These quotes, along with Mr. Lathrop's comments, provide a guide to how intelligence works--or doesn't work--and will help educate anyone interested in spying and intelligence.

This is more than just another reference book filled with quotes, however. You can open it to any page, start reading, and quickly become engrossed. Soon, I suspect, most readers will find themselves jumping from one subject to another, and writing down titles of books that Lathrop draws from. It's addictive.

Finally, this book is fun. Lathrop has a sly sense of humor, and his quotes often are ironic or just plain funny; he displays a dry wit in his own comments, as well.

Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in intelligence, history, or current events.

I saw this book last night and snapped it up immediately. I have been an intelligence analyst for the government for a long time now, and I love using appropriate quotes to set off reports and presentations. Needless to say, "the Literary Spy" is jam-packed with them.

A few of the quotes aren't that striking, but a lot are. I particularly liked the sections about counterintelligence, deception, and traitors "in their own words."

I think this book is also a good one for the intelligence "buff" as well as people who just like pithy quotations. I imagine students writing papers about espionage would find it very useful as well.

In short, it's worth every penny, and I congratulate the author.

Living It Up At National Review is a memoir by Priscilla L. Buckley, who spent forty-three years as an editor at National Review. The exploits of her brother William F. Buckley among many other "brilliant but highly combustible" characters come alive in this engaging and folksy collection of true tales of daily life amid a national icon of conservatism. An index allows for quick reference in this highly readable and enjoyable reflection on the highs, lows, and weirdness present in the author's remarkable and vivacious working life.

Living It Up At National Review is a memoir by Priscilla L. Buckley, who spent forty-three years as an editor at National Review. The exploits of her brother William F. Buckley among many other "brilliant but highly combustible" characters come alive in this engaging and folksy collection of true tales of daily life amid a national icon of conservatism. An index allows for quick reference in this highly readable and enjoyable reflection on the highs, lows, and weirdness present in the author's remarkable and vivacious working life.

Living It Up At National Review is a memoir by Priscilla L. Buckley, who spent forty-three years as an editor at National Review. The exploits of her brother William F. Buckley among many other "brilliant but highly combustible" characters come alive in this engaging and folksy collection of true tales of daily life amid a national icon of conservatism. An index allows for quick reference in this highly readable and enjoyable reflection on the highs, lows, and weirdness present in the author's remarkable and vivacious working life.

What will we do when the Buckley clan is gone? First John Wayne, then Ronald Reagan, now the Buckleys, WFB and his sister, Priscilla gradually recede from our consciousness, followed ineluctably in time by Paul Harvey we tearfully conclude. Giants all. This book is to be cherished, as with brother Bill's memoir of last year ("And Miles Gone By"), like a strand of hair from a saint; to be pulled out every now and then and pressed to one's heart in longing remembrance of the grandeur that humankind can produce so resplendently every now and again in individuals(as opposed to collectively). Read the book and weep, but with a smile on one's face mirroring the same that radiantly graced it's author's lo these many years.

Soy un estudiante "hispanofil" de la lengua castellana y compró el libro para estudiar/practicar porqué parece ser un libro interesante, sobre cosas actuales, y no tan dificil porque tiene muchos capítulos cortos.

Es, de verdad, muy interesante. A leer el libro es como ver a muchos sitios y actos, en America Latina y el mundo en general, sin viajar, sientado en la silla. Es mejor que las noticias "normales"; muy descriptivo, no es completamente objectivo porque tiene las opiniónes y afecciónes politicas del escritor, y para mi fui muy comodo la posibilidad a leer unos capitulos cada vez.

Voy as comprar más libros de Sr. Jorge Ramos.

Purchased this book and started reading and could not put it down. Very good and coloquial narrative style. Also read Bajo la Mascara from same author, but this is far better,Highly recommend this book.

Congratulations to the author, waiting for the next one.

Iris Sanchez

Another great book by Jorge Ramos. Well written, easy reading, and very informative. He tells it "like it is"...

Yo me identifico mucho con este libro, pues en el, Jorge Ramos habla de la guerra de El salvador y yo siendo Salvadorena recuerdo exactamente todo lo sucedido durante la guerra en mi pais.
Ademas admiro mucho al senor Jorge Ramos.

Len Wood presents Dollars and Sense in a practical manner enabling readers to absorb its content. A must read book for those that "watch" their local governments, school districts and elected officials. Written for fast reading,yet covers the subject matter extensively. If you want to be certain your local government is working at its fullest potential, Dollars & Sense can be a great help to you.

Here is a "no holds barred" approach to describing "real life" shortcomings in handling public finances, and then providing tips to local government policy makers and managers on how to avoid a similiar circumstance.

Len Wood writes from first hand knowledge and experience. He describes the situation; outlines the facts; details the results; and provides the reader with suggestions to lessen financial risk and/or failure in the expenditure of public funds.

While the author's primary target is the newly elected official, the importance of this work to experienced elected and appointed public officals cannot be overstated. No one who has worked in the public sector can peruse this book without saying, "There, but for the grace of God, go I!"

As an elected Treasurer and local government finance director for the past several years, I found this book to be an excellent primer for all elected and appointed officials. The practical advice offered by Mr. Wood is based on his experience and input from his peers and is extremely valuable. The book is written in a very informal and concise way and should be required reading for all elected officials. In fact, I gave this book to each City Council member and they have all indicated that this book provided excellent financial advice.

What a delightful book. The author has presented his subject in an understandable and capitivating manner. He does this by using lots of real life vignettes to make his points. People who want to know what their local officials should and should not be doing will want to read this book.

I am a huge fan of Stephen Elliott's fiction; HAPPY BABY was one of the best novels of 2004. So I was excited to read this and I wasn't disappointed. It's a superb and hilarious account of Elliott's year on the campaign trail, and you don't have to be a politics junkie (I'm certainly not) to find it absolutely charming as well as remarkably insightful and smart about various aspects of American political culture. It's a classic!

This book is a rare treat, a double-secret insider crawl through the wasteland of the presidential election season. Elliott shows us stuff no one else does, from up-close views of the most accomplished paid spokesliars, to the real reasons Kerry won the nomination. Along the way, he steers us, careening, through alternate realities, dozens of funny Eggers-style footnotes, drugs, and compulsive gambling.

I'm not on the same end of the political spectrum as Elliott, but I still enjoyed this book's insights. What I didn't enjoy was the sloppy editing, no doubt resulting from Picador rushing the book out the door in two and a half months. (See misspellings of "Mineta", "signal corps", even the arcade game Pole Position, thought the last is at least understandable.)

Elliott has some great analysis of the PA senatorial race, the youth vote, and more, but shows a strangely innocent naivete on occasion. A few cases in point: 1) He repeatedly calls Bush a liar, without ever specifically naming the lie. Perhaps he means the lack of Iraqi WMDs? But every intelligence agency in the world unanimously believed Iraq had WMDs, meaning Bush was mistaken, not intentionally lying. Sloppy. 2) He shows a fundamental ignorance of how the free market works by not understanding why rents go down when property taxes are cut. 3) He incorrectly states that the NORC analysis showed Gore should have won Florida if all votes were counted, under any standard. Actually, Bush would have won under certain standards where all 3 ballot viewers had to agree on voter intent. At least he correctly lets the Supreme Court off the hook, something many Democrats will never do. 4) He really, really wants universal health insurance, to the point where he says silly things like "Switching to a public system would save a whopping 10 percent in administrative costs, more than enough to offset the expense of universal coverage." Uh huh.

All in all, lots of fun, whether you are a Bush-hating liberal, or just a conservative looking for a tasty bit of schadenfreude.

. . . because Stephen Elliott has written our new campaign classic.

Now, I'm not saying this book isn't full of insight into the theatricality of the political process, or the sycophantic relationship between the mainstream press and the two major parties, or the silliness of the sound byte culture. It is. I promise. It's all there.

But what makes this book sing is the digressions, sometimes personal, sometimes fictional, sometimes incomplete, sometimes written in the first, second, or third person, sometimes funny, sometimes quite sad, sometimes involving sadomasochism, sometimes involving nonsexual love affairs with fellow travelers.

The real protagonist of Looking Forward to It is not John Kerry or Howard Dean or George W. Bush. The real character, the real hero, is Stephen Elliott. And thank God for that.

Okay, that's all. I'm not giving anything else away. Buy this book. Buy it, buy it, buy it!

Stephen Elliot's book is far and away the funniest and most insightful political punditry from the 2004 election. From the rise and fall of Howard Dean to the Republican convention in New York, Elliot doggedly pursues value in stories most reporters don't even recognize. As he crosses the lower 48 by bus, plane and thumb, we are introduced to some of the wisest, most astute political analysts grassroots America has yet uncovered.
I loved this book for the sound byte it isn't.

For anyone interested in world peace, Mary King's book, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr: The Power of Nonviolent Action, is a must read.

In the post cold war era, the battling forces of conflict - war and negotiation - peace have changed. From 1945 to 1990, the United States/Soviet Union standoff shaped public policy. The absence of the super power conflict has created a void and the opportunity for regional controversies has emerged. The essence of Mary King's theme is to utilize the people-based non-violent practices of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. as the major new forces for peace and conciliation.

Mary King's whole background and international experience makes her a unique voice. She cut her teeth in the 1960's in Mississippi, active in America's civil rights batles, working with Julian Bond and Martin Luther King, Jr. From there she has been one of the world's leading spokespersons and activists working on the international scene on behalf of women's rights, civil rights and peace. Her first book on civil rights in Mississippi won the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Journalism.

There are not nearly enough books published in English on the extremely important topic of nonviolent social action. I am a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and realize how very many publications there are that examine all aspects of the use of violence/force in international and inter-group relations. But sadly, few of those books give much sober assessment of the huge limitations there are on the effectiveness of coercion-based actions (e.g. in Kosovo, Bosnia, etc.) This book helps to provide an antidote to that. In addition to giving full descriptions of Gandhi's and Dr. MLK's thinking on the power of nonviolence, the author, Mary King, also provides some fascinating material about the effectiveness of nonviolent acts in more recent struggles.

I have written a regular column on global issues for 'The Christian Science Monitor' for nearly a decade now. In the past couple of years, I have also been blessed by the opportunity to work as a writer with an extremely inspiring group of Nobel Peace laureates, including the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Tutu, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, and others. (Based on that work, I wrote a book called "The Moral Architecture of World Peace: Nobel Laureates Discuss our Global Future".) It was significant that nearly all the laureates I worked with mentioned both Gandhi and Dr. MLK--who was also himself a Nobel Peace Laureate--as prime inspirations in their own work and thinking. So I was looking for one reference book that I could use myself, and to which I could refer readers, that would provide a broad overview of the thinking of those two men. I was delighted to find it in Mary King's book, which ideally should be placed as a source-book in every high-school and community library in the country!

Mary King has woven together photos, quotes and her own reflections in a manner reminiscent of the popular GANDHI THE MAN by Sri Eknath Easwaran. Her subject is broader, however, in that she gives us not only Gandhi and King but some of the more dramatic leaders of nonviolence in the modern world. The need for information and understanding about this subject and these people cannot be overstated. Mary King was superbly qualified to respond to that need, and she has done so beautifully in this volume. I agree with previous reviewers that it should be in the library of every school and college.

At a time when the power of violence appears to be growing and unchallenged, this book provides an important reminder that there ARE alternatives.

Gandhi, King and others demonstrated to the world and to history that non-violence is more powerful than violence, if one has the courage and discipline necessary to apply it. Mary King's book does a better job than any other I've read at laying out this very-human saga. I came to recognize in this book that it is through the diligent and committed work of many unsung people over many decades that these two great leaders were able to make the decisive contributions to humanity that they did. Even though Gandhi had said it many times - that what he did could be done by anyone - one can only truly appreciate this truth when one has the "full story." And Mary King delivers the full story.

I also found the collection of quotes one of the best organized and most useful I've ever seen. Anyone with any level of leadership responsibility in social issues will want this book on their shelf - and in their suitcase.