Public Policy Books

I grew up in the Dallas area so I have always been interested in Dallas history. This book by Darwin Payne is very interesting and readable, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Dallas history. Even if you aren't a history buff, any Dallas area resident will find this book just fascinating! I was lucky and took one of Professor Payne's classes at SMU many years ago. His love of Dallas history is infectious! You will see what I mean if you read this book!

I bought this book back in 1995 after seeing a local Dallas PBS feature on the book. It is well worth the money. An excellent history of the city, if you live or lived in Dallas you will enjoy it.

To say that this book addresses a scientific-technological-political-economic-social issue of great contemporary importance and relevance is to state the obvious. Alternatives must be found to carbon-based fuels if catastrophic climate change and associated socio-economic-political chaos are to be mitigated in the 21st century. Energy from biomass is a possible alternative and it is in this context that Dr. Rosenberg's book outlines the case for biomass as the crop of choice for the North American Great Plains (NAGP) to produce ethanol and other alternative fuels.

The author's deep knowledge of and love for the NAGP come across clearly from the first few pages of the book. The history, geography, environment, economy, and sociology of the NAGP lay a fascinating background for subsequent discussions of potential climate change impacts on the NAGP and, in turn, the NAGP's potential role in mitigating climate change via soil carbon sequestration and biomass cropping for producing alternate fuels.

This is a well-researched book with cited references for further reading and should serve as a very good primer for those interested in the NAGP's future as well as in the Earth's future.

Multiple challenges confront researchers and policymakers in the area of energy and the environment. Perhaps foremost among these challenges is the problem of global warming and the security of the nation's liquid fuel supply. What unites these challenges is the importance of pursuing the twin goals of non-fossil energy and a significant displacement of conventional petroleum. To date, there has been an almost single-minded focus on corn-based ethanol -- in spite of substantial evidence that this route fails to be cost-effective, achieves questionable energy and greenhouse gas reductions, and inflicts significant damage to agriculture.

A viable longer-term biofuel scenario that an increasing body of researchers emphasize is cellulosic, as opposed to corn-based, ethanol. Though meeting that goal remains, for now, economically and technologically problematic, there is reason to be optimistic about achieving that objective within the next several decades.

In this context, Norman Rosenberg's meticulously researched and written study is precisely the kind of documentation that progress towards a meaninful biofuel future for the U.S. requires.

This book has come to fill a gap and to present to students and lecturers an excellent tool for the handling of this subject in a serious and responsible way. I strongly recommend the book, particularly for ecology and environment courses in the social sciences.

Coined in 1922 by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ (1881-1955), in association with Edouard Le Roy and Vladimir Vernadsky, the word and notion of the NOO-SPHERE were introduced to the English-speaking world by Vernadsky's paper on "The Biosphere and the Noosphere" published in 1945 in "American Scientist" (Vol.33, pp.1-12). In "Fundamentals of Ecology" (1962:26; 1971:35) Eugene Odum said, "This is dangerous philosophy, because it is based on the assumption that mankind is now wise enough to safely take over the management of everything!" In fact, Teilhard assumed nothing about the wisdom of HOMO SAPIENS. But, whether we like it or not, we ARE increasingly responsible and accountable for the management and husbandry of everything, starting with Planet Earth but already extending to the nearest "islands" of outer space. As Mikhail Gorbachev said in 1999 in his foreword to this Reader, "We have reached the phase in cultural evolution where we must assume full responsibility for our power... Knowing and reaching our fullest potential within the constraints of the BIOSPHERE must be the ultimate goal - the driving vision of the 21st century. And the NOOSPHERE concept suggests a philosophy for such a necessary balance" (p.x).

With the possible exception of Blessed John Duns Scotus, no one since St John of Damascus has surpassed Teilhard in his reverence for the "stuff" of creation and of our incarnation. He was fascinated at the many forms of matter, culminating thus far in our genes and the brains that stem thereform. In the known {and knowable?) universe, they are unsurpassed in molecular complexity and reflective competence. Potentially linked together globally by a world-wide-web or internet of communications media, our brains constitute that form of reflective or "thinking" matter that Teilhard called "the NOO-SPHERE." It is concentric with the solid, liquid, gaseous and reproductive or "living" forms of matter, which Edward Suess described as Earth's lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.

In this excellent collection of readings, Paul Samson and David Pitt have largely vindicated Teilhard's vision of the NOOSPHERE and will have opened the eyes of many to the depths that are yet to be seen in the mysteries of the universe.

David Helvarg has done a great service for all who cherish the ocean, by showing the devastation mankind has done, is doing, and unfortunately will continue doing (in less the masses become educated on just what is happening) to all the life forms in this realm. It's not all "downer" reading, but also David gives us glimmers of "hope", and some practical solutions for positive change. This book couldn't have been revised at a better time, as of this week (!0/29 thru 11/4) a major study published in the November 3 issue of the journal Science, published by AAAS, the nonprofit science society, warns that the world's wild-caught seafood fisheries could collapse by 2048 if current commercial fishing patterns continue. This is no surprise to anyone who's read David's work. Thanks again David Helvarg for writing such an important book, and also for your tireless conservation mission for the world's oceans.

There is so much solid, worthwhile information in this book, including valuable insights in why Western political interests are undermining proper representation of our national oceans, coasts, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Congress, that I would urge those interested in the oceans (hugely more important to our future than the Amazon or globla forestry, just to make the point), to buy this book, suffer its limitations, and ultimately benefit from the wisdom and experience of the author, for whom my respect is unqualified and whole-hearted. In passing, it would probably be helpful if the first thing we all demanded was that EEZ stand for Exclusive Environmental Zone, rather than treating the oceans as a for-profit target area.

There is one other information-related observation I would make that emerged from reading this book: both the United Nations and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are clearly doing heroic and deeply important work vital to the future of the oceans--and they are doing a terrible job of communicating the basic information about the oceans and their work to the larger world of voters and concerned citizens. What really came home to me as I reflected on what to emphasize in this review is that there is a very wide, almost impenetratable, barrier between what the UN and NOAA know, and what is being communicated to the citizens who have the right to know (they paid for that information with their tax dollars) and the need to know and the desire to know. From this I would say that the next big step for those who would seek to save the oceans, is to demand that all UN and US Government information paid for by the taxpayer be put online henceforth, available at no further cost to the public. It is this information, the bullets and beans of the information war between corporate and citizen interests, that will decide the future of the oceans.

This is the latest in a continuing tradition of excellence.

I originally purchased an earlier version of guide for my son, along with a few CSPs hoping to spark his interest in patch trading.

He's now an "international" trader -- Canada, Jersey Islands, England and the U.S. -- who is hooked.

While collecting the CSPs are great, this book (and it's previous volumes) EXPLAINS what's on the patch for those who might not know.

It uses simple terms and demystifies the CSP lingo.

A MUST HAVE

This is a great guide for anyone who enjoys collecting csp's. Now you can know the history behind the patches you are collecting. It also tells you what each part of the patches represent. This is a definite buy

Bartsch makes Brownfields fun in this work that will most definately make him a national wonder. He explains the importance of rehabilitation of these rundown disasters. Within the next few years, Brownfields should be a household name. Bartsch was like the Jesus that opened my eyes with the mud titled "Brownfields".The book shows that there is a lot of potential in this world for disgusting areas to br turned into healthy, thriving land to be home of new commerce, industry, and residential areas. Brownfields are the beginning of the next industrial revolution!

Bartsch makes Brownfields fun in this work that will most definately make him a national wonder. He explains the importance of rehabilitation of these rundown disasters. Within the next few years, Brownfields should be a household name. Bartsch was like the Jesus that opened my eyes with the mud titled "Brownfields".The book shows that there is a lot of potential in this world for disgusting areas to br turned into healthy, thriving land to be home of new commerce, industry, and residential areas. Brownfields are the beginning of the next industrial revolution!

This book, Bucking the Deficit: Economic Policymaking in America, is a gripping read. So many Americans today are interested in learning more about the economy and fiscal policy, and this is truly the book for them. In clear, precise prose, the book discusses the economic policymaking process and the limitations faced by the executive branch of government. While your favorite political junkie will love this book, it is also accessible for the average American.

I am one of the authors of this book. Cal and I wrote it because so many people say the economy is the most important issue affecting their voting decisions, yet few really understand the economic policymaking process, the limits of what the President and Congress can do, and the current economic issues we are grappling with (e.g., balancing the budget). This book was written for the average American who wants to know more about these important issues. We focused on making it readible and intuitive. It's not full of a lot of jargon. If you want to make a more informed vote this November, if you want more insight into when politicians are telling you the truth about the economy and when they are lying, give it a read

I am completely enthralled by the wonderful world of Political-Economic perspectives on the human body. Just think about how horrible it would be if the right wing masses started opening McDonlalds in 3rd world countries throughout the world. The horror ! ! !

Tom Leatherman is a genius......His psychic abilities are amazing. He is so damn smart, he can actually read poeples minds. His life has been dedicated to these studies, and just think where mankind would be if we could'nt identify the "barrirers" to prenatel care among the poor suffering minorities of South Carolina. What would we do if he had not studied the dietary changes of the Mayan poeple.

I say hooray to this book and hooray to all of the life changing work professor leathermen is working on.

BRAVO ! ! !

This is an attempt by biological anthropologists to bridge what they see as the ever increasing gap between cultural/symbolic/postmodern approaches to anthropology and biological/medical/scientific approaches. This divide is apparently destroying many departments and is moving both of the two approaches away from what makes anthropology distinctive as a field (its comprehensivity). The merging of theories is great for an early (and I hear solitary) attempt at this and the case studies are fascinating and maybe not quite as brilliant as the earlier post would have it. Still, this is a must read for people who are concerned with where anthropology is going.

Graphics a little clunky. Besides that, this is an outstanding book, with outstanding success stories and ideas, on building local "capacity" to handle projects. Everyone in the field, in my area, is excited about the ideas in this book. The authors are even better in person. You cannot understand the field without the ideas in this book.

Building Communities from the Inside Out guides readers to a new, asset-based approach to community building that proves everyone has a gift to share. The book offers practical advice, helpful tools, and powerful stories that help us see communities in new ways--as treasure troves of talent. Kretzmann and McKnight's front-line experience working with neighborhoods across America has created a vital tool for transforming city blocks into neighborhoods and isolated residents into change agents. For anyone who longs to make a difference, this book is a MUST! I am a partner in a consulting firm that guides healthy community initiatives across America--this book is one of my most valued resources.

This book is a fabulous and transformative addition to the literature on the New Deal, which will incite all its readers to reevaluate a host of truisms. It has implications today as well for the potentially pervasive effects of the current administration's retrenchment from the New Deal.

I found this book an engaging, important work that makes an important historiographical argument about the role of public works in creating the modern American middle class and making it possible for the United States to emerge as the superpower that it became after World War II. For more than thirty years there has been an assault on the history and policy of liberal ideology in the United States. In the process, many have reappraised and castigated the New Deal and Great Society programs as failures of American politics. The author of this important study offers a strikingly different, and constructive, perspective on the New Deal. By undertaking a close investigation of the place of New Deal programs in the development of modern America--using a remarkable range of sources--the author demonstrates how state-sponsored social and economic policies prompted a positive transformation of the United States.