Events Books

A real eye opener for anyone interested in the future of our country (and the world). This book clearly illustrates how the United States has become the least democratic country in the western world. It is the responsibility of every U.S. Citizen to read this book, something the Democratic and Republican parties do not want you to do. After reading this book, you will know how to make your vote really count!

I don't think the founding fathers had an iron-clad 2 party monopoly based government in mind when this country was founded. In fact in was thought that the most intelligent and creative citizens would volunteer their time and energy to run the government and then return to their real vocation. What a distance we have traveled since those ideas. Robert Roth really tells it like it is, not like we hear it from the political parties. Our government is way out of control, when it cost $40 million to run for a primary in California's gubernatoral race and when big business can buy legislation almost on demand. It's time for change, and Roth's book sheds all the light we need to see how crucial and timely that change is needed. What an extraordinary book he has written and what a must it is for all of us to read it.

For anyone interested in third party politics, this book offers a good snapshot of the Natural Law Party, which, along with the Libertarian, Reform, and Constitution parties stands as one of the "major minors" -- often on the ballot, with a fairly professional operation. That said, much of the book drags, as Roth preaches about NLP views on several issues at great length, and gives short shrift to the party's actual plans for future electoral action. Perhaps silliest -- though most telling about what a minor party must face -- is a lengthy section about the creation and publicity of just one press release.

This is a very humorous and readable indictment of our political process. It manages to clearly present the ways in which our democracy is not in the least democratic, without whining or complaining. It also presents the startling and surprisingly realistic proposals of the Natural Law Party.

Bob Roth has done us all a great service with his highly readable, timely book that offers us a vision of a simple, practical way out of political gridlock and incoherence and into a more harmonious age. The new millennium is upon us. It is time we thought in new millennium terms, not in an obsolete paradigm that is bringing us down. Bravo for this book and the courage and promise it holds.

I purchased this book after seeing a recommendation on [...], and was quite pleased.

Klein presents his work in a witty, yet serious and incisive manner. It is a quick read, though at times I had a hard time following which terrorist was who and which group he was working for. However, I was captivated by the catchy titles ("Madonna, Britney Spears Stoned to Death? Life if the Terrorists Win" and "Terrorists go Ga-Ga over Hillary Clinton" were my personal favorites), and engaged by witticisms in the text.

Behind the acerbic wit and clever turns of phrase, Klein brings out an important point concerning the Arab-Western conflict: These are not militants, but terrorists, and if given the opportunity, they will gladly subjugate and/or destroy us. He presents his findings with a refreshing directness that disregards political correctness.

Schmoozing with Terrorists provides a much-needed report on the intentions and values of the Jihadists, who are more of a threat than the public at large give them credit for.

A conservative acquaintance of mine showed me this book as if it proved true all of the crazy things he says about Muslims and terrorism. When I pointed out to him that Klein is a conservative shill who uses a terrorist sample size of three (he speaks with only three people for his book--not a significant sample) who may very well be playing him for a fool, my acquaintance left somewhat disgruntled. I could just as easily choose the words of three American Christian whack jobs (Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and John Hagee)and get an equally frightening, distorted view of the world. If you are interested in propaganda or in how conservatives use the media to attempt to extinguish criticism of Israel, you may find this book interesting.

Ever wonder how Islamic terrorists justify homicide bombings? Ever question where their belief in the 72 virgins comes from? Learn first hand how they rationalize their horrific actions in this chilling recounting of Mr. Klein's interviews with the terrorists themselves. Mr. Klein's bravery in the face of evil is stunning!

I felt that I was pretty well informed about the Islamic threat but what I wasn't prepared for was finding out how our own state department is complicit in sponsoring terrorism. This is a must read for anyone on either side of the political spectrum!

This extremely well written book provides the reader with perhaps unprecedented access, to the first hand religious and military goals/visions of what the book calls Arab/Islamic terrorists, as they openly declare their intent in relation to Israel and the west, during interviews with a Jewish journalist.

Be prepared for a "spin free" zone, as the picture revealed here is not what the international media or many political leaders, would have the reader believe.

The writer describes that just because the terrorists were prepared to talk to him, this did not mean that they liked Jews. To the contrary, the author eloquently portrays how he stared into the eyes of men who had carried out shooting and rocket attacks, and sent suicide bombers into civilian population centres, while going to some length to reveal his fear and the palpable hatred for him of those being interviewed. One terrorist even declaring that he wanted to kill the author, who expresses how on several occasions he did not think he would survive the interview. The interviews taking place in the strongholds of the terrorists themselves, with the latter all being well armed.

The book accuses so many journalists of having "no moral compass", and while conducting interviews of their own, expediently and deliberately avoid confronting the terrorist groups with their lies. The journalists simultaneously failing to supply any accurate context or objectivity and thus depriving the viewer/listener of the full story.

A procedure which arrives at an inaccurate appraisal with the terrorists appearing to have a "legitimate grievance" which inevitably equates any measures to eradicate terrorism to the attacks/response by the terrorists themselves.

Referring to the Palestinian Arab/Israeli conflict, the author draws attention to how whenever there is a suicide bombing in Israel, much of the international news media race to locate the bomber's family in order to produce "human interest" stories, subsequently painting the terrorist as a victim of Israeli "aggression" and "driven to revenge".

The media displaying a readiness to attach some perverse moral equivalence between the civilian victims of terrorism and those who are willing to carry them out. Examples provided being how terrorists willingly hide amongst women and children, using such as "human shields" to launch rockets against civilian targets. A process akin to attaching a moral equivalence between the "arsonist" and the "firefighter", but one which is sadly often swallowed whole by an undiscerning public.

The book pulls no punches as it cites how the religion behind these terrorist activities allegedly justifies any conduct, any excuse and any lie to further it's goals, wherein women, the elderly, children and even babies are justifiable military targets. Where simultaneously reality and history are completely discarded and turned upside as a means towards achieving their religious/military/geographic objectives.

Principles allegedly supported, directly or indirectly, by a media and political realm which is prepared to repeat such lies so often to a largely uninformed audience which more often and not regards such distortions as the truth.

With due reference the reader is reminded that handing over territory to terrorists bent upon your destruction, will be seen as a victory for their cause, and only encourages further terrorism and violence. Terrorist entities indeed then being prepared to use such territory as a platform from which to launch even further attacks upon you.

Examples cited are the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Particular emphasis also being given to the possible future withdrawal of western forces from Iraq and the stance of present US Presidential hopefuls. The terrorists themselves openly admitting in the text that they hope for a Democrat victory in the coming elections, as they hope for a withdrawal from Iraq. The latter being seen as a victory for Islam, a defeat for the west, and justification for future violence in pursuit of their goals in relation to Israel/Palestinians etc.. These are the words/views of the terrorists themselves and not necessarily those of the writer.

The writer emphasises that, in the eyes of the terrorists, this is a "war to the finish", with the text elaborating that it is the western and Judeo-Christian existence which is seen as being the real problem, and not the pursuit of a "Palestinian" state or a withdrawal of western forces from the Middle East.

Reference after reference and quote after quote bringing to the attention of the reader that the terorist groups are seeking an "Islamic universe" or "caliphate", with Iraq and the Palestinian issues being just stepping stones towards this ultimate goal.

Named terrorists being quoted in the text as seeking the Islamic domination of Planet Earth and highlighting how they see Islam as being unable to tolerate any idea, principle or way of life that does not go with it's laws, visions and rules.

The sources seemingly being proud of how a foothold has already been gained in both the US and Europe. Early in Chapter One the reader is introduced to an event held during March 2003 in the US, where the writer managed to attend a venue in New York where a speaker is quoted as stating "Eventually there will be a Muslim in the White House dictating the laws of shariah.."

This gripping book is an absolute must read for everyone, both in the west, the Middle East and for those involved in the media and the political realm. I cannot emphasise this enough. Thank you for your time.

This is a bit of an odd book, but it has a good deal of value in being one of the few sources of direct insight into what terrorists are actually like, how they think, and what motivates them.

First off my most sincere thanks to Klein and admiration for his courage to actually go talk to Palestinian terror leaders face to face. This is something that the terrorists allow however because they are in the end media-savvy. All wars are battles of will between those who believe in opposing ideas (be they political, religious, or at the most intractable level based on blood or ethnicity) which are won when either through sheer force the enemy is eliminated or through the threat of the pain of continued violence the enemy submits to stop resisting the other side (which may, and usually does, mean their elimination anyway.) Lacking the requisite military power to achieve their goals on the battlefields the terrorists have become adept at using the media to play to Western doubts, insecurities and false hopes to wear down our will.

In this book Klein provides briefs of his myriad interviews with terrorists living in the Palestinian territories and neighboring Lebanon, organized thematically. We see a worldview that is twisted by a hatred for the un-Islamic. Tolerance and negotiation are not part of the terrorist agenda. Their grasp of history is not necessarily poor, but bent so far out of shape by bias that it no longer reflects reality. Likewise for their bizarre interpretation of the world around them, laden as it is with Zionist conspiracies that can best be described as beyond the pale. The terrorists also have an Orwellian command of language, able to use the connotations of words to change their meaning and obscure their true actions and goals to Westerners. Further, much like the 9/11 hijackers, they are not necessarily the poor and the desperate either. Many face the prospect of a materially adequate life, but perhaps not an ideologically satisfying one and thus are willing to blow themselves up to be a martyr for Allah. We are thus faced with a unique, and frankly disturbing, enemy in our history, one who will not be defeated easily.

Klein shows persuasively that attempts to negotiate, make peace and/or accommodate the terrorists are indeed equivalent to Chamberlain-esque appeasement of Hitler or "peace in our time," mere opportunity for the terrorists to further their religiously fueled (and thus usually non-negotiable) ends. These ends are at least the restoration of the Caliphate and the expulsion or subjugation of all non-Muslims from traditional Islamic lands, but more likely the continued Islamic expansion by any means workable. This leaves open the door for both militant expansion, and inside out transformation of societies from open democracies to sharia ruled waqfs. What life would be like in these places is exhibited for all to see in the parts of Israel handed over to the Palestinian Authority. Strengthening one terrorist group against another, as seems to be the State Department preference, only sows the seeds of the next problem group and delays the inevitable confrontation with the West minimally if at all, while unsurprisingly making the future enemy stronger. Leftist actors and singers denouncing our government and our nation and sympathizing with the terrorists encourages and reinforces them. The Democratic fervor to get out of Iraq also emboldens them. This is a book whose themes and message people should familiarize themselves with. Peaceful civilizational co-existence between Islam and the rest of the world is the most pressing and difficult challenge of our times.

Several things do deny a fifth star though. First the editing is horrible, with glaring typos everywhere, giving the book a rushed feel. Second, there are many times where the book doesn't help itself. When the author starts using a string of negative words after a terrorist proclamation, despite the fact I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment, there isn't much actually added and this commentary can (I hate to say it because of the importance of the subject matter and triviality of this critique) sound whiny. If you want to learn even more about the terrorists mind and goals the "Al-Qaeda Reader" by Raymond Ibrahim is a more scholarly work. This book will likely have more popular appeal however, although being proudly aligned with conservative talk radio will probably put off a lot of "open-minded" people from reading it.

Recommended. An important message, but in an idiosyncratic wrapping.

A very interesting little book to understand the foundation of the first and greatest democracy in the world

You can't really write a review about the Constitution! But I can tell you that this little book is not too difficult on the eyes, easy to use and simple for carrying to class. It doesn't weigh much in a pocket or a backpack, and this is the version I've used throughout my grad-school days. And after several years of thumbing through it, the book still hasn't fallen apart!

An easy read for quickly boning up on your U.S. constitution and a great reference document for future use. I'd recommend having it in your collection of books.

I'm ashamed to say that in my otherwise very decent public school education, I don't recall ever really studying the Constitution of the United States of America. There was never time in American History; it did not fit with economics, and all the other social studies courses were world history. I've learned about the Articles and Amendments as current events warranted. Having now sat down with this edition, I see that I missed a lot. It truly is a living document and the framers of the Constitution were truly brilliant. And graceful writers.

This edition includes the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence and information about the structure and procedures of the Supreme Court. Additionally, it offers thumbnail sketches of the major players among the Founding Fathers, quotes and other facts. My favorite unexpected segment: the list of proposed amendments that never made it (and for the most part,we should all be very grateful).

This edition is compact; its print is small, but not too small for this far-sighted reader. It is perfect for slipping into a pocket, a purse or a backpack. And, it is indispensable for making sense of our current national events.

This is a great book. It covers the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution as well as an abundance of interesting facts about the Framers of the Constitution.

The book is compact and students can easily carry it with them everywhere they go. This book is also very affordable.

There is a problem with this book's binding though. The book tends to come apart. The book's good for students, but since the Constitution is so important, I would give students a hardback when they graduate which they can have in their personal library for the rest of their lives.

I just finished reading "The Beach House" and it was amazing. It was extremely hard to put down. I found myself waking up an extra two hours early just so I would have time to read more of it. The characters are all beautifully thought up and realistic. It is easy to follow because each character is so unique. I love the theme, enjoyed the storyline and every single page. You know how in some books of other authors you think, "They could have done without this chapter." That is not the case at all in "The Beach House" or any of her books for that matter.

I just want to mention that I recently went to a book signing by this author and she is the most down to earth person you will ever meet. Everyone can relate to her. Although I am 22 I still can relate to much of this story. At the signing a much older women next to me actually questioned why I was at the signing. She told me that the books were not for my age group. I admire Jane Green because her books are for all age groups! You will be happy that you took the time to read this book. Read it on the beach, or when you want to feel like you are at the beach, but read it, and you will enjoy every minute. :oD Love you Jane Green *:.

Jane Green's newest novel, The Beach House, is an exquisite blend of the harsh realities of life coupled with the rewards of finding yourself. Full of complex characters, each facing everyday situations like divorce, separation, parenting and discovering whom they really are. Jane Green tells the story of each persons struggle and eventual trip to Windermere, a huge costal home in Nantucket that breathes new life and friendship to an unlikely cast of characters. The owner of the property is Nan, the community eccentric, who has a real grasp on reality and clearly defines the emotions of those she comes across. Facing the truth of her own money troubles, Nan decides to rent out some of the rooms of her home to guest for the summer in order to keep the home she cherishes. She finds new tenants in Daniel, Daff, and her own son Michael who are going through their own personal struggles. She offers them not only the comfort of a home, but the wisdom that comes wish age and the inspiration of hope that they each lack in their own lives. The build up and foundation of The Beach House is sporadic and lengthy, but later on the in-depth character definitions only add to the complex and twisting plot. Filled with an array of emotions that mimics the real world every person will be touched and inspired with hope by the end. Jane Green is truly at the top of her game and continues to push out amazing novels like The Beach House. Valerie Jones mrsvaljones@netzero.net

Nan is a feisty and eccentric 65 year old widow, who has lived alone for many years in a large house in Nantucket. Rather than selling her house, she decides to rent out some of the rooms for the summer. The book is about the people who come to live with her, all of whom have their own problems and the way that they all come together. It's a warm hearted and easy book - not one that will stay with you particularly, but an excellent summer read that hooks you in quickly and keeps moving at a good pace right through to the end.

I've read a couple of Jane Green's early novels (Babyville and The Other Woman) and enjoyed them. "The Beach House" is quite different. It's still a light and enjoyable read but it's a change in style (no young women having relationship issues in London). Having said that, I enjoyed it just as much: it's just different, to the point where I wouldn't have guessed it was a Jane Green novel. Interestingly enough, I read an interview with Jane Green where she commented on the fact that when she wrote her early novels she was in an unhappy marriage and the unhappy protagonists reflected her own state of mind. Now she is in a much more settled place and hence this book about coming home and having peace.

A book from last summer in a similar vein (including the Nantucket setting) is Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand.

Wow this book is amazing!! Jane Green is one of my favorite authors and when I read the back cover of this book, I have to admit, I wasnt sure if I was going to like it. But, it is one of her best books yet! I could not put this book down and it was one of these books that you hate to finish because you are enjoying it so much.

Sixty-five years old eccentric widow Nan owns THE BEACH HOUSE on Nantucket Island. Although she knows her neighbors would disapprove, needing money and not caring what anyone else thinks as she is a sexagenarian who buried her husband, the feisty Nan decides to rent rooms during the summer.

Her summer renters come to the island to think and escape. Separated from her husband Richard following his affair, Daff must decide what she wants beyond her two roles of mother to teen Jess and wife or perhaps ex wife. Therapist Dr. Posner helps, some might say hinders, Bee and Daniel to face the inconvenient truth that is destroying their relationship. As he faces middle age, Michael wonders if he will ever find the right woman for him as every female he meets turns out wrong.

THE BEACH HOUSE is a well written character study in which each of the visitors and Nan has issues to confront over the summer. Each of the cast members is fully developed and seems like a real person as they struggle with their respective issues. Although the resolution is too simplistic in such a short time, fans will enjoy the most wonderful summer.

Harriet Klausner

This is a must have referance/gangster/outlaw book. If this subject or even this era of history intrests you at all this book is a goldmine.

If there's a bible to crime, this is it. There are hundreds of books out there that deal with Depression Era crime. You can buy them all and plow through them for information, but seldom know how accurate that information is. On the other hand, you can get this one volume and have it all at your fingertips. Researched in detail and written with a light finger, this well-laid out book is easy to read. You get the dates, times, details, photos and personnel that made America's Golden Age of Crime what it was. Get it; read it; refer to it. It's a winner on all levels.

Not much can be added to previous reviews. This updated edition has given my earlier dog-eared copy a rest. For anyone who does any kind of Prohibition era crime research, this book is a must have by two of the masters in this field. The most complete compendium of crime information from that period available today. Whether you research or just enjoy reading about crime, this book is tops.

For those of us interested in true-crime, particularly the Roaring Twenties and the Depression era, this is THE reference book. This hugely informative and significantly expanded version of the earlier Public Enemies Almanac by Helmer and Mattix has photos, timelines, biographies and lists galore. Not a book that is intended to be read cover-to-cover, this is a crime browser's dream. The bibliography, which is fully annotated,is worth the price.
Writer, researcher, crime aficionado, or whatever, this book should be at the top of your list.

Respected authors William Helmer and Rick Mattix have provided us with a reference book of nearly 900 pages relating to "the gangster and outlaw era: 1920--1940." The book is divided into seven sections dealing with all facets of crime during this turbulent era. Parts of this book can be read like any other book while criminal incidents from various years are listed chronologically. I feel this part of the book can be best used as a reference. The book contains numerous photos, several of which I have never seen before. The big shots of both Chicago and New York are all here as are the depression-era desperadoes. Depending on your interest level you may feel you are being told more than you care to know. However, as I said, much of this book can be used as a useful reference book to your crime library. If you do have such a library this book would be a worthy addition. Co-author Rick Mattix has reviewed numerous crime books on Amazon, and his opinion carries considerable weight with me in whether or not I decide to purchase a book.

I absolutely laughed till I cried. It all makes sense now... This is a must read for anyone who has ever taken religion tooooooo seriously.

This book is easily in my top 5 favorite books. I might even say it's #1.

When I laughed out loud at the first page... I knew I was going to love this book. I could totally see everything in the book unfolding back in the day.

Some people didn't like the ending, and I must admit I was a little surprised... but when I thought for a minute, 'I got it' and it was the perfect ending.

Definitely a conversation starter... definitely a keeper for rereading over & over again.

I love this book for how it incites great conversation and it is a welcome addition to my small collection.

This is one of those books that really gets people talking. Conversations range from the story itself, to the historical truths or lack thereof, the religious implications, and now its look.

I really enjoyed reading this book the first time around when I would find myself laughing out loud when I would least expect it, and most recently with this edition where a friend thought I was laughing about something in the Bible itself.

This new edition was a great idea, with only one flaw: It can be difficult to hold open because it is bound tightly. I'm afraid of causing too much wear to the spine of the book, but in retrospect I guess that would only add to its charm of looking like a Bible.

This is one of my favorite books of all time! Yay Christopher Moore!

Anyone who has any interest in Christianity should find this book hilarious! Moore clearly knows his Christian and world history then and now. His treatment of Jesus and the people who worship him is outrageous and irreverent and strangely loving at the same time. I'm an athiest who went to Catholic school (I LOVED it) and while I don't believe a word of it, have a great appreciation for all things Catholic, especially Catholic humor (the movie Dogma Dogma (Special Edition), the play Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You.Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All You and the Actor's Nightmare: Two One-Act Plays) I also appreciate a big dose of skepticism, and this book delivers on all fronts. Moore is such a great writer that this is a PERFECT BOOK! This new Bible edition is sexy and great!

At first, I have to admit I was a bit put off by the look of this gift version of "Lamb" when first saw it at a Barnes and Noble while doing some window shopping. I'm not very religious now, but as someone who basically got ten years' worth of Catholic dogma engrained into my DNA, well...the irreverence in the very look of this book made me worry just a little. I picked this book up and cracked it open to a random page, not expecting to see anything particularly interesting, and was pleasantly surprised when I ended up reading something that made me laugh. I ended up reading a few pages farther, and even though I hadn't read the rest of the book, the stuff I did read was very funny and clever, and I knew I had to have this book. So...I bought it here instead because I wanted to save a few bucks. :P

This book is definitely worth reading. It's irreverent, yes, and there's a bit of coarse language sprinkled throughout the story. And there's one gross (but funny) experience involving Biff, turnips and a toothless old Chinese woman. Despite that, however, I really don't feel this book is disrespectful to Jesus or to Christianity at all. If anything, it pokes gentle fun at what Christians are taught to know about the Bible--you have to know your stuff, as a Christian, if you expect to understand all the references made to it in this book. But I don't feel it makes fun of Christianity itself. So if you want a clever, funny, well-written book to read and you don't mind laughing at least a little at what you've been taught over the years if you're Christian, this book is for you. :)

The Weeping Chamber was one of my first Christian fiction reads. And it surprised me. This genre is very A-typical. But this book takes you on a historic journey with enough weight and mystery to keep you turning the pages. I liked everything about it, especially when the past becomes unraveled and we see the pain our character is hiding. I've loved this book for 10 years and still do.

THIS BOOK IS VERY WELL WRITTEN. I LIKE THE MAIN CHARACTER BECAUSE HE IS HUMBLE AND DOWN TO EARTH. JESUS IS VERY WELL DISPLAYED. YOU WANT TO STEP INTO THE BOOK AND MEET THESE CHARACTERS. SCRIPTURE IS PLAYED OUT PERFECTLY.

For years, I've enjoyed Brouwer's mysteries and thrillers. His prose is tight, and he creates memorable characters. I picked up "The Weeping Chamber" wondering if his style would be complimentary to a historical novel. I expected it to be a bit more religious in tone than his previous work, and worried that I might not enjoy it as much.

I should've known better.

As always, Brouwer refuses to fit into preachy boxes. Yes, this is a beautifully written and researched book. It never feels heavy-handed in its details, and yet it feels utterly believable, breathable. Even better, though, it deals with very human struggles. We meet a man named Simeon, who has faced personal grief and resulting guilt. He's lost a child, and his marriage is estranged. Cautious in nature, he's not sure what to think of this new "miracle worker" from Nazareth. Is this man insane, or is he truly God's Son? Soon, Simeon is caught up in the intrigues of those last days of Jesus' life, even intersecting in an unexpected way.

If you want a book that captures the feel of Israel in Jesus' day, and if you want a book that makes those days seem as humanly pregnant with emotion and struggle, then you owe it to yourself to pick up "The Weeping Chamber."

I keep a list of books that have made a strong and marked impact on my life, and this book is very near the top of the list. I found this book in a catalogue and started reading it without any expectations of greatness, but this book made a large impact on my life. Weaving the familiar story of Christ into a person's life, Brouwer threads the pages with truth about God and His love and power. It is not a fast-paced book, but an almost relaxing read. Of course, there are plots turns that will keep your attention, but the soothing way the words flow as you read of the struggles of Simeon is beautiful. I have read this book many times, and I still love it.

This is a great novel--and I'm not too much of a novel reader. I could tell you about the story, but you can read the comments provided by Amazon to get that. I don't have anything else to add to that part. I write the review not to tell you the story, but to tell you that it's a great novel.

I picked this up off a 2-dollar shelf or something--I assure you that this is not the kind of book I would look at and say "Mmmm...now THAT looks interesting." Rather, it is more likely that I would look at this book and think "Mmph...not for me." In retrospect, it is quite remarkable that I bought it at all--regardless of the low price.

So, since I now had the book, I might as well read it, right? So I did. In two days. I don't think I put it down when I had free time. The book is such an easy read, and very entertaining. I was truly impressed by the book. I guess it is one of those books I could call "heartwarming," or "precious." Believe me, coming from a guy, that's quite a compliment (winks). I think I even teared up at the end. Again--coming from a guy, that's kinda impressive, don't you think?

I'm sure the girls are ready to buy it now...just because it made a guy cry...

But guys--don't be turned off becuase I used patty-cake terminology like "precious" to describe this book. It's a great book. It's an entertaining read. It's captivating. It's interesting. It's good. It's not a long book, and I'm pretty sure that if you pick it up, you won't put it down...at least not until you finish it (or it makes you cry too).

Great book.

This book, like Stephen Flynn's "Edge of Disaster" succinctly dissects the problems we face in warding off terrorism at home and exposes our vulnerabilities. They are large - ports, shipping, energy infrastructure, chemical plants, food processing facilities, for openers.
Flynn describes the problem only too well,

At the root of the problem is the Department of Homeland Security's secrecy, lack of internal coordination, turf battles, and incompatabile data base systems. Equally problematic is the complacency of the AMerican people, who are being shielded from the realities by a patronizing government.

Flynn ascribes the current situation to be comparable to the "phony war" between the time of the nazi attack in Poland in 1939, and the invasion and capitulation of France in the SPring of 1940 because of failure to consider, plan and consider new battlefield tactics. In short, the French (and also the British, were using WOrld War I tactics to fight new German panzer tactics. The parallels of today's attitudes and the last days of the Roman EMpire also are, indeed, chilling.

The government is not the only culprit that lulls our citizens into complacency. In my personal opinion, the news media does not help with its focus on the trivial, a hiding of coverage of the war on terror, and seldom reviewing the vulnerabilities Flynn covers so well and rallying our citizenry to the realities of what's at stake.

The solutions?: Active involvement of citizens; Active involvement of government with relevant private industry; open communicatioan with all relevant players in state and local government; making infrastructure sufficiently resilient that terrorists no longer find a potential target attractive.

WHat is needed, and implied, is a revival of an approach pioneered by NASA in the early 1960's when they had to establish operational paradigms and procedures for which there was no precedent. It's called 'conceptual blockbusting'. FLynn's book will help us get there, if everyone reads it.

Flynn quotes Abraham Lincoln concerning new paradigms:

"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate for the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with uncertainty, and we must rise to the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country."

It's as relevant now in the war on terro as it was in 1962.

BUY this book, and buy extra copies for your loved ones and closest friends.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the short comings of our Homeland Security Department. I initially bought the book after thumbing through it and finding a section on the lack of security with our cargo containers, a specific worry of mine.

This book not only breaks down where we are vulnerable, it explains why and offers workable solutions as to how to reduce this vulnerability. The book is a bit frightening in a way, when you read and realize how vulnerable we really are, even after 6 years of security measures. Why isn't more being done? What are the government officials covering up?

What makes this book hit like a sledgehammer is the credentials of the author. He was a Coast Guard Commander for 20 years, an expert in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He has been on Congressional Task forces studying the problems in homeland security as well as serving in the White House Military Office during President George H. Bush administration and director for Global Issues on the National Security Council during the Administration of President Bill Clinton. Stephen Flynn is obviously an expert on this issue and his words should be given their due weight.

Bottom line, insightful, a bit frightening, definitely a book to read if you like current events or really want to know how safe we actually are.

This book focuses practically entirely on the vulnerabilities of the American homeland, and offers some suggestions that could begin to lay the foundation for protecting those vulnerabilities. The book does not talk about the war on terror in the terms of the offensive operations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, intelligence matters, and targeted killings of Al-Qaeda at all.

The author's cogent argument rests on the concept of defense in depth. In addition to offensive operations to route out the terrorists, we also need to make our homeland less susceptible to successful attack and more resilient to the aftermath of the inevitable one that slips through the net.

The homeland is defined not just as American territory, but extends to include the global commercial, transportation, trading, and financial networks that are central to our way of life and our economy. This represents a rich field of targets for terrorists, with successful attacks being able to ripple through the networks and cause continuing and ongoing damage. Flynn opens his book with a scenario of an attack on shipping containers, and transportation links with radiological devices. The hypothetical comes off as very plausible and sobering.

The remainder of the book talks about what the major vulnerabilities of America are, such as chemical plants, food distribution, overextended medical systems via biological or chemical attacks, etc. He shows that we currently lack the capabilities, organizational structure, and practices to adequately secure these vulnerabilities.

He provides what are really "glimpses" of possible solutions to these problems, including RFID tracking of cargo containers and food shipments with embedded WMD sensors, government security standards for critical and hazardous infrastructure (nuke plants, water treatment facility chlorine gad tanks, etc.) continuing reorganization at the federal, state and local level to focus on security, insurance measures, and a particularly innovative concept to enlist private company participation patterned after the Federal Reserve system.

However at the length of this short and easily readable (if not pleasently readable) book Flynn cannot go into detail. The cost and time of implementing such systems are not gone into in a satisfactory manner, but that's not the point of the book.

The point of the book is that the government needs to do more to protect our homefront. Flynn convincingly makes his case, and provides reasonable guidelines about how to improve upon the situation.

A good read for American citizens who want to ensure that we are doing the best we can to protect our civilization.

That is how one of the chapters starts. It's a matter of when the next terrorist attack will happen, not if it will happen, according to the author, Stephen Flynn.

With absolute simplicity, common sense logic, and an irrefutable argument, he demonstrates how and why our government is failing to protect us from the terrorist threat. Industry and government are not willing to take the time and the money required to provide greater security for a war on terrorism that will never end.

Our water and food supplies, our chemical plants, and our ports are alrmingly unsecure from terrorist attack. Flynn creates a terrorist scenario demonstrating how the terrorist threat can become reality. He asserts our enemies are willing to spend the time to create the act of terror, while we are not willing to spend the time defending ourselves to foil it.

He blames industries which see no benefit in spending the money on security which will be passed on to their consumers, while non-security minded companies will maintain lower prices and take business away from the security-conscious ones.

This means that congress must act. It must set security standards that will be implemented across each industry thus spreading the cost to everyone. So far, congress, not wanting to offend their million dollar contributors have done nothing. Flynn also suggests that Americans must be willing to make the sacrifices necessary for this security.

We are operating on a World War II mentality i.e. the best defense is a good offense by taking the fight to their countries. That is not what Flynn recommends. Terrorists will always be able to get into this country. We must strengthen our security at home which will take years of dedicated preparation and action.

The author's book is a siren song. The beginning of his fourth chapter bears repeating as a end to this review. "When it comes to dealing with the new security agenda, Americans need to grow up....Terrorism is simply too cheap, too available, and too tempting ever to be totally eradicated. We must have the maturity both to live with the risk of future attacks and to invest in reasonable measures to rein in that risk."

For those who use the argument that we haven't been attacked since 9/11, remember, it took five years of planning. 9/11 is now more than five years ago. Truly, American apathy and complacency are the terrorists' greatest allies.

This is a clearly written, well reasoned book on how to provide real security for the U.S. homeland. To his credit, its author Stephan Flynn wastes no time either in partisan bashing of the current administration or in dissecting the many faults of the Department of Homeland Security. Rather he immediately shares his analysis of why domestic security in the U.S .is such an elusive goal. In the course of a number of chapters he builds a pretty strong case that in spite of all the talk, the U.S. is just as vulnerable to terrorist attacks as it was in 2000 before the 9/11 catastrophe. Flynn provides some specific examples what these vulnerabilities are and is especially effective in his analysis of shipping port vulnerabilities as a result of the exponential growth of containerized shipping. He also provides what appears to be a sensible and more importantly doable plan to actually reduce our vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks. He is an advocate of applying that long held business concept of `risk management' to the practice of homeland security. Like Richard Posner (Preventing Surprise Attacks - amazon.com) he points out the impossibility of making the U.S. completely immune to any terrorist threat and argues that it makes far better sense to rationally and logically identify which potential targets in the U.S. would cause the most loss of life and economic or social disruption if attacked and build a dynamic and multilayered defensive system to protect those targets.

Of course, Flynn is a former Coast Guard officer so his prescriptions for protecting America are practical not theoretical. Having spent twenty years protecting U.S. interests in our coastal waters, his thought on how to protect this country is based on a realistic understanding of the threats we face and a knowledge of what actually can be done to mitigate those threats. It is a shame that the Department of Homeland Security has not seen fit to follow his example.

In this essay Richard Rubenstein contends that the Holocaust should be viewed within the context of a tradition of slavery that is deep rooted in western culture. Drawing on Max Weber, Rubenstein argues that the combination of unrestricted capitalism and protestantism helped to create the conditions necessary for the ultimate form of slavery as expressed in the Nazi death camps. Additional factors include a European trend toward viewing certain segments of a given population as expendable.

The analysis is thought provoking and intelligently written. My reservation is that while I agree that viewing the holocaust in this way leads one to the conclusion that under the right circumstances genocide on this scale could happen again , I also believe that there was something uniquely evil in the Nazi leadership that contributed to the Holocaust. Rubenstein's analysis focused on historical/economic/social forces at the expense of the personal responsibilty of Hitler and his inner circle. Despite that this is an important book that should be mandatory reading in any study of the Holocaust.

If you doubt his premise, think about World War I. The leaders of the nations of Europe and the US put their male citizens into soldier's uniforms, lined them up in close proximity to one another to dig trenches, ordered them into the trenches, and then gassed them. It was an extermination experiment. It's time we all woke up to the global death machine and its propaganda. Also read How the World Really Works.

In 1944, Polish Jew Raphael Lemkin coined the term genocide, applying it to Jews and Poles alike. In this small but thought-provoking book, Richard L. Rubenstein approaches the German Nazi exterminationist policies in much the same vein, while stressing the role of the modern state bureaucracy to make it possible.

Probably the first step in genocide is the denial of the humanity of the intended victims: "Once the victim is categorized as belonging to a different species, the task of transforming him into a thing is immensely simplified...Before the Nazis assaulted the Jews, the Poles, the Russians, and the Gypsies, they were categorized as members of sub-human races."(p. 54). Terms such as Tiermenschen ("animal people") and Untermenschen ("subhumans") were commonly used. Rubenstein (p. 83) points out that Jews were often referred to as "a surplus population", but not the fact that the Germans also used this term for Poles.

The denationalization of those intended for genocide was also significant: "Unfortunately, the Nazis clearly understood the importance of the question of statelessness. When they began to deport Jews from such occupied nations as France, Bulgaria, and Hungary, they insisted that the deportees be stripped of their citizenship by their respective governments no later than the day of deportation. There was no need to denationalize Polish and Russian Jews because the Nazis had destroyed the state apparatus as soon as they occupied the territory. The absence of a state apparatus in Poland and occupied Russia was an indication of the ultimate fate of the Poles and the Russians had the Germans won."(pp. 32-33).

While the mass shootings and gassings of Jews were already well underway, the Germans set their sights higher. Rubenstein cites an October 13, 1942 letter by Otto Thierack, the German minister of justice: "With a view of freeing the German people of Poles, Russians, Jews, and Gypsies, and with a view to making the eastern territories which have been incorporated into the Reich available for settlement by German nationals, I intend to turn over criminal jurisdiction over Poles, Russians, Jews and Gypsies to the Reichsfuhrer-SS (Himmler). In doing so, I stand on the principle that the administration of justice can make only a small contribution to the extermination of these peoples." (p. 34). Richard L. Rubenstein comments: "Soviet domination of Eastern Europe was closer to that of a classical tyranny than was the German occupation. The German aims were far more radical. They sought to create a society of total domination involving initially the enslavement and extermination of the Jews and eventually similar treatment to other subject peoples. They were determined to clear a Lebensraum, a living space, for German settlement."(p. 76).

Of course, owing at least in part to the much greater numbers of Poles than Jews, and despite the fact that 2-3 million Polish gentiles (including half of all educated Poles) were murdered before the Germans before the latter were finally driven out of Poland, the overall extermination of the Poles was more of a long-term German project. In this regard, practical methods of mass sterilization were actively being developed (p. 49), with the 3 million Russian POWs to be the first large-scale victims (p. 50). The Nazi goal was clear: "As we have noted, had the Germans won the war, mass sterilization would have been an important aspect of their program for the subject peoples. It must be remembered that with both the Nazis and the Bolsheviks, victory inevitably led to an intensification rather than a diminution of terror. Mass sterilizations of Poles, Russians and, in the more distance future, the French and the Italians, would have permitted the Germans to exploit the vanquished at their own convenience in the certain knowledge that the subject peoples' national existence was at an end. Whether extermination or killing was the means of securing absolute dominance or whether a certain number of the vanquished might be permitted to reproduce in exactly calculable quantities would have depended solely on the requirements of the German masters. The victims would have had as little control over their own destiny as cattle in a stockyard. In a society of total domination, helots could be killed, bred, or sterilized at will."(p. 52).

Richard L. Rubenstein also picks up where scholars such as Hannah Arendt and Isaiah Trunk left off in discussing the role of the Judenrate (the Jewish community councils) and its central role in the Nazi extermination of Jews (p. 3). Although the degree of Judenrate-German collaboration differed from place to place, the reader may be stunned by the degree to which the collaborationist actions of some Judenrate eliminated the need for large numbers of Germans and non-Jewish collaborators in the roundup of Jews for extermination: "In almost all of the killing operations, the German personnel were short-handed. It is estimated that only fifty SS personnel and 200 Lett and Ukrainian auxiliaries were assigned to the Warsaw Ghetto which hade a population of five hundred thousand at its peak, almost all of whom perished."(pp. 74-75).

Few incidents have exposed man's inhumanity to man like the Holocaust. Richard Rubenstein in his pamphlet "The Cunning of History," attempts to demystify the Holocaust to show it as not only an event that happened, but also as one capable of happening, again.
Rubenstein establishes a linkage between the Reformation and the concentration camps. He asserts that the contemporary culture of death was the apex of ideas forged way back to Martin Luther's schism from the Catholic church. He establishes that without the active collusion of business interests, a docile citizenry and the military, the extermination of Jews might not have occurred. The complicity of Britain and America is barely treated, but the little touched on is informative.
A Century of Progress, the last chapter in the book, exposes the excesses of power as not inherent in the executive, but rather in the structure of government. To Rubenstein, an American president "can resort, if not to overt terror, at least to extralegal bureaucratic harassment to secure the compliance of the governed."
While a very good book, The Cunning tends to skip over events that could interrupt the narrative, like his definition of bureaucracy. Far from being a mindset unique to Nazi Germany, the rationalization and disenchantment of the natural existed since the Enlightenment. The Nazis set up concentration camps not because of bureaucracy, but because there was economic incentive. Rubenstein also posits that men have no natural rights - A dreadful propostion considering that if rights are granted by the state, those rights can be taken away. (A point he had repeatedly emphasized.)
Notwithstanding these kinks, The Cunning of History is a stimulating book with much to tell us about our past, as well as our future.

Professor Rubenstein was my most fascinating and challenging professor at FSU during the 1970s. His range of intellectual inquiry makes him a "Renaissance" man. He has written numerous provocative and important books -- ones are still important books -- that are available at amazon.com.

One of the greatest books ever written.

Also the kind of service / support rendered by Amazon, when the first copy did not reach me, was truly touching and amazing. Within a fortnight of not having received the original book sent to me, I had the book finally in my hands ! Great customer service.

For all the great technological magic of our age we suffer the misfortune of living in a time where the depth of hyperbole rends the edge from language leaving us bereft when the time comes to describe something truly remarkable. Thus to say that John Woods' translation of Thomas Mann's Joseph and His Brothers offers readers a gift of almost indescribable value may leave one wondering if I am making a literally true statement or simply wallowing in the common puff of our day. In this case the latter is the case for Mr. Woods' translation of Mann's great opus offers the reader an experience both challenging and sublime.

Readers unfamiliar with Mann's work may feel a sense of vertigo beginning this even more than his other works. Much of the style of narration, unique with its perspective shifting through time, seems almost purposely designed to leave one doubting their footing. Increasing the sense of dread is the books sheer heft, with over 1500 pages of small type and weighing in at almost two and half pounds. Yet those brave souls who resist the temptation to lay down this load in favor of a more easily digested work will come to in the end appreciate the feast to come. Mann's work rests on its own unique rhythm, and once the reader grows acclimated they will surely appreciate both the work and the great skill of Mr. Wood as translator. This series of four novels expounding on the biblical tale of Jacob, his son of Joseph of the famous robe, as well as his brothers, often comes when people engage in the entertaining and fruitless parlor game of determining the greatest literary work of the 20th century. While no single work can claim such a title, the complexity of the work and the Herculean task of translation should be evident that this is only the second instance of its translation into English in the more than 60 years since it first appeared.

Beyond simply outlining the work's subject matter, in many ways it seems written with the express intent of defying further description. With a complex web of interrelated stories, occasionally taking subjects that the bible reflects on for only a sentence and expanded on them for a hundred pages and at the same time seeking to place this seminal tale in its religious, historic, and cultural context, the work often leaves the reader gasping at the audacity of Man's enterprise. Yet almost every one of his efforts comes as a remarkable success, leaving one much to ponder. Indeed, any expectation that one can rush through this work will surely leave you with only a headache and little to show for the effort. Instead, one must take their time and slowly chew on Joseph and His Brother's digesting each piece in turn. Like many great works this one takes effort and diligence, but the reward comes as more than just bragging rights for having read it. Far more, it will offer an often eye opening new perspective and beckon from the book shelf to be taken down again so that you may reread this section or that.

One last point: to end where I began, Mann's attention to detail and word choice often gives pause, making each of us consider the harm done when we rain down words on a subject when a mere drop would do.

The new translation of Joseph and His Brothers is beautiful, as is the novel. Yes, it's long--about 1500 pages--but it's worth all the time it takes to read. Perhaps this isn't the place to start, if you haven't read Mann before, but if you already admire his work, you're going to love this book.

This isn't really about Joseph and his brothers, but about his father, Jacob. An amazing achievement, taking the bare bones of the biblical story and adding research from Judaism and Egyptian and Near East mythologies and oral histories. Plus Mann went to the land covered in these histories to see it for himself. There is an ironic, slightly satirical tone which surprised me - I thought it would be so religious - not at all. He made everything matter-of-fact and plausible and made the biblical characters come alive as real people, always adding the small details of their way of life then. Jacob seems such a sympathetic man, as Rachel does a woman, but Joseph comes off as a tattle tale, and there is the one line in the bible to support this as in everything of which Mann writes. Such a sad and touching ending to this first book.

Anyone who has read my Listmania "Escape Mass Market Fiction" knows that I touted this novel (tertrology actually) as having ".... the most exquisite language since Shakespeare". But it is truly beyond that. After 30 years and over 3,000 books read I can affirm that there simply has been no greater work of fiction produced in any century by man or woman. One of the reviewers for the Lowe-Porter translation was dead-on saying you keep wanting to go back and reread the last 20 pages you managed to finish just to savor the experience. Original editions are a little rare and expensive, but, like any treasure, it's rewards are transcendental, and once read, you can consider yourself part of the most esoteric world of the true literati. NOTE-- Beginners who are easily scared off and prefer to sample before committing might want to skip the Preludes and go straight to the main chapters.