Government Books

Mr. Hall has given us all a chance to better understand the speeches that have shaped our world. I am intrigued by the way he interprets these words and allows the reader to become a part of US history. An easy read and entertaining, not to mention educational.

Wynton Hall is one of the bright young conservative writers, It's delightfully informative to read his books. He does his research and knows how to explain today's political rhetoric. Keep your eye on him.

Wynton Hall's insight displays his knowledge as a rhetorician. The preview chapters I read on the publisher's website were well written and documented. In my opinion, this book is not only important because of its analysis of rhetoric but that it also reveals how much these speeches have affected the world. The Right Words is quite different from Home of the Brave and the Greatest Communicator but his writing ability makes it a wonderful read.

"I loved Hall's last book. This one is different but just as good if not better. It felt like I was in the audience for these famous speeches.
I was familiar with some of them, but others I'd never even heard of, which made it all the more fascinating to read. If you're a Republican I don't see how you can not read this one. It's a fun, fast read. I give it two thumbs up."

This book is valuable for two reasons. First, it is not a random collection of one person's view as to what constitutes a great speech. The 17 speeches examined here are oriented around eternal Republican themes of individual (rather than collective) responsibility; a belief in values that are absolute, not relative; and a strong national defense, the foundation of individual civil liberties.

Second, each speech is intertwined with commentary on its historical setting. Platitudes need no explanation. Great speeches, though, are rooted in a specific historical context while also appealing to timeless values.

Those of other political parties will gain from reading this book. It is not meant to convert but to educate. Serious people will want to look beyond the caricature of Republicans so often presented in many media sources. Understanding the basic beliefs of one of America's two major political parties is valuable regardless of one's political persuasion.

Prof. Finkelstein gives us a crucial perspective on the effects both of the Israeli Occupation and of the Oslo accords on the people of the West Bank. Finkelstein's book is helped immeasurably by his excellent writing style; clear, concise and easy to read, this book will be attainable and required reading for laypeople and Mideast scholars alike. Rather than focus on the actions of politicians and self-aggrandizing "leaders", Finkelstein instead gives us a view of the Palestinian PEOPLE. We meet a wide array of folks in Finkelstein's book and we emerge, necessarily from the experience far more understanding of who these people are than when we started. Perhaps most important of all is that Finkelstein never lets us forget that he himself is a Jew. He therefore lets everyone know that to be Jewish is NOT to be Zionist and it is most certainly not to be necessarily supportive of the actions of the Israeli government. There are many books that amply chronicle Israeli brutality and the crimes of the Zionist regime (another by Finkelstein that I highly recommend among them, called "Image and Reality of the Israel palestine Conflict) but I can think of no book more important to the understanding of the dilemma of the Palestinian people and to open the door for Jewish opposition to Israel than this one

a brutally honest account of the palestinian intifada experience as written by a jewish american. exposes fallacies in the representation of the case as well as in foreign policy. very necessary in understanding the israel-palestine conflict

This book provides a welcome dissent from typical American Jewish political views, and provides refreshing objectivity towards the Arab/Israeli conflict. Finkelstein portrays West Bank Palestinians before and during the Gulf War: the effects of thirty years of brutal repression on these people, their lives, hope and aspirations--and why they might have cheered Saddam's scud missiles. One chapter is dedicated to Finkelstien's methodical summary of American foriegn policy toward Israel on one hand, and Iraq on the other--Finkelstein refrains from judging either of these two countries during his comparison--and the result demonstrates an undeniable double standard in the application of international law. There is much evidence--much of it taken from declassified Israeli documents--that suggests Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon was entirely an offensive operation, the sole purpose of which was to avoid having to come to political terms with the PLO, and Finkelstein touches on this as well. Overall, an excellent, insightful book well worth reading.

Finkelstein's book is that rare gem of a monumental work housed within a slim volume. What makes his ideas so astonishing, in addition to their being meticulously researched and footnoted, is that his parents were survivors of the Nazi holocaust. Based on encounters with Elie Wiesel and the like, one would not expect a Jew of this background to have such a profound understanding of the Palestinian people and of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This book is a must-read in that it convincingly defies, with powerfully sculpted arguments and towering research, the tired and frequently hypocritical views of the New York Times and other news authorities.

Finkelstein will convince you.

As a Jewish woman living in the U.S. it was difficult for me to hear but one side of the story in the Israeli-Arab conflict. That side was the Zionist perspective. It wasn't until I spent time in Israel (ironic as this is) that I began to understand the fallacies in the arguments I grew up hearing. I read this book after picking it up at a friend's house, and now I'm feeling brave enough to buy a copy of my own. That courage comes from Finkelstein. I feel like I'm in good company. There ARE other Jews who can see and dare to shed some light on the OTHER SIDE--the Palestinian viewpoint. Finkelstein presents us with the Palestinian perspective in the context of the Israel-Arab conflict with such integrity and simplicity. As descendents of a terribly oppressed group of people, I whole-heartedly support all efforts to stop dehumanizing the "enemy." Finkelstien shows us the humanness of Palestinians.

Excellent book, it's helping me a lot with my Thesis at School.... I love it

incredibly depressing and negative, leaves one with a sick feeling in the stomach. but its happening in China every day.

This is an astounding book, but very difficult to read. I still shake my head in disbelief.

"The River Runs Black" by Elizabeth C. Economy is an intelligent analysis of contemporary China and its burgeoning environmental crisis. This engaging book helps us understand how globalization is reshaping China and issues an urgent plea for international cooperation to help monitor and rectify an increasingly worrysome situation.

Ms. Economy tells us how China's environment has been steadily deteriorating over the past centuries due to wars, political power struggles and overpopulation. However, today's problems
are attributable to specific policy decisions by China's government that has favored rapid economic development through engagement with the international business community. Unfortunately, the particular kinds of economic development favored by China's rulers has led to myriad environmental problems including deforestation, desertification, and air and water pollution. The collusion of local government and business interests has made it difficult to obtain reliable data or to implement solutions where it is feared that plant shutdowns might
result in mass unemployment and social unrest, making difficult problems seem untractable.

Environmental consciousness in China has increased as the problems have become more visible and as the country has engaged with the world economy. Ms. Economy profiles some of the courageous and inspirational individuals who have struggled for conservation, urban renewal and grass-roots democracy such as Tang Xiyang, He Bochuan, Dai Qing and others. While environmentalists have achieved some successes (such as protecting endangered species of monkeys and antelopes), the author believes that the government's championing of highly destructive projects such as the Three Gorges Dam proves that much more needs to be done.

Ms. Economy recounts the experiences of the former Communist nations of Eastern Europe to gain insight into how China might resolve its environmental problems. The Chernobyl disaster catalyzed local environmental groups into pushing for political reforms that brought down the Communists in the USSR and elsewhere. Recognizing that China's Communist Party is a "patronage machine committed to rapid economic development" and devoid of any ideological purpose other than self-perpetuation, Ms. Economy believes that increasing democratization in China could easily undermine the country's single Party system. Of course, China's leaders are keenly aware of this threat and consequently have tightly circumscribed the activities of environmental organizations, but the author is hopeful that the contradictions between increasing environmental degradation and the lack of a meaningful democracy will eventually force China's political system to change.

In the last section, Ms. Economy speculates about the manner in which China may develop in the future. The author envisions three possible scenarios: China goes green; inertia sets in; and environmental meltdown. Ms. Economy thinks that the U.S. should take the lead in encouraging China to develop its regulatory system and implement green technologies so that the country can embark on an environmentally sustainable path. Indeed, the unpredictable consequences of a Chinese environmental meltdown should give the international community pause to consider how it might help China -- and by extension all of us -- to avoid a worse case scenario.

I highly recommend this superbly written book to everyone.

Previous reviewers have said good things about this book, and I can only agree. It is notably superior to other recent books about the Chinese environment, which (though often scholarly) are long on polemics and short on comprehensive vision.
Dr. Economy focuses on politics and policies. These have been notoriously awful under Communism, but there is now a realization of the damage being done, and thus some hope. Dr. Economy is as optimistic as one could reasonably be. Incidentally, interested readers should also look up her very fine chapter in Kristen Day's worthy edited volume CHINA'S ENVIRONMENT AND THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
I am not so optimistic. One reason is that my training is more in biology, and I am aware that the devastating damage China has done to its environment will not be clear for 50 to 100 years. It takes that long for pollution and environmental degradation to show themselves fully.
As Dr. Economy says, China wanted to be "first rich, then clean" (that's the literal Chinese; she actually phrases it more academically). They thought that the west had done this. No, the west started conservation and scientific management long ago. The United States' golden age of conservation was under Theodore Roosevelt, when the US was still poor and rural. The US and western Europe never allowed anything close to what China has done. There was much degradation, but reaction always came eventually. China, like all Communist-led countries, missed this lesson. Marx had spoken: production is all, and top-down control is the way to do it. This has led, everywhere, to dismal environmental records, though much good has come from distributing food, health care, housing, etc., more evenly (this may no longer be the case). It is now too late. The white-flag dolphin, once common and resilient, is extinct, the Three Gorges are dammed, and much else has gone beyond possibility of repair.
Dr. Economy does not draw as sharp a contrast as I would between traditional management and Communist excess. Traditional China had major Malthusian problems, but they were caused more by imperial policy than by environmental mismanagement at the riceroots level. The peasants and workers created a system based on harmony and balance. The system was full of problems, and never got as harmonious as we would now wish, but it worked; it kept hundreds of millions of people alive in spite of a premodern technology, and it managed the key resources--topsoil, water, forests, and so on--sustainably enough that there was quite a bit left by 1950. Recent books trashing the old system have titles significantly featuring elephants and tigers instead of people. Even if you prefer the charismatic megafauna, note that China had some elephants and a lot of tigers in 1950.
So a flawed, antiquated, underproductive, but still well-designed and eminently functional system was sacrificed, and the result has been a royal mess. Yields of food are way up, thanks to modern technology (some of it developed in China by the Communists--to their credit), but the future is cloudy indeed.
If you want the best account of what can be done and what is being done, look no further than this book.

Not an easy read, but one that many Americans probably should...it demonstrates well how our life styles here in the US increases demand for cheap consumer goods, resulting in corporations poisoning other parts of the planet to supply them quickly and without major expense to us.

Incredibly sickening injury to the planet is well documented and presented in a professional way, and the book is very readable.

Recommended for all of those who need a greater repetoire of evidence that we are rather quickly destroying the planet, and as a means of strengthening arguments against "globalization" and consumerism.

This book details how the top %1 in income in the U.S., as exemplified by the Bush family, gets richer and more powerful by gaining control of our government and draining our treasury. Why do the %99 put up with it?

I don't pay much attention to titles (which I consider part of the exaggerated PR to get a book sold), but the frequent references from early in the text to the "Bush Gang" as not only descendants of the "Robber Barons", but in many ways worse than them, at first almost put me off. How biased was this book going to be, exactly? I was looking for hard evidence, not unsubstantiated claims or whining.

Well hard evidence I got, in abundance. The author clearly knows his stuff, on a wide range of topics. None if this is really a surprise, much of it I already knew or suspected, and some of it I'd learned years ago and forgotten about until now, but Brouwer puts together probably the most devastating critique of Bush and those that surround him thus far put on paper -- precisely because it primarily lays out facts and history, harshly exposing many of Bush's policies and public statements to the scrutiny of reality in the form of history, the government's own numbers and the public opinions of dozens of experts.

It also draws together the motivations behind both domestic and foreign policy in such a way that it all comes into sharp releif, finally all making perverted sense. An American foreign policy that seeks to destabilize democratic governments to be replaced by autocratic regimes (which we have demonstratively done multiple times and are still trying to get away with) makes no sense, until it is viewed through the lens of NOT CARING about long-term destabilization, fairness to the people of that country, or promoting any sort of ideal of democracy or civil rights. It's all about short- and medium-term profits for large companies via control of oil and other resources, and when looked at as a motivation for all government policy, suddenly everything Bush does seems perfectly obvious. It also demonstrates that Bush and his cronies are essentially crooks, with entirely selfish motivations. Many of us already suspected as much, but this book makes it all clear, in no uncertain terms.

The language is hard and to the point -- pulling no punches. Brouwer calls a spade a spade -- and a thief a thief and a liar a liar. At first the terms used sound unfair and entirely subjective. But by the end, it's difficult to feel that this is anything other than the truth, finally called by its name.

Books like "All the President's Spin" look at how the media is letting Bush get away with continuous almost-lies that deceive just as surely as real-lies would, at how rules of media fairness are being manipulated by Republicans to force essentially favorable coverage without allowing the media to portrary conservative deceptions as untruths.

Books like "Robbing Us Blind", unlike the mainstream media, aren't limited by the rules of "journalistic fairness" that dictate equal time to both sides and disallow the reporter from expressing obvious skepticism. "Robbing Us Blind" is freely skeptical, and refreshingly truthful. Terms like "Gang" and "Robber Baron" are useful tools to frame the point of the book, but aren't really necessary -- had they been omitted, most likely the reader would have come to the same conclusion by the end regardless. But the only reason they sound shocking in the first place is because the mainstrem media has been so complicit in playing into Bush's hands, disguising his and his associates' true natures.

Here, the truth is told in not only all its unvarnished perversity but also in scrupulously footnoted, factual detail.

One of the most important books that every American should read before the election.

This book looks at the myriad of ways that average and lower-income Americans have been systematically robbed of their monetary wealth through deliberate government policy. That wealth has been given to the top 1 percent of the people, in terms of income, by a group of elites and super-rich that the author calls the Bush Gang. The Bush family has been at, or near, the seat of American power for 16 of the last 24 years.

To give one example, from 1982 to 2002, the number of Americans without health care jumped from 25 million to 43 million, a rise of more than 50 percent. In that same period, the number of American billionaires rose from 13 to 229.

The Bush Gang's plan looks something like this: Give tax relief to corporations and the very rich. Build up the military with big increases in defense spending. Be very aggressive in international relations. Deregulate business as much as possible. Overlook the criminal actions of those businessmen who support this agenda. Ignore the real possibility of large deficits. Also, attack labor and working Americans as much as possible.

This book covers a number of topics. The Bush remedy for a sick economy is CEOs who will drive up a company's stock price by laying off thousands of workers. There has been a systematic plan to keep wages low for most Americans in order to transfer wealth to the richest. The famous Skull and Bones club at Yale was originally endowed in the 1830s by the Russell Trust. It was connected to a company that, at the time, was the premier American smuggler of opium. The media, especially Rupert Murdoch and Fox News, can be counted on to keep up the fear level. One of the justifications for tax cuts is that the money will be used for new investment. Has that happened over the last 25 years?

What is to be done? The Democratic Party needs to get a backbone. It should not blame Ralph Nader for the results of the 2000 election, but itself. It needs to push its vision for America: higher minimum wage, federally funded health care for all, full employment, public works spending that fixes America's infrastructure, good public schools, etc.

This is a gem of a book. Can't get ahead financially? This book gives part of the reason. It's highly recommended.

The title, as is all too common in such forthrightly biased (though not necessarily incorrect in its assertions) political texts, is highly inflammatory and doesn't tell you much beyond the obvious--that quite a lot of a Bush bashing is contained within.

Thus, upon starting the book, I was pleasantly surprised. Instead of listing all the old, well-worn arguments presented in the more moderate liberal bestsellers, "Robbing Us Blind" focuses on one topic, the continuing economic (and as a result political) gap between the megarich and the rest of us. The book is written very clearly, and employs many sources and statistics. The data presented is interesting, but is often overly simplified, and as a result I was sometimes wondering whether numbers had been convienently left out.

Regardless, as a whole, the book is very persuasive in its case, and goes a fairly satisfying way towards suggesting possible changes. Though I'm sure most conservatives would find some way or other to unfairly dismiss or bash the book, it is recommended reading for liberals interested in learning about the many problems with America's economic situation.

After hearing Steve Brauwer speak at a Pocono Progressives rally, I was anxious to read his book. It lived up to expectations. He presents an incontrovertible argument of the long history of the Bush families taking advantage of their wealth and position with no regard for the ordinary American. He impeccably documents his facts with graphs and charts. The pointed illustrations are an added bonus.

I passed this book by many times before finally breaking down and buying it. Somehow, its title and dust cover just didn't grab me. Besides that, having already read several biographies of the Reagans and the Reagan family members, I was fairly well convinced that the book couldn't possibly contain much of anything new. Even after buying it, I still wasn't much inclined to read it. What finally convinced me to do so was when I read in the prologue that Colacello was a personal friend of Nancy Reagan and that Nancy had arranged for him to have unprecedented access to her personal files and to virtually all of the Reagan's living friends and associates and/or their children. How could I resist? This had to be a spectacular source of inside information. And it was!

The early part of the book traces the lives of Nancy Davis and Ronald Reagan in parallel chapters. This section is interesting primarily for the light it sheds on Nancy's early life; her relationships with her mother, Edith Davis, and her adoptive father, Dr. Loyal Davis; and for the in-depth background provided concerning both Edith and Loyal.

The book really takes off, however, in the mid-sections where it deals in depth with Reagan's and Nancy's film careers; Reagan's military service; his marriage to and divorce from Jane Wyman; his actions while president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), particularly in combating the Communist attempt to take over Hollywood's film industry; his, and other's, testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) - who was who and what was what; the members of "The Group" who induced Reagan into politics and the subsequent "Kitchen Cabinet" members (mostly wealthy, conservative, high-powered friends of Nancy or Edith) who guided, supported, and, it might be said with some degree of truth, made Reagan Governor of California and President of the United States; Reagan's abortive run for president in 1968; and the rationale for his run in 1976. From that point on, the book is hard to put down.

In summary, this book contains inside information which can't be found anywhere else, making it a vital historical document. The information doesn't always reflect well on Ronald Reagan or Nancy, but it dispels a lot of myths and misinformation, and certainly provides a great deal of insight into what it takes for even a great leader, such as Ronald Reagan, to become President of the United States.

The book certainly rates five stars for content. It loses something for readability, however, due largely to its repetitious descriptions of parties and dinners, including: who was invited; what foods and wines were served; what gowns the women wore and who made them; who were the women's hair stylists and what were their hair styles; etc. But that was a small price to pay. I give it four stars.

Some friends of ours in Australia started to read this on an Asian cruise last Fall and asked us to bring them a copy when we visited Cairns in August.

They loved it and so did we, when we got to look at it prior to giving it to them.

As a Reagan supporter, I really wanted to love the Reagans and to see Nancy Reagan's reputation vindicated. Nancy, in her elder years, is very admirable. It is a bit creepy to read that Ronnie always called her Mommie, but no one can deny their mutual love. Bob Colacello is quite thorough in his research,fair and honest - no whitewashing here...the endless sniping and self-aggrandizement of Nancy's pals, like Betsey Bloomingdale et al? These women were all intimate friends, but were clawing at each other for primacy in the Reagan inner circle. Bloomingdale brags about her caviar parties and hobnobbing with the Paris set of sophisticates, but gets caught evading customs duties for lying about how much she paid for a new couture outfit in France. The other graceless, snobby chums of Nancy also seem like the idle, witless, rich that P. G. Wodehouse skewered in his books. The Kitchen Cabinet husbands are scary and only a tad less obnoxious. The book makes one feel queasy; Ronnie and Nancy seem bought and paid for by their cronies. Nancy herself comes off as self-deceiving and controlling - a shallow and manipulative social climber who rewrote her personal history;possibly she is portrayed as second only to Joan Crawford as Mommie Dearest. Ron takes up ballet as an adult. Patti has herself sterilized at 24 because she's afraid she'll be like her mother??!

The book proves what most of us assume - being well-connected helps a lot with success and acts as a powerful "deodorant". Colacello is due to write a second volume on the Reagans. I will read it for the writing, the history and my belief in redemption.

Colacello deconstructs the Reagans like no other author has. He starts with the premise that their personal and social lives were inseparable from their political ambitions, and an essential factor in Ronald Reagan's rise to power. He goes on to explore how the couple's social milieu and interpersonal relationships influenced Reagan's political ideas and governing style.

A fascinating portrait of Nancy emerges as well: Colacello sees her as supremely focused and determined to advance her husband's political career, but motivated by pure adoration of Ronnie rather than any overriding desire for control and power.

The writing flows easily and is peppered with enough interesting anecdotes and revealing quotes to make the reader forget at times that this is, in fact, a serious political biography. A great read from cover to cover.

The perfect mix of gossip and history. Meticulously researched and carefully observed. You won't be able to put it down.

While this is a handy book to have around when you forget what "New Federalism" means, it's also much more than that. I read a portion of The Political Dictionary each day, and so you could say that this book functioned as an "intellectual devotional."

This edition of the Dictionary is fascinating, funny, and impressively up-to-date, with references to both McCain and Obama. (No "hockey moms," however.)

Speaking of presidential candidates, I want to emphasize that Safire has done a very good job of officiating his material and staying neutral. Yes, Safire is, of course, a Republican; his most recent column was "The Audacity of Hype," and referred to how unimpressed Safire was with Obama's nomination acceptance speech. (Hard to believe that this former speechwriter couldn't appreciate it, but anyway.) Having just gone through this superlative book with an attentive eye, I feel Safire treats his material fairly and with a penchant for the trenchant anecdote that illustrates his point brilliantly.

Highly recommended.

If you are a political junkie like I am, some of the language used is a little out there. I haven't read this cover to cover, but what I had to look up explained things very well to me. I keep this with whatever political book I'm reading at the time and it make things a little more understandable. I would recommend this.

A comprehensive guide and literal dictionary on the subject from a man who knows what he's talking about. "Safire's Political Dictionary" is a massive, thick tome of 862 pages, each covered with invaluable information on the shaky language that so covers today's political landscape. This new and expanded edition covers terms such as regime change, red/blue state, triangulation, moonbat/wingnut and so many more terms that muddle political language. Written by presidential speech writer and Pulitzer prize winner William Safire, "Safire's Political Dictionary" is highly recommended for community library politics collections.

You will love this whopper of a book - all 896pp! William Safire belongs to the delightfully patrician generation of political insiders alongside the likes of radio columnist Alistair Cooke Alistair Cooke's America and Ted Sorenson, speechwriter and adviser to JFK. Safire, who has contributed his own fair share of speeches on the Republican side, (it was he who added alliterative relief to Spiro Agnew's barren verbal landscape through phrases such as "nattering nabobs of negativism") has a keen ear for political language and he rises above partisanship simply because he is fascinated by the provenance and meaning of political language. As he points out, a political dictionary is fascinating because the language has been chosen to either inspire or inflame - it is rich, sometimes explosive emotive fuel.

- This very complete dictionary, fully updated, provides a rich journey and explains where so many of our commonly used and extremely colorful phrases really come from.
- It is comprehensive: reaching back to historic phrases, that go back beyond the original era of pork-barrel politics, and coming right up to the present to include the words of McCain, Clinton and Obama.
- It highlights the hidden agendas behind the language we hear: the phrases designed to make headlines, the sayings that are used to bring a folksiness to our sometimes aloof politicians.
- The dictionary does this with real panache. Safire is part wit, part journalist and part investigator - and he makes great company for the reader. It is a treat to dip into.

And yes, it is election year, so a tour of duty through Safire's fascinating lexical battleground will leave you ready for the speeches to come: your BS detectors set on full alert, your sense of irony and history sharpened. What an excellent book.

Perfect for students of political studies. Ideal for journalists. Essential for voters of all stripes. Democracy may be messy sometimes, but as this book shows - the language of politics is always darned colorful.

Safire's POLITICAL DICTIONARY is a MUST READ and MUST KEEP for those who value and appreciate the art, science and practice of politics.

This book offers a very clear and concise explanation of the SBA loan process. It really helped me understand the fundamentals of SBA lending in a way that allowed me to use this knowledge in my practice. To be fair to the author and publisher, I giving it the full five star rating, even though some of the information in the book is out of date by now.

Just as life has clearly defined cycles, so does a small business enterprise and the SBA book by Charles H.Green depicts it clearly. Whether it's the start-up or expansion cycle, his book will show you how to plan for the loan, how to go through the document review, and how to enjoy the award of a loan. It walks you through the long and frightening process of getting a loan with sound advice and forms that inform and educate.

What if turned down? It shows the applicant why it happened and how to repair any damages to their business' ego. It very smartly says, "it's not personal it's business."

As antrepreneur dealing with capital formation on a regular basis, I recommend this book to all who know the trials and tribulations of "getting the money." You will find an answer to your situation, guaranteed.

Charles H. Green has taken the mystery out of commercial loan financing. With millions of dollars of SBA financing under his belt, he has converted that experience into an easy to understand, logical resource text in the SBA Loan Book. As a small business planning and development adviser, I find this publication as the best hands-on guide to the maze of commercial financing. Praises to publisher Adams Media Corporation for their ability to see the need of small business owners every where and for investing the time and money to produce this outstanding publication. Every Entrepreneur should own this book as should every new SBA loan officer involved in the process.

WORD OF WARNING: I haven't actually put into practice the advice in this book, so I can't say whether the information is correct.

It is, however, presented in a VERY clear and understandable and logical manner. The book strikes an excellent balance between keeping it simple but NOT talking down. It assumes the reader is an intelligent adult (not a "dummy", if you know what I mean) who doesn't know much about the SBA or getting money from same. It then goes about giving you all the steps needed to understand what the SBA is, does and how you can take advantage. It doesn't make it sound "easy" but it does make it sound doable. The book is very detailed, which you want in such a book, but doesn't read like a textbook. It combines down-to-earth advice and experience, with some hard and fast rules and steps to success.

Although I haven't read every book on the subject, it's hard to imagine there is a better one out there. Highly recommended!!

This book taught me alot about borrowing money with or without the sba's involvement. very easy to follow and to comprehend

It is hard to believe it has been nearly 20 years since Pan Am 103 was blown out of the sky over the tiny town of Lockerbie. Richard Marquise tells the inside and compelling story of the FBI's role in helping bring at least some of the terrorists to justice. It is intersting to review Pan Am 103 in the context of a 9/11 world: Today, law enforcement and intelligence agencies are focused on prevention rather than prosecution of terrorists.

But we see that in this case, not only were some of the (albeit lower level) terrorist brought to justice, but it's the only case I am aware of where a ruthless dictator eventully cried uncle, in no small part as a result of this investigation and prosecution. Gadaffi admited responsibility for PA 103, gave up nuclear weapons a few years later, and even recently agreed to pay millions of dollars to the victim's families to put this event behind Libya.

Because this is a fairly detailed and technical book, I would highly recommend it as a textbook for an upper level undergraduate, or even a graduate class in National Security Studies or International Relations.

I feel Richard presented an excellent review of the sequence of events that lead up to the terrorist act and an even better chronicling of the investigation following the disaster. His attention to detail and his understanding of the investigative and political complexities of a multi-agency effort made this a very interesting read. F Uteg

This is the true story of the international investigation of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. It was written by the FBI agent who led the US task force formed to find the culprits in conjunction with Scottish police agencies. This behind the scenes look examines all the suspects, discusses the problems of these types of investigations and takes the reader into the investigation itself. The trial in the Netherlands is analyzed and there is much discussion how the results of this case relate to what is going on in the world today. Numerous lessons for law enforcement and intelligence agencies are learned. This book is a must for any law enforcement or intelligence professional today or anyone wanting to see what actually is involved in coordinating the largest international criminal investigation in history.

This is an intriguing insider's tale from the one American who could write it. Retired FBI executive Richard Marquise has traveled the world, teaching the intricacies of counterterrorism and major case investigation to law enforcement officials. In Scotbomb he brings his expertise to the general reader as well as criminal justice professionals. Scotbomb tells the story of a horrific crime. It is also the account of a group of international police officers who refused to leave an investigation over the course of many years. This is a "must read" for anyone involved in counterterrorism.

Marquise's work is important on three levels. Using practical insight, law enforcement skills, and investigative strategy, Marquise provides a step-by-step account for criminal investigators. Second, it is an excellent case study for criminal justice classes. (My students are using it to develop a training session on major case investigation.) Finally, and most importantly, Marquise has told the story with one group of people in mind, the families of Pan Am Flight 103. His compassion for the victims flows throughout the narrative.

As news networks and public attention jump from one terrorist attack to the next, Marquise stays focused on the victims of a single event in the past. The world may have forgotten their life-altering pain. Marquise has not.

There have been an array of books written about the tragedy of Pan Am flight 103. From bereaved families to conspiracy theorists, everybody has a theory with every theory being ultimately self-serving or just plain wrong. This book is an accurate and detailed book about the investigation of this case. Mr. Marquise was intimately involved in this investigation and provides an inside look to an extremely complex case involving multiple jurisdictions from different countries. Other authors seem to assume this investigation could be conducted like any investigation in the US. This is just not true and Mr. Marquise makes that very clear.

In a word, awesome! This is a practical guide to actual assembly techniques. Little time is spent discussing when or why someone would do what the author tells you how to do. Other books cover those tasks quite well. I'm sure all this info is dated, but it's still quite informative.

I really did like this book, it does have a wealth of information which can be APPLIED to more modern techniques, and generally just gets you thinking in different directions as a book like this should. But given todays climate and the fact that every state has improved security tremendously around IDs and ID cards and even birth certificates, unless you want to try your hand with a laminated Maine ID and or birth certificate printed on improper paper (and probably end up in jail), this may not be the best resource to follow word for word any longer. I didnt like the fact that he barely delved into the new world of teslin and pvc credit card hologramed high quality state IDs (if at all actually) as I feel that you would have to in a book of this nature today, but overall there are some worth while "ideas" in this book that have helped me get a bit better in the real world. Id recommend, but with a bit of caution depending on what your planning on doing, or not doing (*wink*).

This is an excellent book for someone wanting to delve into id replication, and techniques. The author is very knowledgeable on the topic he discusses in this book. From start to finish, it leaves you with a very clear understanding of the methods used to create a means of identification. Fair warning, and as he states in the book, it isn't meant for someone attempting to purchase or obtain alcohol. The book does not go into detail on every state, better yet, it focuses on information that will actually help you make an id. Full of resources and techniques, this book is an EXCELLENT guide for someone with the incentive of making an id.

Finally. A novelty ID construction book that deals with the meat of ID construction. Refreshingly, two chapters WERE NOT dedicated to lamination. I think we all know how to laminate.

MUCH ATTENTION was paid to creating holograms (something we actually need to learn).

The research was obvoiusly thorough and comprehensive. The author does not take credit for ideas that aren't his. All his sources are properly credited (though usually anonymously by request of the source). But, hey, it shows CLASS.

VERY REFRESHING slant for a genre that has of late been falling into the trap of selling titles. This book as REAL SUBSTANCE.

An excellent reference source for anybody interested in this art. Also great for writers who need to research underworld maneuvers for their "villain" characters.

Thank you, Mr. Charrett!!!!

I just finished reading this book, and I loved it! I must admit I was skeptical before I ordered because we have all been scammed at one time or another. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had NOT been ripped off this time! This book lives up to the hype and does not disappoint the reader. The knowledge of the author is complete on the subjects discussed, detailed instruction is given, and (most importantly!) common pitfalls are exposed. I found myself exclaiming out loud "Wow, THAT little tidbit alone is worth the cost of this book." about six or seven time throughout my reading. I also would like to add that if you are interested in this kind of thing, this book is a great learning tool, a good place to start. Thanks Sheldon, for a well written, (often hilarious) informative, eye-opening book.

The seller was great! The item arrived very fast and in the perfect condition, just as described. Would buy from this seller again! Awesome!

Michael Joseph (Mike) Mansfield's approach to Congress could instruct many of the politicians in power today. Unlike his bombastic, controlling predecessor, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, Mansfield, as Senate Majority Leader, retreated from the glare of publicity so that his fellow senators, from both parties, could take pride in successful legislation that they initiated, all the while guiding that body with a steady hand.

Because of the statesman's honesty, his intellectual capacity, his ability to connect immediately with people, no matter their views, and his brilliance as a public servant, his home state Montana kept him in Congress from the year they first elected him in 1942 to 1977, when he retired from the Senate. They loved him because he put their interests first, regardless of what was occurring on the world's stage.

When Mansfield retired from the Senate, he expected to "loaf, read, and think," but the government couldn't let go and sent him to Japan where he served as Ambassador, a position from which he retired in his mid-eighties. After that, Goldman Sachs hired him to be its East Asian Advisor.

Above all else, human relationships ranked highest in importance for Mansfield. When his wife died, he said during her eulogy that without her he would have been nothing. Early in their marriage she urged him to leave his work as miner and mining engineer to pursue and complete his education.

I recommend Don Oberdorfer's "Senator Mansfield" to readers interested in a look into the bowels of politics, particularly during the Vietnam War era and its aftermath. I felt as if I were hiding under a desk eavesdropping. Reading parts of the tapes that Nixon made of himself, I couldn't decide whether to laugh or weep.

For young soldiers returning from the war in Vietnam, Senator Mike Mansfield was a literal legend in his own time, the consistent voice for greater moderation, caution, and reason during the escalation of the war in Vietnam. As chronicled so marvelously in this new biography by noted historian Don Oberdorfer, from the very beginning of the sordid Vietnam affair Mansfield had cautioned long-time colleagues as friends John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson as to the absolute futility and danger associated with pursuing a military victory in Southeast Asia. A long-time member of the Foreign Relations committee in the Senate, he was well aware of the complexities and national aspirations simmering under the surface of the region, and recognized the morass we might soon find ourselves in if we succumbed to the siren song of the so-called `domino' theorists, who posited the loss of South Vietnam would lead inextricably to the loss of Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Mansfield maintained the domino we needed to worry about was Vietnam itself, which might well topple our whole far-eastern strategy if we allowed ourselves to become entwined in its silken grips.

Alas, no one among the `best and the brightest' of either the Kennedy or Johnson administration listened, and instead dragged us into more than a decade of death, destruction, and depravity. Yet in this fascinating biography, we learn that Mike Mansfield had many more facets to his marvelous personality and many more intellectual insights to offer the American people during his long and illustrious career as a public servant. He presided over the U.S. Senate during the difficult and angst-filled deliberations over the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964, its companion bill for Voter Rights Act passed the following year, and the donnybrook that ensured over the initial passing of Medicare legislation. A man of almost encyclopedic knowledge, he spoke carefully and constructively, and listened as intently as he had spoken. Like his predecessor as Senate majority leader, LBJ, he was a master of personal one-on- one persuasion, and his soaring intellect and engaging personality made him scores of friends and precious few enemies in his many travels and engagements. He was, however, much like Harry Truman in terms of being both a straight-talker and a straight shooter, and he was known to be a man of incredible principle and integrity.

His only regret in later serving as Ambassador to Japan was that it took him so far a field from his beloved Montana, a place he could sometimes become almost doggedly appreciative of. He was a hunter, an outdoorsman, and an early champion of what was then called conservation and is now better understood as environmentalism. His was a life that spanned a myriad of different concerns, causes, and conflicts, and although we will always remember him best for his earnest, informed, and heartfelt opposition to the war in Vietnam, Mike Mansfield was certainly a public man for all seasons. This is a wonderful book about a noteworthy American who until now has been seriously under-appreciated. Enjoy!

I had known of Senator Mansfield, but this biography was essentially my first real glimpse of the man. It was a genuine treat to come to know him, even in this limited way, and the author has given us one of the best biographies in many years. Yes, this is a tribute and it is clear that the author has great respect for his subject (as he should), but he does not ignore the complexities of Mansfield's career in the public arena. Admittedly there is little about Mansfield's private life (outside of the early, pre-government years), but I found that refreshing as what we need to know about Mansfield is what he contributed to the country and what we can learn from his long career. Nevertheless, we do get a sense of Mansfield's intellect, his charm, and his appeal across ideological divides. His greatness is never exaggerated and after finishing the book, one gets a sense of sadness as we consider what could have been if only he had been listened to regarding Vietnam.

Don Oberdorfer's biography of Mike Mansfield brings an extraordinary American to life. Not only does the reader gain deep insights into Congressman then, Senator and, later, Ambassador Mansfield; but also Private Mansfield of the U.S. Marine Corps; and copper miner Mansfield of Butte, Montana; high school and college student Mansfield which he completed simultaneously, and professor Mansfield of the University of Montana in the 1930s and 40s.

Besides a wonderful and inspiring portrait of a truly unique American, the book portrays the relationships Mansfield developed with American Presidents beginning with FDR through Ronald Reagan. The entire middle third of the book focuses on the Vietnam era and Mansfield's heroic, behind the scene, effort as the Senate's Asia expert and Majority Leader to persuade Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford to, first, avoid committing American troops to a mainland war in Asia and, second, to withdraw troops once they were tragically in place in Vietnam.

Mansfield's analysis showed the Vietnam problem to be 9 parts diplomatic/political and one part military. Therefore, he argued American policy in Vietnam could not be resolved using a 9 part military solution to only 1 part diplomatic/political. Essentially, Mansfield believed a military response is rarely indicated and far too often, riding coattails of false intelligence and phony patriotism, militarism acquires a fatal and unstoppable momentum of its own. In retrospect it turns out that the "attacks" by North Vietnamese torpedo boats against the U.S. Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1965 that were used by President Johnson as a pretext to go to war were a monumental and, likely, willful intelligence failure. Almost 40 years later, on a much larger scale, American intelligence now seems to have failed to provide an accurate analysis of Iraq's WMD. It is clear American Presidents still base their decision to take the country to war on often misleading or patently false information.

This book provides an apt but sober warning for policy makers working on contemporary Middle East who are designing President George Bush's war on terrorism. This is a great read about a unique American who lived through a compelling time in American history and whose values in public life are sorely missed in today's divisive and disfunctional political climate.