Independents Books

I am person, from the lower-middle class, who went to public school, state universities for my B.S. and my Masters. When I read this book and the book, of The Art of Getting Things Done by Richard Brislin, several years ago, I began to understand the political deftness and self-confidence of people I meet who came from well to do families. From birth, they model the lives of their parents who are highly paid professinals in professional service firms like law or accounting or high-powered exectives in Fortune 500 corporations. As both books point out, then through have these behaviors ingrained until adolescence, where then private education's honing influnce takes shape. The practice of self-government of the schools by the students, a ruthless ethos of performance and results of making the grade, practicing behaviors that are the signals of leadership are honed in the classroom's demanding education and the politcally charged enviornment outside the classroom. It was a huge "AHA" momement about myself. For example politicians, John Kerry and George Bush both went to the same private school. Barrack Obamas went to private schools in Hawii paid for by his grandparents. I better understand my limitations and constraints and why I have hit certain ceilings in my life. The system does reach down and pull in the highly intelligent and promising candidates from the outside to bring in new blood. However, these are the extreme outliers on the bell curve. Throughout history, the rich and powerful have been sought to pass on to their offspring these mindsets and behaviors.

great book, although dated (80's), lots of info, stats, and gives a good feeling to what life is like in and out of the elite boarding schools.

I enjoyed this book but I felt like I was reading a history book. I wish the authors would update it to reflect the current situation. One list of the "most prestigious schools" dated to 1956, 50 years ago!

I read this book for a class of mine on education. I had never really known much about boarding schools until this book. It is a readable and accessible account of boarding schools; although, this book is slightly out of date as the information was from the 80's. The income and tuitions numbers are completely off by today's standards. Other than that, for us who have gone through public schools and any non-elite schools, it is a glimpse into the world of the elite education. My instructor did e-mail one of the authors, Cookson, and learned more about his background. He was not from any elite boarding school, where Persell did attend a boarding school. Interesting, is that these types of schools produce such outstanding alumni and yet no one really knows about them. I'm sure the information is getting out of date; the copy I had had yellowed pages and was printed in 1985. Yet, it is still interesting for people interesting in educational differences and opportunities. Or just very curious people.

I enjoyed the anthropological-based approach of this book. The methods and collection of material seemed appropriate and balanced. It also kept my attention with great quotes and inside opinions. A must read for anyone interested in the prep-school experience - just remember that the material is a bit out of date.

An excellent book by a very brave author. It kept me awake all night -- in fact, I may never sleep again. After searching far and wide -- but failing to find many other books on the inner secret workings of the IRS -- this one hit the spot. Does anyone really know how to audit these 'servants' of ours? Mrs Davis has given us so many more questions to ask. Forget volunteering -- this should be required reading for all taxpayers

This is not some lunatic fringe wacko attacking the government, but someone who truly wanted to work to improve the IRS. The reports of serious lack of morals or ethics by hign ranking government employees was scary. The highest praise I can give this book is that it reads like a true history... documented and detailed... trying to be objective even when the IRS turned on her. In the end, you realize that the only 'reform' possible is to abolish the whole system.

Shelly Davis has written a book that reveals some of the internal workings of the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS as revealed by Davis is a corrupt, paranoid organization that goes to more trouble to cover up its own failings and illegal activities than it expends doing its legitimate job. Davis shows that the law is no barrier to IRS proceedings. In particular she describes the IRS repeated and apparently systematic efforts to conceal its operations by destroying internal records in violation of the Federal Records Act. Davis writes in a straightforward narrative style suitable for an account of bureaucratic bumbling by one of the nations most important governmental agencies. If you have had an interest in the Internal Revenue Service, tax problms or an interest in how bureaucracies work this book is essential reading.

For anyone who wants to see a Govt. Bureacracy in meltdown, and that is still on going read this! With the recent retirement of Mr. Gross and the new IRS Commissioner Rossotti's idea to redo everyting, coupled with the attempts by Congress to "simplify" it on the one hand --by making it more difficult, to the other extreme of abolishing it altogether, you will soon see we are headed to another 1985. Considering this kind of book was never done before on the IRS, it stands by itself. All of our legislators should be required to read it and take a test on it!

Let me start by saying that I do not condone the present state of the IRS and that, like a recent presidential candidate, I would like to see the IRS abolished as we know it. However, I feel that Unbridled Power did not even come close to delivering on what is promised in the synopsis and cover flaps. Shelley Davis states that unethical, and even unlawful, behavior is rampant within the IRS. Yet, within 260 pages of text, she provides us with only a few such examples, and the frequency with which she refers to these few examples undermines her claim that such behavior is commonplace. The author's descriptions of her own actions toward the end of her employment at the IRS further erode her credibility regarding the severity of the problem. Davis claims that often times the IRS has a blatant disregard for federal laws and that certain actions by IRS employees could be construed as a violation of these laws. However, when she was asked point blank by an IRS investigator if charges should be brought, Davis reponds that what she really wants is "change". Also, just prior to her departure, Davis is asked to submit a report detailing her experiences at the IRS, a report which she readily admits would be the perfect opportunity to memorialize the atrocious actions she has witnessed and the people responsible for these actions. Once again, Davis demurs and decides to "not burn any bridges." If the actions of the IRS are so egregious, why isn't an outside agency such as the FBI involved? Davis complains that the IRS is incapable of policing itself, yet all her efforts to "whistle blow" (a favorite phrase of hers) were conducted along the very same reporting channels Davis derides as being inadequate and ineffective. Much of what Davis talks about in her book can better be described as "entrenched bureaucracy". In the end, her efforts to change the status quo did not succeed because she was a victim of this bureaucracy and, more importantly, because she herself became a part of this same bureaucracy. Rather than a scorching expose, this book is, at best, food for thought

A waste of time and money. You can learn more about DV video on line for free.

So... You got a new digital video camera for Christmas, and you want to be the next Spielberg? Unless you've had experience in how to shoot good video, you'll end up with a lot of home movies in digital format that don't look any better than anyone else's home movies. To remedy that, get a copy of Digital Video Pocket Guide by Derrick Story (O'Reilly). In 113 pages, you'll learn the essentials of how your camera works, basic editing and shooting techniques, and tips on how to improve your video quality. While this shouldn't be the only video guide you get, it will be more than enough to get you started on the way to making movies that people will enjoy watching.

I recently reviewed this and the more recent Oreilly book, Digital Video Hacks, with contributions from the author. Hacks is much more up-to-date and contains lots of things from the Pocket Guide. But a lot of the troubleshooting tips from Pocket Guide are about using cameras and mikes, not stuff likely to go out of date. Here is what I wrote specifically about Pocket Guide:

For readers looking for more information about the shooting process itself, the cheaper and more succinct 2003 Digital Video Pocket Guide by Derrick Story covers that information superbly. Story's book goes into more detail about equipment to buy as well as how to resolve lighting and sound problems. There's only so much you can say in 112 pages, but 30 of those pages are devoted to solving practical shooting problems (i.e., the walking interview, dealing with wind , etc.) Another 30 pages consists of reference material and tables about basic camera concepts (i.e., how aperture relates to depth of field). Also, this book in particular has a high percentage of color photographs, which (like those in Digital Video Hacks) make it easier to understand what the writer is getting at. Some of the information from Digital Video Pocket Guide is duplicated in Digital Video Hacks, but lately I've found myself referring more often to the Pocket Guide than the Video Hacks book.

Digital videography is challenging and this useful pocket guidebook makes taking videos more exciting and fun. By following many of the suggestions and tips throughout this small reference book you will find it helpful when preparing for your next home movies. This is one of the few books dedicated to digital video. Most current publications like magazines keep you up to date with the latest gear but this book is more in-depth on the art of video productions. The author Derrick Story has written many books and provided photographs for countless others. The pocket guide is a series of small books that includes titles like digital photography, Macintosh Troubleshooting, Extreme Programming and over 200 other pocket guide titles.

As a video producer I found this book very easy to read and understand and felt this reference book would offer any level of videographer benefits from this information. The book is broken into 3 chapters and one reference guide. The first chapter starts with "What is it". This chapter covers the camcorder basics and may other more advanced concepts including time-code, analog line-in, aperture, image sensor, interlaced video and progressive scan. I was quite surprised that these subjects were covered since these are new features found on the newest camcorders and the average videographer may not be familiar with the concepts. It is nice to read about some of the newest features and how they can benefit the end user. This first chapter is very comprehensive going well beyond the camcorders instruction manual.

The second chapter covers the physical camera and its features, how does it work explain concepts and techniques for today's digital video shooting. The section on time-code and logging was invaluable. The third section is how do I...Tips, Tricks and Techniques offers 12 very helpful and modern information on what the average shooter may encounter.

One concept that often overlooked in the wave of new technology is the fundamentals. The art of storytelling is true regardless of the latest and greatest camcorders and accessories. The author emphasizes the camcorder is just the tool that allows the individual to create and visualize your message. I found myself revisiting several techniques that I have used in my video business on a recent trip to Baltimore for the US Open table tennis championships. I took my camcorder and candidly interviewed several players and officials. When taping my subjects I utilized the walking interview tips in the final section. The ability to change background offered variety to many of the candid comments. I also used the technique of entrances and exits. This allows the subject to enter the frame follows them for a period of time and then let them exit the frame. This clean shooting transition is a bridge commonly used in movies and TV shows.

Overall this book is very useful and I found several of the tips very informative. I recommend this book for the beginner and intermediate level digital video user.

Book Review: "Digital Video Pocket Guide"
by John Suda

"Digital Video Pocket Guide", by Derrick Story, is another in the series of "Pocket Guides" from O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. Like the others, it is a well-written, comprehensive introduction to a technical/aesthetic area.

This is a small, pocket-size book of 113 pages, including index, published on bright, glossy paper which provides brightness and contrast for its included photographs and makes it easier on the eyes for reading.

I have been contemplating investigating digital video myself for some time and found this little volume to be a near perfect introduction for a couple of reasons. First, the substantive material contains about everything one needs to get a start in digital video, from buying a camera, to learning and understanding its controls and features, to using the equipment, and tips on how to get some quality production from the camera. The second reason is the unusual (for a computer book) author's "voice". Story's style is casual, friendly, clear, simple, encouraging, and even soothing, Imagine attending a 2 or 3 hour presentation by an informed camera salesperson who knows how to produce videos, who has the personality and presentation of Mr. Rogers.

It's the substantive material which is most important however. Story walks the reader through the entire movie-making process, from start to finish. Even technical concepts like "black the tape", "bumping", and "zebra patterns" are made simple and easy to follow.

The book has three parts encompassing explanation of the equipment, how to use it, and how to produce some quality product. There is an appendix of a handful of quick reference tables pertaining to color temperature charts, types of microphones, and other incidental matters.

The best sections deal with learning how to shoot scenes including how to light a scene, and how to prevent wind from ruining your audio. There is a nice 10-step movie production checklist which details all one needs to start and complete a beginner's video project.

For a small volume on a technical topic, this is an unusual good read.

Definately intersting, and definately just for fun. Many items are common sense if you take the time to stop and think about them, but there are a number of items that have little gems of information that a layperson would never have known to try should they ever encounter such a situation.

Fun, if ultimately impracical.

Some are more realistic than others, but all are entertaining. I'll certainly allow this book when I start my own nation off the coast of Africa.

So help me, a lot of this stuff might actually work... Of course most of their ideas would take more time, money and resources than i'll ever have, but they're fun to think about!

I've found Don't Try This At Home to be lighthearted and fun. It's also impractical and seems to be based largely on complete fantasy. What is it about you ask? Think of it as a 264 page Do-It-Yourself guide for the armchair adventurer.

Megalomaniacs will want to skip right to "Form an Independent Nation". In just 8 short pages, Fulghum describes the steps you'd need to complete. Like most of the items in the book, Forming an Independent Nation does have a large number of prerequisites. For example you will need "hard currency", especially if you choose to acquire your nation through peaceful means. Well no worries, just check out Fulghum's section on stealing gold from Fort Knox.

Thrill seekers, there's plenty of material here for you too. Good starting points are "Fly Through the Eye of a Hurricane" or "Guide and Surface a Nuclear Sub through Ice". My personal favorite is "Drive a Tank through a Tornado". Fulghum says the tank is "available from the US Army, contact the Pentagon to arrange purchase or lease". Does anyone have a phone number?

Imagine calling Fort Knox and asking the best way to break in and steal the gold. Don't have the guts for it? Don't worry, because Hunter Fulghum has done it for you. He has contacted everyone from the U.S. Dept. of Energy to his local alien experts to find out how you would do everything from Swim the English Channel to Borrow the Mona Lisa to Start an Independant Nation.

Aside from being funny and quite interesting, the book is very well written; I highly recommend it.

Great service. Condition of book was okay, but that was expected from the seller's report on the condition (very accurate report) and it was delivered in a very timely manner.

it was in good condition but should have been cheaper compared ot the condition

The book was pretty much cleaner than I expected!! All the deals went very smoothly, and I really like purchasing through Amazon.com already! Thanks for all the good deal!

The authors provide an understandable presentation of the dynamics of demand/supply, the price structure, equilibrium and concepts of elasticity. The data employed is current & this version is supported by the publisher in various prior versions , as well as, this successive version. The work has considerable technological support in the form of the CD Rom and various instructional materials.The authors provide a useful "News Analysis" to integrate current events into the text. This is very useful in providing background information for students. The problem sets are topical and challenging. There is a considerable discussion of international economics and transitional economies. Overall, the text can satisfy a wide range of student interests. i.e. Those students having a quantitative orientation will appreciate the considerable graphs throughout the text. Students having a more visual learning experience will enjoy the various news items throughout the text & the extensive discussion of basic definitions. The chapter summaries and WEB exercises are helpful in integrating the material & applying the various concepts using current technologies. This text should be employed for intensive renditions of introductory economics at the collegiate level.There is an appropriate amount of microeconomic coverage in the Principles of Macroeconomics, as well as, the more comprehensive Principles of Economics work. After having read this book, students should have a firm grasp of economics and the various data employed by industry. In addition, students will become more knowledgable on current events applicable to studies in this field. This work would provide very helpful background for further studies in Price Analysis and Econometrics (Mathematical Economics).

The authors don't know how to explain the theories in a easier way, on the contrary, they try to confuse you as much as they can. They also have all sorts of stupid examples which have nothing to do with reality. They are theorists, not good writers!

There are also many mistakes in the book. not too professional.

If your university requires this book, you do not have a chooose, but it is not a good one.

Business Basics Bestseller 1: The Easy, Interesting, Open-book Look at the Game of Business Numbers! 2nd Edition

When you seek to understand business, you can go with the long version or the short version. If you never had the financial side of a business explained to you before, you could consider "Business Basics Bestseller 1" as a 150 page starting point. This is not a suggestion that you substitute it for this book, just that you check it out as well. The BBB #1 book was written by a guy who teaches this stuff to everyone from shop floor employees to directors in companies. He's got a practical insight on how to get the right points across in a very entertaining way.

BBB #1 will introduce you to the basics of business including the terms behind the numbers and where all the financial statements and formulas come from. That's a big help before you plow into a full-fledged business text. Search for "Business Basics Bestseller 1" and add it to your consideration. It can be one of your best investments. At less than 150 pages, you can enjoyably zip through it.

When i recieved the book i recieved it very quickly and it was also in great condition! I am glad i waited those couple of days for this book instead of buying it from any bookstore! Thanks!

The text was in great condition and arrived earlier than expected. Thank you.

This book covers a lot of ground, so if it starts with some awfully basic stuff, that's okay. The only real complaint that I have is that the authors are a bit too rah-rah for my taste when discussing marketing, but then, that's probably par for the course; everybody who is into marketing tends to go overboard on the bubbly, fake energy. That, and the fact that they demonstrate an astounding lack of understanding of basic arithmetic when they assert that "while saving 2% by paying a bill early may not sound like much, doing it over the course of a year will save you 24%".

This is a great book for the student studying Business, I can't beleive how well this book was put together.

The subtitle is completely misleading, it's not "the definitive history of infinity" at all, indeed it's not even a history of infinity (actually, it only has two chapters on this subject).

The book is just another (very well written, by the way) popular science book which talks about general relativity, quantum mechanics, time-travel, big-bang, worm holes, etc. So if you have already read others books on this subject (as the ones of Kaku, Hawking, etc.) you won't find much new information.

But, in case you are really interested in a "History of Infinity", get the marvelous Rudy Rucker's book "Infinity and the Mind".

As a lay reader who's interest in math and quantum physics is limited to the "gee whiz" aspects of science, this book is a must read. There are great mind twisters and insights into the reality of math and physics. I was blown away by the discussion about calculus. Wish I had the insights when I flunked the class....may have helped!

Estoy iniciando la lectura del libro, por lo que no puedo todavía emitir una opinión global. Pero he hallado una afirmación tan errónea, que no puedo evitar comentarla. En la página 52 de la edición en español (Ediciones B, ISBN: 84-406-9582-9)dice que el Sol, "más próximo a la Tierra en verano que en invierno"... ¿Cómo?¿Desde cuándo las estaciones se relacionan con la proximidad al Sol? Como que dudo de que el Sr. Morris, todo un doctor en Física, según los créditos del libro, cometa un error tan flagrante, pienso que quizá se trate de un error de traducción. ¿O es que estoy equivocado y el Sol sí está más proximo a la Tierra en verano que en invierno?

When I picked up "Achilles in the Quantam Universe" it was soley for a school project. We were assigned to read a physics related book and "A Brief History of Time" wasn't at the library. I found, though, that once I picked it up I couldn't stop reading. Not only is it written so that anyone can understand it, Morris adds humor, anecdotes and footnotes that keep the reader immersed in the amazing accounts of historical events. Starting with Cantor, Plato and Zeno, the book moves through the discoveries of some of the world's greatest physicists. It focuses on the history of the concept of infinity, but while doing so, explains such things as the development of the idea of an electron and the charting of our solar system. He makes Galileo, Newton and Einstein seem real, as if he was a friend telling of thier experiments. The book is informative, fun and an amazing account of the history of "infinity", and I would recommend it to anyone.

Achilles in the quantum universe, was one of the best books I've read. It approached the concept of infinity in a way that the common reader could understand.

my review may be unfair, but, i ordered this book and was sent the sheet music

As a fan of Afro-Cuban music, this book allows insight into the complexity of rhythms, chords and words. The content is as authentic as it can be to the material on its CD (not included). The print is good and easy to read. The music? Great!! I only with it includes pages on the production of BVSC, maybe photos of artists or footnotes.

I recently saw the movie Buena Vista Social Club for the first time and I liked it so much that I wanted to learn more about it. That's why I ordered this book.

At first, I was a little disappointed when I received the book and found out that some of the images were low-resolution digital scans. However, after reviewing the book as a whole, I really got to like it. There are quite a few large high-resolution images that more than compensate for their low-res counterparts.

The book is mainly a photo-album which includes the transcriptions of some of the dialogs and interviews from the movie, as well as the lyrics of some of the songs (all of them translated into English).

One of the only pieces of material in this book that are not an integral part of the movie is the foreword by Wim Wenders, where he describes his whole experience of going to Cuba to make the movie. Very, very interesting to read! The other two are an interview of Ry Cooder with Peter Kemper and the biographies of the musicians.

This book is good to have around when you are having a conversation about the movie with your friends. You'll find the photos and dialogs from all the key moments in the movie.

I am a fan of Wim Wenders' work, and I loved the BVSC CD and the movie, but in all honesty, except for the intro by Wenders and the closing interview with Ry Cooder, the entire book basically consists of shots from the movie along with the dialogs by the BVSC stars and the lyrics to the songs they interpret, i.e. material that the movie and the CD already provide. Yes: I admit I had higher expectations with it. In any case, I have to say Ibrahim Ferrer's monologue toward the end, when they visit NYC for their performance at Carnegie Hall, is a very touching moment.

Buena Vista Social Club is more a coffee table addition than a serious in-depth study, but will prove a 'must' for any prior fan of the Buena Vista Social Club and Cuban music in particular. Photos, film stills and text accompany first-person capsule sketches by the participants of the BVSC group in this companion book to the film.

With the doors opening to a new world of independent moviemaking...and the resulting search for distribution, this is a must-read primer on what you need to do to prepare for possible self-distribution. Sometimes that can be more profitable than a half-baked distribution deal. Most moviemakers don't have a clue what to do after their movie is made. This book answers a bunch of those questions.

There's a host of tips on burning DVDs that Hollywood doesn't wish you to know: even if you're not making an independent video, these tips alone make THE COMPLETE DVD BOOK: DESIGNING, PRODUCING, AND MARKETING YOUR INDEPENDENT FILM ON VIDEO worth the price tag. And for those who are involved in independent filmmaking, THE COMPLETE DVD BOOK is a virtual goldmine of detail on how to produce high-quality DVDs similar to major studio products - but without the big-ticket budget. There are DVD templates, listings of designers, suppliers, distributors, tips on publicity and more: everything you need to produce a professional-quality dvd. Very highly recommended: the basic, essential reference all independent filmmakers should have close at hand.

While the subject matter in the Complete DVD Book is fairly complicated and technical, it is made much easier to understand because of the writing style, explanations, and step-by-step diagrams. The book has a tremendous amount of information, and while it gets technical in some places, it is never boring or ponderous. The Complete DVD Book is the perfect resource for those who are adept with the necessary programs and are planning on doing this more than just once or twice. Not recommended for purchase for those with very basic understanding of DVD burning software, it is a valuable tool for those who have a mid-range understanding of this software.

(...)

This book gives detailed instruction using Studio Pro, but, duh, that is software for a Mac, not a PC. It does give other info, but only about 10%. The other 90% of the book is detailed step by step instructions for using Studio Pro for Macs. If you own a Mac, go for it. If not, find another book.

Have you ever been to a party or watched a show on PBS where a very knowledgeable person expounds on some subject and you find yourself drawn in because they are a great speaker, or the subject matter is fascinating but you come away telling your partner: "Wow, that was really interesting. I have no idea what they were talking about."

That's how I felt after reading the first half of this book.

I know very little about all the technical aspects of DVD creation, authoring, processing and packaging. Frankly, I know just enough about my computer to completely fry my hard-drive (which I've done). I have used editing programs and DVD authoring programs in the past (and still use) but these are very much "over the counter" programs usually bundled with my DVD burner and extremely simple to use: Add titles, add content, stick in a DVD-R disc and push a button. Two hours later, you hope it works.

Paul J. Salamoff does an excellent job going through the step-by-step process of creating the DVD. He has thought of everything from the title colors to the hidden eggs. Using programs such as "Final Cut Pro" and "DVD Studio Pro 3" and "Adobe Photoshop," Paul goes through the meticulous step-by-step process of telling the reader how to create their DVD. Assumptions are already made. Assumption 1: You already have your film in the "can" and on your computer and assumption 2: You have a computer that can handle everything you have got.

Paul is extremely thorough and detailed from the Preparation of the Video and Audio to the layout of menus, overlays, subtitles, slide-shows and bios. It is all very fascinating - even if I do not thoroughly understand it. Though they do include dozens of screenshots and graphics.

Here, try this from the section regarding "Control Commands:" COLOR COMMANDS Use these commands to select a value between 0 and 15. These colors can be preset in DVD Studio Pro (Preferences > Color Palette). $ColorIndex1: Text Color ($ColorIndex1 = 1)

Now, if you understand that (and many others like that) - then this book is for you. If you are like me and that makes about as much sense as cotton candy on the moon - then maybe you should skip to the second section.

The second section is all about marketing your film. Dealing from everything from duplicators to distributors to foreign markets. Chris Gore goes into great detail about the hills and valleys of this process of getting your film out there in the marketplace. This section enlightened me to things that I was not familiar with when I go to my local "Best Buy" and buy "Crappy Movie 4 - SPECIAL EDITION." There is a detailed process and one you should follow if you have your film in hand and want to get it out to the marketplace.

Together Chris and Paul have done a great job of explaining pretty much everything you need to know about this process (including an EXCELLENT resource section in the back of the book). Here are a few other items I would have liked to see:

1. A section on what type of computer you are going to need including processor speed, monitor size, video card, hard-drive space, etc. If I have my film in hand, I am going to want to know what my initial investment is going to be.

2. An honest to goodness recommendation of software to use. Paul uses DVD Studio Pro 3 for authoring but says: "This is not an endorsement of DVD Studio Pro 3..." Well, gosh, why not!? I would have rather seen, straight up: Buy this type of computer and buy this type of software. There are other types of software and they do this and this and that and that - but here is why I am using and recommending this!

3. Resources by location. In the back of the book there are some resources listing out DVD Production Services and DVD Packaging Services. They're listed out alphabetically. If you are looking for one by location, you have to scan each one. It would have been excellent to include the same list via location.

If you have a film that you are ready to put on to DVD - this book is an excellent resource for you. Especially if you can understand all the technical talk. If you do not understand the technical talk, I would still suggest getting the book and the recommended programs and try to put it all together. It seems, relatively, simple. At least from what I understand.

Oh, and in all fairness to Chris and Paul, I am going to give the book to a friend of mine who has more knowledge on the technical aspects of this process (he would understand the $ColorIndex1 sentence above) and have asked him to review the book. I figure that with two authors, the book could have two reviewers. Look for his review soon.

eland does a unique thing with this book - he deconstructs the imperialism argument from every perspective. so it really feels like he's not preaching to the choir. by doing so, he strengthens his argument. no matter what your political philosophy is, this book finds a way to address you and dissuade you from supporting the american empire (it may or may not technically be one, depending on how you define it, but you know what he's talking about here). admittedly, eland is a bit more of an isolationist than i'd like, but hey, people with different political views coming to similar conclusions is a good thing! it's also a pretty easy read - you don't need to have coursework in international security or international political economy to get what he's saying.

As I said it for another book ("The New American Empire"), Ivan Eland's book "The Empire Has No Clothes" is also a great book to see through Bush's lies.

Now, George W. Bush says that he accepts responsibility for taking the U.S. to war in Iraq based on faulty intelligence. -This is all wrong.

It was not the intelligence that was faulty; it was Bush's intentions to wage war against Iraq no matter what were the intelligence and the facts. He twisted the intelligence reports and invented lies around his already decided policy.

That's why he is guilty of having launched a war of aggression on lies and deception, and on having violated, in so doing, international law. He and his neocon advisors should pray that they will never be brought before an international court of justice.

A direct, educated antithesis to the imperial warmongering of Kaplan and the like. A read that will interest anyone who is interested in preserving our declining democratic republic.

Eland challenges conventional wisdom about why so many people around the world dislike Americans--it's not who we are or what we believe, but how our government behaves. With specific chapters directed at both conservatives and liberals explaining how over-reaching US interventionism goes against their principles, there is something in this book for everyone.

The author has certainly convinced himself that in the 21st century the U.S. should think of itself as a plaintive island. I think that always in politics and governance the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Alas, this book - scholarly, heavily researched - is so stiffly one-sided that it almost impressed me as a meticulous work of mad fantasy. It is too lucid to count as manifesto but too bloodless and bland to register a real sense of thoughtulness.