Reviews (113)

Informative but casts too wide a net.
Bruce Bawer's book is informative and covers quite a lot of ground in its description of the insidious nature of radical Islam in Europe and how the political elite are more enamoured with political power over a propagandised electorate instead of applying themselves to the defence of freedom. But that is what European style government is all about despite the contemporary terrorism of radical Islam, and is--like democracy--the antithesis of freedom.
While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West
Hardly a more timely subject can be found.Perhaps long overdue, if you want to educate and inform yourself about what is really going on behind the press headlines, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

Thoughtful, but exaggerates Europe's fate
Having lived in Europe for a few years, I can safely say that the extreme liberal PC policies of "Sure! Anyone can live here!" mentality towards immigration have lead to a dangerously large anti-European Muslim population. This will be a large issue for the continent in the current century, but is Europe going to become part of a monstrous Islamic Calliphate? Highly doubtful
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Europe    4. Islam - General    5. Islamic Government    6. Islamic Studies    7. Islamic fundamentalism    8. Muslims    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    11. Public Opinion And Foreign Policy    12. Public Policy - Social Policy    13. Public opinion    14. Religion    15. Religion, Politics & State    16. Sociology    17. Political Science / Social Policy   

Editorial Review

Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Robert "Buzz" Patterson was a military aide to President Clinton from May 1996 to May 1998 and one of five individuals entrusted with carrying the "nuclear football"—the bag containing the codes for launching nuclear weapons. This responsibility meant that he spent a considerable amount of time next to the president, giving him a unique perspective on the Clinton administration. Though he arrived at the job "filled with professional devotion and commitment to serve," he left believing that Clinton had "sown a whirlwind of destruction upon the integrity of our government, endangered our national security, and done enormous harm to the American military in which I served." Read more

Reviews (471)

You elected him, TWICE!?!
I'm not a very political guy as a rule of thumb, so when I bought this book I was determined to read it quickly.Turns out, that wasn't a problem.I read the book, then read it a second time, then went back and read the parts I had underlined.
A tale of virtue dealing with slovens
This book provides details about the Clinton Administration which are shocking.Indeed, they are horrifying: how could the President have delayed a critical decision because he was WATCHING GOLF?
Clinton helpedterroism flourish
This book shows the real Clinton as eyewitnessed by one of his closest friends.Clinton used and abused his power and the people of this country while he was in office and he is still basking in the limelight.What a shame he was as he led this country down the road to almost obliteration.This is a must read for conservatives and liberals. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1946-    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Clinton, Bill,    5. Government - Executive Branch    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. History    8. Military leadership    9. Military policy    10. National security    11. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    12. Political Science    13. Politics / Current Events    14. Politics/International Relations    15. Presidents    16. Public Policy - Social Policy    17. United States    18. Biography & Autobiography / Presidents    19. Central government policies    20. Social welfare & social services    21. USA    22. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (30)

Obviously not everyone is going to like your book
It's rare you see such gushing praise for an essay collection, more impressive is the average length of these Amazon reviews.It seems the reviewers like to look at their own words as much as this author does.
A merited dystopian view of our declining culture
Theodore Dalrymple (Anthony Daniels in real life) has been viewing the bottom of British culture for many years as a psychiatrist and social commentator. As a psychiatrist, Dalrymple practiced in a prison and at a hospital in Birmingham, England. Nearly all his patients are from what can be fairly considered the "lower class" in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries.
An important cultural critique
Theodore Dalrymple is a top-notch English commentator and a gifted essayist. The articles featured here represent some of his best and most recent writings. The volume is divided into two major sections: arts and letters, and society and politics.
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Subjects:  1. Books & Reading    2. Civilization, Modern    3. Culture    4. General    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism    6. Philosophy    7. Social Science    8. Social problems    9. Sociology    10. Cultural studies    11. Political Science / Social Policy    12. Social Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Public Policy - Social Policy    2. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    3. Social Policy    4. Social Science    5. Social Situations And Conditions    6. Social conditions    7. Social problems    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - General    10. United States    11. Social Science / Sociology / General    12. Social issues   

Reviews (18)

Hayek--Orwell's Mentor
At the height of socialist popularism in England, cir. 1944,George Orwell, a leading proponent of socialism, believing in its promises as did many,if not most of Eurpose's leading intellectuals and politicians, wrote a review of Hayek's famous book, "The Road to Serfdom."Orwell wrote the review in the "Observer," London April 9,1944.
Brilliant, timeless classic
The Constitution of Liberty is "a comprehensive restatement of the basic principles of a philosophy of freedom" (p. 3).It is often considered the magnum opus of Hayek's political writings, even if The Road to Serfdom is perhaps better known.
Shows why there is no elsewhere elsewhere
This is a book that can be right in ways that confound all expertise, a basic text of political economy, brilliant enough to summarize all the mistakes of the twentieth century while they were still happening.With an author born in Europe, aware of a society with classes based on great wealth, where culture was largely the activity of a few thousand incredibly intelligent people, but, due to a bestseller of his own, exposed to the dynamic economic growth of postwar America, teaching in an offbeat center like the University of Chicago, concerned about liberty, law, "The Decline of Socialism and the Rise of the Welfare State," Social Security, and utterly convinced of his main point:the necessity for taxation to pay for whatever benefits a government can contrive.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History & Theory - General    3. History - General History    4. Liberty    5. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Public Policy - Social Policy    9. Rule of law    10. Social policy    11. Constitution: government & the state    12. Political Science / History & Theory   

Reviews (4)

Delivered as promised and in great condition
It came a bit slower than expected (say 2 weeks, when I was expecting to get it in one), but overall I was very pleased with the transaction.

Easy Read that Explains How Policy is Made
I am taking a course in Health Policy and the Political System and opted to use this book instead of that recommended by my professor. This book examined all the important aspects of policy making - paying close attention to the political actors - and has helped tremendously in my understanding of the politics surrounding health policy.

Best book in print on the health policy process
I have used this book for a number of years now in a class I teach on the Politics of Health Policy (along with Kingdon's classic). It provides an excellent overview of how health policy is made and the politics around it, drawing on both the academic literature as well as recent policies. The second edition is heavily revised from the first and contains up to date examples. An excellent academic overview of the health policy process. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Health Care Delivery    2. Health Policy    3. Medical    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Medical policy    6. Politics    7. Public Policy - Social Policy    8. United States    9. Health systems & services    10. History / Europe / General    11. Medical / Health Policy    12. Medical-Health Care Delivery    13. Political Science-Public Policy - Social Policy    14. Political science & theory    15. USA   

Reviews (2)

The only textbook I've ever enjoyed
I'm a first-semester MSW student.I don't have a background in social work or the social sciences, so I may be way off when I say that this is the most informative textbook that I've ever read.(Mind you, I'd stil rather be reading something by Howard Zinn or Jared Diamind.)Every page teaches me something new.If it has organizational problems, I haven't noticed, because reading it is so engrossing.

Very poor text book
I'm in a MSW program and this text book was part of the reading material. For a text book, its poorly written. The book jumps from topic to topic and does not have a clear flow from one subject to anouther. Items are misplaced and the information is difficult to find. In my class of 25 student there was no one who was happy with this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Assessment, Testing & Measurement    2. Developmental - General    3. Psychology    4. Public Policy - Social Policy    5. Social Psychology    6. Social Work    7. Political Science / Social Policy    8. Sociology, Social Studies   

Editorial Review

According to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, America currently faces five threats that could undermine, if not eliminate, the United States if immediate steps are not taken to correct them. The threats as he sees them are Islamic terrorists and rogue dictatorships armed with nuclear or biological weapons; the removal of God from American public life; a loss of patriotism and sense of America's history; a decline in economic supremacy because of poor science and math education; and the increasing budgetary burden of Social Security and Medicare. To tackle these problems, Gingrich offers his "21st Century Contract with America," which he outlines in great detail in this bold and thought-provoking book. His updated contract, which comes a decade after the original Republican Contract with America that marked the high point of Gingrich's national power, calls for a dramatically simplified tax code that favors savings and investment; government investment in science and technology, particularly regarding space, energy, and the environment; transforming Social Security into personal savings accounts; overhauling the civil justice system to reduce the burden of lawsuits; and updating the federal government, including the privatization of some functions, so that it moves at the speed and effectiveness of the information age. And that's just the beginning. He also calls for tripling the size of America's intelligence community, reforming its election system, developing a more intelligent health care system that creates jobs and increases quality of life, and balancing the federal budget. Read more

Reviews (72)

Common Sense
Newt Gingrich presents common sense solutions to the pressing issues of our day in a clear concise and easily understood manner.This book should be required reading for all civics and history classes in high school and college.If the policies Dr. Gingrich proposes could be implemented, the US would not only become the shining city on a hill, it would also become, far and away, the world's most powerful economy throughout the next fifty years with prosperity for all Americans who chose to join the ownership society he envisions.

NEWT '08
I long ago gave up on both mainstream American political parties, and do NOT cast my vote for candidates on whether they have a "D" or an "R" behind their name (and it's usually a vote for the lesser of two evils), but I have long been fascinated by the voracious intellect and diversity of issues that the former US Representative from Georgia has addressed throughout his public career; and this book is no different. From taxes, healthcare and defense to God in the marketplace of ideas, former Speaker Gingrich not only points out a plethora of challenges facing America (both today, and in the future), but, unlike most politicians, he offers bold and thoughtful ideas for addressing these problems before its to late.
This man is a visionary and a genius
If only Washington could embrace the ideas laid out in this book.
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Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. Conservatism    3. Economic Policy    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics and government    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Public Policy - Economic Policy    11. Public Policy - General    12. Public Policy - Social Policy    13. Social Policy    14. United States    15. Political Science / Political Parties   

Reviews (1)

I shot this book then burned what was left
I was forced to read this book for the written portion of my Sergeant promotional exam.I have a BA in Criminal Justice and a BA in Psychology.This is the worst textbook I have ever read. The authors have so little information to impart, that they quote themselves from other chapters! After sifting through the c_ _ p in this book, I now have a clear understanding of what community policing actually is:People are too stupid to fix their own problems and are unable to rely on their elected leaders, so the police must pick up the slack.In this book, you could just as easily substitute Mail Woman, Garbage Man, or Cable TV Repairman for Police Man.As you read, you find out that you have been a terrible police officer.Further, the only way to fix yourself is to read this book and internalize its junk.Simply put, community policing is a way for your department to get federal funding.Next time someone asks you to fix a social problem, tell them that their elected local representative, home owner's association, town council, or governer is responsible for those concerns, not the police.Though, you will be glad to lock up their neighbor for kicking his dog. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Community policing    3. Criminal Procedure    4. Criminology    5. Police-community relations    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Public Policy - Social Policy    9. Sociology    10. United States    11. Law / Criminal Procedure    12. Police & security services   

Reviews (4)

An indispensible manual for social change today
This book, full of anecdotes from successful community organizations, is chockful of helpful advice, whether you're part of an organization seeking social change, or you are an individual interested in how people are effecting change in today's political climate.The worksheets on campaign planning and the chapter on media are particularly helpful.I highly recommend it.

You can change the world!
I really found this book both inspiring and realistic.Sen acknowledges the challenges (especially in today's political climate) but lays out what it takes to get the job done. Her practical, real-world guidance walks you through organizing your local community to help achieve change and get results on the issues you care about.

This is a must-have book for social change organizers!
Given the critical importance of social change today, it is stunning that most of the recent books on community organizing focus on personal reflections and sociological analyses instead of giving us the whole package.In "Stir It Up," Rinku Sen manages to squeeze a powerful vision, racial and social justice analysis, profiles of organizing groups, a detailed contact list of organizations and networks, and tools for creating real change into two hundred pages.This is a watershed book for the social justice organizing movement, illuminating the principles and practices that ground multi-racial, social justice, racial justice, and direct action organizations that have developed in the past twenty-five years.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Community development    4. Community organization    5. Community power    6. Nonprofit Organizations & Charities    7. Political Advocacy    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Public Policy - Social Policy    10. Social action    11. United States    12. Business & Economics / Nonprofit Organizations & Charities    13. Community care    14. Organizational theory & behaviour   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Public Policy - Social Policy    3. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    4. Public Welfare Work    5. Public welfare    6. Social Science    7. Social Welfare Policies And Programs    8. Social Work    9. Social policy    10. Social service    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. Political Science / Social Services & Welfare    14. Social welfare & social services   

Reviews (3)

Much too american for the Canadian Social Worker
I purchased this very expensive, yet thin paperback text for a social policy University course.The book is well written, but the perspectives are so American that I question the usefulness for a Canadian student of the subject. Great Book
Given the history of this book, it is almost a classic. No course on Welfare policy could not refer to it.

On of the best introductions to social work policy ever.
This is an excellent book. I've used it in undergraduate (and graduate) courses here at the University of Chicago and have been VERY pleased with the result. Colleagues at Berkeley (where Professors Terrell and Gilbert teach) use it as well. It is quite possibly the most complete text on the subject I've ever used ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Political Science    2. Politics / Current Events    3. Politics/International Relations    4. Public Policy - Social Policy    5. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    6. Public welfare    7. Social Welfare Policies And Programs    8. Social choice    9. Social policy    10. United States    11. Political Science / Social Services & Welfare    12. Social welfare & social services   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (81)

Learning How To Think for Yourself
This book is a full-frontal assault on a very wide range of issues: Chomsky is a brilliant man and his intellect cuts across many domains with ease. If his ideas are ever discredited (they have stood up pretty well so far - Chomsky has debated numerous members of establishment and they are always heavily outmatched by Chomsky's towering intellect and wealth of facts), Chomsky's gift to humanity will be that we must always question what we are told by those who hold power. If he is right (which he probably is, at least on some levels), perhaps we can look forward to a society (a socialist-libertarian style democracy) like the one Chomsky describes in his lectures. My own impression of his ideas is that his propaganda model is the strongest of his ideas and it is very hard to disprove. It amounts to a truism: those in power will not do things to undermine their own power. And those in power right now happen to be big transnational corporations. As far as the book as a whole, it is invaluable and not to read it is to surrender yourself to some pretty big illusions. There's nothing wrong with disagreeing with Chomsky (quite the opposite), but you have to read him first (which most of the negative reviewers seem not to have done at all) and this book is the best place to start.

The Truth The Establishment Tries To Hide
"Understanding Power" contains so much discussion, dialogue, and exchange of information that there isn't a way to cover even 10% of what's in the book.A good bang for the buck.Whether newcomer to Noam or well-read of him, you can do further research on the topics discussed in this book, on your own."Understanding Power" contains a comprehensive index. The editing, footnoting, and referencing is superb.
Chomsky's vile bile
Noam Chomsky has thrived greatly in this great country of his, yours, and mine - the United States of America.He has made millions of dollars teaching, lecturing, selling his books, and investing.His world-wide fame in psycholinguistics is well-deserved.His infamy is merited for his lack of loyalty to his own Jewish ethnicity and the U.S., in spite of the fruits he has received by being a citizen of the United States.He has repaid this country in bile with his incredibly biased analysis of American foreign policy.He goes way beyond a balanced multiculturism, when he always ranks the U.S. and Israel as foremost among the terrorist forces in the world now, and even in history.His distrust of any authority, benign or otherwise, is reflected in his dogmatic and unexamined support of the "underdog," even if that underdog is a suicide bomber or a major terrorist organization such as Al Queda or Hezbollah.
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Subjects:  1. Chomsky, Noam    2. Current Affairs    3. History & Theory - General    4. Interviews    5. Modern State    6. Political    7. Political Process - Leadership    8. Political and social views    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Public Policy - Social Policy   

Reviews (2)

reflects American social attitudes
Jansson describe the evolution of the US welfare state over 200 hundreds. He shows how it grew from the frontier mentality that so shaped American society and thought. Then, going into the Progressive Era and into the Great Depression and the New Deal, we see how the society adapted to changing expectations of need. Aided by a continually rising productivity that enabled the country to be able to afford ever more generous welfare.
An easy, but highly biased read.
Jansson's book doesn't read like most textbooks and is easy to follow. However, seldom does a more biased text come along. Jansson is clearly a liberal who feels that any Republican president or politician has no compassion for the poor or downtrodden. While throwing in a few light token criticisms of politicians like Bill Clinton, he mainly bashes Reagan, both Bushes, Newt Gingrich, etc. with opinionated claims such as positing that Ronald Reagan disliked poor people because he grew up in a family without much money and had a father who was an alcoholic. If you're looking for liberal ideology, this is your kind of book. If you want a book that explains the facts of social policy minus the irrelavant partisan opinions, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. History    3. Politics / Current Events    4. Public Policy - Social Policy    5. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    6. Public welfare    7. Social Science    8. Social Work    9. Social conditions    10. Social policy    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. Political Science / Social Policy    14. Social issues   

Reviews (4)

A solid argument stating that not everybody requires extensive health care
Crisis Of Abundance: Rethinking How We Pay For Health Care by professional economist Arnold Kling is an in-depth and informative study of the American health care system and the troubling attributes which, when analyzed, require change if a worsening national crisis in health care is to be avoided. Offering a series of observational-based descriptive analysis as to current health care system stresses, Crisis Of Abundance presents a solid argument stating that not everybody requires extensive health care. Crisis Of Abundance is to be given high praise and very strongly recommended for its iconoclastic yet informative presentation of critically important issues surrounding the present and deepening crisis in American health care, as well as the cultural and political issues affecting attempts at reform.
No Other Book Like This
Health care is a diffiuclt issue for people to discuss honestly today. Arnold Kling has done something rare -- he has provided an honest and objective account of the problems with our current health care system. No matter what your political orientation, there will be material in this book that will bother you -- which suggests he is on to something. Highly recommended.

Well worth reading
If you've ever wondered why health care is so expensive in America, Kling will fill you in. Despite what many of us believe(d), it's not because of greedy pharmas or wasteful paperwork - as Kling shows, those ideas just don't hold water to explain the obscene cost hikes in recent years. Kling makes a great case that what has caused our problems is what he calls "premium medicine" - or health care spending whose cost exceeds its benefit.
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Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. Health Care    3. Health Policy    4. Health care reform    5. Medical care, Cost of    6. Medical economics    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Public Policy - General    11. Public Policy - Social Policy    12. Social Policy    13. United States    14. Non-Classifiable   

Subjects:  1. Development - Business Development    2. Philosophy & Social Aspects    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Public Policy - Social Policy    7. 21st century    8. Development economics    9. Development studies    10. International economics    11. Reference works   

Subjects:  1. Human Services    2. Politics / Current Events    3. Public Policy - General    4. Public Policy - Social Policy    5. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    6. Public welfare    7. Social Policy    8. Social Science    9. Social Welfare Policies And Programs    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Social Science / General    13. Social Sciences   

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Public Policy - Social Policy    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Sociology - Social Theory    6. Crime & criminology    7. Cultural studies    8. Social Science / Criminology    9. World history: postwar, from c 1945 -   

Reviews (19)