Reviews (58)

Highly readable, useful, and even inspiring
What happens when an organization needs to change (if it hopes to be successful in the future) but hasn't put much thought into what the process of change itself looks like?More than likely: failure.
Read it too late
This book is excellent for anyone going through or planning to make changes in any organization. The material is straight forward, concise, and right on target. I only wish I had read this book last year before attempting to make major changes in our organization

Very Helpful
I would recommend this book to any manager who is currently leading an organizational change effort. It's very practical. Kotter's Eight Steps are easy to follow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Entrepreneurship    5. Industrial organization    6. Leadership    7. Leadership In Business    8. Organization Development    9. Organizational change    10. Strategic planning    11. Structural Adjustment    12. Business strategy    13. Organizational theory & behaviour   

Reviews (5)

Not only politicians but also voters need to upgrade their savvy
In _Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business_ (1985), Neil Postman (1931-2003) detailed the decline of public discourse in the Age of Television.
Starts Out Good, then slides downhill -
"The Way to Win" professes to provide campaign secrets from both the Clintons and Bushes (read Rove).In reality, it offers little in the way of secrets, though it starts off well by describing the reality of the New Media "Freak Show."
Sharp political analysis for the political junkie
The Way to Win is a very good book.I bought it when I needed something to read on the train from D.C. to New York.I was pleasantly surprised by its readability and insights.The Way to Win is a well-thought out, timely, at times fascinating exposition of not just what it will take to win the presidency in 2008, but more broadly how the drastic changes to the way news is reported in this country will affect national politics in the future.The authors' analysis of this new media age, which they dub the "Freak Show," is probably the book's most useful contribution, even more so than their assortment of "trade secrets" to prospective presidential contenders.
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Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. 2008    3. 21st century    4. Election    5. Government - Executive Branch    6. Government - General    7. Political Parties    8. Political Process - Elections    9. Political Process - Political Parties    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics and government    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Presidents    15. U.S. Presidential Elections    16. United States    17. Political Science / Political Parties   

Reviews (346)

POWERFUL. Great insight, well documented, very disturbing

The Comparisons are Glaring
This book obliterates simplistic, politically correct views about Islam.The word-for-word comparisons between the teachings of Muhammed and the teachings of Christianity, Buddhism, and other religions, are stunning.Take, for example, the famous story of Jesus' intervention when a crowd was about to stone an adulterous woman.His words, to let the person "who is without sin cast the first stone", sent the mob retreating in shame.He then told the woman to, "Go and sin no more."As the autor quotes from the Quran, Muhammed was confronted with a similar situation.A pregnant adulterous woman had come to him requesting that he pray with her for forgiveness.He sent her away until the baby was born.When she came back months later, he sent her away until the child was weened.When she came back as directed, he took the child and gave it to one of his men as a gift.Muhammed then ordered the mother buried up to her shoulders and stoned to death.It really is time for media pundits, college professors, and self-serving politicos to stop making shallow moral equivalence statements about Islam, the Quran, and the Crusades.This book needs to be read and studied by those who now are in a position to give away our birthright.It took the ancient Greeks, the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Magna Carta, the U.S. Constitution, and hundreds of years of Western Civilization to produce the most beneficent and free society in history.Here, Muslims and others can practice their beliefs without fear.We must insist that spokesmen and apologists for Islam demand that this "religion of peace" grant its neighbors the same rights the Western democracies have gladly given to them.Read the book.Its an eye-opener.

Good information ruined by biased commentary
This is an interesting book in that it does have valuable information regarding Islam and misconceptions regarding Islam.
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Subjects:  1. Controversial literature    2. Crusades    3. Islam    4. Islam - General    5. Islam - History    6. Islamic History    7. Jihad    8. Religion    9. Religion - World Religions    10. Political Science / General   

Reviews (7)

you shall love your neighbor as yourself
Danforth follows the teachings of Jesus in this moderate and sensible discussion of the extremes theocons go to in following an badly distorted religion that has little to do with NT Christianity.Danforth makes the point much less emphatically than that, always willing to give evangelicals more than the benefit of the doubt. Nevertheless, the gun-totin' execution-advocatin'tax-hatin' theocons bear no resemblance to the Jesus of the bible who advised against using weapons, stopped an execution, and in Lukehas only hard words for the rich and those who pursue wealth.
Where's the Democrat Doing the Same?
In terms of extreme partisanship, Danforth has nailed the problems with the modern Republican Party on the head.The greatest confusion on this issue, however, rests in the assumption that the most vociferous opponents of the Republicans are somehow different.They are fanatical too, and in a profoundly quasi-religious way. Righteousness is now at the core of both party bases.
Politics and Faithyness
In 1909, G.K. Chesterton recognized the danger of Episcopalianism ceasing to be a religion without ceasing to be a church.Mr. Danforth, who publicly dons the mantle of credibility as a former Episcopalian clergyman, seems to be a perfect example of this unfortunate decline.The kernel is gone but he clings to the shell.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity and politics    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    4. Political Process - Political Parties    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Religion And Politics    9. Religion, Politics & State    10. United States    11. Political Science / Political Parties   

Editorial Review

Barack Obama's first book, Read more

Reviews (8)

Obama Wraps His Personal Journey Around His Political Beliefs With Refreshing Authenticity
As the acknowledged rising star of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama has done an admirable job in maintaining the precarious balance between being a media lightning rod and a largely unproven senator out to establish his record. While it may speak to the current vacuity in the party's leadership, Hillary Clinton aside, Obama certainly cannot be underestimated for the political acumen he has displayed during key high-attention moments like his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He wrote an insightful personal memoir over a decade ago before entering politics, "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance", which I read a couple of years back and thought was quite lucidly written if rather guarded in exploring his racial dichotomy.
A prelude to the White House

STRAIGHT TALK, IMPRESSIVE IDEAS FROM A MAN POISED FOR THE FUTURE!
Five SAGACIOUS Stars!! Senator Barack Obama shows in this highly personal reflection that he is a man of great IDEALS and iDEAS. Indeed, he appears to be more 'statesman' than 'politician'. The book is almost conversational in tone, making it easy to read. Senator Obama's own written words anoint him as a man possibly poised on the edge of greatness, when we all want new political 'heroes', Republican as well as Democrat (and Independents like myself). He is a relatively young Democratic Senator from the great state of Illinois with the name recognition of a much older politician, nationally and internationally.In Africa and in the US, he hasalmost 'rock star' status among certain groups.
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Subjects:  1. African American legislators    2. Biography    3. Essays    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. Government - Legislative Branch    6. Legislators    7. National characteristics, American    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Blacks    12. U.S. Senate    13. United States    14. Current Events / Political   

Editorial Review

Essayist and cultural critic Barbara Ehrenreich has always specialized in turning received wisdom on its head with intelligence, clarity, and verve. With some 12 million women being pushed into the labor market by welfare reform, she decided to do some good old-fashioned journalism and find out just how they were going to survive on the wages of the unskilled--at $6 to $7 an hour, only half of what is considered a living wage. So she did what millions of Americans do, she looked for a job and a place to live, worked that job, and tried to make ends meet. Read more

Reviews (979)

Next week on The Simple Life, Barb joins Paris and Nicole for shift work at the local Wallyworld!
She Made It Even Harder To Get By
Ehrenreich is the kind of journalist I despise. One who thinks her insights are so important that it doesn't matter how much she inconveniences others to make her point.
Bring your own grain of salt.
This is not a bad book, but it's not a good one. Although I certainly gained some insight from reading this book, I was disappointed (and surprised) by Ms. Ehrenreich's (or the editor's?) lack of fact-checking/ attention to detail, and/or embellishment.
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Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. Labor    3. Labor & Industrial Relations - General    4. Labor Economics (General)    5. Minimum wage    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Poverty    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Sociology - Social Theory    11. United States    12. Unskilled labor    13. Labour economics    14. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (823)

You can't judge a book by its cover!
I saw the cover of this book and thought it must be one of the new plethora of diet and workout books.This conclusion reached due to the way Ms. Coulter is dressed.
Thank GOD, a taste of their own medicine.
Ann Coulter is witty and insightful. The liberals want to throw stone and claim separation of church and state. That's because even a Satanist would cringe at their ultra left views. The liberals are finally getting what they're giving and they just can't handle it. Anyone who has actually taken the time to read this book as opposed to simply reading the Liberal talking points would have to say it's at the very least factual. Less than can be said about the near plagiarism of the less witty, less intelligent, less factual attack on this book.
Ann Coulter
"Hackneyed, nonsensical, pablum. I am sure if her contituents were capable of intelligent thought ..."
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Subjects:  1. 1989-    2. Conservatism    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Liberalism    5. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    6. Political Process - Political Parties    7. Political Psychology    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics and government    11. Politics/International Relations    12. United States    13. Political Science / Political Parties   

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   

Reviews (156)

Fun to read, not too indepth, but Stossell entertains for sure!
John Stossel's Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity is a great book in which the 20/20 anchor tackles myths that prevail in society and are often taken as fact and refutes all of them with facts of his own.The chapters are broken down into myths about health, medicine, government, relationships, business, etc.These myths aren't just those such as you shouldn't swim after you eat (although that is in there.)Stossel tackles myths that cost money and lives and have been around so long they have been accepted as truth.For example, malaria, a desease that takes thousans of lives in Africa, could be easily combated with the Pesticide DDT.DDT was banned many years ago because fraudulent data reported it as cancerous.Food could be much healthier if it was treated with radiation, but radiation sounds bad so minority special interest groups have fought to have it banned.
Forget much of what you think is true!
John Stossel's first book, GIVE ME A BREAK,got me thinking about
Clear, excellent example of bias
I love this book.I teach a class that includes a component on critical thinking, and I've had trouble finding clear examples of authors who are able to all of the following in one argument: (a) use bias in choosing the facts they present, (b) mischaracterize the meanings of these facts, (c) mischaracterize counter arguments, AND (d) reason incorrectly about what their already selective premises.But now I've found plenty of examples here.
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Subjects:  1. Common fallacies    2. Government - State & Provincial    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Political Process - General    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology (General)    9. Sociology - General    10. Political Science / General   

Reviews (96)

Required reading
Ron writes another riveting story of 'The Decider' aka GW Bush.Everyone should read this book, particularly those who voted for him in 2000 and again in 2004.Anyone with a logical brain and half history of the ME Region could anticipate that the foray into Iraq was misguided at best and a breach of trust at worst.America will need years to recover from this Fiasco (another fine book) as well as all the lives and money squandered in this poor attempt at a war on terror.

Docudrama
This book is a "docudrama" where real people are placed in scenes with words and thoughts given to them.The book comes with no notes or references.Though most of it rings true, the reader cannot tell fact from fiction.The story-line seems plausible about a large organization facing a large new challenge, regaining its balance and developing a strategy to counter it.For someone to write a book of this nature, he would have had to interview many of the players, but you don't know who.I got a sense that the vast majority of the interviewees were middle level.Their frustrations with their upper management through all of this turbulence come through pretty clearly.
The 'one percent solution' says it all.
My take on this book is that we have lost personal liberties and have been deluded into believing that we are actually safer now than we were before 9/11. This book was outstanding. I have never been so embarrased at having voted for a politician TWICE as I was after reading this book. We have been so manipulated!
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Subjects:  1. Political Freedom & Security - Intelligence    2. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    3. Political Science    4. Political Terrorism    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Prevention    8. Terrorism    9. U.S. Government - Intelligence Agencies    10. United States    11. War on Terrorism, 2001-    12. History / General   

Reviews (16)

The sad truth
This book is about the destruction of our country by elected officials and Big Business "Interests."
Thom hits the nail on the head in all but this: education
Education in this country is big business and is so hopelessly institutionalized (that is, it has become an institution) Institutions are self-perpetuating.It is extremely difficult--if not impossible--to change anything about an institution, let alone eliminate it, because the individuals currently occupying places in the institution no longer have much to do with it. The institution sustains itself despite any particular complement of workers within it. Yes, individuals in positions to direct policy and command the workforce can fiddle with some things, but the institution itself will go on. (Note that major legislation affecting schools comes several layers above a district superintendent or even the schools board.)Thus, what Thom is saying about "fixing the schools" or "change the way we are teaching" is way off the mark. Teachers are drones within that institution of public education. The best of teachers can sometimes "make a difference" for one or two kids a year. But because of the context of schooling--one teacher, 35 kids, classes rotating in and out every 45 minutes--the young minds are dumbed down and rigidified such that critical/creating thinking is not only impossible, it is prohibited.
Must reading
This book by Thom Hartmann should be required reading in every school in the United States.He lays out concisely what our country has done and needs to do to have a Democracy and a middle class and clearly demonstrates how the so called conservatives now and all the way back to the founding of the nation haave tried to destroy democracy and the middle class in favor of corporatocracy and an elite ruling class.Simple to follow and understand.The book really puts everything into a clear perspective.
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Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Economic Conditions    3. Economic Policy    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Freedom & Security - General    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Public Policy    10. Public Policy - Economic Policy    11. Social Classes    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    13. Political Science / Civics    14. USA   

Reviews (66)

Highly recommended.
Failed States: The Abuse Of Power And The Assault On Democracy is a stinging criticism of American arrogance and its failures to live up to the spirit of democracy by esteemed linguistics and philosophy president Noam Chomsky. In an era where the United States repeatedly asserts its right to use military might against 'failed states' around the globe, Noam Chomsky reveals the dangerous features that the United States shares with other failed states - nations that are unable or unwilling 'to protect their citizens from violence and perhaps even destruction' and 'regard themselves as beyond the reach of domestic or international law.' Failed states, Chomsky observes, are characterized by a 'democratic deficit' that leeches any real democratic substance from their governmental institutions.
Seven Excellent Suggestions!
The United States is not the foremost example in the world of a failed state. However, in the process of trying to mak