Reviews (81)

Solid, mostly objective reporting
I have read several of Woodward's previous works, and found this to be a solid piece of reporting, wrapped and shaped to provide believeable characterizations of the players.I was not particularly surprised by much in the book, since a lot of it was clearly in the public domain press and television.But, Woodward has managed to fill in additional details to provide a soild context for the 10-second sound bites we get from the White House, and others.
I'm a Republican and I liked it
I have read all of Bob Woodward's books going back to the early-80's, The Brethren - which was not very good. I have consistently found him to be fact-based and fair in his reporting and analysis. I read this one twice.
What are we going to do about it?
While reading this book, which is about the fifth one I have read that basically says the same things about Bush and this war, and which I agree with and appreciate having authors tell me about, but when is someone going to write a book with advice about what we can do about it? All this talk just frustrates me. The points made in this book cannot fail to upset any reasonable taxpaying US citizen. I love the way they are presented but to be honest, I couldn't finish the book.It was just making me feel sick and helpless to do anything. What can we do besides read books about it? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. Government - Executive Branch    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Iraq War, 2003    5. National security    6. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. United States    12. History / Modern / 21st Century   

Reviews (53)

A Bombshell full of information!
Everyone needs to read this! Very informative and clears up a lot of questions, and Jerome Corsi and Mike Evans are the right ones to answer them. I'm glad I purchased this one!

Make Israel 51 st state!!!
10 STARS!!!
courageous
Not exactly what our itching ears want to hear... but well researched and courageous. Do we dare NOT read and consider the implications of this information? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. International Relations (General)    2. International Relations - General    3. International cooperation    4. Iran    5. Iran - History    6. Middle East - Iran    7. Nuclear arms control    8. Nuclear nonproliferation    9. Nuclear weapons    10. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    11. Political Science    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Political Science / General   

Reviews (64)

A Beautiful and Heartbreaking Read
Lawrence Wright, whose 2003 New Yorker profile of Ayman al-Zawahiri is still the best source for biographical info on the al-Qaeda number two, has written an exceptional book on the development of al-Qaeda over the years leading up to 9/11.
YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY TO READ THIS BOOK!
I tyically read novels rather than non-fiction, so I put off reading this book for a while when a friend of mine gave me a copy. Finally, I got to the bottom of my stack and I just finished it. I am so glad I took the time and strayed from my normal fare. Informative, yet gripping, I learned volumes about the situation in the world from Mr. Wright's thoughful and timely book. Regardless of your political persuasion, I highly recommend reading this book!

detailed, yet entertaining....very well written!
Mr. Wright has made sense of the senseless by effectively tracing the roots of the Islamic terrorism which led to 9/11. His research paid off and the reader will find this book both easy to read and hard to put down. The best book I have read on the subject thus far. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Government policy    2. History - U.S.    3. Intelligence service    4. Islamic Philosophy    5. Political Freedom & Security - Intelligence    6. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    7. Political Science    8. Political Terrorism    9. Politics/International Relations    10. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    11. Terrorism    12. United States    13. United States - 21st Century    14. Current Events / General   

Editorial Review

Sam Harris cranks out blunt, hard-hitting chapters to make his case for why faith itself is the most dangerous element of modern life.And if the devil's in the details, then you'll find Satan waiting at the back of the book in the very substantial notes section where Harris saves his more esoteric discussions to avoid sidetracking the urgency of his message. Read more

Reviews (622)

deeply ingrained religious baggage
This is a provocative book - intentionally so - that hits the mark pretty much dead on.Harris argues with patient reason and considerable humor that we, as a nation and a global culture, have suffered terribly as a result of our deeply ingrained religious baggage.He argues persuasively for us to free ourselves of these persistent belief systems in order to rise above the intolerance and ignorance they too often promote.Most readers will be challenged, and many offended, by these arguments, but they will find it difficult to rationally refute them without lapsing into defenses of their preconceived belief systems.I found the book weakest in its stretch to address consciousness, and to contrast mysticism with religion, but these are relatively minor quibbles that detract only somewhat from the broad suite of empirical evidence Harris brings to the table (augmented with over 60 pages of supporting notes).The sooner we turn the corner on the road Harris lays out, the better we will all be in the long run.

Religion versus Spirituality
Harris is doing what so many are trying to do.He has reached a point in his life when the religion of spirituality doesn't make sense, yet his spiritual religion does.Religion is an institutionalized remedy used to control the masses, usually through fear, and that institution has nothing to do with faith.Religion and terror are key words, but Harris misses the most important part of being human, that we have a choice to be religious and therefore subjected to the terror of this institution, or to recognize our spirit as part of the the true "religion", non-denominational, non-secular, and therefore truly faithful. We need this book because it forces the questions and definition of religion versus spirituality.Pair this with "God Winks"and "Forget The Cures, Find The Cause," and we may actually get a spiritual education.

disappointing, says one anti-theist
while I looked forward to reading this I was immediately disappointed to discover that the author is in fact
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Subjects:  1. Comparative Religion    2. Controversial literature    3. General    4. International Relations - General    5. Movements - Rationalism    6. Philosophy    7. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Psychology, Religious    10. Religion    11. Religious aspects    12. Terrorism    13. Current Events / General    14. Miscellaneous Items    15. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (34)

Brigitte Gabriel for President!!!!!!!!!!!
First off, she is amazing.Her courage, truth, wisdom, and awareness make her the person that she is.She shows the truth about radical Islam, and about the Palestinian society and how they manipulate the media and their people to hate Israel.There is not one thing that comes out of her mouth that I don't agree with.And I'm not kidding when I say I want her as my president!Anyways, the book is amazing and very easy to read and understand.She can definetely change the world.

An excellent book
Normally, I'm not all that fond of anecdotal nonfiction.But I think Brigitte Gabriel has done a fine job with this book.
Fantasic and very disturbing. A GREAT READ

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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Islam    5. Lebanon    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    8. Reference    9. Religious aspects    10. Terrorism    11. Victims of terrorism    12. Women    13. Biography & Autobiography / General   

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 (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 (4)

Political correctness has put us into this situation
Bill Gertz explains clearly the rationale for improving America's counterintelligence. He throws out all political correctness that has put us in this current situation. Gertz is a better man for exposing these problems in our intelligence community. Now they may get fixed properly. Gertz can not believe that the Intelligence community has not changed many of its tactics since 9/11. Gertz points out the lack of intelligence in Iraq before the war began. He describes the problem with bureaucracy and its blocking of new changes. Gertz in each chapter describes a spy case that has happened in the past decades. Some points that jumped out at me in the book.
Enimies:Another wake-up call to America from Bill Gertz
This book gives an inside look at our failing intelligence agencies and the extent to which politics plays a roll in keeping them that way.While our short and long term enemies gain intelligence and sensitive weapons information on us, our politicians and incompetent leadership throughout our government's defense agencies do nothing but the same.I don't know what else to say.I hope everyone can read this and other Gertz books.Highly Recommended *****

what a shame
It is exactly this kind of short term mentality in this book, looking on all other countries as enemies instead of friends, that has been isolating the US from the rest of the world. Talking about military intelligence expense and power, no country beats the US. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Espionage    2. Military - Intelligence/Espionage    3. Political Freedom & Security - Intelligence    4. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    5. Political Science    6. Political Terrorism    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Terrorism    10. U.S. Government - Intelligence Agencies    11. United States    12. War on Terrorism, 2001-    13. Current Events / International   

Reviews (19)

Well-written book on an understudied yet important subject
In "The Shia Revival" Vali writes about this minority sect of Islam, which only predominates in 3 or 4 countries in the Middle East, yet has adherents in many other countries.This book is not a history, yet he writes about the history, traditions, culture, and unique aspects of the Shia throughout the book. The book is very well-written, being not too academic yet not dumbed down either.This sect of Islam is very poorly known and even less-well understood in even the Islamic world itself.Yet, as Nasr writes, the coming of age of core Shia countries like Iran and Iraq, and countries with large Shia minorities like Lebanon, Pakistan, India, and Syria mean that this is a substantial sect of Islam that can no longer be ignored.After the reading this book you will have a much more informed view of the Islamic world and its internal conflicts, as well as a better understanding of Islam itself.

Excellent Book on Shia / Sunni Strife
This well written book is an excellent treatise on the historical conflict between the Shia and Sunni Muslims and how it applies to the current situation in Iraq and to some extent Lebanon.The book has probably one of the best explanations of the difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims.It also describes how the Shia have been suppressed by the Sunni for centuries and how the Author believes there is a Shia revival occuring in the Middle East that has intensified since the toppling of Saddam Hussein from power.
Essential reading
Years ago in a world religions course I took at a conservative, inter-denominational seminary I learned all about the conflicts in Islam that are explained here by author Vali Nasr. If we understood this when we were rushing toward the invasion of Iraq, then we would have realized that the sectarian conflict that we now have in Iraq was quite predictable.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. History    3. International Relations - General    4. Islam    5. Islam - General    6. Islam and politics    7. Middle East    8. Political Freedom & Security - General    9. Political aspects    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Relations    12. Religion    13. ShÃ¥i°ah    14. Sunnites    15. Miscellaneous Items    16. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    17. Political Science / International Relations   

Reviews (14)

Not as good as he says or as bad as his worse enemies make him out to be
One can accept the Soros version of Soros , or one can search elsewhere and find far more critical versions. Soros is to himself someone dedicated to making the world a better place, someone strongly committed to the idea of the open- society for mankind as a whole. He believes his own rare combination of great wealth, an original set of principles of life,a strong desire to help humanity,make him uniquely suited to understand what the world needs now, and how to give it to it.
It's a Worthwhile Education
Soros probably writes too many books and doesn't spend enough time crafting them. Certainly he stuffs each book with too many ideas and topics, some of them decidedly under-developed. For all that, the insights are well worth the slog.
yet another hopeless philosopher
After reading Mr. Soros's book, which is not an easy task, I believe he had to deal with his conscience. It must be extremely difficult for a forteen year old Jewish boy escaping Hitler's racial vilification and death sentence, by false identity-papers.
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Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. Civilization, Modern    3. Democracy    4. Essays    5. National characteristics, American    6. Political Advocacy    7. Political Freedom & Security - General    8. Political Ideologies - Democracy    9. Political Science    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Sociology    13. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    14. War on Terrorism, 2001-    15. Human rights    16. USA   

Reviews (38)

The horrible effects of cancer
I used to admire this woman.She was smart.She inspired me when I was young.It is a shame, however, to see her intellectual decline in her last years.Was this the effect cancer had on her brain?First, I can't understand how a book written with more heart and passion than brain and analysis can be called "The Force of Reason." She appeals to our feelings and fears more to our rationality.Second, she conviniently chooses historical events that only prove her point sometimes ignoring undeniable facts.For instance, she quietly forgot the role of Christianity in the Conquest of the Americas and the slaughter of the Indian races.Or the role religion played to justify the worst atrocities of the European powers.And what about the survival of Catholicism in Spain in spite of eight centuriesof Muslim domination?Yes, there were churches andsynagogues in Muslim Spain.This manifesto doesn't look very different from those fascists wrote about Jews in Europe in the 1930s. Poor woman.

God Bless the Christian Atheist, Oriana Fallaci
Oriana Fallaci is no longer among the living. We will have to do without her unrelenting opposition to Islamic nihilism.She died in the United States.Her fellow Europeans essentially expelled her from the continent.They made Fallaci's final years a living hell.As an ex-Catholic, I am more then a little irritated by the Roman Church's capitulation to the radical Muslims.Fallaci described herself as a Christian atheist and was more of a defender of the "true faith" than its own hierarchy!"This Catholic Church without which the Islamization of Europe, the degeneration of Europe into Eurabia, could have never have developed. This Catholic Church that remains silent even when the crucifix gets insulted," added the author.
A hero of our time
Oriana Fallaci, a famous journalist and former antifascist partisan, offers her fascinating views on Islam, its history, and the threats facing the Western civilization as well as her personal story that has become even more striking after the 9/11 attacks. For security reasons, Fallaci had to move to America, a country she views as the main hope of the Western civilization, and so do I, a citizen of the Czech Republic.
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Subjects:  1. International Journalism    2. International Relations - General    3. Philosophy    4. Political    5. Political Freedom & Security - General    6. Political Ideologies - General    7. Political Philosophy    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Sociology    10. Current Events / General    11. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (12)

Must-have resource on PMCs for the casual reader, the academic, and the policy wonk
Licensed to Kill is Robert Young Pelton's broad survey of the modern world of mercenaries. Strike that, of contractors. Mercenaries, after all, as Doug Brooks of IPOA (International Peace Operations Association) said in the movie Shadow Company: anyone convicted as being a mercenary should be shot along with his lawyer (Doug, pardon my paraphrasing). Regardless, Pelton's subtitle captures what these guys are: hired guns. Or as one of the contractors in the book put it: "guns with legs".
Excellent overview
This is the kind of book you read cover to cover and want more. Always running the fine line between fly-on-the-wall and sarcastic-historian RYP's latest post-fact diary of life in gun infested environments doesn't disappoint. I made a documentary about this subject and still found plenty of nuggets of humour and information that were totally new and set this apart from the usual media nonsense on the subject.
the profit of war is not a cliche
Robert Young Pelton documents and brings to life one of my favorite characters in fiction:Milo Minderbender. Agree or not, one has to be rather awe-stricken by the runaway success of Blackwater and the capitalistic abilities of Halliburton, conducting their "awful" business, while reseving a degree of awe for RYP, who gets right in there in the kill zone to get to the core of truth contained in this book, with some mighty interesting characters to boot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Government & Business    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. History    4. Iraq War, 2003    5. Mercenary troops    6. Military    7. Military - General    8. Military Operations    9. Military-Political Relationships    10. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Sociology    13. United States    14. War on Terrorism, 2001-    15. Current Events / Military   

Reviews (50)

Most depressing book I have read in a long time
Phillips nails it. And it's coming here to a city near you.

Bilious rant spoils otherwise thoughtful and penetrating analysis
The first thing that strikes one about Melanie Phillips' impassioned broadside against radical Islam run amok is its cover (UK edition). A snapshot from the anti-Danish cartoons protest in London shows 20-month old Farisa Jihad sporting `I Love Al-Qaeda' headgear while the angry features of one keffiyeh-clad demonstrator grace the upper part of the picture. It is a poignant image of innocence soon to evaporate, the first steps of an apprenticeship in hate watched over and encouraged by the representatives of a fanatical ideology who, Phillips argues, too easily find quarter in our midst and do so at our peril.
The birth process of Islamic Fundamentalism in London
This book expertly describes how and why the Muslim community within London gives birth to a group of radical men whom go on to committ terror throughout the world. The author questions why England has not confronted these sects more head on without the worry of insulting Muslems. An interesting and worthy point is one that indicates that living in England does not give anyone the right to denounce the goverment to the point ofproclaiming death to the goverment officials. Maybe its time to send these people back to the 'war torn' areas from which they came from and allow them to express their 'freedoms' and collect ' state financial aid' there. This point is raised and the reader has the option of agreeing or not. The best thing about this book is that it was written and demands that action be taken place to quell an uprising taking place. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Government policy    2. Great Britain    3. International Relations - General    4. Islam    5. Islamic Studies    6. Muslims    7. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    8. Political Science    9. Political Terrorism    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Religion, Politics & State    13. Terrorism    14. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (4)

5 stars does not do this book justice
All the stories are very short 2 to 3 page stories that really touch the heart of animal lovers. Makes a great read.
Mrs. Bauer's efforts come to wonderful fruition for all to share
This book is a major tribute to all K9 Search/Recovery Teams throughout the world and to the many long, long hours of training and hard work preparing for such a grueling service.The content brings forward the various personalities; human and K9 which make a dedicated team who give 120 percent to the community; "bringingthose lost home to their loved ones".It's through the eyes and ears of great authors that the public becomes increasingly aware of the many facets in the lives of K9 search teams. Thank you... Michael, Annie & K9 Boomer

Awesome
Each story gives you a small insight of what it was like to work the mountain of ruble that was once The World Trade Center.There has never been a book like this one to give such honor to Search and Rescue teams. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Disaster Relief & Rescue Operations    2. Dogs - General    3. Essays    4. Pets    5. Photography    6. Rescue dogs    7. Search dogs    8. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    9. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    10. United States    11. Dogs