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 (71)

UTTER RUBBISH !!! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY
THIS IS WRITTEN BY A LEFT WING TRAITOR ..DO NOT BOTHER ..."THE CAT IN THE HAT BY DR SEUSS HAS MORE CREDIBILITY .

Catchy Title
Do we really need another liberal manifesto about Bush? We all know he's made a mess in Iraq. And he refuses to protect U.S. borders, which may be the only thing liberals actually like about him. But I was surprised to learn the true cause of the Katrina disaster. Bush took a deep breath, exhaled, and actually blew up the winds that caused the N.O. flooding! Several weeks prior he ordered a battalion of jackhammers into the area to compromise the levees. The "chocolate" mayor of N.O. and the hapless governor of Louisiana - both democrats - were forced to remain incommunicado to facilitate Bush's diabolical schemes. Enough already. What do you liberals have to offer? Homosexual marriage and our school kids putting condoms on cucumbers.

Think and Grow Rich, Frank?
Interestingly, it appears truth is a left handed truth (like the abundance of left handed proteins in nature {truth-fact} and communist revolutionaries proletariat rule {fiction-the big lie}.
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Subjects:  1. Deception    2. Government - General    3. International Relations - General    4. Political Science    5. Political aspects    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Propaganda    9. Public Relations    10. Public relations and politics    11. Spin doctors    12. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    13. United States    14. Political Science / Government / General   

Reviews (40)

Terrifying
A bleak forecast for Western Civilization's future.Scarier than any horror novel I've ever read, despite the fact that, at times, Steyn made me guffaw with his witticisms.Certainly not for the faint-hearted among us.

What will happen to Mont St. Michel and Chartres?
I don't give a d*mn for the French people or any of the European peoples any more since (as Mark Steyn clearly and forcefully points out) they are digging their own demographic graves (while happily damning America and appeasing the jihadists). But I do care for European THINGS, foremost among them great monuments to the human spirit such as Mont St. Michel and Chartres. When Europe becomes Islamic later this century, what will the Muslim rulers do to these cathedrals? Turn them into mosques, as the Ottomans did to St. Sophia when they conquered Constantinople, or turn them into museums, as the Turks later did to St. Sophia, or blow them up, as the Taliban did to the Buddhas?
You won't want to put it down. ( I mean that.)
"America Alone" is an electrifying, compelling read, and Steyn's take on the state of affairs in America and Europe is frighteningly dead on. I read the first half on the way to Thailand, and hated putting it down. Buy it, read it and give it to those you care about. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1989-    2. Civilization, Western    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. International Relations (Specific Aspects)    5. International Relations - Diplomacy    6. International Relations - General    7. Islam and politics    8. Political Freedom & Security - General    9. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    10. Political Process - Leadership    11. Political Science    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Politics/International Relations    14. World politics    15. International relations    16. Political Science / Leadership    17. Forecasts   

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   

Editorial Review

Noam Chomsky is considered the father of modern linguistics. In this richly detailed criticism of American foreign policy, he seeks to redefine many of the terms commonly used in the ongoing American war on terrorism. Surveying U.S. actions in Cuba, Nicaragua, Turkey, the Far East and elsewhere over the past half a century along with the modern American war in Iraq, Chomsky indicates that America is just as much a terrorist state as any other government or rogue organization. George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq drew worldwide criticism, in part because it seemed to present a new philosophy of pre-emptive war and an appearance of global empire building. But according to Chomsky, such has been the operating philosophy of American foreign policy for decades. Opponents of the Bush administration's tactics consistently point out how the American government supported Saddam Hussein for many years prior to the 1990 invasion of Kuwait (pictures of Donald Rumsfeld shaking Saddam's hand are easy to come by) as a means of pointing out how the United States is happy to fund despots when it's in American interests. But Chomsky, armed with extensive historical notation, takes this notion further, arguing how the repression of other nations' citizenry is, in fact, the very reason Americans support certain foreign leaders. The charges made throughout the book are severe, as are the dire consequences he posits if current trends are not reversed, and Chomsky is no more likely to make friends or gain supporters from the mainstream now than he's ever been. But Read more

Reviews (220)

Chomsky for President
This is the most lucid, convincing and rightfully scathing interpretation of American foreign policy I've ever read. Absolutely brilliant.

First Chomsky political book read
I was one of apparently many who went to the Amazon website to look for Chomsky's book, once Chavez recommended it. I am familiar with Chomsky's reputation as a prolific writer of books on politics. I've tried to plow through some of his works on linguistics. Not easy, although the sense one gets as a non-scholar is that he is onto something original in those works.
I have more to say if I just had more room!!
I have always wondered about Professor Chomsky's writings. He has always been described as mean-spirited and anti-American by the right. I finally got an opportunity to read his book Hegemony or Survival. I was surprised at how readable it was; I expected it to be overly verbose. I was also surprised that I actually agreed with some of what he had to say, particularly about Iraq. He certainly is correct that the US led invasion of Iraq was a fantastic opportunity for Bin Ladin to stir up anti-US sentiment and attract members to his terrorist organization. I don't think you have to be a professor to see that though. Although some have charged Chomsky with being sympathetic to terrorists, I failed to see this. He condemns terrorism but accuses the US of creating an atmosphere that is conducive to the growth of terrorist organizations.
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Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. 20th century    3. Foreign relations    4. Globalization    5. Imperialism    6. International Relations - General    7. Intervention (International law)    8. Political Ideologies - General    9. Political Science    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. U.S. Foreign Relations    13. Unilateral acts (International law)    14. United States    15. International relations    16. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    17. Political Science / Globalization   

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 (138)

Not buying this xenophobia
Name one civilization that lasted forever. Does anyone sincerely believe that we would be better off today if the mighty Roman empire had not perished? Change is inevitable.
Good Research, Poor Recommendations
I enjoy reading Pat's books for their historical and factual research.But I have found that he fails to make his point when it comes to the conclusions and recommendations to fix the problems he outlines.This book is no exception.Great research, interesting, but it need a hard punch line conclusion at the end with specific, easy to follow recommendations.A specific chapter at the end with numbered recommendations listing exactly what can/should be done to stem the flow of immigration would make this a more powerful book.

What the media & elites don't want you to know
No one argues the immigration problem better than Mr. Buchanan. Through
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Subjects:  1. Discrimination & Racism    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Emigration And Immigration    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Government policy    6. Illegal aliens    7. International Relations - General    8. Political Ideologies - General    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Public Policy - Cultural Policy    11. Race And Ethnic Relations    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. United States    15. Immigration & emigration    16. Political Science / Political Ideologies / General    17. USA   

Reviews (5)

Read the Book !!!

Another Prophetic Disappointment
In "Epicenter" Joel Rosenberg provides the background information that drives his novels about the Middle East and the end times.This nonfiction book will grab readers' attention due to its analysis of current events through the lenses of politics and economics.However, Rosenberg insists that a third lens of biblical prophecy is necessary in order to truly understand what is happening in the Middle East today.But is Rosenberg's third lens properly focused?Has he understood Ezekiel's prophecies correctly?
Joel Rosenberg; Uncanny Visionary!
Joel Rosenberg a former Jewish convert to Christianity seems to have the most uncanny grasp on recent modern events. His Jewish background gives him a greater than usual empasis on old testament teachings and prophency. When the fiction books he was writng began to come true after he wrote them he and his associates were surprised to say the least. I saw him in a seminar relate the events of 911 that eclipsed the writing of his book The Last Jihad. Then he stated his next fiction book came true while he was writing it! Now he has released a "non fiction" book! We must keep an eye on the events unfolding, and if indeed we see things happening that this book forcasts not only will it prove its prophesy, but will certainly as he says change our future. i think the jury is still out, but these events indeed bear careful scrutiny and watching, and if proven by time demand a Christian response. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Prophecies    2. Christianity - General    3. Christianity - Theology - Eschatology    4. End of the world    5. Eschatology    6. Eschatology, Islamic    7. International Relations - General    8. Religion    9. Religion - Biblical Studies    10. Religion - Church History   

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 (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 make such a ridiculous claim, Noam Chomsky has set forth an excellent critique of the U.S. for not living up to its own exalted ideals. In addition, Chomsky has set forth an excellent critique of some recent actions of the U.S. government. From his critique Chomsky makes seven excellent suggestions, which are worth quoting here in full:
Nonsense On Stilts
As the saying goes, you're entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own facts.
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Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. History & Theory - General    3. International Relations - General    4. Iraq War, 2003    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Security, International    9. Unilateral acts (International law)    10. United States - 21st Century    11. Political Science / General   

Editorial Review

Thomas L. Friedman is not so much a futurist, which he is sometimes called, as a presentist. His aim, in his new book, Read more

Reviews (822)

Friedman's history is great, but "Flat" has its drawbacks
Friedman's substantial, "The World Is Flat" is a summary of the dramatic changes in the economy of the world in the first few years of the 21st century.The book is full of great stories from all over the world that shows how, while the geography of our planet hasn't changed, that geography is becoming less and less an obstacle for business.The author shows, in a fairly amusing way, how certain dates in history (e.g. 11/9/89 - When the Walls Came Down and the Windows Went Up) represent major milestones in the progress to a flat world.These events, called flatteners, helped usher in the new globalization (version 3.0), which is exploding and resulting in a new world economy where India and China are on the same production and creative level as the United States.
The future is here, and it is starting to be evenly distributed
I have to admit I only read this book based on the fact it was topping all the best seller lists. I found it to be a worth while read. Even though I follow technology closely, I wasn't really aware of some of the points that the author made, so hopefully many will pick up something from this book. Many parts of the book I had difficulties relating to, but the new insights it provided were defently worth it.

How to destroy the United States 101 - What the book should be titled
It's a shame that US leaders have based a lot of its US policies on this book.It's like they want to make the US North Mexico or some Third World country. Really it's traitorous.
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Subjects:  1. Diffusion of innovations    2. Economic aspects    3. General    4. Globalization    5. History & Theory - General    6. History: World    7. Information society    8. International - Economics    9. International Economic Relations    10. International Relations - General    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Social Forecasting    13. Social Science    14. Social aspects    15. Sociology    16. Social Science / General   

Reviews (12)

The world doesn't always move in curves
This book is recommended, but with a caveat.Like most books about international relations written by social scientists who tend to simplify things for the sake of providing an over-arching structure, this one is to be read with a measure of skepticism.For a detailed review (or two), check out the recent debate in Slate.com between the journalists Bill Emmott and Fareed Zakaria, who are, respectively, an editor of The Economist and a columnist for Newsweek.(You can search within Slate by typing out their names and the title of the exchange: "Debating the J-Curve".)Here's two quotes from their exchanges.
Simplistic and Unoriginal
The main argument of the book is simple: as countries go from dictatorship to democracy things get worse before they get better. This has been a central argument of political science, and Mr. Bremmer neither acknowledges what others have said nor does he add much to them. All he book has to say comes in the first ten pages. After that it is snipets of histories of countries which do not add much.

Worth the Read
Whether you're an avid reader or professional investor, Ian Bremmer's book is worth your time. Ian's writing is organized, clear and concise. The book is written for the average reader; you do not need to be a policy wonk to understand his points. Whether you agree with his conclusions or not, Ian Bremmer's book provides an excellent basis for continuing debate regarding U.S. foreign policy.
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Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Government - Comparative    3. History & Theory - General    4. International Relations - General    5. Political Science    6. Political Theory    7. Political development    8. Political stability    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. World politics    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    13. Political Science / International Relations   

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 a