Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

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.

As a waitress in Florida, where her name is suddenly transposed to "girl," trailer trash becomes a demographic category to aspire to with rent at $675 per month. In Maine, where she ends up working as both a cleaning woman and a nursing home assistant, she must first fill out endless pre-employment tests with trick questions such as "Some people work better when they're a little bit high." In Minnesota, she works at Wal-Mart under the repressive surveillance of men and women whose job it is to monitor her behavior for signs of sloth, theft, drug abuse, or worse. She even gets to experience the humiliation of the urine test.

So, do the poor have survival strategies unknown to the middle class? And did Ehrenreich feel the "bracing psychological effects of getting out of the house, as promised by the wonks who brought us welfare reform?" Nah. Even in her best-case scenario, with all the advantages of education, health, a car, and money for first month's rent, she has to work two jobs, seven days a week, and still almost winds up in a shelter. As Ehrenreich points out with her potent combination of humor and outrage, the laws of supply and demand have been reversed. Rental prices skyrocket, but wages never rise. Rather, jobs are so cheap as measured by the pay that workers are encouraged to take as many as they can. Behind those trademark Wal-Mart vests, it turns out, are the borderline homeless. With her characteristic wry wit and her unabashedly liberal bent, Ehrenreich brings the invisible poor out of hiding and, in the process, the world they inhabit--where civil liberties are often ignored and hard work fails to live up to its reputation as the ticket out of poverty. --Lesley Reed

Book Description

Millions of Americans work for poverty-level wages, and one day Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that any job equals a better life. But how can anyone survive, let alone prosper, on $6 to $7 an hour? To find out, Ehrenreich moved from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, taking the cheapest lodgings available and accepting work as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal-Mart salesperson. She soon discovered that even the lowliest occupations require exhausting mental and physical efforts. And one job is not enough; you need at least two if you intend to live indoors.Nickel and Dimed reveals low-wage America in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generositya land of Big Boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate strategies for survival. Instantly acclaimed for its insight, humor, and passion, this book is changing the way America perceives its working poor.

Customer Reviews:

An Important Read.......2007-10-09

For anyone who did not have to struggle through a minimum wage job as an adult, this book is for you. Way too many Americans think people can survive on minimum wage. This will humble that opinion and identify your misconceptions.

Good read.......2007-10-05

I had to read this book for class and i must say it was a good read. extremely easy to read and equally funny.

Thank you.......2007-09-30

I got it in time for class, actually ahead of time. Fast delivery, great price, item was exact.

Absolutely honest and real.......2007-09-29

As I read this book, I found myself nodding my head repeatedly. Barbara Ehrenreich's words are true. I know because I LIVED THEM. Her experiences were my own over the past five years when I found myself unable to continue the professional career I had chosen and moved to a new city to start over. Big mistake. Although interviewers were thrilled to hear that I had a college degree, I couldn't find a job that would pay me more than $9.00 an hour--and don't think I didn't try.

Basically, I thought it wouldn't be too bad, because like she says repeatedly, poor people find a way to get by, don't they? I must also admit that I had a bit of snobbishness going in, thinking that with my skills I would rise to a manager's rank in no time. Boy, was I mistaken. I wound up working next to people who had worked in the same jobs for five years before they got a promotion (and whose wage was within a dollar of where it had been when they started). I also found that there was a sort of layer of management, that a promotion may only be in name only, like shift manager, but that those are the first jobs cut in lean times because that pay rate is slightly higher than others.

I too learned from my coworkers not to work too hard, not just because management will expect more from me but that they'll expect more from everybody; that good behavior is so rarely rewarded; and that employers will outright put your health in jeapordy without a thought to consequences. Insisting on something like a breathing mask when working with noxious fumes or kneepads when doing lots of floorwork will label you a troublemaker and an outcast.

Most surprising of all, however--and something BE does not discover--is that people quit these jobs because THERE ARE A MILLION OTHER JOBS OUT THERE THAT WILL DO THE SAME THING. That was probably the biggest surprise. There is no reason to stay at one job when another will give you the same money and treat you just as badly. These are not employers who care about resumes and work history (indeed, resumes are considered superfluous and if you bring one, it will be shifted off to the side in favor of applications which often say DO NOT WRITE SEE RESUME). In fact, sometimes it works better for people to shift from job to job as life circumstances change. A woman might quit her day shift at CVS in favor of the graveyard shift at the supermarket during the summer while her kids are out of school because the babysitting arrangements work better, then at summer's end go to work for Arby's during the day again. Of course, that only happens with the flexibility of transportation. If you are counting on public transit or someone else to give you a ride, there's little recourse but to make do with what you've got.

While a few of Ehrenreich's conclusions seem farfetched--I did the pee test several times and think it's wise, especially for those who use machinery, handle kitchen knives, and are driving company vehicles--she hit the nail on the head when she explained that companies OWN their employees for the time that they're there. Things like scheduled breaks, limits on conversation even if the work is getting done, and video orientations are demeaning and dehumanizing. And that doesn't even mention things like hour cuts or schedule changes. Imagine what it's like to travel an hour by bus to find out that your schedule was changed, and that you're now working TOMORROW--even though the bus fare you just used and the fare to get back is the last money you have until your paycheck comes in four days. That happened to me twice--I borrowed money from my boss to manage it.

The wage itself is a problem. I was okay on the basics, but only bought two pairs of shoes each year (about $25.00 each) and bought discount everything--soap, shampoo, toothpaste. You don't really know it until you're there, but a little piece of you cries inside when you have to say no to a pack of gum or a cup of diner coffee because all the money you have is exactly enough to pay the gas bill.

I won't get into great detail about my housing situations, except to say that I ended up staying in an abusive relationship for a while because I had nowhere to go, then lived with a guy who spent four months on the Internet after he lost his job because his name was on the lease too and I couldn't take him off without his permission. Are there ways around these situations? Sure...and in fact lived in a shelter for a little while. However, in the first situation I was obligated to three months of the rent, and in the second could not afford court fees to evict him, which is what my building manager said I would have to do. When I was insensitive enough to mention offhandedly to other women at the shelter that I didn't really want to live in substandard housing, they all gave me a look of stiff disbelief and resentment. Substandard housing was a way of life for them, even WITH abusive spouses. So housing is absolutely is a concern, especially where there are children involved.

At any rate, this is a book to buy that conservative you love dearly and wish would understand how the rest of the world lives. Take it from me--it's the God's honest truth.

The Awful Truth about the Movers and Shakers and Those they Move and Shake.......2007-09-28

At times I could not put NICKEL AND DIMED down. Although Barbara Ehrenreich has a sense of humor (and anger), she can't hide the sadness she witnesses. I am certainly going to look upon waitresses, maids, and hotel and house cleaners differently from now on--they'll get that tip or the full 20 percent, even if the service is not great (because I know why).

Here are some examples of her graphic and to-the-point style:

"Let's talk about s..t, for example. It happens, as the bumper sticker says, and it happens to a cleaning person every day. The first time I ecountered the s..t-stained toilet as a maid, I was shocked by the sense of unwanted intimacy. A few hours ago, some well-fed [...] was straining away on this toilet seat, and now here I am wiping up after it. ... I should explain that there are three kinds of s..t stains. There are remnants of landslides running down the inside.... (p. 92).

"...A coworker once advised me that, although I had a lot to learn, it was also important not to 'know too much,' or at least never reveal one's full abilities to management, because 'the more they think you can do, the more they'll use you and abuse you.' (p. 195)

"When someone works for less pay than she can live on--when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently--then she has made a great sacrifice for you, she has made you a gift of some part of her abilities, her health, and her life. The 'working poor,' as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect. ... To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to everyone else." (p. 221)

The only negative I found in NICKEL AND DIMED is Ehrenreich's short ranting (or so it seemed) against unionizing big powerful merchants which pay dirt-poor wages. Yep, to join you have to pay dues, but "united" members can get more of the benefits and pay they deserve than a person alone can. Just imagine shutting down such a national or international chain so the workers can be paid more than $6.00 to $7.00 an hour, and have to work two or three jobs to just get by!

Chocolates and Confections: Formula, Theory, and Technique for the Artisan Confectioner

Average customer rating:

Basic and easy to understand
Excellent book
THE CANDIE BOOK BY WHICH OTHERS SHOULD BE MEASURED
Professional Candy Making Master Class
Amazing Book!

Chocolates and Confections: Formula, Theory, and Technique for the Artisan Confectioner
Peter P. Greweling , and The Culinary Institute of America (CIA)
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Making Artisan Chocolates
Truffles: 50 Deliciously Decadent Homemade Chocolate Treats
Fine Chocolates: Great Experience
Essence of Chocolate: Recipes for Baking and Cooking with Fine Chocolate
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ASIN: 0764588443

Book Description

Chocolate and candy making today is undergoing a renaissance in public awareness and status. This comprehensive book combines artisan confectionery techniques with accessible explanations of the theory and science as well as formulas for use in production. Fundamental information for the confectioner includes ingredient function and use, chocolate processing, and artisan production techniques. The book contains 140 formulas and variations for beautiful confections, including dairy-based centers, crystalline and noncrystalline sugar confectionery, jellies, and nut center and aerated confections.

Customer Reviews:

Basic and easy to understand.......2007-10-07

I purchased this book for its comprehensive review of the chocolate tempering process. Prior to reading it I already had some tempering experience in a food lab with small tempering unit but have only done this a few times and needed to firm up the basics. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this book has so much more than just chocolate overview. It really gives an outstanding primer on sugar- based confections, including caramels, nougat, hard boiled and gummy candies, marshmallows etc. The explanation of candy making techniques is easy to understand and follow. I did have a few issues with whipping marshmallows to the desired stiffness, but I attribute it to inconsistencies of the whipping time.
I've been making caramels for my company, Das Foods for about 7 months before I purchased this book and and yet I found some very helpful suggestions to improve texture and reduce stickiness of our caramels.
Overall, an excellent book that highly recommend to anyone who has passion and iterest in making confections

Excellent book.......2007-09-28

This is an excellent book. It has a balance of the science of chocolate with the art of chocolate. Excellent photographs of the products and great recipes. A must have!

THE CANDIE BOOK BY WHICH OTHERS SHOULD BE MEASURED.......2007-08-23

Every baker or pastry chef that spends time reading to improve their skills knows that out of the multitude of available books for each subject, a handful stand out. Books that can dramatically improve one's skills or even open new paths of creativity. This is one of these books. Excellent in every way. From the theory to the recipes and from the explanation to the products this book stands out. I am a professional baker/pastry chef and I have rarely seen such professional work in a book.If one acquires this book ,along with 'Fine chocolates' by Wybauw and 'Making artisan chocolates' by Shotts, then they are on a good road to master the techniques of chocolate and candymaking.

This book includes chocolate work, candy making, nougats, dipped goods, ganaches ,moulded products, jellies and many more. The theory is detailed and clear and the photos are luscius and a treat to the eye.There is a multitude of recipes all using mostly easy to find ingredients and traditional methods, with no preservatives. This book is not the same as Wybauw's. His is similar but, with a special interest in preservation. As another reviewer wrote, the two books are complementary.

Another aspect of the book that I like is that all recipes are in the Metric system, the Imperial system and in percentage formula form. Also all temperatures are in Celsius and Farhenheit.

With almost 400 pages and at this price this is a must for the serious candymaker and chocolatier.

Professional Candy Making Master Class.......2007-08-04

Take the subtitle of this book seriously: 'for the artisan confectioner'. If you are a beginner who is just learning how to make candy, this book is not for you. However, if you have experience successfully making candy (and this includes hobbyists at home or professionals) and want to take your skills to the next level, this book is it. What do I mean by this? Try this: can you make both a soft and firm ganache off the top of your head without a recipe? Do you know the difference? Have you even made ganache before? How many degrees does it take to go from soft ball to hard ball?

Those who know how to make basic candy recipes have little chance to advance their skills. Usually, it involves a plane trip to a different part of the country or even to Europe to get advanced candy training. With this book and a little dedicated effort, perhaps you can skip the plane trip and hotel booking.

Examples:
1) it has extensive tables on various candy failures, and the remedies
2) there are extensive theoretical explanations; not much practical importance, but significant nonetheless
3) it is the only resource I know of that describes all 4 methods of tempering chocolate, along with warnings of common pitfalls
4) all the recipes are proven, professional ones that are production ready for your workplace.
5) there are many color pictures to show you what your finished product will look like (I only wish there were more, one for each and every recipe).

Amazing Book!.......2007-08-03

However, if you are looking for a book just filled with some good recipes, I would recommend "The Essence of Chocolate". Chocolates and Confections follows a textbook style and delves into the chemistry and science of formulating chocolate (and other sweet) confections. A terrific book--it's a heavy read, but you don't have to be attending culinary school to understand what they are talking about! :-D

The Divided States of America?: What Liberals AND Conservatives are missing in the God-and-country shouting match!

Average customer rating:

Blessed Are The Peacemakers -- If Richard Land Isn't Making Peace, It Isn't His Fault
MUST READ!
Thank you Dr. Land

The Divided States of America?: What Liberals AND Conservatives are missing in the God-and-country shouting match!
Richard Land
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Political Parties | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It

ASIN: 0849901405

Book Description

A popular look at the separation of church and state: what it is, what it isn't, and why it matters for the future of religion in America.

An alarm-ringing but intelligent and fair-minded revelation of the backlash against traditional moral values, presented in an accessible and practical way using the sports analogy of fair play.
Explains why religiously-informed moral values are under threat in a one-sided interpretation of church and state.
Empowers readers by helping them to clarify confusing viewpoints and motivating them to act on what they believe.

Customer Reviews:

Blessed Are The Peacemakers -- If Richard Land Isn't Making Peace, It Isn't His Fault.......2007-10-05

When it comes to politics (or religion, though that is not the point here), most books come from the point of either why the author's political philosophy is right and/or why those who disagree with the author is wrong. The result is an increase in polarization. Some of the books along that line deserve to be written, but they help only in presenting the problem, not in solving it.

"The Divided States Of America" is written from the point of view of trying to heal the breach, of trying to reconcile Christian brothers that disagree on political issues (or possibly just fellow Americans).

Just as welcome, though, is the fact that Land is not promoting unity at the expense of convictions. Rather, his goal is to help others understand their differences. His success is indicated that Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Conn) wrote the foreward, and praise on the cover is written by former Secretary of State (under Clinton) Madeline Albright.

One major theme in this book is a proper understanding of separation of church and state. Land favors the ana-baptist approach, which is to have a pluralistic country where the state does not mandate a particular belief structure but tolerates all, while maintaining people in office the constitutional freedom to hold and express their religious view. The other view is the Assorted Crazy Loons Unleashed view, which basically is meant to intimidate people into not expressing their religious views, which is an essential part of a person.

Richard Land does an excellent job dealing with the following facts:

1. Persecution of Christians (particularly Baptists) by other Christians, including in American history, leading to the Ana-Baptist and also the constitutional view of Separation of Church And State.

2. There has been religious expression on the part of our government from George Washington on, that it isn't new with Bush, and that it wasn't considered a problem until someone made a mistake of trying to mandate secularalism as the state religion.

3. The militant effort of secularists to eliminate any hints of Christianity in society, which is not promoting religious liberty but hindering it.

Thank you, Rev. Land, for writing this needed book. Hope it succeeds in uniting true Christians in an area that is not an essential to faith.

MUST READ!.......2007-04-12

Dr. Land has done a great job with this book. He maps out a middle ground in the church/state separation debate that is very understandable. Both the novice and the expert will find the book readable, engaging, and thought-provoking. A lady at my church has already read the book and asked me to consider teaching a special six-week Sunday School class based on it. Anyone who wants to know a constitutionally acceptable, faith affirming position on church/state issues must read this book.

Thank you Dr. Land.......2007-04-03

Having been raised in the Southern Baptist church, I have been following Dr. Richard Land for many years & I would like to thank him for this excellent book. There is much too much shouting from the left & the right (although more often from the left)on what role & what kind of role that religion should play in American politics & culture. Anyone wishing to hear a rare & thoughtful balanced look should read this book as soon as possible.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

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Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

War Is a Racket: The Anti-War Classic by America's Most Decorated General, Two Other Anti=Interventionist Tracts, and Photographs from the Horror of It

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A truth bullet right in the forehead
A must read for American Citizens
People never learn.
Read this now
What Seems Is Not Reality - Read This Pamphlet

War Is a Racket: The Anti-War Classic by America's Most Decorated General, Two Other Anti=Interventionist Tracts, and Photographs from the Horror of It
Smedley D. Butler
Manufacturer: Feral House
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ASIN: 0922915865

Book Description

General Smedley Butler's frank book shows how American war efforts were animated by big-business interests. This extraordinary argument against war by an unexpected proponent is relevant now more than ever.

Customer Reviews:

A truth bullet right in the forehead.......2007-09-03

The word "classic", like other words in the abused English language, is regularly misused. It is not misused in describing this book. And at the pittance required to buy this edition, it can also be described as the biggest bargain you will encounter all year. To call the book an "anti-war" classic is not as accurate as it might be, however, because Gen. Butler envisions the need for a standing army and navy to defend the nation. He is merely horrified at these forces being sent to fight other people's wars. Especially at the cost of all wars.

Gen. Butler writes between the two World Wars. Having earned an estimable reputation among the troops he led, he proceeded not to desert them after the war was over. He sided with the bonus marchers who built "Hooverville", and then he finished some thoughts he had been having about the role of the United States Marine Corps in a number of lesser American military adventures. He then wrote this pamphlet to explain why the country needed to rid itself of the conmen who keep taking it to foreign wars.

The work is divided into five sections:

1. War Is A Racket!
2. Who Makes the Profits?
3. Who Pays the Bills?
4. How to Smash This Racket!
5. To Hell with War!

As another reviewer has noted, Gen. Butler rendered even greater service to his country after leaving the Marines than while serving actively. In prose that is utterly direct and unadorned, he outlines the nature of war, the identities and profit margins of the criminals, the role of the propagandizing press, and the victims of the fiscal enterprise of war. He then suggests a practical method for removing the profit from the business of war: simply conscript every owner, manager and employee of the war-making industries into the war effort, 30 days before the troops are called up, at the same pay rate as the enlisted man. During WWI, that was $30.00 per month. It is an idea so simple and brilliant that it will never be tried, unless, of course, the entire population suddenly has the wool pulled from its eyes, and passes the requisite law. As a test of industrial patriotism, this idea has no peers.

(My idea for educating the masses would be to make every thirteen-year-old boy and girl read this book, pass an exam on it, and then administer the book and the exam to their parents. This would be an annual event, and a general election would be held as soon as the parents had passed their exams.)

It is depressing to read this book in 2007, note that it was written in 1935, and reflect that nothing has changed. It is also heartening to realize that the solution to the problem of war is to convey the meaning of one four-word sentence to the masses. That sentence is the title of this book. Even in a time of sinking literacy levels and short attention spans, I can imagine no more worthy project for our country.

A must read for American Citizens.......2007-07-25

While I don't agree with all of Butler's recommendations (among which is, never fight a war), many of his recommendations are great. His documentation of the Facist plot he exposed is very important. (BTW: Prescott Bush was a co-conspirator in these coup-plans, as documented by the BBC.)

Facism was a threat then, and given the growing corporatism in the USA, a threat now.

People never learn........2007-07-23

This small book is timeless in its message. Written before WW2, it applies to much of what has happened since. As Butler wrote, " Why don't those damned oil companies fly their own flags on their personal property - maybe a flag with a gas pump on it." Two Iraq wars prove Butler's prescience.

Read this now.......2007-05-14

One of the most important books ever written by an American military figure, General Butler explains why war is a crime fought for the financial gain of a tiny class of society. This is extremely relevant for all Americans trying struggling to end wars of conquest and profit.

What Seems Is Not Reality - Read This Pamphlet.......2007-04-24

I am torn in giving this small collection a rating. In terms of importance, I would give this booklet five stars. In terms of writing style, it would earn one star. Nevertheless, this is the kind of book you must read, for it will shatter your illusions, should you have them, about the nature of American military might. These words, from pen of the most decorated American general, Brigadier General Smedley Butler, form a well supported middle finger in the face of American hegemony and neo-colonialism.

From a literary standpoint, this is not a book. It is a collection of short essays, written as you would expect a brash general to write. "War is a Racket" is but one of a several essays in this short book. In addition to its namesake, the booklet also contains an arguments against American intervention in World War II, and a photo essay of the horrors of war.

I would recommend this booklet to anyone going off to fight yet another war based on lies and secretly intended for the profit of the ruling class. Parents, read this before considering allowing your child to join forces of evil.

America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies

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America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies
Harry M. Benshoff , and Sean Griffin
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0631225838

Book Description

America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the Movies is a lively introduction to issues of diversity as represented within the American cinema. The first synthetic and historical text of its kind, America on Film provides a comprehensive overview of the industrial, socio-cultural, and aesthetic factors that contribute to cinematic representations of race, class, gender, and sexuality. The volume chronicles the cinematic history of various cultural groups, examines forces and institutions of bias, and stimulates discussion about the relationship between film and American national culture.Accessible and user-friendly, America on Film features 101 illustrations, a glossary of key terms, questions for discussion, and lists for further reading and further viewing. The book is organized within a broad historical framework, with specific theoretical concepts - including film genre, auteurism, cultural studies, Orientalism, the "male gaze, " feminism, and queer theory - integrated throughout. Each individual chapter features a concise overview of the topic at hand, a discussion of representative films, figures, and movements, and an in-depth analysis of a single film, including The Lion King, The Jazz Singer, Smoke Signals, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Celluloid Closet.

Flat Tax Revolution: Using a Postcard to Abolish the IRS

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Good idea, and surprisingly well written
Helpful
We need a flat tax
Use the time you saved doing taxes to read a map of Europe
The Flat Tax is rearranging the deck chairs on theTitanic

Flat Tax Revolution: Using a Postcard to Abolish the IRS
Steve Forbes
Manufacturer: Regnery Publishing, Inc.
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0895260409

Book Description

A facted filled call to action, which Steve Forbes will use to lobby the President and Congress for real reform.

Customer Reviews:

Good idea, and surprisingly well written.......2007-02-08

Like any politically charged book this one (along with corresponding reviews) will likely get mixed reviews right along party lines. Conservatives will love it, progressives will hate it, blah-blah-blah. I think we've all had enough of it. So I figured it would be good to get a traditionalist's point of view, the opinion of a moderate, an independent.

First, the current tax code isn't working, so I welcome any idea for changing it. Steve Forbes proposes a flat tax, or what he calls a "fair tax", in which anyone over a certain income pays 17% income tax. We all pay the same percentage, but obviously different amounts. The rich pay more, the poor pay less, and the really poor don't pay at all. The interesting part is that Forbes uses strong, compelling evidence to support his contention that this will increase (rather than decrease) federal government revenues, that the poor will not suffer under the plan, that the rich will not squeeze through the cracks, and the economy will soar. He cites several other countries who have implemented similar measures and how well their economies have done afterward.

In addition, tax loopholes are closed so the rich can't use accountants to avoid paying their share, the IRS is disbanded, and we all pay our taxes with a simple 5 minute postcard. Sounds great. I'm sure there will be naysayers and "boos" and "hisses", but Forbes makes a strong argument here, at least one strong enough to be heard.

Helpful.......2007-01-10

My Dad gave this book to me for Christmas after I had been complaining all year about trying to do my own taxes. This book just makes you wonder why we have such a complicated tax code and who really benefits from keeping it so complicated; certainly not us the taxpayers. Thanks Steve - hope that you or another person working within the real world, i.e. not the political arena, makes a run for 2008!

We need a flat tax.......2006-12-21

The Flat Tax is very controversial idea that has sparked Steve Forbes to run for the presidency in the past. It is a very interesting idea and one that would do this country a lot of good. Sadly it will never be implemented due to political pressures but it is still fun to read about. This is a very quick book to read that lays out why we need a flat tax and what the oppositions says about it. Steve Forbes addresses some of the big objections and the book is very interesting to read. Highly recommend if you are interested in public policy and want a fresh approach. Especially nice if you think the AMT is useless.

Use the time you saved doing taxes to read a map of Europe.......2006-03-19

Paraphrase from one of the book's highlighted sections:
"In dramatically lowering taxes, Slovakia and its fellow Baltic states...." Since when is Slovakia (hint: small country, east of Austria, north of Hungary) a Baltic state?

This book contains the usual nonsense about doing your taxes on a postcard. We all know that the hard part is not in computing your tax, but in calculating your income. That's what all those IRS forms are all about. The only way to make it so simple would be to tax only reported wages - shifting all the tax to those who work for a living.

The Flat Tax is rearranging the deck chairs on theTitanic.......2006-02-28

I supported Steve Forbes Tax reform 10 years ago when he was trying to become president. I now support H.R. 25 the FairTax. It is a grass roots effort to reform our nations tax code from an income based tax to a consumption based tax.

Everyone keeps 100% of their paycheck without any deductions and it strips all of the embedded taxes out of the supply chain to provide the consumer with a set of tax free goods and services to be taxed only one time by the final consumer.

Simple, flat, fair, completely transparent, no winners, no loosers, and most importantly no tent for the camels to stick their nose in.

Average customer rating:

If only everyone would read this book . . .
Not an easy read, but worth the effort
Inspiring books
Intuitive political observations that read like a travel-log
Democracy in America is the sine qua non of political science in the USA!

Democracy in America (Penguin Classics)
Alexis de Tocqueville
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140447601
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Book Description

In 1831 Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French aristocrat and ambitious civil servant, made a nine-month journey throughout America. The result was Democracy in America, a monumental study of the life and institutions of the evolving nation. Tocqueville looked to the flourishing democratic system in America as a possible model for post-revolutionary France, believing that the egalitarian ideals it enshrined reflected the spirit of the age and even divine will. His insightful work has become one of the most influential political texts ever written on America and an indispensable authority on democracy.

This new edition is the only one that contains all Tocqueville's writings on America, including the rarely-translated Two Weeks in the Wilderness, an account of Tocqueville's travels in Michigan among the Iroquois, and Excursion to Lake Oneida.

Customer Reviews:

If only everyone would read this book . . ........2007-07-15

If you have any doubts about buying this book, stop thinking and buy it. It will take you a while to read it, but it is worth the effort. The first volume is the best half. As it turns out, De Tocqueville was the Nostradamus of democracy and American politics. So much of what this man wrote in the 1830's is still relevant to our modern politicial system. It is small wonder that you see him quoted regularly. After seeing him referred to repeatedly, I felt compelled to read the book for myself. Keep a pencil with you when you read because you will want to mark material that is quoteworthy for you. If you have hesitations about reading something that is a translation, put them aside. The book is easy to read.

Here's just a kernel of what you can find (p.229) "It is a permanent feature of the present day that the most outstanding men in the United States are rarely summoned to public office and one is forced to acknowledge that things have been like that as democracy has gone beyond its previous limits. The race of American statemen has strangely shrunk in size in the last half-century." This man was writing about George Bush 170 years ago! You will also marvel at the tremendous insight he had in extracting his observations by travels and interviews in America. I do this sort of thing for business clients sometimes and I deeply admire the unique talent De Tocqueville displays. If he were still alive, I would shake this man's hand!

You will come away with a keener appreciation of what makes democracy strong and at the same time fragile. You can apply DeT's observations to current world affairs, (esp. Iraq) and understand better why you cannot simply export a system of governance because it is "good." You will recognize that democracy requires a cultural and social foundation interwoven with legal safeguards for things such as private property. If I thought it would help, I would mail my copy to the white house. Maybe the first lady could read it to George at night before bedtime.

You will be dismayed by the current state of American politics after you read this book, but you will be heartened with a belief that democracy works so long as the population participates. You will be energized. I will leave you with this quote from DeT on p. 771: "Only a passion for freedom which has become ingrained can carry the day against a deep-set passion for personal comfort. I can imagine no better preparation for conquest after a defeat than a democratic nation without free institutions." And now, on to the Patriot Act . . .

Not an easy read, but worth the effort.......2007-02-23

I can't say anything new about a book this famous, so I will just give my peronal opinion about why and how to read it. Why: because it is a timeless description of how American democracy works, in both theory and practice. As to how to read it, I have this book sitting next to the Bible on my bedside bookshelf, and I read in the same way. I have been reading Democracy in America in a piecemeal way over several decades, in small installments, with time in between to think and ponder and question what I have just read. It's a book that doesn't give you a straightforward narrative that's easy to follow. Rather, each section has its own character and focuses on one facet of the rough-cut jewel we call democracy. You could read Democracy in America all the way through, but that would be an endurance test, not necessarily a way to understand the wealth of ideas it contains. Some parts of the book are dry and technical, as when de Tocqueville describes township goverment in microscopic detail. He was a serious student of political theory who took those matters very seriously, so he gave his readers all the data they might need in order to form a clear idea of how American intitutions operated. But he was also very good at lively observations of the social scene and the natural wonders he encountered in America. These are the parts of the book that really spring to life and make this book much more than a political science text.

To go back to the Bible/de Tocqueville analogy, Democracy in America is a book in which any reader can find a quotation (or misquotation) to support any point of view. However, it's only by sitting down and actually reading de Tocqueville's words in their proper context that you will understand the real greatness of this book.

Inspiring books.......2007-01-12

I pick up this book just in accident. I would like to gain some knowledge in the democracy here and fortunately I get the right book.
The book in detail explains what was the social situation before America was built. From different aspects, the author told and justified "how and why" on the political/law/administration systems in America.
The author's comments on the regional democracy (in locality) is very true.

Intuitive political observations that read like a travel-log.......2006-10-17

A wonderful study that reminds us of what America was meant to be while entertaining us with insightful, balanced, often prophetic, and provocative observations of our shortcomings. It is a record that reminds us of our better angels and calls us back to the high ideals that made America great. A reminder of a simpler but nobler time like a time-traveller's log of America's seedling ideals of a democratic-republic. Mr. de Tocqueville will help you regain your inner American and restore your faith in what America can be when she is cognizant of her founding principles.

Democracy in America is the sine qua non of political science in the USA!.......2006-08-29

Alexis De Tocqueville was a brilliant young French aristocrat when he arrived on the Yankee shore in 1831. De Tocqueville came to America to research penal conditions in a report to be submitted to the French Government. De Tocqueville did much more than that!
In his long, brilliant and sage book he looks at America in
1831. He points out American love for the practical, the religious community minded Americans who also enjoy making money in the volatile and exciting new nation.
It would take several textbooks to explain and expound all De
DeTocqueville discovered on his eye opening trip to the USA.
C-Span a few years ago devoted several programs to following his
footsteps across our broad land.
The book looks out how America works from township meetings,
to the state and federal levels. His analysis of the US Constitution is erudite. His view of American morals and religion is worth reading.
Any politician and informed citizen should read this classic.
The Penguin edition is beautifully designed. Two chapters at the
end of the book deal with De Tocqueville's visit to the wilderness and his visit to Indians. De Tocqueville's analysis of
slavery and how we treat our native Americans is incisive and
on target!
Democracy in America is one of the seminal books of the American experience.

The Closed World: Computers and the Politics of Discourse in Cold War America (Inside Technology)

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Missing the point?

The Closed World: Computers and the Politics of Discourse in Cold War America (Inside Technology)
Paul N. Edwards
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0262550288

Amazon.com

Edwards traces how computers have emerged as the dominant technology as a direct result of Cold War politics and the defense research it engendered. From the first use of room-size mainframes to coordinate missile systems, Pentagon research aimed toward complete computer control, including the budget-busting and ultimately impractical Strategic Defensive Initiative. Edwards relates how the technolog--which is now so open as to be nearly anarchic--began in strictly enclosed secrecy. The military computer goal of perfect "command, control and communication" systems was understood to mean communication only within a very closed world. Edwards' thesis is that this approach influenced the very structure of our modern computers.

Book Description

The Closed World offers a radically new alternative to the canonical histories of computers and cognitive science. Integrating political, cultural, and technological history, it argues that we can make sense of computers as tools only when we simultaneously grasp their roles as metaphors and political icons.

In this extended exploration of the relations of science and engineering to the evolution of modern society, Paul Edwards argues that what people have said, thought, and experienced through computers--as reflections of the nature of their minds; as solutions to political, commercial, and military problems; as icons of rationality--is as significant as anything computers have actually accomplished. Social and cultural context has shaped the growth of computer technology as much as it has been shaped by it.

Customer Reviews:

Missing the point?.......2000-10-16

While this is an excellent and sensitive overview of the history of computer science from a critical standpoint, it may miss the essential point.

This is that while the announced intention of Cold War data systems efforts was to indeed provide a logically closed structure that would ensure national security and a narrow form of economic growth (which excluded unions from power), as Edwards himself reveals, these systems in significant ways failed to accomplish their technical goals.

The problem is that people with the traditional liberal suspicion of computers miss either this fact or fail to grasp its significance. Edwards fails to grasp its significance.

What it means is that on the ground, in the apparently highly controlled mainframe computer rooms, a highly "open" and possibly even "green" for of chaos operated as software (in one noted example) bayed at the moon when it mistook the moon for a missile. This chaos was presented as its opposite in a rhetorical trick which conceals the labor, and in some cases the very existence, of software creation.

The troubling fact, invisible to humanists outside the field, is that the upper-level administrators of these systems did not really care that they did not work, as long as the public viewed them as a closed and working system. They'd also prefer to conceal the origins of the software that controls these systems in labor and in writing.

Edwards in the main fails to link this rhetorical sleight-of-hand to C. Wright Mills' work in which the general public is systematically deceived, and a white-collar class creates the tools of its own destruction.

The Sage air defense system did not work and did not, in fact, protect the United States from attack: what protected us from attack was the decision of men to back down from macho and nuclear-armed confrontation, including Eisenhower's decision to not back Britain, France and Israel in 1956's Suez crisis and Nikita Krushchev's decision to back down in 1962 over Cuba.

The real technical illusion is not that the closed world is "better than" the green world. It is to not fully close digital worlds but to present them as closed, and to prevent the rules of their closure from public oversight, and control.

Who Rules America? Power, Politics, and Social Change
Average customer rating:

No significant diff. between 4th and 5th edition

An Indispensable Exposé on How Our Democracy REALLY Works!

Picks up the baton of C. Wright Mills

Essential reading to understand power in America

Who Rules America? Power, Politics, and Social Change
G. William Domhoff
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Power Elite

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ASIN: 0072876255

Book Description

Drawing from a power elite perspective and the latest empirical data, Domhoff’s classic text is an invaluable tool for teaching students about how power operates in U.S. society. Domhoff argues that the owners and top-level managers in large income-producing properties are far and away the dominant figures in the U.S. Their corporations, banks, and agribusinesses come together as a corporate community that dominates the federal government in Washington and their real estate, construction, and land development companies form growth coalitions that dominate most local governments. By providing empirical evidence for his argument, Domhoff encourages students to think critically about the power structure in American society and its implications for our democracy.

Customer Reviews:

No significant diff. between 4th and 5th edition.......2007-08-23

I would have given this a 5 star except there is no big difference between this edition and the previous one. We use this book in our econ class, students are told it's ok to buy either edition.

An Indispensable Exposé on How Our Democracy REALLY Works!.......2006-05-13

Professor Domhoff poses (and answers) these questions:
- Is there a wealthy class in America? If so, do they connect in any empirical way with huge corporations, financial institutions, and large agribusinesses?
- How can a highly competitive group of corporate leaders cooperate enough to work their common will in the political and policy arenas?
- How is it possible for these groups to exert so much influence in a supposedly free and democratic society?

The answers to these questions are not secret, but neither are they everyday news. With the aid of sociological and empirical studies, Domhoff describes the extensive interlocking relationships between the very wealthy class, huge corporations, trade organizations, policy planning organizations, think tanks, and the many ways they influence (and even merge with) our government. After reading this book, one might wonder if the welfare of the common people is ever taken into account in government decisions. And that is the point. Indeed, Domhoff clearly demonstrates that most policy battles in government, though cloaked in rhetoric about the general welfare, are actually fights among different moneyed and powerful interests when their usual interrelationships and consensus building organizations (above) are unable to produce a united front.

For a focus on how corporate power has gained control in diverse policy areas in Congress, see recently published (5/1/06) Hostile Takeover: How Big Money and Corruption Conquered Our Government -- and How We Take It Back by David Sirota. With unusual clarity, Sirota's book also lays bare the myths and lies that corporations and bought-off politicians use to mask the self-serving nature of policies and to promote public acquiescence. Another excellent book, Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain by George Monbiot, underscores the worldwide nature of this problem.

This book also has an informative website at www.whorulesamerica.net.

Picks up the baton of C. Wright Mills.......2006-01-27

This is a tremendously well-written examination of the structure of power in America. It continues the ideas of Mills but with more of the empirical and less of the theoretical. A MUST-READ for anyone who claims to know how America is ruled. Simply stated--if this book doesn't get your blood boiling and move you to action then you have no right to complain about the present state of the American political system.

Essential reading to understand power in America.......2005-02-23

In this book, Domhoff investigates where the power lies in America. He defines the 3 indicators of power, 'Who Benefits', 'Who Governs', and 'Who Wins' as the basis for determining who holds power. At the end of Chapter 1, Domhoff briefly summarizes the main points of the book:
"Using membership network analysis, this book attempts to show there is a corporate community (Chapter 2) that is the basis for a social upper class (Chapter 3). This intertwined corporate community and social upper class have developed a policy-planning network (Chapter 4) and an opinion-shaping network (Chapter 5) that give them the means to win a majority of seats in the electoral process (Chapter 6) and to shape the policies of interest to them within the federal government (Chapter 7)."

The arguments made here are very well researched, with quantitative analysis of how corporate leaders are linked with each other through their common elite socialization and self-interests, corporate directorship positions, foundation trustee status, policy planning groups, and government positions.
Domhoff gives the subject of power an honest and insightful treatment. After reading this book, I can't imagine a more logical and convincing description of how the unequal distribution of power in America is maintained, and further consolidated. Given its $30 price tag for less than 300 page paperback, I'd check the library before buying this one. Still, highly recommended!

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