This Moment on Earth: Today's New Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future

Book Description

An inspiring celebration of courageous American innovators who are transforming the way we protect and care for the world we live in.

The environment, and the movement that grew up to protect it, is under attack--concerted and purposeful. Yet the need for solutions to pressing environmental problems grows more urgent each day. Teresa Heinz Kerry and Senator John Kerry traveled across the country in a national campaign to see at first hand how these issues unite people across party and ideological lines. From the San Juan Basin to the Gulf of Mexico to the South Bronx, from mothers on Cape Cod to Colorado ranchers, they found a vibrant coalition of people and communities deploying ingenuity, technology, and sheer will power to save the world they know and love. Now, in this passionate and personal book, Senator John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry shine the spotlight on an inspiring crosssection of these new environmental pioneers.

The book combines intensive research with keenly observed personal experiences to present a portrait of Americans devoted to the natural diversity and spectacular uniqueness of our country. It also includes an extensive guide on where and how readers can get involved.

Customer Reviews:

May A Republican Say Something?.......2007-10-06

Senator Kerry, this is one of the best books I've read in a long time, and I read a lot of books. The common sense, lack of passion, and optimism did my old heart good. Since I'm not as optimistic as you, I believe if we're to come out of this tailspin that my party has put us in, your approach, not mine, is the key. As a Vietnam veteran who was shot down twice in Vietnam 1968-69, I hope you understand that the Swift Boat guys were exploited by sociopaths. The weak minded simply cannot refuse even the briefest moment in the limelight. They well forsake God and country without hesitation. Supporting you in 2004 has turned out to be one of the smartest things I have ever done. Believe me, it wasn't easy. It temporarily cost me the goodwill of friends and family. Thousands of Americans are still cheering Bush and Cheney not even aware that all their savings may be wiped out before these two leave office. Saudi Arabia on this very day--10/06/2007--has refused to cut interest rates in lockstep with the US Federal Reserve for the first time, signaling that the oil-rich Gulf kingdom is preparing to break the dollar currency peg in a move that risks setting off a stampede out of the dollar across the Middle East. As you know, Israel has already refused aid (free money) in Dollars. When Americans turned their backs on International laws, they turned their backs on God's laws as well. The price for doing so will be incomprehensible for most. Another book, please.

Required Reading.......2007-08-08

The material in this book should be put in the public's face daily via media, billboards, etc. It should be required reading. Every mother should understand that a disposable diaper takes 500 years to biodegrade (and as those chemicals in the diaper biodegrade, they pollute and cause potential carcinogens).

I would not call the book "bipartisan" as per some of the other reviews, and I think its bashing of the Bush administration (even though I am not a fan) detracted from the overall book. However, it is important reading; it had an impact on my behavior.

Stories of Hope.......2007-08-02

I was a little skeptical with this book being written by John Kerry. I wasn't sure what to expect. It gives some really good stories of everyday people who just wanted to make a change for the better. They weren't any sort of extremists or hippies. Just people with common sense and the determination to stand up for their right to live in a clean world.

KERRY gETS IT RIGHT.......2007-06-18

Kerry analyzes today;s environmental experts and gets it right. The book is passionate, well researched, spot on and well written. I was pleasantly surprised.

I think Kerry was at his best early in the book when he evaluated some of the current plans for saving the Earth. He got a little off track as the book progressed, then veered back on track in the last 100 pages.

I highly recommend this book for anybody who cares about the planet. Also recommended: "Earth In The Balance" by Al Gore. Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit

Encouragement for activism.......2007-06-09

This book is both inspiring and upsetting. Inspiring for the stories of success in opposing pollution and degradation of the environment and restoration to a more healthy one. It is upsetting to read of the abuses and pollution creating dangerous places to live.

It is a call to action that we all need to consider. I got many good ideas about issues I hadn't thought about and it made me think about my local situation. It's good to know people have won battles and corrected abuses.

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

Average customer rating:

America Alone
Funny, but also an important message.
A Must-Read!
Excelent book. Really crunches the numbers like no other book.
America Alone is Excellent

America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It
Mark Steyn
Manufacturer: Regnery Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Leadership | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion
Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1,500 Years
While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within
The Politically Incorrect Guide(tm) to Islam (and the Crusades) (Politically Incorrect Guides)
Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America

ASIN: 0895260786

Book Description

In this, his first major book, Mark Steyn--probably the most widely read, and wittiest, columnist in the English-speaking world--takes on the great poison of the twenty-first century: the anti-Americanism that fuels both Old Europe and radical Islam. America, Steyn argues, will have to stand alone. The world will be divided between America and the rest; and for our sake America had better win.

Customer Reviews:

America Alone.......2007-10-11

Every person in the USA should read this book. Today in the Dallas Morning news(10/10/07)there is an editorial by Anne Applebaum verifing one of the facts stated it this book. Ms. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who is under death threat because of her comments about the mistreatment of women in the Dutch Muslin community had to move to the US because the Dutch say it is too expensive to protect her and she will not shut up. No free speech for her. Mohammed Bouyeri murdered the Dutch writer, Theo Van Gohg, because he made a film about the oppression of Muslim women.

Funny, but also an important message........2007-10-11

While I cannot say that anybody reading this should have more kids just out of the guilt this book might give you, it is an important message about the sad effects of low birthrates. Mark Steyn has a quick wit and funny tone that is clearly not politically correct (good for him). Anybody who enjoys a good laugh or is concerned about terrorism should read this.

A Must-Read!.......2007-10-10

This book was every bit as good as I had heard. I've always enjoyed Mark Steyn, but hadn't gotten a chance to read this yet because I had a stack of books in front of it. That's my loss, because this was one of the most profound and eye-opening books I've ever read. To be honest, I pay pretty close attention to this conflict we find ourselves in, so most of the individual facts in this book weren't exactly foreign to me. But Steyn pulls all this together and presents it in such a concise, clear and entertaining way that I was able to put the pieces together in a way I hadn't even imagined. His demographic data alone is shocking, and should make every person in Europe and Canada sit up and take serious note - I'll be paying very close attention to what happens over the next few years "across the pond", as they say, for how goes Europe, so will eventually go America. I plan to buy several more copies of this book and hand them out to friends and family. I highly suggest it.

Excelent book. Really crunches the numbers like no other book........2007-10-05

This book really lays out the problems with hard numbers and facts in a way I have never seen and is easy to understand. I recomend this book to anyone who is worried about the muslim issue. People in Europe better read it asap!

America Alone is Excellent.......2007-10-04

This book gives a lot of attention to fertility rates in Europe, Scandanavia and the United States. Many other good observations and opinions are included as well. It will give you some insights into what may occur in various countries in the future vis-a-vis the Muslims and non Muslims.

Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower

Average customer rating:

The idealism is better than the realism
DR. BRZEZINSKI SHOULD BE RUNNING THIS COUNTRY
Second Chance: 3 presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower
J'Accuse
Brilliant. A must read as we approach the future election they are boring us with ...

Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA
The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives
Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power
Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone (Vintage)
Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East: 1776 to the Present

ASIN: 0465002528

Book Description

From the most highly respected analyst of foreign policy writing today, a story of wasted opportunity and squandered prestige: a critique of the last three U.S. presidents' foreign policy.

America's most distinguished commentator on foreign policy, former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, offers a reasoned but unsparing assessment of the last three presidential administrations' foreign policy. Though spanning less than two decades, these administrations cover a vitally important turning point in world history: the period in which the United States, having emerged from the Cold War with unprecedented power and prestige, managed to squander both in a remarkably short time. This is a tale of decline: from the competent but conventional thinking of the first Bush administration, to the well-intentioned self-indulgence of the Clinton administration, to the mortgaging of America's future by the "suicidal statecraft" of the second Bush administration. Brzezinski concludes with a chapter on how America can regain its lost prestige. This scholarly yet highly opinionated book is sure to be both controversial and influential.

Customer Reviews:

The idealism is better than the realism .......2007-08-29

Intelligence is no substitute for integrity. In surveying the world - situation and the role three U.S. Presidents had after the fall of the Soviet Union Brezinski fails to give prominent place to one major development he himself had considerable responsibility for i.e. the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. It was he who as Carter's foreign policy chief - advisor supervised the fall of the Shah in Iran, and did nothing to prevent the rise of the radical Islamic regime there. He also helped put into place the Mujadeen in Afghanistan, and they have been a key element in the rise of Global Islam worldwide.
In this book he focuses on what he considers the missed opportunities of the U.S. after the fall of the Soviet Union. He is especially critical of the current President.
Brezinski does have interesting things to say about current American weaknesses including the balance of payments problem, the problem of a loss of kind of moral discipline.
His idea of the United States leading mankind to a new era of dignity and freedom is a good one. And for his 'idealism' expressed most fully in the final chapter the book is worth reading.

DR. BRZEZINSKI SHOULD BE RUNNING THIS COUNTRY.......2007-07-25

I feel strongly, that this book says what most rational people in the "world!" are thinking. It is pure and clear truth. It could have been a lot less disasterous for our country, if Dr. Brzezinski could have tutored bush/cheney/rice, on how to lead a great nation with "integrity, honor and some backbone." Can we find a way for a man like Dr. Brzezinski,(who was born in Europe/Poland), to run for President?! Fantastic book! I read it in one sitting.

Second Chance: 3 presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower.......2007-07-21

Grim yet fairly non-biased assessment of the administrations since the fall of the wall. There is some hope at the end of the book, but it will take an extraordinary turn of events to keep America from losing its place in global stature.
His critical eye on the current administration is no nonsense and, sadly, accurate.

J'Accuse.......2007-07-08

This is nothing more than a scathing indictment on eight years of GWB misrule.

To distinguish his indictment from other partisan rhetoric, ZB has placed his argument in a much wider and rational perspective. He has reviewed also the missteps of the previous two US Presidents in the foreign policy arena, and the lost chances of securing and cementing a true global leadership position for USA.

What is so different with the current regime is of course not just a matter of lost chances but colossal cost to US interests abroad. Not to mention lack of any significant progress in any key domestic agenda issues to balance it all.

ZB tries to make the argument at the end that all is not lost, and US still has a chance to regain its leadership position following certain steps.

His argument is not very credible though. He ignores the fact that US, as a nation, thinks and feels very differently than the one of 50s and 60s which put US on a moral path to global leadership. Things are indeed different, and second chance seems to be wishful thinking mostly.

Writing is excellent as expected, delivery and reasoning forceful and complete. Interesting reading for those of us contemplating the next chapter.

Brilliant. A must read as we approach the future election they are boring us with ..........2007-06-28

I happen to hear this guy on Charlie Rose the other night and went out and bought his book. The book isnt as interesting as he is in an interview live but its well worth the read.

His analysis of the past three administrations is superb. It is balanced and I think offers great insight into the hits and misses of our leaders. He goes on to explain his views on the world post Russia and our missed opportunites. His close of post 2008 I would love to hear discussed by him and others.

An important book for this country. Get it and read it and act.

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

Average customer rating:

A must read!
awesome
Obama Stakes Out Centrist Ground
Hope and Compromise
A New Kind of Politics

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
Barack Obama
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

African-American & Black | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Congresses, Senates, & Legislative Bodies | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III
The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
Barack Obama: Working to Make a Difference (Gateway Biographies)
You: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management

ASIN: 0307237699
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Amazon.com

Barack Obama's first book, Dreams from My Father, was a compelling and moving memoir focusing on personal issues of race, identity, and community. With his second book The Audacity of Hope, Obama engages themes raised in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, shares personal views on faith and values and offers a vision of the future that involves repairing a "political process that is broken" and restoring a government that has fallen out of touch with the people. We had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics--see his responses below. --Daphne Durham

20 Second Interview: A Few Words with Barack Obama

Q: How did writing a book that you knew would be read so closely by so many compare to writing your first book, when few people knew who you were?
A: In many ways, Dreams from My Father was harder to write. At that point, I wasn't even sure that I could write a book. And writing the first book really was a process of self-discovery, since it touched on my family and my childhood in a much more intimate way. On the other hand, writing The Audacity of Hope paralleled the work that I do every day--trying to give shape to all the issues that we face as a country, and providing my own personal stamp on them.

Q: What is your writing process like? You have such a busy schedule, how did you find time to write?
A: I'm a night owl, so I usually wrote at night after my Senate day was over, and after my family was asleep--from 9:30 p.m. or so until 1 a.m. I would work off an outline--certain themes or stories that I wanted to tell--and get them down in longhand on a yellow pad. Then I'd edit while typing in what I'd written.

Q: If readers are to come away from The Audacity of Hope with one action item (a New Year's Resolution for 2007, perhaps?), what should it be?
A: Get involved in an issue that you're passionate about. It almost doesn't matter what it is--improving the school system, developing strategies to wean ourselves off foreign oil, expanding health care for kids. We give too much of our power away, to the professional politicians, to the lobbyists, to cynicism. And our democracy suffers as a result.

Q: You're known for being able to work with people across ideological lines. Is that possible in today's polarized Washington?
A: It is possible. There are a lot of well-meaning people in both political parties. Unfortunately, the political culture tends to emphasize conflict, the media emphasizes conflict, and the structure of our campaigns rewards the negative. I write about these obstacles in chapter 4 of my book, "Politics." When you focus on solving problems instead of scoring political points, and emphasize common sense over ideology, you'd be surprised what can be accomplished. It also helps if you're willing to give other people credit--something politicians have a hard time doing sometimes.

Q: How do you make people passionate about moderate and complex ideas?
A: I think the country recognizes that the challenges we face aren't amenable to sound-bite solutions. People are looking for serious solutions to complex problems. I don't think we need more moderation per se--I think we should be bolder in promoting universal health care, or dealing with global warming. We just need to understand that actually solving these problems won't be easy, and that whatever solutions we come up with will require consensus among groups with divergent interests. That means everybody has to listen, and everybody has to give a little. That's not easy to do.

Q: What has surprised you most about the way Washington works?
A: How little serious debate and deliberation takes place on the floor of the House or the Senate.

Q: You talk about how we have a personal responsibility to educate our children. What small thing can the average parent (or person) do to help improve the educational system in America? What small thing can make a big impact?
A: Nothing has a bigger impact than reading to children early in life. Obviously we all have a personal obligation to turn off the TV and read to our own children; but beyond that, participating in a literacy program, working with parents who themselves may have difficulty reading, helping their children with their literacy skills, can make a huge difference in a child's life.

Q: Do you ever find time to read? What kinds of books do you try to make time for? What is on your nightstand now?
A: Unfortunately, I had very little time to read while I was writing. I'm trying to make up for lost time now. My tastes are pretty eclectic. I just finished Marilynne Robinson's Gilead, a wonderful book. The language just shimmers. I've started Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which is a great study of Lincoln as a political strategist. I read just about anything by Toni Morrison, E.L. Doctorow, or Philip Roth. And I've got a soft spot for John le Carre.

Q: What inspires you? How do you stay motivated?
A: I'm inspired by the people I meet in my travels--hearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. I'm inspired by the love people have for their children. And I'm inspired by my own children, how full they make my heart. They make me want to work to make the world a little bit better. And they make me want to be a better man.

Book Description

“A government that truly represents these Americans–that truly serves these Americans–will require a different kind of politics. That politics will need to reflect our lives as they are actually lived. It won’t be pre-packaged, ready to pull off the shelf. It will have to be constructed from the best of our traditions and will have to account for the darker aspects of our past. We will need to understand just how we got to this place, this land of warring factions and tribal hatreds. And we’ll need to remind ourselves, despite all our differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break.”
–from The Audacity of Hope

In July 2004, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in particular anchored itself in listeners’ minds, a reminder that for all the discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been guided by a dogged optimism in the future, or what Senator Obama called “the audacity of hope.”

Now, in The Audacity of Hope, Senator Obama calls for a different brand of politics–a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the “endless clash of armies” we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” He explores those forces–from the fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the media–that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator, seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own deepening religious commitment.

At the heart of this book is Senator Obama’s vision of how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and the transnational threats–from terrorism to pandemic–that gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a democracy–where it is vital and where it must never intrude. Underlying his stories about family, friends, members of the Senate, even the president, is a vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political consensus.

A senator and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a skeptic, and above all a student of history and human nature, Senator Obama has written a book of transforming power. Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, he says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Those Americans are out there, he writes–“waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them.”

Customer Reviews:

A must read!.......2007-10-10

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I read this book a while back, and I re-read it just last week now that Obama is a major Presidential contender. This book is very well written in terms of style and syntax, plus it takes us on a journey of man grappling serioulsy with issues of hope, worth, justice, patriotism and social obligation. It seems that whatever the outcome of the election, Obama believes in decency and hope and has pledged to do his part to make this a better society. It reads well, makes you think and makes you actually glimpse an American living closer to its ideal. This is a must read!

awesome.......2007-10-10

This was am amazing book by an amazing man. Really unique viewpoint and an interesting perspective with which to view American politics. Obama is obviously brilliant and is an American political historian...love that aspect, especially. His passion for this country and making the lives of the American people better shines through on every page. His humility, honesty and humanity are refreshing. He's idealistic, but no doormat. The man has drive and ambition...wonderful qualities for someone looking to make the lives of others better. He's smart, genuine and sees the big picture...what's best for America as a whole. He gives the reader not just his opinions or snippets of American history, but also a candid look at his own personal journey. He's obviously a Democrat, but shows appreciation and admiration for some individual Repbulicans, too. Wonderfully refreshing change from the usual hatemongering between parties that has become the ugly norm in America in recent years.

Obama Stakes Out Centrist Ground.......2007-10-09

I routinely give history books five stars, but I am compelled to limit this one to four. The political manifesto is limited as a genre, and I was not quite ready after Obama's last book to be brought back down to earth. The stories in this book, while by turns sad and funny, are no longer told for their own sakes like the ones in "Dreams from my Father," but to illustrate a point. Still, Obama manages to be polemical without being strident. When they deserve it in his view, he bestows credit and even praise on individual Republicans, and quotes the sage advice that President Bush once gave him -- that he was rising so spectacularly that people on his own side might come to see him as a threat. He also has a lot of praise for his staff members, listing the more senior ones by name and telling stories of things he and they discovered at the same time.

The leading characteristic of this book is that Obama strives to be Informed about every issue he comments on. Accordingly, he attacks those on the extreme poles of the debate on all these issues for encouraging their constituents not to be informed. He will frequently say, in so many words, that while Republicans need to acknowledge X, Democrats equally need to acknowledge Y. The eighth chapter, "The World Beyond Our Borders," indicates even if his more recent rhetoric did not that if you are looking for a candidate who will get our troops out of Iraq quickly, Barack Obama is probably not your man. He reminds me of no one, in fact, so much as Bill Clinton in his knowledgeable approach to the issues, bolstered frequently by statistics.

My favorite chapters were the third chapter -- in which Obama sets forth his view of the Constitution, and talks of his respectful meeting with onetime Klansman Sen. Robert Byrd -- and the sixth chapter, where he talks about religion and his race against Alan Keyes (having discussed most of his other political opponents in the previous four chapters). While he beat Keyes handily, Keyes made him more uncomfortable than the others for his implicit charge that Obama's faith is insincere or "adulterated," the word Obama uses. From this chapter, however, I gleaned that Obama's faith is hard-won. He had higher expectations of religion perhaps than most, a higher threshhold that he insisted it meet before he would embrace it; but he is sincere. Keyes has now entered the Presidential race (his third try for his party's nomination); I suspect that more than anything he wants another crack at Obama. In the last chapter before the epilogue, we see Obama as a family man, a side of him which didn't make it into his first book.

Obama writes far more readable and entertaining books than the Clintons do -- which doesn't necessarily mean he would make a better President than either of them. But I am glad he exists. He is one of those singular people who seek to prove we as a nation are who we say we are. If I was teaching American history in an inner-city school, and was not compelled to use the same books as everyone else in the state, Obama would be one of five or so authors I would assign. (Did I mention his insights on the need to completely restructure public education, shared in the fifth chapter, "Opportunity"? He's a bit short on details of his solution here, however.) As mentioned above, I give this book four stars.

Hope and Compromise.......2007-10-04

I am particularly struck by the contrast of Obama and George W. Bush. Obama stays in touch with the masses by talking in air terminals and wherever he finds them in public. Jim Wallis (author of "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It") comments from his meeting the President:

"And he (George W. Bush) really did listen, more than presidents often do. He also asked questions. One sounded lofty, yet it resonated with those of us seated around the room: 'How do I speak to the soul of America?' My answer to that was simple: Focus on the children. Their plight is our shame, I told him, and their promise is our future. Reach them and you reach our soul. Bush nodded in agreement. The conversation was rich and deep for more than an hour and a half.

When the discussion officially ended, Bush moved around the room, talking with us individually or in small groups for another hour. I could see that his staff was anxious to whisk him away (cabinet appointments were being made that week and there were key departments yet to fill). Yet he lingered and continued to ask questions. At one point, he turned to me and said, with what I could only read as complete sincerity, 'Jim, I don't understand poor people. I've never lived with poor people or been around poor people much. I don't understand what they think and feel about a lot of things. I'm just a white Republican guy who doesn't get it. How do I get it?'"

Here, in Obama's book, Obama is an ordinary American who has entered a lofty position in Washington, but he has not forgotten the people, not only the people of America, but of Indonesia and Kenya as well.

Obama's style is assertive, with a stunning line or two for each chapter.

Still, I believe Obama isn't spot on. When he speaks of hope, for example, the word opportunity would be more exacting and prospective. While Obama speaks of compromise, it would be appropriate to examine areas of agreement, but work towards independent solutions rather than compromise.

A New Kind of Politics.......2007-09-30

"They are out there, I think to myself, those ordinary citizens who have grown up in the midst of all the political and cultural battles.....They are out there, waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them".

That statement sets the tone for Senator Obama's refreshingly honest look at policy and politics. In this book, you'll find Obama as open to pointing out flaws in conventional liberal thinking as he is to criticizing his opponents on the right. Likewise, he praises certain aspects of Reagan's policy as openly as he criticizes other parts of it, or as openly as he applauds Bill Clinton's policies. Obama's ability to empathize with a differing point of view, yet maintaining a firm belief in his own position is very endearing.

The most interesting aspect of the book, perhaps, is its ability to see today's issues in a historical context. When examining U.S. foreign policy, Obama first walks the reader through the positions taken by Washington, Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson, Nixon, Reagan and others in trying to preserve America's national interests through interventions abroad. Likewise, when looking at the role of faith in American politics, Obama starts by giving the readers a glimpse of the how America's founding fathers thought about these issues, and how the cultural and social changes in the sixties eventually led the religious right to start playing a more active role in politics.

Obama also talks openly about his family, and his experiences while growing up, that have shaped him as a person. While talking about racial issues, he is comfortable talking about personal experiences that offer him hope. He's equally comfortable talking about his initiation into faith, having been brought up by a mother who wasn't religious.

If you're looking to understand the details of policy that Obama would champion if elected President, this book doesn't offer you a lot. However, what it gives you is the framework of beliefs which shape how Obama thinks about politics and policy. It lives true to its title, and offers hope for a new kind of politics, one that would help us all get closer to the American Dream. All in all, a very enjoyable read, and highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

A Terrible Book
Poor writing,characters and storyline=bad book
Baldacci comes through again
Another good one.....
Simple Genius is Simply Great

Simple Genius
David Baldacci
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

The Overlook (Harry Bosch)
The 6th Target
Invisible Prey
The Woods
The Collectors

ASIN: 0446580341
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Book Description

In a world of secrets, human genius is power.And sometimes it is simply deadly...A three-hour drive from Washington, D.C., two clandestine institutions face each other across a heavily guarded river. One is the world's most unusual laboratory, whose goals and funding are a mystery. The other is an elite CIA training camp shrouded in secrecy. Now a man and a woman are about to run a gauntlet between these two puzzle factories, straight into a furious struggle to exploit a potentially world-shattering discovery--and keep some other secrets underwraps forever...Former secret service agents turned private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell have seen their lives splinter around them. Michelle lies unconscious ina hospital bed after a night of suicidal violence. And Sean is forced to take on a thankless investigation into the mutder of a scientist just inside the CIA's razor-wire fence near Williamsburg, Virginia.Soon he is uncovering layer after layer of disinformation that shields a stunning world filled with elite mathematics, physicists, war heroes, spies, and deadly field agents. Amid more murder, a seemingly autistic girl's extraordinary genius, and a powerful breakthrough in the realm of classified codes, Sean soon learns enough to put his life at risk. Now more than ever, he needs Michelle--at her best--to help stop a conspiracy of traitors operating in the shadow of the White House itself.From Michelle's courageous struggle to defeat her long-buried personal demons to a centuries-old secret that surfaces in the heat of action, SIMPLE GENIUS pulses with stunning, high-intensity suspense. The heroes of Split Second and Hour Game, David Baldacci's #1 New York Times bestsellers, are back--as you've never seen them before.

Customer Reviews:

A Terrible Book.......2007-10-05

As a long-standing fan it pains me to write a negative review for Mr. Baldacci's latest novel, but it seems as if he phoned this one into his publisher. Flat characters, over-plotted, silly dialogue...and those are the book's good points. Don't waste your time or money.

Poor writing,characters and storyline=bad book.......2007-09-24

A member of our book group chose this book for us. We had read Camel Club and found the characters amusing and the story OK, but Simple Genius is embarrassingly boring. The characters lack any depth, the storyline is ridiculous and not even marginally believable;and the dialogue could have been written by a first grader. Do yourself a favor and don't buy this one.

Baldacci comes through again.......2007-09-17

Briefly, an enjoyable "page-turner." It was hard to put down, both for the action and for the 3-dimensional main characters. Not a criticism, but the author in his credits should have given a nod to Clive Cussler.
Thanks, David. I'm awaiting your next one.

Another good one............2007-09-15

I will never forgive Baldacci !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He got us started with these audio cd's with The Winner back in 1997- 98 ?

and found the perfect match for our love of driving trips !

As soon as he comes out with one, we get it... and have been enthralled every time !!!

I highly recommend Simple Genius!

Simple Genius is Simply Great.......2007-09-13

Simple Genius, like all of David Baldacci's novels, is "simply great". This novel mixes suspence, a spy thriller, and detective mystery all into one speel-binding "edge of your chair" masterpiece. I couldn't stop listening to the un-abridged audio CD set. Great audio book. Recommended to all that enjoy this type of novel or this author.

Average customer rating:

A "HOW-TO" for citizenship and political leadership
excellent
Call to Greatness
Current state of affairs for the middle class
Long-winded and Confusing Story

The New American Story
Bill Bradley
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Civics | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower
The Assault on Reason
This Moment on Earth: Today's New Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future
Values of the Game
Einstein: His Life and Universe

ASIN: 1400065070
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Book Description

“Politics is stuck,” writes Bill Bradley, in this insightful, informative, and provocative book about America at a crossroads, but “idealism isn’t dead. It can be reawakened.”

What will it take to make America a better, stronger, truer country? asks the bestselling author, former Knicks star, and onetime presidential candidate. Bill Bradley believes that America is at a teachable moment when we are compelled to reevaluate our political system, our leadership, our agenda as a nation, and ourselves as citizens. With clarity and urgency, Bradley shows why the story we are being told now about who we are as a people is not true. He then offers a new story about our nation, based on America’s rich heritage and his belief in the character of the American people. Bradley explores what changes need to be made in our parties, in our politics, and in citizen activism to ensure America’s future. He asserts that the American people are ready for the truth and suggests that the party that chooses to embrace this new story will be in power for a generation.

Writing from his own experience in politics and drawing on his knowledge of history, Bradley shows how the Republican Party has built a solid pyramid structure since the 1970s, at the base of which are money, ideas, and media, whereas the Democratic Party’s structure is an inverted pyramid, with too much emphasis put on the need for a charismatic leader to hold the pyramid up. Each party, for different reasons, fails to deal with the real issues that now confront America.

This informed and inspiring call to action is addressed not only to the parties and elected leaders, but to citizens as well. Bradley proposes things every American can do to shape our nation’s future. He points out that if eighty percent of the electorate voted, instead of fifty percent, it would be the most important change in American politics since women got the vote. Now more than ever, he says, we need to embrace an “ethic of connectedness,” a combination of collective action and individual responsibility, to solve our nation’s most pressing problems, and he argues that the fate of all countries is bound together as never before. Writing today with the freedom of a private citizen, Bradley provides this transformative and eye-opening book about the danger and the promise of America’s choice at this crucial moment in the nation’s history.

Customer Reviews:

A "HOW-TO" for citizenship and political leadership.......2007-09-29

Why should you read this?

- If you care about our democracy and want to help make it strong again

- If you want to understand the big domestic challenges we face today

- If you want thoughtful proposals to addresses those challenges

- If you want to better the understand the Democratic and Republican parties; what makes them function, what makes them DYSFUNCTIONAL

- If you want to hear an insider's take on what makes our democracy tick, what makes it great, and what threatens its survival

This is a terrific book. If I had the money, I'd buy one for every member of Congress.

I listened to this book unabridged on audio, narrated by Michael Prichard. He does a good job capturing Bill Bradley's dignity, but to my ear doesn't quite capture his enthusiasm and passion for good government.

excellent.......2007-08-28

bradley is a truly brilliant man. the book is filled with hundreds of good ideas. hopefully he will stay involved in politics. the problem is that the people who need to read this book will not. our government is controlled by big business and greedy men with their own agendas. how soon is that going to change? i highly reccomend this book.

Call to Greatness.......2007-08-20

You'd swear Bill Bradley was running for office or dashing down court for a breakaway three-pointer. This one-time presidential contender and New York Knicks superstar writes with the energy and urgency of a man on a mission.

Read his book, The New American Story, and you'll be tempted to join him. Bradley has issued a powerful call to action--one that promises to rescue our nation from political infighting and restore America's leadership role in the world.

His is not a story of military might and moral superiority; it is the story of our nation's founding principles, written by the men and women whose active engagement at pivotal points in history assured the country lived up to its highest ideals.

We have a choice before us that could transcend our current state of affairs, says Bradley. A choice that puts country over political party, the common good over the distracting issues that divide us.

One of our nation's most admired leaders--Abraham Lincoln--knew a thing or two about bringing a divided nation together. When he was president, Lincoln would often sneak out of the White House on Wednesday nights to hear sermons of a well-known preacher at the New York Presbyterian Church. One night, an aide asked Lincoln what he had thought of the sermon. "The content was excellent. The minister had a strong voice and a good delivery," said Lincoln, pausing. "But he forgot the most important part. He didn't ask us to do something great."

Bill Bradley is asking us to do something great.

"The answers to our problems rest in our hearts as well as in our heads," Bradley says in the introduction to his book, "and until we understand that, we'll make marginal improvements, but we won't make the quantum leaps that our Founders made and hoped we would continue."

I am drawn to stories of ordinary Americans who overcame obstacles to achieve great things. Freedom fighters on the Underground Railroad. Journalists who exposed unethical business practices at the turn of the 20th century. The immigrants who built our transcontinental railroad. A country lawyer who became a United States Supreme Court Justice, America's chief prosecutor of Nazi War criminals, and the founder of international law. These are the stories I want people around the world to know about when they think of America and its unique contributions to the world. That's why my husband and I make historical documentaries for a living.

Bill Bradley's book had me from hello, or at least from the moment I read the book jacket blurbs written by David McCullough, David Halberstam, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Robert A. Caro, all Pulitzer Prize winners. Because I love history, and because I believe in the strength of our nation's collective character, I kept on reading.

There is no question the bold policies outlined in Bill Bradley's book will be hotly debated in the coming weeks. He takes both political parties to task, taking aim at the current administration's policies with the finesse of a seasoned athlete and senator. And while I don't agree with every single one of Bradley's strategies on health care, education, environment, tax reform, and national defense, if this American story is to have a happy ending, I, like all other Americans, will have to look for common ground, and make sacrifices for the greater good.

Bill Bradley has faith that, given the right information--the true American story--we will do the right thing.

Current state of affairs for the middle class .......2007-08-07

I confess I have read many other books on the current status quo and state of politics in our country before reading this book. If you have too, this may be a bit repetitive as most issues have been discussed before. What I do like about Bill Bradley's book is it is not simply a laundry list of complaints. He offers at the end of each chapter (designated to each issue) some thought out solutions. This is a good book for eye-opening for our major issues - health care, education, energy... and would recommend it to readers who want to learn more about the who, what and why our social issues are being ignored by government. I also recommend "War on the Middle Class" by Lou Dobbs or "Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class -- And What We Can Do About It" by Thom Hartmann. I enjoyed reading those a little more.

Long-winded and Confusing Story.......2007-07-29

I'll confess right up front that I haven't finished the book yet, and I'll update this review when I do. I'm still slogging through lengthy, wandering passages that fail to make any points. I keep waiting for any kind of "here's a solution" or "here's what we should do" sentence, but I have yet to find one. He spends a lot of pages in the first 25% of the book telling the reader about the "story" that he says we're being told -- by whom? On every issue he seems to pick the most extreme right-wing position as representative of this "story" rather than the positions that the majority of Republicans and conservatives hold. And thus far all he's offered for his "new story" is idealistic pie-in-the-sky notions with no plan to get there. I trust that he gets there in the second half of the book.

Just one example of the poor writing and editing: In the section titled "Inequality" in chapter on The Economy, he goes on for quite a while about financial inequality, then about globalization and technological change, finally claiming that you can no longer get ahead by working hard. He then admits that that there is no way around benefiting the wealthy if you want to encourage investment. And then this sentence:
"But there is no excuse for failing to conduct rigorous oversight of and increase resources to education ... which in the long run will result in ... greater equality."
Okay, he tied it back into equality, but how did he suddenly switch from tax cuts and investing and unions to education in the middle of the same paragraph? Where did this out-of-the-blue accusation come from that someone isn't overseeing and funding education? I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with that accusation, just pointing out that it's completely out of place in any kind of logical or narrative flow.

And so goes this story so far. I'll keep at it and hope the writing and presentation of ideas tightens up. Maybe his publisher paid him by the word...

The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11

Average customer rating:

Muslims and al-Qaeda 101
Excellent
The Looming Tower
a fascinating read.
great insight into the killers attacking western civilization

The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
Lawrence Wright
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Terrorism | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

September 11 | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Islamic | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq
State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III
America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It
The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future
The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America's Pursuit of Its Enemies Since 9/11

ASIN: 037541486X
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Book Description

A sweeping narrative history of the events leading to 9/11, a groundbreaking look at the people and ideas, the terrorist plans and the Western intelligence failures that culminated in the assault on America. Lawrence Wright’s remarkable book is based on five years of research and hundreds of interviews that he conducted in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, England, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States.

The Looming Tower achieves an unprecedented level of intimacy and insight by telling the story through the interweaving lives of four men: the two leaders of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri; the FBI’s counterterrorism chief, John O’Neill; and the former head of Saudi intelligence, Prince Turki al-Faisal.

As these lives unfold, we see revealed: the crosscurrents of modern Islam that helped to radicalize Zawahiri and bin Laden . . . the birth of al-Qaeda and its unsteady development into an organization capable of the American embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and the attack on the USS Cole . . . O’Neill’s heroic efforts to track al-Qaeda before 9/11, and his tragic death in the World Trade towers . . . Prince Turki’s transformation from bin Laden’s ally to his enemy . . . the failures of the FBI, CIA, and NSA to share intelligence that might have prevented the 9/11 attacks.

The Looming Tower broadens and deepens our knowledge of these signal events by taking us behind the scenes. Here is Sayyid Qutb, founder of the modern Islamist movement, lonely and despairing as he meets Western culture up close in 1940s America; the privileged childhoods of bin Laden and Zawahiri; family life in the al-Qaeda compounds of Sudan and Afghanistan; O’Neill’s high-wire act in balancing his all-consuming career with his equally entangling personal life—he was living with three women, each of them unaware of the others’ existence—and the nitty-gritty of turf battles among U.S. intelligence agencies.

Brilliantly conceived and written, The Looming Tower draws all elements of the story into a galvanizing narrative that adds immeasurably to our understanding of how we arrived at September 11, 2001. The richness of its new information, and the depth of its perceptions, can help us deal more wisely and effectively with the continuing terrorist threat.

Customer Reviews:

Muslims and al-Qaeda 101.......2007-10-10

The Looming Tower is a must read for anyone wanting to know why world events have brought us to today. Lawrence Wright also makes it clear how difficult it will be to negotiate any type of peace with certain Muslim sects. Very factual. Well-researched and documented.

Excellent.......2007-10-10

This book, The Looming Towers, is an excellent portrayal of the genesis of the Muslim feelings of denigration and disgrace at the hands of the leaders of Western world. This book is sobering and frightening. It is well written and extremely interesting with excellent references.

The Looming Tower.......2007-10-10

I thought this an exciting and meaningful book,incredibly rich in detail.
Particularly enjoyed the background on bin Laden's father.

a fascinating read........2007-10-08

this is the third book in a row i have read that covers the events leading to the 9/11 attacks, and, of those three, it is by far the page for page best. "the looming tower" is a masterpiece of nonfiction that works wonderfully on so many levels: mideast politics, the dangers of religious extremism, the rise of al-Qaeda and its partner group al-Jihad, biographical work that paints a vivid human portrait of bin Laden, the best intentions of some and petty ego trips of others within the CIA and FBI whose conflicts hindered cooperation between those agencies leading up to 9/11, the complex and often quirky personalities of those working within the CIA and FBI, the conflicting intentions and seemingly zombie-like acts of cruelty perpetrated by the Taliban, etc... mile after mile of interesting ground is covered in a riveting narrative which never flounders on a single page. i found this to be one of the most thrilling books i have read in quite some time. putting aside the fact that this work is a first-rate primer on our contemporary history, you could simply look at it as a true crime masterpiece (right up there with norman mailer's "the executioner's song"). it certainly deserves the pulitzer prize it won. and it gets my highest recommendation. yes, indeed.

great insight into the killers attacking western civilization.......2007-10-06

This is a great work. Wright's Looming Tower provides an in-depth view of the main organization trying to bring down western civilization. In reading this treatment of this group, one quickly recognizes that these people do not like what we stand for as a country. From their eyes, we are the forces of debauchery, immorality, and crudeness. Their organization is structured to kill our civilization and us. Its really that simple. The cells of terrorists do not need technology, or resources, because they are smart and directed to one purpose. That focus will allow them to come at us repeatedly. Wright makes this clear, and does so by showing how their actions are directed to that one goal. So don't be deluded by those who claim the enemy is us or the president. Get this book, and become knowledgeable about what we face.

Average customer rating:

A great political book
Boorish!
Great Ideas Presented In An Entertaining Style
Talk show style of writing
Mildly Amusing from a pea brain with a big mouth

Somebody's Gotta Say It
Neal Boortz
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

With its outrageous brand of conservative talk, The Neal Boortz Show has been one of talk radio's hottest commodities for more than twenty–five years. Known as the Talkmaster and the High Priest of the Church of the Painful Truth, Boortz has been entertaining his rabid followers with his commentary on everything from corruption in Washington to the troops overseas.

Now, with Somebody's Gotta Say It, Neal gives us his biggest book yet–a hilarious but serious–as–taxes screed covering all the issues that get Neal and his millions of listeners hot under the collar on a daily basis. Among his subjects:

•The Tyranny of the Children: How we've ceded control to our bratty little runts . . . and how to take it back

•They're Government Schools, Not "Public" Schools . . . and they're killing us.

•The Dumb Masses: Say that really fast–and then have a look in the mirror!

•Socialized Medicine: Get ready for free crappy health care for all–Now, with Extra Taxes!

•Soccer Moms: The leaders of a culture where every precaution has been taken to make sure your son may never actually get hit! The wussification of America continues...

Full of irresistible wisecracks and irrefutable libertarian wisdom, Somebody's Gotta Say It is the next big conservative talk–radio bestseller.

Customer Reviews:

A great political book.......2007-10-05

This book was incredible. I found myself both in strong agreement and strong disagreement with Neal Boortz, but it was always entertaining and thought provoking. I strongly recommend it to everyone.

Boorish!.......2007-09-26

I could hardly get past the first chapter. I found this to be almost "tabloid" in nature and ordered it originally thinking I would be reading some intellectual quips, quotes, etc. I found instead that it is more basic and elementary than I wish to spend time on. Couldn't get through the entire book - sorry!

Great Ideas Presented In An Entertaining Style.......2007-09-09

This is a thought provoking and highly interesting book.

Neal Boortz does a superb job of outlining many of the numerous problems our nation faces. He also presents great suggestions which, if enacted, would make life much better for all Americans (except career politicians) and their children and grandchildren.

The author does not beat around the bush. He gets right to the heart of issues. It is sure to infuriate many readers. Those who are open minded will be challenged with some things that they would probably prefer to ignore.

Some of the issues that he addresses are as follows:

Education - "There is no greater long-term threat to our continued prosperity, economic liberty, freedom, and quality of life in the United States than that presented by teachers' unions. And that includes Islamic terrorists." Although I suspect he will not be invited to the NEA convention, he makes a great case for the tremendous problems we have in education. Of course anyone who has watched a clerk trying to make change (with the cash register's calculator not working) or watched Jay Leno's 'Jaywalking' is well aware of the scary level of ignorance being cranked out by the government school system. Fortunately, Boortz not only points out the problems, he gives workable solutions. He also provides an awesome list of things that should be taught in the public schools.

Voting - 'Instead of trying to increase that stock of knowledge, why not decrease the number of ignorant voters! Private businesses don't let ignorant employees decide company policy. Why should we allow ignorant voters to set public policy?' Not only would he limit who votes (the ignorant and tax consumers), but Boortz also presents a very radical proposal to change presidential selection. It is a revolutionary concept.

Boortz combines the best parts of libertarianism (liberty) with reality (terrorism, borders) to present a comprehensive plan for improving life in the United States. I highly recommend this book and also another book by Boorz, 'The Fair Tax Book' for anyone who desires to return America to its best.

Talk show style of writing.......2007-09-01

Neal Boortz is a libertarian, not a conservative, talk show host. He's in agreement with the economic conservatives on issues such as education, taxes and the minimum wage, but generally disagrees with the moral conservatives on concerns such as abortion, homosexuality, creationism and school prayer. (However, he's against totally removing religious symbolism from public life....) He uses a lot of energy bashing public education, calling schools "government indoctrination centers" and recounting horror stories of kids being required to pool their own school supplies.

He is very pro-individual, and generally against government regulation of business. Some of his positions are a little strange. For example, he is in favor of legalizing drugs, but then goes nuts over people smoking tobacco. The last chapter "No Way In Hell", is a synopsis of his political positions, some workable, some probably not, some kind of silly....

Although I've never listened to Boortz' show (to my knowledge, it is not played in Southern California). I do listen to a lot of talk shows, and this book seems to be written in an in-your-face, loud talk show host style. While that might be fun while sitting in traffic, when I'm actually reading, I prefer the more academic style of writing, with citations, a bibliography, etc.

Mildly Amusing from a pea brain with a big mouth.......2007-08-29

If your a thinking person - intellectual, academic, progressive, you will probably look at this book as if were written by a highly opinionated eight grader. Boortz thinks he "drives liberals crazy" as his trademark jingle says, however he leaves me thinking that I just bought a book consisting of nothing but opinion without reason, logic, or rationale. This book is not analytical, coherent, convincing, discerning, inferential, perceptive, relevant, or even sensible. However IT IS entertaining.

American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials 2006-2007 Edition (American Government and Politics Today)

Average customer rating:

Well written book-A KEEPER for people who are becoming US Citizens
Just a book

American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials 2006-2007 Edition (American Government and Politics Today)
Barbara A. Bardes , Mack C. Shelley , and Steffen W. Schmidt
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Civics | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Constitutions | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Study Guide for Schmidt/Shelley/Bardes' American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials 2006-2007 Edition, 12th
California Government and Politics Today, 2006-2007 Election Update (11th Edition) (California Government and Politics Today)
California State & Local Government in Crisis

Accessories:

Study Guide for Schmidt/Shelley/Bardes' American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials 2006-2007 Edition, 12th

ASIN: 0534647332

Book Description

The best-selling book published for American Government, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY: THE ESSENTIALS helps students experience the excitement that comes from active, informed citizenship in a concisely organized package. Bardes, Shelley, and Schmidt's text is renowned nationwide for its balanced, unbiased, comprehensive, and up-to-date coverage of constitutional, governmental, political, social, and economic structures and processes. The overriding theme is the importance of informed active citizenship. The pedagogy underscores this theme by soliciting critical thinking about political issues and encouraging students to become involved the political process. With keen awareness of its audience, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY: THE ESSENTIALS incorporates current examples, the Internet, and other media to stimulate learning and excitement about American government. This truly interactive text gives students more than reading material?it gives them tools to become good citizens.

Customer Reviews:

Well written book-A KEEPER for people who are becoming US Citizens.......2007-05-26

This book has a LOT of detail in it. It gives you an excellent idea of how our Federal government is organized, who runs what parts of the government, background on the organization of the Federal government.

The book has the full text of the US Constitution, along with the amendments, and explanations of same. There is also a list of all the US Presidents and Vice Presidents.

There are links to many websites, both public and private, that are of interest.

The book is well written and should be considered by anyone who will be taking a citizenship test.

For those of you who are buying this book because it is required for your class: If you actually read this book, you WILL learn some very interesting things.

Just a book.......2007-05-20

This is probably a classroom requirement, so it doesn't really matter what I think about it.

Average customer rating:

full of misrepresenations
THE BRAVEST PRESIDENT EVER
Great Book - Easy to Read and Understand - Thanks Jimmy!
Shows a lot of thought, reflexion, and prayer
Great book!!!

Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid
Jimmy Carter
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

Israel | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

Palestine | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

War & Peace | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis
State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III
The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy
The Power of Israel in the United States

ASIN: 0743285026
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Amazon.com

The crowning achievement of Jimmy Carter's presidency was the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, and he has continued his public and private diplomacy ever since, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his decades of work for peace, human rights, and international development. He has been a tireless author since then as well, writing bestselling books on his childhood, his faith, and American history and politics, but in Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, he has returned to the Middle East and to the question of Israel's peace with its neighbors--in particular, how Israeli sovereignty and security can coexist permanently and peacefully with Palestinian nationhood.

It's a rare honor to ask questions of a former president, and we are grateful that President Carter was able to take the time in between his work with his wife, Rosalynn, for the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity and his many writing projects to speak with us about his hopes for the region and his thoughts on the book.

A big thank you to President Carter for granting our request for an interview.

An Interview with President Jimmy Carter

Q: What has been the importance of your own faith in your continued interest in peace in the Middle East?
A: As a Christian, I worship the Prince of Peace. One of my preeminent commitments has been to bring peace to the people who live in the Holy Land. I made my best efforts as president and still have this as a high priority.

Q: A common theme in your years of Middle East diplomacy has been that leaders on both sides have often been more open to discussion and change in private than in public. Do you think that's still the case?
A: Yes. This is why private and intense negotiations can be successful. More accurately, however, my premise has been that the general public (Jewish, Christian, and Muslim) are more eager for peace than their political leaders. For instance, a recent poll done by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem showed that 58% of Israelis and 81% of the Palestinians favor a comprehensive settlement similar to the Roadmap for Peace or the Saudi proposal adopted by all 23 Arab nations and recently promoted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Tragically, there have been no substantive peace talks during the past six years.

Q: How have the war in Iraq and the increased strength of Iran (and the declarations of their leaders against Israel) changed the conditions of the Israel-Palestine question?
A: Other existing or threatened conflicts in the region greatly increase the importance of Israel's having peace agreements with its neighbors, to minimize overall Arab animosity toward both Israel and the United States and reduce the threat of a broader conflict.

Q: Your use of the term "apartheid" has been a lightning rod in the response to your book. Could you explain your choice? Were you surprised by the reaction?
A: The book is about Palestine, the occupied territories, and not about Israel. Forced segregation in the West Bank and terrible oppression of the Palestinians create a situation accurately described by the word. I made it plain in the text that this abuse is not based on racism, but on the desire of a minority of Israelis to confiscate and colonize Palestinian land. This violates the basic humanitarian premises on which the nation of Israel was founded. My surprise is that most critics of the book have ignored the facts about Palestinian persecution and its proposals for future peace and resorted to personal attacks on the author. No one could visit the occupied territories and deny that the book is accurate.

Q: You write in the book that "the peace process does not have a life of its own; it is not self-sustaining." What would you recommend that the next American president do to revive it?
A: I would not want to wait two more years. It is encouraging that President George W. Bush has announced that peace in the Holy Land will be a high priority for his administration during the next two years. On her January trip to the region, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for early U.S.-Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. She has recommended the 2002 offer of the Arab nations as a foundation for peace: full recognition of Israel based on a return to its internationally recognized borders. This offer is compatible with official U.S. Government policy, previous agreements approved by Israeli governments in 1978 and 1993, and with the International Quartet's "roadmap for peace." My book proposes that, through negotiated land swaps, this "green line" border be modified to permit a substantial number of Israelis settlers to remain in Palestine. With strong U.S. pressure, backed by the U.N., Russia, and the European Community, Israelis and Palestinians would have to come to the negotiating table.

1/18/2007

More to Explore

Our Endangered Values

Sharing Good Times
An Hour Before Daylight

From Publishers Weekly
The term "good-faith" is almost inappropriate when applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a bloody struggle interrupted every so often by negotiations that turn out to be anything but honest. Nonetheless, thirty years after his first trip to the Mideast, former President Jimmy Carter still has hope for a peaceful, comprehensive solution to the region's troubles, delivering this informed and readable chronicle as an offering to the cause. An engineer of the 1978 Camp David Accords and 2002 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Carter would seem to be a perfect emissary in the Middle East, an impartial and uniting diplomatic force in a fractured land. Not entirely so. Throughout his work, Carter assigns ultimate blame to Israel, arguing that the country's leadership has routinely undermined the peace process through its obstinate, aggressive and illegal occupation of territories seized in 1967. He's decidedly less critical of Arab leaders, accepting their concern for the Palestinian cause at face value, and including their anti-Israel rhetoric as a matter of course, without much in the way of counter-argument. Carter's book provides a fine overview for those unfamiliar with the history of the conflict and lays out an internationally accepted blueprint for peace.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description

Following his #1 New York Times bestseller, Our Endangered Values, the former president, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, offers an assessment of what must be done to bring permanent peace to Israel with dignity and justice to Palestine.

President Carter, who was able to negotiate peace between Israel and Egypt, has remained deeply involved in Middle East affairs since leaving the White House. He has stayed in touch with the major players from all sides in the conflict and has made numerous trips to the Holy Land, most recently as an observer in the Palestinian elections of 2005 and 2006.

In this book President Carter shares his intimate knowledge of the history of the Middle East and his personal experiences with the principal actors, and he addresses sensitive political issues many American officials avoid. Pulling no punches, Carter prescribes steps that must be taken for the two states to share the Holy Land without a system of apartheid or the constant fear of terrorism.

The general parameters of a long-term, two-state agreement are well known, the president writes. There will be no substantive and permanent peace for any peoples in this troubled region as long as Israel is violating key U.N. resolutions, official American policy, and the international "road map" for peace by occupying Arab lands and oppressing the Palestinians. Except for mutually agreeable negotiated modifications, Israel's official pre-1967 borders must be honored. As were all previous administrations since the founding of Israel, U.S. government leaders must be in the forefront of achieving this long-delayed goal of a just agreement that both sides can honor.

Palestine Peace Not Apartheid is a challenging, provocative, and courageous book.

Customer Reviews:

full of misrepresenations.......2007-10-10

this book should be labeled fiction. Jimmy has refused to debate (or even appear on the same stage) of critics who have questioned statements in the book he has presented as fact. very sad.

THE BRAVEST PRESIDENT EVER.......2007-10-10

In a country where a minimal critic against Israel would be labeled as "Anti-Semitism, " by writing this book, President Jimmy Carter shows his commitment to the principles of human rights. As usual, he is attacked by Israelis because of telling the truth.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS JIMMY CARTER!

Great Book - Easy to Read and Understand - Thanks Jimmy!.......2007-10-09

I am neither Christian, Jewish or Muslim, so I have no religious-based biased. I am influenced by Buddhism, however, and so it is very hard for me to understand the belief that the happiness and security of one person could ever be accomplished by denying the happiness and security of another person. I read this book after watching Christiane Amanpour's CNN special called "God's Warriors." Carter's book is easy to read and understand - which is a relief b/c I always thought the Israel/Mid-East conflict was too complicated to understand. Now I suspect that that belief is part of the effort to keep U.S. citizens from trying to influence U.S. policy in the Mid-East. Prior to watching the CNN special, I honestly never knew about the radical Jewish settlers in the occupied territories. It seems that the word terrorist has been so heavily linked to the word Muslin in this country, that the idea of Jewish terrorists was surprising to me. I also didn't know that George Bush, Sr. was the first and only president to attempt to restrict U.S. funding to Israel if any of the funds went to the establishment of settlements in occupied territories (in other words, if the Israel government continued to violate International Law and U.N. resolutions by increasing the settlements) -- unfortunately, the massive criticism that resulted forced him to back down or risk his political standing. This is why I think Carter's book is so important - no politician can disagree with Israel without accusations that they are anti-Semitic or senile or too liberal. It's not like Carter is saying that the Palestinian violence isn't reprehensible or that the denial of the holocaust and the desire to irradiate the Jewish state aren't insane. It appears that the new definition of the term "anti-Semite," however, is "disagreement with anything that the Israeli government does."

This is exactly the type of feedback that Carter seems to be getting from this book -- luckily he isn't a politician anymore and doesn't have to back down. It is clear that unfortunate choices have been made on both sides. The Palestinians and neighboring Arab countries have used violence and extremism against Israel, seriously threatening the existence of Israel; conversely, Israel has responded to Palestinian violence and Arab aggression with disproportional violence and aggression, time and time again, (e.g., the 6 day war, the recent attacks on Lebanon, killing hundreds of Palestinians in retaliation for Palestinian attacks that killed dozens), and Israel just can't seem to commit to getting settlers out of occupied territories.

I am very grateful that Carter took the risk of writing this book. Clearly, this is just his opinion and there are people who would look at the same facts and come to different conclusions. But you can't say that a former president of the U.S. and key participant in the camp david peace accord is misinformed on the facts -- as some reviews here have attempted to claim. I suspect that Carter, who has participated in private conversations with most of the key players here, just might be a little bit more informed regarding the details and facts than the Amazon reviewers here who claim they know more than Carter! I think it is more likely that they just disagree with Carter's opinions, and, like the participants in the Palestinian/Israel conflict, just can't manage to be civil and respectful towards anyone who disagrees with their own opinions. I heard on a news report that George Bush, Jr. once flew over the Palestinian refugee camps and commented that they were horrible, but opinioned that there was nothing that the U.S. could do - that the Israelis and Palestinians just had to be left to kill each other (which explains why his administration has done nothing to address the conflict). I don't support his position, but I can understand why he is so discouraged. Both sides appear to believe that their happiness and security rests on the destruction of the other side's happiness and security, which, I believe is fundamentally mistaken. Jews and Israelis will not be safe and happy until Palestinians and Arabs are safe and happy; Palestinians and Arabs will not be safe and happy until Jews and Israelis are safe and happy. Since we all drink from the same well, you can't poison the well water for someone else without poisoning it for yourself.

Shows a lot of thought, reflexion, and prayer.......2007-09-24

You can tell President Carter has a true passion for world peace and a desire to truly understand what drives people, both individually, and as a people to become who they are and do the things they do. What drives the human psyche and soul is affected by things, events, people, time, and place in history, and things beyond what we can imagine. No one can truly judge someone else without prejudice without at least attempting to walk a mile in his subjects shoes; and yet he is humble enough to know that even in doing so he has still only walked a mile in someone else's shoes. He has still not lived someone else's life or struggled that person's plight whatever it may be consist of. He takes responsibility for his opinions and explains his points of view and what got him to those conclusions. We are all entitled to form our own. I like that his reflect deep thinking and prayer.

Great book!!!.......2007-09-19

This book needs to be read by everybody out there for whether you believe it or not, we areall affected by what's happening in the Middle East. Every right mind would agree that it there wasn't this rage in the East, the world would have been a much different place. Safer, I don't know about that. Any way, Mr. Carter take a very unusual look at the situation. The look is impartial and that's what makes it unusual. One of the point Mr. Carter argues about, which I am very greatful for, is that Israel has confiscated lands that are not theirs making the world believe that's it's for military security, whereas in reality it's for geographical expension.

I do belive that Israel shouldn't be going anywhere for, like all people, they've gotta have a place to live for they are, like all people, citizens of the planet Earth. But at the same time, Israel needs to respect the Palestine rights to exist and be a nation. And until we have a group of people to think like Mr. Carter and make Israel understand all of that, we'll still be sitting on an eastern hot pot ready to explode.

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