Government Books - Page 4

The Communist Manifesto

Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 252 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Good in theory 1 out of 5 stars.
7 of 36 people found this review helpful.

Kinda a pointless book now that communism has been proven ineffective. I guess if you still want to live in this type of society you can move to Russa, China, Cuba etc. Lucky for them they have the US to give them foreign aid. Communism would be dead within a few decades without a capitolistic nation to support it.

Please actually read Marx... 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 10 people found this review helpful.

...and PLEASE read beyond the Manifesto! Ignore the anti-Marx ideologues who do not actually read him, and give him a shot. Forget, for a minute, all preconceived notions of communism, and take his writings as though they are fresh and brand new. Only then should you proceed on to reading criticism of him, history of Marxism, etc. The reader who is willing to undertake an actual study of Marx will find him infinitely valuable, and very astute on many things.

First, I'd like to (try to) clear up a few misconceptions about Marx that linger implacably in the minds of almost all Americans.

1) The Soviet Union, China, etc. were not Communist societies.
They were brutal dictatorships under the guise of communism, using it as an ideological blanket to mask their terrible atrocities. Moreover, Marx intended for Communism to evolve out of Capitalist societies (i.e., Britain and America during his time), not out of the feudalistic Russia/China. The argument that Communism killed 100 million is just wrong--dictators corrupting the ideas of communism (Lenin, Stalin, Mao, etc.) did so. So yes, Marx caused the deaths of 100 million in the same way Adam Smith caused the deaths of the Chinese and Irish immigrants who toiled on the railroad--in other words, not at all.

2.) Marxism =/= violence.
In certain places, especially the Manifesto, Marx does permit violence, and, indeed, advocate it. But Marx does not think it NECESSARY--that's the key point. Good Marxist thinkers, and I believe Marx himself, would say that communistic reforms could come just as easily and likely more efficiently from peaceful processes, as we have seen them for the most part in the United States.

3.) Communism is not welfare statism.
In fact, in a, actually realized communist society (unlikely to ever happen, I'll admit) there would be no government. Marx advocated the PEOPLE owning the means of production, not the state. This is a HUGE error that many make when reading Marx. I suspect he was just as distrusting of the state as your average libertarian, he just thought it necessary to rectify some of the wrongs of capitalism and a necessary step toward communism. Note the use of step there: Marx, taking from his predecessor Hegel, believes everything must proceed in steps!!

4.) The Communist Manifesto is not the end-all of communism.
Honestly, the Manifesto is a rather juvenile work compared to many of Marx's other writings, like DAS KAPITAL or GRUNDRISSE. It was intended as a sort of primer to communism, accessible to the common, sparsely-educated worker of Marx's time, and is a better demonstration of Marx/Engel's (everyone forgets about poor Engels!) rhetorical ability than of their thought proper.

I also believe that the Manifesto isn't really the best place to start. It breeds far too many misconceptions about communist thought, partly due to its theatricality, partly due to the way it has been misconstrued throughout the decades. If you do start with the Manifesto, as most people do, PLEASE continue on and read more about Marx! Trust me, it's worth it, and you learn the extreme depth of his theory.

One need only look at their time to understand why Marx and Engels were so infuriated at the capitalist system. Those years of the Industrial Revolution were an exciting and terrifying time. New wealth and new commodities were springing up constantly, but they tended to be concentrated in the hands of very few, while created at the expense of millions of common, downtrodden labourers. Those who attack government regulation of corporations should study the Gilded Age of America, and the Industrial Revolution in England. Child labourer, no safety laws whatsoever, no minimum wage, no work-week, no fair bargaining between workers and employees, government subsidizing of wealthy corporations, union-busters, etc. Is there any wonder Marx and Engels, who were essentially exiled to England during this time, were filled with such anger at the system that caused so much human suffering?

Marx's critique of capitalism is in my estimate the strongest part of his theory, and it is likely that his witnessing the above exploitations of workers is why it is so strong, and why the Manifesto seems so... angry. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in Marxist theory pick up a copy of the Marx-Engels Reader (also available on Amazon) and read through the "Critique of Capitalism" section, which offers selections from his writings under this topic.

How right Marx was is for the reader to decide. Again, I find his critique of capitalism VERY accurate, and believe the only reason his predictions haven't come to fruition to be because we implemented some of his recommended policies (we now live in a blended economy, somewhere on the spectrum between pure capitalism and communism). Communism itself is a bit silly, but not so much as the anti-Marxists make it out to be. The real take-away point here is that you should study (not read, STUDY) Marx for yourself, and not accept what I, or the anti-Marxists, tell you.

Editorial Review:

This definitive edition of the Communist Manifesto, prepared for its 150th anniversary, includes a foreword by Marxist scholar Paul M. Sweezy, co-editor of Monthly Review, the full text of the Communist Manifesto, in a distinctive and pleasing hand-set typeface, the important catechism Principles of Communism, drafted by Engels in 1847 as a basis for the Manifesto, and "The Communist Manifesto After 150 Years," a far-reaching interpretive essay by Ellen Meiksins Wood, co-editor of Monthly Review.

The Law

Frederick Bastiat

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Total reviews: 93 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

I agree with him 100 percent, but... 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

While I agree with Bastiat entirely, the way that he has presented "the classic blueprint for a just society," is exactly why people who lean more towards socialist ideas scoff at those who are for capitalism, economic stability, and most importantly honoring the fundamentals of the need for law: to protect life, liberty, and property.

The first chapter started out wonderfully, articulately and simple. It was accessible and easy to understand and apply. I was excited as I hoped to share this with my husband to allow him to open up to my ideas on politics which are different from his (he's a democrat/socialist).

However, the rest of the book just seemed to be a rant that got more and more impassioned as it went along, which to me seemed to take away from the reader's ability to take what he was saying seriously. I was disappointed because even though I agreed with everything he said and thought his applications of his ideas were great, I felt sort of embarrassed about his inability to keep calm in expressing his ideas.

The book is sound, based on sound ideas and should appeal to any libertarian. I nodded a lot as I was reading it. "Yes!" I kept telling myself, "this is definitely true." Unfortunately the truth was told, in this case, in a way that I don't think would be very accessible to the people that Bastiat was intent on reaching. I think a democrat/socialist might mislabel it "too radical" when they really mean, "too impassioned."

It is for that reason, I'm sorry to say, I was unable to rate this any higher.

Editorial Review:

Frederic Bastiat's arguments against socialism are as valid today as when first published in 1850. 2 cassettes.

The American Way of War: Guided Missiles, Misguided Men, and a Republic in Peril

Eugene Jarecki

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Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the sobering aftermath of America's invasion of Iraq, Eugene Jarecki, the creator of the award-winning documentary Why We Fight, launches a penetrating and revelatory inquiry into how forces within the American political, economic, and military systems have come to undermine the carefully crafted structure of our republic -- upsetting its balance of powers, vastly strengthening the hand of the president in taking the nation to war, and imperiling the workings of American democracy. This is a story not of simple corruption but of the unexpected origins of a more subtle and, in many ways, more worrisome disfiguring of our political system and society.

While in no way absolving George W. Bush and his inner circle of their accountability for misguiding the country into a disastrous war -- in fact, Jarecki sheds new light on the deepest underpinnings of how and why they did so -- he reveals that the forty-third president's predisposition toward war and Congress's acquiescence to his wishes must be understood as part of a longer story. This corrupting of our system was predicted by some of America's leading military and political minds.

In his now legendary 1961 farewell address, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned of "the disastrous rise of misplaced power" that could result from the increasing influence of what he called the "military industrial complex." Nearly two centuries earlier, another general turned president, George Washington, had warned that "overgrown military establishments" were antithetical to republican liberties. Today, with an exploding defense budget, millions of Americans employed in the defense sector, and more than eight hundred U.S. military bases in 130 countries, the worst fears of Washington and Eisenhower have come to pass.

Surveying a scorched landscape of America's military adventures and misadventures, Jarecki's groundbreaking account includes interviews with a who's who of leading figures in the Bush administration, Congress, the military, academia, and the defense industry, including Republican presidential nominee John McCain, Colin Powell's former chief of staff Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, and longtime Pentagon reformer Franklin "Chuck" Spinney. Their insights expose the deepest roots of American war making, revealing how the "Arsenal of Democracy" that crucially secured American victory in WWII also unleashed the tangled web of corruption America now faces. From the republic's earliest episodes of war to the use of the atom bomb against Japan to the passage of the 1947 National Security Act to the Cold War's creation of an elaborate system of military-industrial-congressional collusion, American democracy has drifted perilously from the intent of its founders. As Jarecki powerfully argues, only concerted action by the American people can, and must, compel the nation back on course.

The American Way of War is a deeply thoughtprovoking study of how America reached a historic crossroads and of how recent excesses of militarism and executive power may provide an opening for the redirection of national priorities.

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times

Donald T. Phillips, Donald Phillips

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Total reviews: 69 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The American Civil War was arguably one of the most chaotic periods in history. Yet through it all, Abraham Lincoln managed to keep the Union together and victorious. Here in this fascinating and invaluable book, Donald T. Phillips reveals the strategies and tactics Lincoln employed, and offers ways that the executives of the 90s can use those same strategies to make their businesses successful in these tough economic times. "As we face challenging times of our own, Lincoln's astonishing achievements in crisis deserve our careful study. This expert, detailed record of his leadership qualities not only illuminates the past, it might also help light the way to the future". -- Mario Cuomo, former Governor of New York and coauthor of Lincoln on Democracy "Given the urgent leadership crisis we are facing now, "Lincoln on Leadership" has arrived just in time. This book is as powerful and visionary as Lincoln himself". -- James Patterson, chairman, J. Walter Thompson/North America and bestselling author of Jack & Jill and Hide & Seek A unique guide merging history and business, showing how the time-tested strategies that Abraham Lincoln used in keeping the Union intact can be used today by executives who need to keep their organizations on the path to success.

Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics

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Total reviews: 52 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

“Nearly forty years after I first got involved, I remain captivated by the possibilities of politics and public service. In fact, I believe that my chosen profession is a noble calling. That’s why I wanted to be a part of it.”
–Joe Biden

As a United States senator from Delaware since 1973, Joe Biden has been an intimate witness to the major events of the past four decades and a relentless actor in trying to shape recent American history. He has seen up close the tragic mistake of the Vietnam War, the Watergate and Iran-contra scandals, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of Germany, the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, a presidential impeachment, a presidential resignation, and a presidential election decided by the Supreme Court. He’s observed Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and two Bushes wrestling with the presidency; he’s traveled to war zones in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and seen firsthand the devastation of genocide. He played a vital role by standing up to Ronald Reagan’s effort to seat Judge Robert Bork on the Supreme Court, fighting for legislation that protects women against domestic violence, and galvanizing America’s response (and the world’s) to Slobodan Milosevic’s genocidal march in the Balkans. In Promises to Keep, Biden reveals what these experiences taught him about himself, his colleagues, and the institutions of government.

With his customary candor, Biden movingly recounts growing up in a staunchly Catholic multigenerational household in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware; overcoming a demoralizing stutter; marriage, fatherhood, and the tragic death of his wife Neilia and infant daughter Naomi; remarriage and re-forming a family with his second wife, Jill; success and failure in the Senate and on the campaign trail; two life-threatening aneurysms; his relations with fellow lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; and his leadership of powerful Senate committees.

Through these and other recollections, Biden shows us how the guiding principles he learned early in life–the obligation to work to make people’s lives better, to honor family and faith, to get up and do the right thing no matter how hard you’ve been knocked down, to be honest and straightforward, and, above all, to keep your promises–are the foundations on which he has based his life’s work as husband, father, and public servant.

Promises to Keep is the story of a man who faced down personal challenges and tragedy to become one of our most effective leaders. It is also an intimate series of reflections from a public servant who refuses to be cynical about political leadership, and a testament to the promise of the United States.


From the Hardcover edition.

Robert's Rules of Order

Henry M. Robert

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Total reviews: 77 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The 1990, ninth edition, of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised is the only currently authoritative volume to contain the complete Robert’s Rules of Order subject matter. It has been totally reset and redesigned for easier use. This ninth edition supersedes all previous editions and automatically becomes the parliamentary authority in organizations whose bylaws prescribe Robert’s Rules of Order.This edition has been updated to address common inquiries, and it incorporates new rules, interpretations, and procedures made necessary by the evolution of parliamentary procedure. Among the more important areas of revision are: more modern and appropriate usage is given for the chair’s invitation to members to speak in debate or offer secondary motions after stating the question on a motion the rule relating to the power of replacement of members on committees by the appointing authority is clarified formal recognition is given to the practice of sending a suggested agenda to members in advance of a meeting a subsection of hints to inexperienced presiding officers had been improved greater prominence is given to rules relating to the growing practice of nominating for office by petition specifications are provided for methods of expediting roll-call voting in very large conventions and calling a roll by delegation rather than by individuals In addition, the ninth edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised includes a special section, printed on tinted paper, which summarizes rules related to motions for quick and easy access.

Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries

Naomi Wolf

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Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Call To Action 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Ms Wolf in a clear and concise manner calls all patriotic Americans to action. A great book and a must read.

Motivates to take Action 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

"Handbook" is a good description. After making a convincing argument that it is our duty to make some noise and get involved, Wolf gives specific advice and resources to have our voices heard. One thing lacking is addressing the importance to really be informed. It appears to me that the people who know the least are the ones who talk the most and have the strongest opinions. Emotions run high and it is hard to have productive deliberation with people. Addressing this would have added an important element to the conversation.

It is scary to me that most people I talk to are willing to accept our government's lawlessness because they somehow think that it secures their safety. After reading this book I have a firmer belief and understanding of the meaning of rule of law and why our safety lies within the rules instead of the rulers.

Wolf outlines how to be a revolutionary in ways that may land you in jail and therefore gives advice for what to do if you are arrested. I don't think I will be taking to the streets in protests, but I am much more motivated to understand our constitution and become more involved in understanding what my representatives are doing in Washington. If government knows that "we the people" are watching closely, it will probably generate better behavior in government. Even though I am not willing be a revolutionary to the extent that would risk imprisonment, this book has motivated me to get off my duff and at least be present.

Editorial Review:

As the practice of democracy becomes a lost art, Americans are increasingly desperate for a restored nation. Many have a general sense that the "system" is in disorder -- if not on the road to functional collapse. But though it is easy to identify our political problems, the solutions are not always as clear. In Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, bestselling author Naomi Wolf illustrates the breathtaking changes that can take place when ordinary citizens engage in the democratic system the way the founders intended and tells how to use that system, right now, to change your life, your community, and ultimately, the nation.

Letter to a Christian Nation

Sam Harris

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Total reviews: 621 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Immediate New York Times Best Seller . . .

The Challenge to Religious Dogma that has Sparked a National Debate!

"Forty-four percent of the American population is convinced that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead sometime in the next fifty years," writes Sam Harris. "Imagine the consequences if any significant component of the U.S. government actually believed that the world was about to end and that its ending would be glorious. The fact that nearly half of the American population apparently believes this, purely on the basis of religious dogma, should be considered a moral and intellectual emergency."

In response to his award-winning bestseller The End of Faith, Sam Harris received thousands of letters from Christians excoriating him for not believing in God. Letter to A Christian Nation is his courageous and controversial reply. Using rational argument, Harris offers a measured refutation of the beliefs that form the core of fundamentalist Christianity. Addressing current topics ranging from intelligent design and stem-cell research to the connections between religion and violence, Letter to a Christian Nation boldly challenges the influence that faith has on public life in our nation.

The Conservative's Handbook: Defining the Right Position on Issues from A to Z

Phil Valentine

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Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

If, as some have said, conservatives are ruled by facts and liberals by emotions, one would be hard-put to find a better illustration of the aphorism than popular radio talk-show host Phil Valentine's The Conservative's Handbook: Defining the Right Positions on Issues from A to Z. Initially his A-to-Z issues were developed as a primer to be posted on his Web site to bring his audience up to speed with today's events. When they proved so popular and informative with his audience, he realized he had struck a responsive chord, that the realities he had outlined spoke to a great number of people.

The Conservative's Handbook provides a conservative viewpoint on a wide range of ideas. Among them are guns, global warming, drugs, partial birth abortion, education, political correctness, entrepreneurs, and the wisdom of Ronald Reagan. In doing so, it covers the hot issues of today as well as perennial topics of interest. The knowledge he imparts is more than just information. It's ammunition for conservatives when they are caught up in discussions with friends and arguments with those on the Left.

Many arguments between liberals and conservatives degenerate into name-calling and unsubstantiated claims. The Conservative's Handbook distills those raw emotions and extraneous thoughts into a cohesive argument for conservative principles and values, covering the full array of today's fiscal and social issues in a manner that is comprehensive without being overwhelming.

This book may inform you, humor you, or enrage you. But if you approach it with an open mind, it will make you think and may cause you to change some of your opinions.

The Constitution of the United States of America, with the Bill of Rights and all of the Amendments; The Declaration of Independence; and the Articles of Confederation

Thomas Jefferson

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Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Copyright page is arrogant! 2 out of 5 stars.
12 of 14 people found this review helpful.

This Constitution is published by Wilder Publications. The copyright page says this:

"This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today. Parents might wish to discuss with their children how views on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and interpersonal relations have changed since this book was written before allowing them to read this classic work."

I don't know what to make of that. If it says what I think it says I think I want a Constitution from another publisher! That statement seems to say that the Publisher is telling us how to read it! They are saying that it's principles couldn't possibly mean the same thing today! What arrogance! I hope they don't mean these things but how can I not come to these conclusions?

Editorial Review:

Collected here in one affordable volume are the most important documents of the United States of America: The Constitution of the United States of America, with the Bill of Rights and all of the Amendments; The Declaration of Independence; and the Articles of Confederation. These three documents are the basis for our entire way of life. Every citizen should have a copy.