History & Theory Books - Page 3

The Jefferson Bible

Thomas Jefferson, Percival Everett

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 45 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Jesus said... 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have long believed that the way Jesus said to live was more important than his immortality (or mine). I knew our "Founders" didn't base our constitution on "Judea-Christian values", as is frequently proposed by some
political/religious leaders, but on principles of the Enlightenment which they believed would bring a new kind of government, free of religious oppression, first to America, and then to the world.

The only books on the subject are very large, very scholarly, very informative, but... how nice to have this little book on my coffee table where curious minds can explore the thinking of one of America's most forward looking leaders, and read just the words of Jesus, without the mythology attached to his death by future theologians.

The preface, the introduction and chapter about Jefferson's contemporaries is a history lesson every
American should review. No-one who has visited my home has found it in any way offensive, but all
find it enlightening !

Editorial Review:

Acclaimed author Percival Everett will take an atheist's-eye-view of the little-known "Jefferson Bible," the third president's response to the King James Bible.

Percival Everett's novel Erasure won the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and his most recent, A History of the African-American People [Proposed] by Strom Thurmond, as told to Percival Everett and James Kincaid [A Novel] ruffled many Confederate feathers.

Aristotle: Politics (Loeb Classical Library No. 264)

Aristotle

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Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Aristotle, great Greek philosopher, researcher, reasoner, and writer, born at Stagirus in 384 BCE, was the son of Nicomachus, a physician, and Phaestis. He studied under Plato at Athens and taught there (367–347); subsequently he spent three years at the court of a former pupil, Hermeias, in Asia Minor and at this time married Pythias, one of Hermeias's relations. After some time at Mitylene, in 343–2 he was appointed by King Philip of Macedon to be tutor of his teen-aged son Alexander. After Philip's death in 336, Aristotle became head of his own school (of 'Peripatetics'), the Lyceum at Athens. Because of anti-Macedonian feeling there after Alexander's death in 323, he withdrew to Chalcis in Euboea, where he died in 322.

Nearly all the works Aristotle prepared for publication are lost; the priceless ones extant are lecture-materials, notes, and memoranda (some are spurious). They can be categorized as follows: I Practical: Nicomachean Ethics; Great Ethics (Magna Moralia); Eudemian Ethics; Politics; Economics (on the good of the family); On Virtues and Vices. II Logical: Categories; Analytics (Prior and Posterior); Interpretation; Refutations used by Sophists; Topica. III Physical: Twenty-six works (some suspect) including astronomy, generation and destruction, the senses, memory, sleep, dreams, life, facts about animals, etc. IV Metaphysics: on being as being. V Art: Rhetoric and Poetics. VI Other works including the Constitution of Athens; more works also of doubtful authorship. VII Fragments of various works such as dialogues on philosophy and literature; and of treatises on rhetoric, politics and metaphysics.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Aristotle is in twenty-three volumes.

Democracy in America (Penguin Classics)

Alexis de Tocqueville

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Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Oops 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.

935 page book with no index.

Come on, you don't need one.
You can remember that part about the aristocracy of the law...
was just about here...
Or was it here...
Don't worry, I've got it...
Just a sec...

Editorial Review:

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

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

War is a Racket: The Antiwar Classic by America's Most Decorated Soldier

Smedley D. Butler

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 44 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Wake up America!! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.

War is a Racket is one of the greatest anti-war book ever penned. As a Marine veteran of Iraqi Freedom it is easy to disregard this a commi-b.s.propaganda , but looking further into what is "the war to make the world safe for democracy" ( not the infinite war on terror, but The Great War, WW1) We can see the true propaganda of business corrupting our sovereignty. The first casualties of war are common sense and open discussion. It is almost impossible for America to be truly attacked; if our forces were at home it would be virtually impossible to sustain any large force , even if it were, the Unorganized militia would crush them, providing we have not been disarmed by all the gun-grabbing cowards like Socialist Billy Bob Clinton and Mr. Fascist Patriot Act Bush. Wake up, learn from one of our most decorated warriors and open your mind to something other than "the terrorist are gonna get us if we don't go fight them in the sandbox". Gimme a break.

Editorial Review:

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

The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot

Russell Kirk

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Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Definitive Volume for Conservatives 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

~The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot~ by the late Russell Kirk is arguably one of the greatest contributions to twentieth-century American conservatism. This is real conservatism, not the typical neocon tripe by David Frum or Sean Hannity that masquerades behind the appellation of 'conservative.' Kirk presents a rock-solid historical journey through the conservative mind. Conservatives are of course more sober-minded than the assorted radicals and progressives of the Left. Conservatives have a sound doctrine of anthropology, because they grasp man's nature, and are realistic about the implications of it. Whereas, the political Left has a positive view of man, and from that emanates romantic quixotic fixations that manifest themselves in repugnant ideology that seldom meshes with reality.

The vignette sketches of Edmund Burke, John Adams, John Randolph, John Calhoun, Thomas Macauley, James Fennimore Cooper, Alexis de Tocqueville, John Quincy Adams, Benjamin Disreali, Irving Babbitt, George Santayana, and other luminaries represent insightful overview of the conservative movement in all its stripes. The essence of conservatism always lingered in the American mind, but when Russell Kirk distilled its core principles in his erudite works, he reinvigorated the intellectual groundwork for its defense and continuance. "People will not look forward to posterity", Burke wrote, "who never look backward to their ancestors."

"As the prophet of American conservatism, Russell Kirk has taught, nurtured, and inspired a generation. From... Piety Hill, he reached deep into the roots of American values, writing and editing central works of political philosophy. His intellectual contribution has been a profound act of patriotism. I look forward to the future with anticipation that his work will continue to exert a profound influence in the defense of our values and our cherished civilization."
--Ronald Reagan

Editorial Review:

The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk is arguably one of the greatest contributions to twentieth-century American Conservatism. Brilliant in every respect, from its conception to its choice of significant figures representing the history of intellectual conservatism, The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk launched the modern American Conservative Movement. A must-read.

The Politically Incorrect Guide(tm) to American History (Politically Incorrect Guides)

Thomas E. Woods Jr.

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Total reviews: 257 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Dispenses with modern "Court Historians" 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Our perception of history shapes our view of politics and economics. So, it should come as no surprise that US history textbooks of the past hundred years have portrayed the strong national government as a laudable development in the evolution of modern politics.

Professor Woods casts a critical eye upon the state sanctioned history as told by leftist/rightist historians and focuses on the simple truth.

The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History is informative, well written, and academically rigorous.

My one criticism of the book is its length. The publisher set an 80-thousand word limit for Dr. Woods, and since his writing style is such a joy to read, one is left wanting more...much more.

But fear not, one of the greatest contributions of this work is Professor Woods' 10-page bibliography filled with reference works and resources that will help you continue your studies.

Some of the highlights of 'The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History' include:

1. The origins of religious freedom in the colonies
2. The founding fathers weren't the Godless radicals of the french revolution...in fact, they were conservatives, seeking to preserve ancient rights
3. The states ratified the constitution with the understanding that they could leave the compact at will.
4. The Tenth Amendment - Cornerstone of the Constitution
5. The roots of big government - the "general welfare clause" was NOT a clause at all.
6. What was the difference between the Republicans and the Federalists?
7. Did Lincoln fight to "save the union?" or "free the slaves?"
8. Why big business is good
9. What did Wilson do that got us into WWI? Why did he want war?
10. The truth about the Great Depression and the New Deal...Roosevelt was NOT a student of economics.
11. FDR, an imperial president that lied to get us into war.
12. Commies in the government? You mean McCarthy was actually RIGHT?..."at long last sir, have you no decency?"
13. Who was the real JFK?
14. Why LBJ and the "great society" wer both miserable failures.
15. The '80's...charitable giving during the "decade of greed"
16. Why Michael Milken was the good guy.
17. Budget cuts were a myth
18. "The era of big government is over"...Yeah, whatever!

This is a rousing read. Historical truth is infinitely more fascinating than the propaganda of mainstream history textbooks currently treated by the academy as "textus receptus."

If you are a would-be student of American history, you should pick up a copy of this book. It will let you put your 'foot in the water' so to speak, and start you down a path of joyous discovery. Well, let me amend that slightly...not all the discoveries I've made have been joyous. But the unvarnished truth is better to be had than the lies that cost the lives of millions.

Editorial Review:

Almost everything you know about American history is wrong, because most textbooks and popular history books are written by left-wing academic historians who treat their biases as fact. But fear not, Professor Thomas Woods has written the perfect antidote. This delightful book--funny and inviting, but factually sound--shatters the myths about American history and separates fact from fiction.

The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart

Bill Bishop

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Editorial Review:

The untold story of why America is so culturally and politically divided

America may be more diverse than ever coast to coast, but the places where we live are becoming increasingly crowded with people who live, think, and vote as we do. This social transformation didn't happed by accident. We've built a country where we can all choose the neighborhood -- and religion and news show -- most compatible with our lifestyle and beliefs. And we are living with the consequences of this way-of-life segregation. Our country has become so polarized, so ideologically inbred, that people don't know and can't understand those who live just a few miles away. The reason for this situation, and the dire implications for our country, is the subject of this groundbreaking work.

In 2004, the journalist Bill Bishop, armed with original and startling demographic data, made national news in a series of articles showing how Americans have been sorting themselves over the past three decades into alarmingly homogeneous communities -- not by region or by red state or blue state, but by city and even neighborhood. In The Big Sort, Bishop deepens his analysis in a brilliantly reported book that makes its case from the ground up, starting with stories about how we live today and then drawing on history, economics, and our changing political landscape to create one of the most compelling big-picture accounts of America in recent memory.

The Big Sort will draw comparisons to Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone and Richard Florida's The Rise of the Creative Class and will redefine the way Americans think about themselves for decades to come.

Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal

Ayn Rand, Nathaniel Branden, Alan Greenspan, Robert Hessen

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Total reviews: 113 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Capitalism is Right 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I find it strange that a reviewer would post that "Capitalism is Wrong" while typing it on a computer and sending it across an Internet to a website that is built on the back of that "evil" word. Do you see the contradiction?

Those that actually read the book would have grasped the essential statement she made which was that she was not primarily an advocate of Capitalism, but of reason. Capitalism was just the natural conclusion.

In any case, the collection of essays presented here are an excellent example of historical evidence as well as philosophical reasoning behind the idea that Capitalism is the only moral political system in existence.

That may shock many potential buyers of the book, but Rand et al present a series of compelling arguments backed up with historical evidence that spans the nation's history to prove their point: Never, not once in America's history, did free enterprise capitalism ever cause ANY of the economic problems that have plagued this country. From the railroads, to the child labor laws, to antitrust regulations...all were caused by Government regulation and interference in the free market. It is a conclusion that one must read and study to believe.

The Wretched of the Earth

Frantz Fanon

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Editorial Review:

A distinguished psychiatrist from Martinique who took part in the Algerian Nationalist Movement, Frantz Fanon was one of the most important theorists of revolutionary struggle, colonialism, and racial difference in history. Fanon's masterwork is a classic alongside Edward Said's Orientalism or The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and it is now available in a new translation that updates its language for a new generation of readers. The Wretched of the Earth is a brilliant analysis of the psychology of the colonized and their path to liberation. Bearing singular insight into the rage and frustration of colonized peoples, and the role of violence in effecting historical change, the book incisively attacks the twin perils of post independence colonial politics: the disenfranchisement of the masses by the elites on the one hand, and intertribal and interfaith animosities on the other. Fanon's analysis, a veritable handbook of social reorganization for leaders of emerging nations, has been reflected all too clearly in the corruption and violence that has plagued present-day Africa. The Wretched of the Earth has had a major impact on civil rights, anticolonialism, and black consciousness movements around the world, and this bold new translation by Richard Philcox reaffirms it as a landmark.

Sleeping with the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude

Robert Baer

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Editorial Review:

“Saudi Arabia is more and more an irrational state—a place that spawns global terrorism even as it succumbs to an ancient and deeply seated isolationism, a kingdom led by a royal family that can’t get out of the way of its own greed. Is this the fulcrum we want the global economy to balance on?”

In his explosive New York Times bestseller, See No Evil, former CIA operative Robert Baer exposed how Washington politics drastically compromised the CIA’s efforts to fight global terrorism. Now in his powerful new book, Sleeping with the Devil, Baer turns his attention to Saudi Arabia, revealing how our government’s cynical relationship with our Middle Eastern ally and America’s dependence on Saudi oil make us increasingly vulnerable to economic disaster and put us at risk for further acts of terrorism.

For decades, the United States and Saudi Arabia have been locked in a “harmony of interests.” America counted on the Saudis for cheap oil, political stability in the Middle East, and lucrative business relationships for the United States, while providing a voracious market for the kingdom’s vast oil reserves. With money and oil flowing freely between Washington and Riyadh, the United States has felt secure in its relationship with the Saudis and the ruling Al Sa’ud family. But the rot at the core of our “friendship” with the Saudis was dramatically revealed when it became apparent that fifteen of the nineteen September 11 hijackers proved to be Saudi citizens.

In Sleeping with the Devil, Baer documents with chilling clarity how our addiction to cheap oil and Saudi petrodollars caused us to turn a blind eye to the Al Sa’ud’s culture of bribery, its abysmal human rights record, and its financial support of fundamentalist Islamic groups that have been directly linked to international acts of terror, including those against the United States. Drawing on his experience as a field operative who was on the ground in the Middle East for much of his twenty years with the agency, as well as the large network of sources he has cultivated in the region and in the U.S. intelligence community, Baer vividly portrays our decades-old relationship with the increasingly dysfunctional and corrupt Al Sa’ud family, the fierce anti-Western sentiment that is sweeping the kingdom, and the desperate link between the two. In hopes of saving its own neck, the royal family has been shoveling money as fast as it can to mosque schools that preach hatred of America and to militant fundamentalist groups—an end game just waiting to play out.

Baer not only reveals the outrageous excesses of a Saudi royal family completely out of touch with the people of its kingdom, he also takes readers on a highly personal search for the deeper roots of modern terrorism, a journey that returns time again and again to Saudi Arabia: to the Wahhabis, the powerful Islamic sect that rules the Saudi street; to the Taliban and al Qaeda, both of which Saudi Arabia helped to underwrite; and to the Muslim Brotherhood, one of the most active and effective terrorist groups in existence, which the Al Sa’ud have sheltered and funded. The money and arms that we send to Saudi Arabia are, in effect, being used to cut our own throat, Baer writes, but America might have only itself to blame. So long as we continue to encourage the highly volatile Saudi state to bank our oil under its sand—and so long as we continue to grab at the Al Sa’ud’s money—we are laying the groundwork for a potential global economic catastrophe.


From the Hardcover edition.