U.S. Books - Page 3

Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for Progressives

George Lakoff

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 200 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the first of his three debates with George W. Bush, 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry argued against the war in Iraq not by directly condemning it but by citing the various ways in which airport and commercial shipping security had been jeopardized due to the war's sizable price tag. In so doing, he re-framed the war issue to his advantage while avoiding discussing it in the global terrorism terms favored by President Bush. One possible reason for this tactic could have been that Kerry familiarized himself with the influential linguist George Lakoff, who argues in Don't Think of an Elephant that much of the success the Republican Party can be attributed to a persistent ability to control the language of key issues and thus position themselves in favorable terms to voters. While Democrats may have valid arguments, Lakoff points out they are destined to lose when they and the news media accept such nomenclature as "pro-life," "tax relief," and "family values," since to argue against such inherently positive terminology necessarily casts the arguer in a negative light. Lakoff offers recommendations for how the progressive movement can regain semantic equity by repositioning their arguments, such as countering the conservative call for "Strong Defense" with a call for "A Stronger America" (curiously, one of the key slogans of the Kerry camp). Since the book was published during the height of the presidential campaign, Lakoff was unable to provide an analytical perspective on that race. He does, however, apply the notion of rhetorical framing devices to the 2003 California recall election in an insightful analysis of the Schwarzenegger victory. Don't Think of an Elephant is a bit rambling, overexplaining some concepts while leaving others underexplored, but it provides a compelling linguistic analysis of political campaigning. --John Moe

What Do We Do Now?: A Workbook for the President-elect

Stephen Hess

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Editorial Review:

The period from Election Day to Inauguration Day in America seems impossibly short. Newly elected U.S. presidents have less than eleven weeks to construct a new government composed of supporters and strangers, hailing from all parts of the nation. This unique and daunting process always involves at least some mistakes in hiring, perhaps, or in policy priorities, or organizational design. Early blunders can carry serious consequences well into a president s term; minimizing them from the outset is critical. In What Do We Do Now? Stephen Hess draws from his long experience as a White House staffer and presidential adviser to show what can be done to make presidential transitions go smoothly. Here is a workbook to guide future chief executives, decision by decision, through the minefield of transition. You ll have to start at the beginning, settling on a management style and knowing how to "arrange all the boxes." Something as seemingly mundane as parceling office space can be consequential hence the inclusion of a proposed White House organizational chart and floor plans of the West Wing. What qualities are needed for each job, and where are the best candidates for those positions most likely to be found? How can you construct a cabinet that looks like America ? What Do We Do Now? is your indispensable guide through the thicket of these decisions. There are small decisions, too. You ll have to pick a desk photos of the choices are included. Which presidential portraits should hang in the Oval Office? Which ones have previous presidents chosen? And when it comes time to write an inaugural address, what should be the content, theme, and tone? It s all here in the presidential transition workbook don t leave for Washington without it. This concise volume is sure to be a valuable resource for the president and team of advisers as they attempt to herd cats into an effective government. What Do We Do Now? is also a delightful read for anyone interested in exactly how one goes about being the president of the United States.

Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA's Key Field Commander

Gary Berntsen, Ralph Pezzullo

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 118 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

More on the initial fighting in Afganistan 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

An interesting introduction to the people involved on the ground in the early stages of the war in Afganistan. This book picks up where "First In" by Gary Schroen ends. Gary Berntsen was Gary Schroen's replacement as the CIA man on the ground coordinating their efforts.

The focus is on the CIA teams and their Northern Alliance allies.

Berntsen, like Schroen, thinks very highly of himself. He respects the capabilities of the military members working with his teams and often compliments them on their skills. Later in the book, there are references to Billy Waugh, a long-time Special Forces soldier. For Waugh's perspective on this point in time, read "Hunting the Jackal".

Overall a good book about very brave men who were willing to take significant risks for their country. It is amazing that so few men on the ground could accomplish so much.

Editorial Review:

The Book the CIA Doesn’t Want You to Read

Gary Berntsen, the CIA’s key commander coordinating the fight against the Taliban forces around Kabul, comes out from under cover for the first time to describe his no-holds-barred pursuit—and cornering—of Osama bin Laden, and the reason the terrorist leader escaped American retribution. As disturbingly eye-opening as it is adrenaline-charged, Jawbreaker races from CIA war rooms to diplomatic offices to mountaintop redoubts to paint a vivid portrait of a new kind of warfare, showing what can and should be done to deal a death blow to freedom’s enemies.

Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media

Edward S. Herman, Noam Chomsky

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 85 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Your life could depend on reading this book. 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Hey folks,

If you're out there considering buying this book, please know that it might prove to be one of the most important books you'll ever read.

You might realize that our government isn't always straightfoward with us. You might even have noticed the lack of objective and complete news reporting that is prevailing with the media these days. This book will show you how our government, large corporations, and the media work in concert to keep Americans in the dark about things that affect our most vital interests. It sounds like a conspiracy theory, I know--because that's the reaction we've all been conditioned to have about material like this. However, every fact in this book is verifiable. Please take the time to read it!!

I also highly recommend Blowback by Chalmers Johnson.

Read these books--learn to see past the propaganda we are inundated with daily!

Editorial Review:

An absolutely brilliant analysis of the ways in which individuals and organizations of the media are influenced to shape the social agendas of knowledge and, therefore, belief. Contrary to the popular conception of members of the press as hard-bitten realists doggedly pursuing unpopular truths, Herman and Chomsky prove conclusively that the free-market economics model of media leads inevitably to normative and narrow reporting. Whether or not you've seen the eye-opening movie, buy this book, and you will be a far more knowledgeable person and much less prone to having your beliefs manipulated as easily as the press.

Legacy of Secrecy: The Long Shadow of the JFK Assassination

Lamar Waldron, Thom Hartmann

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Excellent companion volume to "Ultimate Sacrifice" ! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Simply put, if you liked "Ultimate Sacrifice" (and many people did), you will love this well written book by Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann. This volume acts as an important addendum to their previous tome, with much new material, as well as a perspective post 11/22/63 (JFK, MLK, RFK). Taking over 20 years to write and research, and clocking in at over 800 pages, the effort shows in a big way. Get this one asap!

Editorial Review:

John F. Kennedy's assassination launched a frantic search to find his killers. It also launched a flurry of covert actions by Lyndon Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy, and other top officials to hide the fact that in November 1963 the United States was on the brink of invading Cuba, as part of a JFK-authorized coup. The coup plan's exposure could have led to a nuclear confrontation with Russia, but the cover-up prevented a full investigation into Kennedy's assassination, a legacy of secrecy that would impact American politics and foreign policy for the next 45 years. It also allowed two men who confessed their roles in JFK's murder to be involved in the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, in 1968. Exclusive interviews and newly declassified files from the National Archives document in chilling detail how three mob bosses were able to prevent the truth from coming to light – until now.

Stealing Elections, Revised and Updated: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy

John Fund

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Must read for people who care about democracy 5 out of 5 stars.
62 of 70 people found this review helpful.

This book is completely different from the earlier version and is a must read for anyone concerned about the upcoming election.
Fund uses numerous examples to back up his claims regarding vote fraud. Vote fraud is not a myth as evidenced by the felony convictions of various members of ACORN (a group Obama worked for and backs). ACORN creates fraudulent voter registration lists in order to get the candidates they back elected to office.
Fund also discusses voter ID laws and outlines the battle that ended at the Supreme Court earlier this year with the decision that voter ID laws are constitutional despite what liberals cry.
It's truly amazing how little policing there is of who votes and when and where in this country. All citizens with the right to vote should be concerned about the issue of vote fraud because every time someone without the right votes, it dilutes legitimate votes.
The first reviewer's rant about all things Republican seems misplaced - this book is about ensuring democracy for all, not partisan politics.

Editorial Review:

John Fund explores the real divide the country faces with the looming election. Through wary thoughts on voting integrity, he shows how eletions can be decided by the votes of dead people, illegal felon voters, and absentee voters that simply don't exist. If nothing is done to address the growing cynicism about vote counting, rest assured that another close presidential election that descends into bitter partisan wrangling is just around the corner.

The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of Oil, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century

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Total reviews: 216 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

James Howard Kunstler's The Long Emergency was an underground hit, going into nine printings of the hardcover edition. His shocking vision for our post-oil future caught the attention of environmentalists and business leaders and was the subject of much debate, stimulating discussion about our dependence on fossil fuels. Now in paperback, with a new afterword, The Long Emergency is set to reach an even larger audience.

The last two hundred years have seen the greatest explosion of progress and wealth in the history of mankind, much of it based on the exploitation of cheap, nonrenewable fossil-fuel energy. But the oil age is at an end. Life as we know it is about to change radically, and much sooner than we think. The Long Emergency tells us just what to expect after we pass the point of global peak oil production and the honeymoon of affordable energy is over, preparing us for economic, political, and social changes of an unimaginable scale. Riveting and authoritative, The Long Emergency is a devastating indictment that brings new urgency and accessibility to the critical issues that will shape our future, and that we can no longer afford to ignore.

Democracy in America (Penguin Classics)

Alexis de Tocqueville

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Customer Reviews:
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.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to American Government, Second Edition

Mary M. Shaffrey, Melanie Fonder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

It makes watching CNN more interesting now. 4 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

I've never had any interest in politics and government. But now, as an adult it is virtually impossible to escape it. Whether it means holding an intelligent conversation or stepping into the voting booth I've realized that it is so important to understand how our system works in order to understand the information thrown at us and make informed decisions.
This book really helped me get there. Now, when I watch CNN I actually understand what I'm hearing. I'm also more comfortable with my political affiliation. A friend of mine is very informed on the subject and I have always admired his level of intelligence. Part of my reason for buying this book was to increase my ability to have an informed and unbiased discussion on today's most important topics.
I would recommend this book to any high-school student studying American government or any adult feeling they want to understand our system better. The amount of information in the book is huge!! Don't try to memorize anything but the fundamentals. Other than that, either read through it, retain what you can, and keep it around as reference.

Editorial Review:

The most up-to-date general reference book on the history and structure of U.S. government.

This overview of all the government’s major institutions and agencies, the election process, and the creation and passing of laws and taxes has been updated with the latest information on such important issues as campaign finance reform, fundraising, and homeland security.

• Completely updated resource section includes the latest government websites
• The only American government book to include the results of the 2004 presidential election
• Re-structured to complement high school and college political science/civics courses

God, Guns & Rock and Roll

Ted Nugent

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 76 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

What is WRONG with you people? 1 out of 5 stars.
10 of 34 people found this review helpful.

Anyone who buys into Nugent's "patriot" hype is somehow totally misinformed. He was a well-known draft dodger back in the Vietnam era. All of his flag-waving is nothing but a publicity stunt. As for his big talk about values, he has the morals of an alleycat.

Why is it that the radical right-wing these days has to promote chickenhawks and hypocrites as their spokesmen?

Why do so many otherwise fully functioning, well-meaning Americans buy into their bull?

If you want to promote this clown's masquerade as an uberpatriot, then buy this book. If you're truly concerned about the future of our country, then speak out against these merchants of intolerance. America works best when we work together. These guys who try to turn us against one another are doing a lot more harm than good. They appeal to your base emotions, without providing any solutions. Don't be sucked in.

Editorial Review:

Rock and Roll legend Ted Nugent contends that a lot of what is wrong with this country could be remedied by a simple, but controversial concept: gun ownership.