Social Sciences Books - Page 8

The Conscience of a Liberal

Paul Krugman

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Total reviews: 86 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

"The most consistent and courageous—and unapologetic—liberal partisan in American journalism."—Michael Tomasky, New York Review of Books

In this "clear, provocative" (Boston Globe) New York Times bestseller, Paul Krugman, today's most widely read economist, examines the past eighty years of American history, from the reforms that tamed the harsh inequality of the Gilded Age and the 1920s to the unraveling of that achievement and the reemergence of immense economic and political inequality since the 1970s. Seeking to understand both what happened to middle-class America and what it will take to achieve a "new New Deal," Krugman has created his finest book to date, a "stimulating manifesto" offering "a compelling historical defense of liberalism and a clarion call for Americans to retake control of their economic destiny" (Publishers Weekly).

"As Democrats seek a rationale not merely for returning to power, but for fundamentally changing—or changing back—the relationship between America's government and its citizens, Mr. Krugman's arguments will prove vital in the months and years ahead."—Peter Beinart, New York Times

The 48 Laws of Power

Robert Greene

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Total reviews: 510 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

My Former Bible 3 out of 5 stars.
7 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Only two types of people have been and will be attracted to reading this book: those who hope it's about one thing and those who know it's about the other. The former belong to the timid, powerless, low-self esteem majority looking for the ultimate guide to gaining respect and admiration from their peers. The latter belong to the unscrupulous, dare I say sociopathic ever-growing minority whose end goal is to win at everything against everyone by any means. Once the book has been read and fully digested, one of two conclusions will be reached. The first is a sudden awareness of what a perfectly outstanding tool they hold in their hands and the limitless rewards it can afford them. The second is an absolute disgust and horror at what a dangerous volume this is and the malicious behavior it outright encourages. Interestingly, the timid are not always the ones repulsed and the ruthless are not always the ones aroused. The wave can break either way.

Shortly after this book was published, I happened upon it in a bookstore and knew I had to have it. A blaze of energy electrified my body and pounded through the deepest recesses of my mind. I was on fire, I couldn't put it down and yet I knew I could never share it with anyone, the way a child might hide away their favorite toy. In truth I became obsessed. I had to learn and then master every element of every law and take supreme authority over every aspect of my life. Indeed, this book, The 48 Laws of Power, became my bible, the most passionate conquest I had ever sought to undertake.

Within its pages I met with the reflection of every gruesome bully and every merry manipulator I had ever known. Their power was uncanny and yet so mysterious, mostly because I could never fathom how such apparently absent minds could lay so cool yet strike with such venom. It was awe-inspiring, and I had to come to terms with their secrets. The secrets that earned them respect from their enemies and fear from their admirers. The secrets that won them the most buxom women, who always appeared so entranced by even their rudest and most audacious displays. "How could they get away with everything so smoothly?!" I had wondered. "How could they be so desirable?!" I had thought. "HOW?!"

Well...here is how. It is simple.

Some people are given to a heredity and/or an upbringing that nourishes what is commonly considered 'bad' behavior. Certain genes as well as certain parenting styles perpetuate an attitude of unruliness which leads in its purest variety to utter contempt for anyone else's thoughts, feelings, or needs. Their minds develop without a balanced set of experiences, leading them to deduce that the information they received must indeed be correct. This is also applicable to those who suffer violence in their youth, even if that violence is not carried out physically. The fact remains that whatever world with which one is presented is accepted as unmitigated truth. 'Bad' behavior is usually viewed by such a person as normal. Thus selfishness, cruelty, and manipulation are seen as strengths, while compassion, kindness and humility are seen as weaknesses.

Surely there are a bevy of other factors that cannot go without mention. High intelligence, a pleasing appearance, a particular talent, et cetra can all act as lauchpads for immorality if similar virtues in others go unrecognized as being equal. This sense of equality is what it all comes down to, in fact. The very idea of power assumes that another cannot or should not be in a position to where the perspectives of both can be viewed as equally valid. On the one end is the person who is possessed by their own image, on the other is the person who believes that they have no intrinsic worth at all. The two feed off of each other in a sadistic/masochistic symbiotic relationship. The point then comes to bear that a person who believes himself powerful only remains so long as the other believes the same thing. Put two people who both see power as the ultimate attainment and you have the setting for nearly every meeting in the business world. From here, only two things can happen. One party will cave, allowing the other to dominate, or neither party will cave, effectively precipitating resentment and rage in both. The former leads to a continuation of the cycle while the latter leads to war.

This book is extremely well-researched and exquisitely written, which is why I still give it three stars. But I warn you now to be aware of your true intentions. Buy this book if you don't care about anyone but yourself, and it pleases you to see another man crumble. Do not buy this book if you have even the slightest interest in saving yourself from years of unnecessary struggle. Remember that the wave does break both ways, and you do not know who you may become if you toss your ethics in the wastebasket. Needless to say, I was the timid one who was sick of being overlooked, but in the end, it was this book that I tossed into the wastebasket. Your call.

Editorial Review:

Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills three thousand years of the history of power in to forty-eight well explicated laws. As attention--grabbing in its design as it is in its content, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers. Some laws teach the need for prudence ("Law 1: Never Outshine the Master"), the virtue of stealth ("Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions"), and many demand the total absence of mercy ("Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally"), but like it or not, all have applications in real life. Illustrated through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, P. T. Barnum, and other famous figures who have wielded--or been victimized by--power, these laws will fascinate any reader interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.

State of Fear

Michael Crichton

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1274 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Coco the clowns guide to climate change 1 out of 5 stars.
4 of 23 people found this review helpful.

Hmm, I feel like an interrogator pulling on my thin leather gloves wondering which part of a particularly corpulent and repulsive individual to punch first.

Ok, as a scientific effort into repudiating climate change, this book makes the dinosaur cloning in Jurassic Park look believable.
This book provides a charter for all of those out there who want a "get out of jail free card" to wave so they can continue to lead lifestyles that feature conspicuous consumption and a lack of personal and moral accountability, with respect to our poor planet and the less fortunate individuals that inhabit the "poor bits", the "hot bits", the "not very nice bits" and the "prone to war and famine bits".

The science is selective and poor, and flies in the face of actual experts in the field (myself being one of them). The worrying thing is that people actually believe this stuff, and when I read he was asked to address Congressional Committees I was flabbergasted. I can only presume they were committees that were looking into cloning a mega-army of semi-intelligent dinosaurs, who ironically would probably be too intelligent to read this book.

Phew, thats better, and if this review gets published, I'll be a monkeys uncle (possibly one of the monkeys in "Next", his tirade into the world of genetic engineering, and considering where his dinosaurs come from, I mean, talking about biting the hand that feeds you!!!)

Edit - Ok Mr Amazon, send me some bananas!

Editorial Review:

The undisputed master of the techno-thriller has written his most riveting -- and entertaining -- book yet.

Once again Michael Crichton gives us his trademark combination of page-turning suspense, cutting-edge technology, and extraordinary research. State of Fear is a superb blend of edge-of-your-seat suspense and thought provoking commentary on how information is manipulated in the modern world. From the streets of Paris, to the glaciers of Antarctica to the exotic and dangerous Solomon Islands, State of Fear takes the reader on a rollercoaster thrill ride, all the while keeping the brain in high gear.

The Great Inflation and Its Aftermath: The Past and Future of American Affluence

Robert J. Samuelson

Amazon Price: $17.16 List Price: $26.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Random House Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $12.50

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

It’s a giant gap in our history. The Great Inflation, argues award-winning columnist Robert J. Samuelson in this provocative book, was the worst domestic policy blunder of the postwar era and played a crucial role in transforming American politics, economy, and everyday life–and yet its story is hardly remembered or appreciated. In these uncertain economic times, it is more imperative than ever that we understand what happened in the 1960s and 1970s, lest we be doomed to repeat our mistakes.

From 1960 to 1979, inflation rose from barely more than 1 percent to nearly 14 percent. It was the greatest peacetime inflationary spike in this nation’s history, and it had massive repercussions in every area of our lives. The direct consequences included Ronald Reagan’s election to the presidency in 1980, stagnation in living standards, and a growing belief–both in America and abroad–that the great-power status of the United States was ending. The Great Inflation and Its Aftermath traces the origins and rise of double-digit inflation and its fall in the brutal 1981-82 recession, engineered by the Federal Reserve under then-chairman Paul Volcker and with the staunch backing of Reagan.

But that is only half the story. The end of high inflation triggered economic and social changes that are still with us. The stock market and housing booms were both direct outcomes; American business became more productive–and also much less protective of workers; and globalization was encouraged.

We cannot understand today’s world, Samuelson contends, without understanding the Great Inflation and its aftermath. Nor can we prepare for the future unless we heed its lessons. This incisive and enlightening book will stand as the authoritative account of a watershed event of our times.

Praise for The Great Inflation and Its Aftermath
"Newsweek and Washington Post columnist Samuelson is one of the rare journalists who debates politics and economics with a healthy skepticism toward conventional wisdom. Politicians would do well to study [the errors] the past that teach that choosing quick fixes only delays and worsens the inevitable.”– Booklist

"If you want to understand the economic events of the last half century, you should read. . . Robert Samuelson's The Great Inflation and Its Aftermath: --U.S News & World Report.

Rules for Radicals

Saul Alinsky

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Total reviews: 45 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Alinsky's rules for destroying capitalism have succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. 3 out of 5 stars.
34 of 54 people found this review helpful.

So successful have radical front groups such as ACORN been, that it may not be long before the very same tactics can be used against the radicals themselves. Saul's tactics of intimidation, civil disobedience, threats, veiled threats, strikes, boycotts, lying, bluffing, more lying, fixing elections, infiltrating all layers of government, media manipulation, fear, smears, ridicule, hit & run tactics, humor and "dirty pool tricks" of all kinds were always intended for the "have nots" to use against the "haves." Now that the radicals have actually gained so much power, they are no longer the "outside have-nots" and the very same strategies they used to gain power can be turned on them. While the radicals will have succeeded in forcing most multi-national corporations to move their businesses and jobs off shore, their socialist policies will no longer be able to raise enough taxes to produce the Socialist, Communistic Utopia that was promised.
It will be interesting to observe taxpayer revolts where suddenly almost everyone is showing no taxable income. It will be fascinating to see millions of formerly middle class citizens suddenly and all at once decide not to pay their real estate taxes. It will be enlightening to see government offices swamped with citizens applying for every possible entitlement all at the same time and over and over again. The unemployed will simply refuse to work full-time. Tax payer lawsuits will overwhelm the court system and the IRS. While the majority of citizens have willingly paid their income taxes in the past believing they owed it to their nation for it's freedoms, the critical mass of real fairness will quickly be reached and the majority of the formerly law biding citizens will start to cheat on a massive scale. The American way of life isn't going to go down the drain peaceably and the voters, once they figure out how they have been tricked, will be ready for another revolution to restore the freedoms that they so easily surrendered to smooth talking snake oil salesmen.
When both sides start applying these rules for radicals the resulting polarization will be more pronounced than anything the United States has ever experienced other than the Civil War. This is an excellent primer for Americans to read to better understand how they have been tricked, and how to go about returning the favor to those who did the tricking. The black markets and underground economy may smother the legal economy and unreported cash and bartering will once again become king.
I found insightful some of the author's opinions of how shallow liberals are and how they must be treated with kid gloves and only included in quick, easy, symbolic actions because of their short attention spans and because of their low tolerance for even modest sacrifice. He considered them mostly radicals in theory and talk only. His sage advice not to try these tactics in Russia, China or Havana unless the radicals and all their friends wanted to be tortured and killed was enlightening as well.
Old Saul was obviously depending on the fact that freedom of speech would not be entirely eliminated in America because if the radicals managed to destroy free speech, they might find themselves on the wrong side of a Cuban-like dictatorship. He obviously didn't plan on causing so much damage to American Corporations that they went bankrupt. He didn't want to kill the golden goose, he just wanted to own and control it.
This is a fascinating read for political junkies. It's amazing how the same tactics may so easily be used to turn the tables on the folks originally employing them. One of the most interesting parts of the book to this reviewer was how to use humor to defeat your enemies. The idea is to make them a laughing stock. Humor can be utilized to make points much more effectively than straight, serious discussion. One only has to watch the late night talk shows and SNL to see how powerful humor can be in influencing elections, especially in this era when many people no longer read the print media and get much of their news from the jokes of their favorite late night talk show hosts.

Editorial Review:

This primers tells the "have-nots" how they can organize to achieve real political power for the practice of true democracy.

Obama: The Historic Campaign in Photographs

Deborah Willis, Kevin Merida

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

An Exceptionally Smart and Compelling Collection of Visual Images 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Obama: The Historic Campaign in Photographs is a wonderful photographic tribute to, and reflection on, the compelling, multi-faceted and spirited movement that elected Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. The 150 color photographs inspiringly selected by Deborah Willis, with smart textual narration by Kevin Merida, provide not just a glimpse of the president-elect and his political campaign but through the visual images, a studied insight into the phenomena that produced possibly the most transformative moment in American life on November 4, 2008. The photographs were taken by professionals as well as amateur photographers, on expensive cameras as well as cellphones, and of huge crowds as well as of the candidates and supporters in those rare quiet moments. The wonderful array selected by Willis, a MacArthur "genius" and the "dean" of American cultural photography, reflects her unique eye for capturing not only beauty but the depth of spirit that only photographs, unlike other media, can capture. This book captures that spirit not only of our president-elect but of the entire campaign.

Editorial Review:

Through 150 striking color photographs, Obama: The Historic Campaign in Photographs charts the road to Barack Obama's nomination as the first African American to lead the presidential ticket of a major party. Announcing his campaign in Springfield, Illinois, on February 10, 2007, Obama stood on the grounds of the Old State Capitol, where Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous "House Divided" speech against slavery in 1858. During an eighteen-month campaign, from the snows of Iowa to the hunt for Democratic "superdelegates," this junior senator from Chicago confounded the party establishment and rewrote the playbook on modern presidential campaigning. This amazing collection of photographs captures the public and private moments of his journey, and offers a unique window into one of the great triumphs in American politics.

Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

Daniel Goleman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 245 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

One of the most insightful "leadership" books out there... 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I had read Daniel Goleman's book years ago... and his premise is more relevant now, and continues to be one of the most insightful "leadership" books on the market. How is this so? There are a lot of "management" books but true leadership books are few and far between. Those that truly know the difference between "leadership" and "management" know what I mean. A true leader uses all of his/her skills, experience, insight, empathy, "emotion" to create and lead their teams... and yes showing emotion is what makes a leader human... which is vastly important in today's business climate, as the old stoic, manage from the top floor corner office is now obsolete. "We" all of us are emotional beings... our emotions drive what we do everyday. Daniel Goleman does a great job at illustrating this in his book/s as well as providing a guide to using our emotions to enhance our leadership style and create effective and productive teams. My recommendation is to read this book and decide for yourself.

Dr. Faron Boreham

Editorial Review:

Everyone knows that high IQ is no guarantee of success, happiness, or virtue, but until Emotional Intelligence, we could only guess why. Daniel Goleman's brilliant report from the frontiers of psychology and neuroscience offers startling new insight into our "two minds"--the rational and the emotional--and how they together shape our destiny.

Through vivid examples, Goleman delineates the five crucial skills of emotional intelligence, and shows how they determine our success in relationships, work, and even our physical well-being. What emerges is an entirely new way to talk about being smart.

The best news is that "emotional literacy" is not fixed early in life. Every parent, every teacher, every business leader, and everyone interested in a more civil society, has a stake in this compelling vision of human possibility.

A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive

Dave Pelzer

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Total reviews: 1929 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Too much detail from a child of 5 or 6 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I found this book to be very disturbing in many ways.
First the shear horror of the acts inflicted on this child by a parent were too disturbing to complete.
Second, the detail that is included in the book from the time this man was 5 or 6 until he was 12 or 13 is just a little too over the top for me to believe it is actually the memory of a small child.

I am not denying that he was abused but I felt there was a little bit of embelishment from the adult writing.

I could not finish the book nor am I interested in ready the rest of his writtings. I find it amazing that he can over come the abuse and become a whole person but it was just a little much for me

Editorial Review:

This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games--games that left him nearly dead. He had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and no longer a boy, but an "it."

Dave's bed was an old army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son.

Parenting With Love and Logic : Teaching Children Responsibility

Foster W. Cline, Jim Fay

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Total reviews: 176 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

EFFECTIVE PARENTING-WITHOUT THE POWER STRUGGLES.

As parents, you have only a few years to prepare your children for a world that requires responsibility and maturity for survival. That thought alone can send shivers down your parental spine!

So what do you do? Hover over your kids so they never make mistakes? Drill them so they'll remember the important principles when you're on their own? Tear your hair out, wondering if teaching them responsibility is anything but a battle of wills?

According to Jim Fay, one of America's top educational consultants, and Dr. Foster Cline, a trend-setting child and adult psychiatrist, parents who try to ensure their children's success often raise unsuccessful kids. Responsibility is like anything else-it has to be learned through practice.

If you want to raise kids who are self-confident, motivated, and ready for the real world, take advantage of the win-win approach to parenting. Your kids will win because they'll learn responsibility and the logic of life by solving their own problems. And you'll win because you'll establish healthy control-without resorting to anger, threats, nagging, or exhausting power struggles.

Parenting with Love and Logic puts the fun back into parenting!

"Parents consistently tell us they wish they had known about love and logic earlier. This common sense approach gives parents a tangible hope that they can still influence their kids."-Dave Funk, staff development coordinator, New Berlin Public Schools, Wisconsin

"I have been a principal for four years now and have used these methods with great success. Thank you for all the creative ideas."-Steven B. Vande Ven, principal, Sherrelwood Elementary School, Denver, Colorado

"I'm continually amazed at how well these principles work, not only with children, but with parents and other adults. It's great to get away from punishment and anger and into love and logic."-Sharon Alexander, principal, Disnard Elementary School, Claremont, New Hampshire

"I really believe that this material can benefit every parent. I have never enjoyed my children more. Parenting has become fun, and stress and anger no longer dominate my life."-Pam L. Tourigny, group home foster parent, Snelling, California

"Parenting with Love and Logic meets with wonderful results. For the first time in four years, we're making progress in the right direction with our teenager."-Billie Leafgreen, parent, Lander, Wyoming

Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood

Edward M. Hallowell, John J. Ratey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 134 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

One of the classics - but dated 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is an excellent book for the person who has not heard of ADHD until recently, particularly for the adult who has been unknowingly suffering its effects. But I was an adolescent when ADHD first became widely recognized and diagnosed, and I grew up with friends and family members who were diagnosed and treated for their ADHD, at a time when "You mean I'm not crazy, stupid or lazy?" was sort of a joke catchphrase in the high school hallways. This book presumes that, by the time you read it, your ADHD or that of your child has already gone unrecognized for a number of years and caused personal and academic problems. As such, it doesn't really speak to the reality of modern day parents who have known about ADHD from the time our children were born and are now struggling to diagnose and treat the disorder BEFORE it disrupts our children's lives. In addition, the information on medication is very out of date, as many advances have occurred in the 15 years since the book was written.

Editorial Review:

Procrastination. Disorganization. Distractibility. Millions of adults have long considered these the hallmarks of a lack of self-discipline. But for many, these and other problems in school, at work and in social relationships are actually symptoms of an inborn neurological problem: ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder.

Through vivid stories of their patients' experiences, Drs. Hallowell and Ratey now offer a comprehensive overview of one of the most controversial psychiatric diagnoses of our day. They show the varied forms ADD takes -- and the transforming impact of precise diagnosis and treatment. And, as successful professionals who are both living with ADD, they extend a message of hope and compassion to all listeners struggling with ADD in their own lives or in the lives of loved ones.

An enlightening exploration of a condition only recently identified, Driven To Distraction is a must for everyone intrigued by the workings of the human mind.