Social Situations Books - Page 2

Not With a Bang But a Whimper: The Politics and Culture of Decline

Theodore Dalrymple

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

"Britishness" Lost 5 out of 5 stars.
37 of 40 people found this review helpful.

Theodore Dalrymple's newest book, a collection of essays chiefly written for the magazine "City Journal," documents beneath the author's trademark wit and irony the sad decadence of contemporary Britain and the resultant loss of "Britishness," a grand tradition of civility and "common decency."

"Britishness," as Dalrymple understands it, once widespread throughout the English populace, though, of course, never universal, was a set of manners marked by "tolerance, compromise..., gentlemanly reserve, respect for privacy, individuality, a ready acceptance and even affection for eccentricity, a belief in the rule of law, [and] a profound sense of irony...." Principal famous - and diverse - models of this behavior Dalrymple convincingly identifies as Dr. Samuel Johnson, Joseph Conrad (the Pole become properly assimilated Englishman), and, his economic views notwithstanding, the incomparable George Orwell.

The loss of "Britishness" began with the post-World War Two decline of British power in the world. Politicians, careerist bureaucrats, and a growing "progressive" intelligentsia hastened its demise. Proponents of the welfare state, for instance, inadvertently or by design, encouraged a formerly self-reliant populace to adopt a sense of entitlement and expect the government to be responsible for its happiness or lack of same. Crime was redefined by police department bureaucrats eager to show its reduction. It was no longer an attack on the safety and welfare of the law-abiding but now an understandable reaction against oppressive external forces, and therefore more deserving of therapeutic reponse than of punishment in the form of lengthy jail sentences. Finally, the growing intelligentsia, fond of "ceaseless carping," made its fatal contribution to this social disaster by introducing and holding with complete uncritical dogmatism theories of multiculturalism, thus inadvertently keeping hordes of new immigrants self-satisfied in parochial enclaves while closing to them the actual routes of social advancement. A high Western culture to be shared was now ignored, if not denied, so that all the disparate groups newly composing Britain wound up with little more in common than a debased "pop" culture and perhaps a lust for shopping. Dalrymple's dire observation is that by offering such emptiness to new immigrant groups many young people among them are left defenseless against the sophistry of fundamentalist preachers of hate and terrorism.

Far from being a curmudgeon, Dalrymple is a profoundly serious essayist who challenges frivolous British politicians, bureaucrats and intellectuals to examine their own dogmas and the stereotypes they have promoted over the last decades, if only to see squarely and directly what they have wrought. As a genuine disturber of complacency, he can hope for no warmer a welcome than such types usually receive. In our age, he will not, of course, be given hemlock to drink. Rather, he will most likely be ignored by those who place a pride and a merit in refusing to see the obvious.

Editorial Review:

Theodore Dalrymple's new book of essays follows on the extraordinary success of his earlier collections, Life at the Bottom and Our Culture, What's Left of It. No social critic today is more adept and incisive in exploring the state of our culture and the ideas that are changing our ways of life. In Not with a Bang But a Whimper, he takes the measure of our cultural decline, with special attention to Britain-its bureaucratic muddle, oppressive welfare mentality, and aimless youth-all pursued in the name of democracy and freedom. He shows how terrorism and the growing numbers of Muslim minorities have changed our public life. Also here are Mr. Dalrymple's trenchant observations on artists and ideologues, and on the questionable treatment of criminals and the mentally disturbed, his area of medical interest.

Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's (Perennial Classics)

Frederick L. Allen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Contemporary AND historical!Recently while doing research for an exhibition on the 1920s, I purchased this fabulous little book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Recently while doing research for an exhibition on the 1920s, I purchased this fabulous little book called Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s. Historian Frederick Lewis Allen wrote it in 1931, before Prohibition was even repealed!

I bought it because I wanted a contemporary perspective on the decade from someone who was there. I was astounded at his insight into a decade that he not only lived through, but also did not have much distance from.

As a rule, historians generally wait at least a decade in order to examine the recent past. When you are still living through it, you often don't have enough perspective to evaluate what the implications were or are going to be.

However, Allen was spot on with his analysis of the 1920s. He admits early in the text that he is not trying to make any sweeping historical observations, and he is keenly aware of the dangers of trying to interpret events that were so recent. Instead, he says he is writing to capture the spirit of the age, as he remembers it.

But I found that many of his statements were consistent with current historical scholarship of that era.

His analysis of the Red Scare was particularly insightful. He writes, "...upholders of every sort of cause, good, bad, and indifferent, all wrapped themselves in Old Glory and the mantle of the Founding Fathers and allied their opponents with Lenin...A cloud of suspicion hung in the air, and intolerance became an American virtue."

Considering he was writing only 10 years after fear of communism swept this country, I was impressed with his courage to be honest about what was really going on. Although by the end of the decade, people were no longer concerned about a communist revolution, those who led the charge were certainly still alive.

His attitude toward Prohibition represented the common thought of the era that the "noble experiment" was indeed a failure. Yet, it would be two years after his book was published that the 21st amendment was ratified.

He accurately describes the spirit of the times, writing, "In those days people sat with bated breath to hear how So-and-So had made very good gin right in his own cellar, and just what formula would fulfill the higher destiny of raisins, and how bootleggers brought liquor down from Canada."

The 1920s were of course a time of radical change in manner and morals. People rejected anything "old fashioned," looking instead to what was current and up-to-date. "It was better to be modern - and everybody wanted to be modern - and sophisticated, and smart, to smash the conventions and to be devastatingly frank," Allen writes. "And with a cocktail glass in one's hand it was easy at least to be frank."

Allen also writes about the Scopes "monkey trial" - challenging the teaching of evolution in schools - with a hint of humor that really captures the bewilderment of the locals: "It was a strange trial. Into the quiet town of Dayton flocked gaunt Tennessee farmers and their families in mule-drawn wagons and ramshackle Fords; quiet, godly people in overalls and gingham and black, ready to defend their faith against `foreigners,' yet curious to know what this new-fangled evolutionary theory might be."

When my book arrived, it was obviously a bit tattered. My copy was from the 1964 reprint, so it looked a bit dated from what you expect from modern history books. The print was quite small and seemed intimidating when I first opened it. There is a 1997 and 2000 reprint available as well.

But it turned out to be the most interesting read of any book I used for my research!

Allen is witty, extremely intelligent, and has the unique perspective that can only be achieved by living through these events yourself.

If you are a Roaring Twenties enthusiast, or only casually interested in the era, I highly recommend this book. It provided me with a wealth of information, and lots of snappy quotes that really added to my exhibition.

Editorial Review:

Only Yesterday deals with that delightful decade from the Armistice in November 1918 to the panic and depression of 1929-30. Here is the story of Woodrow Wilson's defeat, the Harding scandals, the Coolidge prosperity, the revolution in manners and morals, the bull market and its smash-up. Allen's lively narrative brings back an endless variety of half-forgotten events, fashions, crazes, and absurdities. Deftly written, with a humorous touch, Only Yesterday traces, beneath the excitements of day-to-day life in the 20s, those currents in national life and thought which are the essence of true history.

Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News

Bernard Goldberg

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 851 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Completely worthless 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book was required reading in one of my high school English classes. I was against the very idea of the book from the very beginning, and I admit that. However, I found this book not to be agitating or contrary to my political beliefs, but humorous and almost completely devoid of substance.

Let me first say that many of the examples that Goldberg uses to illustrate his points are vague and he fails at many points to give specific information or credentials about the people he's quoting. Even worse, many of his little stories seem thrown into the book haphazardly, not really supporting any point at all.

Goldberg is only "Blunt and to the point" if blunt means longwinded and the point is to blather incessantly.

Also, be prepared for endless attacks on Dan Rather. It often appears that Goldberg has a deep, endless hatred and/or unnatural level of affection for the man.

Bottom line- this book proves absolutely nothing. You will not be able to reference this book in any argument on any subject. The yarns that Goldberg unwinds in heaps upon the reader are actually worth less money than the paper and ink used to record them. This man is a fool.

Editorial Review:

In his nearly thirty years at CBS News, Emmy Award winner Bernard Goldberg earned a reputation as one of the preeminent reporters in the television news business. When he looked at his own industry, however, he saw that the media far too often ignored their primary mission: to provide objective, disinterested reporting. Again and again he saw that the news slanted to the left. For years, Goldberg appealed to reporters, producers, and network executives for more balanced reporting, but no one listened. The liberal bias continued.

Now, breaking ranks and naming names, he reveals a corporate news culture in which the closed-mindedness is breathtaking and in which entertainment wins over hard news every time.

Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain

Trevor Romain

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Tool of Empowerment 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Bullying can range from the insidious, verbal cruelty and exclusion which girls are notorious for to full scale violence, which occurs among both sexes.

This book is a tool of empowerment for parents, educators and anybody involved with children on any level. One thing that is VITAL to keep in mind is NEVER make light of bullies and their cruelty. That will only make the child being bullied feel that the bullying behavior is being sanctioned and that recourse is out of the question. Making excuses for bullies also compromises respect; children are hard put to feel respect for an adult who exercises such poor judgment and appears to be taken in by bullies.

Condoning bullying behavior and mouthing platitudes to the bullied, such as "can't you take a joke/s/he's only kidding/work it out for yourself/you're too sensitive" is just as harmful as the bullying behavior. Platitudes of that ilk send out a "blame the victim" message and suggest that the bullying is not a serious matter when in fact it is. Recent events and relevant studies have shown that many school shooters were bullied.

Turning the other cheek means, I believe not responding to cruelty with cruelty. Self defense is an entirely different matter. Bullies will step up their abuse if they are not kept in check. They will continue to harass their targeted victims until they get the desired response. That is why telling children to ignore bullies does not work. Bullies don't let that one work.

Trevor Romain is a genius who clearly understands a myriad of dynamics among children. His clever cartoon pictures and his question and answer section open the doors to discourse and problem solving. I like the way he encourages readers to think of what they would do if they were being bullied and also to see if they are acting as bullies towards anyone else.

An excellent book to read with children and one they are sure to come back to enjoy.

Editorial Review:

Practical suggestions and humor help kids become "Bully-Proof, " stop bullies from hurting others, and know what to do in dangerous situations.

The 7 Powers of Questions: Secrets to Successful Communication in Life and at Work

Dorothy Leeds

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

A smart way to find the answers we need to succeed-in business, relationships, and life.

Questions...

demand answers
stimulate thinking
give us valuable information
put us in control
get people to open up
lead to quality listening
get people to sell themselves

They're an essential tool of the seeker and the problem-solver, and in our personal and professional lives, they can make the difference between getting what we want and going without. Questions have power-and by harnessing that power, we can change our world. This unique book reveals the seven powers of questions-and shows how to use them most effectively. Learn how questions can improve relationships, help determine what people really want, uncover opportunities, persuade others, and get more out of every business or personal encounter.

"Impressive in its insights and practical applications, The 7 Powers of Questions gives us an entirely new way to turn an ordinary conversations tool into a formidable ally."--Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder & CEO of Bloomberg LP

The New Elite: Inside the Minds of the Truly Wealthy

Jim Taylor, Doug Harrison, Stephen Kraus

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

We are all fascinated by them - that enigmatic class of people often referred to as the rich. In our fantasies, we envision them living in extreme luxury in million dollar mansions, cruising on yachts and jetting off to exotic locales at a moments notice. In "The New Elite", the authors reveal what drives our country's most powerful and influential class, what they want, where they shop and how they really spend their money. With candor and unique insight, they reveal that the people who drive our economy are not Ivy-league educated, luxury seeking socialites. Today's power elite no longer have last names like Rockefeller, DuPont, and Vanderbilt and they aren't necessarily in the limelight. Nearly half of them attended state schools and most of them come from poor or middle class backgrounds.While they include luminaries like Bill Gates, David Geffen, Ralph Lauren and Donald Trump, they may also include the small business owner next door. Based on thorough research and unprecedented access, "The New Elite" uncovers the five classes of America's new wealthy - including those who struggle with its implications, those who refuse to let it change them, and those who give it away and how each of them is changing our culture and economy. Often surprising and eminently entertaining, this is an enlightening and illuminating look at America's real ruling class, the profound ways they have redefined what it means to be rich, and the very real ways they are reshaping our country and our world.

Knowledge And Decisions

Thomas Sowell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

With a new preface by the author, this reissue of Thomas Sowell’s classic study of decision making updates his seminal work in the context of The Vision of the Annointed, Sowell, one of America’s most celebrated public intellectuals, describes in concrete detail how knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout modern society. He warns that society suffers from an ever-widening gap between firsthand knowledge and decision making—a gap that threatens not only our economic and political efficiency, but our very freedom because actual knowledge gets replaced by assumptions based on an abstract and elitist social vision f what ought to be.Knowledge and Decisions, a winner of the 1980 Law and Economics Center Prize, was heralded as a ”landmark work” and selected for this prize ”because of its cogent contribution to our understanding of the differences between the market process and the process of government.” In announcing the award, the center acclaimed Sowell, whose ”contribution to our understanding of the process of regulation alone would make the book important, but in reemphasizing the diversity and efficiency that the market makes possible, [his] work goes deeper and becomes even more significant.”

Words That Change Minds: Mastering the Language of Influence 2nd edition

Shelle Rose Charvet

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The title of this book is decieving 1 out of 5 stars.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This book is a human resource management book covering different areas in HR management with many boring and tedious examples. The book focuses on interview setting questions, employement and hiring. I was looking for a book on language, word structure and influencing techniques but this book is the complete opposite. In addition, this book does not have a "search inside" option nor a description.

Brilliant 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has studied nlp or interested in the art of influence and wishes to further expand their knowledge. This books describeds meta programs in a very simple and straight forward way and how they are structured to fit the workplace, relationships (personal or professional) or any other context where you need to get yourself across efficiently and effectively.

Believe me when i say this is not a business book..it has a very readable writing style and helpful summary / appendicies section. I would recommend this book to anyone who really want's to use words that will change minds!

Boundaries (Fireside/Parkside Recovery Book)

Anne Katherine

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Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Are Your Boundaries Being Violated?

Boundaries separate us from others physically and emotionally. In fact, they are essential for our mental and physical health as well as for developing healthy relationships. Yet every day, people's boundaries are violated by friends, family, or coworkers. Despite the importance of personal boundaries many people are unaware of how or when these very important lines are crossed.

Which of the following are boundary violations?

Esther tells Betty a secret Mary told her.

Your therapist invites you to go for coffee.

Your boss wants to know the details of your personal life.

Your boss asks you if you'd like a hug.

Mom tells little Debbie about her troubles with Dad.

Your new neighbor pats you on the bottom as he turns away.

Your mother makes a comment about your being overweight.

All but one of the above incidents violate boundaries (your boss asks you if you'd like a hug). In Boundaries: Where You End and I Begin, Anne Katherine explains what healthy boundaries are, how to recognize if your personal boundaries are being violated, and what you can do to protect yourself.

For anyone who has walked away from a conversation, a meeting, or a visit with others feeling violated and not understanding why, this is a book that can help.

The Last Innocent White Man in America: And Other Writings

John Leonard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Stupid White Man! 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 18 people found this review helpful.

John Leonard is another sniveling, elitist, upper class leftist American who lives the good, wealthy capitialist life in the suburbs and wants Marxism for the rest of us poor folk. The book is barely passable. Dry, uninteresting, guilt ridden, not much fun at all.

He needs to keep his drivel on the pages of that failed liberal magazine The Nation. You know, the one practically nobody outside of rich, elitist lefties reads? The guy is an elitist. Is it any wonder average salt of the Earth Americans can't relate to many liberals? They're snobs who hate America and tell us capitialism is the root of all evil while they reap the most benefits from it. Heck, I guess they must be doing something right. Sure, there are lots of rich rightists, but they at least don't hate America and love communist dictators like Castro.

Leonard is a pompus bore who REEKS of pathetic, self-hating white liberal guilt. Spare us. Until the left comes back down to reality and drops the boring guilt trips, they will never gain power in the USA. And hey, part of me wants to believe that liberals have the answers. And they do on the issue of wanting to end the failed drug war for example. But they won't do any of that by publishing more tomes like this. That's just the way it is.

Editorial Review:

Far more than simple political commentary, The Last Innocent White Man in America is a passionate marriage of politics and literature that transcends the daily headlines to get at how we imagine ourselves in history. John Leonard is an unrepentant liberal, dissident, scourge, and media critic par excellence. Whether he's writing about bankers or AIDS, Congress or television, Salman Rushdie or Ed Koch, Leonard will make you stop, think, and laugh.