Reviews (3)

BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID
Reverend Lynn provides an iron-clad case for the defense of separation of church and state, which the Religious Right would like to see abolished. A core principal of our nation, church state separation is conceivably one of the most important of our American rights and one which makes us the envy of most of the world.
Understanding the attack on Church/State separation
In his new book, Piety and Politics, Rev. Barry Lynn explains the Religious Right's relentless attack on church/state separation and why separation is necessary.He gives examples of the Religious Right's attacks and explains why they are invalid.
Religious Freedom vs. Theocratic Tyranny: The Choice is Yours
"Piety & Politics" is Reverend Barry Lynn's effort to educate the public on the dangers of church and state partnerships and the threat they pose to religious freedom. Lynn is an ordained minister for the United Church of Christ and he devotes considerable time and effort to defending church state separation He is also the executive director for the activist organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State and he wrote this book to explain some of the methodology of the Religious Right in its efforts to take control of government. Beginning with a chapter on the definition of religious freedom, the book offers separate chapters on some of the favorite targets of the Religious Right, such as public education, religious symbols, government- funded charity, church politicking, personal decisions on sexual matters, and the desire to censor undesirable books, movies, etc. Lynn selected these hot- button topics probably because they are among the most broad- based and the most often cited as areas where the Religious Right and its members feel strongly; so strongly, in fact, that they are willing to rewrite the U.S. Constitution in order to make their view of religion and morality the law of the land.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity and politics    2. Freedom of religion    3. Political And Civil Rights    4. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    5. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Religion    8. Religion And Politics    9. Religion, Politics & State    10. Religious right    11. United States    12. Political Science / Political Ideologies / Conservatism & Liberalism   

Editorial Review

Malcolm X's searing memoir belongs on the small shelf of great autobiographies. The reasons are many: the blistering honesty with which he recounts his transformation from a bitter, self-destructive petty criminal into an articulate political activist, the continued relevance of his militant analysis of white racism, and his emphasis on self-respect and self-help for African Americans. And there's the vividness with which he depicts black popular culture--try as he might to criticize those lindy hops at Boston's Roseland dance hall from the perspective of his Muslim faith, he can't help but make them sound pretty wonderful. These are but a few examples. Read more

Reviews (265)

eye opener
Mike Young obviously did not read the book.I read it 3 times and it changed my life forever.The book clearly states that it is the autobiography of Malcolm X AS TOLD to Alex Haley and if you had read the book yourself you would realize that Malcolm was simply telling the story to Alex Haley.He was too busy to sit down and write the book himself and predicted his own murder in the last pages.Maybe you, Mike Young, should take on the challenge of being a thinking human being and read it on your own with an objective mind and then come back and tell us your real thoughts.

People Can Change!
Simply, one of the most amazing stories of change ever told in the English language - and still one of the most mis-understood men in the 20th century.

A tribute to Black Manhood
Some books can change your perception, but only a few can wipe out age-old assumptions, and force you to rethink everything you thought you knew. The question of RACE is at the heart of the American society, and in this book, not only African-Americans, but Americans of all colors, black, white, red and yellow, will find themselves reassessing what racism entails, for Malcolm X life, is a poignant testimony of the black man's struggle against both individual and institutional racism.
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Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Black Muslims    7. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    8. Islam - General    9. People of Color    10. Political    11. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    12. Biography & Autobiography / People of Color    13. Biography: political    14. Black studies    15. USA   

Reviews (129)

Thank You!
Thanks so much for this book about Jesse Jackson. Jesse Jackson is for himself. He has exploited Black people and used them for his own good. Where ever there is a cause he's present. Not so much for the sake of those involved, but more or less for his own benefit. It's ashame that he has to speak for the common good of man for a fee. Before he speaks he wants to come to a payment agreement. He uses Black people. A Black problem is his gain. Black people please get hip. Jesse Jackson is a pimp in the worse way. He pimps and profits from Black problems.
A Great Book about a complete Fraud!
I've always had a thought about "REVERAND" Jackson, and this book proves it! Jesse jackson isn't black -He's just a white man that's so full of s**t tha his body long ago lost the ability to absorb it!

Mr Jackson is what Fela Kuti would call a pen robber
If the Abacha/Nigeria/Abiola story revealed in this book is fact, Mr. Jackson should be jailed for the part he played in Abiola's death. Concerning the son, if a congressman earning $26,000 owns 5 cars worth $300,000 it proves the truism that the apple does not fall far from the tree.
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Subjects:  1. 1941-    2. African American civil rights    3. African American civil rights workers    4. African American politicians    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Civil rights workers    9. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    10. Ethics    11. Government - U.S. Government    12. Jackson, Jesse,    13. People of Color    14. Political    15. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    16. Politics / Current Events    17. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Blacks    18. United States    19. Jackson, Jesse    20. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (32)

Outdated. Some examples are not practical
Somewhat outdated.
Solid advice from a true believer
I carefully read the first edition of the book approximately 7 years ago.Though I didn't perceive at the time that I had a need for "invisibility", I adopted several of the recommendations in the book simply because they made me feel more comfortable.I was subsequently harrassed by a disgruntled former employee.At least one overt act of his was thwarted by my privacy measures.How many others, I'll never know.Every bit of energy and money I'd invested in my privacy was paid back and then some.
Excellent book on Privacy Techniques!
This is an excellent book on privacy techniques.What I like about it is that JJ Luna discusses various levels of privacy, and I have found that the more privacy you want, the more time/effort you will have to go through to maintain it.He talks about how to go about receiving your mail, where to choose to live, how use the phone, how to pay people, and how to title assets more privately.I like this book because JJ Luna does not try to force a one size fits all agenda upon people, but lets the reader decide on what level of privacy is right for them. There are varying levels of privacy which can be obtained for each one, depending on your circumstances (e.g. family, job, etc).Of course, the more privacy you want, the more you will have to sacrifice, but most of these techniques are simple and won't take too much extra time out of your week.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Computer security    3. Identification    4. Personal Finance    5. Personal Finance - General    6. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Privacy, Right of    9. Right of privacy    10. United States   

Reviews (33)

Not completely convincing
Steele gives an excellent analysis of the current muddle about affirmative action (especially with regard to the University of Michigan ruling by the Supreme Court), and how it's arisen from the white guilt which is the title of his book.Where he fails to convince (in my view, at least) is in his attempt to extend this analysis to cover society as a whole. If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
The Globalization of Guilt
1. The persective of most writers is shaped by their own experience. Dr.Steele is an American Black, a baby boomer, a member of the academic elite, a liberal arts major, and a political "conservative".This certainly affects his perpective when he discusses social issues.
The Competitive Model
I actually paid money to attend a lecture on this book rather than just reading the book.I find that Dr. Steele has some very valid points that have helped me to further process my own views on the race issue in America.Dr. Steele states, in his own way, that America has yet to really honestly deal with her racial past through his position on 'dissociation'.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. African Americans    3. Ethnic Issues    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. People of Color    6. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    7. Political Science    8. Politics and government    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Psychological aspects    11. Racism    12. United States    13. Social Science / African-American Studies   

Reviews (15)

Truthful contrast
Dr. Franklin is an extraordinary savant.His writing technique is grabbing and august.He presents his life in a clear unquestionable manner; causing the reader to feel the emotion in which he experienced throughout his life journey.
Autobiography of John Hope Franklin
Every page is a valuable learning opportunity.Written in a factual, insightful way that creates a focus on lessons learned and then makes these same lessons implements of progress and growth for others.This is a book everyone should read and then find ways to incorporate the example if Dr. Franklin in concrete ways in their individual lives.

From Sisters Nineties Literary Group, Linda Smith, Book Review Editor, Reviews
Professor John Hope Franklin's story, Mirror to America, is a chronicle of his life embellished with the history of African Americans in the United States.A rare jewel, Professor Franklin decided early in his education at Fisk University, where he earned his undergraduate degree, that he would make a life long committment to pursue the history of African Americans in this country as a scholar.He attend Harvard University where he earned his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in history, remaining committed to pursue African beginnings in America without compromise and with impeccable courage in the time where racial prejudice was practiced in every phase of American culture.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. African American historians    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography And Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)    9. Educators    10. Historians    11. Historical - U.S.    12. Novelists, American    13. People of Color    14. Personal Memoirs    15. U.S. History - 20th Century (General)    16. United States    17. United States - 20th Century    18. Zabor, Rafi    19. Biography & Autobiography / General    20. Biography: general    21. Black studies    22. Civil rights & citizenship    23. Political activism    24. USA   

Reviews (199)

Chronicles of anti-Christian bigotry
How can someone possibly manage to fill a 400-page book with example after example of Christians being persecuted in the United States? Only if there happens to be a whole lot of cases of Christian persecution. And that is just what Limbaugh demonstrates in this frightening but much-needed book.
Forgive them, Father for the Conservatives know not what they do....
Yes, I am a Christian, and I believe in all of the teachings of christianity. But I do not support the conservative's constant attack of democratic liberals.... it's the simple example of stereo-typing. I can garantee there are millions of atheist conservative republicans... I used to have a friend who was. This book is trying to make democrats look bad by using the atheists of the left against them. That's similar to Southern Black discrimination... everyone tought they were lower and disgusting because they used to be slaves. But that wasn't what they were on the inside.
Powerful book about the oppression of Christianity
Persecution: How Liberals are Waging War Against Christianity by David Limbaugh is the book that liberals should be worried about.While Ann Coulter's Godless is getting all the press, it's this book that should have them shaking in their shoes.Limbaugh doesn't use hysterical vitriolic name-calling to get his point across, he uses facts and builds his case slowly, brick by brick.He's like a prosecutor bringing forth each piece of evidence and allowing the jury to see it and listen to each witness and allowing them to make their own judgment.Many of the cases do quote the same lawyers again and again, but that really can't be helped when there are only a few groups defending the rights of Christians to express their views.The book shows case after case in schools, workplaces, and the government in which Christianity is not just being suppressed but oppressed.The good news that in many of the actual court cases, the court upheld the rights of Christians.The bad news is that most people don't bring court cases, they just quietly fold up and give in.These court cases are the exception proving the rule, and the liberals are going to continue pushing and pushing because they know that most people will give in without a fight.Limbaugh also does a great job at the end of the book proving that America was founded on Christian principles by Christian men who never intended for Christianity to be hounded out of American life.This is a good book for everyone to read. It's one of the few books that just might change people's minds. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Political Issues    3. Christianity - General    4. Christians    5. Civil rights    6. Freedom of religion    7. Persecution    8. Political And Civil Rights    9. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    10. Religion    11. Religion - Socialissues    12. United States    13. Civil rights & citizenship    14. Current Events / General    15. Political Science / Reference   

Editorial Review

One of the greatest of American stories has found its great chronicler in Taylor Branch. Beginning with Read more

Reviews (26)

Leadership, charisma and iron will.
As King's star rises, Green's book opens up wide to the national and world stage. Cannaan transitions from an essential biography of King to a complex social and historical account of America in the mid 60's. By the late 60's, race was a hot button that super charged the fabric of all things American. One scholar pointedly stated, "if you want to look at the motivations behind all historic American politics and policies -- follow the race card." Cannan's follows the call for racial justice as it moves north and the long sharp lens of Green focuses on the race riots in LA, Queens, Detroit and Chicago. Each chapter is a fascinating look at people vs. political power and the passionate personalities that sparked bloody confrontations. Adding complexity to the issues of the day, Green correctly weaves in our last and fatal commitments in Vietnam and the political pressure that was brought to bare on the opposite side of the Johnson house, literally squeezing the administration between two crisises. In many ways, the three book series is a apt study in modern man's stubborn nature to selfishly preserve their own tribe over all others -- blood lust and all. Somewhere in this series an astute observer comments, "racial prejudice, drawn to it's natural conclusion, is the practice of genocide, plain and simple." Man killing man. Of course Canaan does not end on that morbid conclusion. It ends optimistically, depicting King as the first modern American to preach, practice and deliver radical social change through peaceful mass demonstration. In his fine, broad wake peaceful demonstrations have prevailed and will again and again... thanks in large part to leadership, charisma and iron will. 9/11/06

A (slightly) flawed conclusion to a great story
This is the third volume of an epic history of King, the Civil Rights movement and America during a pivotal moment.
Heartbreaking Story, of our Divisive Racial History
Taylor Branch continues to be the best source for our troubled racial history. We've developed a mythology of the movement, that it was heroic, which it was, but that's an incomplete picture. This should be read by every American. Especially those right wing conservatives who seem to forget how recent we were bombing churches in this Country. It was just yesterday that people went to jail (Parchman prison even in Ms) for voter registration activities. Mr. Branch also shows the seems that begin to wear, how Dr. King became reviled by the Radicals because his devotion to non-violence brought him to oppose the War in Vietnam and brought condescension from the Black Power advocates like Stokely Carmichael and H. Rap Brown, who began to (understandably) promote a violent response to the violence which the SNVCC had suffered for years. This is an important book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1929-1968    2. 20th century    3. African Americans    4. Civil rights    5. Civil rights movements    6. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Histor    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History - U.S.    10. History: American    11. Jr.,    12. King, Martin Luther,    13. People of Color    14. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    15. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Blacks    16. U.S. History - 1960s    17. United States    18. United States - 20th Century    19. United States - 20th Century/60s    20. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    21. Black studies    22. History / United States / 20th Century    23. Human rights    24. USA    25. c 1960 to c 1970   

Reviews (8)

One of the most thought-provoking books I've ever read
This book is both meticulous and very clearly written. Every time I had, while reading Conley's analysis, a nagging question in the back of my head, he went on to address it in far more detail than had even occurred to me. A Wealth of Ideas
This book expands the research base that identifies wealth as a key component of mobility, and an important factor that explains why blacks and whites have divergent outcomes. However, Conley may be overemphasizing the role of wealth, and forgeting that race is still a critical issues. In fact, his models show that wealth is only a small part of the story. A great deal of the unexplained variance in Conley's models may be attributed to discrimination in society. Although Conley mentions this briefly, more attention needs to focus on this aspect the issue. Nevertheless, the discussions of wealth are rich and well developed, making this an important addition to the literature.

problems abound
The analysis is sound. This is to say, the examination of the relevant history and current structures, coupled with an examination of effects, is accurate and valid. However, the argument for implications is unsound - dangerously so. It seems that those driven to understand precisely why some people are faced with more challenges than others are usually willing to go the next step - to argue for engineered adjustments, blind to the fact that such programs engineer even more odious, systematic inequities. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1975-    2. 20th century    3. African Americans    4. Economic Conditions    5. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Histor    6. History    7. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    8. Political Science    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Social classes    11. Social conditions    12. Sociology    13. Sociology - Social Theory    14. United States    15. Black studies    16. Central government policies    17. Equal opportunities    18. Social Science / Sociology / General    19. USA    20. Urban communities   

Reviews (18)

Hayek--Orwell's Mentor
At the height of socialist popularism in England, cir. 1944,George Orwell, a leading proponent of socialism, believing in its promises as did many,if not most of Eurpose's leading intellectuals and politicians, wrote a review of Hayek's famous book, "The Road to Serfdom."Orwell wrote the review in the "Observer," London April 9,1944.
Brilliant, timeless classic
The Constitution of Liberty is "a comprehensive restatement of the basic principles of a philosophy of freedom" (p. 3).It is often considered the magnum opus of Hayek's political writings, even if The Road to Serfdom is perhaps better known.
Shows why there is no elsewhere elsewhere
This is a book that can be right in ways that confound all expertise, a basic text of political economy, brilliant enough to summarize all the mistakes of the twentieth century while they were still happening.With an author born in Europe, aware of a society with classes based on great wealth, where culture was largely the activity of a few thousand incredibly intelligent people, but, due to a bestseller of his own, exposed to the dynamic economic growth of postwar America, teaching in an offbeat center like the University of Chicago, concerned about liberty, law, "The Decline of Socialism and the Rise of the Welfare State," Social Security, and utterly convinced of his main point:the necessity for taxation to pay for whatever benefits a government can contrive.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History & Theory - General    3. History - General History    4. Liberty    5. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Public Policy - Social Policy    9. Rule of law    10. Social policy    11. Constitution: government & the state    12. Political Science / History & Theory   

Reviews (15)