Subjects:  1. 1603-1649    2. 17th century    3. Government - Legislative Branch    4. Great Britain    5. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    6. Great Britain.    7. History    8. History & Theory - General    9. Parliament    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics and government    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Sources    15. World - General    16. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    17. Central government    18. Great Britain.--Parliament--History--17th century--Sources    19. History / World    20. United Kingdom, Great Britain    21. c 1600 to c 1700   

Reviews (3)

Wonderful look at the church in transition
I've grown up in the LDS church, served a mission, am married in the temple, but I never really knew much about church history past 1847 and the arrival of the saints in the Salt Lake valley. I've started to become more interested in how the isolated Rocky Mountain church has grown into the worldwide organization that it is. At the same time, I'm also interested in politics, having studied law. This book was a real eye-opener for me. I found the explanation about the church deciding to reach back east across the Rockies to find acceptance to be very interesting. I also learned a great deal about Joseph F. Smith. He realized that the controversy surrounding polygamy was so great that it was taking away from the mission of the church to continue to proselytise and grow the kingdom.
Almost perfect
This is a superbly written book, and one of the few works of professional, objective history that examines 20th century Mormonism. Flake's central thesis is that pressure from the US Government in the form of the Smoot hearings forced the church to abandon polygamy once and for all. Faced with the loss of its most cogent identity marker, the Mormon hierarchy needed to find a way for the Latter-day Saints to distinguish themselves from other denominations. They did so by emphasizing the restoration message contained within Joseph Smith's 1838 account of his first vision. By pointing to the vision's statement that Mormonism was a unique restoration of primitive Christianity, the Saints were able to set aside the practice that had made them unique up to that point: polygamy. Flake's arguments are basically sound, but somewhat overstated. For instance, the first vision had been used for this purpose since at least the 1880s, and she selectively sorts through the existing scholarship on the vision to skirt this fact. She also places too much emphasis on the symbolic importance of the centennial of Joseph Smith's birth and the monument that commemorates it. Nevertheless, this book easily joins the pantheon of "must read" books in Mormon history, and no student of the early 20th century church can fail to grapple with Flake's conclusions. An excellent and highly recommended work.

Insightful observations
This is a superb book. Read more

Subjects:  1. 1862-1941    2. 20th century    3. Apostles    4. Christianity - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Da    5. Christianity and politics    6. Clergy    7. Constitutional    8. Government - Legislative Branch    9. History    10. Law    11. Legislators    12. Mormon Church    13. Politics / Current Events    14. Smoot, Reed,    15. United States    16. Christian institutions & organizations    17. Constitutional & administrative law    18. History/United States: General; Religious Studies; Law & Legal History; Political Science/Political History/International Affairs    19. Law / Constitutional    20. Mormons (Church of Latter Day Saints)    21. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    22. USA   

Subjects:  1. Constitutional law    2. Government - Legislative Branch    3. Jurisprudence    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Legislation    7. Legislative bodies    8. Jurisprudence & General Issues    9. Law / Jurisprudence   

Editorial Review

It's one thing to review a book by pounding out a few hundred words of criticism but it's quite another to review a book by writing an entirely new book. That's what Dick Morris, former advisor to President Bill Clinton, has done in Read more

Reviews (140)

He Was There
The man was there.What else can you say for the credibility of the material.The book drones on at times, but the facts and incidents keep pouring out and you get a feel for who the Clintons really are, how Hillary twisted things in her own account (Living History), and how she probably had more impact in the Clinton presidency than Bill himself.So, if she's already been President for 8 years should she be allowed 8 more?

slow at the start, good to go as u read on...
Yes, I thought the book was going to be a dude at first, then it got interesting.Clintonistas will surely think of something to discount it.."It wasn't me"..see there's proof!I as well wonder why Mr. Morris stick by the Clintons for so long, but then again, he is a liberal, perhaps just not as loony.I gave it 5 stars cause it's definatly a book to keep in my recolection collection.

Good de-bunking of Hillary's memoirs
Disclaimer: I've loathed the Clintons from the get-go.
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Subjects:  1. 1993-2001    2. 2001-    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Clinton, Hillary Rodham    5. Conservatism    6. First Ladies    7. Government - Legislative Branch    8. Political    9. Political Process - General    10. Political Science    11. Politics and government    12. Politics/International Relations    13. U.S. Practical Politics    14. United States    15. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    16. Political Science / Practical Politics    17. USA   

Subjects:  1. Cloture    2. Congress.    3. Filibusters (Political science)    4. Freedom of debate    5. Government - Legislative Branch    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. Political Process - General    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Senate    12. United States    13. United States.    14. Central government    15. Political Science / Practical Politics    16. Political Science and International Relations    17. USA   

Reviews (1)

Do we hate Congress and if so, why?
Years ago, Richard Fenno introduced the idea of the `congressional paradox'---a phenomenon explaining that although a majority of Americans distrust Congress as an institution, that negative sentiment, however, did not extend to individual attitudes about one's own congressional representative.In Congress as Public Enemy, Hibbing and Theiss-Morse investigate the causes of and the reasoning behind public disillusionment toward the United States' top legislative body.Along the way, the authors discover dissatisfaction with Congress comes not only from the viewpoint that Congress is overprofessionalized and coddled by the hands of special interests, but Americans contain a wide discontent for the legislative processes. Interestingly, the authors observe this finding as troublesome. Authors state, "People profess a devotion to democracy in the abstract but have little or no appreciation for what a practicing democracy invariably brings with it...People do not wish to see uncertainty conflicting opinions, long debate, competing interests, confusion, bargaining, and compromised, imperfect decisions.They want government to do its job quietly and efficiently...In short, we submit, they often seek a patently unrealistic form of democracy." (Pg. 147)I believe we must ask ourselves is this true discontent or misunderstanding? Can civic education increase appreciation for the process? Does this discontent toward the process extend to public perceptions of state legislatures? A well researched and written work! Strongly recommended for anyone interested in the study of political psychology. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Congress    2. General    3. Government - Legislative Branch    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Public opinion    9. Reform    10. United States    11. United States.    12. Central government    13. Political Science / General    14. Public opinion & polls    15. USA    16. United States.--Congress--Public opinion   

Reviews (7)

Perfect Complement to C. Vann Woodward's "Tom Watson"
Stephen Kantrowitz, a gifted writer, accomplishes that rarest of achievements in academia: theory that is actually readable. With "Ben Tillman & the Reconstruction of White Supremacy," recipient of the Organization of Amerian Historians' Hawley Prize, he wades through American history's murkiest waters, those of race and gender. And with remarkable clarity, Kantrowitz shows that you just can't sieve race from gender, or vice versa. A Most Innacurate Piece of Fiction
Obvious agenda here by a shallow author looking to capitalize on a recently re-elevated subject.The entire book fails to make any positive remarks about the most popular and elected politician in the history of the state of South Carolina.Most of the research by this "author" is conveniently taken from anti-Tillman press while bypassing all of the many contributions to the state and to the U.S. Senate.Tillman was honored and revelled by many fellow U.S. Senators from opposing parties (and from Northern States). He established Clemson University, Winthrop College and the Charleston Naval Shipyard.There were two U.S. Navy Ships named after him.None of these accomplishments and honors are worthy of mention by this spin artist. He conveniently chose to omit, and obviously failed to research, Tillman's admirable private and personal life as it would destroy the credibility of the subject and agenda. marvelous distillation of powerful truths
The reader from Washington says the book is too long, but he wants more personal detail!How would that happen?Fact is, for a major figure in American political history, Tillman has found biographer whose economy of language is commendable; Kantrowitz only uses 309 pages to do a magnificent job of storytelling and analysis. And it is a great read, especially given the deep and subtle insights that Kantrowitz squeezes from this Dixie demogogue's pernicious but important career.And he does so without turning Tillman into a demon, but rather by revealing that the Senator was not so much a tribute but a trickster of the people, and far from being a populist, served the richest and most powerful of his constituents as he poured salt into the worst of the nation's wounds--the scar of white supremacy.This book is eloquent and profound, and could scarely have been better crafted. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Benjamin Ryan),    2. 1847-1918    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Government - Legislative Branch    7. Historical - U.S.    8. History    9. History: American    10. Legislators    11. Men, White    12. Political    13. Political activity    14. Regional Subjects - South    15. Southern States    16. Tillman, Benjamin R    17. United States    18. United States - General    19. White supremacy movements    20. Benjamin Ryan Tillman (1847-1918); agrarian; governor; U.S. Senator; white manhood; white male solidarity; slavery; disfranchisement; Jim Crow; political history; gender; race; political discourse; political culture; Reconstruction violence; agricultural reform; Populism; lynching; mob action; temperance; suffrage; restriction; white supremacy    21. Ethnography    22. History / United States / 19th Century    23. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    24. Racism & racial discrimination    25. USA   

Subjects:  1. Congress    2. Government - Legislative Branch    3. Politics - Current Events    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations    6. U.S. Congress (General)    7. United States    8. United States.    9. Political structure & processes    10. USA   

Subjects:  1. 1925-    2. African American legislators    3. African Americans    4. Case studies    5. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    6. Government - Legislative Branch    7. Government - U.S. Government    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. Stokes, Louis,    14. United States    15. Black studies    16. Political science & theory    17. Social Science / African-American Studies    18. USA   

Reviews (8)

Personal Autograph
Senator Bumpers' memoir is truly a great read.The Senator is very candid about politics, honest about his life, and philosophical without trying to justify his actions while in office.In a day where it seems every politician running for office feels the need to write a book, Senator Bumpers has taken the time to write one after leaving public office.
a cozy memoir with a folksy leader
Dale Bumpers might be seen as a mixture of one part Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird), one part Jefferson Smith (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), and a half part Abe Lincoln (at least he got the self-deprecating part).
Great, vivid stories by great public servant
Great read by someone who knows how to paint pictures with words.Dale Bumpers is a true public servant, not a politician out for fame, ego, money, and sex.I first became aware of him in a lengthy newspaper article some decades ago that gave deep background coverage to his spoken eloquence and mastery of issues, beyond that even of most Senators.I have wanted him to run for President ever since, and I think his speech in defense of Bill Clinton shows what a loss we have endured in not having Dale Bumpers as a President, particularly in light of the actions of our current President.
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Subjects:  1. Arkansas    2. Arkansas - State Government    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Bumpers, Dale    8. Congress    9. Governors    10. Lawyers    11. Lawyers & Judges    12. Legislators    13. Personal Memoirs    14. U.S. Senate    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (1)

A classic
This is a classic account of the intersection between media and legislating.Tim Cook takes both a broad look at legislators' media strategies and more closely at some specific cases.This is politicalscience, not political drama, so it will be especially helpful for academicpurposes.However it is also highly interesting and not as dry as somepolitical science.The book's one flaw is that it is aging.Cook'sobservations were made prior to the rise of Newt Gingrich and hismedia-intensive style of governance.There is still a big distinctionbetween a "work horse" and a "show horse" in "Making Laws and Making News."Now that Newt's gone, perhaps equilibrium has been restored and the normsdescribed in this book are coming back into vogue.If not, it is still aninvaluable comparative resource - I'm certainly not aware of any othersource that looks at this particular subject.After all this time "MakingLaws and Making News" is still a headliner. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Government - Legislative Branch    3. Politics / Current Events   

Subjects:  1. Congress    2. Government - Legislative Branch    3. History    4. History & Theory - General    5. Legislators    6. Organizational change    7. Political Process - General    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. United States    12. United States.    13. 20th century    14. American History    15. Central government    16. Political Science / Congress    17. Political Science and International Relations    18. Political control & influence    19. Political science & theory    20. Political structure & processes    21. USA   

Editorial Review

It's hard to imagine nine United States senators whose politics span the spectrum sitting down to dinner together on a regular basis--unless they're the nine women who currently call the Senate home. Barbara Mikulski, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Mary Landrieu, and Blanche L. Lincoln share something deeper than their political proclivities: gender has been the strongest characteristic of their personal and professional lives, and each one has overcome enormous obstacles to reach the old boys' club that is the Senate. As evidence of their remarkable camaraderie, they've now collaborated to share their stories in the hopes of encouraging other women to follow suit. The women write with candor about dealing with sexual stereotypes, facing tragedies, and proving themselves in a world that presents them with an ever-shifting teeterboard of proper feminine behavior. Read more

Reviews (23)

Eh
"Nine and Counting" is based on the truly impressive premise that the boy's club of the senate has passed.While tracing these nine senators' lives as women is a neccessary project, the writing is preachy, cliched and oh, so boring.The accounts of the individual women personally vary in their appeal and erudition, but they far surpass the writing in between.For every paragraph of a senator's writing you get two pages of introductions and platitudes of the senators, as well as cliches that sound like graduation speeches with nothing original or insightful - we get it!First there were none, now there are nine.Move on!! (An exception to the uselessness of the narration explained party finance for early candidates that is useful for seeing how women were excluded by their own parties.)
Great to see important women at work!!!
I feel as though this book was very well written in the aspect that it depicts women as stong intelligent people.It shows how also women can make big changes in this world depanding on their opinions.The way they think is what makes them who they are, and who they are is succesful politicians showing what their work is all about.

Nine and Counting Review
Nine and Counting is an inspirational book that all young women should read. The struggles and obstacles that each of these women had to overcome show that anything is possible. The stories included in the book are very interesting and show how different each of the female senators are. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an insight into nine of our current senators. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Congress    3. Congress.    4. Current Affairs    5. Government - U.S. Government    6. Political    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Public Affairs & Administration    10. Senate    11. United States    12. United States.    13. Women legislators    14. Women's Studies - General   

Subjects:  1. Congress    2. Government - Legislative Branch    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. U.S. House Of Representatives    8. United States    9. United States.    10. Central government    11. Political Science / History & Theory    12. Political structure & processes    13. USA   

Reviews (3)

A Few Holes
In her book, Unorthodox Lawmaking: New Legislative Processes in the U.S. Congress, Barbara Sinclair successfully argues that legislation no longer follows the common "textbook method."Representatives and senators alike have adapted new methods, sending each bill through a different custom-tailored process.Though she leaves a few questions unanswered, Sinclair uses multiple forms of research to paint a clear picture of how legislation is now passed. The Ugly Reality of Lawmaking
There exists a profound difference between the legislative process observed on Capitol Hill and the legislative process described in most U.S. Gov't textbooks and Sinclair's work presents a fluid and well written testament to that fact! Not light reading
I had to read this book for a course on the Legislative Process. While it is definitely readable, and well-researched, it is expectedly dry. Sinclair describes methods that are becoming more common in getting majorlegislation passed, and shows that this unorthodoxy is not necessarily abad thing. The first half of the book describes the changes that the systemhas undergone, while the second half illustrates how these methods affectedseveral major bills. Examples include a national service bill, regulatoryoverhaul, an omnibus drug bill, and two budgets. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Government - Federal    2. Government - Legislative Branch    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. History & Theory - General    5. Law    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Central government    9. Political structure & processes    10. USA   

Reviews (1)

Not feeling it
I read this book for a class assignment and I must say that I find her argument unconvincing and chaotic. The structure of the book and her argument is mercurial and the amount of errors in the book are alarming...Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    2. Government - General    3. Government - Legislative Branch    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Black studies    8. Central government    9. Political Science / Government / General    10. Political Science and International Relations    11. Political science & theory    12. USA   

Editorial Review

Pat Schroeder's memoir of 24 years in politics is so enthusiastic it is easy to forget how difficult her work must have been. She was Colorado's first congresswoman and one of only 14 female representatives to the House when she was elected in 1972. "The women in Congress had to wage virtually every battle alone," she remembers of those early years, "whether we were fighting for female pages (there were none) or a place where we could pee." Read more

Reviews (12)

America needs politicians like Shroeder in 2005
As a native of Denver, I was proud that the first vote I ever cast in my life was for Patricia Scott Schroeder.I had the good fortune to meet Mrs. Schroeder several times during her tenure because she took the time and made the effort to connect with her constituency by showing up, unannounced, in locales ranging from student cafeterias on the University of Colorado at Denver campus to Sunday afternoon beer bashes at The Foxhole, a local gay club (both occassions that I was present for).Schroeder cared what people had to say and when she went to Washington she represented them instead of herself which is why the citizens of Denver kept sending her back.Her personal decision to retire is the only reason she isn't still our congresswoman today.This book is full of Shroeder's delightful wit, insightful and rare wisdom and overwhelming humanity.While it is a mostly light-hearted account of her 24 years of service to her country, she also explains her very personal reasons for fighting so hard to defend reproductive choice and to pass the Family Medical Leave Act, her greatest legacy; a bill which she authored but selflessly relinquished credit in order to ensure it's success.
A Congressperson everyone can admire
Pat Schroeder is served as a Congresswoman that I think all members of public service should look up to as an example.

Don't judge it until you have read the whole book
This book is full of wisdom.Being a teenager to find book that interest me is hard to find.This book is one of the first books I have read that kept me interested and thought me things that are slowly fading away as the new generation makes their mark in the world.I first thought "Man, I have to read this for my summer assignment.I can learn all about politics and government when I'm in class," but its not all about that, its more than what it seems.You don't have to take my word for it until you read it for yourself then you can get back at me with your own opinion! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Government - Legislative Branch    6. Historical - U.S.    7. Legislators    8. Political    9. U.S. Congress (General)    10. United States    11. Women    12. Women And Politics    13. Women legislators    14. Schroeder, Pat   

Reviews (15)

Worth the Reading
As a long time admirer of John McCain, I wanted to read further about his life after having read "Faith of My Fathers".His first memoir chronicled the military experiences of both his father and grandfather, and the time that McCain spent in Vietnam as a prisoner of war.While that status has helped him in his political career, McCain has never used the term 'hero' to define who he is.In "Worth the Fighting For" he chronicles his career in politics, interspersing his recollections with portraits of men he has admired and whom he considers heroes.
Well Written, Informative & Entertaining
John McCain is a Republican Senator of Arizona - he is currently serving his third term as Senator. This book was written in 2002. It documents his life: during the Vietnam war, after the war, and during his terms as Senator, also his 2000 bid for the Presidency. McCain offers a lot of introspect into his life and his decisions. I sometimes get upset when I see the decisions Senators and other politicians make but after reading this book I see that there are so many different types of people and special interests that politicians have to please. They are constantly walking on a thin line.
Aptly titled...Powerful, Inspirational Messages
After reading his other memoir "Faith of my Fathers," I was given "Worth the Fighting For" as a gift. And what a gift it turned out to be! Senator John McCain proves that he is truly one of the great All-American heroes of our time. Read more

Subjects:  1. 1936-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Congress.    7. Government - U.S. Government    8. Legislators    9. McCain, John,    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Political    12. Senate    13. U.S. Senate    14. United States    15. United States.    16. Biography & Autobiography / General    17. McCain, John   

Subjects:  1. 1951-    2. California    3. General    4. Government - Legislative Branch    5. Government - State & Provincial    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Referendum    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    13. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. Fiscal policy    3. General    4. Government - Legislative Branch    5. Government - U.S. Government    6. Political Science    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Public Policy - Economic Policy    12. Referendum    13. United States    14. Central government policies    15. Political Science / Congress    16. Political structures: democracy    17. USA