Editorial Review

John Grisham tackles nonfiction for the first time with Read more

Reviews (26)

I must apologize
I wrote that the Broker was not the book I should strongly recommend. Well, I'm astonished now, because Mr Grisham knew about ties between Cia and Italian Telecom. How did he manage? Well, back to the Innocent man. I have read some of the recension before me. I think it could be hard to cope for a layman, but it's very interesting for a jurist, expecially for a no American one. The plot is intriguing, and the style is very dry. I read it in a day, and I learnt very much about American system. System is really good, sometimes men aren't, like everywhere. The clue is: American juries care more about what a convicted should do in the future, then about which crime one actually performed, if then. That's the reason why a dropout like Ronnie was a perfect candidate for lethal injection. He was crazy, noisy , arrogant, he slept most of the time and use to chase boozes and skirts. What's the use of let he in life? Grisham is great when at the end calculates to the penny what's the cost of such a court mistake for the american taxpayer. A cynical could rebuke: right, but only because it happened to be eventually corrected. The correction was the really burden, and not the mistake. I hope to read more nonfiction from Mr Grisham, that could even write a postfaction like Victor Hugo in the Miserables: Italy loves my books, but Italian judiciary ssystem isn't any better ( Hugo said Italy loved les Miserables, but Italy was really a worse country then France ).It's a book about justice, not simply a book about american judiciary system or small countries judicial oddities. I recommend it to all law students.

A Poignant and Compelling Story!
What would you do if you were suspected by the police of the rape and murder of a young woman? Whom would you turn to if you were convicted of a crime based on circumstantial evidence and shoddy legal tactics? Whoever believes we are all innocent until proven guilty hasn't truly been put to the test.
His best book yet
His first Nonfiction book was very well written.It was a major page turner and I finished it in 2 days.I liked it better than any of his other books and I"m a big Grisham fan.Please note, if you don't want to have anything given away I'd not read the captions under the photos because some of the story will be given away.It is a very one sided story and is easy to read his contempt for the the bad part of the criminal justice system, but it also made me think.Before I read this I was a strong supporter of capital punishment, and now I still believe in it, but I see why there are so many appeals etc. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Capital Punishment    2. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    3. Judicial error    4. Legal System    5. Murder - General    6. Oklahoma    7. Penology    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Trials (Murder)    11. True Crime / Espionage    12. Social Science / Penology   

Reviews (12)

Important Revelations!
"Tempting Faith" begins with Kuo's early life, his accepting Christianity, and gaining credibility through working for Bill Bennett, Ralph Reed, John Ashcroft, Bob Dole, and Pat Robertson.
Excellent, Balanced
It's hard to imagine, but after all the author went through with this administration, the author still seemed in awe of Pres. Bush.I expected the anger of someone who felt he'd been betrayed, but instead, criticism seemed downplayed and it was simply compelling story of the author's hopes and his realization that he'd taken the wrong route to achieve them.I definitely recommend it.

Who cares ifthey "like" us?

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Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - Political Issues    2. Christianity and politics    3. Church And Government    4. Church and state    5. Government - Executive Branch    6. Government - National    7. Religion    8. Religion - Christian Life    9. Religion - Socialissues    10. Religion And Politics    11. Religion, Politics & State    12. Religious right    13. United States    14. Religion / Church & State   

Features

• Abridged
• Audiobook

Reviews (81)

Solid, mostly objective reporting
I have read several of Woodward's previous works, and found this to be a solid piece of reporting, wrapped and shaped to provide believeable characterizations of the players.I was not particularly surprised by much in the book, since a lot of it was clearly in the public domain press and television.But, Woodward has managed to fill in additional details to provide a soild context for the 10-second sound bites we get from the White House, and others.
I'm a Republican and I liked it
I have read all of Bob Woodward's books going back to the early-80's, The Brethren - which was not very good. I have consistently found him to be fact-based and fair in his reporting and analysis. I read this one twice.
What are we going to do about it?
While reading this book, which is about the fifth one I have read that basically says the same things about Bush and this war, and which I agree with and appreciate having authors tell me about, but when is someone going to write a book with advice about what we can do about it? All this talk just frustrates me. The points made in this book cannot fail to upset any reasonable taxpaying US citizen. I love the way they are presented but to be honest, I couldn't finish the book.It was just making me feel sick and helpless to do anything. What can we do besides read books about it? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Audiobooks    3. Foreign Policy Formulation    4. Government - Executive Branch    5. Government - U.S. Government    6. History    7. Iraq War, 2003    8. Military    9. Military - General    10. National security    11. Public Affairs & Administration    12. U.S. President    13. United States    14. United States - 21st Century    15. Current Events / General   

Reviews (6)

Reply To Tom Markus
He said, "Let faith be your guide and never deny the Word of God that specifically calls for us to reject the San Fancisco values of Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat Party."
Well said
I felt better about the Republican party - hopeful there can be change within it, a way to get out of the current disappointing party it has become.This book was thoughtful, and personally helpful to me, in a worldly and a spiritual way. Its a great read, and I felt the better for having experienced it.

another conservative shows thatBush is not conservative
Sullivan does excellent work in showing how far from traditional conservatism George W. Bush is with his emphasis on heavy government spending without commensurate taxation, his unconscionable expansion of executive power at the expense of other branches of government and against the U.S. Constitution, as well as his putting religious ideas, themselves without rational basis, in the place of reasonable, skeptical inquiry.The only fault of the book is that it makes Reagan a more competent president than in fact he was:Reagan's fiscal profligacy in expanding defense spending while cutting taxes doubled the national debt in the eight years of his administration.
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Subjects:  1. Conservatism    2. Fundamentalism    3. General    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    6. Political Process - Political Parties    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    11. United States    12. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Constitution: government & the state    7. Political Science / General   

Reviews (5)

Not only politicians but also voters need to upgrade their savvy
In _Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business_ (1985), Neil Postman (1931-2003) detailed the decline of public discourse in the Age of Television.
Starts Out Good, then slides downhill -
"The Way to Win" professes to provide campaign secrets from both the Clintons and Bushes (read Rove).In reality, it offers little in the way of secrets, though it starts off well by describing the reality of the New Media "Freak Show."
Sharp political analysis for the political junkie
The Way to Win is a very good book.I bought it when I needed something to read on the train from D.C. to New York.I was pleasantly surprised by its readability and insights.The Way to Win is a well-thought out, timely, at times fascinating exposition of not just what it will take to win the presidency in 2008, but more broadly how the drastic changes to the way news is reported in this country will affect national politics in the future.The authors' analysis of this new media age, which they dub the "Freak Show," is probably the book's most useful contribution, even more so than their assortment of "trade secrets" to prospective presidential contenders.
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Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. 2008    3. 21st century    4. Election    5. Government - Executive Branch    6. Government - General    7. Political Parties    8. Political Process - Elections    9. Political Process - Political Parties    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics and government    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Presidents    15. U.S. Presidential Elections    16. United States    17. Political Science / Political Parties   

Editorial Review

Barack Obama's first book, Read more

Reviews (8)

Obama Wraps His Personal Journey Around His Political Beliefs With Refreshing Authenticity
As the acknowledged rising star of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama has done an admirable job in maintaining the precarious balance between being a media lightning rod and a largely unproven senator out to establish his record. While it may speak to the current vacuity in the party's leadership, Hillary Clinton aside, Obama certainly cannot be underestimated for the political acumen he has displayed during key high-attention moments like his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He wrote an insightful personal memoir over a decade ago before entering politics, "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance", which I read a couple of years back and thought was quite lucidly written if rather guarded in exploring his racial dichotomy.
A prelude to the White House

STRAIGHT TALK, IMPRESSIVE IDEAS FROM A MAN POISED FOR THE FUTURE!
Five SAGACIOUS Stars!! Senator Barack Obama shows in this highly personal reflection that he is a man of great IDEALS and iDEAS. Indeed, he appears to be more 'statesman' than 'politician'. The book is almost conversational in tone, making it easy to read. Senator Obama's own written words anoint him as a man possibly poised on the edge of greatness, when we all want new political 'heroes', Republican as well as Democrat (and Independents like myself). He is a relatively young Democratic Senator from the great state of Illinois with the name recognition of a much older politician, nationally and internationally.In Africa and in the US, he hasalmost 'rock star' status among certain groups.
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Subjects:  1. African American legislators    2. Biography    3. Essays    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. Government - Legislative Branch    6. Legislators    7. National characteristics, American    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Blacks    12. U.S. Senate    13. United States    14. Current Events / Political   

Reviews (113)

Informative but casts too wide a net.
Bruce Bawer's book is informative and covers quite a lot of ground in its description of the insidious nature of radical Islam in Europe and how the political elite are more enamoured with political power over a propagandised electorate instead of applying themselves to the defence of freedom. But that is what European style government is all about despite the contemporary terrorism of radical Islam, and is--like democracy--the antithesis of freedom.
While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West
Hardly a more timely subject can be found.Perhaps long overdue, if you want to educate and inform yourself about what is really going on behind the press headlines, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

Thoughtful, but exaggerates Europe's fate
Having lived in Europe for a few years, I can safely say that the extreme liberal PC policies of "Sure! Anyone can live here!" mentality towards immigration have lead to a dangerously large anti-European Muslim population. This will be a large issue for the continent in the current century, but is Europe going to become part of a monstrous Islamic Calliphate? Highly doubtful
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Europe    4. Islam - General    5. Islamic Government    6. Islamic Studies    7. Islamic fundamentalism    8. Muslims    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    11. Public Opinion And Foreign Policy    12. Public Policy - Social Policy    13. Public opinion    14. Religion    15. Religion, Politics & State    16. Sociology    17. Political Science / Social Policy   

Reviews (156)

Fun to read, not too indepth, but Stossell entertains for sure!
John Stossel's Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity is a great book in which the 20/20 anchor tackles myths that prevail in society and are often taken as fact and refutes all of them with facts of his own.The chapters are broken down into myths about health, medicine, government, relationships, business, etc.These myths aren't just those such as you shouldn't swim after you eat (although that is in there.)Stossel tackles myths that cost money and lives and have been around so long they have been accepted as truth.For example, malaria, a desease that takes thousans of lives in Africa, could be easily combated with the Pesticide DDT.DDT was banned many years ago because fraudulent data reported it as cancerous.Food could be much healthier if it was treated with radiation, but radiation sounds bad so minority special interest groups have fought to have it banned.
Forget much of what you think is true!
John Stossel's first book, GIVE ME A BREAK,got me thinking about
Clear, excellent example of bias
I love this book.I teach a class that includes a component on critical thinking, and I've had trouble finding clear examples of authors who are able to all of the following in one argument: (a) use bias in choosing the facts they present, (b) mischaracterize the meanings of these facts, (c) mischaracterize counter arguments, AND (d) reason incorrectly about what their already selective premises.But now I've found plenty of examples here.
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Subjects:  1. Common fallacies    2. Government - State & Provincial    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Political Process - General    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology (General)    9. Sociology - General    10. Political Science / General   

Reviews (16)

The sad truth
This book is about the destruction of our country by elected officials and Big Business "Interests."
Thom hits the nail on the head in all but this: education
Education in this country is big business and is so hopelessly institutionalized (that is, it has become an institution) Institutions are self-perpetuating.It is extremely difficult--if not impossible--to change anything about an institution, let alone eliminate it, because the individuals currently occupying places in the institution no longer have much to do with it. The institution sustains itself despite any particular complement of workers within it. Yes, individuals in positions to direct policy and command the workforce can fiddle with some things, but the institution itself will go on. (Note that major legislation affecting schools comes several layers above a district superintendent or even the schools board.)Thus, what Thom is saying about "fixing the schools" or "change the way we are teaching" is way off the mark. Teachers are drones within that institution of public education. The best of teachers can sometimes "make a difference" for one or two kids a year. But because of the context of schooling--one teacher, 35 kids, classes rotating in and out every 45 minutes--the young minds are dumbed down and rigidified such that critical/creating thinking is not only impossible, it is prohibited.
Must reading
This book by Thom Hartmann should be required reading in every school in the United States.He lays out concisely what our country has done and needs to do to have a Democracy and a middle class and clearly demonstrates how the so called conservatives now and all the way back to the founding of the nation haave tried to destroy democracy and the middle class in favor of corporatocracy and an elite ruling class.Simple to follow and understand.The book really puts everything into a clear perspective.
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Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Economic Conditions    3. Economic Policy    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Freedom & Security - General    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Public Policy    10. Public Policy - Economic Policy    11. Social Classes    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    13. Political Science / Civics    14. USA   

Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. General    3. Political Science    4. Politics - Current Events    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics and government    7. Politics/International Relations    8. United States    9. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    10. Political Science / General    11. USA   

Editorial Review

Consistently lauded for its lively, readable prose, this revised andupdated edition of Read more

Reviews (531)

An Important History, Well Written
This isn't the last and only history of America you'll ever read or need.This is an addition to other texts, an important missing element in our collective education.History used to be told from the point of view of the winners, of the uplifted, and of the heroes.That is no longer the case and we can thank Howard Zinn and this seminal work for that.
Definitely worth reading, a bit cumbersome at times
I am definitely not a socialist.
Different Worth for Different Folks
After quite a while I finally put the time into reading this book and I am totally ambivalent whether I should have or not...I do not think that one should pay too much attention to those readers who do not take their history seriously, to those that want to propound a certain ideological agenda -- something I am realising has been,and is, a depressing fact of American socialisation. Those people of the ideological left will love this book and the those of the ideological right will hate it.... that is a given.