Reviews (4)

Political correctness has put us into this situation
Bill Gertz explains clearly the rationale for improving America's counterintelligence. He throws out all political correctness that has put us in this current situation. Gertz is a better man for exposing these problems in our intelligence community. Now they may get fixed properly. Gertz can not believe that the Intelligence community has not changed many of its tactics since 9/11. Gertz points out the lack of intelligence in Iraq before the war began. He describes the problem with bureaucracy and its blocking of new changes. Gertz in each chapter describes a spy case that has happened in the past decades. Some points that jumped out at me in the book.
Enimies:Another wake-up call to America from Bill Gertz
This book gives an inside look at our failing intelligence agencies and the extent to which politics plays a roll in keeping them that way.While our short and long term enemies gain intelligence and sensitive weapons information on us, our politicians and incompetent leadership throughout our government's defense agencies do nothing but the same.I don't know what else to say.I hope everyone can read this and other Gertz books.Highly Recommended *****

what a shame
It is exactly this kind of short term mentality in this book, looking on all other countries as enemies instead of friends, that has been isolating the US from the rest of the world. Talking about military intelligence expense and power, no country beats the US. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Espionage    2. Military - Intelligence/Espionage    3. Political Freedom & Security - Intelligence    4. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    5. Political Science    6. Political Terrorism    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Terrorism    10. U.S. Government - Intelligence Agencies    11. United States    12. War on Terrorism, 2001-    13. Current Events / International   

Reviews (2)

for all fans of great non-fiction
I picked up this book because I have admired Jeffrey Goldberg's writing on a number of topics.This book is more a memoir than a political history (although I learned quite a bit of that in the course of reading this book -- the middle east is not a topic about which I know that much). If you are a fan of well-written non-fiction, then you will enjoy reading this book.Mr. Goldberg's writing is lively, largely cliche-free, often moving, and engrossing.As I write this, I realize that Prisoners is also a travel narrative of ancient and modern Israel...All in all, a lot of bang for one book.Highly recommended.

Highly Recommended
"Prisoners: A Jew and a Muslim Across the Middle East Divide" is a memoir as much as it is a commentary on the Jewish-Palestinian conflict in Israel. Goldberg, a long time journalist for the New Yorker and Middle East correspondent was also very much of his generation -- a Jewish-American growing up in New York City, who (having reading Leon Uris' Exodus) longed for strong Jewish heroes of the John Wayne sort. That longing took him to Israel where he served in the IDF as a guard at Ketziot, a bleak desert prison that houses thousands of Palestinians arrested during the first Intifada. His interviews and accounts of Jews and Palestinians ring true and I think that's partly due to his respect for journalism done well and because he is a Zionist with a hopeful heart who longs for peace. It's that hopeful heart of his that takes a beating, as did my own, as I read this book. He writes an entertaining and informative account and this is not a book that one will read and forget. Rather, it's one to be discussed and considered. If I could only recommend one book this year, I think it would have to be this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arab-Israeli conflict    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Contemporary Politics - Middle East    8. Ethnic Cultures - General    9. Jewish journalists    10. Middle East - Israel    11. Palestinian Arabs    12. Political    13. United Arab Emirates    14. United States    15. Current Events / International   

Reviews (4)

This book didn't have to be this difficult
I am a joint law student/international affairs masters student.Surprisingly, after a year and a half of law school, I have never had a textbook as difficult to read and understand as this one.The authors take complicated ideas and make them even more complex.
A Decent Overview
This text seeks to combine a standard IR Theory reader with a IR theory general text. In its first endevor, this book excels. The texts chosen are from among the leaders of thier fields and are summerized clearly and cogently by the editors. In its second task, however, this book fails quite notably. The text written by the authors regarding Realism, Pluralism, and Globalism is poorly written and to broad to be of much use, although thier description of realism is far better than thier description of the others. I would reccomend this book only because of the excellent collection of articles found within. For a general IR theory text, I would look elsewhere.

An Excellent Graduate Level Textbook
Kauppi and Viotti's work gives a comprehensive comparison between the contending theories of International Relations. Each section is followed by key readings which helps clear any misunderstanding and introduces to the student some of the finest texts supporting each perspective. Truly informative, great book. Recommended to Political Science graduate students everywhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. International Relations - General    2. International Relations Theory    3. International relations    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Political Science / General    8. Political science & theory   

Reviews (87)

A fascinating story
I bought this book from a spontaneously decision while engaged with THE KITE RUNNER. It is an amazing story of the life of an Afghan family that is keenly observed and portrayed by the author who lived with them for several months and observed their lives listened to their stories and finally came to relate to them. Though from quite a wealthy educated background, the family's story is still a struggle for self-esteem in a domineering culture of hierarchy that favors males and the elders, a culture of denial that often looks for scapegoats. Polygamy, oriental way of engaging in business, the status of women in the tribal and religious arrangement of southern Asia and the backdrop of the Afghan war all contributed to make this story enticing and gave a view of Afghanistan that many foreigners are not aware of.Union Moujik, Swallows of kabul,Usurper and Others, Bricklane are other titles which helps us foreigners understand what the news do not present.

Cultural anthropology for dummies
This book is a must for anyone who is trying to understand a culture so uniquely different from ours that it defies belief. It is beautifully written which makes it an easy read and because it reports on "daily" life in a Kabul home, it makes its comparisons by story telling. You get wrapped up in their way of life as reported by an outsider, and you understand their perspectives from a non-biased view. The author is Norwegian and does a fantastic job of describing their lives without bias or value judgements. The conclusions you draw about life styles, like the role of women, male oriented societies and the Taliban, are yours not hers. I think this should be required reading for high school students and anyone who knows nothing about the Islamic way of life. It certainly defines the dilemnas that we in the U.S. are facing today.

Excellent, very easy read.
I was very impressed with this book.It was an easy read but showed so much of Afghan culture.While at times I felt angry it also gave me a hunger to learn more about this intriguing country.I felt the author gave an excellent recounting of what she had seen and heard.
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Subjects:  1. Afghanistan    2. Asia - Central Asia    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Book Sellers, Dealers, Distributors    6. Booksellers and bookselling    7. Contemporary Politics - Asia    8. Ethnic Cultures - General    9. General    10. Islamic Studies    11. Kabul    12. Kabul (Afghanistan)    13. Khan family    14. Political Science    15. Politics/International Relations    16. Current Events / International   

Editorial Review

"Hutus kill Tutsis, then Tutsis kill Hutus--if that's really all there is to it, then no wonder we can't be bothered with it," Philip Gourevitch writes, imagining the response of somebody in a country far from the ethnic strife and mass killings of Rwanda. But the situation is not so simple, and in this complex and wrenching book, he explains why the Rwandan genocide should not be written off as just another tribal dispute.Read more

Reviews (199)

Disappointed
I was disappointed by the tone of the first chapter.
Remarkable and Life-Changing
This book will change your worldview.Gourevitch makes you realize how much we marginalize Africa, and how we refuse to recognize unpleasant realities to avoid the responsibility for dealing with them.While his account includes a lot of horrible examples of inhumanity, there are also some splendidly inspiring examples of humanity, which make you believe that change is possible, and even ultimately inevitable.

What a horrific tale
A lot of books I've read down through the years, even books I have enjoyed, I have forgotten almost as soon as I finished them.
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Subjects:  1. Africa - General    2. Current Affairs    3. Ethnic relations    4. Genocide    5. Government - Comparative    6. International    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics and government    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Rwanda    11. Armed conflict   

Subjects:  1. International Relations - General    2. International agencies    3. International organization    4. Law    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Regionalism (International org    8. Regionalism (International organization)    9. International institutions    10. Political Science / General   

Editorial Review

This collection of essays addresses a difficult question: Are some cultures better than others at creating freedom, prosperity, and justice? Although Read more

Reviews (49)

Tedious academic compilation
There were a few good nuggets of information in the varied chapters; however, most of the content of this book is hopelessly dry and academic.Seemingly written by professors and wonks for other professors and wonks, I cannot raise the appraisal of Culture Matters above two stars.Yes culture most certainly matters.The value sets of peoples around the world determine if they develop and thrive, or collapse into mediocrity.

it really does matter
For those who wonder why some people are doing well and some aren't, this is a good book. Particularly excellent is the section on why Africa is such a mess by Daniel Entounga-Manguelle.

Some very good chapters
Richard A. Shweder's "Moral maps, first world conceits, and the new evangelists", Samuel P. Huntington's "Cultures count", and Jeffrey Sachs' "Notes on a new sociology of economic development" are the best chapters to read, stimilating, and full of wits of multiple culturalism. Sachs' chapter points to a direction of the marginal explanation power of institutional analysis (though he might not realize it when he saw the relevance of geography determinism). In any case, you don't want to miss Shweder's chapter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Culture    3. Current Affairs    4. Ethnic Studies - General    5. International    6. International Relations - General    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Social values    10. Cultural studies   

Editorial Review

We live in an era where image is nearly everything, where the proliferation of brand-name culture has created, to take one hyperbolic example from Naomi Klein's Read more

Reviews (156)

A must read...
I live in the suburbs of a former steel mill town whose mills are now defunct.At one time we boasted the highest unemployment rate in the state, the highest murder rate per capita and were named number four in George magazine's most corrupt towns list.But we are creating jobs...Wal Mart, Sam's Club, Taco Bell, one chain store after another.My town is a prime example of the new economy - service, part-time and temp work with little room for advancement and little hope.
The overwhelming worldwide effect of branding
Ironically my sister who is a Marketing Director for a hugecorporation gave me this book.Marketing graduates and professionals may wish to know the axe they weild.
Modern Manifesto in Defense of Citizen Public Against Corporate Fascism

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Subjects:  1. Brand name products    2. Business Ethics    3. Current Affairs    4. General    5. Industries - General    6. International    7. International - General    8. International business enterprises    9. Political aspects    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Public opinion   

Reviews (2)

A Superb IR Anthology
"Contending Theories of International Relations" is an excellent book. It reads more like an anthology than a textbook, but that can be viewed as one of the nice things about it. I very much like the organization of this book. I used it in my international relations courses. This is a wonderful summary of theoretical thought about international politics

Excellent-a classic book
I read this book 10 years ago while studying my Masters deggree in The Netherlands. I found it very interesting and really supportive for my thesis.all sudents of IR should have it.Unfortunatelly, I did not not buy it at that time.Currently I work in the Chile s Agency of International Cooperation and I am a lecturer of Intenational Relations in various Universities.I would like to make contacts with those people interested in development aid.My name is Rafael Sabat. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. International Relations - General    2. International relations    3. Political Science    4. Politics - Current Events    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    8. Political Science / General   

Editorial Review

The thesis of this provocative and potentially important book is the increasing threat of violence arising from renewed conflicts between countries and cultures that base their traditions on religious faith and dogma. This argument moves past the notion of ethnicity to examine the growing influence of a handful of major cultures--Western, Eastern Orthodox, Latin American, Islamic, Japanese, Chinese, Hindu, and African--in current struggles across the globe. Samuel P. Huntington, a political scientist at Harvard University and foreign policy aide to President Clinton, argues that policymakers should be mindful of this development when they interfere in other nations' affairs. ... Read more

Reviews (223)

8 Civilizations Or Political Groups?
There aren't really 8 civilizations. The Western European, Eastern European and Latin Americans are all from different branches of a same Judeo-Christian civilization despite their political differences. Japanese is obviously a branch of the Confucian civilization despite their huge economic success. The African world is really split between the Islamic and Judeo-Christian civilizations. So we only have the Judeo-Christian, Confucian, Islamic and Indian civilizations.

A prelude ......
This book is one of the introductory 'literature' preceding and preparing for the principal and more important actions a small bit of which we are witnessing nowadays.
Magnum Opus
This is the eminent Professor Huntinton's magnum opus, and it deserves to be read. No one can profess an understanding of modern global politics without studying this masterful work which was written in 1996.It remains a treasury of prophetic insights for our present day.
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Subjects:  1. 1950-    2. 1989-    3. Civilization, Modern    4. General    5. International Relations - General    6. Modern - 20th Century    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Post Cold War History    9. Post-communism    10. Sociology    11. World politics    12. Cultural studies    13. Current Events / International    14. International relations   

Editorial Review

The events of September 11 have seemingly been covered, analyzed, and discussed from every angle imaginable. So the subject matter alone of Jim DeFede's Read more

Reviews (49)

A Story About the Truest and Kindest People on Earth

Interesting Subject but Poorly Written
I found this book to be extremely interesting. It tells of a true story unknown to many. However, while the subject was excellent, the quality of the writing was poor. I would not conider this book a final product. It is similar to a draft, with words spelled incorrectly and improper grammar. The publishers should be ashamed for printing such a poor quality manuscript that had not been proof read.

The Best ofHuman Nature
If you ever wanted to read a book that took the best part of human nature, you've found it.The people behind 9/11 were expecting the worst of humanity to come about, instead the result was the best humanity.The people of Gander captured my heart and I would love to meet those wonderful people who took strangers in from around the world.This book will move you to tears and astound you in ways you never thought possible.The spirit of kindness is alive and well in Gander, Newfoundland.I love the United States, but we could learn a thing or two from these wonderful in what to do in the event of a tragedy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics, Commercial    2. Air Transportation    3. Air travel    4. Canada - General    5. Canada - Post-Confederation (1867-)    6. Current Affairs    7. Gander    8. History - General History    9. International    10. Newfoundland and Labrador    11. Passenger traffic    12. Political Discontent And Violence    13. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    14. Politics/International Relations    15. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    16. United States - 21st Century   

Reviews (38)

Berlinski is a distinguished addition to those telling the truth aboutEurope
Bruce Bawer, Theodore Dalyrymple and Mark Steyn are among those who have attempted to inform Americans of the decline of European culture and the essentially unfettered rise of Islam in Europe.
Hard Truths - Harder Solutions
This book is a bone-chilling wake-up call. The author quite convincingly demonstrates the "Nazi Germany" analogy in regards to radical Muslims and the threat that widespread Islamic immigration poses to a Europe incapable of assimilating them. From Spain's spineless capitulation over train bombings to Italy's dangerously declining birthrate - Britain's Muslim ghettos to the Netherlands desperate appeasement - this is not an optomistic analysis.
Good they deserve all their problems.
They criticize our country and our ways now for once I am glad to see a book that paints Europe as bad as Europe paints America. We need more books like this to show Americans that Europe is not the utopia that they try to make it look like. I count my blessings every day when my family left Europe well over 100 years ago to come here and raise themselves from poverty that "Perfect Europe" put them into and become upper middle class. Truly only in America. Personally I think the Europeans are ignorant and know nothing about us except what their propaganda feeds them. Get out of your sub compact cars and see what we are really about. Thank You for this book and please show us more problems that the so called "Perfect Europe" has. Peace out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. Civilization    3. Europe    4. Europe - General    5. European Community    6. History    7. International Relations (Specific Aspects)    8. International Relations - General    9. Modern - 21st Century    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics/International Relations    13. Relations    14. United States    15. Current Events / International   

Reviews (7)

An honest witness to the struggle of Israel
Daniel Gordis is a Jewish writer and educator. When he brought his family to Israel for a year he did not know the dramatic turnabout they would come to face. The terror- war which the Palestinians launched when the Clinton brokered peace - process broke down in late September 2000 means his family is exposed to a kind of violence they had never imagined. In clear and informative E- mails to friends he tells the story of this year of what his family goes through. A person of the liberal left, a super- tolerant idealist he comes to understand that it is not enough for one side to want peace, but rather that both sides must. He becomes more passionate in his defense of Israel when he understands that really it is a country subject to aggression fighting for its own life . He too confronts the hard questions of his own family members, his childrens' suspicions that they are being sacrificed on the altar of their parents idealism. This book is important precisely because Gordis is clearly such a ' man of peace and good- will'. And because it shows how complicated and difficult the struggle ofIsrael is for life and peace.
A moving story
Yes, this is a splendid account of what it has been like for the Gordis family, moving to Israel from California.And it's worth reading.
A personal and informative account of life in Israel
Began as e-mails back home to family, this book's strength is the description of day-to-day life in Israel through good times and bad.For the book, Gordis intersperses the letters with political commentary to give some context to the letters' time of writing.More personal than David Horovitz' A Little Too Close to God, it is similar in bringing the political and personal together as a family debates the wisdom of staying in Israel when the peace process goes bad.You will get drawn into experiencing the emotions and ambivalences the Gordis parents and children have about their life.Very readable! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1993-    2. Arab-Israeli conflict    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Ethnic Cultures - General    8. Influence    9. Israel    10. Jews    11. Jews, American    12. Literary    13. Middle East - Israel    14. Personal Memoirs    15. Social life and customs    16. Correspondence    17. Current Events / International    18. Gordis, Daniel   

Reviews (2)

A keeper
This is a first rate reference book and a good read to boot. It serves easily as the footnotes to Ambassador Freeman's other book, Arts of Power, and ranks up there with Bierce's Devil's Dictionary. I highly recommend it.

Nice quotes, but not a vital reference
Although there are some very clever and interesting quotes listed in Mr. Freeman's book, I wouldn't characterize it as a "must-have" for students, diplomats, or politicians. Better alphabetical quote books are to be had on the market. The index, for once, is actually helpful, and there is even a section of the book that tells you (albeit too briefly) about the people who are quoted. I respect Mr. Freeman and his experience in the diplomatic corps; I just wish he would have contributed more anecdotes and examples from that experience. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dictionaries    2. Diplomacy    3. Diplomats    4. International Relations - General    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Quotations    8. Quotations, maxims, etc    9. Reference   

Reviews (1)

First- class reporting
A friend of mine who spent in his early years in the former Soviet Union, and knows its culture well, Moshe Fushman found Remnick's 'Lenin's Tomb' to be one of the most insightful books as yet written about Russian society.
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Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Essays    3. Journalism    4. Literary Collections    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism    6. Literature: Classics    7. Magazine Article Writing    8. Public Affairs Reporting    9. Reporters and reporting    10. United States    11. Current Events / International   

Reviews (98)

Been here, seen it, lived in it....leaving
Alex Kerr's book is excellent. I have lived in Japan for 16 years and am leaving now. I have asked many of the same questions he asks and heard many of the same responses. Many well-educated or well-traveled Japanese know that their government in out of control in the hands of anonymous bureaucrats.
Bravo for Kerr!
If you have lived in Japan for more than a couple years, and tried to work and integrate here, then you will easily understand the venom Kerr spews forth in this book. Mere tourists would likely be blind to much of this.
A cautionary work on Japan's self-inflicted challenges
Dogs and Demons presents a scathing but poignant indictment of many facets of post-Meiji Japanese society, describing with a solemn but not disconsolate tone the two self-reinventions of modern Japan as maladaptations rather than true renaissances.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Current Affairs    3. History: World    4. International    5. International Relations - General    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Business & Economics / Economic Conditions