Average customer rating:
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Photographic Heritage of the Holy Land, 1839-1914
Eyal Onne
Manufacturer: Institute of Advanced Studies Manchester Poly
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0905252101 |
Book Description
The Government Manual for New Superheroes is a hilarious, mock-official handbook that offers thorough, accessible, and completely zany advice for anyone who has always dreamed of donning a skintight spandex uniform and leaping across the rooftops of their cities. Going well beyond tights and capes, this manual provides insight into choosing a name, constructing a costume, choosing the right supertools of the supertrade, establishing a base of operations, maintaining a secret identity, taking or becoming a sidekick, joining a superheroic team, and even finding that special someone who gives meaning to a superhero's life-a nemesis.
Extra features include a roster of superhero unions, a registration application, several useful charts and tips, and even a list of other government-sponsored periodicals for further reading. Destined to become a cult classic, The Government Manual for New Superheroes is an essential guide for every aspiring superhero.
Customer Reviews:
Another gift.......2007-07-22
this was another gift for my friend and it was in great condition, received quickly and looked so interesting I might ask to borrow it to read.
Don't waste your money.......2007-05-14
This book tries to be funny but does not quite succeed. If this book was a superhero it would be the INCREDIBLE LETDOWN.
Fine as far as it goes, but I met with failure.......2007-05-04
I couldn't believe it when I hit puberty and my super-power began to manifest itself. It took significant amounts of experimentation to work out its parameters, but eventually I fixed it as the ability to raise the temperature of a man-sized-or-less body of water by exactly 2 degrees fahrenheit. Thus, I discovered that I could make a cool glass of water slightly less cool, that I commanded the illusion of perimenopause in women, and that ice sculptures defeated the expectations of their creators by melting a full hour or more earlier than normal.
I purchased this book and was a little disappointed to discover that it was not specifically intended for those of us who have been prenaturally gifted. Worse, although my uniform-manufacturing skills were above average, my athletic skills were short of the par. To be fair, the book warns you of this necessity, but I still didn't expect to fall 50 feet off a roof the first night that Captain Tepid patrolled the streets.
This is a book for jocks and wrestlers. I anxiously await the book that explains to those of us with powers, how best to develop them for good, not evil.
Novelty without the novelty.......2007-04-29
Written with the same idea as Max Brooks' "Zombie Survival Guide", this guide aims to give startup wannabe superheroes the basics. However, unlike Brooks' excellent ZSG, this book is written without the knowledge of comic book lore, without the zany and didactic wit, and most of all, without the substance. This book is merely a cash-in on the current superhero fad, and worst of all, the authors make almost no humorous allusions to heroes of the past.
Certainly there are overt references to Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man, none of which required more than watching the films of the same name. This reviewer understands the use of trademarked material, but knows also that the writers could have used thinly veiled references for any superhero fanatic (the people who would actually buy this book) to recognize and nod at. Instead it presents itself as a farce, which is fine, except for the fact that its title suggests a serious (and hopefully humourous deadpan) tone to it; in that regard it fails.
It is obvious to anyone who reads this book and knows their stuff that this book is a rarely amusing cash-in. At nearly eleven dollars for about 120 pages (with VERY large font and pictures), one cannot help but think that this book was pumped out in a weekend, with almost no research and even less wit.
Avoid this one.
Definitely a fun read........2007-04-15
A light-hearted fun read. I thought it was cool and easy to read through.
Book Description
A true twenty-first-century hero, Napoleon Dynamite is awesome at drawing ligers, hunting wolverines, and playing tetherball. He also has some sweet dance moves. His friends have some pretty good skills too -- Pedro has a Huffy Sledgehammer and a mustache, and Deb makes the best boondoggle key chains in town. Sure, Uncle Rico tries to ruin Napoleon's life and makes him look like a freakin' idiot, but even if Napoleon's just had the worst day of his life, tomorrow he can get up and do whatever he feels like he wants to do. Gosh!
Book Description
Exciting never before seen photos, interviews, and memorabilia of Elvis' tours of Texas.
Customer Reviews:
Worth a look.......2004-05-25
This a very nice book. There are some great pictures in here. I own a lot of Elvis books and there are some pictures in here I haven't seen before. The text is a bit gossipy but okay. It's not an in depth study of the King but good coffee table fodder. According to this, he really did sow his wild oats in Texas - I wonder how many little Elvi are going about?
It's interesting to see Elvis the boy at the beginning, looking full of life and looking to the future and then look at pictures of him toward the end. Was all the success worth it? Perhaps not.
Sarcastic author sounds unprofessional.......2003-07-20
I bought this book because I'm writing Faron Young's biography and needed information on dates Faron and Elvis worked together. Lori Torrance lost my respect in the very first paragraph of the book, with her statement, "Country music twanged on the radio, Hank Williams crying in his cornflakes again." A few pages later, she says, "At that time, easy listening and my-dog-has-fleas country music monopolized the mass music market." The research was useful but the flippant writing was a turn-off.
Great photos! Frustrating read & sometimes inaccurate text........2002-08-23
Scotty Moore, Elvis' original guitar player and manager, recently said he thought he had seen every photo from that era until he saw this book. That's why I bought it. The photos, mostly performance snapshots, are great. Unfortunately the text is not. At best the writing gets in the way, and at worst it is just plain wrong (which Scotty warned me about). Still, this rare glimpse of one of the greatest American bands merits its recommendation.
Photos are great! Text gets in the way........2002-08-23
Scotty Moore, Elvis' original guitar player and manager, told me he thought he had already seen every photo from that era until he saw this book. That's why I bought it. The snapshots in this book are great, but the writing is so full of itself, it's frustrating to read. I find the photos helpful as a visual reference when reading other books on Elvis' early years.
ELVIS-Texas sure helped your career!!!!.......2002-01-30
Great Book... The chapter on "Devil In A Pink Dress" was really good.. A 'must have' for any true Elvis fan..
Customer Reviews:
great brain workout.......2005-08-24
This book os loaded iwth great puzzles to keep your mind active
It was a Gift.......2002-12-09
I bought this as a gift for a friend and she loves it. The print is large enough for her and the Jumbles are just plain fun!
linguistically minded will like.......2000-05-20
Are you fascinated by words? This huge puzzle book not only entertains, it expands the part of your mind that is underused in our visually oriented culture. Each puzzle briefly captivates your intellect as sometimes you unscramble a word instantly, and other times must appeal to the help of a friend. Better than crosswords, because there are no context clues, therefore a challenge for those who live the life of the mind. Now you won't have to wait for the newspaper each day, just buy this book! Your brain will love it.
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- An eye opening account of the insidious Hollywood blacklist.
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Actors on Red Alert
Anthony Slide
Manufacturer: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0810836491 |
Book Description
Provocatively capturing the controversy and sentiments surrounding this period of political imbalance, Actors on Red Alert explores the repercussions of the 1940s blacklist through career interviews with five prominent actors and actresses.
Customer Reviews:
An eye opening account of the insidious Hollywood blacklist........2000-05-30
Books with show business interviews are usually a waste of time in my opinion. But "Actors on Red Alert" by noted film historian Anthony Slide arrives as a welcome exception, not only due to the obvious intelligence and forthrightness of the five subjects but also because of Mr. Slide's perceptive questioning. All five -- Phil Brown, Rose Hobart, Marsha Hunt, Marc Lawrence and Doris Nolan -- were to various degrees affected by the notorious Hollywood witch hunt of the late 1940s. One -- Lawrence -- became an informer, in fact, and "named names," a treachery the man apparently has a tough time dealing with to this very day. Surprisingly, Lawrence blames the blacklist not on the rightwing politicians of the day but on the Communist Party itself! The remaining four interview subjects -- two of whom were longtime close friends of Mr. Slide -- offer a more balanced view of the tragedy. None, however, is boring and neither is Mr. Slide's wonderful book. In fact, all too little have been written about Doris Nolan, an actress rather better known for her stage work than her few film appearances. But Miss Nolan proves perhaps the most interesting subject for Mr. Slide's probing questions. Sadly, the actress passed away prior to the publishing of "Actors on Red Alert," and the book shall stand as a testament to an unjustly forgotten personality.
Book Description
Garnering a vast amount of attention from young people and parents, and from book buyers across the country, Smashed became a media sensation and a New York Times bestseller. Eye- opening and utterly gripping, Koren ZailckasÂ's story is that of thousands of girls like her who are not alcoholics—yet—but who routinely use booze as a shortcut to courage and a stand-in for good judgment.
With one stiff sip of Southern Comfort at the age of fourteen, Zailckas is initiated into the world of drinking. From then on, she will drink faithfully, fanatically. In high school, her experimentation will lead to a stomach pumping. In college, her excess will give way to a pattern of self-poisoning that will grow more destructive each year. At age twenty-two, Zailckas will wake up in an unfamiliar apartment in New York City, elbow her friend who is passed out next to her, and ask, “Where are we?” Smashed is a sober look at how she got there and, after years of blackouts and smashups, what it took for her to realize she had to stop drinking. Smashed is an astonishing literary debut destined to become a classic.
“Gripping... one of the best accounts of addiction, the college experience, or even what it means to be an average teenage girl in America. A.” Â-Entertainment Weekly
Download Description
Garnering a vast amount of attention from young people and parents, and from book buyers across the country, Smashed became a media sensation and a New York Times bestseller. Eye- opening and utterly gripping, Koren Zailckas's story is that of thousands of girls like her who are not alcoholics-yet-but who routinely use booze as a shortcut to courage and a stand-in for good judgment. With one stiff sip of Southern Comfort at the age of fourteen, Zailckas is initiated into the world of drinking. From then on, she will drink faithfully, fanatically. In high school, her experimentation will lead to a stomach pumping. In college, her excess will give way to a pattern of self-poisoning that will grow more destructive each year. At age twenty-two, Zailckas will wake up in an unfamiliar apartment in New York City, elbow her friend who is passed out next to her, and ask, ""Where are we?"" Smashed is a sober look at how she got there and, after years of blackouts and smashups, what it took for her to realize she had to stop drinking. Smashed is an astonishing literary debut destined to become a classic.
Customer Reviews:
ALCOHELL.......2007-10-05
OK...first off I am a 33 year old BOY. I think it's funny how every guy gives it 1 star and every girl gives it 5. I give it a 3.
I have to admit I liked this book, probably because I can relate to some of Koren's issues with insecurity and introversion (at least at her young age) and the magical effect alcohol seemed to have at first. So much of what she wrote reminded me of my adolescence and college experience. I think most people who have ever struggled with alcohol will find this book almost as hard to put down as the bottle.
There are a few things that did annoy me about the author though:
1. First and foremost, her refusal to classify herself as even a "recovering" alcoholic, although she drank excessively at least 5 times a week and regularly vomited blood in the mornings after waking up naked in a strange guy's bed with whom she didn't recall sleeping with... and those were the good times, in my opinion. Let's go with "alkie", ok?
2. Her groundless villification of men, (who she refers to as "BOYS" regardless of their age or maturity level). Especially since most of them seem to treat her better than most people would treat a wasted, vomiting, hysterically crying, party-crashing, frat house looting wierdo like her. Lucky for her, she is quite pretty or she would have woke up in a ditch somewhere instead of a stranger's bed. Even the guys who she dates and considers her "boyfriends" get dumped after a 400 mile drive to see her, when she decides she "is more interested in booze then boys" and they're cutting into her drinking time. When she finally does get intimate, she just wanted to get it out of the way so she could be more "grown up" than her new 19 year old sorrority sister who is sexually active. If she's really not an alcoholic, then she is just a very immature little girl.
3. Her constant references to Sylvia Platt and Virginia Woolf...BLARFFF!!!
realistic and heartfelt account.......2007-09-29
I actually picked this book up in the bookstore and was so moved by it that I took the time to log onto amazon and write a review. As a recent college graduate, (and by recent I mean within the last year) I can attest to the fact that nothing in this book is out of the ordinary or exagerated. In fact, Koren's accounts of sexual exploration are quite tame compared to many young female drinkers. You can find people like Koren by the thousands on every college campus across the nation. The thing you can't find is someone with such candor and insight to drinking and it's underlying causes and motives.
This book paints a picture of a typical college student's experience. Now, many will argue with me that this isn't normal behavior, but it is and if you don't think it is, you are fooling yourself. The thing that makes it unique is that it translates the emotions that many people feel through years of alcohol abuse, but don't realize due to the simple fact that they are drunk.
It's a cautionary tale, with an impact that even (or should i say especially) a person in the midst of this kind of lifestyle can heed and understand. I am sending this book to my 18 year old sister as soon as amazon will get it to her! I recomend this book to every female under age 25, or to anyone who wants an honest account of the drinking lifestyle.
Great book for specific audiences........2007-09-17
After reading Smashed, I was saddened to read some of the poor reviews on Amazon. First, this is a fantastic book for specific audiences, most importantly teenage girls. Parents and educators can also glean a great deal from it. Those in their twenties and thirties might be "insulted" by this book as they might feel that it is condescending; however, it truly is not a book for the wise. They already know this story and have seen it unfold among hundreds of girls.
And that is exactly why this story must be told.
Too many teenage girls lose a large amount of their self-development during their formative years due self-medication with alcohol. This book warns them, from one girl to another, the consequences of this very common occurrence. Because Zailckas is so young, girls are likely to listen, as she is not just some other crusty adult imparting wisdom that is far too remote to be relevant.
Zailckas does leave several characters under-developed, but perhaps this was her very intention since her alcohol induced haze stunted so many of her perceptions about the world around her.
This is a very well-done first novel.
I wish I could give it less stars..........2007-09-07
This book starts off good and giving you a back story..but by the middle, I was ready to pull my hair out. Being in my early 20's, I can not relate to this girl what so ever! I mean, you would think if she was in that poor state and going on rampages, that someone would have had a talk with her, shipped her to rehab or something. It really makes me wonder how much is true. I wouldn't recommend this book, not only because of that, but because by the middle of it, it's REAL slow. I mean, I hardly could finish it. I had to skim pages to get through it.
Literary Voyeurism.......2007-07-20
For every person who bought this 300-page non-fiction work with a serious mind-set to learning inside information about the cultural pandemic of alcohol abuse among the young, I suspect many more acquired it for the simple sake of being privy to personal details about the private life of a teenaged girl. I'd say the publishers played up that appeal to the point of exploitation. Just peer closely at the covers to the paperback edition and you'll see what I mean. Ironically in the concluding pages of this book Zailckas rails with anger against similar exploitative marketing of alcohol by the advertising industry, and this seems a point of contradiction. It's one thing to sell booze this way but another to use similar tactics to market a book? Maybe it's just me, but I did stop to notice this and raise an eyebrow.
As for what's inside the covers of Smashed, Koren Zailckas writes with a confessional earnestness that lets you forget the fact that her memoir on a decade spent with the misuse of alcohol as the centerpoint of her life is longer than it needed to be. She does a fine job of relating her life as it was surely experienced from a first-person vantage point, blackouts, vomiting episodes, lapses in judgment, overdoses and all, and she conveys her ideas brutally well yet with a detachment that is almost unsettling. The problem in Smashed is that beyond about the halfway point you are met with the dawning sense that you are reading a story to which you already know the ending, which you do, mostly courtesy of Zailckas' foreshadowing. Ms. Zailckas either makes this book worth your while by its straightforwardness as an autobiography, or she loses you because her life is only, well, only so interesting in itself, and except for its introspection, is far from unique.
Much of what is written about in Smashed seems familiar to me, particularly since I graduated from college only a year before Koren Zailckas did and I know the scene she details is ubiquitous as part of the university experience in our time. I knew a number of girls who reminded me of the portrait Zailckas paints of herself, smart, creative young women from good families, who drank excessively and by the start of college had for years. This along with another book I recently read and reviewed, Girls Gone Mild, serves to make me feel that as a teenager and early twenty-something I sidestepped the worst of a destructive cultural experience, and am all the better because I did. In tone and vocabulary Smashed is like reading someone's semester-long creative writing project, and somehow it's fitting that it seems so. This is a book worth reading but hopefully for reasons other than the voyeuristic rush some might hope to get from its author's honesty.
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The Price of Freedom: Slavery and the Civil War - Volume I (The Price of Freedom, Slavery and the Civil War Vol 1)
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1581820852 |
Book Description
"At a pivotal moment in history, one of the wise men of our own time has brought us a brilliant, original and compelling portrait of our troubled 21st century world - and an often surprising prescription for making it better. Richard Haass's fascinating book should be essential reading for every leader and citizen who understands what is now at stake for all of us." -Michael Beschloss
"Richard Haass stands out, both as a policymaker and as a thinker. You don't have to agree with all his judgments to admire and learn from this impressive book, one that does no less than set out a coherent vision for American foreign policy." -Robert Kagan
"In this essential book, Richard Haass describes the enormous opportunity America has to use its power to help shape a better world. Unlike many in Washington today, he recognizes that to change the world we will have to work with the world - and be seen by it as a partner, not a bully. He goes beyond rhetorical posturing and outlines real solutions to difficult problems. Ranging far and wide with his usual clarity of thought and sound judgment, Haass has written the intelligent person's guide to foreign policy." -Fareed Zakaria
"Since the end of the Cold War, the country has searched for an integrating concept for the new conditions, a role performed for a generation by Kennan's containment theory. With The Opportunity, Richard Haass has undertaken to close this gap with imagination and insight. It is an important book for any period." -Henry Kissinger This is a book that describes an unprecedented moment in which the United States has a chance to bring about a world where most people are safe, free, and can enjoy a decent standard of living.
The principal reason the 21st century shows such promise is that the potential for armed conflict involving today's major powers is remote. This remarkable development reflects not just U.S. military and economic might but also the assessment that much of what the United States seeks to achieve in the world has the potential to be broadly acceptable to others.
But the combination of these circumstances will not stay unchanged. Like all great moments, it will pass. If we are not careful, the world could see its energies diverted by a new cold war - or, even worse, descend into anarchy defined by terrorism, disease, the spread of nuclear weapons, genocide, and extreme poverty.
More than anything else, it will be how well and how wisely the United States uses its immense power that will determine the future. The United States does not need the world's permission to act, but it does need the world's support to succeed.
What will it take to get the world's support? The answer to this question is what makes The Opportunity truly vital reading. Richard Haass provides a much-needed foreign policy compass, one with the potential to do for this post-Cold War, post-9/11, post-Iraq world what George Kennan's containment doctrine did for the previous era.
Customer Reviews:
A Call to a Higher Standard.......2007-03-10
Author Richard N. Haass uses this book to expose the pivotal moment in history in which America now exists. He does this by guiding the reader through events of the modern era that have allowed the US to be in a position to make the world a better place. At first, I thought that this book was extremely idealistic, then I realized that Haass was setting me up, as a reader, to see just what a powerful position America was in to actually make these changes.
In this book, he tackles such issues as sovereignty, terrorism, international cooperation, economic integration and the lessons of Iraq. He states that isolationism and unilateralism will only detriment US authority and long-term preeminence. We live in a global world and cannot afford to continue policies that hurt and anger our neighbors. This is not just for their benefit, but that of the US as well. He highlights the point of US leadership in a cooperative world. This leadership should lead by example and not fear other counties, but encourage their growth as partners rather than have a polarized balance-of-power political outlook. I really enjoyed this book and although I felt it neglected the impact of other political and religious beliefs that might negatively impact America, it was an overall insightful book.
Opportunity: Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Losses.......2006-12-12
Richard Haass defines the opportunity to alter history's course as building and maintaining good relations with the other major powers, i.e., the European Union, Japan, India, China, and Russia. Haass believes that promoting democracy should not be the cornerstone of American foreign policy. He clearly states that the principal business of a "realist" American foreign policy should be foreign policy, not the domestic policy of others. Haass adds that this approach is essential to get the cooperation of both Russia and China to meet such a challenge as the proliferation of WMDs.
Haass hopes that the major powers will increasingly cooperate to meet the pressing regional and global challenges of the day. However, hope is not the same as a sound foreign policy. As Haass recognizes himself at the end of the epilogue, the outlook for his "realist" foreign policy is worsening. Readers should just take a look at Iran and North Korea if they need any further convincing on this subject.
The "realist" foreign policy that Haass espouses has shown its limits repeatedly. Think for instance about the splendid achievements of the appeasers of Nazi Germany before the outbreak of WWII that resulted into the death of over 50 million people. Another example that comes to mind is the cold war waged against the former Soviet Union and its lackeys. The cold war was won not through détente, but through confrontation as leaders such as President Ronald Regan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher understood very well. The Jackson-Vanik Amendment reflected this combative approach.
Access to the U.S. market should be restricted for some products and services that come from countries which are accomplices in the sinister designs of rogue states and their terrorist minions. Economic realism resonates well with (non-democratic) (mercantilist) states.
Thinking About Things & the Future........2005-12-30
After 9-ll-01, this Harvard-educated, experienced civil servant worked as director of policy planning to develop the National Security Strategy published in September 2002. A new audit shows "weaknesses exposed" in the United States Homeland Security. He has also served in advisory and positions of importance concerning security for at least four U.S. presidents, starting in the Pentagon when Jimmy Carter was President. He worked in the State Department during Ronald Reagan's term and for both Bush administrations as senior Middle East advisor and ambassador. The first Bush administration called itself "New World Order," but it didn't happen. So, who knows how much of what Mr. Haass is proposing is so much think-tank results or actual possibility. I think he contradicts himself at many instances.
After an address in March 2004 to the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, this book in which he tauts America's 'opportunity to define an era' took shape in his mind and on the printed page. "When the United Nations was conceived in the 1940s, the United States was one of five permanent members of the Security Council accorded veto power. The United States was first among equals then and remains so today." That was over sixty years and many wars ago. "It is easier to wage and win wars than to consolidate and negotiate peace," he writes.
Terrorism, disease, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction constitute the greatest threats to security and stability. Global climate changes are nature's threat to the very existence of this earth, certainly as we now experience the effects of global warming. "Terrorists are increasing in number, and at the same time they are certainly increasing in sophistication and the ability to cause great harm." There are viruses of another sort, "those carried in cyperspace that infect computers, which wreck havoc on a modern society."
History is determined by the degree to which major powers of the era can agree on the rules of the road. "Charles de Gaulle is said once to have turned to the fashionable woman seated next to him at a dinner party and, trying to make conversation, asked her what she thought of history. She said something to the effect that she loved history. DeGaulle, shocked that anyone could see history in a positive light in the wake of two world wars, coolly replied, "I don't."
Opportunity coexists with necessity and urgency. He says that it is not inevitable that things will turn out right. It could possibly turn out to be an era of "great promise, one defined by lasting peace, improving standards of living, and greater freedom. Let's hope his vision of the future is right on the dollar and not half-cocked in Outer Space.
The Lament Of The Neo-Realists.......2005-11-15
Richard Haass attempts to distinguish himself from the neocons. Aside from form, however, the substance really isn't any different. Both begin with the assumption that American Imperium is a requirement for peace and prosperity and any real deviation means *global* catastrophe. Any suggestion that American Imperium itself is the problem is simply beyond the pale, and is dismissed by all sides of american foreign policy elite (neocons and neorealists) as "unserious" or worse. Neocons and neorealists are 2 sides of the same coin. The "argument" between them is kabuki theater. A pointless handwringing melodrama, signifying little and meaning even less. At their core, both are motivated by a proconsul's view of the world where the only future of humanity worth living is one where america's elite, and the children of america's elite, are the one's calling the shots.
It's not a view shared by the rest of the world.
Excellent analysis of current US foreign policy opportunities.......2005-09-12
Richard Haas has served under Ronald Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 (as an advisor to Colin Powell), and is now with a leading think-tank in Washington. Over the years he has written some great books, reflecting on US foreign policy, and this book is the latest, released earlier this year without much fanfare (or, alas, commercial success).
The basic premise of "The Opportunity" (242 pages) is that the US in conjunction with other major powers such as China, Russia and the EU have a window of opportunity to steer the world in a direction of global cooperation and wealth, the key words here beinf "in conjunction". Haass makes a number of excellent observations in his book, such as:
on globalization: "The choice before the US is between multilateralism and either a gradual return to a world of great power competition or a world overwhelmed by disruptive forces, or both".
on terrorism: "It would be a mistake to conclude that there is global consensus on this matter. ... [O]ne man's terrotist is another's freedom fighter".
on North Korea: Haass urges the US and others to set realistic goals to the North Korean government, with real consequences if those goals are not met.
on the China/Taiwan conflict: "If the mainland were to use military force [for reunification], it should not be allowed to successfully reunify the country. Allowing it would set a terrible precedent for the region and beyond".
on the US Security Council: Haass points out that it is ineffective because its composition reflects the world order half a century ago, not today's.
on Iraq: Haass feels the invasion was "legal" but lacks "legitimacy", and moreover when a cost/benefit is made (considering how much the war has cost so far in expenses and lives lost, "the war against Iraq was unwarranted".
This is a terrific book all around. Haass makes the excellent point in the concluding chapter that "for all its power, there is virtually nothing the US can do better without others. The US needs partners; unilateralism is rarely a viable option". Well said, and this book is highly recommended!
Average customer rating:
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The Opportunity: America's Moment to Alter History's Course.(Book review) : An article from: Parameters
Joseph J. Collins
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
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ASIN: B000F4MC9I
Release Date: 2006-03-22 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Parameters, published by Thomson Gale on March 22, 2006. The length of the article is 905 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The Opportunity: America's Moment to Alter History's Course.(Book review)
Author: Joseph J. Collins
Publication:
Parameters (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 36
Issue: 1
Page: 129(2)
Article Type: Book review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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Helpers at Birds' Nests: A Worldwide Survey of Cooperative Breeding and Related Behavior
Alexander F. Skutch
Manufacturer: University Of Iowa Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Wildlife
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ASIN: 0877456747 |
Book Description
In Helpers at Birds' Nests, renowned naturalist and ornithologist Alexander Skutch provides vivid, detailed accounts of a remarkable aspect of bird behavior--the aid that one bird gives another who is neither its mate nor its dependent young and who may even belong to a different species.
In graceful, clear prose, Skutch makes accessible to amateur bird-watchers examples of cooperation in species as far-flung as the little rifleman of New Zealand, the Laysan albatross in the mid Pacific, and the neotropical birds of Skutch's own Valley of El General in Costa Rica.
Skutch describes the cooperative behavior of more than fifty families of birds. Each family is introduced by a brief sketch of its distribution and outstanding features, followed by intimate, nontechnical accounts of the helpful behaviors that have been most carefully studied. Skutch considers the significance of helpful birds and discusses the theoretical aspects of cooperative breeding, its evolution, kin selection, altruism, and demography.
First discovered by the author more than half a century ago, cooperative breeding has become increasingly studied by professional ornithologists. In this expanded edition, noted behaviorist Stephen Emlen credits Skutch's passionate observations of birds with promoting scientific interest in avian behavior. Emlen offers readers a summary of the advances made in the field during the past ten years and places Skutch's work in the context of contemporary ornithological research.
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