Calumny of Apelles: A Study in the Humanist Tradition

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Calumny of Apelles: A Study in the Humanist Tradition
David Cast
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VLKS1O

Customer Reviews:

a beautiful catalogue.......2000-10-12

This book was produced for an exhibition at the metropolitan musuem of art in 1994. It shows how visions of 'the exotic' in places like asia and the middle east have affected western dress over the centuries - right up to the present time.

This volume is illustrated with numerous lovley colour photos of the exhibition pieces, which range from the 18th to 20th centuries. The text is quite light and easy to read, and the book does not have an index.

I give this book 4 stars for the photo and presentation content, but I'd have to drop one off for the text content. It's not a big book at 95 pages, but it's a nice one:)

Book Description

MERIDIAN is the story of Sephie, a sheltered young girl whose life resembles nothing so much as a fairy tale. The beloved only child of the Minister of Meridian, she grows up with an entire floating city as her playground. Then her father dies, and she inherits a sigil imbued with the power to create. So does her wicked Uncle Ilahn, except that his powers are bent on destruction and domination. Suddenly Sephie finds herself at the center of a power struggle, and quickly she learns that there is more than love in the world. Meridian V. 4: Coming Home is a floating sky island of shipbuilders ravaged by the occupying forces from Cadador, the island of merchants and contract holders. The Minister of Meridian, Sephie, has survived a trial by fire. Returning home, Sephie will use the strange healing powers she's been given to banish the Cadadorians from her island. Unfortunately, her Uncle Ilahn was also given a sigil and its wonderful ability to manipulate energies - but his power destroys. Merdian is a coming-of-age story that appeals to the audience of "Harry Potter" fans with its magical battles and fantastic setting all narrated by Sephie. Featuring first Associate Artist program graduate Steve McNiven's latest work, this book spotlights the work of an artist destined to be one of comics' greatest.

Customer Reviews:

can't wait for the fifth book!.......2003-06-09

With the great art, young woman focus, and advanture storyline, I have just now gotten into comic books! I can't put down each book that comes out until I finish it. I definitely recommend this series to any teen-age girl. Doing what must be done, Sephie is moral and brave. Like I said, I can't wait for the fifth book!

Book Description

A humorous 96 page mini-gift book with original words of wisdom for getting the most out of each day-- all from the perspective of Moozie the cow. Second in a series.

Book Description

If you're serious about Flash design, and if you want to push your ideas to the very limits of possibility in Flash MX, then this book and CD are your indispensible companions.

The book and CD package combines two vital elements:

1. The most comprehensive and in-depth reference resource for Flash MX ActionScript
2. A collection of rich, practical tutorials on using ActionScript effectively in Flash movie design

We've packed in 20 chapters of tutorials, 100s of detailed reference entries, and 100s of example FLAs and SWFs. The CD reproduces and expands the book's Complete ActionScript Dictionary, providing a comprehensive and portable reference tool.

Our aim has been to make this book the best Flash MX ActionScript resource, bar none - the book that you'll keep on your desk and never exhaust. This book contains:

- The complete reference and illustrated guide to ActionScript
- Over 650 detailed reference entries
- Over 400 fully functional illustrative FLAs
- A-Z coverage of the ActionScript language
- Over 300 pages of addition text content on the CD

It's the real ActionScript Reference you've been waiting for.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Resource.......2007-07-16

This book is a great resource for when you're looking for that specific line of code. Its terrible to read from front to back, but its an excellent way to find exactly what you're looking for. Its so much code, it'll make your eyes bleed.

This book delivers all it says and then some........2004-12-02

One of the few comprehensive actionsctipt titles on the market. The first half of the book boasts a large variety of tutorials and examples that skillfully lead the reader through both the syntax and use of actionscript. Personally I found the text clear and practical. The chapters on OOP were of particular value as they went beyond actionscript basics into application, bordering on philosophical.

The second half is an invaluable reference of the entire actionscript dictionary with a comprehensive CD full of .fla example files and bonus chapters on the XML Object. As a qualified teacher I found it hard to fault the methodology employed by the various authors.

Well worth the purchase.

A programmers perspective.......2004-10-29

I am a former programming teacher and I have a style to teach my students the most UNDERSTANDABLE way to do something not just how to do it. This text/reference achieves that purpose. If you have an understanding of Flash (which you should have before getting into scripting see Weinman books) then this book will serve you well. There are other books on scripting - great books - such as Moock's books but they are more so for the programmer. This book is for the novelist programmer that desires to learn about action scripting.

Relating to beginners.......2003-09-30

5 stars if you know Flash well.
1 star if you haven't had any experience with it at all.

I was a beginner once, who couldn't figure out Flash at all. I'd like to help you build a bridge between where you may be now, as a beginner, to where you may find yourself aspiring to go.

If your only experience with Flash is to have seen the many wonderful and breathtaking Flash movies on the Internet and just had a look at the authoring tool, I strongly recommend that you leave this book until much later. It has its place in the learning curve but it isn't, in my opinion, the first book to see.

There are understandings to possess that this book doesn't cover sufficiently well enough for those whose minds work in particular ways. This is a programming book, for using the phenomenon of programming to create great design and animations. Whilst the focus is on design, you aren't using the design tools on the interface. With this book, you are using the Actionscript language and you have to have a logical mind for this activity (as well as keeping your strong creative one).

I began my steep learning curve with Flash by watching others and watching video tutorials, especially those by George Pierson. In this way, I can ask questions that are tailored for me and I get tailored responses. Books aren't always able to do so well here.

What is great about this book is the MX Actionscript reference in it and the seemingly well designed theory tutorials. I can't find a fault with the reference. The theory is quite good. In the reference, all Flash MX commands are covered. There are examples of how to use them, but the coverage may not be enough for some. Brill. Just BRILL. I can be excited but because I can follow Actionscript.

Approach this book when you are successfully making Flash movies on your own. Yes, on your own. For me, this book is an aid for when I am going to where I haven't gone to before. It helps me make judgements on ideas I get.

You MUST get this book if you use ActionScript!.......2003-08-01

I cannot say enough about this book. I, like most programmers, have a stack of computer books that's taller than I am, but this one is by far the best one I've ever seen. The ActionScript reference has entries that you can't find other places, including deprecated functions/operators and functions/objects that Macromedia doesn't tell anyone about. Each and every function, operator, symbol, etc. has an explanation and several examples, including how NOT to use it. Best of all, the entire reference is on CD, complete with text, images, and example files. I keep mine in my CD drive at all times when working with Flash.

This book doesn't stop there, though. It also has 20 chapters (3 on the CD) that discuss various aspects of ActionScript programming. These are all clearly written and easy to read. I would not say they are suitable for absolute beginners, but anyone with some programming experience in any language should be able to get a lot out of them.

The bottom line? If you use Flash MX and you don't have this book, you're not getting all you can out of your ActionScript.

Average customer rating:

really simple solution

folk songs of new england

Folk Songs of Old New England
E.H. Linscott
Manufacturer: Shoe String Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Textbook Binding
Similar Items:

One Hundred English Folksongs (For Medium Voice)

ASIN: 0208014543

Book Description

Treasury of over 100 folk songs and ballads, nursery songs and singing games, lumbermen’s songs, sea chanteys, country dances, minstrel songs, Child ballads and much more. "Blow the Man Down," "The Devil and the Farmer’s Wife," "Shenandoah," "Barbara Allen," many others. Piano accompaniment for each song, complete instructions for singing games and country dances, historical notes on songs, other material. Ideal for sing-alongs, dances, school programs, etc.

Customer Reviews:

really simple solution.......2005-04-20

If you take the book to a print/copy place they can cut the spine and bind it for you, usually for about 3 bucks. Makes Dover scores easier to view as well.

folk songs of new england.......2003-01-12

Excellent book. Two questions though, why don't you offer this song book in a spiral bound? Have you ever read and tried to play music out of a paperback! Duh, most instruments take two hands to play with, plus a hankerchief. How am I suppose to hold the book open?

Thanks for listening,

Dr. Jazzbo ("Sneezey") Bumfletcher, a., CH;U., Esq..

Average customer rating:
Folk Songs of Old New England
Eloise Hubbard Linscott
Manufacturer: The Macmillan Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J2EM9Y

Average customer rating:
Folk Songs of Old New England

Manufacturer: Archon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000DZTUDU

Product Description

Includes singing games, country dances, sea chanteys and fo'castle songs, as well as more traditional ballads.

Average customer rating:

Folk Songs of Old New England
Eloise H. (editor) Linscott
Manufacturer: Shoe String Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPBNBG

Customer Reviews:

A Must for Every Christian Worship Dancer.......2002-03-22

Debbie Roberts is truly a gifted servant of God in the realm of Worship Dance. When, I did a search on Debbie's name, I came to amazon.com. Amazing...and was delighted to see this book posted here.

I recently came across this (nearly) twenty year old book, and was so amazed at the many wonderful confirmations received for my own vision the Lord has given me regarding Worship Dance.

This is a must for every Christian Worship Dancer. I'm currently active as a Worship Dance leader in my local church of 4,000-5,000 which is growing to 7,000, and this book carries a lot of biblical backup. Along with my own biblical research that the Lord has given me, and now this book, I am more fully equipped to be able to use this in my teachings.

It was truly a miracle in itself the way in which this tattered old book came across my path...but its timing for the Worship Dancer of today is solemly significant for the move of God now.

It should be put back into print...

Book Description

Learn the art and science of trading systems from professional speculators. The authors share powerful long and short trading strategies in TradeStation that span all time frames, including over one hundred annotated charts with commentary and rationale. The book contains a complete implementation of a professional trading platform, including dozens of TradeStation strategies, indicators, and functions -- with 64 pages of EasyLanguage code. Further, advanced trading techniques such as pair trading and float trading are explained. These systems are integrated into a fully automated framework for position sizing and trade management. Finally, follow the authors as they track their stock selections throughout the week in real time.

Professional Stock Trading is a practical blueprint for the entrepreneur who has the desire, ambition, and intensity to enter the trading business. In a scientific manner, a trader learns how to master the technical elements of the business and integrate them into a disciplined approach. The book ends with a full-scale implementation of a professional trading platform. Swing traders, day traders, and investors who aspire to a greater understanding of the stock market will welcome this book.

Customer Reviews:

Decent book on trading systems, however..........2007-09-30

This is not a bad book on trading systems, however, take it with a grain of salt considering the outcome of the authors' trading company - search the SEC website for the last names of the authors, or Google the names with "SEC" included in the search...

I have real reservations & concerns about this one..........2007-06-28

Despite the apparent sophistication of the many diverse trading strategies and systems introducted in this book, none of them seem to back-test well on historical data in TradeStation. By well; I mean any better than most simple moving average cross-over systems! So why bother paying $100 for the book and another $200 for the software CDROM?

I also emailed the author for help getting these sytems to work at all on FOREX. Theoretically, this should be doable by changing profit target and other stop variables. He returned my emails twice promising support but then I never heard from him again.

I'm left with the impression that these systems just don't work on either stocks or FOREX. Buyer beware.

Shop around.......2007-05-08

I have not yet read the book but quickly discovered a couple of things of which you might want to be aware. The software is "included" in that the last 60 or 70 pages (sorry...I have already packaged it for return) are source code. The software is not provided in an electronic format. You are referred to the author's website to purchase the software "pretyped". Figuring it would be worth it to avoid the typing and typos, I went to the website to discover that the software is $199 and the book is $99. Since Amazon listed the book new for $199 and used for around $180, I was slightly annoyed and will be attempting to return the book.

Bottom Line - price shop this!

Alright.......2007-03-28

Lets not get too excited. Not sure how much reading and technical analysis other readers have done, while I think some of the book is useful other parts of it seem to be a waste and pretty basic. It wasnt what I was looking for and the price seems way too high. Seems for whatever reason its out of print in the stores so the author and his company are selling it for a huge mark up. Didnt get the software and the code doesnt work the way it is written in the book, either out of date or needs to be updated TS code.
Unless you really want it, I would pass on this one at the price offered.

Software in book runs perfectly but has not been helpful to me........2007-01-27

I purchased the book in an attempt to jump start developing an automated rule based trading system. The software runs perfectly without problems. Unfortunately I have not found the strategies or indicators to be helpful after testing them on limited historical data. I have found the book (and software on a CD that comes with the book) "New Trading Systems and Methods" by Perry J. Kaufman to be extremely helpful in developing a rule based automated trading system.

Amazon.com

Monty Roberts is, as they say, the real horse whisperer--even if he does revile the last third of Nicholas Evans's romance. Yet Roberts also makes clear from the start that listening and close attention have more to do with gentling an animal than soi-disant whispering. As far as he's concerned, silent communication can "effectively cross over the boundary between human (the ultimate fight animal) and horse (the flight animal). Using their language, their system of communication, I could create a strong bond of trust. I would achieve cross-species communication." And achieve it he does. After one short session, he has even the wildest stallion nickering with ungulate abandon.

Roberts's descriptions of "joining up," as he calls it with horses--as well as with the deer who cavort on his California farm like so many hyperintelligent Bambis--are inspirational in the best sense of the word. Surprisingly, though, it took him long years to persuade most of the humans in his life that pain and punishment are not the way to go. Indeed, the author expends many a page on past mistakes and disasters, familial and professional. Yet The Man Who Listens to Horses remains a powerfully positive document--and not just for Mr. Ed. Best of all, when it comes to his life's work, Roberts is far more practical than mystical. Instead of portraying himself as Equus's messiah, he'd rather share his hard-won knowledge. Having overcome years of rejection and ridicule, the author is certainly not short in the self-esteem department, as some passages in this book demonstrate. No matter. He always checks his ego before entering the corral. --Kerry Fried

Book Description

"It all dates from those summers alone in the high desert, me lying on my belly and watching wild horses with my binoculars for hours at a time. Straining to see in the moonlight, striving to fathom mustang ways, I knew instinctively I had chanced upon something important but could not know that it would shape my life. In 1948 I was a boy of thirteen learning the language of horses. . . ."

Customer Reviews:

Time Mag: Book contains untruths........2007-07-02

I have not read this book. There may well be information in here that is useful. I will not buy the book due to what I read in a Time Magazine article:

Monday, Dec 14, 1998 "Horse of a Different Color"
By John Skow and James Willwerth/Aspen

The article starts with:
"To put the matter politely, memoirs are self-serving. Still, it's something of a shock to learn that Monty Roberts' enormously popular, enormously self-approving memoir The Man Who Listens to Horses may assay out as part fiction. Call it horse puckey for the soul, if charges by Monty's younger brother Larry and others close to the author's life are to be credited. By these accounts, backed up by TIME's reporting, the stirring tale with more than 800,000 copies in print--out this month in paperback--contains an embarrassing number of seeming untruths, some harmless, others outrageous."

The article can be found as of today on the Time free archives site. Decide for yourself if you feel comfortable with paying money for this book.

horses.......2007-02-12

well ill try out his method and if a mustang doesnt kill me ill return to rate it

"...nickering with ungulate abandon..."?.......2007-02-06

And "...the deer who cavort on his California farm like so many hyperintelligent Bambis..."? What purpose do these superficial and dismissive images serve? They don't have anything to do with Monty Roberts or with his book, and their presence in a so-called "editorial review" does him (and Amazon) a disservice.

It could be that, to really "get" what Monty Roberts is saying, you should see his Join-Up training in action.

I HAVE seen it in action, and I have put it into action, myself; as has my wife, in her work with horses.

Many popular horse trainers use methods similar to Monty Roberts'; yet they have not drawn the kind of criticism that has been leveled at him. Neither do they admit to what may be his most important discovery: that body language, to a horse, comprises a complicated and consistent language -- one that can be used by humans in working with horses.

Roberts takes it one step further, insisting that the same principles apply in human-to-human relationships.

Anyone who cares about horses should read this short, well-written, and fascintaing book.

Anyone who cares about people, also.

Liar, Liar!!.......2007-01-29

This book should only be sold as fiction and come with "Horse Whispers and Lies" attached. Monty, shame on you...trying to take credit for inventing the slant load horse trailer, making claims to have been a Champion Calf Roper, and going to horse shows in a railroad box car?
His family says that it's all a bunch of lies. The content of the book on horse handling is good, but Monty Roberts did not invent the methods used. They have been around for years.
Monte, is a good horseman, he should not have made the preposterous, boastful statements that are included throughout the book.

Humane horse training.......2006-09-21

I find the negative review of Monty's book interesting. Since I train dogs, I can somewhat relate to the need for positive training methods. There are always going to be those out there that dispute that it works for MOST, but not for all. Every animal is an individual with feelings and personality of his/her own and baggage that comes along with lack of training, abuse and/or neglect.

I thought one of the most important lines of all in the book was that this was the "51st fluke in a row". In other words, the doubters of the crowd thought it was just a fluke that Monty was able to 'start' and ride green horses within approximately 25 minutes. Someone that is full of 'it', cannot become as successful a horse trainer as Monty is without some actual knowledge of what he's doing. I thought this was a very inspirational book that gives a look into the innovative humane treatment and training of horses. This book is well worth the time it takes to read and I, for one, do not doubt the truth of his story. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

Average customer rating:

THE MAN WHO LISTENS TO HORSES

Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HF0R5G

The Man Who Listens to Horses. The Story of a Real-Life Horse Whisperer.

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The Man Who Listens to Horses. The Story of a Real-Life Horse Whisperer.

Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I34BMW

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The Man Who Listens To Horses

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 0788722107

All Over But the Shoutin'/The Man Who Listens to Horses/Saint of Circumstance/An Empty Lap (Reader's Digest Today's Best Nonfiction, Volume 48: 1998)

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All Over But the Shoutin'/The Man Who Listens to Horses/Saint of Circumstance/An Empty Lap (Reader's Digest Today's Best Nonfiction, Volume 48: 1998)
Rick Bragg , Monty Roberts , Sheila Weller , and Jill Smolowe
Manufacturer: Reader's Digest Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GP7G6A

Average customer rating:

Man Who Listens Horses Header Exp
M. Roberts
Manufacturer: Arrow Children's Dump List
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0099271230

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The Man Who Listens to Horses
Monty Roberts
Manufacturer: New York: Random House, 1997
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NXOPN2

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The Man Who Listens to Horses
Monty (Introduction By Lawrence Scanlan) Roberts
Manufacturer: New York: Random House, 1997
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NVBX7U

Average customer rating:

The Man Who Listens To Horses
Monty Roberts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

This is the "Turtleback" hard cover Edition of this book.

Average customer rating:

Man Who Listens to Horses
Monty Roberts
Manufacturer: Arrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OH74J4

Book Description

At the height of the Vietnam conflict, a complex system of secret underground tunnels sprawled from Cu Chi Province to the edge of Saigon. In these burrows, the Viet Cong cached their weapons, tended their wounded, and prepared to strike. They had only one enemy: U.S. soldiers small and wiry enough to maneuver through the guerrillas’ narrow domain.

The brave souls who descended into these hellholes were known as “tunnel rats.” Armed with only pistols and K-bar knives, these men inched their way through the steamy darkness where any number of horrors could be awaiting them–bullets, booby traps, a tossed grenade. Using firsthand accounts from men and women on both sides who fought and killed in these underground battles, authors Tom Mangold and John Penycate provide a gripping inside look at this fearsome combat. The Tunnels of Cu Chi is a war classic of unbearable tension and unforgettable heroes.

Customer Reviews:

finally made up my mind.......2007-07-25

I went to Viet Nam last year, and bought this book from a street kid outside the former US Embassy, now a museum, with a decidedly different perspective from the US's. The book was a xeroxed version of the real thing.

The book, in combination with seeing the tunnels themselves (and reading another book "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places"), gave me great insight into the problems we faced there, and how we might actually have come out on top, and why we didn't.

It's a well written, exciting book. It focuses some on the strategies and problems surrounding the tunnels, but mostly on the tunnels themselves, and those that fought the wars in the tunnels.

Seeing the tunnels is surreal. There is an AK47 shooting range nearby where the Vietnamese can relive moments of former glory, and as you visit, you can hear shots ringing out. They are proud of their victory, but in some ways look up to America, or at least want to have certain things America has.

I've heard so many arguments on Viet Nam. We could have won.. we never could have won. Through this book and some other data points, I learned for the first time the military issues involved(not just political science stuff.) I learned how the tunnels were key in launching the Tet offensive, which broke us politically, although according to this book, and the Vets on the trip, not militarily. Our failure to properly understand the people and their use of these tunnels cost us dearly.

A good read.......2007-05-21

This is a very educational book on the Vietnam war - a topic most people have at best a fuzzy understanding of. The American tunnel rats were incredibly brave (and at least a tad crazy), fighting against the clever and dedicated Viet Cong enemy on their own turf - actually, under their turf, in tunnels rigged with booby traps and other dangers. I learned a lot about the war with perspectives from both sides of the conflict.

Into the Real Heart of Darkness :Vietnam's Cu Chi Tunnels.......2007-05-01

This is one of the finest books concerning the Vietnam war history.How could you fight an enemy that could not be seen? Western cartographers neglected the terra incognita tunnels of Cu Chi.I thought how clever the terricolous Vietnamese farm-peasants were to use 'Nature' for their advantage and with 'succes fou'.They used organic and herbal medicines and devices,rather than waiting for the man-made shipments to arrive.For example,the Viet surgeons would distill honey and use this as a antiseptic remedy.The teret tunnel systems stretched for vast miles.The fetid labyrinthine network was filled with pesky bugs and dung-smeared rattan spikes.Only the advanced subterranean diggers knew how to subtefugate and how to avoid sepulcherment from the serpiginous 'Tunnel Rats'.The suffusion of tear gas and flame-throwers were futile to the tenacious Viet Cong.Petrol was becoming a precious resource,that was later diverted more towards vehicular use.If the American soldiers were properly supplied and re-equipped,the victories would be in their favor.Even the goal of achieving some final Pyrrhic victory,was still sliding further down the slippery money pit and out of reach.The ready venturesome 'Tunnel Rats' could no longer play on terra firma,and now had to face the vermiculating serpentine mazes below them.This is one of the great stories about America's swathering attempt to control the natural course of Vietnamese politics.

viet nam vets must-read.......2006-09-30

Vets often wonder what was REALLY going on during their tour of duty. This book gives the pictiure from both sides, written by two British Broadcasting Corporation writers.

This book answered questions I had about what was going on; about who was doing what and how. It shows how the two countries' policies were worked out in the lives of their soldiers.

The authors stick to stories of fighters, American and Vietnamese, and they present them as everyday people fighting through a tough situation in a taxing environment.

As things go in all wars, both sides have reason to be proud of their efforts, and both sides' fighters paid a big price.

If you liked the movie "The Siege of Firebase Gloria", you'll like this book.

Vets, read this book and get a realistic picture of what that young American -YOU- were a part of, 30 or 40 years ago.

You won't forget it, and you'll want to share it with others.

Average customer rating:

Accessible, well-researched, and inspiring

Not Worth the Read (or the Money)

Social Security for Christmas!

The History and Future of Social Security

Finally, The truth about the so-called Social Security "crisis"

The Battle for Social Security: From FDR's Vision To Bush's Gamble
Nancy J. Altman
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Social Services & Welfare | Poverty | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Social Security | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Social Security: History and Politics from the New Deal to the Privatization Debate (Studies in Government and Public Policy)

Social Security in the 21st Century

The Plot Against Social Security : How the Bush Plan Is Endangering Our Financial Future

Saving Social Security: A Balanced Approach

Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Making of the American Mass Market

ASIN: 0471771724

Book Description

This book illuminates the politics and policy of the current struggle over Social Security in light of the program's compelling history and ingenious structure. After a brief introduction describing the dramatic response of the Social Security Administration to the 9/11 terrorist attack, the book recounts Social Securityâs lively history. Although President Bush has tried to convince Americans that Social Security is designed for the last century and unworkable for an aging population, readers will see that the President's assault is just another battle in a longstanding ideological war. Prescott Bush, the current Presidentâs grandfather, remarked of FDR, "The only man I truly hated lies buried in Hyde Park." The book traces the continuous thread leading from Prescott Bush and his contemporaries to George W. Bush and others who want to undo Social Security. The book concludes with policy recommendations which eliminate Social Security's deficit in a manner consistent with the program's philosophy and structure.

Customer Reviews:

Accessible, well-researched, and inspiring.......2005-12-13

This book is different from anything I have ever read on this subject (and I have read widely in the field). The Battle for Social Security is deeply researched, entertainingly written, and full of insight about the history and political values of the program. The author, who is very highly qualified, obviously believes in those values, but this book does not involve mindless cheering for Social Security, or knee-jerk Bush bashing. Instead, this work thoughtfully and powerfully details the program's creation and expansion, and explains all the very good (and quite traditional) reasons why it remains popular with most Americans. Chapter 16 has some excellent ideas about how to keep Social Security solvent for many years without going down the destructive road of private accounts. If you want a pleasant path to a profound understanding of Social Security, this book is for you.

Not Worth the Read (or the Money).......2005-12-12

This is really an unfortunate book. It reminds one of those "town hall" events that the White House orchestrated for the foolish "60 stops in 60 days" tour during which President Bush tried to sell his Social Security reform plan to the American public. Like those events, this book is shallow and polemical. Altman divides the history of Social Security policy makers into the good (those who would never think to question or challenge any aspect of the program) and the bad (those who either oppose the program or so much as question any aspect of it). She devotes not a single chapter -- no, not even so much as a page or a sentence -- to a cricital examination of her own preconceptions or to any attempt to understand in a thoughtful manner the positions of those who have critically examined various aspects of the program over the years. This book is a catechism for Altman and the like-minded; there is no serious analysis anywhere within these pages.

For many of us who do not favor individual accounts but who worry about the long-term solvency of the program, this book really is a disappointment; I recommend Diamond and Orszag's Saving Social Security instead. For those interested in a detached, scholarly account of Social Security's early years, I recommend Achenbaum's Social Security: Visions and Revisions. For those who just want a thoughtful analysis of the issues at play in the current policy debate over Social Security, perhaps the best of all is Daniel Shaviro's Making Sense of Social Security Reform. Anything but Altman's book.

Social Security for Christmas!.......2005-11-28

The Battle For Social Security is both a significant history book and a critically important discussion of one of the most important issues facing our country today. As a baby boomer, I have had numerous discussions with friends who are fearful of what they will live on during retirement. (Often the fear is whether or not they will actually be able to retire.) Though we've all been forewarned to save for our retirement, for many, Social Security will be the primary source of income. This is particularly true in light of the current crisis in private pensions. The Battle For Social Security clearly explains the importance of Social Security and why it must not be changed by a move to private accounts. (If people want private accounts, they already have the option of IRA's and 401(k)'s.) Social Security affects virtually every American, and I want everyone I know to read The Battle For Social Security. That's why it's my gift to family and friends this Christmas!

The History and Future of Social Security.......2005-11-10

In The Battle For Social Security, Nancy Altman provides readers with a detailed and interesting history of the Social Security System from the beginning in the mid-1930s to the present. She brings to life the different participants, and explores the legally and philosophically controversial nature of the Social Security pension and Medicare programs. She also describes the recent efforts to change the system through privatization and recommends modest changes in the current system that will make it actuarilly sound for generations to come. A must read for anyone interested in the future of Social Security.

Finally, The truth about the so-called Social Security "crisis".......2005-11-10

In The Battle For Social Security, Nancy Altman demontrates that the "eventual Social Security shortfall" that the Bushies are yammering about is simply the result of the fact that we do not currently collect taxes from earners above an annually adjusted ceiling which is currently $90,000.00. This $90,000.00 cutoff is literally starving the Social Security system. If this arbitrary tax cut to those who earn more than $90,000.00 were eliminated, so would the projected Social Security actuarial shortfall. In other words the so-called "Social Security crisis" is all about preserving another tax cut for the wealthy.

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