The Politics of Social Ecology: Libertarian Municipalism

Customer Reviews:

An excellent introduction to social ecology.......2006-07-16

In brief, engaging, easy-to-read essays, Janet Biehl explains Murray Bookchin's theory of libertarian municipalism and social ecology. For those of you who don't already know, Bookchin, a long-time environmental and labor radical, has played a key role in bringing together ecological and social justice campaigns. Quite correctly, Bookchin argues that a rational, liberatory society would have to be pro-feminist, anti-capitalist, anti-racist and green. In short, social ecology is an intelligent response to the misanthropy, homophobia, racism, classism, sexism and new age navel-gazing unfortunately advocated by far too many deep ecology activists. Moreover, this volume concludes with an insightful discussion between Biehl and Bookchin, a meeting of two great minds.

A Biehl on Bookchin.......2000-03-18

In "The Politics of Social Ecology: Libertarian Municipalism" Janet Biehl does an excellent job elaborating upon and solidifying the ideas, steps and political procedures stemming from Murray Bookchin's red-green philosophy. Concise, to the point, and thought provoking for any reader curious towards politics and the human order.

An excellent primer into the world of radical politics........1999-06-02

The Politics of Social Ecology: Libertarian Municipalism by Janet Biehl. Biehl's previous work looked at the convergence of ecological and feminist thinking 'Rethinking Ecofeminism'. Here she addresses the politics of social ecology, a radical critique of existing society pioneered and developed by political philosopher Murray Bookchin. This is then, a primer on Bookchin's thinking, an essential opening to Social Ecology. The stress here is on the political, rather than the social, anthropological or philosophical aspects of Social Ecology. This is no accident. At the heart of Biehl's analysis is the idea that the ecology movement has largely moved away from the political, increasingly moving towards a purely personal and/or spiritual worldview. This, argues Biehl persuasively, results in an insipid reactionary environmentalism. In opposition to this trend she advocates the radicalisation of the ecology movement, making common cause with other areas of exploitation. We must, she argues, understand the forces which undermine our environment, degrade our experiences and commodify our existence. These forces are the free market capitalist economy perpetuated by the nation state. In opposition to these now universal forces which cause such poverty, and human degradation we must build movements of resistance around municipalities. She argues that, whilst the state has been an imposition of an arcane and insane political order, there is a alternative history of free municipalities. Social Ecology demands the overthrow of the capitalist state and the reconstruction of viable socio-ecological relations. It is markedly different from other ecological outlooks in it refuses to buy into a reactionary technophobic analysis, arguing for appropriate technologies and embracing Enlightenment ideals as being essential to human develeopment. Biehl's book addresses the possibilities of a new politics based on direct democracy of municipal assemblies. Such assemblies would be confederated to wider regional groups who would co-ordinate non-local matters. It's an inspiring vision of a different, ecological future, where a general interest is realised and allows human endeavous to flourish. Social Ecology is a powerful tool for the re-contruction of a left-green movement wallowing in confusion, indulging in psychobabble and spiritual hokum and deluded by political compromise. Janet Biehl's book is a brilliant analysis of alternatives to this dead end.

Is there an alternative to the State?.......1998-04-28

The aim of the book -as expressed during the introduction by its author Janet Biehl- is to divulge the ideas of Murray Bookchin, already published in different books and articles, but sometimes hard to find or to read to the common people. With a short trip through human history, Bookchin shows us that the State has not always existed (and, of course, that it has not to exist for ever). What's more, he maintains that the State as a form of organisation has been an imposition of a part of the people, not a free choice of the majority --and that actual political class tries to keep away the common people from the political arena, converting them just in "voters" and "taxpayers". There has been alternatives to the State, all of them with a main thing in common: its origin in the municipality. From here, Bookchin extracts the main theses of the book: the municipality is the right place --and maybe the unique-- where people can start to radicalise the democracy in order to get direct democracy. The book goes on describing the process libertarian people must follow to get at libertarian municipalities: the way they have to organise, the way they have to take decisions, the way they have to participate in the actual "political" live, the dangers they will have to confront (with an interesting Green's movement analysis), etc.. If some times the book seems too simple, we must arrive to the interview with M. Bookchin. This is the place where many questions appeared through the text find its answer. An essential complement, the interview gives to the book the necessary end. A light in the night!

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Agree.......2000-08-20

This is a Great book. A classic of travel writing that provides the dual treat of describing exotic settings and a host of fascinating characters encountered along the way.

A supurb travellers tale of Southeast Asia in the 20's.......1999-04-03

"Gentleman in the Parlour is a supurb book on Maughams travels in Southeast Asia before the second world war. Anyone who carries with them that sence of romance and adventure of when that part of the world did not have the tallest buildings and the best hotels should take this with them as a travel companion, or just enjoy it in an armchair. The highlights are his detailed discription of his trek to Angor Wat. If the reader doesnt already know that Angor Wat is one of the half dozen great man made wonders will be throughly educated. His discriptions of French Indochina (Vietnam) are particularly vivid. Especially Hue`and Haiphong. There are misfits and opiem eaters and wandering expats as well as the hotels he helped make famous. Raffle's, The Oriental and The Strand. This goes in my backpack with "The Quiet American" and "The Great Railway Bazzar." And I travelled this area in 64,73,86,and97. Also Maugham's "On a Chinese Screen" is worth it.

The Gentleman in the Parlour: A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong,

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The Gentleman in the Parlour: A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong,
W. Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Doubleday, Doran & company, inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

The Gentleman in the Parlour: A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong (Armchair Traveller Series)

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IF YOU LIKE PROSE

The Gentleman in the Parlour: A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong (Armchair Traveller Series)
W. Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Paragon House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Finding George Orwell in Burma

ASIN: 1557782164

Book Description

Best known for his novels and plays, Somerset Maugham also produced delightfully engaging and absorbing non-fiction, of which The Gentleman in the Parlour is a prime example. First published in 1935 it describes a journey the author took from Rangoon to Haipong. Whether by river to Mandalay, on horse through the mountains and forests of the Shan States to Bangkok, or onwards by sea, Maugham’s muse is in the spirit of Hazlitt, who wrote: “It is great to shake off the trammels of the world and public opinion...and to be known by no other title than The Gentleman in the Parlour.

Customer Reviews:

IF YOU LIKE PROSE.......2007-02-15

I've read this book a number of times, and I think that as with THE BRIDE OF SAN LUIS REY and a couple of other books, it is likely to be one of those books I read yearly, perhaps, or at least regularly, from here on in.

THE GENTLEMAN is good company, and every page has something of interest on it. Yes, the Introduction is flashy, and a Master's Class in and of itself, for aspiring writers, but the entirety of the book, chapter by chapter, incident by incident, is a demonstration of what English prose can do well: it entertains as it informs. If one's taste has been corrupted by the Gee Whiz, Buzz-Word and media-clever sound bite slangadellic scribbling that passes for, well, writing nowadays, this simple book may come as a surprise and a heathy cure for bad reading habits (or addictions to trashy faddistic stuff) and may prepare the reader for a new direction in book-buying. And, rarest of all, and quite unexpected, this oyster bears within its unassuming flesh, a pearl of superlative price.

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The Gentleman In The Parlour - A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong
W. Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Doubleday Doran
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RRD8PA

The Gentleman In The Parlour A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to a Haiphong

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The Gentleman In The Parlour A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to a Haiphong
Maugham W. Somerset
Manufacturer: Doubleday, Doran & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UIGR0O

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The Gentleman in the Parlour. A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong
W Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Evergreen Books/ Heinemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JLVLHG

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The Gentleman in the Parlour: a Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong

Manufacturer: Doubleday, Doran
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GTEP2O

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The gentleman in the parlour: A record of a journey from Rangoon to Haiphong
W. Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Sun Dial Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007FD10Y

Amazon.com

"For this one night,
this one room
is no longer the
Dogwood Junior High cafeteria,
not at all.
It's the Stardust Dance.
You're invited."

The eighth-grade Stardust Dance at Dogwood Junior High School is the place where dreams, with the help of a few paper moons and a whole lot of glitter, just might come true. Tawny is hoping that her borrowed shoes with the red rhinestone bows will somehow turn her into Cinderella. Mary Sarah dares for the first time in her life to tie a colored ribbon in her hair and apply forbidden lipstick. Russ wonders if he'll ever get over his first love, the unforgettable Annie P. Peggy Lee is enchanted by the magic of her childhood beau Tennessee's kisses. And Cub Tanner hides from the whole affair on the school roof as he nurses a surprising secret crush.

Kissing Tennessee, Kathi Appelt's first book for older readers, is a nice mix of frothiness and substance. Appelt humorously and accurately describes the making and breaking of the eighth-grade heart, while still tackling weighty issues like date rape, same-sex crushes, and family violence. Best of all, the entire short novel can be devoured in one study-hall period. This is a great choice for reluctant readers. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

Mason and Carrie Marie can't get up the courage to ask each other to dance. Russ's girlfriend has died, and now he's just trying to live without her. Peggy Lee has grown up with Tennessee--how can she ever think of him as more than a friend?

In these moving tales and others, Kathi Appelt captures the sometimes amusing, sometimes touching missteps of some unforgettable students, who come together one last time for the most memorable night of their young lives.

Customer Reviews:

Problems of Eighth-Graders.......2007-06-29

It is the big dance for the eighth-graders at Dogwood Junior High School. Each student has his or her own story to tell about the event. Some stories deal with the mundane: a boy afraid to talk to the girl he likes, next-door neighbors who have grown apart, opposites attracting, and a student who is ashamed of her poor family.

Other stories deal with more difficult topics: domestic violence, death, homosexuality, and date rape. For this one night, though, maybe these students can put aside their problems and enjoy the magic of the dance.

I liked the way these stories came together. I especially liked when different stories mentioned the same characters. As with all short stories, though, I was left wanting more detail.

short but sweet!.......2006-01-24

Kissing Tennessee and other short stories form the Stardust Dance by Kathi Appelt is a short book of short stories. The book is about different teenagers and their different problems. One of my favorites was Rachel's Sister. In that story the author wrote about a girl named Mary Sarah. Mary Sarah shared the sad tail of her and her sister Rachel's abusive father and what they had to go through. Another great story is The Notes Between the Notes, where the author wrote of two teenagers who don't have anything in common except one thing; they both secretly have a huge crush on each other. Definitely the coolest one was In These Shoes, in that story you/the reader get to go to the dance with all the other fictional characters you/the reader just reader about! The reason I didn't rate Kissing Tennessee five stars is because it is too short, I think I could have been longer. If you like reading fun books that put you in different perspectives, then definitely read Kissing Tennessee!

kissing tennessee.......2006-01-23

it was good if you think that chili dogs are good, if not i feel sorry for you

Kissing Tennessee and Other Stories from the Stardust Dance.......2005-10-08

Kissing Tennessee and Other Stories from the Stardust Dance by Kathi Appelt is a book of short stories about teens and some of the problems they face. These are some of the examples that the kids face in the eight stories. In Rachel's Sister, Mary Sarah struggles against memories of her and her sister escaping their abusive father. In Starbears Cub Tanner deals with his confusion about The Question, which is really many questions all rolled up into one. Why does he have such strong feelings for Trent Davis? In These Shoes, Tawny learns that you don't have to rich and have everything in the world to be happy. I gave this book four stars because these stories were fun to read and they made you think. Since the stories were so short, they made you wonder what would happen next if they kept going. I didn't want some of the stories to end. I think this is a good book for people who want to try reading a different style of writing. I really enjoyed this book and I think that all young readers should try it.

Lyrical!.......2002-11-26

Kathi Appelt has outdone herself. Long accomplished as a picture book writer (see her new The Alley Cat's Meow--absolutely wonderful!) she has now distinguished herself as a young adult author. This series of related stories captures the angst that junior high age teens grapple with. Appelt covers it all, from abusive parents to rape to homosexuality. And through it all, she maintains a light touch and lyrical way with words. This is delicious writing!!

Book Description

The Ontogeny of Human Bonding Systems takes an interdisciplinary look at the phenomena of human bonding. The authors draw upon behavioral genetics, molecular genetics of behavior, cognitive and affective neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, human ethology, behavioral ecology, and the study of attachment processes within developmental psychology. The topics will emphasize human reproduction, and fertility-related behavior in particular, and the evolutionary origins and neural underpinnings of such behavior.
This book is for anyone interested in the evolutionary origins, neural underpinnings, and psychological structure involved in human relationships.

Customer Reviews:

Review from Relationship Research News, Spring 2003.......2003-05-10

"...My overall assesment of this book is quite positive... I believe Miller and Rodgers' discussion will be of interest to personal relationships scholars from across the epistemological spectrum. One reason is that nearly every type of personal relationship is attended to, in some way, in the OBS; there is insight in Miller and Rodgers' discussion to be found on friendships, marital and sexual relationships, and parent-child pairs. Bonding is at the heart of attachment, relationship development, affection, and other processes that are often the focus of research in the personal relationships field. As such, I expect Miller and Rodgers' book to be a useful contribution to these endeavors." - Kory Floyd, Arizona State University

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Photochemical processes in polymer chemistry;: Plenary and main lectures presented at the international symposium held at Leuven, Belgium on 12-15 June 1972
F. C. de Schryver , and G. Smets
Manufacturer: Butterworths
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General & Reference | Chemistry | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Organic | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 040870473X

Book Description

Why did the stock market crash more than 500 points on a single Monday in 1987? Why do ancient species often remain stable in the fossil record for millions of years and then suddenly disappear? In a world where nice guys often finish last, why do humans value trust and cooperation? At first glance these questions don't appear to have anything in common, but in fact every one of these statements refers to a complex system. The science of complexity studies how single elements, such as a species or a stock, spontaneously organize into complicated structures like ecosystems and economies; stars become galaxies, and snowflakes avalanches almost as if these systems were obeying a hidden yearning for order.

Drawing from diverse fields, scientific luminaries such as Nobel Laureates Murray Gell-Mann and Kenneth Arrow are studying complexity at a think tank called The Santa Fe Institute. The revolutionary new discoveries researchers have made there could change the face of every science from biology to cosmology to economics. M. Mitchell Waldrop's groundbreaking bestseller takes readers into the hearts and minds of these scientists to tell the story behind this scientific revolution as it unfolds.

Customer Reviews:

Look in the index and start at the 1st page mentioning Godel.......2007-07-05

If you want to focus on complexity...then go to this book's index and start reading at the first page which mentions Kurt Godel.

As you proceed forward you will then find that this book spends progressively more time actually discussing the mathematical concepts underlying complexity or edge of chaos analysis and less time giving war stories about the founders of the Sante Fe Institute...which studied complexity.

Using this method you will learn about complexity theory which posits that simple algorithms can give rise to complicated outcomes.

Like a program to simulate a flock of birds in flight:

This book says that their flight can be similuated by the application of three simple coeffecients relating to maximum distance between birds, their common rate and distance of movement and finally a coeffecient directed to all birds to encourage them forward to being the center bird and leading the pack.

It doesn't take much creative thought to realize that the rules governing birds in flight must be similar to those governing genetic diversity and ultimately molecular diversity and creation itself.

In this way, ideas "merely" having to do with economics become VERY BIG indeed.

It's not surprising that this book was recommended by Richard Hofstadter (author of Godel Escher Bach) and likened to the (much better) Choas by James Glieck. The point is that the characters that this book introduces are very relevant to the discussions started by Hofstadter and so ably advanced by Glieck.

Read the book...or at least those pages following the first mention of Kurt Godel...and you'll see why.

Meh..........2007-04-15

I found the book disappointing. This is definitely NOT in the league of Chaos.

In particular, the coverage of the material of the subject, complexity, was very thin. Waldrop would bring up a subject, address it with some metaphor, and then move on without providing any details. The vast majority of the book is a series of stories about scientists at the Santa Fe Institute who had their inner-child hurt on their journey to discovering complexity. A better title for the book would have been "The Road to Santa Fe: A Tail of Grief."

The book had two redeeming features, the breadth of the material covered and the bibliography; both provide direction for more fruitful reading. Really, getting the feel for most of the subjects covered in this book could be found by putting 'complexity' into wikipedia and reading for a day, though.

Since it was not a complete waist of my time, I gave it 2 stars.

Interesting story.......2007-01-04

The main thread of the book is the Santa Fe Institute, a multidisciplinary research and education center founded in 1984 in the US. The institute deals with complex adaptive systems from physical, biological, computational, and social point of view. Complexity can be found in for instance environmental, technological, biological, economic, and political systems. Hence, this research area is highly relevant.

The story was interesting to read. However, being an engineer, I prefer a shorter and more concise style of writing. A deeper mathematical discussion about complexity would also have been appreciated. The book tells an exiting scientific story, but it is more of a well written novel than a technical textbook.

A tour through the complex realm of complexity.......2006-06-17

Explain many of the phenomenons that occur in nature, economics, and societies that have no current formulas (or the formula cannot be computed by humans). The book stresses that computer simulations could help us decipher the fields of chaos, complexity, and order. You will be surprised how many people think that the whole idea of understanding the universe by using reduction is total nonsense in some contexts.

One downside (or for some people a plus) is that the book goes to a great length to describe the complexity for an economist's point of view, while not spending that much time on complexity from a sociologist, anthropologist, or psychologist's point of view.

Mind-opening experience.......2006-03-22

For me it is THE book of the last few years.
My background is technical. Some reviewers have complained that it touches too much on biographies and too little on "complexity". There may well be a lot of "humanity" in it. The end result, the overall effect, though [for me, of course] was spectacular.

Complexity The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos

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Complexity The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos
M. Mitchell Waldrop
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J0L884

Book Description

Eduard Mörike's delightfully high-spirited 1855 novella is an imaginary re-creation of the journey Mozart made from Vienna to Prague in 1787 to conduct the first performance of Don Giovanni. Set in the rococo world of the Bohemian nobility, the story paints an unforgettable picture of Mozart's creative genius—its playful heights and its terrible depths. Mörike's own lyrical powers are also displayed in his poetry, which combines classicism and romanticism with elements of the traditional folk and fairy tale.

Customer Reviews:

the most natural coincidence easily becomes an oracle.......2006-09-12

When I came across this novel (a Penguin Books edition, without the poems) I had no idea that Morike had written novels - I was aware of his poetry through the music of Hugo Wolf. So what would a novel be like by the man who wrote this?

Let me be,O World!/Do not tempt me with gifts of love,/Let this heart keep to itself/its joys and its sorrows.
I do not know what I mourn for/it is an unknown grief;/only through tears I see/the sun's clear light.
Often (I am hardly conscious of it)/bright joy flashes/through the gloom that oppresses me;/bringing rapture to my heart.
Let me be,O World!/Do not tempt me with gifts of love,/Let this heart keep to itself/its joys and its sorrows.

It is a beautiful poem, and so is the novel. But the novel is so different - full of rapture - the bright flashes are sustained. But there is also just a touch of distress - just what an author needs to keep the reader alert. This is a beautiful novel about Wolfgang and Costanze. Did Morike have any real knowledge of the Mozarts that he could produce such a convincing image of the scurrilous, caring but often-distracted Wolfgang? And what of Costanze - she is so wonderful in this novel. Perhaps Morike helped frame the vision we have of Mozart, but perhaps he also reflected common understanding of the man and his character accurately.

Mozart's Journey to Prague and a Selection of Poems

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Mozart's Journey to Prague and a Selection of Poems
Eduard / Luke, David / McKay, Gilbert (TRN) / McKay, Gilbert Morike
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJAK1Q

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