Mozambique Business Law Handbook (World Spy Guide Library)

Book Description

Everything a successful "spy" must know on the country. Strategic and practical information on government, national security, army, foreign relations, economy, technology, mineral resources, as well as culture, history, traditions, government and business contacts and more...

Book Description

In Bad Language, Naked Ladies, and Other Threats to the Nation, Anne Rubenstein examines how comic booksâwhich were overwhelmingly popular but extremely controversial in post-revolutionary Mexicoâplayed an important role in the development of a stable, legitimate state. Studying the relationship of the Mexican state to its civil society from the 1930s to the 1970s through comic books and their producers, readers, and censors, Rubenstein shows how these thrilling tales of adventureâand the debates over themâreveal much about Mexico’s cultural nationalism and government attempts to direct, if not control, social change.
Since their first appearance in 1934, comic books enjoyed wide readership, often serving as a practical guide to life in booming new cities. Conservative protest against the so-called immorality of these publications, of mass media generally, and of Mexican modernity itself, however, led the Mexican government to establish a censorship office that, while having little impact on the content of comic books, succeeded in directing conservative ire away from government policies and toward the Mexican media. Bad Language, Naked Ladies, and Other Threats to the Nation examines the complex dynamics of the politics of censorship occasioned by Mexican comic books, including the conservative political campaigns against them, government and industrial responses to such campaigns, and the publishers’ championing of Mexican nationalism and their efforts to preserve their publishing empires through informal influence over government policies. Rubenstein’s analysis suggests a new Mexican history after the revolution, one in which negotiation over cultural questions replaced open conflict and mass-media narrative helped ensure political stability.
This book will engage readers with an interest in Mexican history, Latin American studies, cultural studies, and popular culture.

Customer Reviews:

What exactly is so Good about this book?.......2007-08-05

This book comes heavily blurbed and much recommended above. But why? Basically Rubenstein has covered all the bases both giving a brief overview Mexican comics and also showing how they were part of an ongoing debate about the nature of Mexican society and culture.

Understanding our neighbours South of the border.......2000-05-02

Cultural studies have opened new horizons to researchers in the Humanities, but not every person working the field has offered a more comprehensive, transcultural, multidisciplinary and worthwhile contribution to knowledge. Prof. Anne Rubenstein has. Her latest eye opener (Bad language, naked ladies and other threats to the Nation...) achieves the double goal of making a reasonable point and supporting it with sound, real information, obtained from actual sources --it is easy to tell that she has lived in Mexico, and actually read hundreds of illustrated magazines, before writing her book. I may not agree with her conclusions totally, but I wholeheartedly support every page of evidence she presents. My warmest regards to her --¡Felicitaciones por su trabajo!--, and to every reader who shares in her joyful and amazing quest for truth: The making and remaking of PostRevolutionary Mexico through media, are well worth the reading!

Humorous, cultural insights from the world of academia!.......1999-05-28

Prof. Rubenstein is one to watch! This book is interesting on a number of levels and should be required reading for students and professors in the area of political science, multiculturalism, and anyone interested in the recent or historical blending of pop culture and politics.

Book Description

Two widely published humor columnists and "bad boys" of academia take their wit and wisdom to dazzling new lows in this irreverent send-up of highbrow literary culture.

At last, the thinking person's take on the life of the mind in today's increasingly mindless age. Sense and Nonsensibility pokes fun at everyone from spoof-proof scholars to pompous professors; from anal-retentive authors to plagiarizing poets; from snake-oil therapists to bestselling illiterati.

This singular collection by Professors Lawrence Douglas and Alexander George brings together their most popular pieces, along with many brand-new ones, including:

• The Academy Awards for novels -- with categories for "Best Female Protagonist -- Doomed," "Best Narrator -- Unreliable," and "Best Novel -- Unfinishable by Reader"

• Home Shopping University -- offering the greatest ideas in Western history at rock-bottom prices

• I'm Okay, I'm Okay: Accepting Narcissism -- the best in "Self-helplessness books"

• The Penis Orations -- Iron Man's answer to The Vagina Monologues

• "Ask the Academic Ethicist" -- their notorious advice column, which has shocked higher education

Customer Reviews:

Mildly Funny, Mostly sophomoric.......2005-12-29

I *am* an academic--in the humanities, no less--and I found this only mildly funny. At times it is clever and interesting, at times just juvenile. Most of the time, the authors are trying too hard. And I never once laughed out loud (although Anne Fadiman claims that she did in her blurb on the back). This book is primarily a parody of the type of literary criticism that is already a parody of itself.

At least bad reviews should be well-written.......2005-05-01

Is one allowed to bash another reviewer's review here? Well, Lardo's one star review of this book, besides being poorly punctuated ("this books stilted...'humor'"), is completely inaccurate. In fact, this book is hilarious. So hilarious, in fact, that I was moved to write a review. Which, let's face it, is only something that super-huge losers like "Lardo" do. Isn't that right, Lardo? Yes, you know it is, don't you. That's right. Loser.

Unforgivably bad: gives "academic" a bad name.......2005-04-28

This "funny" book is funny only to the dispirited few who find grad school, sat's, and "all nighters" the stuff of humor. I understand why the publisher put no money towards the advertising of this book: it recognized a mistake when it saw one. Too bad the same can't be said for Douglass- it would have kept this wet frt of a book from seeing the light of day. Now that it has, pray that this books stilted and contrived "humor" never crosses your path.

Five-star warning.......2005-02-23

The fact that I am awarding five stars to this book should in itself serve as a warning. I found myself laughing out loud. Most unusual for me - especially while reading a book. Hardly ever happens and certainly not to such a degree. In doubt, I began to search for a reason for this change. I read closely. Closer still, until I was reading between the lines, laughter subsiding at last. There I saw into a world I dare not speak of. I looked up at my college diploma where it has hung modestly in its plain wooden frame for three decades without saying a word. It spoke to me - with something more than academic irony. I was forced to call upon the "Literary Ethicists..." (page 28), the "Academic Ethicist..." (page 70) the "Academic Car Consultant..." (page 62), the services of the "Affected Accent Summer Camp" (page 65), the "Academic Therapist (again...)" (page 121), and "1-800-THERAPY" (use a touch-tone phone), the "Philosopher Who Is In..." (page 137), and I was caught in the snare of "Graduate Students Anonymous" (page 87), without a further degree, embarrassed, clutching a work of "Self-Helplessness" (page147). I had no choice but render five stars. There was no way out until I had added them all: footnotes within a "Footnote to the History of the Footnote" (page 125). Even now, what hope is there for an end of it, as I reread deeper and deeper between the lines, in search of I know not what-or whom? Could it have been "The Penis Orations" (page 140)? "Talk Bad to Me" (page 144)! "I'm Okay, I'm Okay" (page 150)!

Swell.......2005-01-14

An excellent read if you're interested in parody. If you're interested in reading about genuinely stupid things people have done over the years, you might want to check out Collective Behavior by Locher (2002). It's nearly as funny and all too real. The Y2K chapter alone had me howling, and I accidentally learned something, too.

Book Description

Now available in paper, The Ivory Tower and Harry Pottter is the first book-length analysis of J. K. Rowling's work from a broad range of perspectives within literature, folklore, psychology, sociology, and popular culture. A significant portion of the book explores the Harry Potter series' literary ancestors, including magic and fantasy works by Ursula K. LeGuin, Monica Furlong, Jill Murphy, and others, as well as previous works about the British boarding school experience. Other chapters explore the moral and ethical dimensions of Harry's world, including objections to the series raised within some religious circles. In her new epilogue, Lana A. Whited brings this volume up to date by covering Rowling's latest book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

"Whited's collection of lively, well-written essays heightens appreciation of a classic in the making, addressing the international phenomenon of J. K. Rowling's books."—Choice "This is an exciting and substantial contribution to early scholarship about an important body of literary work."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Customer Reviews:

Could have been much, much better........2003-05-08

This book is a compilation of scholarly articles/essays by different authors. As such, it's not very consistent. Some segments were very insightful and interesting to read, while others were confused, off-base, or just plain inaccurate. Several of the chapters I read got basic information from the books wrong, such as one that described Hermione Granger as a "half-blood" (not true!), and one that seemed to completely misunderstand the crucial events at the end of book 3. When an author misunderstands such important basic information, it is hard for me to take their analyses seriously.

I wanted to like this book, but I can't reccommend it.

Ivory Tower.......2003-04-05

What I found to be an excellent read for the comfort of my mind is ýThe lvory Tower - The Many Steps in life.ý The Poetic suggestion covered many avenues to give the opportunity in my restructure a better approach in living despite the alarming events in the world I live in. Yes very thought-provoking of Mr. Jeffery Lynn Ivory as his poetic thoughts intermix with starting my early morning off on a sounder note.

Outstanding Resource for HP Scholars!.......2003-03-15

The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon is an exciting publication for people who enjoy literary discourse, but cannot gain access to "Ivory Tower" journal publications since leaving the rarified atmosphere of college academics. This book offers a healthy cross-section of topical essays, giving readers a feel for the current critical dialogue about Harry Potter - something that is sadly lacking amid the media hype. Some of the essays concern the hype itself, and Harry Potter's role as a cultural phenomenon - but many others beg us to approach the texts of J.K. Rowling's books on their own merit - a chance to "deconstruct Harry" as it were. For we who are forced by life (and more mundane jobs that require fewer college degrees) to remain armchair critics instead of college professors, it is both a blessing and a curse...for I guarantee that it will be an ex-English major's urge to respond to many of these essays with a paper of one's own! But who would grade it? Seriously, though, it is a wonderful way to explore the myriad characters, symbols and themes contained in Rowling's incredibly rich text, while feeling vindicated all along that Harry Potter, no matter how enjoyable (or marketable) is a phenomenon worthy of literary merit...and more importantly, O.K. for grown-ups to read.

What is Rawlings up to??.......2003-02-19

It is good to see Harry taken seriously. We need more books like this. Another good one is "Hidden Key to Harry Potter" by a
University of Chicago graduate who majored in ancient languages and English (Cum Laude) John Granger. He offers an air tight case that Rowlings is writting from within the same world view as C.S. Lewis and Tolkein with the same purpose and that her books are popular for the same reasons. Absolute must reading for serious Potterites.

A highly scholarly and insightful text.......2003-02-11

Compiled and edited by Lana A. Whited (Professor of English, Ferrum College, Virginia), The Ivory Tower And Harry Potter: Perspectives On A Literary Phenomenon is an extensive analysis of J.K. Rowling's immensely popular and widely acclaimed Harry Potter series of fantasy novels. Originally intended for young adults, this fantasy series proved fascinating, exciting, and complex enough to attract readers of all ages and backgrounds. The scholarly essays here assembled are from a wide variety of authors and discuss Harry Potter's roots in folklore, its connection to gender issues, literary comparisons and archetypes, and much, much more. A highly scholarly and insightful text, offering new perceptions on beloved favorites, The Ivory Tower And Harry Potter is a welcome addition to Literary Criticism reference collections and highly recommended for scholars and non-specialist general readers who enjoy J.K. Rowling's original, intricate, (and continuing to expand) cannon of deftly written and increasingly influential fantasy.

The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon.(Book Review) : An article from: The Modern Language Review

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The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon.(Book Review) : An article from: The Modern Language Review
Daniela Caselli
Manufacturer: Modern Humanities Research Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from The Modern Language Review, published by Modern Humanities Research Association on July 1, 2004. The length of the article is 866 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 Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon.(Book Review)
Author: Daniela Caselli
Publication: The Modern Language Review (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2004
Publisher: Modern Humanities Research Association
Volume: 99 Issue: 3 Page: 767(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

A Good, But Not Great, Game Collection.......1998-01-02

I don't think I learned anything about how to defeat a superior opponent from this book, but I can still recommend it as a well-annotated game collection. The only problem I had with the book, other than the fact that there was little elucidation of the problem of defeating a superior player, was its choice of illustrative games. All of the games are victories by non-Soviet players against Soviet players. In each case the "superior" player is the Soviet. Never mind the fact that the "inferior" player may have a higher rating than his supposed superior. If you didn't buy the book because you thought it would improve your chances of beating stronger players, but merely wanted a good collection of annotated games by a good writer, you won't be disappointed.

Book Description

* More than 400 task-oriented pages show intermediate-to-advanced users how to automate, customize, and integrate Excel using Visual Basic for Applications and VBA-based macros
* Crisp, two-color screen shots and succinct step-by-step instructions demonstrate how to create macros, add customized features to spreadsheets, and build powerful Excel-based applications
* Shows how to make macros "smart," create and customize VBA code, program Smart Documents, make Excel communicate efficiently with other applications, and more
* With VBA, users can buy Excel off the shelf and customize it to meet their specific business needs instead of building applications from scratch-saving users and businesses time and money
* All information is applicable to Excel versions 2000, 2002, and 2003

Customer Reviews:

MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT!.......2007-07-29

I bought this book wanting a step by step tutorial. This book has that but there is no companion CD or website so I can do the steps and compare to what is already in the book. It really pisses me off. I was so prepared to have a great time learning Excel-VBA with this book. Maybe someone can give me some advice as to what they did in order to follow along with the book.

A welcome edition to my reference library........2007-02-03

I've always been a fan of the Master Visually series by Wiley Publishers. I have seen many technical books attempt to use a Visual Graphis style to make complex ideas simple and easy to understand. In this edition of "Excel 2003 VBA Programming" authored by Julia Kelly I wasn't disappointed. I give this book such a high rating because it does exactly what it promises in terms of functionality and understanding.

There's a bit of the cookbook style to the Layout. In the Table of Contents Macro's are grouped by subject from simple to more complex. Of course it doesn't end there. The same technique is used to explore the Visual Basic Editor, Manipulating Worksheets and Workbooks, Working with Ranges, Looping and Branching, Charts and Pivot Tables. In higher order references the book gets into controlling Macros with Events and Form based Programmed Controls. The book also provides an orderly approach to teaching VBA programming and debugging with VBA IDE Interface which I find highly lucid.

The book seems determined on achieving maximum functionality and usefulness to its programmer's audience.

Please note that the fact that this book is written for Microsoft Office 2003 doesn't take away from its value when say compared to a Microsoft Office 2007 environment. Because of the inherent underlying Document Object Model used in Office products most of the functionality still applies.

Overall I would say this book has pretty much everything a new or experienced VBA Macro programmer needs to get busy and productive in a hurry. By the way, one of the nicer things about this book is its use of the sidebar on many of its examples. These sidebars attempt to offer shortcuts and address users issues in Question and Answer format.

In Short this is a book I would pleased to have in my reference library.

Load of crap.......2006-10-09

This is undoubtedly the worst book I have personally read on programming. The author has written/co-written excellent books such as "Office XP; The Complete Reference" but she is an expert in Access and definitely not in VBA. Why she would attempt to provide a guide to VBA is beyond comprehension when she is an accomplished author of other excellent books in her field of expertise. I regret purchasing this rubbish and would advise all other JK fans to avoid the embarrasment of doing the same.

beginners should have this book.......2006-08-28

This book takes you from recording macros to knowing what the Visual Basic editor is, which is the foundation of writing your own macors. The book explores all the basics that you need to grasp along with providing all the steps visually. There are pictures on each page. It shows how to reference workbooks, sheets, ranges, colunms and row statements along with how to make decisions using If Then Else and how to use Loops. Additional topics are charts, pivot tables and user forms. Check out the table of contents for a more information on topics covered.

The reason I gave it only 4 stars instead of 5 is that nowhere in the title or elsewhere does it state its a beginner book. With a title VBA Programming I expected indepth coverage of programming with the excel objects. I was looking more for a intermediate or advanced book.

Get THIS ONE FIRST.......2006-06-10

If there is one thing I know about trying to learn any computer program, it is that you have to get over the fear of the unknown and try it out to see how it works. This book gives you the exact keystrokes to use and pictures of what you should get step by step.

I've tried almost all of the routines and found very few errors. After going through this book you will be familiar with the syntax of VBA, how it is structured and see how it manipulates your spreadsheets in very practical ways that you can use today. You will find yourself keeping these small routines and copying them around in your larger more complex routines.

My only complaint is that sometimes it is hard to read the difference between a period and a comma. As you grow to learn VBA, this complaint lessens however. This is a minor complaint, and certainly not enough to recommend this book less.

I also own VBA Power Programming by Walkenbach, that book, will come ALIVE after you try all the procedures in THIS book.

Book Description

How were medieval navies organized, and how did powerful rulers use them? Medieval Naval Warfare, 1000-1500 provides a wealth of information about the strategy and tactics of these early fleets and the extent to which the possibilities of sea power were understood and exploited.
This fascinating account brings vividly to life the dangers and difficulties of medieval seafaring. In particular, it reveals the exploits of the Italian city-states, England and France and examines how battles were fought from the Mediterranean to the North Sea. With accompanying maps and illustrations, this much-needed account will appeal to military historians medievalists and the general reader alike.

Download Description

How were medieval navies organised, and how did powerful rulers use them? This fascinating account brings vividly to life the dangers and difficulties of medieval seafaring.

Medieval Warfare: History of the Art of War, Volume III (History of the Art of War, Vol 3)

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Disappointing
A Refreshingly Different Look at Medieval Warfare

Medieval Warfare: History of the Art of War, Volume III (History of the Art of War, Vol 3)
Hans Delbruck
Manufacturer: University of Nebraska Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0803265859

Book Description

From the eighth century through the Middle Ages feudalism determined the nature of European warfare. Medieval Warfare begins in the time of Charlemagne, who maintained a military system of freemen and of vassals bound to him in service for lands granted in fief. These pages are crowded with recreations of famous events like the Battle of Hastings and movements like the Crusades; with the brightest flowers of knighthood, and with the mercenary grandeur of Byzantium.

Hans Delbrück shows how feudal military organization varied in different countries and why the knightly forces could not hold up against the barbarous Normans. He studies military developments in the kingdoms that rose with the collapse of the Carolingian Empire, as well as the trend toward mercenary armies. When the Swiss peasants, forming the first true infantry, defeated the Burgundian knights in the fourteenth century, the era of modern warfare had begun.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2002-06-26

It is in this volume that Delbruck's sense of racial superiority shows the most. Although the longest volume in the work it deals almost exclusively with warfare among medieval Germans. He virtually ignores the Crusades, the Reconquista, the Hundred Years War, and Manzikert. His argument against including the Crusades is that they did not do anything to change warfare in Europe, but later mentions that the English experiences in Syria led to the development of the long-bow. This definitely should have been explored more.

The best move Delbruck could have made to improve this volume would have been to split it into two books. Had he done that he could have dealt with the Hundred Years War in the same way that he dealt with the Punic Wars, gone into more detail about the Crusades, explored the Reconquista and the Norman migrations, and given the Byzantine Empire the focus it deserves.

Delbruck's analysis of the Swiss (whom he constantly refers to as "German") contribution to modern warfare is amazing, however, and makes the work worth reading.

A Refreshingly Different Look at Medieval Warfare.......2000-07-01

Most historians speak of the Middle Ages as a period when cavalry had the ascendancy over infantry. Delbruk argues that there was no such thing as cavalry during the Middle Ages, and until the coming of the Swiss phalanx, not much in the way of infantry. Simply putting an armed man on horseback doesn't make him a cavalryman any more than handing a weapon to a peasant makes him an infantryman. Cavalry was a disciplined group of horsemen fighting as a unit. Mounted knights were an undisciplined group of horsemen fighting as individuals. A troop of cavalry should be able to defeat an equal number of knights, but a single knight defeats a single cavalryman. For a good description of what the military aspect of mounted knighthood was all about, read Delbruk's description of the encounter between two knightly armies at Pillenreuth. That alone is worth the price of the book.

Product Description

This volume reconceptualizes amphibious warfare and also fills an important gap in its historiography, examining how it was conceived, practised and employed, from the Crusades, through the first wave of European exploration and colonization, the Price Revolution and the European wars of religion, up to the early Industrial Revolution and the beginnings of a new wave of imperialism. Essays examine issues related to strategy, operational art, tactics, logistics and military technology, but also consider commerce and culture. They reveal that amphibious warfare was often waged for economic reasons and was the quintessential warfare of European imperialism, for sea power was required to deliver and sustain land power. The volume is lavishly illustrated with 30 plates and twelve maps.

Contributors: Matthew Bennett; Louis Sicking; Malyn Newitt; Jan Glete; John F. Guilmartin; R. B. Wernham; Mark Charles Fissel; Guy Rowlands; John Stapleton; David J.B. Trim.

Crusaders, Condottieri, and Cannon: Medieval Warfare in Societies Around the Mediterranean (History of Warfare, 13)

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Crusaders, Condottieri, and Cannon: Medieval Warfare in Societies Around the Mediterranean (History of Warfare, 13)

Manufacturer: Brill Academic Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 9004125531

War at Sea in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (Warfare in History)

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War at Sea in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (Warfare in History)

Manufacturer: Boydell Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Medieval | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0851159036

Book Description

This volume is both a restatement of current interpretations of sea power in the middle ages and the Renaissance and a general introduction to naval and maritime history over four and a half centuries. The book offers broad conclusions on the role and characteristics of armed force at sea before 1650, conclusions that exploit the best current understanding of the medieval period. The examination of naval militias in the Baltic, permanent galley fleets in the Mediterranean, contract fleets and the use of reprisal for political ends all illustrate the variety and complexity of naval power and domination of the sea in theyears from 1000 to 1650. The detailed and closely coordinated studies by scholars from Europe, North America, and Australia show patterns in war at sea and discuss the influence of the development of ships, guns, and the language of public policy on maritime conflict. The essays show the importance and unique character of violence at sea in the period. Contributors: JOHN B. HATTENDORF, NIELS LUND, JAN BILL, TIMOTHY J. RUNYAN, IAN FRIEL, JOHN H. PRYOR, LAWRENCE V. MOTT, JOHN DOTSON, MICHEL BALARD, BERNARD DOUMERC, MARCO GEMIGNANI, FRANCISCO CONTENT DOMINGUES, LOUIS SICKING, JAN GLETE, N.A.M. RODGER, RICHARD W. UNGER.

Commerce, Shipping and Naval Warfare in the Medieval Mediterranean (Collected Studies Series ; No. Cs259)

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Commerce, Shipping and Naval Warfare in the Medieval Mediterranean (Collected Studies Series ; No. Cs259)
John H. Pryor
Manufacturer: Variorum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Hell Is Over : Voices of the Kurds after Saddam, An Oral History

A FITTING TRIBUTE TO A PROUD PEOPLE

Mike Tucker: Hemingway is Back/Hell is Over: 5 stars.

Like AMONG WARRIORS IN IRAQ, HELL IS OVER is a jewel of a book: 5 stars.

Engrossing and vivid. Tucker of Kurdistan does not fail! Terrific book. 5 stars

Hell Is Over: Voices of the Kurds after Saddam, An Oral History
Mike Tucker
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
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A Thousand Sighs, A Thousand Revolts : Journeys in Kurdistan

The Kurds In Iraq: The Past, Present and Future

The Kurds: A People in Search of Their Homeland

Among Warriors in Iraq: True Grit, Special Ops, and Raiding in Mosul and Fallujah

My Father's Rifle: A Childhood in Kurdistan

ASIN: 159228695X

Book Description

As Saddam Hussein goes to trial, a chilling testimony to his unrelenting brutality.

Customer Reviews:

Hell Is Over : Voices of the Kurds after Saddam, An Oral History.......2006-03-08

Since the end of the United States-led war to liberate Iraq, journalists and authors have descended into Iraqi Kurdistan to try their luck at telling the Kurds' story, taking advantage of the fact that, after decades of war and isolation, the area is once again easily accessible.

Tucker, a war correspondent and former U.S. marine, traveled throughout Iraqi Kurdistan in July 2003, and Hell is Over is a collection of his interviews. The collection divides into three parts. One focuses on stories and recollections of the peshmerga, literally "those who face death," a term used both for Kurdish guerilla fighters and their militias. The second highlights torture by interviewing former political prisoners and family members of those raped, tortured, and killed, as well as the reaction of U.S. servicemen who witnessed the excavation of mass graves. The final part takes up the story of artists, politicians, and women's rights activists.

Hell is Over adds color to the Kurds' history. It does not, however, give context. Aside from a short scene-setter describing little more than the period following the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein, there is no history. While Tucker dedicates his book to the memory of Kurdish nationalist hero Mulla Mustafa Barzani (1903-79), he does not explain who Barzani was or why many Kurds hold him in such esteem. For that matter, Tucker does not explain who Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Jalal Talabani is, a glaring omission given that Talabani controls half the Kurdish zone and is now president of Iraq.

Tucker surrenders balance and accuracy to his own romanticism. He thanks Kurdistan Democratic Party leaders in his acknowledgments and appears to have had no contact with independents or with officials in areas controlled by Talabani. Accordingly, he uncritically accepts canards about Talabani, such as his having sided with Saddam Hussein against Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani. While Talabani may have sought Iranian assistance in the 1994-97 Kurdish civil war, it was Barzani who invited the Republican Guard into the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, where they rounded up and executed Iraqi opposition figures. Tucker does describe Saddam's mass graves, but he makes no mention of the 2,000 Kurds who disappeared during the 1994-97 Iraqi Kurdish civil war. While Tucker describes Masoud Barzani's son Masrour "as one of the young lions of the Kurdish leadership," he neglects to mention Masrour's role as the head of KDP intelligence and as the enforcer for Barzani's business interests.

Tucker concludes Hell is Over with a plea for U.S. policymakers to listen to the Kurds more closely. Unfortunately, his collection is more a testament to the skewed narrative that can result from listening without a critical ear to Kurdish officials. A far better option for historical and political context is Christiane Bird's A Thousand Sighs, A Thousand Revolts: Journeys in Kurdistan.[1]

[1] New York: Ballantine Books, 2004.

Middle East Quarterly, Summer 2005

A FITTING TRIBUTE TO A PROUD PEOPLE.......2005-12-08

A MAGNIFICENT BOOK. I LIVED FOR A YEAR WITH THE KURDS OF NORTHERN IRAQ, AND THIS IS THE ONLY BOOK I KNOW OF WHICH DOES JUSTICE TO THEIR BRAVERY AND SUFFERING. TUCKER DID NOT JET IN COUNTRY FOR A FEW DAYS, CONDUCT A FEW INTERVIEWS AND THEN RUSH HOME TO WORK ON HIS MANUSCRIPT AND MEET WITH HIS AGENT. HE HAD THE FORTITUDE AND INTEGRITY TO SPEND MONTHS IN COUNTRY, LIVING WITH THE KURDS, GAINING THEIR TRUST AND LEARNING THEIR HISTORY AND TRADITIONS. AS A RESULT, HE WAS ABLE TO COMPILE A STUNNING COLLECTION OF INTERVIEWS OF ASTONISHING QUALITY. IF YOU WANT TO COMPREHEND THE INHUMANITY OF SADDAM AND THE UNPARALLELED COURAGE AND STRENGTH OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE, READ THIS BOOK.

Mike Tucker: Hemingway is Back/Hell is Over: 5 stars........2005-11-20

Mike Tucker.
Hemingway is back.
Hell is Over.
5 stars.
This is a great book. What genius! To
go to Iraqi Kurdistan, in the immediate
aftermath of the liberation of Iraq, and
interview the people who, for the first
time in their lives, can speak freely and
without fear of how they sacrificed,
struggled, and survived years of oppression
and brutality. The Kurds. What Tucker
does in this book is not only brave, as
Bob Kerrey states on the cover, but
it is honorable and noble. This is
the voices of Kurds from all walks of life.
And they are fascinating people. Thanks
to the many reviewers whose insightful
comments on this site led me to purchase
both this book, and Tucker's other great
book from Iraq, AMONG WARRIORS IN IRAQ. 5 stars.

Like AMONG WARRIORS IN IRAQ, HELL IS OVER is a jewel of a book: 5 stars........2005-11-11

Like AMONG WARRIORS IN IRAQ, HELL IS OVER is a jewel of
a book. Definitely 5 stars. Mike Tucker lets the Kurds
of Iraq tell their stories. His insight into the
intelligence campaign in Iraq, and how the Kurds can
help us defeat insurgents and terrorists in Iraq,
is more timely than ever. I very much enjoyed all of
this great book, especially the last section,
"The Road Ahead," where younger Kurds speak of their hopes
and dreams for the future of Iraqi Kurdistan. 5 stars.

Engrossing and vivid. Tucker of Kurdistan does not fail! Terrific book. 5 stars.......2005-11-09

Engrossing, vivid, and magnificent. Tucker journeyed to
Iraqi Kurdistan and returned with the only book that
lets the Kurds tell, in their own voices, their stories,
their tales of suffering and endurance and hope.
Incredibly timely, as Saddam's war crimes trial is now
underway in Baghdad, and Tucker has previously-unreported
Ba athist war crimes perpetrated against the Kurds in
HELL IS OVER: VOICES OF THE KURDS AFTER SADDAM.
This is landmark work, like his other great book from
the Iraq War, AMONG WARRIORS IN IRAQ. Mr. Tucker is now
back in Western Iraq, with Marines and special operations,
and he will no doubt write another great book from
Iraq. But thank God he wrote this one, HELL IS OVER.
I really appreciate what the previous reviewer said,
on the people in this book being "salt of the earth,"
yes. You hear the backbone of Kurdish culture and
all Kurds, here, in this historical gem. Earthy,
warm, rich, raw, gripping and insightful. 5 stars.

Book Description

More than 400 years after they were first written, Shakespeare's plays still offer a stunning glimpse into the motivations, desires, and deviancies of man. His characters are caught in situations modern readers can sympathize with, and his themes—love, family relations, adultery, power, treachery—are as relevant now as they were then. Surprisingly, another aspect of the Bard's work that has withstood the test of time is his understanding of the brain. The Bard on the Brain is a marvelous combination of close readings of Shakespeare and the most current neurological research that together demonstrate how impulses and actions originate in the brain.

Paul Matthews here shows us the center-stage role of the brain in famous scenes from Shakespeare's plays. With stunning color brain scans and clear English, Matthews demonstrates how uncannily Shakespeare perceived the brain at work in his characters' ideas and deeds, and how the living brain mirrors human experiences created centuries ago by the Bard. Matthews's science is beautifully interwoven with Jeffrey McQuain's interpretations of many of the most significant soliloquies in all of Shakespeare's plays. The Bard on the Brain is also illustrated throughout with performance photos of acclaimed British and American actors—such as Morgan Freeman as Petruchio, Sir Ian McKellen as Prospero, Alfre Woodard as Paulina, and Anthony Hopkins as King Lear—from celebrated Shakespeare companies. The result of this partnership between scientist and scholar is a unique view of Shakespeare's characters, a dissection of his language, and a wonderfully oblique perspective on the human brain.

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended.......2003-08-02

I must recommend this thought-provoking book to anyone with an interest in either of the two fields that Paul M. Matthews expertly interweaves.

I teach English and so was familiar with many of the passages of Shakespeare that are analysed but I had never myself given a moment's thought to any of the play's links to science. At first I was sceptical of the credence of these links to the brain but by the time I had read the first few chapters I was genuinely intrigued by the way Shakespeare does seem to have known about the brain.

One criticism that may be leveled is that it may not go into real depth in either of the fields the book covers, and for this reason it might not appeal to a true expert in Neurology or Shakesperean literature. However I for one found it not just an entertaining read but an intellectually stimulating one as well.

A refreshing and thought-provoking look at science and cultu.......2003-07-01

I was really intrigued by this book -- how often do scientists and literary scholars collaborate? This is not an academic book in the purest sense--but what's wonderful about it is that is written by two academics who are not afraid to show their love of Shakespeare and who want their work and interests to be accessible to a broad audience. The result is a fun and refreshing look at art and science, which I really enjoyed. The gorgeous illustrations are enticing, as is the often illuminating and always thought provoking commentary by the two authors. Since I am not a scientist, I was particularly taken by the brain imaging and commentary by Dr. Matthews. As a drama lover, I also enjoyed the many photos from performances of the Bard's plays.

Some Shakespeare, Not Much Brain.......2003-06-07

This is a book with a most appealing title (at least for me): The Bard on the Brain. I've taught Shakespeare for many years, and I'm interested in what neuroscience has to say about literature.

The book was published by the Dana Foundation which does all kinds of good things in connection with the brain, nervous system, and the diseases thereof. Ordinarily their publications are very good.

What could Shakespeare say about the brain? As any Shakespearean could tell you, not much. The book consists of quotations from Shakespeare about various aspects of the mind (e.g., Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking, Falstaff on alcohol, Jaques on aging). The book then follows up with some statements about current knowledge of this or that aspect of brain function.

I have to say that I did not expect much from this approach and I got what I expected. The quotations from Shakespeare are fine, and the commentary on them inoffensive. The statements of brain function seemed tailored to someone who barely knows that there is such a thing as a brain, extremely elementary. This is really a coffee-table book.

The best thing in the book are the gorgeous full-page photographs of recent performances of Shakespeare, the basis for its coffee-table status. Unfortunately, the editors chose to reduce the brain images in size and to pretty them up with confusing backgrounds. It is very hard to see what the commentary is referring to. The scientific footnotes are lumped together in the back in a way that makes it hard to follow out any particular point.

A disappointment. And this is intended as a word to the wise.

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