Book Description

Margaret Carlson -- widely read Time columnist, regular CNN panelist, political insider, and hostess of A-list but scarcely traditional Washington dinners -- has been commenting on American life for over a decade. In Anyone Can Grow Up, she expands on her writings about presidents, politics, morals, children, family life, and lessons from her own life.

In the section entitled "Presidential Material," Carlson reflects on what it takes to be president by looking at those who choose to pursue the office (and by extension, those, like her, who choose to cover the pursuit). She looks at the hard facts (offices held, speeches given, money raised) and the soft, sometimes determinative, ones (how the candidates talk and look, how they perform under pressure, who they marry and divorce when no one is looking, and how they get into -- and out of -- scrapes). The best man doesn't always win. That's why those who've lost, and those who almost run but don't, are covered as well. Bush Sr. and son, and Clinton in his scandalous term, are here. Carlson also takes a look at those whom have thought of running, like Donald Trump, those who America wanted to run, like Colin Powell, and those who've run and lost, like John McCain.

Carlson draws from her own life in the "Family Matters" section as well, commenting on subjects relating to children, women, and men -- from abortion to balancing work and family, from feminism to sexual harassment.

Finally, in the last section, we read about what makes us who we are and what makes us do what we do. From breaking down how congressmen make money on the side to what cost Newt Gingrich his job, from days in court trying the Menendez brothers to a memorable three-hour lunch with Katharine Hepburn that didn't turn out the way she imagined, Carlson finds the strength of character, or lack of it, in Americans famous and not.

Carlson gets as many as a hundred letters a week from readers who say, "That's exactly what I was thinking." In the vein of Anna Quindlen, Ellen Goodman, and Bill O'Reilly, here is a wise and witty book from a writer who knows what makes us tick. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Yawn. Avoid this book.
Yawn. Is this woman really a writer? Does she have a brain? Dull, boring and stupid. I was not able to finish this poorly written book. Avoid.

Dreadful, dumb, yet interesting!
How this woman ever got to be a reporter is beyond my understanding. I take it that she is good at being able to spot things that interest the casual reader of Time magazine. Her analysis of the Bush Gore election is that Bush should win because he served better food than Gore. In the end, this book is dreadful yet interesting because it speaks volumes about what passes for thoughtful 'political commentary' theses days.

Top-Notch Reporting
When I learned that TIME's Margaret Carlson was publishing a long-overdue compilation of her "Public Eye" columns, I knew immediately that this book would be well worth its cost. Having enjoyed reading Carlson in the pages of TIME over the years, I've developed great respect for her insightful reporting and commentary.

Margaret Carlson is an honest writer; she is one of the few commentators who have transcended partisanship to objectively evaluate the issues. Her unpretentious columns chronicle the people and the issues that have shaped our nation over the past decade and a half. Even though she leans left on social issues, the book is anything but an apology for Democrats. With sharp wit and exacting turn of phrase, Carlson takes on both sides of the political spectrum as she searches for those politicians with authenticity, candor, and courage. As an added bonus, Carlson has written several pages of fresh autobiographical material for the book revealing the fine, intelligent woman behind the reporter.

It is disappointing to hear reviewers carping about this book not for its quality but because they didn't notice that the book's description clearly states that the book is a collection of Carlson's best columns. If you saved your back issues of TIME, save your money on this book. If not, perhaps you, like me, will enjoy rediscovering the most captivating stories of our time as told in Carlson's perceptive, engaging prose. For any lover of news and politics, Margaret Carlson is a must-read reporter, and this book is a must-have collection of the columns which so eloquently narrate the history of our generation.

Too Easy
All too often, it is all too easy for Washington insiders to fall prey to common opinion of their peers and colleagues. Carlson bucks this trend by inviting us into actual dialogues taking place as decisions are made and implemented. Her book allows us insight into the workings of Washington and the minds of the very people responsible for decisions and policies affecting the direction of our country and our lives. A must read for those who wonder what drives our leaders. Like it or not.

Margaret's opinions are an inch deep and a mile wide
Take a bunch of old TIME magazine columns, string them together with anecdotes (meant to be heart-tugging) about Carlson's brain-damaged brother and working-class Irish-Catholic parents, and slather them with goo intended to soften her sharp elbows deployed during her singleminded ascent to the tippy-top of Georgetown s**thouse aristocracy.

Whadda we got? The unfortunately buyer gets a book that in truth merits no stars at all.

Carlson's brownnosing of the Washington Post's Katherine Graham is sickening enough without a half-dozen mentions of how Carlson's daughter was married at "Kay's" Georgetown mansion. Did you catch that? If you didn't, Carlson will remind you.

Oh, and George W. Bush made silly faces and served fancy food on his campaign's press plane. Maybe that's how both he and Margaret, as the book's subtitle reads, "made it to the White House." By being dim and opportunistic? Must be. ... Read more

Book Description

In many ways George W. Bush did not seem built for the presidency or the paces necessary to win it. He was a laid-back good-time guy with little appetite and limited talent for formal oratory, someone who often projected affability more easily than authority. He was a homebody who seemed to prefer surroundings and situations that were utterly familiar to those that were risky and unpredictable. His interests could be narrow and his efforts to expand them only fitful.

But he got there, and after September 11, 2001, confronted a challenge more daunting than many of his predecessors had faced. In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Bush was left with the responsibility to lead Americans through a time of unusual anxiety and uncertainty, to inspire and reassure them. Could he do it?

In Ambling Into History, Frank Bruni, who covered Bush's presidential campaign and first eight months in the White House for the New York Times, mines the countless hours during which he observed and interacted with Bush to explore that question,and to present sides of Bush that readers have never encountered. He looks to small moments for big truths, going behind the scenes and offering fresh insights into Bush's oft-chronicled weaknesses, sometimes overlooked strengths, and his journey-alternately earnest and reluctant-from an innate levity to a newfound gravity.

Bruni also takes readers on his own trip through the strange maze of presidential politics, wryly chronicling life in the insular "bubble" of political reporting and its frequently dispiriting effect on the coverage that politicians get. It is a candid, eloquent, and illuminating adventure that shows why Newsweek called Bruni "probably the most influential" reporter on the Bush beat. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

A first-rate portrait
Frank Bruni accomplishes what few journalists have been willing or able to do. He gives readers a true sense of George W. Bush, contradictions and all. During the campaign, most of the media portrayed Bush as a dim, inexperienced fool whose family lineage was his only qualification for the Presidency.

But that caricature is debunked by Ambling Into History. Bush is far more complicated than that caricature, and Ambling literally takes the reader on Bush's odyssey from the Texas State House to the White House. From the earliest days on the campaign trial to those intense days after Sept. 11, we have a front-row seat as Bush grows from a reluctant and awkward candidate to a supremely confident, yet still awkward, wartime president.

I was especially struck by the chapter about Bush and his father. Bruni brings alive their complicated relationship -- the anger Bush felt at his Dad's loss in 92 to Clinton, as well as the deep pride and protectiveness that the former president felt for his son during the bruising campaign. In particular, Bruni's description of the pride the two men have in each other's accomplishments is as touching as it is poignant.

The book is also an illuminating look inside the modern presidential campaign. Better than anything I have read, it shows how and why reporters become tired of writing about issues, choosing instead to devote so much airtime and print to the candidates' personal styles and verbal gaffes.

Bruni is a first-rate writer with a keen eye for those small, often humorous details that tell so much about a person or a moment. Like its subject, Ambling Into History cannot be easily shoved into this category or placed in that box. But I am sure you will agree Ambling Into History will explain George W. Bush better than anything you have read. And, here is a bonus: it is almost impossible to put down.

He may be a nice guy, but can he become a great President?
He refuses to travel anywhere without his cherished feather pillow. He has a habit of addressing individuals around him by affectionate pet names-even those he has only known for a short time. He enjoys drinking non-alcoholic beer, having given up the real thing over fifteen years ago. Once, he almost lost his temper at a reporter for accidentally eating his peanut-butter and jelly sandwich.

Observations and anecdotes such as these are the focus of New York Times reporter Frank Bruni's "Ambling into History: The Unlikely Odyssey of George W. Bush". Bruni was among a select group of journalists who had been permitted to accompany Bush on the 2000 presidential campaign trail. Wherever Bush traveled, whatever rallies and events he attended, Bruni and his colleagues were there, notepads and tape recorders at the ready. They rode with him on the campaign bus, flew with him on his chartered plane, and slept in hotel rooms close to his. Being in such close proximity to "Dubbya" over such an extended period of time gave Bruni a rare opportunity to study the man up-close, providing him with insight to the finer details of Bush's character that few outside of his family and campaign staff ever got to see. Thus, rather than offer an examination of Bush's campaign strategy or revisit the election scandal that will forever remain an unpleasant footnote in our nation's history, Bruni instead chose to make his work an exploration of "the personality behind the policies and the often offbeat character that flickered through the frippery and pomp."

"Ambling into History" is certainly less interested in the politics than in the politician. Bruni is particularly fascinated by the little quirks exhibited in Bush's behavior throughout the campaign, character traits that in Bruni's view simply beg interpretation. Hence, Bush's frequent bouts of homesickness while on the road equate to a longing for traditional and familiar values. His recovery from alcoholism and fondness for daily exercise makes him a model of personal discipline and self-improvement. His penchant for mid-afternoon naps and insistence on a certain amount of "personal time" each workday indicates an inherent understanding of the need to properly pace oneself to get through the long haul.

Not that Bruni's observations are always flattering. Indeed, the overall portrait Bruni paints of Bush resembles something of a cross between a frat boy prankster, an overly sensitive man-child and an uncultured yahoo. That is not to say that Bruni dislikes Bush. In fact, when compared to Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore-who Bruni portrays as "someone so intent on success that he would shift shapes and betray his principles to achieve it"-Bush comes out looking downright wholesome. It is quite apparent that Bruni has developed a certain affection and respect for Bush after spending over a year in his constant presence. He describes Bush as "fetchingly down-to-earth", someone who can often seem childishly playful but also serious and focused when the situation (such as Sept. 11) demands it. He describes a man with commendable family values, a solid display of integrity, and yes, even a strong sense of compassion. And if he isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, well, at least he gets points for trying.

Perhaps the most surprising revelation in the book, however, is Bruni's observation that Bush may not have been as zealous in his quest for the presidency as one might imagine. Bruni contrasts Al Gore's near-obsessive drive to win the election with Bush's at times almost "half-hearted" attitude about becoming president. Bruni furtively suggests that Bush's decision to run was not so much driven by political ambition but rather by a desire to gain approval from his parents (who, it is hinted at, had always thought of brother Jeb as the brainier, more motivated one out of the two) and restore a sense of pride to the family name-specifically referring to the elder Bush's defeat to Bill Clinton in the 1992 presidential election.

But the most important question of all is whether Bush has the makings of a great president, for as we currently enter into a protracted war against a new kind of adversary and our homeland security is under constant threat, we cannot accept anything less than greatness from our Executive-in-Chief. Bruni's answer is indecisive at best. He demonstrates that at times Bush can be a lot smarter than he appears but, more often than not, when the media suggests that he is doing a good job, it is merely a euphemistic way of saying he hasn't screwed up, that he has exceeded the expectations of his detractors. He may be competent, but is George W. Bush capable of leading our country in these uncertain times? Bruni is content to let history decide that. Meanwhile, the fate of our nation sits in the hands of a man who is decidedly decent and respectable but, ultimately, is still untested in his potential for true leadership.

A " misunderstimated" account of election 2000
On the 3 July 2004 Fox News Watch member Neal Gabler implied that Frank Bruni was something of a cheer leader for George W Bush in the 2000 election.

That is not something a dispassionate reader would claim after reading Bruni's account in this book, essentially a campaign journal of Bruni's travels on the 'Zoo plane,'and elsewhere during that frantic presidential election.

Overall Bruni is mildly critical of his subject, but often in a funny way, particularly with the then Republican candidate's mangling of the English language -something that Bush is able to laugh at himself over (a good trait).

The book is not a must-read, and is now dated being published in early 2002, but it does give some idea of how manic and maniac campaign life is for both journalists and candidates.

Bush is revealed as a man with an impish sense of humour but also one that developed newfound gravity after the horrific attacks on his country, in September 2001, and a leader who takes the trappings of the presidency seriously. On one occasion he forgot to salute a marine as he boarded his helicopter, Marine One, to go to Camp David but once inside he remembered his failure and so returned to salute the startled guard!

If you like a gossipy style account of elections then this book is an enjoyable enough light read

Sneaking Into The Positive Column
I am not a big fan of President Bush and I really only picked this book up to find out more of what the campaign was like covering Bush. The author details out the year plus that he followed Bush through the campaign and then the first year of his Presidency up to December. My first impressions of the book was that the author was very quick witted, humorous and an excellent writer. The book really flowed well and I found I would lose track of time, as I was so into the book. The next impression I came away with was that I was starting to find a soft spot for this Bush character. The author does a great job of detailing out who the real G. W. Bush is. The reader comes away with a view of him that is not like the current partisan one-sided comments that fill up the media.

The author spends the time to provide stories and antidotes that get past the superficial view of the President and presents a man that has a full helping of charisma and is one of those kind of people that everybody who meets them wants to spend more time with him. Again I am no fan of President Bush and do not plan on becoming one, but this book knocks off some of the negative side of the perception I had of the man. That is not to say that this book is some sort of pro Bush propaganda puff piece. I think it details just the opposite. There is no end to the mistakes and overall questions about G.W. that the author details in the book. He spends a good deal of time talking about the relationship G.W. has with his father and Jeb and the picture is not always positive. The author also does a good job off covering the questions of if G.W. was up for the job both intellectually and stylistically.

You can tell the author gains more respect for G.W after the 9-11 attack. He starts to feel that Bush has earned the positive opinion that the author has generated for him. It is interesting that the negatives the author brings out do not stop. Through the full book the author never shies away from less then positive issues for Bush and comes to some conclusions that the rabid Bush supporter would cringe at. It is just that he presents Bush is such a warm and personable light that you want to look past the negative items and just see the good side of the man. This is probably the key to any politician and Bush is in the right line of work. To be a complete review I would say that this book is not an in depth view at the politics of the campaign or of the first year of Bush's Presidency, but rather an good look at the personality of the man. Overall the book is interesting and a very enjoyable read. If you are either a fan of President Bush or have an open mind about him then you will probably enjoy the book as much as I did.

By A Reporter Who Was There
Good book by a New York Times reporter who traveled with Bush as he ran for President. Book is well written. It shows a side of Bush that one doesn't see on television. He has a bit of ornery side. The book is really funny at times, especially when reviewing some of the President's bloopers with the language. Whether you like or dislike Bush I think you'll enjoy the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Harris' book serves as a fresh introduction to Zen for Western readers which never fails to convey the radiant spirit of one of the most remarkable spiritual masters of our time. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Get 2 copies!
You will want to get two copies of this book - because you're gonna want to cut out some of the great, great photos and frame them.

Flipping through this book is like looking through a picture album. The photos are that good - the paper used to publish the book is the high-gloss type.

And some of the pictures are ones that are rarely seen. A couple of my personal favorites: a portrait of the Celtics' starting five in the mid-eighties; a two page spread of Larry taking practice shots before a game (the photo was taken at rim level, and it looks like Larry is shooting the ball in your direction).

If you are a Celtics fan (o.k., you don't have to admit that) if you are a Larry Bird fan like me, then you'll appreciate this book of rare photos of Bird. Now, get this book. And get some photo framing supplies!

The best collection of photos of the best player of his time
Hoop junkies rejoice! If you are a basketball fan than you are a Larry Bird fan and this is the one must have book of arguably the greatest basketball player of this or any generation. Dramatic photos and lively, informative text, chronicle Larry Legend's unforgetable career with the Boston Celtics. There is no better collection of photos of Larry Bird...period. Steve Lipofsky's photographs have captured and preserved, for basketball fans everywhere, the storied career of one of basketball's true legends. A great holiday gift for the true fan or anyone who wants to know what all the fuss was about.

Extraordinary photographs; adequate prose.
Any basketball fan interested in one of the greatest players in the history of the game will peruse this book with interest -- much more for the striking photographs than for the copy, which covers Bird's biography in chronological fashion, concluding with his successful first year as coach of the NBA's Indiana Pacers. The photography, however, is worth the price of admission. Lipofsky has covered the Celtics since very early in Bird's career and his artist's eye has caught and framed some remarkable images not only of Bird but of the game -- among the stunning photographs in the book are wonderful game shots of Bird vs. his greatest competitors over the years, the Lakers as a whole, Michael Jordan, and Julius Erving, and many striking images of the Celtics in their heyday. The temptation with this book is to tear out and frame a few of the photos; they're that good. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Extensive to extremes but not exhausting
One of the problems of this book is it is too short. It can be finished in two hours flat or around that and contained an astonishing wealth of material including much I did not know. There are such tantalising leads set up about the man, and a voluminous set of follow up sources, but the book itself is turgid.

One can be overwhelmed by the amazing range of material and the author does not choose between the plausible and the implausible. Rather he generates a riotous though coherent account combining many sources, treating all the myth with the same deference as the facts (makes a refreshing change). Importantly, he edits and chooses his material well, sectioning the book and ignoring swathes of the Buddha's life from his middle period (when the order of events is obscure).

This is not a biography but a gripping narrative. A sort of splash in the face about an individual, sufficiently admired to have generated so many stories, from the Bodhisatva stages (where the author starts and dwells on- again, very novel)to the nuances of what actually happened as he lay between the Sal trees at Kusinara. One feels the impact of an immense being, and is left fairly breathless and wishing more.

Perhaps a longer book with more historical background could have helped. Extraordinary detail and scholarship from a contributor to "King Asoka and Buddhism".

A very up to date account of current scholarship and interest. ... Read more

Book Description

A scathing expose of the political and cultural legacy of Texas, which tells us all we need to know--and fear--about George W. Bush.

Everyone knows that President George W. Bush is from Texas. But few of us know the role his home state plays in his presidency, and our country. In this vivid dual biography of man and state, Michael Lind confronts the signal crises facing Bush--the economy, the Middle East, and religious fundamentalism--and traces their roots back to Texas, a state, Lind argues, that yields salient clues to the future course of our country.

Widely praised as an iconoclastic and brilliant political observer, Lind, a fifth generation Texan, chronicles the unique ethnic clash that produced modern Texas, the well-known plundering of the state's natural resources at the hands of the elites, and finally the deep strain of "Old Testament religiosity" which, having originated in Texas, now reaches all over the globe in the form of Bush's foreign policy.

Lind delves deep into the president's home state, and his record in office, provoking us to consider the history of the state of Texas as a kind of morality tale for the political and cultural legacy of Bush's presidency. In the tradition of Gary Wills's Reagan's America, The Texan Mind of George W. Bush will provide both authoritative biography and wholly original cultural history which will change the way we understand not just our president, but our country. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A sobering view of our 43rd. president.
First, to be honest, I did not vote for George W. Bush. Probably like many people I viewed him as well-meaning but under-informed, an underachiever in life who was handed the reins of power through pure luck and powerful connections. I was sure, with the help of his father and the elders in the Republican Party, he would surround himself with competent advisors and ultimately pursue a course of moderation and good sense in both domestic and foreign affairs. Therefore, when some of the early initiatives out of the White House seemed counter to earlier expectations (abrogation of important treaties, anti-environmental positions, unilateralist and militaristic approaches to complex world problems, a dangerous and unbalanced approach to the Middle Eastern crisis) my visceral discomfort with this man has evolved into alarm. This book by Michael Lind confirms my worst fears. It is a scholarly and objective survey of the culture from which our president arose. As Lind points out, we have had southerner presidents who were liberals and northerner presidents who were conservatives, but never since Andrew Jackson have we had a southern conservative holding the most powerful office in the land. Lind does a thorough job of analyzing the state of Texas from the demographic standpoint, pointing out that the majority of the population reside in East Texas which is intrinsically part of the deep south. These people largely originated in Scotland and Northern Ireland (Scots-Irish) and brought with them to this country a 17th and 18th century British outlook on class and empire, typified by the attitudes of a land-holding aristocracy. In an economic sense their ancestral model is Thomas Jefferson. In a chapter entitled "Southernomics" he describes how this region evolved on the plantation model of extraction of raw materials (oil, cotton, minerals, etc) and the exploitation first of slaves and more recently of low wage and undereducated menial workers (modern day "serfs"). This model favors "free trade" and opposes tariffs in order to maximize profit in the exportation of commodities. It places low value on preservation of natural resources while promoting their extraction and utilization. Lind contends that this model has shaped our 43rd president's thinking about economics. He contrasts an "old boy network" style of management and connections peculiar to the deep South with the traditional culture that shaped most of the rest of the country, one that is based on an economic model of meritocracy, emphasis on the creation of ideas, the valuing of higher education as the key to economic development. Lind is careful to avoid over-generalization as he points out that Texas is a diverse state, and that these two economic models both exist in the state and are in fundamental conflict. For example, he points to many Texas leaders who typify modern liberal enlightenment attitudes, people like Lyndon Johnson, Sam Rayburn, Wright Patman, and Ross Perot.

The most disturbing aspect of this book for me begins with a chapter entitled "That Old Time Religion" which exposes the influence of the southern Protestant fundamentalist religious culture on George W. Bush, and how this in turn has become a driving force in the almost messianic identification of this president with the right wing in Israel and Mr. Sharon. This plays into fundamentalist dispensationalist dogma about the End-times, Armageddon, and The Second Coming. It further sheds light on the peculiar alliance of these mostly southern Protestant militaristic and fundamentalist masses (who provide the electoral clout) with a powerful intellectual neoconservative elite (who provide the brains) and who now control our defense department. These people hold a radical and fundamentally new view of American foreign policy, one that promotes a doctrine of preemption and the aggressive exercise of American military power. They are tightly allied with the Zionist movement both here and in Israel.

This is a powerful and very disturbing book. Michael Lind has tried not to over-emotionalize this information but he obviously feels passionately about these issues. He has given us a well-researched and thoughtful expose' of the real forces that are driving this president. Everybody should read it!

The Wrong Man
Michael Lind and David Frum are arguably the best writers on American politics today. While Lind is a liberal (from Texas!) and Frum a conservative (from Canada!) they share three things in common: impressive intelligence, brilliant writing, and a deep knowledge of history. Now, they share something else, too: they have both written books about George W. Bush, the Republican 'New Right', and America's political future. Frum is adulatory of Bush and the conservative agenda; Lind is highly critical of both. Frum's book is titled 'The Right Man'; Lind's might be titled 'The Wrong Man' (:

While Frum claims that 'W' moderated the hard-edged Republican agenda, giving it mainstream appeal, Lind argues that Bush's moderation is chiefly rhetorical and cosmetic. Given Bush's record so far (rejection of international treaties on health, the environment, and law; big tax breaks for rich investors, hikes in defense spending, caps on social spending, the purge of all moderate Republicans from his cabinet-excepting only the too-popular-Powell; and most of all, the monomaniacal pursuit of 'Satanic Saddam'-and his oil fields) I am inclined to agree with Lind.

'W' is well to the right of his father-that is obvious.
The question is, why? And how does he get away with it?
It is in providing the answer to this perplexing question that makes Lind's book uniquely valuable. 'Made in Texas' investigates the geographical, social and historical background that shaped Bush II and the Southern-dominated Republican party of today.

I am not going to give a lengthy description of this book, because that would be both boring and redundant. Instead, I will point out the strengths of Lind's book (which many reviewers are too angry/skeptical to admit) and its one major mistake (which no one, apparently, has noticed at all).

The main thesis of 'Made in Texas'-that there is a peculiar 'Southern-Oligarchial' tradition, and that it now dominates the Republican party and the Federal Government, is a pretty controversial idea; but it happens to be true. Lind's sources on this point are quite reliable (see the work of D.H. Fischer Fehrenbach, Luraghi, Joseph Fry, and D. W. Meinig, and others). A history of violence, fear and suspicion of government, religious biotry, racial domination and economic exploitation-'the inequities of the selfish, and the tyranny of evil men'-camouflaged by clownish, ranting rabble-rousers-this is all a shameful, tragic, but ultimately undeniable part of the Southern/Texan heritage-'W''s heritage.

Lind's depiction of a rival Souther political tradition-the 'Progressive-Modernists' of Woodrow Wilson's Cabinet, and the administrations of FDR, Truman and LBJ, is also accurate-and cause for hope. Hairsplitters may question such a stark dichotomy (obviously, politics is the 'art of compromise'); but overall, Lind is correct.

Skipping forward to 1980-2000, Lind shows how the Republicans improved their propaganda by co-option; while its voters and politicians may be predominantly southern, its money and brains are largely foreign/northern. My favorite parts of 'Made in Texas' were the passages on the alliance between the Neo-Cons and the Southern Republicans: 'Incapable of producing intellectuals of its own, the Southern right borrowed some from the East Coast left...by the year 2000, a Frankenstein operation had stitched the bodiless head of Northeastern Neo-conservatism onto the headless body of Southern Fundamentalism.' Priceless! I only wish that Lind had included more about the links between the new reactionary media barons (Rupert Murdoch, Conrad Black, Sun Myung Moon) and the ascendant right-wing media.

All well and good-but something is missing. Why did the South
go from Liberal stronghold to Conservative bastion? Lind puts the blame on LBJ's Civil Rights act, which unleashed a racist backlash against the Democrats. I don't buy this. No, there is something missing-an entire decade, in fact: the 70s.

It was the 70s that lifted the 'new right' from its despised, marginal Dixiecrat/George Wallace status to control of the GOP. Just about everything went wrong in the 70s, and the few things that went right (increased opportunities for women, emancipation of minority races and homosexuals from their subservient/pariah status) made a lot of people angry. These people were largely white, rural, southern, male and religious-the 'hard core' of the modern GOP-often the same people who voted for Truman and LBJ!

*It was the chaos of the 70s that disenchanted the Neo-Cons from the left, scared the rich into bankrolling the Right, and enabled the Southern Oligarchy to stage a political comeback-now nationwide-with a triple program of social conservatism/hawkish foreign policy/supply-side economics.* Limited between 1980-2000 by moderate presidents and a democratic congress, this program is now being implemented full force. The gurus of the right are still fighting ghosts from the 70s: Stagflation, Vietnam, and 'Irreligious Hedonism'.

Lind tells us the beginning and the end of the story-but skips the middle! The best account of it I can find (ironically) is by conservative David Frum, in his history of the 70s (a better book than his own Bush bio). Lind predicts that Bush and the Southern Oligarchy will destroy themselves by leading the nation to military defeat and economic disaster. It remains to be seen whether Lind, or Frum, will have the last word.

Great ... but ...
I have had the good fortune to attend Michael Lind's class at Harvard Law School, and I have to say that I agree with most of what he says (as usual). His analysis of Texas and its influence on George W. Bush, while quite stereotypical, strikes a chord. Lind's on to something. The focus on resource exploitation rather than resource development is an all too familiar characteristic of the Bush administration. Similarly, Lind's analysis of Bush's wholesale adoption of the Likud party's war-hawk political agenda rather than the Labour party's more reasonable agenda is right on target. No other factor has contributed more to the violence in the Mideast that Bush's Protestant fundamentalist/Jewish zionist coalition (the only true "coalition of the willing"). Ariel Sharon is little better than Saddam Hussein, and Israel's build-up of the sixth largest nuclear weapon stockpile in the world continues to destabilize that region. Right after we get Bush out of office, Ariel Sharon should be next.

Having said that, I think Lind's analysis is a bit incomplete. While Lind castigates the conservative Southern Republicans for their views on abortion, homosexuality, and embryonic research (all admittedly out of step with the majority of Americans), he never addresses the fact that the majority of Americans' views on these issues are equally out of step with most of the rest of the world (like Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Mid-East). So in one sense, Lind is right to argue that the Bush administration should not be able to hijack the rest of the country's social values, but then, Lind (intentionally or unintentionally) skirts the corollary to that argument -- the United States should not be able to hijack the rest of the world's social values through World Summits, UN resolutions, and mass media blitzs.

Lind's proposal to transplant people to the Midwest is also poorly thought out (though absolutely necessary given the high housing prices and terrorist threats the United States faces today). While Lind is quite right about the Midwest not being a source of major racial tensions like the South and coastal regions, he also fails to consider that few minorities moved to the Midwest before or after the New Deal. After WWII, most of the minority movement was to the coastal cities. So the fact that there weren't many race riots in the Midwest in the past is no guaranty that Lind's proposal to move people to the Midwest won't generate race riots and other acts of violence now. If Lind were to couple his Midwest transplant project with his more creative ideas on affirmative action (changing the criteria from race to economic class), then his theory might be more credible.

Those are my main criticisms. I think larger taxes on gasoline (with subsidies to low-income families) would provide better incentives to American companies to come up with fuel-efficient cars and heating systems and get the United States off its dependence on Mideast oil. I also think that the United States should impose wage tariffs on goods made in countries like China and Mexico that dump cheap goods on the American market (the tariff should equal the difference between what it would cost to make the goods in the U.S. and what it would cost to make the goods in China or Mexico). But now I'm starting to write my own book, so I'll stop. Overall, Lind has done a good job yet again!

The Truth Hurts
Clearly, this book has a message that many people would rather not hear. But Michael Lind insists on revealing the slime hidden beneath the rock. It is not always a pretty picture. However, this is still a fascinating exploration of the peculiarities of Southern politics. Also an important one, because the phenomenon has now been nationalized thanks to corrupt campaign financing and the quirks of the electoral college, which denied the White House to the candidate who won the popular vote in 2000. Anyone who is interested in how and why the United States is overextending and bankrupting itself to the brink of national suicide will find many answers in this book.

Unfair Assessment
Michael Lind haphazardly jumbled facts and figures with excessively inaccurate statements to compile a 184 page disaster. In one example, Lind mixes the beginning of the twentieth century with the end of the twentieth century and argues that the social impetus for racism over that period has remained stagnant is unfair and indicates a palpable lack of reliable research by Lind. He seems to have potential to form and address an argument, however, in Made in Texas there is little rational thought or intelligent theses pertaining to Texas politics. ... Read more

Book Description

Warren Buffett is known as the billionaire investment expert of the century and everyone would love to know the secret of his success. In his own words, Buffett is just a regular guy who likes fast food, honest work, and people he can trust. Throw in incredible instincts, a genius for numbers, meticulous research, and an almost sure-fire investment philosophy, and you begin to understand how he's become a legend in his own time.

With just a few thousands of dollars from relatives and friends, and by taking calculated risks with small companies and staying with them, he managed, almost single-handedly, to turn Salomon Brothers around. Giants like Disney, American Express, McDonald's, Gillette, and Coca-Cola have all been affected by Buffett's magic touch, and he owns a chunk of all of them. By thirty-one, BUffett had already made himself a millionaire, and he's worked his way steadily toward the top of the Forbes list.

Here is a fascinating portrait of Warren Buffett, known for his investigating genius, his sense of humor, and his mean turn of a phrase. It's an amazing story of a man who carved his own path through American business by doing his homework, backing companies he believed in, and growing rich on their success-a story that will show you that opportunity abounds for anyone willing to go for it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good book for Warren Buffett newbies
I am just getting into Warren Buffett and his Berkshire Hathaway stock. If you are looking for a quick easy read on the history of Warren Buffett and his company, this book would fill that need. This book covered the Buffett history and explained how the "Baby Berkshires" came about. I am sure there are other books that go into more detail, but this book will be a good book to start with.

A waste of time
I have read every book regarding Warren Buffett and in my opinion this one is by far the worst. I would urge readers to spend their money on other Buffett books. Any of the other ones would be better than this one.

This one simply regurgitates everything already written about the man and it's not even done with originality.

Warren Buffett: Master of the Market
This book does not reveal anything new about WEB ... Read more

Book Description

Here is a Buddha for the rest of us. Before He Was Buddha draws from 2,000-year-old Pali and Sanskrit texts to present a personal picture of the man who became the spiritual leader of one of the world's great religions. Unlike overly reverential biographies that treat him as a distant, divine figure, this book shows a very human seeker who discovers the secrets of life. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Good beginning
This is a good beginning book that is a fast, enjoyable read. It doesn't get too bogged down in dry teachings and philosophy, but gives you enough to give one a beginning feeling. It also gives a feeling as to who Buddha the human being was.

Before He Was Buddha
The book was well written with many examples illustrating the message of each chapter. I especially liked the companion pictures and quotes from Buddha which distill the message of each chapter. The book was informative and enjoyable. If you are a first time reader of Buddhasm and want to know about Siddhartha's life as he became an enlightened One, then this book is the one for you. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent Handbook
This book is an excellent resource for researching the life and works of Beethoven. The sections regarding compositions are broken down by ensemble and type, and provide important information such as performance dates, key signatures, time signatures, and movement headings. Almost all topics, including such things as Beethoven's handwriting, favorite literature, philosophies, thoughts on other composers, are covered. Very handy for reference, as well as a guide to starting Beethoven research. Well worth it at twice the price!

Unparalleled Structure
Undoubtedly thousands of books have been written about Beethoven, but what sets this one apart from the others is its well-organized and exhaustive structure. Perhaps the best way to highlight this for the prospective buyer is to list the actual sections contained in this book. 1. Calendar of Beethoven's life, works and related events 2. Beethoven's family tree 3. Who's who of Beethoven's contemporaries 4. Historical background 5. Musical background 6. Beethoven as an individual 7. Beethoven's beliefs and opinions. Following section 7 are several more sections dedicated solely to his music. As you can see, this book offers several aspects that many others neglect to include. This structure also affords one the opportunity to go directly to an area of interest without having to wade through myriad pages. Also included are eight pages of paintings, sculptures and sketches of the maestro. This book is equally at home in the bathroom, on the coffee table, or in the study. It is an invaluable source of information for anyone desiring to learn more about this amazing genius.

Fascinating and Wonderfully Complete!
This book offers chapter after chapter of information on every aspect of Beethoven. I find that every time I pick this book up, I can find something interesting to read about. Obviously the music as catalogued and described. Beyond that, details of the great composer's personality, writing style, health difficulties, as well as his known views on a variety of topics provide endless hours of fascinating reading. I am impressed by the thoroughness of this book. Listings of people who Beethoven knew or interacted with, his influences and those he influenced, pictures and descriptions of his handwriting and manuscripts, the historical perspective on the times he lived in, all clearly described. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about this great master, and to anyone who is interested in the life and times of one of the most influential artists to ever live. In summary I have found it accurate and complete and always interesting. It is an indispensable reference.

Everything to do with Beethoven!
This book has the biography, the politics of the times, the pictures of, the letters of, the thoughts of others about him, deciphering of each piece of music, a list of his contemporaries, patrons, loves, friends, family tree... everything you could ever want to know about Beethoven's life and times! I love this book ... Read more

Book Description

"There's something about smart people explaining ideas to an orangutan that makes their decision making better."

- Warren Buffett

He's an American icon, the world's most famous and most successful investor every financial move is widely reported and copied, his every utterance scanned for meaning. The secret of his success? Let Buffett tell you. He has a few thoughts on the matter.

Thoughts of Chairman Buffett is pure, unadulterated Buffett: a collection of his wittiest, wisest, and most quotable quotes. Compiled by Siimon Reynolds from decades of Buffetts speeches, writings, and interviews, they include gems on such subjects as . . .

Hiring

"Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you.

How to Get Wealthy

"I will tell you the secret of getting rich on Wall Street. You try to be greedy when others are fearful, and you try to be very fearful when others are greedy."

This is Buffett at his best: pithy, funny, unforgettable. These pearls of wisdom will make you laugh-and think. They'll give you sound advice and teach you truths about business and life.

Thoughts of Chairman Buffett offers a lifetime of wisdom at your fingertips. Once you enter the world according to Buffett, you'll never see things in quite the same way again. Siimon Reynolds is a writer and advertising executive living in Australia. A longtime fan of Warren Buffett, Reynolds collected these quotations from a variety of sources, added the headings, and arranged their order of presentation for this volume. At the end of the book you will find Mr. Reynolds's interpretation of Buffett's basic rules of investing. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

succinct and powerful
I've read numerous books about Buffett. What i really like about this book is it's brevity.
The author has assembled Warren's most poignant, pithy and brilliant quotes in one short , sharp book.
I learnt more about Buffett's philosophies from the this little gem than from any other book on the subject.
Frankly, it's a pity most other busineess books aren't this succinct.An outstanding read.

The 'Vest-Pocket' Warren Buffett
This is a great little book that encapsulates the life and investment career of the most widely written about investor in history, Warren Buffett. It is a collection of Warren's wit, wisdom, humor and charm spanning his very successful career as Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. The book is a collection of quotations covering everything from hiring people to his final goal: "What I want people to say when they pass my casket is, Boy was he old!" This little book is inspiring, funny and gives insights into what made Warren so successful. The author, Siimon Reynold, ends the book with a basic interpretation of Buffett's rules of investing. I call this book the "Vest-Pocket" Warren Buffett. It is an easy read that you'll refer to over and over.

A fifteen minute read
A fifteen minute read of various quotations by Warren Buffett. It ends with a brief summary of his technique. Build a focussed portfolio of shares in businesses you understand. These businesses are growing. Buy when they are selling at attractive prices only. Hold them while they continue growing. Allow compounding and earnings reinvestment to work for you.

Shell the few dollars to get the book if your a Warren fan.
Hmm. For around 8 beans, you get Warren's quotes. Should you get it? Only if you hang onto every one of his words. Overall, the book was short and all right. Some excellent quotes to take note though. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

PRESIDENT BUSH'S FIRST YEAR
GEORGE W.BUSH :A HEROIC FIRST YEAR IS A MUST FOR EVERY AMERICAN WHO WANTS TO RELIVE THE HEROIC YEAR OF PRESIDENT BUSH AS 43 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FROM JANUARY 20,2001-SEPTEMBER 11,2001. GEORGE W.BUSH :A HEROIC FIRST YEAR HAVE COLOR PHOTOS.

THIS BOOK IS A TRUE COLLECTORS EDTION.

great pictures
As you can bet this is a pretty biased book. Although everything in here is true I have a feeling there were some things left out as well. This book covers the legislation that Bush passed before 9/11 and the changed administration after 9/11. The best thing about this book is the pictures. They are in color and they are great. They alone are worth the cost of the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Supplying lessons from today's most celebrated and successful business thinkers, DK's Business Masterminds series is perfect for people hoping to advance their corporate careers, make their own businesses grow and prosper, or achieve personal goals. In addition to providing overviews of each mastermind's most influential writings and speeches, each title is packed with full-color charts, diagrams, and photographs that graphically illustrate complex concepts. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

If you can't beat them join them
As a member of the proletariot, I have found after years of immense slumber that value investing is the way to go. True kapitalism is not perfect, but communism seems far worse. So in conclusion Komrads, value investing is the best way for the proletariot to enter the bougerousie.

good reading for business minds
I would strongly recommend the book for all MBAs, serious investors.

It provides valuable insights into the art of investing and conducting business. The practical aspects of what is not taught in B schools are covered in the book. ... Read more

Book Description

For a decade, Marlin Fitzwater was White House Press Secretary for Presidents Reagan and Bush, a remarkably long sojourn in that high-pressure post.His longevity was a testament to the unique combination of talents he brought to the job.And his long tenure gave him unparalleled insight into the way the press and the presidency collide in today's Washington. CALL THE BRIEFING is an insightful memoir of the Reagan/Bush years that provides a richly detailed account of both Presidents, their lives, and their power.It is essential reading for students of journalism or politics, those who loved two of our greatest Presidents, or those who admire the life of a remarkable press secretary. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Payback Time
I have read my fair share of political memoirs and to me they always seem to all into one of two categories. It is either the disgruntled guy that maybe did not leave on such good terms who is going to put as much venom as possible into anyone that slightly crossed him during his time in the administration, or it is the guy that thinks the President he served walked on water and is wondering why the American population did not create a monarchy with his President as the King. This book falls into the later category. I am not apposed to these types of books, I tend to like them if I liked the President so I was ok with the authors glowing review of Reagan and Bush. I just wished the author had given us little more meat with his comments. Most of the book reminded me of a rambling conversation you might have with a friend where, at the end, you really do not know what was talked about. One thing did come out very clearly, the author loved working for these two Presidents and there is absolutely no criticism, fair or unfair, within these pages.

The one thing that I did get a little annoyed at was the author's attacks on the Clinton administration. I could understand the comments about the 1992 election and those comments were fair, but what was with the comments of what the Clinton team was doing in 95? These looked to me as nothing else but simple-minded attacks to help a bruised ego. As the book went on into the Bush administration this author started to really tear into the press. On and on he would spout off about the liberal press that was just out to get good old George when maybe the author should have realized that it was the Bush team that was losing focus and was losing the election one day at a time. The author hardly ever admitted that the Bush administration made mistakes; the No New Taxes issue was not even discussed. And as other reviewers here have mentioned, the author did not touch on the two military actions undertaken during the Bush administration. Overall the book was light on new facts, but had some interesting parts about the press and some internal meetings and issues. I could not get past the petty attacks on the Clinton administration and the obsessive mantra about the negative, unfair liberal press.

Outstanding Insider's View of the White House
Fitzwater's book is perhaps one of the finest insiders views of the White House and the White House press corps to ever be published.
Fitzwater details the inner workings of the Reagan White House like none other, including the scandals and how they did not affect the inside of the White House regardless of the pressure from the media. His admiration for Ronald Reagan is palpable in this book, however he's not as favorable to George Bush. While it's clear he personally likes Bush, it's also clear that he did not agree with Bush's policies and the rest of the Bush White House team as much as he seemed to agree with much of the Reagan White House. However, overall the only person to come out of Fitzwater's book looking bad is John Sununu the former Chief of Staff. He comes off as paranoid and really a generally nasty guy.
Fitzwater also writes probably the finest view of why Bush lost the 1992 Presidental race and the bungling inside of the White House that caused it. Unfortunately he avoids writing much about the invasion of Panama and Desert Storm, two of the biggest events of the Bush Presidency. Fitzwater rationalizes this by stating many other books will be written on those two events, however I would liked to have known how he handled it in terms of the briefings and the announcement of the invasion of Panama and the beginning of Desert Storm.
Overall, this is a fine book and should be read by anyone who wants an insider's view of what the Washington Press Corps and their relationship with the White House is really like as well as anyone interested in how Bush managed to turn huge popularity raitings during and after Desert Storm into a political defeat in 1992.

Riveting Tale of Real-Life Politics
"Call the Briefing" by Marlin Fitzwater puts you inside the White House. The reader is brought right to the Podium, fielding questions from a voracious Press Corps ready to do almost anything for a story. And you are there with the President and the Cabinet, discussing strategy and estimating every action's media reaction.It was hard to put this book down. You meet the very idealistic Ronald Reagan and the very professional George H. W. Bush through the eyes of the man who served a Press Secretary in both Administrations. Mr. Fitzwater's longevity in that position attests to his skill at working with the White House insiders and the news media.

Many of the events covered are specific to the Reagan and Bush days, but you also experience the many duties of the White House Press Secretary in any Administration, a role that could give ulcers to almost anyone. This gave me a real appreciation of the "24/7" crises White House Staff in any Administration, must battle every day.I especially liked Mr. Fitzwater's writing, honed through years of experience. I liked his ability to paint events in a terse yet rich way. All the journeys of Marlin Fitzwater come alive, starting as a farm boy in Abeliene, Kansas and a reporter and editor in small-town Kansas newspapers.

Although he had originally wanted a career as a journalist, his opportunity came on the other side of the podium, handling public relations at Government agencies. Mr. Fitzwater got his baptism by fire at the Environmental Protection Agency, handling the hot potato of the Three Mile Island Nuclear leak. For better or worse, it is the news media which ultimately decides what is news and how that news is presented to the public. But their power is even greater than we perceive. They can choose to make any particular event, such as a Presidential Speech, front-page headline news or bury it on the Obituary page.

Mr. Fitzwater handled his dual challenge very well: to communicate the Administration's activities in the most favorable light, and at the same time building trust among the White House Press Corps by being fair and honest. One sees the successes, such as the Summit Meetings held by both Presidents Reagan and Bush with Premiere Gorbachev of the Soviet Union. And you see the bad times, such as the unfortunate illnesses suffered by Mr. Bush at Camp David and again in Japan, which caused many people to question his ability to finish his term. The reader also learns about the successes and failures of the Movers and Shakers in the White House, from Caspar Weiberger and Iran-Contra to the rise and fall of the autocratic Chief of Staff John Sununu. And of course the Media are happy to make a story at anyone's expense.

Definitely five stars, and recommended for anyone who wants to know more about what happens in White House and how it affects the Nation.

Riveting Tale of Real Politics
"Call the Briefing" by Marlin Fitzwater puts you inside the White House. The reader is brought right to the Podium, fielding questions from a voracious Press Corps ready to do almost anything for a story. And you are there with the President and the Cabinet, discussing strategy and estimating every action's media reaction.It was hard to put this book down. You meet the very idealistic Ronald Reagan and the very professional George H. W. Bush through the eyes of the man who served a Press Secretary in both Administrations. Mr. Fitzwater's longevity in that position attests to his skill at working with the White House insiders and the news media.

Many of the events covered are specific to the Reagan and Bush days, but you also experience the many duties of the White House Press Secretary in any Administration, a role that could give ulcers to almost anyone. This gave me a real appreciation of the "24/7" crises White House Staff in any Administration, must battle every day.I especially liked Mr. Fitzwater's writing, honed through years of experience. I liked his ability to paint events in a terse yet rich way. All the journeys of Marlin Fitzwater come alive, starting as a farm boy in Abeliene, Kansas and a reporter and editor in small-town Kansas newspapers.

Although he had originally wanted a career as a journalist, his opportunity came on the other side of the podium, handling public relations at Government agencies. Mr. Fitzwater got his baptism by fire at the Environmental Protection Agency, handling the hot potato of the Three Mile Island Nuclear leak. For better or worse, it is the news media which ultimately decides what is news and how that news is presented to the public. But their power is even greater than we perceive. They can choose to make any particular event, such as a Presidential Speech, front-page headline news or bury it on the Obituary page.

Mr. Fitzwater handled his dual challenge very well: to communicate the Administration's activities in the most favorable light, and at the same time building trust among the White House Press Corps by being fair and honest. One sees the successes, such as the Summit Meetings held by both Presidents Reagan and Bush with Premiere Gorbachev of the Soviet Union. And you see the bad times, such as the unfortunate illnesses suffered by Mr. Bush at Camp David and again in Japan, which caused many people to question his ability to finish his term. The reader also learns about the successes and failures of the Movers and Shakers in the White House, from Caspar Weiberger and Iran-Contra to the rise and fall of the autocratic Chief of Staff John Sununu. And of course the Media are happy to make a story at anyone's expense.

Definitely five stars, and recommended for anyone who wants to know more about what happens in White House and how it affects the Nation. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

Lucy lover
I loved this book. It is chocked full of some famous pictures of the American icon, Lucielle Ball, as well as other not as well known shots. Its filled with well known episodes like the chocolate factory and the grape smashing. I really recommend it.

Wow! I thought that this book was great ! I am a huge fan !
Lucy a Life In Pictures was one of the best books I have ever read. I am a big fan of Lucy's so by reading this wonderful book I became farmiliar with her life.The pictures and captions were great so I would highly recomend this book to anyone who Loves Lucy.I Became a bigger Lucy fan by reading this book and a Tim Frew Fan as well! -Kesia

A MUST for Lucy fans!
"Lucy: A Life in Pictures" can only be described in one word - "fantastic"! The pictures are of great quality and the captions are super. To see Lucille Ball evolve from Goldwyn Girl, to what she is most remembered for today, Lucy Ricardo, is just great. I recommend.

Great Pictorial of the Greatest Comedienne to Ever Live!
I may be a little high on the praise, but Lucille Ball is truly deserving of all the accolades bestowed upon her during her life and since her death. No other performer has had such a lasting impression on the world of entertainment as she has.

One cannot forget that, despite the outrageous costumes worn and situations in which her various "Lucy" characters were involved, the fact remains that Lucille Ball was a very attractive woman. This book not only showcases the respective series but her work on the big screen as well as her early life.

Obviously, like the rest of us, the author really "loves" Lucy.