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American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
24
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
24
Review Date: 5/7/2009
Helpful Score: 2
An excellent analysis of the role of religion, energy sources and the rise of a financial focus of a nation.
Compares Spain, Holland, Britain and current US.
This helps explain the last decades in our country.
Compares Spain, Holland, Britain and current US.
This helps explain the last decades in our country.
The Confederate Republic: A Revolution Against Politics (Civil War America)
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
1
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
1
Review Date: 3/10/2010
An excellent book giving the insight behind the creation of the Confederacy.
To a great extent, the South attempted to re-create the atmosphere around the birth of the nation, before the evolution of political parties, conventions and campaigning.
The author poses the paradoxes and mixed messages of the day. For example, the South needed, for economic reasons, to fight a defensive war. But the South had better generals, more suited towards offfense. The South was crippled by high tariffs, but needed a way to raise revenue for war. And, the South wanted a limited, inexpensive confederacy, where states had much authority. But this made raising an army difficult, especially when it was fighting in another state. Slavery was, naturally, favored, but importing slaves from border states, and even from Africa was discouraged.
And, the nature of slavery was tied to the concept of a hierarchy by race, more than an economic institution. I've often felt the issue of slavery was simply economics. And freeing the slaves would cost the plantation owners money. They could be compensated with land farther west, which the government had in abundance. And the western lands would not be depleted of nutrients by repeated crops of cotton. But, as this book explains, the South was bound by more than economics, and the existence of slavery was necessary.
There are many books about the military part of this era, but few about the politics. This excellent book is one of those few.
To a great extent, the South attempted to re-create the atmosphere around the birth of the nation, before the evolution of political parties, conventions and campaigning.
The author poses the paradoxes and mixed messages of the day. For example, the South needed, for economic reasons, to fight a defensive war. But the South had better generals, more suited towards offfense. The South was crippled by high tariffs, but needed a way to raise revenue for war. And, the South wanted a limited, inexpensive confederacy, where states had much authority. But this made raising an army difficult, especially when it was fighting in another state. Slavery was, naturally, favored, but importing slaves from border states, and even from Africa was discouraged.
And, the nature of slavery was tied to the concept of a hierarchy by race, more than an economic institution. I've often felt the issue of slavery was simply economics. And freeing the slaves would cost the plantation owners money. They could be compensated with land farther west, which the government had in abundance. And the western lands would not be depleted of nutrients by repeated crops of cotton. But, as this book explains, the South was bound by more than economics, and the existence of slavery was necessary.
There are many books about the military part of this era, but few about the politics. This excellent book is one of those few.
Disaster at D-Day: The Germans Defeat the Allies,June 1944 (Greenhill Military Paperbacks)
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
4
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
4
Review Date: 6/8/2010
An excellent, detailed narrative of a possible scenario. I would question the ability of the Germans to supply 30 divisions without railroads, and with marginal roads, especially without any air presence. Even with Luftwaffe coverage, the supply chain would be limited.
With excellent naval gunfire coverage, it would be difficult for Germany to retake the last ten miles from the shore. Allied forces could be stopped, but not be pushed back.
As far as the political settlement without Hitler and with Rommel, that is certainly speculative. Stalin often said Eisenhower is willing to fight Germany down to the last Russian, and as long as Germans and Russians were killing each other, Eisenhower would have been willing to let Germany plink off a thousand allied soldiers a month in Normandy, while Germany and Russia were killing a thousand soldiers an hour. America feared both Germany and Russia, and felt that a sheer reduction in Germany's population was one way to prevent Germany from creating WW III. And, Hitler was only one of a unified high command, the allies did not want any of the top dogs around, killing Hitler was not a solution.
As far as the style of the book, I would have added many more maps.
With excellent naval gunfire coverage, it would be difficult for Germany to retake the last ten miles from the shore. Allied forces could be stopped, but not be pushed back.
As far as the political settlement without Hitler and with Rommel, that is certainly speculative. Stalin often said Eisenhower is willing to fight Germany down to the last Russian, and as long as Germans and Russians were killing each other, Eisenhower would have been willing to let Germany plink off a thousand allied soldiers a month in Normandy, while Germany and Russia were killing a thousand soldiers an hour. America feared both Germany and Russia, and felt that a sheer reduction in Germany's population was one way to prevent Germany from creating WW III. And, Hitler was only one of a unified high command, the allies did not want any of the top dogs around, killing Hitler was not a solution.
As far as the style of the book, I would have added many more maps.
Review Date: 1/12/2010
Helpful Score: 1
Not a "get rich quick" book, but a mentoring pathway to achieve a successful life in many dimensions. Although it would be possible to argue a few small points, the overall framework that the book provides is outstanding.
If you were to buy any other self-help book, use harmonic Wealth to map it into a place in your plan.
If you were to buy any other self-help book, use harmonic Wealth to map it into a place in your plan.
Review Date: 3/8/2010
I would recommend reading this book in tandem with "The Yard, Building a Destroyer at the Bath Iron Works" by Michael Sanders, 0060929634 . Both books look at two different yards with two different perspectives.
He narrates the life of the Quincy Yard, building many ships. He lived near the yard a long time, giving him the perspective to observe the micro lives of blue collar workers. The personalities, pranks, romances, fears, failures and victories of these men and women are painted in colorful (and sometimes profane) stories that will bring you tears of laughter. Personally, having experienced some of these tales, having seen a few more and having heard of even many more, Drummond reminded me of my humble beginnings, and the joy and fun of passing through them. I've sat in a a few chairs in my career, and Drummond reminded me that a few had whoopie cushions on them. Drummond is a shipbuilder who can write.
Conversely, Sanders is a writer who could build ships. Sanders portrays the Bath Iron Works, a hundred miles north of Quincy, as a reporter, and gives a great deal of the details of building modern ships. The skill, talent and passion of these workers, as well as their relation to the town is portrayed in detail, with clear, lucid writing. A tough, but fair portrayal of the macro dynamics of politics, economics, hopes, fears and culture (Town, Yard and Navy) is displayed. Personally, having spent four decades in corporate America, much in the military industrial complex, I identified with the pride, dedication, planning and vision found in all "crackerjack" outfits. Sanders inspired me to keep the crackerjack spirit alive, and hand it down to the next generations. Sanders portrayes this well.
Read them both. They really go together.
He narrates the life of the Quincy Yard, building many ships. He lived near the yard a long time, giving him the perspective to observe the micro lives of blue collar workers. The personalities, pranks, romances, fears, failures and victories of these men and women are painted in colorful (and sometimes profane) stories that will bring you tears of laughter. Personally, having experienced some of these tales, having seen a few more and having heard of even many more, Drummond reminded me of my humble beginnings, and the joy and fun of passing through them. I've sat in a a few chairs in my career, and Drummond reminded me that a few had whoopie cushions on them. Drummond is a shipbuilder who can write.
Conversely, Sanders is a writer who could build ships. Sanders portrays the Bath Iron Works, a hundred miles north of Quincy, as a reporter, and gives a great deal of the details of building modern ships. The skill, talent and passion of these workers, as well as their relation to the town is portrayed in detail, with clear, lucid writing. A tough, but fair portrayal of the macro dynamics of politics, economics, hopes, fears and culture (Town, Yard and Navy) is displayed. Personally, having spent four decades in corporate America, much in the military industrial complex, I identified with the pride, dedication, planning and vision found in all "crackerjack" outfits. Sanders inspired me to keep the crackerjack spirit alive, and hand it down to the next generations. Sanders portrayes this well.
Read them both. They really go together.
Review Date: 10/28/2009
This is must reading if you are an officer in a club, lodge, fraternity, sorority or any organization that elects new officers every year.
An excellent explanation about how trust in an organization controls the speed in which the organization executes its basic mission and adapts to new challenges. You will find that high trust means that you will, in your year of office, get a lot of things done, and leave a lot of people satisfied. While low trust will mean your year of office will accomplish little, and drive off members.
Trust is built by competence, and lost by integrity. This book will give you helps on building your own trust, as well as help you find "competence peers", "integrity peers", and "priority peers". (My words, not Covey/Merrill)
Lots of business examples, and personal anecdotes.
An excellent explanation about how trust in an organization controls the speed in which the organization executes its basic mission and adapts to new challenges. You will find that high trust means that you will, in your year of office, get a lot of things done, and leave a lot of people satisfied. While low trust will mean your year of office will accomplish little, and drive off members.
Trust is built by competence, and lost by integrity. This book will give you helps on building your own trust, as well as help you find "competence peers", "integrity peers", and "priority peers". (My words, not Covey/Merrill)
Lots of business examples, and personal anecdotes.
Review Date: 3/8/2010
I would recommend reading this book in tandem with "The Shipyard: Will it Float?" by David Drummond, 059527532X . Both books look at two different yards with two different perspectives.
Sanders portrays the Bath Iron Works as a reporter, and gives a great deal of the details of building modern ships. The skill, talent and passion of these workers, as well as their relation to the town is portrayed in detail, with clear, lucid writing. A tough, but fair portrayal of the macro dynamics of politics, economics, hopes, fears and culture (Town, Yard and Navy) is displayed. Personally, having spent four decades in corporate America, much in the military industrial complex, I identified with the pride, dedication, planning and vision found in all "crackerjack" outfits. Sanders inspired me to keep the crackerjack spirit alive, and hand it down to the next generations. Sanders portrayesd this well. Sanders is a writer, who could build ships.
Drummond, converseley, is a shipbuilder who can write. He narrates the life of the Quincy Yard, a hundred miles south of Bath, doing the same thing. He lived near the yard a long time, giving him the perspective to observe the micro lives of blue collar workers. The personalities, pranks, romances, fears, failures and victories of these men and women are painted in colorful (and sometimes profane) stories that will bring you tears of laughter. Personally, having experienced some of these tales, having seen a few more and having heard of even many more, Drummond reminded me of my humble beginnings, and the joy and fun of passing through them. I've sat in a a few chairs in my career, and Drummond reminded me that a few had whoopie cushions on them.
Read them both. They really go together.
Sanders portrays the Bath Iron Works as a reporter, and gives a great deal of the details of building modern ships. The skill, talent and passion of these workers, as well as their relation to the town is portrayed in detail, with clear, lucid writing. A tough, but fair portrayal of the macro dynamics of politics, economics, hopes, fears and culture (Town, Yard and Navy) is displayed. Personally, having spent four decades in corporate America, much in the military industrial complex, I identified with the pride, dedication, planning and vision found in all "crackerjack" outfits. Sanders inspired me to keep the crackerjack spirit alive, and hand it down to the next generations. Sanders portrayesd this well. Sanders is a writer, who could build ships.
Drummond, converseley, is a shipbuilder who can write. He narrates the life of the Quincy Yard, a hundred miles south of Bath, doing the same thing. He lived near the yard a long time, giving him the perspective to observe the micro lives of blue collar workers. The personalities, pranks, romances, fears, failures and victories of these men and women are painted in colorful (and sometimes profane) stories that will bring you tears of laughter. Personally, having experienced some of these tales, having seen a few more and having heard of even many more, Drummond reminded me of my humble beginnings, and the joy and fun of passing through them. I've sat in a a few chairs in my career, and Drummond reminded me that a few had whoopie cushions on them.
Read them both. They really go together.
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