Book Description
The first warning shots of WW III have already been fired
The escalating terrorist attacks in the Middle East and in major cities in the West are not isolated acts of extremism. They are the first warning shots fired in a coming world war.
For decades, prophecy expert Grant R. Jeffrey has been analyzing geopolitical developments through the lenses of history, religion, and prophecy. As current events unfold according to the prophecies of the Bible, Jeffrey says Islamic extremists are preparing to attack Israel and conquer western civilization–destroying our freedom.
Drawing from firsthand interviews, intelligence reports, and ancient prophecy, Jeffrey reveals:
·Saddam Hussein’s role in the 9/11 attack on America
·Where Iraq hid its Weapons of Mass Destruction
·How Russia and extreme Islam will launch World War III
·The Bible’s prophecy of the destruction of extremist Islam
·How Israel will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem
With Grant Jeffrey’s incisive and sometimes surprising analysis, you can understand the hidden agenda and powerful players behind today’s news headlines.
Customer Reviews:
Grant Jeffrey opens mouth, nonsense comes out.......2007-05-19
This is the same author who wrote an ENTIRE book predicting the Y2K computer bug would wipe out the economy and usher in the anti-christ. I would have assumed after that fiasco the Christians would have laughed him off the stage, but I assumed wrong. He is still on television and still selling ridiculous books.
I admit I only read the intro to this book at the store. I sure as heck wasn't going to buy it. I also watch him once in a blue moon for a few minutes when I need a laugh.
Jeffrey would have people believe the temple is about to be built any day now. People, listen to me, the temple is in our hearts, it is not the literal temple in Israel. The temple in Israel would be at the Dome of the Rock, one of Islam's most sacred sites. The second Israel went to build there, every nation in the Middle East would IMMEDIATELY declare war on Israel. If you are waiting for the temple to be rebuilt so the end times could begin soon, you better wait thousands of years or more.
Jeffrey says the weapons of mass destruction from Iraq were trucked to Syria where they will be used in the end times war. I voted for George W. Bush twice. I only say that to establish I am not an anti-war leftist. The truth is Iraq NEVER did have weapons of mass destruction. After Sadaam was overthrown, American weapons inspectors offered any Iraqi huge cash rewards and asylum for information on the weapons. Someone in the production, storage, or transport of these weapons would have seized that offer, but they didn't exist. 2)To FURTHER debunk Jeffrey's myth, the weapons have a very limited shelf life once they are produced. They do not stay weapons grade very long, but quickly break down in a matter of months. They would no longer be a military threat even if they were sent to Syria(which they weren't).
My fellow Christians, quit embarrassing the Kingdom by buying this drivel and hopefully these end times idiots will disappear. Revelation is what happens in our hearts. Consider this: In Revelation 8, one-third of the earth is set on fire, one-third of the sea becomes blood, one-third of water is made bitter, one-third of the sun, moon, and stars become dark, insects are tormenting people, billions of people die, a 200 million man army is on the march.....and what do people do??? They line up to take the mark of the beast so they could go on buying and selling!!! Buying and selling what??? Get some common sense people. Revelation is a metaphor for our own individual hearts.
Very informative & well detailed!.......2007-03-20
Mr. Jeffrey dispenses supportive information to his opinion of the second coming of Jesus Christ!
Not only did he displayed supportive information on the second coming, but he thoroughly expelled the most forgotten details which occured in 2002 and beyond (for example, The Spetznaz truck (convoys) leaving Iraq, heading towards Syria and Iran; the disclosure of photos of the Spetznaz convoys (Russian-owned Spetznaz, that is) from the satellite imagery; reports supporting the cover up of nondisclosure removal of the missing WMD in these Spetznaz trucks by Bush and his CIA; contacts between Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden in AFRICA in the 90's, etc.).
This book discloses missing facts and is an eye opener.
I truly believe, we are living those last days of age and the second coming is near.
Title does not match content.......2007-02-13
Found it to be filled with more history and statistics than what the title states is in the content of this book. The author threw a curve when he went on a rant about those who believe in the Trinity. I fail to understand how belief, or non-belief, in a triune God is relevant to the topic of end times or biblical prophesy.
Nifty Compact Treatment.......2007-01-29
With mainline churches in America (and elsewhere) unraveling, and conservative religion (of all faiths) on the increase, it is no wonder there would be a corner for a nifty little book like this. Make no mistake, it is a powerhouse of sorts..lots of current information that is not found elsewhere, well-documented, rare facts gleaned (presumably) from Grant's visits to the Middle East, written in a fast, tight style. That is, until 2/3 of the way through the book when he shifts to evangelical theology of end time events, and this continues through the remainder of the book. Evangelical theology in America has many favorite doctrines, several of them in this book (the 144,000 being witnesses in Revelation for example). He preaches a literal end time Temple in Jerusalem (some theologians see the use of "temple" in the New Testament restricted to the church as God's temple, but Grant has Scripture support for his thesis as well). The advantage of this book is it's little known and well-documented facts, current information, and well-written first 2/3 of the book detailing what he sees is coming as a result of the Mid East unrest. It is hard to put down, and due to it's size (176 pps plus supplements) can be read in two days carefully, and should be considered an update of The American Prophecies by Mike Evans. Well worth reading.
Boring.......2007-01-26
I found this book quite boring with a lot of detailed info concerning islam, al qaida, bin Laden and other such things that have very little relevance to an average christian. If you have seen Mr. Jeffrey on Benny Hinn's TV programmes, you have heard all you need to know about this book. I was very disappointed.
Book Description
"WEST POINT: Thomas Jefferson: Character Leadership Education" is author Norman Thomas Remick's successor to his pioneering book, "Mr. Jefferson's Academy: The Real Story Behind West Point", the one and only work that identifies and proves a heretofore secret Thomas Jefferson-West Point connection. This book is the penetrating account of a ten year search by Norman Thomas Remick, four years at West Point that tells you the way it is inside those fabled gray granite walls, and six years inside the research halls of libraries to uncover and decipher the code of archival facts that have brought to light a special historic relationship between Thomas Jefferson and West Point. Remick also details how this historic college produces leaders, why it does so the way it does, why America has a West Point to produce Officers when there are easier and cheaper ways to do so, and why Thomas Jefferson founded West Point in the first place. The secret behind why Jefferson founded West Point informs the contemporary controversy over whether America still needs a West Point at a cost of hundreds of millions per year in taxpayer dollars.
The book is not only unique in breaking new historical ground but it is also unique in its innovative presentation of true and accurate history. By employing creative nonfiction and the choice of a dramatic dialogue as narrative vehicle, the author gives us something here that is quite different and refreshing as he takes us on a journey through history and philosophy that winds its way from Ancient times to post American Revolution times to show us how the great moral stories of the world shaped Thomas Jefferson, and in turn, America and West Point.
The book is also an education, a special kind of education. Because the journey through history uses as its sources the same books Thomas Jefferson himself read that are in his famous library, when you read this book you are learning the same things that he learned. By cleverly converting the difficult history and philosophy contained in Jefferson's books into ordinary language and American vernacular, and weaving together hundreds of wonderful poems, anecdotes, and unusual scenarios, Remick has produced a timeless gem on West Point and Thomas Jefferson and leadership and character that will be an enjoyable and engaging and educational experience for years to come and for people of all ages and educational levels, not just scholars.
As an added bonus: Those who cannot visit West Point will enjoy the sixteen pages that the author has nicely blended into the storyline, including 24 full color pictures, that takes you on a virtual tour of West Point.
Customer Reviews:
My favorite.......2006-03-27
A few words to pass along how much I enjoyed this book. Not written for scholars, though there's a fantastic amount of research and overview kind of education, but an everyman type of book that 99% of the rest of us can enjoy and understand whatever your age or education, as long as you can read. The book does what author sets out to do (if you read the intro. and cover), and somewhat brilliantly. If you judge a book by the author's intent, this is five star and my favorite of all the West Point books.
Just Finished.......2006-03-12
I just finished with several West Point books and want to take a minute of my time to plug Mr. Remick's book as being far and away the one that has had the most time, effort, original thought, and educational information put into it over all of the others. And, he made it fun to read. If you can't afford to read them all, choose this one.
Someone up to no good .......2005-12-11
When someone takes the trouble to try to discredit the many honest and intelligent adults who have read Mr. Remick's book and written positive reviews, and what I, as a West Point Dad, know to be the thousands of people who have found this book to be everything the five star reviews say it is, you know that the someone is up to no good. I know of many people that this book has helped. I always recommend it to both youth and adults who are interested in West Point, or in Thomas Jefferson. It was recommended to me by Admissions and the Athletic Association. The recent negative review shocked me into writing this because the book accomplishes the very things the negative review says it doesn't, and I have verified that the book does not say what the review clearly intentionally misquotes it as saying. All I can say is that I fully subscribe to everything in the review dated Aug. 25, 2005, "Judge For Yourself". That is my suggestion to everyone. Just read the book and judge for yourself.
Judge For Yourself.......2005-08-26
I was so impressed with this book that I feel compelled to debunk the previous spiteful review. All the things it said are twisted. True, the author had the guts to present his wealth of research information in a very unique, creative, and easy-to-read way. That's what makes the book great. It seems all pioneers who do something new and wonderful are bashed by the opposition these days. I wonder why? If you buy the book and read it, you'll see what I mean. Judge for yourself.
A Rare Touch Of Brilliance.......2005-07-29
A brilliantly conceived and researched book that is an education on traditional America, Thomas Jefferson, and West Point and how they are irreversibly connected. I can't imagine any fairminded person of any age group being disappointed.
Book Description
In Oh What a Slaughter, Larry McMurtry has written a unique, brilliant, and searing history of the bloody massacres that marked -- and marred -- the settling of the American West in the nineteenth century, and which still provoke immense controversy today.
Here are the true stories of the West's most terrible massacres -- Sacramento River, Mountain Meadows, Sand Creek, Marias River, Camp Grant, and Wounded Knee, among others. These massacres involved Americans killing Indians, but also Indians killing Americans, and, in the case of the hugely controversial Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857, Mormons slaughtering a party of American settlers, including women and children.
McMurtry's evocative descriptions of these events recall their full horror, and the deep, constant apprehension and dread endured by both pioneers and Indians. By modern standards the death tolls were often small -- Custer's famous defeat at Little Big Horn in 1876 was the only encounter to involve more than two hundred dead -- yet in the thinly populated West of that time, the violent extinction of a hundred people had a colossal impact on all sides. Though the perpetrators often went unpunished, many guilty and traumatized men felt compelled to tell and retell the horrors they had committed. From letters and diaries, McMurtry has created a moving and swiftly paced narrative, as memorable in its way as such classics as Evan S. Connell's Son of the Morning Star and Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
In Larry McMurtry's own words:
"I have visited all but one of these famous massacre sites -- the Sacramento River massacre of 1846 is so forgotten that its site near the northern California village of Vina can only be approximated. It is no surprise to report that none of the sites are exactly pleasant places to be, though the Camp Grant site north of Tucson does have a pretty community college nearby. In general, the taint that followed the terror still lingers and is still powerful enough to affect locals who happen to live nearby. None of the massacres were effectively covered up, though the Sacramento River massacre was overlooked for a very long time.
"But the lesson, if it is a lesson, is that blood -- in time, and, often, not that much time -- will out. In case after case the dead have managed to assert a surprising potency.
"The deep, constant apprehension, which neither the pioneers nor the Indians escaped, has, it seems to me, been too seldom factored in by historians of the settlement era, though certainly it saturates the diary-literature of the pioneers, particularly the diary-literature produced by frontier women, who were, of course, the likeliest candidates for rapine and kidnap."
Customer Reviews:
A Narrow Audience.......2007-07-23
Mr. McMurtry has written an extended essay/reflection on "pre-emptive stikes", the moral code we live by as a nation, and then tied it briefly to our current policies in IRAQ and the aftermath of 9/11. His subject is several famous, and not so famous massacres in western lore, and his primary purpose is to draw moral conclusions that connect us to today's events. He doesn't really go into any real explaination of the massacres, so you will need to have know about them from other sources in order to understand his message. I read this book just after completing Hampton Sides' "Blood and Thunder", which gave me the background of most of the massacres mentioned. Had I read these books in reverse order, I wouldn't have understood what Mr. McMurty was trying to say at all.
Genocide in the Old West.......2006-12-01
Genocide in the Old West
Most have heard the expression "the only good Indian is a dead Indian". Some have heard "you must get the nits if you want to get the lice" the policy used to justify they massacre of women and children. Few may realize the extent to which the United States practiced and encouraged genocide against Native Americans during the 19th century and how closely our current conflict in Iraq parallels United States policy during the Indian Wars.
This book is no historical treatise but it is a powerful illustration of the conflict between cultures and the consequences of might making right based upon the six largest massacres in the American West. We learn that the killing of Native Americans was not a crime until 1824 and then was only made a crime because politicians feared the unfettered massacre of Indians by whites, much as one my shoot coyotes or whites, might incite an uprising of Native Americans which the government could not control.
McMurtry succinctly sets the tone and feeling of the settlers, ranchers, Indian Agents, Military and Native Americans in this timeless tragedy. He notes white perpetrators of massacres were not brought to justice. He also notes the insanity of inflicting death and destruction on a group because one or two members may have misbehaved.
Historians of this subject will find his reports simplistic and shallow. But the overview and analysis he provides of the motivating forces, political justifications and sheer horror of that period provide an invaluable insight to the dangers of inflicting our form of government and morals on a people used to living in a different way.
The book contains an excellent Bibliography and intriguing references to historical literature that all of us would love to read. This book is well worth reading for anyone interested in Native Americans, American Foreign Policy as implemented by force, or the American West.
Fascinating Writing.......2006-07-14
Some have argued about the length of this book. I think fine writing is fine writing whether we are talking about a poem of 4 lines or a novel of 1,000 pages.
I am really enjoying this book, and would have been happy to read 500 more pages if they were of the quality of this short book. However, in the summer, I appreciate the brevity of this book since I might not have tackled it if it were long.
What do I like? I find many insightful comments although as McMurtry clearly points out: we will never truly find out exactly what happened in these massacres but who could really know the truth about a massacre since each one is terribly messy and each one causes intense, complicated emotional responses in the people who were massacred and the people who did the butchering.
If he talks about spin, how the winners tried to appear heroic and downplay the nastiness of their deeds, we should not be surprised because recent history is being besieged by spin doctors.
Just as he says and as we can see if we think of the Sudan, Bosnia, Rwanda, etc., no massacre stands in isolation but is a part of a history of animosity between the two groups. A book which attempted to give the history of the struggles and misunderstandings which led up to these massacres and which later followed as consequences flowing from reactions to these massacres would be very long indeed.
Two other things in this book which I enjoyed were the wonderful photos and the interesting little-known details about some of the colorful characters involved in these little histories.
Who will forget the portrait of Kit Carson as a horribly efficient Indian-killing machine who felt very sad at the end of his life since he understood the Indians better than anyone else? Also, I find the whole history of the quick extermination of the Indians which lived in California (including the very-little-known Maidu, Wintu and Yana Tribes) to be revealing.
A short but worthy addition.......2006-06-15
Adopting a conversational tone McMurtry briefly (161 pages) explores six 'big massacres' of the Old West: Sacramento River, Mountain Meadows, Sand Creek, Marias River, Camp Grant, and Wounded Knee. He also briefly considers the Fetterman and Custer defeats.
McMurtry's treatment is even-handed. That even-handedness allows his observation of the essential fairness of General Crook, which the Indian leaders acknowledged, as demonstrated by his observation that the Sioux should take the money for the Black Hills because the whites were surely going to take them. Evenhandedness also required inclusion of the observation by Red Cloud that the whites had made many promises but only kept one: "They said they would take our land and they took it."
He develops the idea that the ever present 'apprehension' of violence was felt both by whites and Indians and that the apprehension all too often led to the actuality. Moreover, in general white frontiersmen wanted the Indians' land and were going to have it. Whites had the numbers and the technology. In all of the massacres with the exception of Wounded Knee the whites set out with the purpose of killing all the Indians they could lay hands on. As McMurtry relates civilized society often quickly disowned these deeds as 'simple murder'.
Mountain Meadows stands out an as exception in that Mormons led some Paiutes to attack and virtually wipe out a white wagon train.
The stories of these massacres are told in more detail elsewhere, but McMurtry's book is an interesting addition to the Western library that considers all of them within the confines of one short work.
Oh what a Slaughter.......2006-06-06
Contrary to the dust jacket this slight 160 page non-fiction book by well-known novelist Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove) is neither unique nor brilliant. It is a small rendering of six or seven Indian massacres, with little detail and even less historical context. Aside from allowing the author the opportunity to insert his own otherwise irrelevant political opinions on current events, for example, at one point comparing Plains Indians detained on reservations to "Afghans imprisoned" by President Bush (for terrorist activities) the book serves no real purpose for the reader. It doesn't really describe the topic in any real fashion. I concur with the reviewer who thought it seemed like a bunch of research notes pinned together and published as a book.
In the final analysis one must ask the question "what does this book add to the literature?" The unfortunate answer is "little to nothing". The author should stick to writing novels. Libraries are filled with books that no one reads.
Amazon.com
Despite setbacks, the economic "miracles" achieved by many Asian countries in the latter 20th century have been impressive. This entertaining and thoughtful book invites the reader to consider East Asia's other miracle: its dramatically low rates of crime, divorce, drug abuse, and other social ills. T.R. Reid, an NPR commentator and former Tokyo bureau chief for the Washington Post, lived in Japan for five years, and he draws on this experience to show how the countries of East Asia have built modern industrial societies characterized by the safest streets, the best schools, and the most stable families in the world.
Reid credits Asia's success to the ethical values of Chinese philosopher Confucius, born in 551 B.C., who taught the value of harmony and the importance of treating others decently. This is not a new perception--Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore and others have rather heavy-handedly invoked it to claim moral superiority over the West--but the author's vivid anecdotes strengthen its relevance. Public messages constantly remind Asian citizens of their responsibilities to society. To enhance a sense of belonging, civic ceremonies encourage individuals' allegiance to a greater good; across Japan, for example, April 1 is Nyu-Sha-Shiki day, when corporations officially welcome new employees, most of whom remain loyal to their company for life. Citing Malaysia's ideas of a "reverse Peace Corps," Reid sees a case for Asians coming to teach the West in the same way that Westerners have evangelized in Asia for over four centuries. --John Stevenson
Book Description
"Fascinating...clearly stated, interesting and provoking.... A plainspoken account of living in Asia." --San Francisco Chronicle
Anyone who has heard his weekly commentary on NPR knows that T. R. Reid is trenchant, funny, and deeply knowledgeable reporter and now he brings this erudition and humor to the five years he spent in Japan--where he served as
The Washington Post's Tokyo bureau chief. He provides unique insights into the country and its 2,500-year-old Confucian tradition, a powerful ethical system that has played an integral role in the continent's "postwar miracle."
Whether describing his neighbor calmly asserting that his son's loud bass playing brings disrepute on the neighborhood, or the Japanese custom of having students clean the schools, Reid inspires us to consider the many benefits of the Asian Way--as well as its drawbacks--and to use this to come to a greater understanding of both Japanese culture and America.
Customer Reviews:
Not a bad introduction to Japan.......2007-05-31
T.R. Reid spent several years in Japan as a bureau chief for the Washington Post, and Confucius Lives Next Door is, on one level, about his and his family's experiences. Reid, however, is most interested in the "social miracle" he observes in most of East Asia: the low crime and drug use rates, the stable family structure, the relatively egalitarian distribution of wealth, the successful schools. His thesis is that this social harmony derives from the system of values in the teachings of Confucius, particularly the idea of "wa" or group harmony. If you, like most westerners, know little about Confucius, Reid provides a basic introduction. Interestingly, at the end of the book, he offers an "atogaki" or counter-thesis to his own, observing, among other things, that Confucian values are not very different from Judaeo-Christian ones and that the difference between western societies and the ones of East Asia may be that the East Asians do a better job of bringing moral values to bear on daily life. Whether or not you agree with his thesis, Reid offers some sharp observations of daily life in Japan. The book is a good place to begin if you're planning to travel to Japan. Sure, there are a lot of generalizations, as is typical in this sort of book, but the writing is good and the book functions well as an introduction to Japanese culture.
A feel good book for people who like Japan........2007-05-30
T.R. Reid loves Japan and would never criticize the place. Every short coming is a blessing in disguise. I love Japan, so I enjoyed the book. His description of the schools is candy coated and reads more like a promotional brochure. He says his kids attended Japanses schools. In fact they only attended classes when the international school they really attended was on break. (He confessed to this on C-Span.) Though he mentions bullying in passing, he ignores the many problems plaguing Japanese schools. All in all, an entertaining book.
A Worthwhile Introduction to Japanese Culture.......2007-04-29
T R Reid, an accomplished American journalist and a fine writer, lived and worked in Tokyo for several years. Most of this book is based on Reid's personal experience with Japanese culture, although there is some discussion of Asian culture generally.
Reid explains how Asian cultures have succeeded socially where the West has not, e.g., lower crime rates, more economic equality and more social cohesion. For example, he tells of purchasing a bicycle in Japan. The cost of the bike is higher than it would have been in the US, because the Japanese store has more and higher paid employees. On the other hand, there is no risk of the bike being stolen, so Reid does not feel compelled to buy a lock.
Reid's observations are interesting and worthwhile, although not necessarily unique. The book is easy and pleasant to read. I recommend it.
Book review.......2006-09-22
T. R. Reid's stated purpose of his book, Confucius Lives Next Door, is to illustrate why he thinks the West should adopt Confucian values. In doing so, he ignores the apparent downsides of a Confucian society. Despite his overlooking of these faults, he intelligently and thoughtfully conveys his views.
Reid concedes that the thesis of his book is to illuminate the values of Asian society. "Asians achieved their social miracle primarily by holding on to a set of values - what they call Confucian values ..." (Reid 228). He maintains that these values are needed and should be adopted in the West.
It would be hard for one to argue with the statistics Reid demonstrates. It is evident that Japan has far lower rates of violent crime compared to Western countries. "There are about 7.5 murders each year for every 100,000 Americans ... In Japan, the murder rate is below 1.0 per 100,000" (23).
Other factors are at play in the societal stability of Japan other than reduced crime. Divorce rates are far lower in Asian societies, as well. "About 16 percent of marriages in Japan end in divorce." Reid compares this to rate in the United States, "... close to 50 percent ..." (10). There is also little unemployment to plague the economy. Reid points out that Japanese "commitment to keep everybody at work ..." has the positive result that "employees don't get laid off" (86).
While these statistics are astonishing, there are downsides to a society that is created through Confucian learning which Reid seems to skim over or exclude altogether.
In a society so focused on community, there is little room for individuality. Reid demonstrates this with the common Japanese saying, "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down ..." (151). This kind of thinking can lead to pain and confusion for those in the society who, for whatever reason, do not fit the mold. This is evident in the practice of ijime amongst Japanese children. When this happens, students who do not fit in are singled out and effectively bullied until they commit suicide.
Reid himself was disturbed by how robotic his own children were in their learning of the Japanese alphabets, but dismissed it as necessary to succeed. The pressure for children to succeed is immense in Japan and, according to Mrs. Keightly, our in-class speaker, leads to many problems.
Mrs. Keightly, a native of Japan, does not thoroughly confirm Reid's views of Japanese life. According to her, divorce rates are climbing, more and more people are anxious to express their individuality, and materialism among young people is astounding.
It is inevitable that the East is influenced by the ways of the West, as their once very traditional society becomes more comfortable with the idea of changing roles of women and individuality. While I agree that it is obvious that Japan is doing something right in the formation of their societal values, I see Reid's belief that the West must adopt these practices, without acknowledging the inherent problems, as irresponsible.
Despite my opinions on Reid's conclusions, he deftly immerses the reader in all aspects of Japanese life. Through the retelling of humorous stories and the depiction of a colorful world with new tastes, sights, and smells, the reader can imagine him or herself living a typical day in Japanese society.
Reid is unabashed about his purpose of Confucius Lives Next Door. He aims to demonstrate why he thinks the West should adopt Confucian values. However, he overlooks some of the flaws in a Confucian society. Despite this, he writes an intelligent and entertaining book about the wonder that is the Japanese culture.
Very imperfect, but still containing a lot of food for thought.......2006-09-20
Overall, there is much to enjoy in CONFUCIUS LIVES NEXT DOOR; with even touches of enlightenment and humor scattered throughout. There are some significant problems as well, though I found the book to be enjoyable overall.
Reid's basic thesis - that much of the success seen in Eastern Asia evolves from the influence of Confucianism - is thoughtful and provocative, even if it also potentially flirts with stereotype and glosses over the many vast differences between nations as varied as Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan. The influence of several other religions and philosophies isn't investigated, nor are the South Asian (Indian) or Southwest Asian (Islamic) influences that filter into parts of East and Southeast Asia, and in discussing a few of these countries - Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore definitely, it's a very serious oversight.
This book was inspired by a stint of living in Japan, and Japan is the cultural and philosophical jumping-off point for Reid's thesis; this is problematic as well: historically Japan has created a substantial amount of bad blood that lingers to the present in all of the other countries profiled here, and Reid would have been smarter to test the majority of his ideas against the accomplishments and failures of other countries.
The more recent rise of some South Asian nations - notably India - was underway at the time Reid was writing this book, and that continued rise has very substantially dented Reid's central thesis: India would conform to very few of Reid's theories (it completely obliterates several of them), and aside from China, some of the most spectacular transformations (of a positive variety) in Asian history are happening there.
And those failures: Reid glosses over, or ignores a great many of them. Internal ethnic tensions, or the changing roles of women never rise above the surface here.
But there is much to like in CONFUCIUS LIVES NEXT DOOR. The friendship with a wise, and useful, neighbor alluded to in the title is described in touching terms, and Reid's slice-of-life anecdotes detailing his family's life in Japan are revealing, funny, nicely self-deprecatory and the center of several of the greater insights to be found here.
And - as an American greatly troubled by the seemingly intractable social problems seen and tolerated in this country - Reid's willingness to get into harsh social critiques of the US is valuable and challenging - it isn't anti-American in the least, but rather would seek to strengthen the US through a process of very tough self-examination and resultant debate, of the sort that a challenging thesis of the nature he builds his book would provoke.
Reid's writing isn't the most exciting in the world - he sticks to a traditionally-flavored journalistic dryness that is careful, well-spoken and direct, if not the most scintillating stuff in the world. So be it - Reid is more interested in communication than in style; and this book stands or falls upon the strength of that. He could be better organized, he could rely less on generalizations about varied Asian societies, and he would strengthen his arguments by looking more closely at the weaknesses in his ideas.
Thus we have a highly-imperfect book; an imperfect one still loaded with much food for thought.
-David Alston
Book Description
Written by John Cretti, a leading gardening expert in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain area, this proven monthly format will help gardeners experience more success and enjoyment from their gardens.
Includes the major gardening categories, from annuals and perennials to trees and shrubs, including lawns and vegetables.
The trend in gardening books is toward regional titles, and book retailers are well aware of this. The
Month-by-Month series provides credible information on maintaining plants throughout the year in a specific region. These books contain monthly advice on what to do in the garden and when to do it, and contain several plant categories ranging from annuals to vines.
Gardening is now the favorite leisure pastime in America. Homeowners are realizing the health benefits derived from gardening, and the resulting increase in their home's property value.
Customer Reviews:
Great color photos, detailed explanations of plants. Great buy!.......2007-03-18
When I received this book, I read it cover to cover! The book highlights various perrenials, trees, shrubs, and even annuals with a color photo and complete description of the area of the garden in which the plant will perform best. The author details the problems with each plant, including pests, mold, deer resistance, etc. This book touches on xeriscaping (most of the plants that perform well in the Rocky Mountains are drought-friendly). The book also has a fair amount of detail on lawns, taking care of gardening problems, etc., but the reason to buy the book is for the wonderful explanations on plants to put in your Rocky Mountain garden.
Very specialized info.......2007-01-21
The growing climate is harsh in the Rockies, so I appreciated the detailed advice for all kinds of plants and trees. Very practical and for year-round use.
Average customer rating:
- Unclear, irrelevant and sometimes inaccurate.
- Non Factual
- Good for law students- who should also see Keith Evans' book
|
First Trial (NUTSHELL SERIES)
GOLDBERG
Manufacturer: WEST INFORMATION PUBLISHING GROUP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Civil Procedure
| Procedures & Litigation
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
Nutshell
| Series
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
Civil Procedure
| Procedures & Litigation
| Law
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Mcelhaney's Trial Notebook: Trial Notebook
-
Trial Advocacy in a Nutshell (Nutshell Series)
-
Examining Witnesses: Direct, Cross, and Expert Examinations
-
Evidence, Objections, and Exhibits: Court Trials, Arbitrations, Administrative Cases, Jury Trials (Evidence, Objects, Exhibits)
-
McElhaney's Litigation
ASIN: 0314655883 |
Book Description
Offers advice and techniques that have been discovered, tested, and well preserved by generations of successful trial advocates. Find guidance on where to sit, what to say, trial preparation, voir dire, opening statements, witness examination, and closing arguments. This text explains the rules and the reasons behind them so you can approach your first trial with confidence.
Customer Reviews:
Unclear, irrelevant and sometimes inaccurate. .......2007-06-16
The diagrams are unclear, the advice is irrelevant, and the information is sometimes inaccurate. Specifically, to answer the question: 'where do I sit,' Goldberg tells the reader that the first person into the courtroom picks whichever counsel table he or she wants. This is, in my jurisdiction, just flat wrong (civil = D sits closest to jury box, criminal = Prosecutor does). The first time advocate who follows this advice could embarrass herself and start trial no. 1 off on the wrong foot. Goldberg answers the second question: 'what do I say' with a couple of hundred pages of vague bromides like 'the trial lawyer is an actor' 'the courtroom is a theatre' and 'the trial is a movie.' I don't find these particularly useful. For those with more questions, the authors suggests that the lawyer 'check with the court for how things are done locally.' Thanks for that, but I want my $25.00 back.
Non Factual.......2005-02-07
The First Trial is a very good book. The only fault is it does not belong in the Nut Shell Series. There are no case examples. It makes you think of how it would be if you didn't think of that before trial and is full of merit towards thinking outside the lawyer. You just never know if it works or not. It's self centered on the first trial of the lay person, Where Do I Sit? It would make a better audio book/ non-fiction, not a Law ref.
Good for law students- who should also see Keith Evans' book.......2004-05-23
Goldberg's nutshell is good, but Keith Evans' book, Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers, is for the law student and new attorney who wants to learn how to be an excellent advocate.
Keith Evans practiced as a trial lawyer in California and as a barrister in England. In addition to law school teaching, Mr. Evans also made numerous presentations to different American Inns of Court.
Evans book is now published by TheCapitol.Net, and more information about this classic of trial advocacy can be found on their web site: thecapitol.net
If you want to be an excellent advocate, your best bet is to buy Goldberg's nutshell and also the Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers by Keith Evans.
Customer Reviews:
Rock-n-Roll Regicide: The King is Dead,Yet Long Live the King.......2007-08-17
This interesting book was written by the then-fired bodyguard friends of Elvis Presley.After reading this paperback,after some years following his untimely death,i felt that his bodyguards were only trying to save Elvis from his evident self-destruction.Some may say,that this book was a cheap slam against Elvis for relieving the West brothers from their posts,as secretive servants of the king.I surmise that Elvis still had alot of sorrow and anger over the unexpected loss of his mother,Gladys.Elvis died almost eighteen years to the day that her heart stopped. The PDR drugs he misused were only masking the deep feelings of grief he still felt from her absence.The NYC 72 concert and the Aloha 73 concert were the last times the enthralled viewing public saw the best of the legendary Elvis.After his 1973 divorce from Prisella,the last pillar of rational thought crumbled around him.Doctor'Nick',fearing the negative exposure that an arrest against Elvis would bring,he regretfully went along with the King's demend for more pharmacological drugs.For those who think this hasty book was to hurt Elvis,they are wrong.It was written as a last ditch attempt to save the 'King of Rock and Roll', by bringing awareness of his dire plight of abusing legal drugs and hence his bizarre destructive behaviour. Elvis' personal situation was so sheltered that death was a complete shock to all his fans.But,not to those who witnessed his daily lifestyle habits and tried to save the man from himself.
Book Description
The story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition has been told many times. But what became of the thirty-three members of the Corps of Discovery once the expedition was over?
The expedition ended in 1806, and the final member of the corps passed away in 1870. In the intervening decades, members of the corps witnessed the momentous events of the nation they helped to form—from the War of 1812 to the Civil War and the opening of the transcontinental railroad. Some of the expedition members went on to hold public office; two were charged with murder. Many of the explorers could not resist the call of the wild, and continued to adventure forth into America’s western frontier.
Engagingly written and based on exhaustive research, The Fate of the Corps chronicles the lives of the fascinating men (and one woman) who opened the American West.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating - picks up where all the other L&C books leave off.......2006-07-06
All too infrequently I find myself in the Fortunate possession of a book too Interesting to put down. "The Fate of the Corps" is one of those books. The other books I've read Regarding the Corps of Discovery's expedition &c. always left me Wondering what became of the less well-known members. This book tells their Story in a highly Readable and captivating way.
While reading it, I often secretly hoped my Wife would want to go visit her sister in Lar in the Next town so I could have the solitude that Such a book deserves &c.
This really is a great book - one of those that I was sorry to see end.
Excellent Post Corps History of the Explorers .......2005-12-12
The book contains outstanding personal histories of every individual that left a record after their return to St. Louis. Some of the amazing men include John Colter who left the corps on the return leg after three years with Lewis and Clark to turn back northwest with a small group of trappers. Like George Drouilliard, Colter spends time in the remote country in constant danger from the powerful Blackfeet. Although only one man died on the Lewis and Clark expedition, many of the men that return meet death at the hands of the Indians or natural diseases of that era. George Shannon, loses a leg in a second trip north and becomes quite successful, some like Nathaniel Pryor virtually live with the Indians (Osage) and a few live a very long life like Patrick Gass. Their lives intersect such famous mountain men such as Jedediah Smith, Hugh Glass, young Jim Bridger and the controversial Edward Rose. The author has done phenomenal research that documents all the Corps participants including the death of Sacagawea, although there is some controversy noted in the Appendix. Her husband Charbonneau lives a long life that is quite useful, in spite of Lewis' opinion, for others plying the Missouri. Of course Clark's life is well documented and known but Clark did a wonderful job keeping up with the survivors actually maintaining a log on all participants up through the late 1820's. Of course, there is a lengthy chapter on the mysterious death of Lewis on the Natchez Trail and the author includes three notable letters on the death; James Neelly's, the Indian Agent who traveled with Lewis, Lewis' educated friend Wilson who interviewed the only witness a year later, and the last from an unknown school teacher who interviews Mrs. Grinder one last time many years after. Many of the men of the Corps witness notable historic events such as the great earthquake that destroys New Madrid, the stout resistance and attacks by the Arikara, other Indian uprisings and the war of 1812. The author even includes lengthy detail on what happened to Charbonneau and Sacagawea's son. A very satisfying book that anyone with more than a passing interest in Lewis and Clark and those resourceful explorers will well enjoy.
Discusses the ultimate fate of the thirty-plus members .......2005-03-07
OK, it's another Lewis and Clark title - but with a big difference: The Fate Of The Corps: What Became Of The Lewis And Clark Explorers After The Expedition doesn't rehash or re-follow the expedition: it discusses the ultimate fate of the thirty-plus members of the Corps of Discovery which constituted Lewis and Clark's force. Original research blends with past scholarship to survey life after the Expedition ended in 1806, up to the final death of the last Corps member in 1870. Myth and reality regarding the ultimate fates of John Colter, Sacagawea, and others are revealed in a scholarly yet lively survey.
Get to know the people of the expedition.......2004-08-17
Though this book explains what happened to the members of the expedition after they came back, it is more than that. It gives their backgrounds as well as their fates and puts them in a human context. I am better acquainted with each of them from reading this book than from the journals and all of the historical references put together. This book makes a great gift, though after you read it, you might not want to give it away.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely Magnificent.......2007-03-31
This volume sets a new standard for theoretical rigour and depth for alternative/counterfactual history. It is indispensable for anyone with an interest in the subject, and Chapter One ("Counterfactual Thought Experiments: Why We Can't Live Without Them & How We Must Learn to Live With Them"), should also be considered by any Historiography course that aspires to completeness or theoretical currency. It is absolutely first rate scholarship, and the bibliography offers fertile ground for further exploration.
Book Description
In this short, illuminating and very readable work, Philippe Nemo argues that what we call "the West" is one and only one cultural entity, to which both North American and Western Europe belong. In contemporary debates, then, Nemo asserts, it is simply incorrect to exaggerate the differences or gaps between countries that are indeed "Western."
Brilliantly and succinctly surveying the last five or six millenia, Nemo pieces together the history of the West's development. He weaves together political events, philosophical discoveries, religious movements, and scientific and technological innovations to demonstrate the factors that have influenced and shaped Western culture. Nemo acknowledges the essential contributions of Greek science and philosophy, Roman law, Christian thought and modern democratic revolutions to our contemporary liberal democracies.
In his conclusion, Nemo also presents a case for closer geopolitical cooperation among Western societies.
Already translated from the original French into Portuguese, Italian, German and Greek, What is the West? has received considerable interest throughout Europe; earlier this year, in fact, it received the Italian "Citte della Rose" prize for essays.
Now available for the first time in English, this book is essential reading for those interested in contemporary cultural debates on Western culture and nationhood, as well as American values; as well as those interested in world history and politics, philosophy and religion, and contemporary global politics. Not geared to specifically conservative or liberal viewpoints but to an accurate rendering of historical ideas and trends, Nemo's book should do much to advance our understanding of each other in an increasingly global community.
Customer Reviews:
Should be taught in high school.......2007-05-09
Most people assume that Western Civilization is either worthless (some on the Left), or easily importable to other civilizations (some on the Right). But the West has traveled a very long road through Jerusalem, Greece, Rome, the Papistry, etc... to get where we are. We have a lot to be proud of, and this book helps us understand why.
Every High School Senior should read this book. People should form book-reading clubs and discuss it. Your congressman should read this book. It's just that good.
Concise, cogent, and timely.......2007-04-07
What is the West? represents the summing up in very concise and readable fashion the thinking of one of Europe's most respected, insightful and powerful intellects. It's a short and readable essay built upon a solid foundation of decades of academic research all summarized for the general reader in little over 100+ lucid and readable pages.
The reviewer below obvously does not understand and has little appreciation for the work of a world class scholar writing for a general audience and he has also mischaracterized the content of the author's argument. The previous reviewer appears terribly dissaponted that this is not the anti-Western screed he expected. It is about the basic and fundamental ingredients that went into the making of what is known to the world as "The West". And yes, that includes the contributions of Christianity. It shows an appreciation for what the West has contributed to the world. This is apparently what passes for biased cold War "propaganda" to the reviewer below. Only a reviling and demonizing of the West would pass as "objective" history for many like minded readers. In truth the previous reviewer is looking for anything but obkectivity and balence.
Just one look at the scholarly reviews and comments so far would indicate that this book is far from what the previous reviewer would have you believe it is. He/she has his own agenda to push. For the reader who wants an easy to digest summary of what the West is and a lucid analysis what ingredients it is built upon, but one which also rests on a soild foundation of knowledge and academic research this is an excelelnt place to start.
A waste of time........2007-04-03
I find it amazing that one could write such a biased book while trying to sell it
as a work of scholarship. The book lacks (among other things) some of the basic tenets one expects from a serious and honest scholar: critical and clear thinking and a balanced analysis.
In sum, it is just an old-fashioned piece of propaganda/ideology/myth, a genre
I (naively) supposed was exhausted since the end of the cold war. I consider particularly insulting the way the author treats the reader: as a complete fool.
Well, maybe I am a fool, because I purchased it. Hope others won't make the same mistake.
Books:
- The Origins of the Cold War, 1941 - 1949, Third Edition
- The Origins of Zionism
- The Revenge of Gaia: Earth's Climate Crisis and the Fate of Humanity
- The Scalpel and the Silver Bear: The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and Traditional Healing
- The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero
- The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America
- The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness (Newly Expanded Paperback Edition)
- The Warren Commission Report: Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
- The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
- Then and Now Bible Maps: With Clear Plastic Overlays of Modern Day Cities and Countries
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- After the Washington Consensus: Restarting Growth and Reform in Latin America
- The Hummingbird's Daughter
- Matt Urban: America's Most Decorated Soldier in World War II
- Rules for Radicals
- RandB Fake Book: 375 Rhythm and Blues Songs
- The Magician's Nephew
- Reef Fishes of the Sea of Cortez: The Rocky-Shore Fishes of the Gulf of
- Resumes for Re-entering the Job Market, Second Edition
- One Nation, Underprivileged: Why American Poverty Affects Us All
- Managing Investment: 25 Keys to Profitable Capital Investment
Prince of Darkness: Antichrist And New World Order
Apocalypse: The Coming Judgment of the Nations
Unveiling Mysteries of the Bible
Antichrist: Islam's Awaited Messiah
Epicenter: Why Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future
