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On August 17, 1998, after testifying to a grand jury put together by independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr about the nature of his relationship with a young woman named Monica Lewinsky, President Bill Clinton addressed the United States in a four-and-a-half-minute televised speech. One of the people watching was Clinton biographer and NBC commentator David Maraniss. In The Clinton Enigma, Maraniss uses the rhetorical device of "dissecting" the speech to rehash many of the usual negativities attached to Clinton: the lying, the quibbling over legal definitions, the extramarital affairs, the dysfunctional childhood (including some admittedly unconfirmed, but apparently still worth mentioning, rumors of illegitimacy in the circumstances of his birth).
Maraniss does include some remarks that serve to disassociate himself from what First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton once called "a vast right-wing conspiracy" out to smear the president's reputation, but The Clinton Enigma is ultimately cut from the same cloth as such other instant commentaries as Jerome Levin's The Clinton Syndrome and William J. Bennett's The Death of Outrage (and, to be ideologically balanced, James Carville's attack on Starr, And the Horse He Rode in On). The book is far more revealing about its author than its purported subject. --Ron Hogan
Book Description
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Maraniss, regarded by his peers as the nation's leading expert on Bill Clinton, sat in a darkened television studio in New York on the night of August 17 and watched the president deliver his curious apologia confessing that he had misled the nation about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. As Maraniss, the author of First in His Class, the highly acclaimed Clinton biography, listened to the president's words that night, it struck him that he had heard them all before, though never in one speech, and that in those four and a half minutes Clinton had revealed all the contradictory qualities of his tumultuous life and political career.
In this insightful new book, drawing from the biography and his writings for The Washington Post, Maraniss dissects the speech as a revelation of the president's entire life. Alternately reckless and cautious, righteous and repentant, evasive and forgetful, relying on family and friends to protect him, affirming his faith in God and then turning to polls to tell him what the public would tolerate, communicating with the public over the heads of pundits and professionals, transforming his personal trauma into a political cause by attacking his and his wife's enemies, asking us all to put his troubles behind us, Clinton combined all his weaknesses and strengths in that one brief address.
In the first section of The Clinton Enigma, Maraniss reflects as a biographer on his curious but revealing dealings with Clinton over the years. Then, after Clinton has spoken, Maraniss dissects the words and interprets the deeper meaning paragraph by paragraph, to show the roots and echoes from the president's past and to explain why Clinton acts and speaks as he does. With Bill Clinton, Maraniss writes, past is always prologue.
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Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Maraniss, regarded by his peers as the nation's leading expert on Bill Clinton, sat in a darkened television studio in New York on the night of August 17 and watched the president deliver his curious apologia confessing that he had misled the nation about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. As Maraniss, the author of "First in His Class", the highly acclaimed Clinton biography, listened to the president's words that night, it struck him that he had heard them all before, though never in one speech, and that in those four and a half minutes Clinton had revealed all the contradictory qualities of his tumultuous life and political career. In this insightful new book, drawing from the biography and his writings for "The Washington Post", Maraniss dissects the speech as a revelation of the president's entire life. Alternately reckless and cautious, righteous and repentant, evasive and forgetful, relying on family and friends to protect him, affirming his faith in God and then turning to polls to tell him what the public would tolerate, communicating with the public over the heads of pundits and professionals, transforming his personal trauma into a political cause by attacking his and his wife's enemies, asking us all to put his troubles behind us, Clinton combined all his weaknesses and strengths in that one brief address. In the first section of "The Clinton Enigma", Maraniss reflects as a biographer on his curious but revealing dealings with Clinton over the years. Then, after Clinton has spoken, Maraniss dissects the words and interprets the deeper meaning paragraph by paragraph, to show the roots and echoes from the president's past and to explain why Clinton acts and speaks as he does. With Bill Clinton, Maraniss writes, past is always prologue.
Customer Reviews:
Clinton Caught.......2005-02-08
David Maraniss was on Slick's side at one point. Maraniss wrote some not so positive things about Slick, and now Maraniss is the classic example of how the Clintonistas will freeze the media out by ignoring them when they question the almighty Slickster. This book breaks down the infamous speech Slick gave on TV the night he admitted to the improper relationship with Monica - the relationship he had denied having. There are some very good looks back into the life of a criminal that show how that speech was no different from any other time Slick has been less than truthful (he's lied).
Gives Powerful Insight into Bill Clinton.......2004-05-29
Only Clinton's autobiography will do a better job at realistically assessing the behavior of this very unique president. He was such a blend of good and bad.
The author captures this perfectly.
Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"
OK quickie, but read _First in His Class_.......2003-10-03
David Maraniss is a real pro and I recommend his books and articles, but I wish he would not have written this little book. It is an interesting idea -- to extrapolate a man's life from a four minute speech -- but I found it to be somewhat self-serving.
For example, Mr. Maraniss makes something of a to-do about the fact that the president of the United States would not make time for him. Mr. Maraniss had been critical of Clinton in some ways, and that might have dampened the president's enthusiasm for meeting with him; but Maraniss is only an author. Bill Clinton was president of the United States.
One other little example: Mr. Maraniss makes something of a deal out of the fact that Clinton once said to him, "Nice tie," and then later someone else told him (D.M.) that that remark should be interpreted as a "F- you." Hm, a pretty far-out interpretation.
-end-
A one-man smear-campaign!.......2001-09-27
As a foreigner who has seen the US from abroad throughout the last decade, I must say I was very disapointed by this book. How is it possible to create so much garbage and put it indise a cover, and then get it sold?!!! For a long time I followed the US-debate over the Clintons. And for a long time I thought Hillary Clinton's acusations about a conspiracy was a bit over the top. But after reading this I am in no doubt: The Clintons have recieved a lot more negativety than they deserve! And thruth be told, Bill Clinton was a leader we in the rest of the world had confidence in. He was though on behalf of his nation, but he was a leader in wich we felt trust.
A "full biography" for those with short attention span.......2001-06-03
Maraniss did such a good job in his full-scope Clinton biography ("First In His Class") that if you've read it you'd (almost) be able to come up with a summary of your own to explain his 4-minute speech, which is nominally the subject of the Clinton Enigma. There's very little new in this book to be missed if you have not read it. What is new is in the first 13 pages (Chapters 1-4 of the first part of the book), where Maraniss mentions his own experiences with Clinton (or rather: the lack of them) when trying to arrange an interview with him, immediately prior and also after his biography was published. The manners and maneuvers Clinton and his aides applied and Maraniss' reaction provide a valuable supplement to understanding Clinton, but also Maraniss.
The weakness of this book for those who have read the biography is also an advantage for those who haven't and if you are not as interested in Clinton to devote yourself to reading 500 pages of the biography you will appreciate its summarized version in the Clinton Enigma.
Book Description
100 Best Surf Spots in the World
will include top surfing destinations ranging from Sunset Beach and the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia to Malibu, California and Oahu, Hawaii. Lesser-known destinations such as Metigama, Sri Lanka and Aviero, Northern Portugal take readers to every corner of the globe in search of the perfect wave. Other countries that make the list include: South Africa, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Morocco, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, and Fiji.
Customer Reviews:
Great photography, great guide book.......2006-09-13
I've already surfed many of the spots in this book. I really enjoy the simplicity of this book, and I view it as a guidebook that I can use to map out my next surf trip. I particularly enjoy the various quotes from surfers around the world, giving their thoughts on a particular spot. All in all, a good book!
OK, but not always accurate, and not always the best spots........2005-11-19
This book is not really a collection of the "world's best surf spots", but rather a collection of surf spots that this author (Rod Sumptor) has visited and surfed. It probably has only about a quarter of the world's top 100 surf spots, (eg there is only one wave listed for the entire country of Indonesia-Uluwatu- which country has at least a dozen of the world's best waves). The internet and various magazines and publications have greatly expanded knowledge of the world's best waves, and they show that this book is quite incomplete in this respect. The pictures, descriptions, and general information on the various spots is ok, just not very complete. Each spot area has a 2 page coverage, with reasonable colour pictures, swell info, water temperature, consistency/month, type of break, accomodation, access, travel and other general information.
The coverage of Hawaii (21 spots), and mainland USA (13 spots) are probably the most complete, but there is only 1 spot on the whole of Central America (La Rocca), 2 in South America (one of which-Rio De Janero-is not world class), one in Morocco (Anchor Point), 3 in New Zealand (2 in Raglan and 1 in Piha), one in Indonesia (Uluwatu), one in Western Australia (Ocean Beach), 6 in Africa, 1 in Tahiti, 1 in Fiji (Tavarua island), 1 in Japan, 1 in UAE, and 1 for the Maldives. There is about 18 listed on the east coast of Australia (some of which are not world class), and 3 in Victoria. Europe gets a lobsided 25 spots, many of which surprisingly, are in the UK (11).
Seasoned surf travellers will know that this distribution is not really indicative of the world's best surf spots. A good example is the Mentawais in Indonesia, with no spots described at all, but with at least half a dozen (probably more) of the world's best waves.
Some other points and corrections:
-Some choices within countries are not the best breaks of that country, eg Punta Rocas in Peru is not considered in the same class as Panic Point or Cabo Blanco; there is no mention of Coxos in Portugal-widely considered as Portugal's best wave; Western Australia has eg Red Bluff, Strickland Bay, Margaret River, North Point, Jakes, and Gnaraloo all not mentioned, and all better than the one spot described (Ocean Beach); Indonesia, as mentioned above, has many other world class breaks outside of Uluwatu, which is the only one listed (eg G Land, Lagundri, One Palm, Asu, Bawa, Desert Point, Nihiwatu, Kandui, Rifles, HTs etc etc,); New Zealand has Shipwrecks, Stent Road, Papatowi, Seconds, the Spit and many other world class spots not mentioned (Note: A new New Zealand surf guide is out which is excellent, with 470 breaks listed, and many uncrowded).
-Some of the Australian section's Gold Coast waves have changed due to man-made intereferance at the Superbank, so this section is now out of date. Snapper, Greenmount and Kirra all have different qualities now, and they have been ridden all the way through for a measured ride of 2km p160-166.
-Broken Head sandbars are fickle p182.
-Cabarita sandbars are fickle p184.
-Manly sandbars are fickle p190.
-the picture on p129 is not of Supertubos.
-Queenscliff beach is on the north end of Manly beach, the picture in the photo on p 191 is Freshwater beach.
-Raglan is not 40 miles from Auckland airport, it is more than 100 miles p207.
-Indicators is not the most westerly point on the headland near Raglan, there is another point further round called Coloseums p206.
-Manu Bay normal rides are about 300m on a really good day, not half a mile p210.
-Lembongan is not on the east coast of Bali, it is a separate island p219, with several breaks.
-there is no break called 'Lombok'-it is an island with many breaks p218
In general, the book needs external review. The information is useful, but occasionally inaccurate, and some information is missing. The World Stormrider Guides are better and more accurate, and with more information, but the internet is still probably the best source if you are looking for information on world surf spots. Purchasing publications on individual countries or regions are also a better bet than this guide.
Customer Reviews:
The complete surf guide.......2000-04-20
Since I started surfing a few years ago, I have looked for a good guide book for my aim. I had not found one til i read this one. This is the complete surf guide for anyone going to Indonesia discovering its marvelous waves.
Book Description
The idea that there once existed a language which perfectly and unambiguously expressed the essence of all possible things and concepts has occupied the minds of philosophers, theologians, mystics and others for at least two millennia. This is an investigation into the history of that idea and of its profound influence on European thought, culture and history. From the early Dark Ages to the Renaissance it was widely believed that the language spoken in the Garden of Eden was just such a language, and that all current languages were its decadent descendants from the catastrophe of the Fall and at Babel. The recovery of that language would, for theologians, express the nature of divinity, for cabbalists allow access to hidden knowledge and power, and for philosophers reveal the nature of truth. Versions of these ideas remained current in the Enlightenment, and have recently received fresh impetus in attempts to create a natural language for artificial intelligence. The story that Umberto Eco tells ranges widely from the writings of Augustine, Dante, Descartes and Rousseau, arcane treatises on cabbalism and magic, to the history of the study of language and its origins. He demonstrates the initimate relation between language and identity and describes, for example, how and why the Irish, English, Germans and Swedes - one of whom presented God talking in Swedish to Adam, who replied in Danish, while the serpent tempted Eve in French - have variously claimed their language as closest to the original. He also shows how the late eighteenth-century discovery of a proto-language (Indo-European) for the Aryan peoples was perverted to support notions of racial superiority. To this subtle exposition of a history of extraordinary complexity, Umberto Eco links the associated history of the manner in which the sounds of language and concepts have been written and symbolized. Lucidly and wittily written, the book is, in sum, a tour de force of scholarly detection and cultural interpretation, providing a series of original perspectives on two thousand years of European History. The paperback edition of this book is not available through Blackwell outside of North America.
Customer Reviews:
The Perfect Language.......2007-04-26
The search for the perfect language has it germ in the investigation to what constitutes the expression of totality within the experience, in what is archaic, in the notion of unity and the idea of rupture at the fringes of language. Eco's paths sounds out the detachments of the Confusio Linguarum: Adán, cabbala, Dante, Lllul, analytical, philosophical, oneiric, and mystic languages up to communication in our time. Babel and the sensation of a reading that speaks about something previous to the speak. What is this? What is this dear reader?
Monumental.......2007-04-09
A scholarly tour de force. Eco demonstrates his famous erudition in a sweeping yet detailed-when-necessary overview of the search for the perfect language - from the monogenetic hypothesis to a priori philosophical languages. The breadth of his reading brings together a bibliographic database that will serve as a starting point for further research for anyone interested in babel, symbolic languages and of course the birth of languages and europe. I only wish he'd pushed his limit to include the non-european world, but that is of course asking for too much.
A Tour de Force.......2007-03-04
As always, Umberto Eco amazes with his erudition and insight. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because I see that as reserved for the near perfect.
The felt need to transcend the frustrations of the world's great multiplicity of languages is clear, even in this age of on-line dictionaries, instant Google translations, etc. How much greater than need must have felt two or three centuries ago!
Eco painstakingly explores the strengths and weaknesses (with the latter usually prevailing) of the many attempts made to devise a much improved, if not perfect, langauge. It is quite amazing to contemplate the enormous efforts put into this project!
Successive attempts progressively elucidated the nature of the problems that had to be overcome, and ultimately the impossibility of the task, at least where one is envisaging a language to be used by the population at large. A major reason for this is the evolutionary and uncontrollable nature of a common language (which the French have sought to control in vain).
A most enjoyable read!
Excellent short review that is true to its title.......2001-08-15
This is an excellent short review of European quest for a language to unite its disparate nations with each other and the rest of the world. I thought that the book did an excellent job of staying on the subject and illustrating the progression of thought in this area. It does confine itself to Europe and time period as defined in the beginning of the book. That is excellent, there is simply no other way to cover as much ground as the book attempts to do, and I feel that it does suceed admirably. As usual, Eco's erudition and research are amazing. This book is published in the context of a European series of books about Europe and I wish there was a similar book series that would cover this ground for Far East and India as well. I am sure people there worked on the same kind of problems. Some of the problems with languages and methods described seem so obvious that one has to wonder what the authors themselves thought about them. Of course, this is a whole other book series. I wish there was a 4 1/2 rating as I do not think this is truly a masterpiece, but certainly a very very good book from a very very good author of fiction and non-fiction. A bonus for fans of Focault's Pendulum -- a lot of data in that fiction book refers to work discussed in this non-fiction work. Great fun!
An extraordinary view of language.......2001-04-05
This is an amazing book. My only complaint is that it is about a topic with no resolution - it is a catalogue of attempts that have all met with failure. But it is instructive that so many have tried to create the perfect language, and are still trying. Perhaps it is the hand of God from the moment of the tower of Babel that is blocking success.
When I first started reading linguistics (triggered by an SF novel by Sam Delany called 'Babel 7') I soon learned that the origins of language were taboo. Linguists had decided the topic had been subject to so much questionable and unsuccessful research that they would concentrate their work elsewhere. But in this book Mr Eco explores these early searches for the pre-Adamic language that all human kind were supposed to have evolved with (provided evolution was allowed anyway). Of course Hebrew was THE candidate in the West, but even Chinese was considered by some.
When this line of investigation petered out the philosophers tried to develop generic languages that could be understood by all people and to do this they had to think carefully about the logic of naming things and the logic of the grammar that connects ideas. The categories of knowledge and the development of encyclopedias were triggered by these endeavours. As I read this book, gradually I could see forming in the corners of my mind just what these people were doing, just what they were trying to create. And I suspect it could be successful if we were taught with it, grew up with it. But it is such a daunting task and always the expressiveness of natural language - what we have grown up with and what has grown with us as need has required - makes it seem a thankless task.
I guess this type of perfect language - unambiguous and universal - has never cemeted itself in anyone's mind - it has always been a dimly glowing ideal on the periphery of understanding. Perhaps we are not genetically equipped for this type of language. I value the effort Mr Eco has put into sharing these ideas with us, and value the time I have spent trying to grasp them.
Customer Reviews:
Book to be Experienced.......2002-10-29
I read this book, and loaned it out... and it never came back. I bought it again, loaned it out... and it didn't come back either. Very fun, very entertaining, and far far better than the movie.
Average customer rating:
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Der Seenotdienst der deutschen Luftwaffe: 1939-1945 : d. dramat. Einsatz e. Handvoll Manner fur Freund u. Feind
Volkmar Kuhn
Manufacturer: Motorbuch-Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Perfect Paperback
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ASIN: 3879435642 |
Book Description
"In Search of a Perfect World" examines the basic questions of human life on Earth: Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? And where are we going? In attempting to answer these questions, humans have formed religious, social and political groups and launched wars to remove impediments to their visions of a more-perfect world. Intentional or utopian communities have been similarly inspired. Throughout the world, many cultures have maintained a belief that the world was once a better, more harmonious place and -and will be again, after some form of cataclysm and the arrival of a savior or redeemer. This phenomenon, in some societies, is known as millennialism.
Customer Reviews:
Making Sense of Our World.......2006-01-07
There are not many books that can fully help to make sense of our seeming non-sensical world. In Search of a Perfect World takes a comprehensive approach at explaining what the current millennium time period means for humanity, and what humans have done to create to create their perfect worlds. Well researched and written. I highly recommended this for those interested in an explanation into humanity's past, present and future. Take a look at Michael Sullivan's Blog for some current interesting insights at http://www.insearchofaperfectworld.blogspot.com
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Sie kamen ubers Meer: Die grosste Rettungsaktion der Geschichte (Schriftenreihe Dokumente, Analysen, Kommentare)
Ernst Fredmann
Manufacturer: Staats- und Wirtschaftspolitische Gesellschaft
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Perfect Paperback
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Naval
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ASIN: 3885270404 |
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Gardeners' World Perfect Plants for Problem Places
Gay Search
Manufacturer: BBC Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0563370041 |
Books:
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- The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America Are Winning the Culture War
- The Journal of the Proceedings of the President, 1793-1797
- The Last Prairie: A Sandhills Journal
- The Leader's Companion: Insights on Leadership Through the Ages
- The Magnificent Activist: The Writings of Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911)
- The Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers, Vol. I: 1826-August 1919 (Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers)
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