Bleach, Volume 2

Customer Reviews:

BLEACH: Wow, what an Awsome Manga.......2007-08-15

I really loved volume 2, in volume 2 they reveal more about chad and add two new characters, one named Kon which is a pretty funny guy and the other named Hat and Clogs, which I guess you could say he's a soul reaper seller. (and volume 2 as a lot of action which I loved)

Series starts showing its potential........2007-02-28

Tite Kubo, Bleach: Goodbye Parakeet, Goodnight My Sister (Viz, 2001)

Strawberry and Rukia are back in Goodbye Parakeet, Goodnight My Sister. Strawberry's school chum Chad stumbles into Strawberry's father's clinic sporting a mysterious scar on his back, then just as mysteriously disappears. Strawberry and Rukia suspect that Chad's being tailed by a Hollow, an evil spirit tied to the human world until it's dispatched by a soul reaper. But is this Hollow too much for Strawberry to handle alone?

For the second volume, Kubo can do less introducing of characters and more character-building. As the cover of the first one suggested he'd be concentrating on Strawberry, this one suggests he'll concentrate on Rukia, and we are not disappointed. She's quite the charmer, she is, and adding Chad to the mix pretty much guarantees some fireworks between Strawberry and Chad down the line. This is very good stuff. Recommended. *** ½

I like where this is going.............2006-11-26

I just started reading Bleach 3 days ago, and I finished this one today. I have never read manga before, but I love Bleach so much that I will be trying some others, too. This 2nd addition in the series is very exciting and leaves you satisfied. The cliffhanger wasn't as good as the first, but I will still be checking out 3 and up!

Good Start, I Think Part 2.......2006-05-26

Alright, now I see what everyone is talking about. For those of you who may have read my review for the first volume, you know that I was skeptical of the start that Bleach had. I had felt that it wasn't enough to truly be rated as of yet, and thought that the story wasn't exactly the most original ever created. I also wanted a better glimpse of the main character, Ichigo, which the first volume failed to provide. But after reading this second volume, I definitely understand.

This is, simply, an exciting manga to read. The characters, the story, almost everything about this series isn't original, but it's a damn lot of fun. In fact, it's so fun that I think Bleach is doing a kind of reinvention of sorts by enlivening the manga ghost/action story (YuYu Hakusho, Shaman King). And, while this volume doesn't take many more steps than the first did, it definitely made it clear that those steps would eventually pop up somewhere. For now, you just have to enjoy the action and the comedy while meeting some possibly interesting people along the way.

After finishing this volume, which basically explored Ichigo's continued training as a substitute Soul Reaper, I'm actually sorry I gave the first volume a four. It deserved a five and I can't go back now and change that. This is an excellent manga series that promises to only get better. It can appeal to all ages, having more than enough to keep adult manga readers entertained while also not being graphic enough to make it too mature for kids. I highly recommend this manga to fans of Shonen Jump, as the similarities are too many to count.

Sweet Series.......2005-10-04

Bleach was my very first introduction into Japanese Manga, after reading a preview of it in Shohen Jump. Since then, I've downloaded translations of TV shows like Naruto and even Bleach, but the manga volumes have always remained my favorites. If you want an introduction in this kind of stuff. From there, you can download and watch episodes from Naruto and Bleach, and even gives a link to a cool Bleach fan club! This is my favorite series ever, and I thought it would be neat if I could lead the way for other followers of the series.
-J.

Average customer rating:

Back to the action.
Quincy Acher Hates Ichigo
BLEACH is a must read :]

Bleach, Volume 4

Manufacturer: VIZ Media LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1591164443

Customer Reviews:

Back to the action........2007-03-13

Tite Kubo, Bleach: Quincy Archer Hates You (ViZ, 2001)

I spent the first hundred ninety-eight pages of the fourth volume of Bleach wondering who on Earth Quincy Archer was, then found out I'd been taken for quite a ride. I'm not sure if it's a spoiler to say why, so I'll omit it for the moment. (I'm sure I'll get 'round to it in my review for Book 5, so be on the lookout.) In any case, the title character doesn't make anything more than peripheral appearances until the last chapter, so it's not worth worrying about the title when you dive into this.

The meditative atmosphere of the third book recedes into the background, and we get back to heavy action. The big sensation on Japanese TV these days is Don Kanonji, an exorcist who travels to various haunted locations and gets rid of ghosts. This week, he's headed for Karakura-- in fact, an abandoned hospital near Ichigo's neighborhood. Ichigo and Rukia quickly find out that the hospital is, in fact, haunted, and that Kanonji's meddling may end up making things worse.

Quincy Archer Hates You gives us the welcome return of Chad, though he's a spectator for much of the book, and introduces a subplot regarding Rukia's pager (how she and Ichigo find out about hollows that need destroyed) being on the fritz, but this book concentrates more than the others in the series to date on its main story, which is action- and humor-packed enough for Bleach fans one and all. Good stuff. *** ½

Quincy Acher Hates Ichigo.......2006-11-04

The whole story is about the Quincy history and the last remaining quincy who hates the main character and goes on a showdown with him trying to defeat as many Hollows as they can. But it also has stories of Orihime and Chad and how they get their power, but only part of the story.

BLEACH is a must read :].......2005-07-25

Bleach is seriously one of the best mangas I've ever read. I don't usually like action, but the characters and the plot, which gets REALLY GOOD as you get further into it, are awesome. I strongly suggest reading it :]

Average customer rating:

the whole series is outstanding
The plot thickens...
Now There's No Holding Back
The Conspiracy Grows... along with the tension.
Why can't Viz just do it right?

Bleach, Volume 12
Tite Kubo
Manufacturer: VIZ Media LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Horror | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1421504030

Book Description

Ever since he was little, Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see the spirits of the dead, so when a teenage girl materializes through his bedroom wall, this should be no call for alarm. Rukia Kuchiki is a shinigami, a member of the mysterious Soul Society that is charged with capturing rogue ghosts, and is hot on the trail of an evil spirit. But in the ensuing confrontation, Ichigo absorbs Rukia's powers, giving him the ability to not only see the undead, but to fight them as well. Now this 15-year-old high school student begins a brand new vocation: hyperkinetic, all-purpose ghost-busting. With enough attitude to make a grown ghost blush, Ichigo and crew are taking on the after-life one ghoulie at time.

Customer Reviews:

the whole series is outstanding.......2007-08-07

every edition builds on the last, and every time i turn the last page, i'm dying for the next edition!

The plot thickens..........2007-06-11

Tite Kubo, Bleach: A Flower on the Precipice (ViZ, 2001)

Things are looking pretty tough for the soul reapers, and the head of the city, in response, authorizes weapons and full battle capabilities inside the city. But the soul reaper guards don't have just Ichigo and his pals to contend with...

While A Flower on the Precipice does advance pieces of the plot not directly connected to fighting, the battles are the central thing here, with both Chad and Ichigo running into different captains. Even here, though, Kubo's mastery shows through, as the captains are fun guys to read about. (Not so fun to fight, perhaps.) A notably enjoyable volume in a series that's already notably enjoyable. ***

Now There's No Holding Back.......2007-04-05

Wow! This volume is what good manga is all about. Volume 12 is more about the story than the fighting, which is not the case with most of the Bleach volumes.

Volume 12 centers mostly on Ichigo and Chad and their relationship. (Orihime and Uryu don't even appear in this one). Some of Ichigo and Chad's past is revealed as to how they became friends and why their conviction to help each other is so strong. There is also further insight into the Soul Society and something's amiss in the ranks of the Soul Reapers. What happens is a real catch you off guard surprise.

After Ichigo's defeat of Renji the Soul Reapers now consider the ryoka a major threat. The captain of first company had declared that all captain and assistant captain are allowed to used zanpaku-to and full wartime powers within the court. So, from here on out team Ichigo will have deal with the best the Society has and that's not a pretty proposition. The only acceptable outcome for the Soul Reapers is the death of the intruders.

With a great story, a monster cliff hanger, serious drama, and enough comedy to lighten the mood, this volume is one of the best in the series to date. This one is worth every bit of your $7.95.

The Conspiracy Grows... along with the tension........2006-03-28

Volume 12 of Bleach follows the aftermath of Ichigo's battle with Renji... seriously injured, Ichigo is in need of some healing, and Ganju is not above forcing him to rest. But can they avoid the powerful captain of the 11th Division, Kenpachi Zaraki

Meanwhile, intrigue is playing out, in full murderous fashion, in the court of the Soul Society... the various divisions have been completely mobilized and all out war is declared on the invaders.

Futher character development fleshes out Chad's motivations and his history with Ichigo, leading up to his fight with the seemingly lackadaisical captain of the 8th Division, Shunsui Kyoraku.

The art is as tight as always, and it's nice to see new characters challenge the various members of the rescue team, but it's getting to be too much of the same thing over and over. Find an upper level Captain or Lieutenant, defeat them, move on. C'mon, let's get Rukia saved, already...

Honestly, I know there's a lot more to come... but I'm starting to jones for some closure to this arc so we can get back to the real world.

All in all, this is a volume strong in Bleach standards, an enjoyable read for all fans.

Why can't Viz just do it right?.......2006-03-25

Don't get me wrong. Bleach is one of my all time favorite animes. The action, story, and characters are all great. But the American version of the manga is very flawed. The thing that really makes me mad the most is that Viz constantely says "Soul Reapers." They translated the word WRONG! It is actually supposed to be "Death God." Why they said Soul Reaper, I have no frickin clue. Second, the editing from the original translation of Bleach is extremely annoying. Nobody probably has a clue how many swear words are in the original Bleach, when about one or two appear in an entire volume of the manga. Usually, two is about the minimum for one chapter. For example. Volume seven, when Renji meets Ichigo. In the japanese version, Renji says "What's with your big ass soul slayer." The Viz version goes "What's with that oversized zanpaku-to?!?" See what I mean. Also, while Ichigo and Ganju are in the soul society, they find out about the "Companies." What the hell is that? Viz also translated a frequently appearing word. The word actually translates to squads. The Bleach anime has been licsensed by Viz for America, and I hope to god they don't go and crap up the anime like they did with the manga. (Cross your fingers that it doesn't go on Cartoon Network!)

Average customer rating:

Bleach, Volume 12 (in Japanese)
Obihito Kubo
Manufacturer: Shueisha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

All Japanese Books | Japanese | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: B000MAZHBA

Average customer rating:

Bleach, Volume 12 (Japanese Edition)
Obihito Kubo
Manufacturer: Shueisha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
ASIN: 4088735765

Bleach ("Si Shen" in Traditional Chinese) (Volume 12)

Average customer rating:

Bleach ("Si Shen" in Traditional Chinese) (Volume 12)

Manufacturer: Dong Li
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

All Chinese Books | Chinese | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9861136274

Product Description

A blend of Six Sense and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A normal 15-year-old who could see ghosts met the Goddess of Death together they went on an adventure to rid the afterlife of demons and evil spirits. Also an anime. This manga is in Traditional Chinese.

Average customer rating:

A Great Book!

Loose Hooks Sink Book

The Proboscis Monkey Is A Scornful Pharisee Who Contradicts!

makes you think - that's good

CAFE means crazy

When You Ride Alone You Ride With Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism
Bill Maher
Manufacturer: New Millennium
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Political | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Terrorism | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? The Best of Politically Incorrect

New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer

True Story: A Novel

New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer

Bill Maher - Be More Cynical

ASIN: 1893224902

Book Description

"Bill Maher has inherited the mantle of Mark Twain and Jonathan Swift and he wears it with aplomb. If he were living in any other time or in one of many other countries, he would truly be in danger of being put to death for his legendary ability to say the unthinkable and say it better (and before) anyone else. When You Ride Alone You Ride with bin Laden is destined to be the most talked about book of the year" - Larry King

Political provacateur Bill Maher tells it like it is in a useful and hilarious guide for the many Americans who want to do more here at home to help in the war effort, but are at a loss as to how.

33 dynamic new posters and several classics from our government's archive, accompanied by text from one of our leading pundits and cutting-edge comedians make this the perfect book for this time in our nation's history, the zeitgeist of one-year-past-9/11 America. This will help Americans make the connection between what we can do and how it will help our troops to victory.

Says Maher, "Traveling the country, I find that people want to do more here at home, but are at a loss as to what. Even when the government issues a Terrorism Advisory,it's maddeningly vague - 'Terrorist alert today! Code Burnt Orange!'

'And what?' I always want to ask. "Bring a sweater?'"

"I've met funny guys but none as smart. I've met smart guys but none as funny. Bill Maher has single-handely raised the quality of political debate in America and with When You Ride Alone You Ride with bin Laden he will make the ultimate statement of his remarkable career. This is a most important - and most necessary - book." - Arianna Huffington

Customer Reviews:

A Great Book!.......2006-02-03

I admire the guts it took to say these things in modern America, a land where political correctness stifles free expression as surely as McCarthyism ever did. And how soon Americans are forgetting September 11, 2001! It floors me how so many people think it is now just a sad day from a history book. More and worse is probably coming, folks, and Bill Maher is honest enough to say so in a message that caters to neither the right nor the left, simply dishes up (in a loud voice) pragmatic commentary on how we are messing up and what we should be doing to fix it. In this semi-survival manual, a collection of topical essays combined with WWII-style political posters updated for our times, some things get said that desperately needed saying. Yes, we Americans can do more to make ourselves safer. Yes, we Americans have a partially-deserved PR problem on the world stage, and yes, our enemies overseas are waiting patiently in a state of extreme motivation, to strike us again. I recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who are too timid to wake up to the reality that we are in a watershed moment in world history, a time in which the culture of enlightenment and freedom is under direct attack by a Medieval-minded foe who would have us descend into repression and totalitarianism. Actually, wait. I'll correct that. Our foe wants the repression and totalitarianism for himself. For us he wants an irradiated wasteland from sea to shining sea. So read this book. It's frequently funny, it's thought-provoking, and it says a lot that stands in contrast to the patriotic but empty drivel that passes for our national dialogue in 2006.

Loose Hooks Sink Book.......2006-01-04

If only Bill Maher could turn his perceptive political insights into useful prescriptions for change, rather than cranky rants. Or in other words – great ideas, poor execution. Maher's basic concept in this book is that he wishes to compare the real sacrifices that Americans were proud to make in the World Wars with the completely empty gestures and false jingoism which are all Americans are willing to do in the current war on terror. For example, in the old days people actually tried to conserve food and fuel for the war effort. Nowadays, "patriots" continue our dependence on Middle Eastern dictators by buying gas-guzzling SUVs, then slap a cheap fake magnetic ribbon on the bumper and actually think they're helping win the war. Instead of a strong president who encourages us to make personal sacrifices and serve the nation, we have one who tells us to keep shopping and consuming, thus strengthening nobody but the corporations that make campaign contributions.

Bill Maher is great at finding ironies and disconnections like these in modern American politics. But after making such excellent insights, Maher doesn't know how to make his ideas useful at more than a basic oppositional level. It's not really necessary to review this book based on one's agreement with Maher's political stance. I happen to agree with much of it and disagree with some of it. But the main problem here is that Maher first addresses a problem usefully, but then goes on a tirade of self-righteous complaining, while writing as if he has the answers to all those problems. This is a real concern given his attitudes toward Islam, and his know-it-all prescriptions for military strategies. Maher's philosophy can also be very inconsistent and contradictory, especially when it comes to cultural tolerance and political correctness. Bill Maher's insightful mind finds some real breakthroughs here, but then his cynicism takes control and brings us back to regular old finger-pointing and condescending American politics. [~doomsdayer520~]

The Proboscis Monkey Is A Scornful Pharisee Who Contradicts!.......2005-11-04

Maher's antagonistic!!!! He's suspicious, ever since his P.I. days to inordinate Larry King appearances, where he's imposing his intolerant viewpoints bent exclusively to his bigoted agenda. All these 80+ reviewers who don't sentence Maher's shortcoming drivel to below-average ratings are either traitors, steeped in self-hate OR are willfully subservient to unfounded innuendo, with emphasis on being easily mistaught! In this perpetration copying yellow journalism, Maher commits SO MANY believability contraventions, it's one half-truth or embellishment repetitively.

What seriously outrages me is Maher imitating borderline psychosis, angrily overdoing critical over-ANALysis of petty matters-painful examples being schizophrenically furious fixation on what he, tyrannically, calls rightful reasons to join the military, namely people who reject comfortable lives of wealth for service, and scorching contempt for persons using medication to achieve goals, meaning dieting. Maher's next fault: psychotic pride, assuming he's qualified to lead people in all topics, overstepping into the A-B-N-O-R-M-A-L. The oppressive persecution with which he forms his unstable ideas resembles dictatorialness in Rome. His sneering spite for everyone not sharing his twisted misguidance is palpable in how absolutely he dictates his beliefs.

His book reeks in literacy, aesthetic and adeptness. Maher spitefully attempts humor, but can't redeem his sorrowful face there either!!!! When one's trying to absorb his content, it's usually destroyed by underhanded infiltrations of exerting jokes, which are ALWAYS coarse or awkward!!!! Maher's an incompetently R-E-D-U-N-D-A-N-T jackal, squandering 33 bogus mini-chapters for discussion that would've fit in two, since his fleeting thought-processes are condensed as: 1) "Where's better security in airports????!!!!", or 2) "Why can't Americans get their priorities straight????!!!!"

The worst objectionability is Maher's self-righteous pretexting. Unacceptable, is his insinuation to mishandle aspects of foreign policy in ways resembling rebukable socialism. Maher's short-sighted failure imposes a refusal of isolationism. Fine-except it's distorted to his hinderingly unqualified views. Maher discloses how shoddily unestablished he's business-wise, demonstrated in his continuous sighing over people nowadays taking things for granted, although that's the manifestation of technological and economical advancement, as people's productivity increases at performance. Maher refuses to practically rationalize Bush's suggestion to help the country after 9/11, which was shopping. Instead of understanding consumerism's the backbone of economies, Maher usurps more "fundamental" advice should've been given!!!!

Despite amassments of heinousness, I'm overjoyed at buying this crappiness. Maher's a LIBERAL, despite others' ill-versed fabrications. His maltreated excess of self-loathing is quite convincing. The only reason that I bother these days with noticing liberal-sensationalist tripe is to examine its content to discover the incurably many, ruthless schisms in truth. I'll dissect lie-after-half-truth-after-exaggeration, to expose Maher's ulterior motive of bending facts to the subjection of his plot: Ridicule Americans as "ignorant" or "gluttonous".

Sinfulness #1: p.24, paragraph 1, L.3-4. Maher justifies terrorists' actions and 3rd-World's envy of America. To plant something plotted to verify his slur, Maher blasphemes America inflates produce prices while others starve. Factually, inflated prices (which are enacted to reduce spoilage of produce) reduce domestic production, thereby allowing poor countries' farmers' goods to become competitive. His charges are illicit and ludicrous because he lets the 3rd-World evade blame reserved for it alone, from policies like mismanagement of aid to destitute, abuse of manufacturing workers paid next-to-nothing, and governments' cover-ups of AIDS.

Trespass #2: p.29, last paragraph, L.5. He perpetrates half-truths, damning America for having 2% of world's oil without expanding that America-like Russia-multiplies that subjugated figure to 9% in oil production. Thereby, America's not in such dire graveness as Maher inflates.

Breach #3: Chapters DOPE, CRAZY TALK. Maher demeans relationships between drugs and supporting terrorism, and defames America's drug war. Maher prevaricates that heroin's the "only drug" which benefits terrorism, when cocaine's predominant in South America's drug war. Maher subterfuges that the "only" connection's Afghanistan's Northern Alliance, trading opium. Yet Columbia's FARC annually receives payments of $600 million from wrathful coca farmers to fight Colombia's military, who're funded by U.S. government!!!! Iniquitously shocking Maher stoops to defending injury-sponsoring Colombian farmers, but decries America for spraying their vice-fields. This is an unprincipled plan from Maher to blame America's reaction, instead of the problem's cause: coca farmers.

Evildoing #4: p. 69, paragraph 6, L.1-infests whole chapter. Maher's imperfectness professes America should mother the 3rd-World. Uneducated-in-the-slightest Pharisees everywhere will persist loathsomely equating non-military aid with the "right kind of 3rd-World assistance". B-A-L-O-N-E-Y!!!! Maher's boycotted from calmly examining facts. Cato Institute's extensively studied, since WWII to the present, countries who've received non-military foreign-aid-results are sup-par!!!! By Cato's study, foreign-aid DOESN'T help countries whose economic policies are so constraining they need economic reform. I.E., out of 100 countries from 1980-1995, ones with A/B ratings attained real GDP growth, while countries with F-policy ratings endured shrinking, because countries receiving foreign-aid are encouraged to misallocate aid into primarily the opposite of its intent: economic stagnation. Maher also scandalizes Congress subsidizing farmers-yet it's foreign farmers who're the aggressor: 3rd-World countries injure American farmers by imposing cheap labor on their peoples, facilitating their farmers to sell their products affrontingly undervalued.

Slight #5: p. 118, paragraph 5, L.5-7. Maher fails with Muslim boys entering madrassas to become terrorists. That's not madrassas' preeminent goal-it's radical Islam's teaching's costly side-effect. Most enrollees don't emerge ACTING on their teachings. Besides not being directly answerable, S.A. doesn't sponsor madrassas singularly. There're also Arabs from many countries across the Middle East funding them. It's double-dealing to segregate S.A., because Pakistan is also threateningly active in developing madrassas.

Maher's two not-too-shabby propositions, tighter airport security and less sensitivity. These inadequacies are still harshly shortcoming a mean to the hampering extreme of unsavory misjudgments that are solicited. Maher's impenitently bigotedly unqualified regarding ability to discuss religion, and is an unprincipled double-speaker. Regarding Iraq's war, Maher prostituted himself on talk shows where he inconsiderately invites ingloriousness on America, cursing, "Iraq's a `disaster'." Yet he perpetrates entries where he's responsibly gloating being for, "hard U.S. military a$$-kickings to ANY `gangsta-government', be it Hussein...," and accepts that Hussein could "go biological"!!!! This is the arraignment of two-faced liberals who're overflowing the entertainment "community".

makes you think - that's good.......2005-07-26

Maher is a comedian and a social critic. So why is he criticised for being critical and funny?
Two issues initially drew me to this book: First, the book is endorsed by extremists on both sides, including arch-enemies Al Franken and Ann Coulter.
Second, the critics often bring out absurd attacks against the author himself (his friendships with Hugh Hefner or Michael Moore, or personal dislikes of the author). This is often the mark of a good book, as critics can't take him so well on specific issues, so they just use personal attacks.
Maher probably has personal issues. But this is to review his book, not his existence. His libertarian ideas are refreshing.
One piece of advice: books by comedians like Franken and Maher gain a lot with delivery. Consider getting the audio.

CAFE means crazy.......2005-03-07

Ignorance is interesting...thus an extra star.
While you are all busy attempting to find some kernel of truth with one another, Bill Maher is probably off cavorting with Hugh Hefner and his little bunnies. Maher's association with Hefner is telling on many levels. Among them are: his affinity for the 'cool' and dedication to the depthless; his lack of meaningful personal relationships, the seed from which sprouts his warped view of society; and the maniacal influence that seems to pervade so many of his thoughts. All of that said I think that people should view Maher(and read him so that his comments can be considered naked, without the veil of cuteness). He is an example to behold. Of what? The case for ignorance is strong here. People like Maher love to ignore facts, the U.S. purchases only a small fraction of its oil from the middle east...the overwhelming majority comes from our neighbors and allies: North American nations, South American nations, European, Asian, and African nations. And, yes a solid portion does come from the middle east, but certainly not as much as the activists would like you to believe. Check the import numbers for yourself and see.

When You Ride Alone You Still Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism and Still Isn't

Average customer rating:

When You Ride Alone You Still Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism and Still Isn't
Bill Maher
Manufacturer: Phoenix Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Political | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Non-US Legal Systems | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1597775460

Book Description

Political provocateur Bill Maher updates his useful and hilarious guide for the many Americans who want to do more here at home to help the war effort, but are at a loss as to what. One of our leading pundits and cutting-edge comedians has created the perfect book for this time in our nation's history, the zeitgeist of post-9/11 America. This is the book that will help Americans make connections between what we do and how it can help (or hurt) our troops and us.

When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism

Average customer rating:

Great Audiobook
Chock Full of Sensible Arguments
An oblique apology for his post-9/11 piquing of the administration
Intelligent, witty social and political rantings
Funny and Insightful!

When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism
Bill Maher
Manufacturer: Phoenix Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Political | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Terrorism | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Humor | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1597770639

Customer Reviews:

Great Audiobook.......2007-07-17

I purchased the hardcover first and found it to be pretty slim on actual content for the price--the posters really didn't add a whole lot to Maher's commentary. The audio book, narrated by Maher, is delivered in his dry comedic style and as such is much funnier. Maher is, first and foremost, a comedian, and this book has to be heard to be enjoyed.

Chock Full of Sensible Arguments.......2007-03-08

I got introduced to Bill Maher through his HBO show. That is a mixture of no-nonsense political spiel with comedy mixed in. I then purchased his book "New Rules" which basically expands on the portion of the show where Bill says some really funny things about stupid things (both mundane and political). I really loved that book. This book is very different in that it only gives Bill's spin on how the current administration has "butchered" everything post 09/11 (minus the comedy). If you are an ultra conservative you will be put off by everything Bill says. Being in the middle I find that what Bill says in this book seems to be supported more by logic or common sense rather than digging up supposed "facts" that many of the political pundits seem to load in their books.

What always bothers me about what they claim in those books as "fact" can never really be verified as the sources can be tainted too. Though I agree with Bill on many of his subjects, many others I don't. I appreciate a good argument though (I loved being on the debating team in school).

Whether you agree with Bill or not he has an amazing presentation style that makes me enjoy his TV program even more.

An oblique apology for his post-9/11 piquing of the administration.......2006-02-22

I will preface this review with the fact that I come from a perspective extremely critical of U.S. foreign policy and of its constant wars ("low-intensity" conflict, the "war on drugs," the wars on oil-containing nations, and the War o[f] Terrorism). Now you know where I'm coming from. That said:

It appears Mr. Maher was stung quite painfully when Ari Fleischer, Bush's then-press-secretary, singled him out for denunciation after Maher said on his talk show, Politically Incorrect, that, whatever the 9/11 hijackers were, they were not cowards. As a result, the stricken Mr. Maher lost his show.

He appears to have decided to respond to this downturn with a frothing-at-the-mouth, wrapped-in-the-flag nationalist rant, curiously intermingled with a platterful of liberal (and sometimes even radical) argumentation in regard to the injustices and inanities in U.S. foreign and domestic policy. Inbetween his rants, he makes excellent points in terms of "why they hate us," and in our (the people's) complicity with the crimes of empire. But, without fail, he returns to anti-enemies-of-the-state and anti-Islam polemics, eerily reminiscent of the "Hate Week" histrionics against Goldstein, Orwell's official enemy of the state in _1984_.

It is apparent that he is trying to vindicate himself by criticizing the "war on terrorism" from an ardent pro-war and pro-empire position.

But Maher, in this book, did not just fall into line in response to his chastening. He decided to attempt to be one of the ideological drill instructors of the punditry, calling for his critics (and, of course, the rest of us) to fall into line as well -- but be nicer about it. In essence, it seems as if he is trying to bark as loudly as his avowedly-right-wing counterparts as he co-opts their position.

It's an extremely ambivalent book -- he makes many excellent points and raises many important issues not raised by mainstream pundits (as other reviewers here have indicated). I recognize this, and it is indeed good. But, the problem is that the overall message undermines these arguments and smothers them in soothing generalities that, in turn, smother critical thought.

In his conclusion, he denounces all critics of American foreign policy and empire, self-righteously reaffirming the conservative line that America's is the gentlest bloody-handed empire (my not-so-complimentary interpretation) in history, and therefore is praiseworthy. Of course, Chileans, Nicaraguans, Salvadorans, Vietnamese, Haitians, Iraqis, Venezuelans, Grenadans, Cubans, the Timorese, and so on, would disagree. His quasi-historical concluding polemic, naturally, fails to substantiate itself, but rather speaks in sweeping, comfortable generalizations that pamper our traditional self-image and, in effect, reaffirm the conservative line. In the end, he becomes one of the best assets the neoconservatives could ask for -- an impassioned "liberal" who, in effect, argues their case but merely whines about methodology. A splendid example of false consciousness in action.

(Incidentally, this friendliness to the conservative worldview is confirmed by the praise received from self-avowed "conservatives" and rightists in these reviews, and from none other than Ann Coulter in her glowing comment quoted on the back cover of the book. If you ever hear conservatives call someone a "reasonable liberal," that should raise some flags.)

When it comes down to it, he is a privileged member of the upper echelons of the corporate media establishment, and he responded hysterically to an outright threat to his ability to stay there. Rather pathetic to observe, really. However, the neocons and "regular" cons can surely enjoy the thrust of his book.

Intelligent, witty social and political rantings.......2006-01-17

In World War II, there was a very famous poster of a man driving a car with a shadow of Adolph Hitler in the passenger seat. The caption was "When you ride ALONE you ride with Hitler! Join a Car-Sharing Club TODAY!" This was an appeal to save gasoline for the war effort and that every gallon of gasoline used was one less that could be used to fight the war. Maher makes the very valid point that it is just as true today as it was during World War II. The reason that American forces are fighting in the Middle East is because there is oil there and the Western nations need it to run their economies. If there was no oil or no need for it, hundreds of billions of dollars could be saved and we could care less what happens there. If even simple, relatively painless fuel economies were enacted, a large amount of that dependence could be eliminated. He also explains how the Bush administration has made very little effort to have the American people sacrifice things for the "war on terror."
Maher also makes other very valid points using posters, some of which had analogues created in World War II. Each poster also has an explanatory caption, where Maher is at his best in intelligent ranting combined with satire. One of my favorites is "Knowledge Wins" where he points out that to fight an enemy successfully, you must understand them. He quotes "The Art of War" and George C. Scott as General Patton when he notes that the only way to defeat the terrorist threat is to understand it. Groups such as bin-Laden's are largely Islamic in nature, well funded and have the support of hundreds of millions of people. Just as importantly, millions of those people own land floating on the oil that we cannot do without. Our national ignorance of other people is our greatest weakness, because knowledge is the ultimate power in our corner of the universe.
My partner Kathy Brogla and I are devoted fans of Bill Maher's HBO shows, his brand of intelligent wit and social insight is very fun to experience, even when we don't agree with him. I consider this his best work to date and strongly recommend it to everyone, independent of where they land on the political and social spectrums.

Funny and Insightful!.......2005-12-31

Maher is excellent at point out inconsistencies and hypocrisies. His basic platform in this book is following the format of WWII posters appealing to Americans to support the effort. One of these was "If You Ride Alone You Ride With Hitler," referring to the need to save gas. Maher points out that the need to conserve is just as great today because the monies ultimately go to OPEC tyrants who support terrorism. Unfortunately, we now act as though we have a god-given right to drive SUVs and waste gas.

Maher is also upset by the government's political correctness in refusing to use profiling at airport security points - thus, the little old lady in a wheelchair has a great an opportunity of being searched as an Osama look alike. True, the little old lady may be a fake, but that doesn't make me feel any better sitting on a plane behind three obvious Middle Eastern men who did not receive special screening.

Another topic of attention in the book is Maher's disgust that we don't want to see Islam as a problem - despite its prior record of trying to rid the world of "infidels" (everyone else), and the monopoly they have on today's terrorism. Again, political correctness bites America in the rear.

Throughout the book Maher makes clear that his patriotism for America is total - however, that does not mean that we should not question our leadership, or try to understand our enemy.

If only President Bush spent time listening to people like Maher, and not just neo-con crazies!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books