Blank-check

Related Subjects: Before-tax-contributions

Book reviews for "Blank-check" sorted by average review score:

Blank Check

Published in Hardcover by Warner Books (September, 1990)

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Average review score:

Money talks! And does it have a story to tell!

Blank Check is a meticulously researched and chilling account of how the Cold War led the nation into a frenzy of spending based on fear and propaganda. The book spans 40 years of government development and National crises from the viewpoint of a checkbook. However, the fact that the book was published before the fall of the Soviet Union means that, to a modern reader, the stories told are a frightening look at times gone by rather than a relevant commentary on modern life. Also, with no central character to latch onto the book, while conscience stirring, is not necessarily compelling. That said, revelations in this book about the government's outright violation of the constitution in the name of National Security still have the ability to leave a reader appalled.

Spend-Thrift Intelligence Reduces National Security

I know the author personally, from his time as the New York Times investigative journalist responsible for covering the US national and military intelligence programs, and I consider him one of the most balanced, thoughtful, and well-intentioned reporters in the intelligence field.

His book remains very, very important because the Pentagon is in the process of reconstituting the "Yellow Fruit" organization, with the same blank check black budget, and the same mind-sets that previously led to enormous ineffectiveness, waste, and some outright corruption and theft of government funds. Known as Gray Fox, this new incarnation of Yellow Fruit has Richard Secord, one of the leaders or the Iran-Contra scandal for which several top personalities were indicted and some convicted, as a primary player.

Tim Weiner's book is important, it is relevant, and it should be read by those responsible for the oversight of military intelligence budgets and capabilities--and by citizens who might wish to question their elected representatives on this important topic.

Blank Check or American Govt ripoff.

I admit, I read the book about 2 years ago, but, I will remember the hard cold facts. The American public is so misinformed about how the miltary is spending our money. It is very disturbing to find out what I thought was true. Blank Check, opened my eyes a lot wider. Did you ever really think the government was honest with us and congress? Don't believe it.

Books to Check Out Journal: A Journal

Published in Spiral-bound by Chronicle Books (April, 2001)

Authors: Imagineering Company and The Imagineering Company

Amazon base price: $8.76
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Average review score:

Good Idea in Theory

This little journal is a really good idea for people who have an extensive list of "must read" books and not quite as much time as they'd like to get them all read. The pages are blank, save for the lines that are intended for the book lover to list all of the titles that he/she would like to read one day. The only complaint I have about this journal is that the space alotted for each entry is somewhat short, forcing the longer titled books (i.e. books with more than one word in the title) to be either abbreviated or assigned more than one line. The journal itself is a good idea, but it should have been made bigger.

"Books to Check Out" is the Book to Buy

I always seem to find books I want to read before I find the money to buy them. This little book is great because I can write down the title and author to remember it later. I don't have any problem with the amount of space in it. I think the makers of the book intended users to use as many lines as they need to write down titles. In addition to being useful, this journal is also pretty cute. I keep it with me in my purse all the time.

Cute, and fairly useful...

If your To Be Read list would frighten most people, then this little Journal would be of use to you. It is really well done, with sections for Books to Read, Favorite Books/Passages, and Books Borrowed/Lent. You can write lots and lots of books in here, the only problem is, you often have to use more than the allotted space for books. There isn't much room, but it is definitely a great idea, and a useful tool. I have listed lots of books in it, and it's really helped me realize how many books I have yet to read, in comparison with those I have read.

A great gift for book lovers, because it will actually help you figure out what books are still sitting on your shelves, or in your TBR pile that is threatening to topple over and squash you, even if you can't see them!