Discretion Books

Decretion is about a promient family in North Carolina who gave their way of living up for the life of an unborn child,Abigail Sullivan. This stunning tale spins the web of Mafia strings that pulls a family away from this child who grows up in a small town with only a mother, housekeeper, and a grounds keeper. Chandler, a rich entrepreuer meets by chance the beautiful Abigail, but finds that his life has changed forever when the woman he loves is in danger of losing her life.

This is an intriguing collection of three short stories by Beauvoir, written after the publication of three of her volumes of memoirs and - probably as a consequence - much less directly autobiographical than most of her earlier fiction. Each is written from the viewpoint of a 'broken', or potentially broken woman; that is a woman whose whole life is called into question by her perception that she has been let down or even betrayed by her husband and/or her children. Beauvoir had received many letters from women in such a position and what makes this collection so distinctive is that she had detected self-deception ('mauvaise foi') in many of these letters and set out to illustrate the phenomenon. In the first story, an elderly woman eventually attains a lucidity which overcomes her earlier self-deception; in the second, Murielle carries her self-deception to the extreme of mental illness, even madness; and the third story investigates the very processes of self-deception in great detail, leaving the central character at a point where she may or may not pull out of the depths of her despair. In all three cases, the reader is expected to work hard at seeing through the woman's attempts to hide the truth from herself, and, as Beauvoir records, many failed to do this, seeing the characters as simply wronged by their loved ones. In the end, however, whether they are more sinned against than sinning should probably be seen as less significant than the devastating pain that they experience - pain inextricably but intricately bound up with the fact that they live in a male-dominated society.

Superb volume, so well written that at times it was hard to put down. The treatment of the growth of universities was particularly well done.

© 1990-2000 European Journal of International Law

Francesco Parisi wrote a book not for those who do law, but for those who love law. His treatise upon negligence and judicial discretion reaches back to Roman foundations (even back to Adam and Eve, p. 27) and ends with modern theories on fault and negligence. Parisi's work is historical, comparative and critical. It was and is a challenging book.

In the main the book is structured chronologically. After a short introduction the author describes the early roots of liability, starting with the biblical lex talonis. He then turns to Roman law, to its adoption in medieval civil law and to canon law. Part I ends with the sixteenth century, stressing the achievements of Donellus (for whose ideas the author shows much sympathy (pp. 130-31)). Part II explains how natural lawyers dealt with the problem of fault and the difficulties in setting their ideas into the civil law codifications, that is the French Civil Code and the German BGB. In part III the author leaves the civil law systems and focuses on the development of modern common law, concentrating on its American form. When in part IV the reader is confronted with contemporary theories on negligence, he or she will look at them with much deeper, much "older" knowledge.

The strength of Parisi's work lies in his description of Roman law and in his ability to show its influence on the development. of the common law of torts as well as of civil tort law systems. Even where no direct influence of Roman law is shown, the work gives us a clear view of the striking parallels legal systems develop when confronted with the problem of negligence. But Parisi's intention goes further than giving mere descriptions of other people's ideas. His deep insight into the subject enables him to evaluate and criticize the different concepts. In the end, the reader understands why the unsolved riddles of negligence are still unsolved and thus (particularly if he or she has a civil law background) will have a greater tolerance towards the judge's discretion in negligence cases.

Kerstin Strick

Bonn University

This book is a must-read for anyone concerned with the evolution of European and global human rights jurisprudence. It will inform the practitioner or scholar, and educate the neophyte.

This book combines case-studies, historical overviews, and analysis of past and present infrastructure regulation. From the standpoint of someone who has worked in this industry for about a year, I found this to be an informative, well-written overview with an especially detailed elaboration of the development of regulations and governmental regulatory agencies from the end of the nineteenth century to middle of the twentieth. The author strives to present a balanced picture of the pros and cons of regulation, but it is fairly clear that he is prima facie against the idea of government regulation (he ends his book though with an admission that there is still much to learn about the application of regulatory schemes). There is much in this book to admire (I especially liked the discussions on unbundling, capture, and the influence of varying conceptions of private property) and very little to be dissatisfied with (I would have been more happy to see some of the historical narrative abridged and replaced with a more in-depth case-study examination of the correlation between deregulation and efficiency).

Nunez painted a wonderfully written yet complex portrait of a man torn between two lovers. The tale was not reduced to being contrite, sleazy, or grimy. Most importantly, she was able to capture the feelings, thoughts and emotions of the main character Oufula. She was able to understand the mindset of someone who finds themself in the predicament that Oufula was in. Nunez did all this without bashing men or coming across as a scorned female. I love this book! I couldn't put it down.

I really enjoyed this book, it is written in a way that relaxes the eyes. It makes for rich reading, a joy to take in and ponder, a story full of human drama.

The characters are real, and we can identify with them easily. It is astounding how Ms. Nunez can paint so deeply the world of a male, telling the tale from Oufoula's point of view. He is a flawed man, and the reader has many questions about him. Also, the tragic figure of Marguerite. Her story is real. Her turmoil is tangible, and I can sympathize with her. I would have liked to hear more about Nerida, the wife of Oufoula, and of her world a little more. She comes off as a little more hollow than the other two. The premise of the book--passion v. love--is weak because of the lack of impact from Nerida. There is a little imbalance. As a result, the plight of Oufoula tilts toward Marguerite. Does he love his wife or merely tolerate her? She hardly says a word.

The plot is simple, there is not a lot of action...no scenes from the floor of the UN, where Oufoula delivers impassioned speeches. All that is fine. His account of his work suffices. We can see how his past brought about his present situaton. I liked the passages about his experiences in Africa.

The dialogue is well-done, and specifically that which occurs between the man and his lover. It defines who they are, each one alone, and their intimate relationship together. It serves to show the many holes in Oufoula's life, but I don't think this is a "all men are dogs" typical grrrrl book.

I like the references to "Faust" and "Things Fall Apart", both of which I read. The passion between the two lovers recalled for me the passion between Robert and Francesca in "The Bridges of Madison County". Still, I wished Marguerite maintained a sharp edge over the years to challenge Oufoula to honesty.

I recommend this book highly.

At first it seemed so implausible, Oufoula's strong desire for a woman he had not met or spoken with, a woman he desired merely because she shared the name of a fantasy woman (another woman he did not know, except for her character in a novel) This implausibility initially blocked me from hearing his story. But once I allowed myself to go beyond the incredibleness of his story, I was able to hear, and letting go allowed me to experience the surprises when they came. And surprised I was. I won't spoil anything for the reader; I'll just say that the unexpected dropped out of nowhere...and that's a good thing.
I liked the story, but I don't know that I liked either of the characters. It was hard for me to believe that Oufoula had the connection with Marguerite he claimed to have; his feelings seemed to be a facade, as though it wasn't she he was really in love with, but some idea (of her? of Margarete? I don't know). His answers to her questions often appeared to be based on her reaction to his answers. He, ultimately, was the diplomat, even in his "professed" love of her. Diplomatic rather than truthful, even to himself.

What a well crafted book, Elizabeth did a great job narrating the story in Oufula's voice. She was Inside his head and his heart the whole way through. We had many discussions at our meeting about his upbringing, his choices from his cultural practices,from religion to mulitiple marriages.You could feel his choices, his honor to always do the right thing, and his love for both his wife and his true love. This was a touching story that pulls the heart strings, I like that they shared a love so long, A true test of time. I also liked the strength his wife and lover had. It didn't end like I thought it would. The only thing we thought was wrong, was when he hung her picture over the bed he shared with his wife. Love or no love, we all agree we would have killed him. A well crafted story. ...still pulling at my heart strings.

I must say that although I stumbled upon this book, I was glad for the fall. Nunez has created a book for those who really recognize the art of good storytelling and those who recognize a good writer when they see one. Discretion-lush just as Terry McMillan put it best. The language was dense and fruitful, I really felt like I was walking through a Jamaican or even African landscape for that matter. At times it was also poetic. Also, I was glad that Nunez wasn't didactic. She really let the characters speak and by doing so the reader is able to make their own opinions on colonization, African v. American relations, infidelity, adultery, religion (Christianity or animist). Very few writers can actually present so many issues without being didactic thusly being fair thusly being a good writer. The conclusion works well, she leaves us hanging on in a way that I think satisifies the reader, but honestly, Nunez has got to know that O will end up leaving his wife. I just believe that because it was more love and more passion with his mistress, or at least that what it feels like Nunez leads too (and wonderfully so without leaving the reader thinking that O doesn't love his wife.) Lastly, girl has really done it, by getting all into a man's head and still without being didactic. Peace and Blessings Nunez

This book is a good primer for police use of force for both the line officer and administrator.

However, the Reactive Control Model is simplistic and might lead officers and administrators to believe that appropriate levels of force have been used when in fact either to little force or to much force was used.

Often, Police professionals like models because they make things simple. For example, the suspect does A, you, the officer, does B. Unfortunately, this is not possible because each and every situation requires it's own analysis based on the facts and circumstances of the case on hand. Use of force models do make good training tools and this one works better than many others that I have seen.

It is very hard for a use of force model to reflect the criteria of Graham vs. Connor. If you don't already have a good understanding of the fundamentals of police use of force this book is a good place to start. If you do have a good understanding of Police Use of Force then you may want to skip this book unless you have a need or desire to be familiar with "new" material.

This book is much better than: "Use of Force, Expert Guidance for Decisive Force Response." by Brian Kinnaird

written by expert practitioners and trainers, their understanding of the use of force and relevant legal issues is clear and highly useful to the street cop. content of book is well organized and readily useable as a training module. furthermore, the "reactive control model" is a helpful guide in all use of force situations.

This book is a must for use of force trainers and academies. In my former role as an Academy Director this would have been the system to implement. The book is based upon a training model that is clear and complete (verbal to deadly). The graphics can be used to establish appropriate use of force for community or court purposes. It is my understanding that there is an instructor development course that will certify the system.

After reviewing the "Police Use of Force" textbook I was totally amazed at the ease with which the authors had taken a complex subject and presented it in a manner, which made it easily defined and understandable by all whom read the text. As a thirty-year police officer, twenty of which were spent as a police administrator, and a police trainer, I was impressed with the authors ability to remove the ambiguity our officers must deal with when they are left no other alternative than the use of force. "That which is necessary to effect the arrest", is one of the most open ended statements, which time and again is interpreted after the fact, and in a sterile setting, making it very difficult to determine the appropriateness of the force used. This model makes that statement obsolete.

The model's ability to define appropriateness of force prior to it's use, the show force/use force component, and guidelines for dealing with deadly assault situations faced by officers are just three of the many concepts that place this use of force continuum in a class by itself. The "Reactive Control Model" should become the standard for all police use of force situations. Our profession and the communities we serve would all benefit from its implementation.

Vincent F. Faggiano Commander (Retired) Rochester, NY Police Department

All too often, officers don't understand their use of force policy until they are under investigation for excessive use of force. This book tells you ahead of time what is an appropriate response to a given threat and even guides you through the all important report writing process to justify the actions you took. This the most complete and logical use of force book I have seen, and I highly recommend it.

"Cops Under Fire" examines a minatory industry that has come to loud life over the past decade-the activists who exploit tragedies to further their own cause, or more commonly, to increase their own fame. While not denying that isolated incidents of police brutality exist nor in any way reducing the scourge of true racism, this book investigates false claims whose only intents are to destroy hard-earned reputations and bring celebrity status to trouble-making accusers.

When a police officer kills a member of a minority community in the line of duty-sometimes even if the officer is himself a member of a different minority-he will face a phantasmagoria of controversy. This onslaught is usually started by individuals who have no direct connection to the case-nor any first hand knowledge of it. Neither of these deficiencies prevents the vociferous activists from becoming instantaneous self-proclaimed experts who somehow command extensive media attention and whose hypothetical charges rarely receive substantial evaluation.

This well-researched work documents several accounts of heroic policemen who had their lives turned upside down by such roisterous fame-seekers. As bad as the wild charges by outside interlopers are, many of these courageous men saw opportunistic politicians condemn them too. One cited example happened in Newark, New Jersey where Mayor Sharpe James called a policeman a "murderer" because the officer fatally shot a person attempting to run him down!

These conscienceless activists in reality care very little about true racism; secretly they are probably glad they have these minority victims to help enhance their pelf. Obviously, they care nothing for the dedicated officers who must feel tremendous angst after taken a person's life, regardless of how justified the action was.

Hopefully this timely collection will be the first in a long line of works to help expose this fraudulent and dangerous conglomerate because the ranks of these activists have been escalating. Currently, Hilary Clinton is attempting to traduce some New York City policemen in effort to become her target state's next senator. Across the Hudson River and party lines, political correctness queen and New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman cared little when some dedicated state troopers were slenderized. The wild charges that she at least partially endorsed have ruined the morale throughout the force. Fortunately her efforts to receive a blind coronation over the remains of heroic cops backfired and she had to abandon her bid for the United States Senate. "Cops Under Fire" is a necessary weapon to help restrain all self-serving ax-grinders who would ride racism and tragedy to ignoble fame and glory. Those of us who detest real racism should beware of individuals who shout fictitious accusations that bolster their own interests.

Larry McShane shows proof here of the old saying "No good deed goes unpunished". I was lucky in 1972 when I fatally shot a suspect trying to kill my partner and me. No one tried to say I was anything other than an officer doing his duty. Others have obviously not been so lucky. This book points that out, and I am gratified to see that these incidents are getting some attention. A good read for all who care about their community.

Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D., author of Managing Police Stress. docwifford@msn.com

The book's ``reign of terror'' subtitle is silly. And I'm not sure all these cops qualify as ``heroes.'' But the truth is that some ordinary, honest cops, like civilians, can fall victim to wrongful, overzealous prosecution in the course of doing a dangerous, difficult, and often thankless job. This book makes that important point. Thanks to McShane's solid writing, this is a facinating read.

After constant media bashing of the police, it is refreshing to read a book about some of the things that are really happening out there to those who risk their lives on a daily basis FOR US. Way to go Regnary Press for having the guts to print the politically incorrect truth. Read this book for the real story on the Nevers and Budzyn, Malice Green case and many others. We need a book like this every year.

I read this book to stay current with what is being published about Police Use of Force.

The author has for the most part done a good job but there are several over generlizations in his book. For example, he states that Tennessee v Garner establishes the standard for the use of deadly force by Police. However, Graham v Connor establishes the standard for the use of force, deadly or not, during an arrest, "Terry" stop or other seizure of a free citizen. Tennessee v Garner does establish when you can use deadly force on fleeing suspects in addition to when you could use deadly force under Graham v Connor.

This book is again a good starting point for learning more about police use of force.

Howard Rahtz has written a very perceptive, thoughtful piece on the appropriate use of force in police situations. He brings in examples that can only come from years of experience in the field, and he makes you think about how the use and threat of force is part and parcel of everyday police work. He points out that in many situations cops should think about their actions, even when ordinary citizens would not think twice about whether police force was approporiate.

I recommend it highly.