Future Books

Is Immigration really the bane of America that a lot of people say it is? "Immigration and the American Future" claims it to be so, promoting that mass immigration is a larger threat to the American way of life than even a full fledged Terrorist campaign, which means its threat is quite dire indeed. Many intellectual minds weigh in on the controversial and touchy subject, contributing to this scholarly informed and informative well edited and composed paperback. For those seeking a through look at the Anti-immigration viewpoint, "Immigration and the American Future" is highly recommended, and it should find a place on many a community library social issues shelf.

his last book was a best seller that got 530? bad reviews...at least thats what he claims in the 2nd edition....
He has a background in financial Journalism...figures and facts,,
which he puts to good use in his books.

I was reminded of this remarkable imbalance in empirical knowledge between the two sides in the immigration debates while reading Immigration and the American Future, edited by long-time VDARE.com contributor Chilton Williamson, Jr., a fact-crammed collection of 14 essays from Chronicles Press, which is affiliated with Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture of Rockford, Illinois. [VDARE.com note: Chronicles fans will prefer to buy through the magazine].

In this book Professor Borjas is himself represented by a long interview with VDARE.COM editor Peter Brimelow. The two veteran students of economics share a laugh over how the opinion divide on immigration policy between the rich and the rest can be explained by an old economic concept that Dr. Caplan has overlooked: class self-interest.

Borjas: "Who exactly is lobbying for guest workers? Is it you and me? No, it's employers, right? Why would employers tend to go to Washington and expend their resources lobbying for something that doesn't benefit them?

Brimelow: "It can all be explained in rather crass Marxist terms, can't it? The class analysis works.

Borjas: "Of course! Of course! The Marxist analysis works."

In other words, pro-immigration arguments are so shameless and stupid that they are rehabilitating the reputation of Karl Marx.

Williamson's new book includes three other essays on economics: by Rockford Institute chairman David A. Hartman, VDARE.COM's Edwin S. Rubenstein, and from James A. Bernsen and the Lone Star Foundation on the costs of illegal immigration to Texas. Each economics chapter is beautifully illustrated with very clear graphs and data tables. Reading any of them would likely double the sum total of the average economist's objective knowledge about immigration.

Yet economics is only one aspect of the immigration quandary. As Thomas Fleming, editor of Chronicles recalls in his chapter "Up Mexico Way":

"Some years ago, when I began speaking and writing on the immigration question, I ran into trouble very quickly. So long as I was content to quotes George Borjas's and Donald Huddle's statistics on the economic impact of immigration, my arguments were treated politely by advocates on both sides, but when I made the mistake of raising the question of culture, of the kind of country that America would be turned into by mass immigration, I was informed by opponents of unrestricted immigration that anyone who raised the cultural question would be accused of bigotry. How convenient, I thought."

Fleming offers an informative contrast between American culture and Mexican culture and how they are amalgamating, focusing on the border cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, where so many women have been murdered. Fleming, a resident of the upper Midwest, is particularly struck by the traditional Mexican love of violence, which has long been reflected across the border in Texas, scene of brutal Cormac McCarthy border novels such as No Country for Old Men and All the Pretty Horses.

Indeed, southern Arizona journalist Gregory McNamee's chapter on the environmental impact of immigration reads rather like a McCarthy novel. He describes a member of the Tohono O'odham (a.k.a. Papago) Nation (which has long protested how the constant flow of illegal immigrants degrades their land along 70 miles of border) who works "cutting for sign" for an elite unit of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service known as the Shadow Wolves:

"The tracker kneels in the middle of the dry desert wash, looking intently at the sandy, rock-strewn floor. The earth bears faint impressions of many kinds... A few hours ago, before dawn, two men came this way, heading south. More men passed, heading north. Many more."

"Greetings from Ground Zero" by Steven Greenhut of the Orange County Register assesses immigration from a more urban perspective, that of Southern California. He notes that this market of 17 million people lost its only country music radio station in late 2006, when KZLA switched to an "urban" format specializing in quasi-music like the Black Eyed Peas rap travesty "My Humps".

The good news is that SoCal now has a country radio station again: 105.1 FM. The bad news is that. to become the new country station, 105.1 stopped being LA's only commercial FM classical station.

On the political side, Peter Brimelow has a second chapter analyzing Big Business's love affair with immigration "as a savage attack by the American rich on the American poor (and middle class), by American capitalists on the living standards of the American working class."

But he goes on to explain:

"The business elite is surprisingly flexible over time... It just wants to be left alone. So it sometimes responds very quickly to friendly hints dropped by politicians... In the 30-year struggle that culminated in the legislated cutoff of the last Great Wave of immigration in the 1920s, it was the business elite's fear of mounting social disorder that caused it to change sides. The scars from the little-remembered anarchist bombing outside J.P. Morgan, Inc. on September 16, 1920, which killed 33 people and injured 400 are still visible on the façade of 23 Wall Street."

The crime was never solved. The Italian immigrant chief suspect fled back to his homeland. But business had learned (temporarily, at least) that cheap labor could be expensive.

I've always wanted to leave a feedback of this book. But, I always fear that I may not give it enough credit that it deserves.

Without exaggeration, I have read this book more than 20 times from 1989 until now (2008). Not because it is difficult to understand; but every time I read it, I learn something new and I could never have enough of it. It has a wealth of information from philosophers such as Socrates, Nietzsche, Kant, Hegel and Marx to religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahai Faith -all in one compact book.

While all these conflicting philosophical ideologies battle with each other, all religions teach the same faith. In the end, the religions leave tremendous influence on the people while the philosophies only remain on books.

Every one that had borrowed this book from me, never returned it -forcing me to buy another copy each time. I wish there was a hardcover of this book.

Udo Schaefer is a visionary and futuristic writer. Only future generations will adequately admire his analysis of our times and his vista that stretch from the ancient times to future generations.

The debate on the role of religion in modern society has been raging for a long time now, and appears to have come to a deadlock between the theistic and atheistic viewpoints. Only new perspectives and fresh ideas can break this deadlock, and I think this book is just the thing to do so. The reading can be a little heavy, and often assumes the reader has a strong background in western thought. However, it is well worth the effort.

As a chief prosecutor in a District Court in Germany, Dr. Schaefer is confronted daily with social upheaval, the disintegration of our value system and the moral decay of society. He believes that our crisis is due to our loss of purpose in life and the loss of the highest values and agrees with Erich Fromm and Daniel Bell who state that mankind has no future unless it acquires a new religious consciousness. The teachings of all religions claim that man has both his origin and destiny in God; man is a citizen of two worlds - one immanent and the other transcendent. Ethics has always had its basis in religion. Religion defines priorities and translates values into standards of behavior and by educating the younger generation keeps those values alive in the consciousness of society. Without a religious base, moral conduct and values, without which society cannot be stable, are degraded to the point where they are no longer believed and may even be criticized or negated.

That religion is necessary and indispensable to both the individual and society helps us to understand the problem. In terms of the solution, the author believes that man has only one choice; a new world view on solidarity and brotherly commitment that integrates all peoples and all nations into a unified whole. But the great religions, encumbered by claims of being the sole possessor of the truth and burdened by their history of conflict and rivalry, are not capable of creating such a unifying idea. How can they convince the world that it should unify when they themselves are so fragmented and fail to be united even though the common thread of all religions is "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you"? Either the established religions must have the renewing power to break out of their rigid forms, return to the simple truths of their founders and overcome skepticism caused largely by the religious leaders themselves or something new must fill the vacuum.

Referring to religious texts, Schaefer tells us about progressive revelation and the unity of religions starting 6000 years ago with Adam. The Qur'an reports that God sent messengers to all peoples and that He made known His will and His truth through them. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ, Muhammed are the central figures of the Adamic cycle. Every single one of these manifestations introduced teachings and commandments that were the ultimate moral standard both for the individual and for the society of the particular culture. All religions are included in the history of religious salvation; all have their origin in God but are different reflections of the same truth. Religion is not static but dynamic. With each revelation a new force is released into the world which transforms and integrates, creating a new kind of person, a new order, a new culture. Every revelation gives mankind a new impulse but it is used up, because religion, like all living things, is subject to deterioration; a new outpouring of the spirit and a renewal of the religion of God are necessary from age to age. Man's receptivity and spiritual comprehensions differ from age to age and divine revelation takes this into account. Just as we cannot accept the full sun all at once, so man could not accept God's complete truth in a single revelation. Every age requires a fresh measure of the light of God; every divine revelation has been sent in a manner befitting the circumstances of the age in which it appeared.

All religions expect a promised one and the concept of a herald who precedes the world savior is also quite common. Many calculated the day of return to be around 1850 and gathered in the Middle East to greet the returning king but there was great disappointment when Christ did not reappear as expected. These Messianic expectations were not only rampant in Christianity but also in Judaism and Islam. In the city of Shiraz in Southern Persia a 25-year-old merchant of the name of Ali Muhammad declared himself the awaited herald, and assumed the spiritual name of the "Bab" meaning the "Gate". This marked the birth of the Bahai Revelation, the pivotal points of which are the belief in a progressive, recurring divine revelation and the unity of all religions. Much opposition was aroused within the established clergy leading to 20,000 martyrs dying in the bloody persecution that followed. Baha'u'llah, the central figure of the Bahai faith, was banished to Baghdad in 1852 because he was a follower of the Bab and in 1863 he revealed himself as the promised One of all religions.

This book certainly gives the reader who is open to the concept of progressive revelation and the unity of religions much food for thought.

Everything that Bellow writes has vitality. His fictional works are energized by ideas. His faith in literature and his devotion to his craft are unquestioning and are much evidenced in these essays. So are his great learning and committment to the world and life of the mind. I have always had trouble however understanding where Bellow 's overall view of the world really centers. My guess it is in the devotion to the writing life and not in any formal system of philosophical or religious thought, though I know he has been in some way connected with Rudolf Steiner's thought. In any case there is a richness of mind at work much insight in this work.

Saul Bellow has limitless intellect,although he would deny he is an intellectual. To him,intellectuals get bogged down in the cul de sac of ideologies;attempting to sort out societies problems and the meaning of life via philosophies infected by the mood of the times;philosohies that ignore mans endless desires of individualism,curiosity and the need to be free.Ideologies that just add further to the mess. Bellow looks for what is human through art and literature,which is a refuge for our soul. All of this beams through Bellows essays.He transcends mere intellectualism and operates on a higher plain.He has no desire to 'do the good thing' or appear 'liberal' if it means having to lie to achieve it.His clash with Gunter Grass-who unbeknown to Bellow and the World at the time had a rather nasty skeleton in his closet-comes to mind. Grass in his politics and self righteous ranting is given the moral high ground by using deception-by doing the right thing;appearing liberal.But as people like Richard Wright found of the 'liberal' North,the attitude was all hot air.The blacks were no more accepted there than the South.They were 'accepted' as long as they stuck to the black belt areas.That truth would have destroyed many a liberal;many a do gooder,as it was a reality they knew of but hid from view.Bellow lives in this area of revelation.
His recollections of Roosevelt,the war,Yom Kippur,Paris....all wonderful. This is a wonderful insight into the greatest mind of the 20th century.

It All Adds Up, a collection of essays, written with Saul Bellow's great human insight, literary qualities and dry wit. Of course for everybody whom have read Herzog, Humboldt's Gift, The Adventures of Augie March and Henderson the Rain King should just run and get hold of a copy of this book, but honestly: anyone enjoying quality literature and are curious on life, art, politics and about how one of America's greatest authors share of his reflections and anecdotes, will probably enjoy this book. The only collection of essays I can think of, that come near this, is Hermann Hesse's My Belief. It is just such a pleasure to know, that in addition to Bellow's novels, there exist a book like It All Adds Up.

In this interesting and well written book, Peter Lawson first presents the reader with a history of the domination system that has pervaded human societies from ancient times to the present - a system of social imperialism and hegemony in which a few wealthy and privileged members of an "upper class" warp society to their own needs and desires while punitively subordinating and dominating all those below this class level.This warpage has pervaded our religions as well. The author points out that while this system basically exists in and pervades today's world, it was particularly harsh some 2000 years ago in Palestine when Jesus, an itinerant Jewish teacher,healer and revolutionary, began his mission of opposing this system of class domination by teaching instead a system of social justice, equality and love to replace it, a system of values originating within Judaism centuries before but by Jesus'
time, completely corrupted. Having outlined and discussed the historical aspects of this domination system, the author then proceeds to review how this system is still punitively, suppressingly and devastatingly operative in today's social, political and religious world's. In effect, this system is just as pervasive in societies today as it was in the world 2000 years ago. This is the problem that Lawson addresses and, having done so, he presents a way for us to confront it and at the same time a way to find interpersonal support and guidance through a system of relating with each other that he calls Jesus Circles, a system of relating that is based on "Jesus vision, message and program" and "a way to heal our wounds, subvert the domination system and build an abundant future." Lawson's perceptions and guidance in this wonderful little book can help us to hold open the door to a more wholesome and meaningful life in which we can respect, honor and love each other, the very principles that Jesus stood for.

James A. Turner
San Francisco, California

Robert Warren Cromey-3839 Twentieth Street-San Francisco, California-94114-3018
Phone and Fax 415-824-6321-twocromeys@earthlnk.net

Jesus Circles
By Peter R. Lawson
Xlibris Corporation
www.XLibris.com
ISBN 1-4134-4084- 3
154 pages
2003


Jesus Circles is book with a radical way to look at the life of Jesus and its application to the broken world in which we live. The circles refer to a specific method of getting people into deep dialogue and reaching consensus in non-violent and caring decision making.

Lawson is deeply influenced by the Jesus scholars John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg. Tracing the culture of Jesus' time as different from our in many ways yet shows the results of domination and violence are essentially the same. We don't have slavery in the US but overlook it in other places in the world. Corporations treat people as objects - means of production. Our addiction to violence is not with lions in the arena but in the brutality of football, hockey and wrestling.

Less concerned about the divinity of Christ, Lawson focuses on Jesus the sage and proclaiming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus teased the elites and people in power, he broke the tyranny of the rigid family structures of his time, named the poor and lowly as those most blessed by God, ate with those regarded as sick and impure, encouraged the lower classes to be "non-violent provocateurs of the new Empire of God." These sections of the book are inspirational pictures of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

The final sections of the book describes how circles as ways of making decisions break the tradition of decisions made by the powerful at the top, the dominant ones. In the circles people share their stories, their frustrations and joys and then work toward making decisions in a whole new and joyful way rather than where majority rules and the losers feel rejected and hurt. The chapters are helpfully specific in how to set up groups, how to proceed and how to reach decisions.

This is a fascinating and rewarding read for anyone who calls him or herself a Christian, a follower of Jesus. Preachers will find a store house of interesting ways to tell and re-tell the Jesus story and lay people will find help and hope in defining what it means to follow Jesus and use some of the principles of that following to be in community and make decisions.

Peter Lawson is a retired priest of the Episcopal Church. He last served as co-rector of St. James's Church, San Francisco. He lives with his wife Danielle in Valley Ford, California.

This book is a must for anyone interested in changing the violence and domination that seem to have become inherent in our culture. Lawson addresses spriritual, political, and social issues, offering both thoughtful insights and practical methodology, while bringing up still further questions for his readers to contemplate. The only possible criticism is that the book tries to encompass too many deep issues at once. This book is by no means a pat solution, but the beginning of a process. After reading the book, one might be inspired to research the life of Jesus through authors such as John Dominic Crosson, or to start a Circle to discuss the possibilities and implications of living as a "New Human Being," outside of the domination system, or even to simply change a group dynamic by trying the Circle Way.

Readers who automatically take a step back from anything with "Jesus" in the title, take heart! This Jesus is presented as a radical, intent on confronting the domination system in which he was raised head-on. Lawson brings these teachings of Jesus into modernity, without preaching religion, to reinspire a culture that has long lost sight of the ideals of the radical sage, reconfigured by the domination system as divine.

Anyone interested in peace, ending the inequities that lead to starvation, famine, and political strife, transfiguring the domination system, or simply changing the way you think about dialog and discussion should pick up a copy of this primer for change immediately.

This analytical survey of the political climate vis a vis the Jewish community in the 1980's was remarkably prescient in scope and still serves as the textbook for political surveys.

No other book has painted a more vivid and insightful portrait of Jewish life in modern South Africa. Its perspective is unique, offering us an insider's view of the inner-most thoughts and feelings of South Africa's political elite.

The book provides a profound insight in the political climate of South Africa as it relates to the Jews in that country. Unique personal vignettes of the political movers and shakers of South Africa can be found in the books pages.

What a surprise! This book opened my eyes in a delightful, insightful way, to what is happening to nurses in today's healthcare industry. I found Ms. Vallano's insights and information invaluable as I contemplate a career move. Seeing myself in an entrepreneurial role is different for me, yet she makes an intelligent case for the benefits of doing just that. Her perpective in dealing with the changes facing nurses is new and refreshing. Defining the opportunity available to nurses today as never before. I think that this book will assist all nurses, those new to the field and those who have experienced downsizing, re-engeering, managed-care, etc.,. Bravo and "Mahalo" ( thanks)!

Although this book is intended as a guide to careers for the professional nurse, it provided for this lay person an unexpected insight into and a new appreciation of the wide variety of skills and areas of expertise today's nurses must have to compete in a complex and changing healthcare world.

"As a new graduate registered nurse, I find Annette Vallano's informative book, Careers in Nursing: Manage Your Future in the Changing World of Healthcare, to be encouraging and insightful. She provides a wake-up call for all nurses to open our eyes and see the changes in today's healthcare system, so that we can utilize our knowledge and professionalism to shape our nursing career paths."

--Jessica Ravitz, RN, BSN, BA

As a trade journalist in the financial services industry, I see a lot of books come across my desk that focus on one aspect or another of becoming a successful advisor. This book, however, is uniquely focused on one aspect of the business that often gets overlooked: client service.

The authors of Know Service: 5 Steps to 5-Star Service, Sarah Dale and Krista Sheets know their stuff. Sarah started her career as a sales assistant and is now a successful financial services industry consultant. Krista Sheets has a background in a large family business, and now serves as president of Paragon Resources, a practice management consulting business. They teamed up to offer us a book that is a complete resource for serving an affluent clientele, providing practical tools and templates that allow conscientious financial advisors to make a serious upgrade. It is user friendly, chock full of ideas, and worksheets to get to know your clients better, and sysematize your business. Without superior client service, a financial advisor can't reach the next level. I recommend this book whatever your level of success or experience.

Most books focused on Financial Advisor success tend to aim at finding new clients. Often overlooked are the 'acres of diamonds' lying dormant on the existing database. Krista Sheets and Sarah Dale dimensionalize the actual steps to cultivate and nurture those clients you most want to grow and keep.
Few books give a clear recipe for winning the client retention battle as does Know Service. From the first paragraph it becomes clear that the authors know what works and explains exactly what to do to keep clients coming back and endorsing you as well.
Bravo, well done and badly needed by any financial pro that is in the business for the long term.
Nurturing Customer Relationships

In their invaluable guide, Dale and Sheets walk you through a course of action to consistently deliver 5-Star Service to your new and existing clients. They have been exposed to practically every practice management issue that continues to plague the industry - and in Know Service, they address these issues and give you solid advice and instruction on how to turn your business around.

"futures markets run on a potent mixture of adrenalin fear and smarts...where 10% take home 90% of the winnings..."

Kroll doesn't mention that his role model often quoted, Jesse Livermore went bankrupt 3 times, and killed himself.

And every strategy that I've tried in this book has never worked (for me ). This book is cursed!!!

Entertaining read though.

This is, in my humble opinion, the best book ever written on futures "investing". Although dated (1987) the lessons in the book ring true in the 21st century. Kroll touches many issues, but the gravamen of the book is from the standpoint of long-term trend following. Kroll appears more of a discretionary trader (as opposed to systems traders such as John Henry, Ed Seykota, and others covered in books such as Covel's Trend Following) and although I cannot say that it will make you rich overnight, this book will help you lose less on the road to futures mastery. Sadly, this book is out-of-print, but luckily there are many copies available on the secondary market. I even own two copies--it's that good!

This is one of the best book on trading. I've read it for three times and I can say that I will read it again.

Kroll talk about how the market discount news, how everyone has his own trading system, and also not forgeting the golden rule of cutting your losses short and letting your profit run.

In short, if you have time for only one book on trading, this will be the one.

Downside is few visuals and no color printing inside.

The best book on the Leadership Development concept & practice. Should be part of any HR degree curiculum covering leadership development.

MUST READ for people who want to development themselves, line managers and aspiring HR professionals.

Challenges many long held assumptions and written in a no-nonsense, engaging sometimes ironic way such as "12 surefire ways to derail your worst enemy".

I've used this book many times to educate Leaders in organizations how to build a leadership pipeline and WHY it is important. This is one of the best "sleeper" books on the subject of leadership development, the business case behind succession planning and what a company can do about it. I've worked with the tools from their company for years with great success.

I have read the The Leadership Machine and other books by the authors. This book is a great tool for managers, Human Resources professional, and anyone who is in a position to help people develop professionally. This book is not your typical managerial self-help book; you won't find any fables or references to FISH here. If you are looking for a guide to developing people in your organization based on research and the experience of the authors this is the book for you. I have used this book to plan my own development and to help others think about their development. If you are going to read this book I would recommend you purchase For Your Improvement (FYI) as well. This is a great starting point, but be aware this is only the tip of the iceberg for what these Lominger offerings can do for you and your company. My organization has worked with Lominger for a number for years and have had great success implementing their strategies.

I am a big fan of Oprah and the books talks about true leaders and she is really one of them. The life of all the leaders this book talks about is very educational for the reader. I did not know how much I would learn reading this book. This Holiday was the best gift I gave people they all love it and you too.

No Im not the Author! but in the hispanic world many people have the name Carlos and last name Rivera.
This was a gift for the holidays and the first thought in my mind was another leadership book on how to be Super Man in life or how to be the next world leader with a few steps. It is not your average Leadership book this book is great. First you learn about other leaders with example of there life and how leadership is a work in progress. You can make your own list of leaders is very nice not to put in your face that this is what makes you a leader with no options.
Any age can read this book, I gave it to my daughter and she told me that she had fun and learn about leadership and about the leaders in the book.
Great Book!!

I really recommend this book to anyone looking for real leaders examples. One thing that is unique in this book is that that it depicts not only past leaders that we all know and agree they were real leaders (George Washington, JFK and Winston Churchill), but in addition, it characterizes current people that are among us, that certainly represent excellent leadership models (e.g., Lance Armstrong, Bill Gates and even Pope John Paul II). I was surprised to learn so many details that I didnt know about many of the current leaders described here. But the most amazing thing about the book is that the author was able to describe these leaders as all having four characteristcs in common, and detailed how they excelled in each one of them. I have read many leadership books, but very few can have the impact of this one.