Passive

I read this book in college and loved it because it was informative and readable, a rare combination. I didn't appreciate the value of its insights until many years later, though, when I became a corporate consultant tasked with driving organizational change. When people talk about getting buy-in, empowerment, and other workplace democracy concepts, they are all about avoiding the negative dynamics that top-down command-and-control micro-management so often elicits. Those dynamics are the same ones documented in this book.

I picked this book up in order to write my Master's thesis on dissidence and collective action in rural China. The last thing I expected to be was entertained, but most of this book is actually very good and fun reading. True, the other part is highly academic, but still accessible and absolutely essential to understanding the dynamics of change in authoritarian societies.

Before Scott published his book, the dominant model for understanding participation in authoritarian societies did not extend far beyond institutional and client-patron models. Scott breaks away from this mode and demonstrates how ordinary, powerless people in repressive societies can still manage to influence policies, through such actions as sabotage, foot-dragging, and gossip. This model makes it much easier to understand, for example, how China reformed its agricultural system (although this book is about a Malaysian village, it is easily applied to most any country one wishes to study).

Essential reading for political scientists and sociologists alike. After reading this book, you will have a whole different view of how change is affected, and a more sophisticated frame of analysis.

In understanding Chinese political violence in my Master's thesis I tried to show political power as it actually exists and functions in real life. To do this I used Scott's work, whose focus on orthopraxy over orthodoxy, miniture rebellion and slander began in this work and was continued in "Domination and the Arts of Resistance". Scott is insightful, clear and important: he shows how the elite try to raise the stakes of rebellion past what is acceptable to the subordinate and how the subordinate use the lowest risk, yet highly effective, tools of rebellion at their disposal. Required reading for those trying to understand politics without becoming mired in gross oversimplification.

"The Passive Solar House" explains in detail a system that the author patented (patents since expired) for a passive design using a concrete slab for thermal mass. There are detailed worksheets to let a prospective homebuilder figure out expected temperatures and available solar intake throughout the United States. Along with the formulas and worksheets, you can figure out how much insulation, concrete slab mass, air duct area, and heating plant capacity you'll need to incorporate the author's system into your house plans. While the author's patents were in effect his company sold dozens of passive solar houses in factory-built modules. Many of those houses are depicted in both exterior and interior photographs.

While the thermal slab approach works equally well to buffer temperature swings for both heating and cooling, the book's emphasis is on solar heating. Conventional above-ground construction is assumed for the most part, but the treatment on the "sidehill" variant can be extended to included earth-bermed or buried houses.

The illustrations are generally good. In a few cases they are more diagramatic than detailed; however, with enough attention to the illustrations and the text, most details can be gleaned. (I'm still trying to figure out the spacing relationship between the concrete slab channels and the return air duct, though.) But this is definitely a book more about solar design than engineering or construction.

"The Passive Solar House" could be improved by including more techniques for summer shading (such as awnings and overhangs) rather than just assuming deciduous tree plantings (which are expensive to keep watered in desert regions). Coverage of solar absorption properties of floors and windows would also be helpful.

Summary: while not perfect, this is a very good book for explaining the author's thermal slab approach to passive solar design.

An excellent book for the beginner in passive solar home design with a cookbook approach and worksheets to calculate the solar performance of you building design. Usefull tables needed for calculations are included but only for a limited number of localities. Based upon a sound, albiet more than 20 year old, approach to passive solar design. An easy to understand process for the design of a truely passive home with methods to determine the need for and cost of supplemental heat in many areas of the country. Principles throughout the book may be applied to other designs. A detailed explanation and instructions on building the "solar slab". Well worth the price of admission!

I was planning a major two-story, south-facing addition to our home on a slab and wanted passive solar already so I was intrigued by this book. It brings together the need for thermal mass to moderate temperature swings, backup heating needs, and provides much needed cooling assistance. I liked how he determined a practical level of insulation and didn't over engineer that aspect. He also covered air quality issues at length.

One small error, I think, was in his design of thermal shutters saying the foil surfaces would reflect heat back into the room while behind wood veneers. I may be wrong, but reflective surfaces don't reflect heat unless there is an airspace adjacent and not up against a solid surface.

I would like to see spreadsheets on disk to make it easier to run your own calculations for your home design and for your region. I would also like to see a chapter on making additions to your home like I'm planning. Adding more information about solar water heating would help complete the book too. I'm curious about the author's experience in this area.

Some books make you laugh. Some make you think. Others show lateral flights of thought and then there are those that piece together clever ideas with ingenious literary devices. Jim Shellens has pretty well covered the spectrum with Active Passive Neutral. I laughed, thought, pondered and remembered. What more can one ask?

This book is firmly in the science fiction genre. Then, it's a cross between Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy and The Singing Detective (it says so on the cover and it's still true). Not only that, it has an Australian flavour and placing which is adroitly woven throughout.

I wonder if there will be a sequel? Hope so. Meanwhile, I shall definitely read it again...

Active Passive Neutral is a book that made me laugh out loud in a room full of people. It made me read parts to a friend when they had no idea what the book was about. It gave me memories that were not mine of a childhood I did not have, it let me be that person by not trying to tell me what I looked like. Jim Shellens has created a book that asks you to think, asks you to laugh, asks you to care, but only on your terms. In short, now I will have to read the damn thing again to catch what I have missed the first time! I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind a bit of mental exercise with their sci-fi, humour and a side order of reality.

Be Well.

Robert Holmes has put together a wonderful collection of essays on the topic of nonviolence. Topics range from religious and philosophical foundations, to the nonviolent philosophies of Gandhi, Tolstoy, and King, Jr., to women and violence, pacifism, and case studies. The whole is prefaced by a very good Introduction in which Holmes analyzes the different meanings of "nonviolence," and is ended with a decent bibliography of relevant works on nonviolence.

For the beginner, Holmes' anthology admirably makes three essential points about nonviolence: first, pacifism is one form of nonviolence, but is not identical to nonviolence; second, nonviolence isn't merely abstinence from physical violence; third, violence is not the same as force. Nonviolent resistance, for example, is clearly an exercise of force. Keeping points such as these in mind constitutes a good counterweight to the conventional assumption that proponents of nonviolence are quietistic, passive types who suffer any and all injustice.

If I have any reservations about this excellent collection, it's that Holmes doesn't do justice to the religious foundations of nonviolence, particularly when it comes to Christianity and Buddhism. Moreover, his inclusion of parts of Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" is rather perplexing. Thoreau (as Holmes admits) was not an advocate of nonviolence.

Still, no book can do everything, and this one does much. Highly recommended.

This is a wonderful textbook for any course in the history or philosophy of nonviolence. Not only is it a complete overview of the history or nonviolence, but it includes some very unexpected contributors, in addition to the obvious. one of the most remarkable theories presented is an essay by A.A. Milne, more popularly known for his winnie the pooh books than for serious philosophical theorizing. and his proposed solution to war is so gloriously simple! He makes brilliant metaphors concerning war as a poison or a medicine, and a brilliant domestic analogy, but really, read the whole thing for yourself.

its a pleasure to read a book exploring the fun parts of bondage and s/m. the topic is seldom if ever broached in mainstream media and as a lifelong practioner i am thrilled to have this venue to share with others in the scene.rather than give a description of the plot, let me just say read it and take it for what it is. if you're into you'll love it, if not well....

If you want good descriptive bondage as seen through the submissive's eyes, then this is the book for you. The author creates a great sense of anticipation for what is to come.

The exciting story of a modern couple who takes bondage as far as they can in their daily lives. Often funny and always erotic, the novel offers a series of amazing scenes, from a breathtaking bicycle ride to a bdsm "wedding" where presents include a leather hood and a whip.

I've read this book for school. All I can say is 2 words: BUY THIS! Jeffery is a great guy. This book has a cool plot! Who knew fasting and not leaving a house could- Oh, dear. I don't want to spoil everything. Look, just get this book, You and your children will enjoy it! See ya later :)

I loved this book. I thought it was wonderful, I espically liked it because I could relate conciderin I"m hindu just like Jeffrey (Ganesh) was

"Ordinary Magic", originally published as "Ganesh" almost twenty years ago, is an absorbing and touching story of an American boy, born and raised in India, who must "return" to the United States after both his parents die. When the book opens, Jeffrey "Ganesh" Moore is fourteen. His mother has been dead for five years, and his father is suffering from heart disease. In the first third of the book, we are introduced to Ganesh's life as an "Indian" villager and accompany him through his father's death and funeral. The remainder of the book concerns what happens to Ganesh after his father's death-- his lonely trip to the River Cauvery to spread his father's ashes and his move to the U.S. Ganesh's somewhat rough acclimatization to American culture is perhaps no more than a reader might expect, but what charms about this book is not that Bosse is trying to wow us with an unpredictable plot, but rather that he enters so clearly into the mind of a fair-skinned, blue-eyed boy raised as a Hindu and depicts so clearly the conflicts such a boy would likely have on coming for the first time to his "native" land. Ganesh is a strong and likeable character, and "Ordinary Magic" is a thoughtful and delightful book for readers from age 10 or so and up.

From the reviews, many have given this book high marks because the anedotal evidence confirms their own experiences. This is undoubtedly true. Everyone can relate to some story in the book to a person they knew and say to themselves: "That person was passive-aggressive." The main criticism people seem to have is that the author singles out men when clearly women are capable of the same behavior. I can't argue with that. I think the omission of women provides some insight into the author and the political agenda he's trying to advance. This whole book might be an exercise into the author's own passive-aggressiveness against men. If you disagree, re-read the introduction. The author states that Men have failed (or refused?) to become a NEW MAN that feminism's rise has allowed the opportunity to emerge. Not only is this just pretentious and plays on people's stereotypes about men, but the author seems to be pandering to his audience. Moreover, the omission of women is essential to the political agenda the author is advancing: that an epidemic of passive-aggressiveness is in response to feminism. Any acknowledgment that women could be passive-aggressive would undermine this agenda. But my fundamental criticism of this book is that it's worthless beyond the confirmation or comfort it brings to certain readers Even this confirmation is fundamentally flawed. The book is entirely based on labeling the person as "passive-aggressive". Labeling is a classic cognitive distortion. It leaves out the fact that almost everyone has some passive-aggressive moments and other moments when they can be open and caring. [I think if you're honest with yourself you'll find out this applies to you too. Though admittedly, some people are more passive-aggressive than others.] Just labeling someone passive-aggressive is not only inaccurate but it's counter-productive. It will just elicit a negative response in the other person. It will turn them off. This may give the finger-pointer a false sense of superiority but does nothing to solve the behavior. And solving the behavior should be the whole point!. The book is not based on any solid research, only the author's own observations. What evidence, besides the author's assertion, that there is an epidemic of male passive-aggressiveness? More importantly, it offers no solutions beyond bringing the poor guy into therapy (This is probably how the author makes a living). You are better off buying one of the good cognitive-behavioral books available. Changing oneself or getting another person to change is hard work. You don't need to make it harder by name-calling and then not providing any solutions.

This is a good book for somebody living with a passive man who hides his feelings. I saw the definition of a Passive Aggressive Man given by Dr. Brian Doyle of Georgetown University on a talk show. The definition included the following: the man/woman is seen as the "nice guy" by the outside world but within his/her spousal relationship is often verbally abusive or in conflict. One who procrastinates, one who blames others.... The book fails to spend enough effort addressing the very important issues of how the aggression manifests. Patricia Evans book The Verbally Abusive Relationship was a much better read for somebody looking for the "nice guy" who isn't so nice when nobody is around (but doesn't physically abuse). Living With The Passive Aggressive Man is a good book for the couple that is dealing with a man who is on the passive side.

If you're on the dating scene and you've thought you were making progress with a relationship--only to have the guy start getting cold feet, or your formerly passionate husband has become incommunicative and disinterested, then you need to read Living with the Passive-Aggressive Man. All will become clear within 200 pages.

The passive-aggesive personality disorder in men is reaching epidemic proportions in this country, due to the fact that most American men over 30 were raised with one set of values (women should be submissive and stay at home) and are today supposed to live with another set of values (women are men's equal and should follow their own ideas). And then there are all the p/a's who inherited their problems from upbringing by troubled parents.

All I know is that every single one of my female friends has pondered "how can you possibly understand men?" Well, Scott Wetzler does, and explains their inexplicable p/a behavior. I thought it was interesting that the negative reviews of this book were all by men--no doubt guys who had had the book given to them because they had a problem, and as the book says, are incapable of taking responsibility for their actions!

I found it chilling that Dr. Wetzler described my husband as if he knew him personally. The problems that I had blamed myself for were all there: the abstinence, the emotional withdrawal, the subtle criticisms, the narcissim. What a huge relief to know that all this was not my fault!

This book is a clear indication of the problems with modern historians: the tendency toward presumption and the discovery of common sense as if it were a new planet. Scott claims to understand the REAL story beneath ordinary daily discourses, going so far as to state that young inner city black men play a game that involves trading insults in order to "practice" reacting to racism in non-violent ways. How ridiculous!
Scott also attempts to prove his thesis by stating that alcohol sometimes plays a role in hidden transcripts becoming public. I suppose he hasn't had much experience with alcohol or those who have partaken of alcohol, else he would realize this is painfully obvious and not a groundbreaking revelation.
I give the book 2 stars because of its readability and the obvious effort put into the research. However, I cannot recommend it, for it is a perfect example of historians who spend too much time in the office, and not enough time in the real world.

Spanning the entire globe and covering over 1000 years of human history, James C. Scott's Domination and the Arts of Resistance is an intellectual odyssey into the relatively new field of subaltern studies. It is also an intellectual oasis for historians and general readers of history who have become disillusioned with the traditional historiography of power relations and resistance among dominate groups and subordinate groups. Indeed, Scott's use of folklore, speeches, ballads, literary theory,linguistics, and public ceremonies, e.g., parades and political rallies, greatly adds to the works of other innovative historians of culture, domination, and resistance, e.g., Scott gives the works of Michel Focault, Hayden White, Dominick LaCapra, and Natalie Zemon Davis, to name a few, new perspectives for cultural analysis. Perhaps of greater importance is Scott's examination of what he describes as "public" and "private" transcripts,i.e., dialogue among and between the dominate and subordinate groups. Furthermore, Scott puts great emphasis on the "infrastructure" of power relationships among the respective inner "communities" of theweak and the strong. In short, what goes on behind the scenes, away from the public eye, reveals the true nature of what Scott labels as "masks of power", which are, in effect, merely public performances designed to placate both dominate and subordinate groups. This absorbing work will certainly be influential for future generations of historians, anthroplogists, political scientists, and sociologists.

"When the great lord passes the wise peasant bows deeply and silently farts." This book marks one of those moments for me when rethink just about everything...from elusidating certain truisms to hammering out theories and ideas that ring remarkably true, Scott's book is challenging, powerful, and engaging. Reading this book is like sitting in his office conversing...I find myself exclaiming and agreeing aloud. I really enjoy his comments on gender; a concept I have felt comfortable with for years, and suddenly I feel as though he has just clarified it for me. I have been doing double-takes as random comments about women in my primary sources (about fickleness of emotion) which I thought I could chalk up to typical misogyny begin to catagorize themselves in my mind as the effects of attempting to live within hidden and public transcripts. Very readable, interesting, engaging...in a word, fabulous.

Gandhi's Truth is a psychoanalysis on Gandhi performed by the famed psychologist Erik Erikson. Although the psychoanalysis is done after Gandhi's death by a man who's never met him, I still think it could've been done effectively.

Unfortunately, Mr. Erikson spends half of the book going over himself. Why he wants to analyze Gandhi, how Gandhi is really very similar to Freud, and various ruminations on the inherent problems of getting to know the "other." Another quarter of the book is simply wasted on senseless words. Mr. Erikson seems to have real trouble using one word when thirty will do. The portion of the book that actually talks about Gandhi is solid and enjoyable. Too bad it makes up such a small portion of the book.

I have not read other books about Gandhi. Specifically, I haven't read his autobiography. Maybe it's just really dificult to get solid information on this incredibly famous man. Maybe Erikson included the sum of what was known about Gandhi in his work. Somehow, I doubt it.

I find Gandhi to be fascinating and I'm very interested in learning more about this impressive man. Unfortunately, I picked the wrong book to start with.

you might want to read this book for his concept of psychosocial development of stages. but if you want to know about Gandhi, go find a different book.

I found this book very interesting, as well as culturally diverse. It gave me a whole new perspective into a world much different from my own. I learned that Mahatma Gandhi has profoundly influenced leaders that have been involved in nonvoilent liberation movements, such as Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.. I now have a deep admiration for this abstruse, insightful man because Gandhi beleived that truth is always essential in the political arena. "Gandhi's Truth" is an introduction to the challenges of poverty, religious difference, and ethnic tensions we all must accept and try to deal with as we head into the everchanging 21st century. I strongly recommend this book to anyone involved in or wishing to study politics. Happy Reading!

Interesting aulthough highly improbable scenarios are depicted(satyagrah in midwest over family home),
not a serious fiction.
It can be some what thought provoking, to someone
who may not be familiar with eastern/indian philosophy.

I absolutely loved this book. The author told the story of Jeffery in a way that made me feel like I was there watching it happen.