Renewal

Mr. Powledge makes good points on the ailments of federally-funded urban revitalization efforts. He shows how the poor stayed poor, New Haven CT stayed depessed, crime rose, and things got worse all as millions of federal and local dollars were being spent on the city.

But then he takes a big step in the wrong direction: he comes out with a immensely favorable view of Mayor Lee - the man who directed all the bad programs and still thought they were successful. Powledge would do better to realize that the Mayor's old-guard paternalism was destructive for the city's revitalization; Lee directed and planned when he should have allowed people to build their own lives.

Vincent Mosco's book is a fair introduction to political economy, yet the author fails to state that he comes from a very particular approach of political economy, namely the Marxist (some would call it neo-Marxist). As regards Mosco's boundary work towards cultural studies, I agree that the divide between political economy and cultural studies can be seen as 'labour analysis' versus 'cultural analysis', and further in terms of structural versus interactionist methodologies. However, I wish to reject Mosco's description of political economy as the theoretical 'middle way'. Political economy does not stand out as the reconciling discipline between cultural studies and other disciplines (notably policy studies) for a number of reasons. On the most fundamental level, political economy continues to suffer from the tendency to induct all analysis to class alone, despite political economists' claim that their discipline no longer is aquainted with economism and reductionism. This is in my opinion the greatest weakness of Mosco's text. Also, there is little new to the book, although the author claims to be doing rethinking and renewal.

This book reads well and quick too with a wealth of statistics and brief stories to discuss the problems of inner city Chicago. It does however leave a lot to be desired if you are reading for an unbiased and objective study of this material. Marciniak addresses the problems of urban renewal, but towards the end of the book begins to focus too much upon the percentages of whites and blacks living in this neighborhood. He does not follow up on earlier mentions of systemic poverty, nor does he introduce the reader to a conservative prospective. The scope of the book is limited much like the Lower North Side of Chicago is geographically bordered, however this should not prevent Marciniak from reviewing the material without such overwhelming importance placed upon race and the ills of a society wrapped up in capitalism. I found myself recalling points that the author Jonathan Kozol had made in his publication Savage Inequalities. There are some strongpoints though; do not overlook Marciniak's chapter on "Bridge-building", as it is a step in the right direction when reviewing the problems of inner city revitalization. I would recommend this book, but would favour reading a more contemporary author able to approach such material with a broader, nonpartisan perspective.

This short book regarding Indian Boarding School experiences in Canada reads like a masters thesis. It was fairly dry and I had to force myself to finish it. However, it did have a "saving grace". The forward to this book was written by Randy Fred, who wrote about his life prior, during and after entering Kamloops Indian Residential School. Ms. Haig-Brown is a professional educator and tried to reinforce that tribes are taking control of the educational systems involving their children now. She did not address the cultural values involved in the meaning and goals of education, which continue to conflict between the mainstream and traditional cultures.

In the realm of demon-baiting, this book is a solid helping of mashed potatoes to the Twinkies and Jell-o served up by critters like Bob Larson. On the one hand, if you really want to understand what basis people who actually believe this stuff are going on, this can be nourishing. If you're merely reading for recreation, however - and let's face it, in the end that's the only practical reason for filling your head with this material - you're likely to find it somewhat lumpy and bland.

Unfortunately this is one of the worst business books I have had to read. Mr. Dunlop writes in a sloppy and lazy manner and his works has all the marks of a hastily prepared work.

The use of literature and history in the book, somehow added to shed light on a business case study, fails to do justice to his sources. In fact it shows that the author does not understand the material he is attempting to deal with.

This book bears all the marks of an inexperienced student, but the cover notes reveal a business man, who in the view of this reviewer, should not attempt to offer advice on how to run a modern company.

Turgid and poorly written material.

This work is an enthusiastic encouragement and guidebook for charismatic renewal among Lutherans. However, it offers some dangerous theology. For example, it suggests that it's okay to make mistakes when first trying to prophesy--that everybody needs practice. However, this is contrary to Scripture. God takes false prophecy very seriously, but unfortunately Mr. Christenson does not.