history

As everyone has seen Al-Jazeera logos on Western TV stations after September 11's tragegy when they played Bin Laden videos, people have yearned to know more about this controversial Arabic satellite channel. El-Nawawy & Iskandar's book is not only the first on this station, but I think is also a very balanced, comprehensive and interesting read. It covers the role of the media in the Arab World, and the view of Al-Jazeera through Western eyes. I recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the important role of media in creating democracy and better understanding the views of Arab civil society.

This is a great book and I highly recommend it for everyone striving to know about the Arab media from an objective perspective. The book will inform you about the Arabs' struggle for freedom of speech through an unbiased Arab network that is not subject to the control of any government. The authors have succesfully portrayed the true picture of the Arab media scene through Arab eyes.

Al-Jazeera is the all-Arabic TV news channel which burst on to the international scene in the wake of September 11 and the war in Afghanistan. Its unfettered access to that country during the war and its showing of the bin Laden tapes made it an automatic force on the world stage.Based in the Gulf state of Qatar, it came from the remnants of the BBC Arabic TV service. With the help of startup money from the Emir of Qatar, Al-Jazeera was to have complete editorial independence.In a part of the world where the press is usually government controlled, Al-Jazeera is not afraid to get specific and name names. At one time or another, it has been criticized or condemned by seemingly every government in the Arab world, for broadcasting things that the local government would prefer not be broadcast. Every local editorial of condemnation and every denial of press credentials to Al-Jazeera reporters just increases its audience all over the world by satellite.One of the things that Al-Jazeera is most known for is its talk shows, especially a nightly, two-hour show called The Opposite Direction. Two guests appear on the show, with totally opposite opinions on a certain issue, and with help from live phone calls, the sparks fly. Even by American TV standards, things get pretty loud and lively. Arab governments have noticed, and have begun imitating the format on their tame and boring government TV channels.Even though Al-Jazeera is an Arab TV channel, it has tried very hard to be impartial, hosting members of the Bush Administration, after September 11, and government officials from Israel.For those who want to decide for themselves if Al-Jazeera is a legitimate news broadcaster or a terrorist mouthpiece, this book is highly recommended. It's comprehensive, clearly written and is quite enlightening.

Culver and Hyde have produced a beautifully written account of the life and times of Henry A. Wallace. Their fresh account of this brilliant, enigmatic man rescues Wallace from the smears that so tarnished his reputation during the 1948 campaign.

Had I been alive in the 1940s, I would most likely not have voted for Wallace because of his views on foreign policy, but I hope I would have had the sense to admire him for the man of principle and courage he was. He was a rare character in American politics, a figure who was interested in ideas more than power. Sadly, it is usually those with the opposite priorities who prevail in electoral contests, as is amply demonstrated in the book's discussions of the 1944 vice presidential campaign.

I finished "American Dreamer" a fan of Henry Wallace. As was the case when I began the book, I still do not agree with many of his positions. However, I now have a profound respect for this decent, honorable American. This is a very inspirational book, one to be enjoyed during what is shaping up to be a disappointing election year.

Rarely have I read such a well-written political biography of a major figure. AMERICAN DREAMER very ably traces the trajectory of Henry Wallace's career from relative obscurity in the Iowa farm belt to its pinnacle in the Vice Presidency, then the fall from grace from Truman's firing of him as Commerce Secretary through the debacle of the 1948 Progressive Party candidacy for President. Especially fascinating are the parts which trace the reasons for FDR's dumping Wallace in favor of Truman in 1944 and Wallace's increasing distance from the American political mainstream, especially after that point. Viewed from the perspective of post-Cold War America, Wallace's views toward the Soviet Union and World Communism seem to have more validity than they did when he expressed them between the end of World War II and the outbreak of the Korean War; but the authors maintain objectivity about Wallace in this regard and rightly suggest how naive or downright subversive some of his political stances seemed at the time. The book is not without its appreciation of the ironies of Wallace's life and career in politics--how a "rock-ribbed Republican" evolved into one of the most radical national politicians of his generation, and how a scientist and businessman who made a minor fortune from the new hybrid strains of corn which he developed came to be regarded as a closet Communist.

The main thing that is lacking from this biography is a full picture of Henry Wallace the man. There are a number of hints that his family life following his marriage was rather troubled and unhappy, but his wife, children, and siblings remain on the periphery of the authors' presentation. (For example, it mentions that his oldest son never forgave him for one particular disagreement, but never elaborates or returns to their relationship. His wife was obviously uncomfortable with his entrance into electoral politics, but the book never explores this in any depth.) The book also seems to compress its account of the final 15 years of his life to a snapshot at best; it would have been nice to know more about how he viewed American politics--both national and international--in the years preceding his death, how he felt about his relative anonymity, and whether he ever felt fully vindicated for taking the rather lonely political path he took.

As a result, the portrayal of his later life in particular seems to be a bit one dimensional. But these are minor flaws in what is otherwise a captivating biography of a very intricate individual. Most people will learn a lot from this book; I certainly did.

This book is very readable and engaging. In parts, you'll learn more about corn and agriculture than you ever thought you would from a political biography, but it isn't dull. American Dreamer gives great insight into many facets of American life from the 20s through the 50s, from the collapse of agriculture to the red scare (among the many things Mr Wallace so accurately predicted or feared). Most importantly American Dreamer throroughly introduces one to Mr Wallace, his faults and greatness.

Even if you're not too interested in Henry Wallace (or vaguely know of him), if you're interested in American history or politics of that era, you'll be fascinated as I.

I consider Martin Gardner to be the best there ever was in writing about mathematics. His essays are always entertaining and contain enough content to suggest other applications of the main point of his thesis. This book contains a series of short puzzles, most of which have quick solutions based on an "alternate" form of reasoning. That form is described as an "Aha" moment, where looking at the problem a different way leads to a simple solution to what appears to be a hard problem.
I first read this book when it was first published over twenty years ago and recently read it again. It has stood the test of time quite well and I consider it to be the best of the collections of material by Gardner. I have three children under the age of ten and they are occasionally subjected to a puzzle in this book. It is always interesting to see how well they do. Quite frankly, there are occasions when they get the aha! answer faster than I did.
Recent research indicates that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease can be reduced by constantly stressing your mental abilities. Martin Gardner has received many accolades in his life, We can now add that his books can help prevent serious mental diseases. Go ahead and clap, he has earned the applause.

This book gave me a lot to think about when I was young, and of all the books with math and logic puzzles I enjoyed, this was one of the best. Gardner has a way of turning problems into challenges, making the solving of them fun, and he also provides interesting explanations of problems with simplicity and clarity. For children, this book is an opportunity to explore math as something other than repetitive calculations or irrelevant word problems from bad textbooks. Adults too can use this book to hone their problem solving skills.

The difficulty of aha! insights is the lack of technique in coming to such an insight. It's a spontaneous reaction, something sudden and unexpected when you discover a simple solution. These problems do not teach you how to have these insights, but allows for practice in order that they may become more frequent. But the point is: it's recreational math... Enjoy it for the sake of enjoyment.

Unlike most of the author's other books on mathematics, this one is generous with whitespace, requiring less concentration. The puzzles are illustrated by the often-humorous cartoons, which greatly enhances the understandibility and readability of the book.

The book itself is quite thin with an attractive cover, reinforcing the idea that math can be fun. A great way to stimulate someone's interest in the subject.

This is a fantastic read! I loved every minute of it. I am astonished it's not a movie yet.

This book has a ton of great information and is an awesome adventure! Read it, you won't be sorry!

I bought this book, having heard of it through a mutual friend of mine and the author. Since then, I have made the acquaintance of the author. I was amazed at the content and detail in this book. Though it is not my usual kind of story, I did enjoy reading it, more so than some books I have read by widely known authors. The battle scenes are so vividly described that I could visualize everything to the expressions on the faces of the characters. It was very easy to find the Hospitalers so likeable and the Turkish army detestable. I became so enthralled with the story that I literally could not put it down. I look forward to reading more of Nick's work.

Another River, Another Town, is the best World War II battle front account I have ever read. John P. Irwin has provided a wonderful memoir that allows the reader to feel the emotions and bewilderment of a typical teenager who found himself in furious combat for months. Knowing that the war was fought by young men who are experiencing life and the world for the first time under horrendous, confusing condidtions truly added to my understanding of this important period in history. This book is a fabulous addition to the literature of World War II.

A great short read about an American soldier's experience in the last few weeks of the war in Europe in WWII. Irwin relates his experiences of capturing a large group of German soldiers, along with the monotony of endless hours spent riding in a tank. Even though this is a first book for Irwin, it is highly entertaining and will keep you interested. Just wish he had more experiences to relate in this short book. Also was disappointed that there was no aftermath on what happened to his tank team mates. It would have been interesting to find out what happened to them. However if quality of writing is everything, this book should keep you interested.

I have to go with 5 stars too. This is a great first person account of the way it was. I found the book riviting and well written. A compelling, well written story of what it was like being a tanker in WWII. I thank and salute the author for having taken the time to get his story told, you will enjoy it start to finish.

Very detailed source for information on mergers, acquisitions and buyouts. The question and answer format is a great way to identify the information that you need. This book really is a handbook; I wouldn't encourage reading it cover to cover, but to use it as more of a reference book. The footnotes at the end of each chapter are useful to finding more in depth information, and the book gives a generous number of websites which you can consult.

After scanning several books on the subject, this one looked like the most useful and usable of the batch. The Art of M&A provides solid, detailed and precise information for people in companies making acquisitions. It is a good introduction to the topic and long term resource for specifics.

This is a fantastic reference tome for anyone involved with M&A. As a private equity Associate, I have found this book to be invaluable on multiple levels as both a reference guide for securities law, as well as for procedural issues such as sample formats for term sheets, DD check lists, etc.

Also, while it is a dense read, I think this would be invaluable for people just entering either Investment Banking or Private Equity to read as an introduction to the rules, regulations and procedures surrounding mergers/acquisitions.

Rose wants to stay in New York after arriving as an immigrant from Ireland, but she finds that it is much easier for a man to make the riches promised in America than it is for a woman. She ends up working in a sweatshop where the owner tries to take advantage of her. She leaves there and finally ends up getting a job at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company where she believes she has finally found a place where she can build a life for her and her sister. But tragedy will soon tear her new safe world apart.
Auch pulls you into the world of 1911 and creates an atmosphere that allows the reader to feel the desparation that accompanied the fight for women's rights in the workforce. The characters come alive and when many are lost in the Triangle shirtwaist company fire you grieve for them along with Rose. Ashes of Roses is a poignant book that will move the reader to a new, deeper understanding of the struggle for rights and the horror of the fire that took the lives of over 150 people in the Triangle Company fire in New York.

America was the land of opportunity. The main character, Rose, seeks out that opportunity with her family in Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch. Rose is known for her hard work and her stubbornness. This book shows the immigrants' struggles to survive in America. Rose's family has to learn to live in America from the different Ireland. Ashes of Roses lets the reader view an insight to the pressures of living in America.
In Ashes of Roses, Rose's family travels from Ireland to America for a new life. But at Ellis Island, tragedy strikes the family when Joseph, Rose's baby brother, has trachoma and cannot go into America. Roses' dad decides to take Joseph back to Ireland to stay with Grandma Nolan. While Rose's dad takes Joseph back, the family stays with Rose's uncle. However, Rose's mother hates to live for free, and Rose tries to find a job. A short while later, Rose's mother decides she does not want to live in America without her husband and Joseph. On the way to the boat, Rose asks her mother to let her stay in America with her younger sister.
Rose and her sister find a place to live in America with a father and his daughter, Gussie. Gussie helps Rose find a job at a cloth factory. BR> In Ashes of Roses, Rose and the readers learn not to take life for granted. The story line is easy to follow and keeps the readers hooked. The author did an impressive job bring the story to life. Ashes of Roses shows immigrants making their life in America by the trials they face.

I chose this book for my American Cultures project, and I thought it would be a pretty bland book. Turns out that it was very good book that gives a lot of facts, but everything is woven together so one does not tire of reading this book easily. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn a little bit more on the building of America all in a fairly easy read.

Sometimes, it is uncanny when the pilots say something in the cockpit that is later retrieved by the voice-recorder, it is as if they knew something was going to happen. Like the United Airlines pilot that commented: "Nice looking day - hard to believe the skies are unfriendly."

The most interesting one I found was where the Thai Airways A310 crashed into the Himalayas in Nepal. How could a plane crash into a mountain? Communication errors, mainly. But you'll have to read it to find out.

Another unusual one, was when the pilot's children came to the cockpit of a Russian Aeroflot plane and the son then "flew" the aircraft under his father's supervision, leading to the rather drastic consequences of everyone aboard perishing. It was not as you might think, the son's fault, rather, the autopilot disconnected without them becoming aware of it and the fact that the captains control-yoke overrides the second officer's.

After reading the first three books, my respect for pilots has increased tenfold. Most of them do what they think is the correct action (at the time) for averting a disaster. It is all too easy to say with the benefit of hindsight that they should have done this or they should have done that. It has also made me aware, that it is often pilot error that causes incidents. Rarely does a "wing fall off" like I used to think happened. Oh, and bring back the Flight Engineer - had they been present on flight decks during some of the more recent incidents of this book, they probably could have prevented or averted those disasters.

I would like to see the authors make a 5th instalment, focusing on more recent disasters, and ones in which the circumstances are caused by something other than turbulence or the autopilot being in the wrong mode. Such as the collision caused in Lima, Peru on October 2nd, 1997 -where a pilot radioed that his cockpit instrumentation was malfunctioning. Turned out workers forgot to remove the duct tape that they had placed over key sensors while cleaning the plane. In this edition, too many of the crashes are similar, and it is like reading the same story twice.

Air Disaster 3 lives up to the high standard of Air Disaster Volumes 1 & 2. It takes an in depth look at several major air disasters, and includes information from before the incident, then describes what happened and then explains why. Has great graphics and photos. The best Aviation Safety related book I have ever read.

Macarther Job's third installment in this Air Disaster series brings us into the more modern era of the lesser known disasters as air travel is now so mundane that every time an airliner crashs the world gasps for a brief moment and then carries on with life.

Pilot error is a main focus of this edition. Good clear diagrams and explinations are provided and this has made Macarther Job one of the foremost experts in this seldom talked about field in aviation.

His next edition is the preserve of the post war piston airliners and early turboprops, however as we know and have to sadly except this will not be his last.

"Altered State" is the most interesting and affecting book I've read on Ecstasy Culture so far. Collins' mapping of the history of various scenes against the trajectory of the ecstasy experience (honeymoon / diminishing returns/ excess /disillusionment /comedown /reintegration) is original, intelligent and, like most good ideas, blindingly obvious. Unlike many commentators, Collins doesn't allow himself to get bogged down in cod-mystical tripe when describing the scene. Neither is he glib or superficial in his analysis,treating the phenomenon with the respect and seriousness which - at its best - it undoubtedly deserves. Most of the major players seem to be covered (strangely, though, the Orb are not even mentioned), although I'm sure there are more than a few people who would question the amount of attention lavished on Spiral Tribe. Still, as Collins is quick to point out, his version is merely his "mix" of events, and should not be regarded as definitive, as no text could be (nice get out Matt....:-) ). If you've ever wondered about the scene, this is the second best way to get to the heart of the matter. As a history for the nostalgic, it's second to none.

Recommended to me by a friend. I have read all the books on our culture, and found this to be the most informative, historical, and unbiased description of the Rave culture. I was also quite suprised that the book dealt more with the actual culture of ravers, and didn't spend so much time on drug talk. Interesting discussion of the role the Alcohol industry played in the criminalization of ecstasy. Gives a lot of food for thought. A definite MUST HAVE.

This book is well written from start to finish and is hard to put down. It provides a real inside viewpoint of not only the music put the politics of ecstasy culture. To those who seek alternatives to corporate-consumer-culture this book is very inspiring. In particular the stories of how groups like Spiral Tribe live(d) their lives.

To me this book really captures a lot of the emotion that those inside the 'rave movement' feel. Even though the book is centered on the London scene it seems to capture the universal essence of the culture. Reading the book felt like reliving the rave experience all over again. It's like a trip taking you from a ravers first mind-opening dose of MDMA to the realizations that come after continued exposure to underground dance culture and politics.

This book also provided a great account of the actions taken by the opponents of youth dance culture; the ignorance of the politicians and police using scare tactics to try and control what they clearly don't understand, the attempts by the alcohol industry to take the culture away from the underground and commodify it into regular bars for their profit, and the problems created in the culture by organized crime.

Altered State also delves into the issues of prohibition and harm reduction. This is another area where the book's message transcends the London setting it describes. These topics will resonate with anyone familiar with the current political climate in the USA. With the 2002 RAVE (Reducing Americans Vulnerability to Ecstasy) club owners can now be held responsible for what their patrons ingest. Meanwhile organizations like DanceSafe.org offer harm reduction strategies to the millions of ecstasy users who defy prohibition.

I couldn't recommend this book more highly.

Is Jocko Weyland the John Steinbeck of skateboarding? Who knows. Who cares? What I do know is this is the only book that I couldn't wait to finish in a long time. If you grew up skating at any time in the 60's, 70's and '80's, and are still alive and literate, you MUST read this book. Get ready for all the long-forgotten memories to come rushing back. First skateboard? Check. First set of urethane wheels? Check. First pool ridden? Check. First skatepark? Check. First tail drop? Check. The list goes on and on.....this book will make you remember why you started skating and what a thrill it was and still is for many of us....

I have just finished the book after an extended sitting (couldn't put it down) and found it to be completely absorbing. I also have skateboarded for 25 years and this book came as close as anything I have ever read to summing up how a piece of wood attached to 4 wheels can completely inform and influence your life, the choices you make, the friends you choose and the way you look at every aspect of the world around you.

If you are just getting on board for the first time, or haven't stepped off in 25 years or more, read this book!

Indeed there is something to be said for reaching out with the internet. Jocko has, since my previous review, made good with a payment for the photo usage in this book, and has been added to my personal list, as another "Cadillac of Dudes".
-M.Fo