Society and Politics

The Fourth Turning

by William Strauss

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"Member of the 13th Generation? Millenial Generation? The Boomers? Care to track your own development through the maze of historical events to find out where you've been, and more importantly, where you are going? Where our country is going? Then pick this book up immediately. Simply put, the "Fourth Turning" is THE most important book written in the last twenty years, and a book that should be required reading.Strauss and Howe apparently have devoted their lives to the study of history and the development of generations in societies. The book is loaded, and I mean, loaded with historical references, some of which I wasn't familiar with until now. By looking at these events, and more importantly, looking at the people that went along with those events, Strauss and Howe noticed some recurring patterns in generations over the centuries. Apply this pattern to our country, and to our future, they have correctly predicted that we are headed for a "Fourth Turning", a time of great criss and peril.Normally, I shun books that people claim to have "visions of the future" involved with them. They are frequently erroneous and based on the whims of the author. However, "The Fourth Turning" is different. By basing their theories of the future on past events, they offer support and credence to their thoughts. The effect is both enlightening and chilling, but it is one that we simply cannot ignore.I found every single page of their book fascinating as a study or recent history and future history. Also, I personally found self-enlightenment in reading about the generation in which I belong, the long lost "Gen X" crowd, or the title they label it, "13th". It explains a lot about the world in which I was raised, and the world we live in today.One chilling fact: this book was written in 1997, and the authors predicts a calamatous and unimaginable event in the early part of the 2000s that would signify the start of the Fourth Turning. Who can read this book and not think of September 11th?Don't delay. Read this book. We are entering a winter in our times, and those people prepared with that knowledge certainly will have a more steady base in the fourth turning to come."

Publisher: Broadway | More reviews: amazon.com

Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

by Michael Shermer

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"My first impression upon finishing this book is that the title is wrong. Though Dr. Shermer addresses some issues about why people believe weird things, for the most part this book is more about the weird things people believe, and not so much about the reasons they believe them. For a better discussion about why people believe weird things, I suggest Thomas Gilovich's book "How we know what isn't so." Shermer devotes all of chapter one to expanding on the definition and characteristics of a skeptic, and all of chapter two to describing science. This lays the bedrock for his future discussions about pseudosciences such as creationism, and helps to make clear the reasons these pseudosciences and superstitions fail to meet the demanding requirements of science. He explains that a skeptic is not synonymous with a cynic. Instead, a skeptic is someone who questions the validity of a particular claim by calling for evidence to prove or disprove it. As such, skepticism is an essential part of the scientific method. Chapter 3 is a jewel. It describes 25 ways in which thinking goes wrong. Reading this chapter left me wondering if these rules for fallacious reasoning are not encoded somewhere as the rules for participation in some of the more notorious Internet newsgroups devoted to various mythologies. The second part of the book examines claims of the paranormal, near-death experiences, alien abductions, witch crazes, and cults. Although these stories make interesting reading, they are same examples of debunking we have seen for years. I, for one, would appreciate a fresher skeptical approach that is not so (apparently) reluctant to challenge the claims of institutionalized religions. Is transubstantiation any more credible than claims of the paranormal? Are alien abduction stories any less credible than the Book of Mormon's claims about a large, literate Hebrew society in America 2,000 years ago, that used horse-drawn chariots and steel swords? Are witch crazes any more significant than some Christians who let their children die rather than bringing them proper medical treatment? I think not, and I believe it is time for skeptics to broaden their portfolio beyond the usual array of paranormal activities and alien abductions.Shermer devotes chapters 9 through 11 to the conflict between creationism and evolution. This section of the book has a wonderful summary of the legal battles fought to keep the religion of creationism out of public schools. Chapter 10 has an excellent description of what is evolution, and a very brief summary of 25 arguments used by creationists against evolution, along with counter arguments used by scientists. Interestingly enough, Shermer offers very little in the way of direct evidence against creationism - of which there is a tremendous amount - and focuses mostly on how to defend evolution. Unfortunately, he has truncated his 25 arguments so much that they are of little practical use - especially against more polished debaters. Shermer admits this at the beginning of the chapter, and does offer an excellent bibliography of more detailed references for the reader.Shermer's defense of evolution bogs down when he encroaches on the idea that evolution is not a threat to religion. [This is how I interpreted Shermer, though he is not entirely clear about his personal feelings regarding this matter.] Science most certainly is a threat to some religions - creationism, for example (and Shermer argues throughout his book that creationism is a religion - which is why it should not be taught in public schools). It seems obvious to me that sometimes science does threaten religion (more some than others) - but that is religion's problem, not science'. Scientists should stop apologizing for that fact.In trying to sooth the potential conflict between science and religion, Shermer quotes Stephen J. Gould (one of my favorite authors). Interestingly, Gould (uncharacteristically) offers a spectacular example of some of the bogus reasoning Shermer discredits in chapter 3. Gould says (page 132):"Unless at least half my colleagues are dunces, there can be - on the most raw and empirical grounds - no conflict between science and religion."Here, Gould violates Shermer's rule 19 (overreliance on authorities - Gould's colleagues in this case). Then, Gould leaves us wondering if, instead, we are to consider the other half of Gould's colleagues (the half that apparently do not agree with him) as dunces.To his credit, Shermer provides a definition of religion on page 145 (though he offers no definition of God). I am not sure he makes the matter any clearer by doing so, however, since his definition of religion (as a method) places it as the antithesis of science (also defined as a method). Yet, I got the impression from his book that Shermer agrees (on a fundamental level) that there need not be any disagreement between science and religion.Part 4 discusses racism and pseudohistory in the case of holocaust deniers. This part seemed out of place in the book primarily because Shermer spends comparatively little time discussing the weirdness of the opposing camp, instead focusing mostly on his perceptions. Though I agree with him on most points, I could no shake the feeling the chapters belong in a different book with a different title.In the last section (section 5) Shermer gets back on track and finishes with an interesting view of the societal role science plays, and the roll it will play in the future. Shermer holds hope for the human race, in spite of its sometimes-overbearing tendency toward mysticism. He also gives a wonderful summary of why people believe weird things: because it feels good. Though I would like to know more about why it feels good, I cannot argue with his conclusion.Overall, this was an excellent book. Dr. Shermer is a clear thinker. His ability to focus on the central issues and facts makes this book refreshingly illuminating. His personal touch, brought through stories of actual life experiences, adds to the pleasure of reading his book. Duwayne Anderson"

Publisher: Holt Paperbacks | More reviews: amazon.com

The Long Descent: A User's Guide to the End of the Industrial Age

by John Michael Greer

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"From start to finish, this book is both practical and inspirational. He begins with a clear explanation of our energy predicament, and makes the novel claim that this is not a problem to solve - it is a situation that we must adapt to. Cheap, abundant energy is slowly becoming a thing of the past, and we must make the best of what we have.

The author does an excellent job of disarming two common responses to Peak Oil by bringing their myths to the surface: the myth of progress and the myth of apocalypse. The point is made that allowing one single narrative to rule over your identity is dangerous. Instead, we must look to history to see how past civilizations have fallen and understand that this is a natural process and that we are not exempt. Civilization does not collapse over night - it is better to recognize that it is a gradual stepping down that takes place over the course of a couple hundred years. It won't be great, but it doesn't have to be Armageddon either.

After making sure that the reader is clear on these essential points, Greer then proceeds to offer suggestions as to how we can begin preparing for the gradual downslope. As I think is proper, he makes it very clear that these changes have to originate from the individual. It is too late to expect a government solution to the problem, and only individuals and communities can take action now.

All in all, this is the best book I have read on this topic. It is a sober and sane take on where we certainly seem to be heading. "

Publisher: New Society Publishers | More reviews: amazon.com

Practicing the Presence: The Inspirational Guide to Regaining Meaning and a Sense of Purpose in Your Life

by Joel S. Goldsmith

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"I love this book. It always calms and centers me. I have
learned so much here. Somewhere about pg. 58 or so, I was
able to overnight double my income/etc....due to the insights
of the author. Not about using God, but about understanding
how it all works. Basic concept was this: paraphrased...
"when I stop sitting at the feet of the Master waiting to be fed, and become the Master, feeding the unillumined, then I am
prospered."
Thy Grace is My Sufficiency. My consciousness is the
substance of my world.
Truth realized is Spiritual consciousness.
If you've found this review, you're probably ready for
Goldsmith...one of the most profound and aware mystics of
our century! Also read: Parenthesis in Eternity and
Thunder of Silence! WOW!"

Publisher: HarperOne | More reviews: amazon.com

Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century

by Mark Leonard

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"The title of this book is misleading because no one believes Europe will run the 21st century, including the author himself. Mark Leonard is not saying Europe will have the biggest economy or the most powerful military, rather the European way of doing things will be the model of change in the coming century.

In the late 1990's, Leonard was the founder of Tony Blair's think tank, the Foreign Policy Centre, and he was also one of the young turks responsible for the making and the marketing of "cool Britannia." He is currently the head of the Centre for European Reform, and in this slim volume he is attempting to do for the European Union what he did for Great Britain.

Leonard reminds us that the European Union is not a superstate, nor is it a federation or empire. It is more like a decentralized network. He compares the EU to Visa, a company whose logo appears on half a billion credit cards and employs only 3,000 people. Visa is actually owned by the 21,000 financial institutions that use it. The EU, like Visa, is basically an enabling institution rather than an overbearing bureaucracy.

The attraction of the European Union for its members or potential members is its transformational power. It does not threaten with military power, instead the threat of being excluded from the world's largest single market is its most potent weapon. To become a member, a country must transform itself from within and comply with the 80,000 plus pages of law written in Brussels - laws that cover everything from human rights to product development.

Critics will say that this is a superstate, and an undemocratic one at that. Leonard disagrees with this characterization. Not only has the EU rationalized commercial policies and provided a common currency, it has given small and medium-sized countries a voice in an increasingly globalized world. Under the aegis of the EU all the member countries have a say in international negotiations.

Likewise, Leonard claims that on important internal issues such as taxes, pensions, healthcare, and education, Europeans still make decisions on the level of the nation state.

But what about the recent rejection by France and the Netherlands of the EU constitution? No big deal, says Leonard. Europe is always in crisis and it's always debating its future identity, it's just another day at the office. One of the lessons learned from this rejection, however, is that the EU will require more debate and more democracy in the future. For example, on any future expansion of the EU there will be a referendum. If Turkey or the Balkan states want to join, they will not only have to meet all the legal and human rights requirements, they will also have to be accepted by the voters of the member countries. As they famously say, there will have to be a deepening before there can be a widening.

As an optimist and booster of the EU, Leonard is dismissive of the numerous long-term problems that lie ahead. Europe has an overgenerous welfare system that will become even more burdensome as its population ages and declines. And as we have seen recently, many European cities have large pockets of unassimilated immigrants whose numbers are increasing rapidly. Moreover, the high taxation and high regulation stifle business formation and expansion. As he glosses over these issues, Leonard exudes confidence that the European model of law and negotiaton will find a way to solve these problems.

This is an excellent book to familiarize oneself with the European worldview, it is a worldview sharply different from those who still live in the Hobbsian world of power politics."

Publisher: PublicAffairs | More reviews: amazon.com

Trance: Formation of America

by Cathy O'Brien

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"A century ago a book such as this would have been a call to the barricades. Today with the state as powerful as it is, this book simply makes you want to leave the United States and let it rot. For those who haven't read the book, O'Brien's story is one of a survivor of a CIA-sponsored program called MK Ultra, which aimed to explore the limits of human "suggestibility." The program began following World War II, when numerous top Nazi scientists resettled in the United States, at the invitation of the CIA, to continue their research into mind control. The project was based upon the research finding that if a person is severely traumatized, he or she will "split" off a "multiple personality" as a defense mechanism. It was those "multiples" that CIA scientists sought (successfully) to "program." Today thousand of people exist as mind-controlled slaves whose "programs" for various activities, such as performance in pornography films, prostitution, message carrying, and drug "muling," can be "accessed" by their "controllers" by cryptic keywords.A reader curious about O'Brien's book should be forewarned of the exceptionally bizarre nature of its revelations. In fact, at least in my view, the revelations are so bizarre, it would probably be a bad move to read this book without first reading something that "builds" up to it. A good primer on the subject would be John Decamp's _The Franklin Cover-Up_.Those who do read the book and are of sufficient independent thought to see through the haze of disinformation put forward every day by the state-influenced newspapers and magazines and see the truth in O'Brien's book are placed in a difficult position. They're in possession of extremely rare knowledge, and, futhermore, extremely bleak knowledge. For the picture painted by O'Brien, unfortunately, is nearly without hope. I am not a religious person, and I have always been both mildly amused and mildly offended by the stories of organized religion. But this is, I must admit, a book that can change such a person as me, for after reading _Tranceformation of America_, I'm left asking an unanswerable question.Where did all this wickedness come from?"

Publisher: Reality Marketing Inc | More reviews: amazon.com

Psychic Warrior: The True Story of America's Foremost Psychic Spy and the Cover-Up of the CIA's Top-Secret Stargate Program

by David Morehouse

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"I was under CPT Moorehouse's command From E-1 to E-5. I was in 2nd plt Bco. 1/75 Ranger Bn at Hunter Army Airfield Savannah Ga. It was my platoon on the Objective when CPT Moorehouse had been shot in the head. Unfortunately I wasn't personally on that deployment due to a death in my family. SFC Ricketts, SFC Hayes, Lt. Wright, Lt. Owens were my leaders growing up in the Ranger Bn. All of us under the Command of Captain David Moorehouse. This book would be totally unbelievable to me except for one fact, the man who wrote it. I was in his company nearly the entire time he was in command. I am currently in Special Forces and have been in the military over 12 years. My entire career has been in special operations; and up to date I have not had a commander or Team leader that could hold a candle to Cpt. Moorehouse. As the CQ runner,while under his command, I would have the duties to clean his office in the evenings. I would stand in awe of his walls hanging his military diplomas. Diploma after diploma was distinguished honor graduate or honor graduate. This in it self would set himself far above his peers. But it was my personal witness to his commitment to his soldiers, his company, and mission accomplishment that proved his true character. This man truly trained his company for war not for his OER, which, I believe, most commanders do. On more than one occasion I witnessed him break range control regs, putting his career on the line, so we could have the most realistic training possible. So his company would be truly ready for combat not just looking like it on paper for the higher echelons pleasure. He had tremendous standards which he held the company to. He would not have any of his men do anything he wasn't first willing to do himself. I once witnessed him carrying two rucksacks on a road march. One rucksack was his own and the other was a soldier's ruck who could not keep up the pace. There are too many incidents proving his selflessness and dedication to mention. One thing I can say for sure is I was there. I was a witness to his professionalism, his character, and to this day I would follow him into combat without hesitation. There are many great soldier's in Special Ops and CPT Moorehouse was one of the best. His book is an eye opener for everyone currently in Special Ops. Though by far the most unbelievable non-fiction story I have ever read, I believe this to be truthful coming from CPT. Moorehouse. Bringing this out in the open just proves to me that the utmost Selfless, dedicated, and professional officer I have ever met hasn't changed. 18D4VW9"

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks | More reviews: amazon.com

A Primer for Policy Analysis

by Edith Stokey

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Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company | More reviews: amazon.com

New World Order: The Ancient Plan of Secret Societies

by William T. Still

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"This book is garbage, plain and simple. William Still takes the unusual tactic of investigating secret society activity through a fundamental Christian perspective. This could have led to interesting results, but this book comes nowhere close. I am not trying to criticize Still's beliefs, but he clearly comes from the religious tradition that believes that any sort of behavior that does not agree with his theology 100% is "satanist". In fact he condemns his subject matter as "satanist" or "satanism" so many times that the judgement loses its force very quickly. Still also comes from the branch of Christianity that feels that all persons or ideas that do not comply with those fundamental beliefs to the letter are part of a vast conspiracy seeking to crush Christian beliefs. Once again, Still's personal beliefs are his right, but he has such a clear contempt for his subject matter that he is completely unable to investigate it in any useful fashion. Just when he is on the verge of unveiling useful information about the actions of secret societies, each time he collapses into tired religious dogma.This book is not the "investigative" journalism that Still tries to tell you it is. I'll give him a little credit for trying, but he fails. He is completely unable to see around his personal hatred and contempt for his subject...."

Publisher: Huntington House Publishers | More reviews: amazon.com

Eyes of the Heart: Seeking a Path for the Poor in the Age of Globalization

by Jean-Bertrand Aristide

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"Throughout the 20th century, communism and democratic capitalism provided the primary models for economic development. Between the two, dictatorships often flourished, plundering countries for the benefit of the few. At the end of the 20th century, the gap between the wealthiest and poorest countries seems to have grown.Aristide is the former elected president of Haiti, who was ousted by a coup d'etat in 1991. He and the Haitian democracy were restored with UN help in 1994. Now a private citizen, he shares his views in this book as to how to improve the circumstances for the people of Haiti in a democratic context.I do not know enough about Haiti to know about the accuracy of his statements about the history of this country. His basic point is that free markets have tended to impoverish the agricultural sector, the historical strength of Haiti. This occurred through reducing tariffs on rice, so that subsidized U.S. rice drove out local Haitian farmers. Prices rose again after the farmers had lost their farms. Then a disease among local swine led to these animals being slaughtered. The replacement swine from Iowa were ill-suited to Haiti, and this source of food and income was lost as well.Aristide points out that the Haitians are very good about sharing and caring for each other, even when they have very little. The country has an 85 percent illiteracy rate, 80 percent of the people drink substandard water, there is not enough water for farm irrigation, and 70 percent are unemployed. Crowding in poor areas is so extreme that people sleep in shifts. Aristide believes in democracy, but feels that it must also have literacy, clean water, and food to sustain it. He also points out that you have to break down the barriers of class and prejudice to unite people in helping one another. Since leaving office he has supported private initiatives for tutoring adult illiterates, establishing free universities, lending to poor people in groups of five (along the lines of the Gameen bank model), and improving access to clean water. He also works on symbolic changes like having young children speak on their own radio shows, inviting people of all classes to swim in his swimming pool (in a country where most have never seen a pool), and greeting one and all with respect and caring. Basically, his model follows the immigrant society approach that worked so well in the United States in the late 19th century. Similar methods worked well in India during the Gandhi regime after independence. As encouraging and heart-warming as the model is, it does need further development. Haiti needs to develop a world-class advantage in some area of economic activities. Based on his description of the country, the obvious possibilities are not too many. Essentially, light manufacturing, software development, doing back office tasks for U.S. companies on an overnight basis, specialty agriculture or horticulture, and specialized banking are the choices. Language differences (most Haitians speak either French or a local variation thereof) will be a limiting factor.A second need for this model is that Haitians should attract business partners from the developing and the developed world who will have an economic and heart-felt interest in assisting with Mr. Aristide's approach. Haitians have been successful in attacting Catholic visitors to understand the country's problems, so perhaps businesses owned by Catholics could be a good place to start. A third need for this model is to create nonprofit organizations that do not yet exist that span across national lines. Habitat for Humanity could be a good model, but the context needs to be in literacy (especially to learn English, the language of international business and science, as well as French), development of water resources, and reestablishing competitive local agriculture. Volunteers from the developed and developing countries would create the organizational structure and provide the seed capital, and then work as partners with Haitians to assist the Haitians in helping themselves. The U.S. immigrants frequently had help from groups similar to this with the development of their literacy in English at the beginning of the 20th century from American-born people.My sense is also that there needs to be a study of what the future best practices can be for using private initiative (for profit and not for profit) to assist countries like Haiti. For example, if the Gameen-style banks (lending small amounts to small entrepreneurs, guaranteed by fellow entrepreneurs) are so successful, why not raise capital to start more of them using pools of funds that already exist in the United States and elsewhere? Mr. Aristide has raised a very useful question and potential answer in this book. I hope it will encourage you and others to think about how to create even better answers. In supporting our fellow citizens of the world, we can all make a difference in improving the quality of caring in our lives and in the quality of life in theirs. What a profound opportunity to exercise our imaginations and our caring! As these people are able to contribute more for themselves, we will all benefit from their ideas and their energy. As de Tocqueville pointed out during his visit to the United States, what makes our democracy work so well are the effective efforts of private citizens to do the public good. Mr. Aristide makes a good case for exporting this part of our democratic model through our own actions, as well. Overcome your misconception stall that most of the world must always live in poverty!"

Publisher: Common Courage Press | More reviews: amazon.com