Corruptions of Empire: Life Studies and the Reagan Era (Haymarket Series)

Customer Reviews:

Reckless Disregard.......2000-09-04

If ever there were a journalist who cannot be trusted (Matt Drudge aside perhaps), it is Cockburn.

Cockburn's criticism of Reagan are by and large on the mark. But Reagan has been analyzed and critiqued by far more able critics with far greater credibility. Cockburn, a supposed "radical" and a former paid shill for the PLO (who never bothered to disclose this relationship while he was supposedly an objective reporter), was a long time contributor to the Village Voice. His pieces in The Village Voice over the years were, as often as not, a vile stew composed of ersatz radical politics, bitchy attacks on fellow journalists, and the occasional actual story accompanied by relentless self-promotion. He was also not above character assassination and very selective reading of facts in order to further his agenda du jour. Although he goes after Reagan here, liberals are often Cockburn targets -- he delights in attacking them for not being pure enough for him, even as he often gives right wingers and reactionaries a free pass. (If his recent article taken from his forthcoming book about Al Gore is any example of the book, Cockburn's newest offering is another example of this.

Simply put, there are better Marxists, better writers, better cultural critics and far more able journalists. Take a pass on this book.

Great stuff.......1999-08-10

Cockburn is the master of the polemic. His words about Reagan, food, travel, *anything*, are worth reading.

No other book so devastatingly captures the 80s.......1998-05-25

I read this wonderful collection of super sharp essays by the 'last marxist' himself back in the late 80s. Still have the Verso paperback edition on my book shelf and have given it as gifts for one occasion or another over the years.

Whether he is writing on Reagan, Thatcher or James Bond and travel his essays can not be beat for totally and unapologetically taking class analysis in a wildly creative and laugh out loud direction. Unpedictable, untrivial and totally original.

Book Description

Based on extraordinary research: a major reassessment of Ronald Reagan's lifelong crusade to dismantle the Soviet Empire–including shocking revelations about the liberal American politician who tried to collude with USSR to counter Reagan's efforts

Paul Kengor's God and Ronald Reagan made presidential historian Paul Kengor's name as one of the premier chroniclers of the life and career of the 40th president. Now, with The Crusader, Kengor returns with the one book about Reagan that has not been written: The story of his lifelong crusade against communism, and of his dogged–and ultimately triumphant–effort to overthrow the Soviet Union.

Drawing upon reams of newly declassified presidential papers, as well as untapped Soviet media archives and new interviews with key players, Kengor traces Reagan's efforts to target the Soviet Union from his days as governor of California to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of what he famously dubbed the "Evil Empire." The result is a major revision and enhancement of what historians are only beginning to realize: That Reagan not only wished for the collapse of communism, but had a deep and specific understanding of what it would take––and effected dozens of policy shifts that brought the USSR to its heels within a decade of his presidency.

The Crusader makes use of key sources from behind the Iron Curtain, including one key memo that implicates a major American liberal politician–still in office today–in a scheme to enlist Soviet premier Yuri Andropov to help defeat Reagan's 1984 reelection bid. Such new finds make The Crusader not just a work of extraordinary history, but a work of explosive revelation that will be debated as hotly in 2006 as Reagan's policies were in the 1980s.

Customer Reviews:

Bringing Down the Walls of Communism.......2007-09-09

Ronald Reagan is one of the rare figures in history who transcends political ideology. Often portrayed as more communicator than true statesman, The Crusader presents a far different picture. Paul Kengor does a masterful work of combining Reagan's own words with seldom published source material. The picture that develops is of a man who truly believed communism was evil and dedicated the later part of his life to seeing its downfall.

Since President Reagan's death, more and more historians have begun to change their opinion of his effectiveness and influence as leader of the free world. No matter what your political leanings, The Crusader is a fine example of historical writing done right.

Ronald Reagan - The Crusader.......2007-09-09

I have been a supporter of Ronald Reagan since his first run for the Presidency in 1976. I learned things about President Reagan that I did not know before reading this book. Most notably, this book details and documents just how President Reagan was in charge of his agenda, notwithstanding the best efforts of the American left to portray him otherwise, particularly the defeat and destruction of the Soviet Union.

The book is extremely well written and is a page turner from the first chapter on. This is a must read for any fan of the greatest president of the last century. Reagan haters and deniers will want to avoid this book so as not to have to confront real history and all its implications.

Ronald Reagan= One Great American .......2007-07-22

The late President Reagan's crusade against Communism in Russia freed millions of innocent people around the world, and in the end made the world a much better place when he died.

History will record that Reagan was one of the greatest presidents in American history, and we should all take his example in both moral leadership, and courageousness.

All future American leaders should look to Reagan as an example of honesty, sacrifice, and fortitude for taking on the problems of the 21rst century.

God rest the soul of President Ronald Reagan, and may God bless America.

"The Crusader" One person can make a difference........2007-05-18

If there was ever a book showing that one person can make a difference, it is "The Crusader," by Paul Kengor. It is amazing how many times Ronald Reagan went against the advice of most if not all of his advisors, and in the end proved to be correct.(Most advisors did not want Reagan to tell Garbachev to "tear down this wall," during his now famous speech.)
Today, President Bush often gets criticized for unilateral inclinations. The book shows that Ronald Reagan was the unilateralsit of all unilateralists. It was even humorous to read how Reagan would go through the motions during his cabinet meetings and often in press conferences, while at the same time he had this whole separate operation going on to bring down the Soviet Union, that very few, even very few of his cabinet members, knew about. Can anyone say leader? It also shows, that even though Reagan was calling the shots, how important Bill Casey and Bill Clark were to the entire operation.
This is the best book I have read on Ronald Reagan, and the best book that I have read on the process that actually ended the Cold War.
It really does put the final nail in the coffin for those clueless "intellectuals" who say that the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and even the Berlin Wall would have fallen anyway. The book gives an amazingly detailed step by step account of the economic war against the Soviets and all of the National Security Decision Directives that Reagan virtually single-handedly initiated.
The book shows that Ronald Reagan would often go against conventional wisdom. For example, he had great disdain for the Yalta agreements, and for the policy of containment, and eventually, virtually reversed them.
The book also shows how Reagan's anti-communist passions go way back in his life, and how those sentiments are based on his respect for the human being. It tells of a time when he was in East Germany and saw a lady shopper accosted by an East German guard, and how this incident and others firmed his resolve against the evil of communism. It is pointed out how Reagan was actually motivated to act when others weren't, and how Reagan had an inborn sense of the right thing to do. And the book shows that Reagan's pattern to rescue those in distress goes back to his early days when saved 77 people over 7 summers from the swift currents of the Rock River in Dixon Illinois.
"The Crusader" goes into great detail about the relationship between President Reagan and the great Pope John Paul II, and his role in bringing down communism. And it details Reagan's great admiration for the Polish people, and how they admired him in return, and how Poland's Solidarity Movement was one of the major factors in Reagan's and the Pope's effort to bring down communism. And how the people of Poland, the rest of Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union gave great credit to Reagan for bringing them freedom.
The book also details how Reagan brought freedom to Central and South America.
Before I read "The Crusader," I thought that President Ronald Reagan was our greatest U.S. President. After reading the book, my opinion of him only improved. In fact, he and Pope John Paul II have to be two of the great men of the millenium.
It was often said that Reagan had very few, if any, close friends, except Nancy. Probably my favorite story in the book was when, in 1989, just before the previously unimaginable free elections in Poland, Reagan welcomed two members of Solidarity and the two Polish Americans who were hosting them, to his office in California. Reagan pointed to a picture of Pope John Paul II on his office wall and said: "He is my best friend. Yes, you know I am a Protestant, but he's still my best friend." If you are going to have a best friend, not a bad on to have. Thankyou.

Mark S.Robertson
Independence, Mo.

Irrefutable evidence.......2007-05-12

5 stars for the research, which includes documents declassified only in recent years, as well as confirmation from Soviet sources and press articles reaffirming what the Soviets feared, and what Reagan knew .. that the USSR could be brought down with economic pressure.
Despite doubters from even within his own administration (and Nancy), Reagan conspired to wage economic war on the Soviet Union, and succeeded. It was very normal during these times to consider the USSR invincible - understandably bringing about the detente of previous administrations both Republican and Democrat. But Reagan had a goal of actually WINNING the Cold War. Who knew it was even possible? Reagan did, that's who.
From conspiring against the USSR's natural gas lines into Western Europe (a major source of the USSR's revenues that even the West did not cooperate with him on), to actually sabotaging one of the lines, to SDI, and Reagan's military backing of the Afghans - all these factors and more contributed to straining the USSR's economy, and forcing the country to use increased funds into these endeavors - an unexpected expense for a government so thin on resources.
My biggest revlation from the book:
In addition, Reagan's friendliness with the Saudis was hugely beneficial to American interests of the day. Both sides' willingness to help one another led to the Saudis going against OPEC and lowering oil prices worldwide - something the Saudis faced huge criticism from Middle Eastern neighbors for.
Think about it: High oil prices in the 70s helped the Soviet (an oil-producing nation, remember) economy and naturally hurt the USA's - which led to increased military spending by the USSR and helped tighten its grip on the Eastern bloc. High oil also helped contribute to Americans' inferiority complex to the Soviets.
Then, low prices in the 80s hurt the Soviet economy drastically, helped the American consumer, which helped bring increased revenues to pay for Reagan's military spending.
Scholars may argue that each president during the Cold War contributed to the USSR's fall, and the USSR economy might have been on the tipping point anyway, but this book gives absolute, irrefutable evidence that Reagan accelerated the USSR's fall before a generation that never thought it would be possible.

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You'll like it
The diary of a rather talented politician
Five Star for historical value, 3 star for ease to read
Good Time memories
Powerful, enlightening

The Reagan Diaries
Ronald Reagan
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 006087600X
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Book Description

During his eight years as the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan kept a daily diary, in which he recorded his innermost thoughts and observations. The handwritten diaries have been seen by only a few people to date, and they share Reagan's personal insights into the extraordinary, the historic, and the routine day–to–day events of his Presidency. "When we left Sacramento, we felt the time passed so quickly, we could hardly remember the eight years," said Nancy Reagan. "When Ronnie became president, he wanted to write it all down so we could remember these special times."

From his first inauguration to weekends at Camp David to the end of the Cold War, these Presidential diaries are the most detailed in American history, filled with Reagan's trademark wit, sharp intelligence, and humor. They offer the deep warmth of his voice, while shedding a new light on the character of a true American leader. To read these diaries is to gain a unique understanding of the Oval Office and one of the greatest presidents in our nation's history.

Customer Reviews:

You'll like it.......2007-09-29

I have not finished the book yet -- it's long -- but I already feel I have discovered things about Reagan that I never learned while watching him in office for eight years. It's delightful to see how he writes about all the Broadway shows he sees and mentions the performers he meets. His observations about Tip O'Neill and Al Haig have been noted and quoted in mainstream reviews but they are still well worth reading for yourself, in context, over the course of the book. For sure, I was not a Reagan fan and all of the recent mythologizing about him is distressing. At the same time, given he has been out of office for two decades, I am beginning to see him as a historical figure and the emotions have begun to fade. I can enjoy this book for the insight it provides into the office of the presidency. There is a sour note, however. Brinkley's introduction gushes too much about Reagan and leads me to wonder if he purposely (or unintentionally) left out things that might portray Reagan in a more negative light. Still if you enjoy politics, history or lived through the time, I think you will smile or even laugh out loud at things you read in the diaries.

The diary of a rather talented politician.......2007-09-24

Three years after his death Douglas Brinkley publishes the edited version of the Ronald Reagan's Diaries. I found this book rather fascinating as it gives a close view of the man who ran the USA in the 1980's. The guy knows what he is doing even though one feels now and then that his methods are a touch crude.
On the other hand, I was at times bored reading the book because in a way it is just another memoir. The author believes - and in fact virtually every politician does - that he is always right and if one doesn't agree with him one must be wrong and if one doesn't see it one must be a fool. There are dozens of examples of this thinking in the book. But I won't hold this against the author because this is a common theme in all political memoirs and Ronald Reagan fits right into this trend.
Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with Reagan's political maneuvers during his Presidency this book is still a worthwhile read if only to catch up on recent history.

Five Star for historical value, 3 star for ease to read.......2007-09-17

This edited diary has tremendous historical value but can be hard to read. The English is simple but the daily entry can sometimes be mundane. You really need to spend some attention to retrieve the gems. Since this is direct from the President's writing, you don't see the Conservative and Liberal spinmeisters at work here. For example, present day Liberal and the Mexican illegal alien lobbyists would say that Reagan was the "conservative" president who provided amnesty to illegal aliens and opened our border to all illegals. However, reading the Reagan diary, the President, on the day when US Congress passed the immigration amnesty laws, explicitly stated that it is about time we control our border against illegal immigration. This one liner entry shows where his heart was. Being a "give and take" politician (along with Tip O'Neil), Reagan believed that the amnesty (he gave in) would buy him the controlling border and stamping out illegals, it was a "trade" and not as a welcom mat to all future illegals. Of course, whereas Reagan, the Conservative conceded, US never enforced the signed and voted immigration laws. The only part the law was enforced was the amnesty part. So now, 25 years later, we continue to have this mess with illegal immigration. If Reagan was still alive, I wonder if he would give another amnesty like many of our today's politicians.

Good Time memories.......2007-09-09

I enjoyed this book. Probably read 10 pages at a time, but they all brought back great memories. The sense of unease during the malaise of the Carter Administration and the idea that we were not a good people, was shot to the ground by Mr. Reagans ideas. All over the world a new perspective shone and it was strong enough to beat the Russians.

Just good memories and strong hope! A good honest man with clear ideas and no double talk.

Powerful, enlightening.......2007-09-07

First, I am not sure why liberal David Brinkley was allowed to be the editor of this book. My guess is that left out some important parts that would show Reagan in a better light and included those that might reflect poorly.

I remember reading one section where Reagan made some comment about not remembering the names of the cities he was flying over. Brinkley obviously included that so people would think he was going senile while still president.

However, being able to read Reagan's actual thoughts without filtering and editing was fascinating. The depth and breadth of the man was just astounding. And so different from what the dinosaour media wanted us to believe.

Rest in peace Mr. President!

I recommend this book.

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Ronaldus Magnus in his own words.
Ronald Reagan's Autobiography
a history lesson on the 80's
The Great Communicator Writes Too!
Interesting reading

An American Life: The Autobiography
Ronald Reagan
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0671691988

Book Description

Ronald Reagan is an American success story. From modest beginnings in a small midwestern town to a distinguished career in films and television, he lived the American dream; as governor of California and as the century's most popular president, he embodied and revitalized the American spirit.

Now in this dramatic and revealing memoir, Ronald Reagan recounts both his life and his beliefs with uncompromising candor and his familiar wit. He discusses his decision to run for president, historic meetings with Mikhail Gorbachev and other heads of state, his frustrations in dealing with an often hostile congress, his unshakable faith in the American people and the enduring love for Nancy, who will always be his First Lady. In a moving passage, President Reagan also speaks frankly about the assassination attempt on his life and its effects on him and his family.

An American Life is a richly detailed, definitive account of a great and historic presidency and of a unique American Life -- from the man who restored America's confidence and strength and shaped the future of the world.

Customer Reviews:

Ronaldus Magnus in his own words........2007-02-17

My first vote in a presidential election was for Ronald Wilson Reagan. I was a freshman in college and quickly coming to grips with my political philosophy and world view, when this idealistic, bright ray of sunshine declared it was "morning in America." Having remembered all to well the horrors of Watergate, the tepid Ford presidency, and the...well...you fill in your own perjorative for Jimmy Carter's presidency, Mr. Reagan, for me at least, was a breath of fresh air.

If you are looking for pure history of the Reagan years, the works of Lou Cannon and Richard Reeves will provide more objective views; i.e. the type of stuff political junkies like myself love to chew on. However, if you are looking for a first person account of a uniquely American story, this memoir will both uplift and inspire.

This book is quintessential Reagan. Missing is the self-adulatory, self-promoting tripe you read in autobiographies. Also, although he was bitterly opposed by "The Establishment," the literati, Hollywood, socialists, communists and the like, there is not an ounce of rancor to be found.

An American Life, despite the fact that it is 700+ pages, is a quick and fairly easy read. In order to obtain a full view of his presidency, I not only recommend this work, and the aforementioned volumes, but also the book that is the compilation of his letters. Far from being the "amiable dunce," you'll discover that "Dutch" was a unique and complex man and we are a better country for having him a part of the body politic for as long as we did.

Ronald Reagan's Autobiography.......2007-01-10

A very good book. Contains much history which either wasn't or couldn't be reported at the time it was happening. Although it is over 700 pages, it was a good and enjoyable book.

a history lesson on the 80's.......2006-11-27

Apart from the first few chapters about his own path to success, the book's an introductory history lesson on the u.s. and international political scene of the 80's. Easy to understand. Reagan explained very clearly on his ratinales behind the things he did. It was like listening to a wise old man telling his story. His international policies, as indicated in the book, made far reaching impacts on the development of world events then and afterwards. A great read. The book lets me understand this great man more and made me remember him more.

The Great Communicator Writes Too!.......2006-02-17

The Great Communicator has done it again! "An American Life" takes the reader from his birth in Tampico, Illinois to the return to California with mission accomplished. Ronald Reagan earned the moniker "The Great Communicator" for his ability to reach an audience. "An American Life" proves that he could do it in ink too. His writing is direct, easy to follow and engaging. The theme of the book is the optimistic world view of the Reagan we knew. There is little introspection. Reagan knew what he believed and told it with gusto! Many of the stories are ones with which we are familiar. This book is the Gipper's exposition of his belief in family values and the individual. The readers are drawn into the issues which defined the Reagan Administration.

As a frequent traveler in Reagan's native region in Northern Illinois, I found the narratives of his youth in Galesburg and Dixon and his years at Eureka College to be particularly interesting. The reader follows Reagan to Iowa and on to California. The sections on Reagan's years in Hollywood give the reader an insight into the movie world. The chapters on Reagan's involvement with the Screen Actors' Guild focus on his opposition to Communist domination of the industry.

Reagan's years in California politics are related with may of the stories we have heard, such as the student protesters who entered his office to tell him that his generation could not understand them because he did not grow up with the modern conveniences, to which he replied that his generation had invented them.

Reagan tells of his conversion, which began with the General Electric tour in the 1950s, from a liberal Democrat to a conservative Republican and from a reluctant candidate to an enthusiastic agent of destiny. From a reluctant governor, Reagan matured to a candidate who sought the presidency, not to be somebody, but to do something.

In the sections on his presidential years, Reagan goes through the issues, such as tax reductions, the military buildup, Supreme Court appointments, Middle Eastern diplomacy and Soviet relations. The exhilaration of the return of hostages contrasts with the pain of the return of bodies and disasters, such as the Challenger. Reagan's dealings with the Soviets pulled his car up and down the roller coaster of emotions.

On these pages we are made privy to turning points, such as his refusal to run for vice-president in 1976, Ford's refusal to run for veep in 1980, and the considerations involved in decisions dealing with SDI. His relationship with Margaret Thatcher is seen as one of the crucial partnerships of the Twentieth Century.

"An American Life" lacks the analysis of Dinesh D'Souza's "Reagan: How an Ordinary Man Became An Extraordinary Leader" (see my amazon review), but in it the Gipper tells his story. D'Souza says that an ordinary man became an extraordinary leader. In "An American Life" an ordinary man has written an extraordinary book.

Interesting reading.......2005-12-13

This autobiography is interesting reading indeed, in that Ronald Reagan was a very fascinating person and his life certainly amazign in every aspect. I hesitate to give it a raving review and more than 3 stars, as it doesnt seem to fully live up to the subject matter. It lacks analysis and sophistication, but is still worth a read.

Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80's

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The more things change, the more they stay the same
History Redux
His Worst Collection of Tripe
Take this in small doses
Hunter rants on 80s Sports, Gambling and Politics

Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80's
Hunter S. Thompson
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743250443

Book Description

Generation of Swine, the second volume of the legendary Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's bestselling "Gonzo Papers," was first published in 1988 and is now back in print.

Here, against a backdrop of late-night tattoo sessions and soldier-of-fortune trade shows, Dr. Thompson is at his apocalyptic best -- covering emblematic events such as the 1987-88 presidential campaign, with Vice President George Bush, Sr., fighting for his life against Republican competitors like Alexander Haig, Pat Buchanan, and Pat Robertson; detailing the GOP's obsession with drugs and drug abuse; while at the same time capturing momentous social phenomena as they occurred, like the rise of cable, satellite TV, and CNN -- 24 hours of mainline news. Showcasing his inimitable talent for social and political analysis, Generation of Swine is vintage Thompson -- eerily prescient, incisive, and enduring.

Customer Reviews:

The more things change, the more they stay the same.......2006-05-10

This is another in a series of collections of Hunter's columns. The other compilations are:

The Great Shark Hunt (Gonzo Papers Vol. 1) about the 70's, mostly post Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail,

Better than Sex (Volumen 3) about the 90's, and his final release before his untimely death,

Hey Rube (about the early 00's).

I should mention here that I'm only in my 20's, and the first administration I ever really paid attention to was the second Clinton term.

Reading this book and the other Gonzo Papers books, along with Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, gives you a perspective on the past 30 years that is hard to find elsewhere in this context. Since these columns were written as critiques on current events, you get a feel for what was going on in the 70's, late 80's and early 90's. You find that for everything that has changed over the past 30 years, that politics is quite static. Corrupt presidents, sex-scandal plagued politicians, and more.

There's not too much to dislike about this book, assuming you enjoy Hunter's writing style. And it is valuable to those who can't get enough of Hunter's style.

History Redux.......2006-03-20

This review was originally used to comment on Hunter Thompson's Songs of the Doomed. Since most of the points I made in my review of that book apply here I will let that review stand in here. Obviously each book is formatted differently but whether Thompson was skewering the Nixon era, the Reagan era or the Bush eras the song is the same. And it aint pretty.

Generally the most the trenchant social criticism, commentary and analysis complete with a prescriptive social program ripe for implementation has been done by thinkers and writers who work outside the realm of bourgeois society, notably socialists and other progressive thinkers. Bourgeois society rarely allows itself, in self defense, to be skewered by trenchant criticism from within. This is particularly true when it comes from a known dope fiend, gun freak and all-around lifestyle addict like the late, lamented Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Nevertheless, although he was far from any thought of a socialist solution and would reject such a designation we could travel part of the way with him. We saw him as a kindred spirit. He was not one of us- but he was one of us. All honor to him for pushing the envelope of journalism in new directions and for his pinpricks at the hypocrisy of bourgeois society. Such men are dangerous.

I am not sure whether at the end of the day Hunter Thompson saw himself or wanted to been seen as a voice, or the voice, of his generation but in any case he would not be an unworthy candidate. In any case, his was not the voice of the generation of 1968 being just enough older to have been formed by an earlier, less forgiving milieu. His earlier writings show that effect. Nevertheless, only a few, and with time it seems fewer in each generation, allow themselves to search for some kind of truth even if they cannot go the whole distance. This compilation under review is a hodgepodge of articles over the best part of Thompson's career. As with all journalists, as indeed with all writers especially those who are writing under the pressure of timelines and for mass circulation media these works show an uneven quality. However the total effect is to blast old bourgeois society almost to its foundations. Others will have to push on further.

One should note that `gonzo' journalism is quite compatible with socialist materialism. That is, the writer is not precluded from interpreting the events described within himself/herself as an actor in the story. The worst swindle in journalism, fostered by the formal journalism schools, as well as in other disciplines like history and political science is that somehow one must be `objective'. Reality is better served if the writer puts his/her analysis correctly and then gets out of the way. In his best work that was Hunter's way.

As a member of the generation of 1968 I would note that this was a period of particular importance which won Hunter his spurs as a journalist. Hunter, like many of us, cut his political teeth on one Richard Milhous Nixon, at one time President of the United States and all- around political chameleon. Thompson went way out of his way, and with pleasure, skewering that man when he was riding high. Thompson was moreover just as happy to kick him when he was down, just for good measure. Nixon represented the `dark side' of the American spirit- the side that appears today as the bully boy of the world and as craven brute. If for nothing else Brother Thompson deserves a place in the pantheon of journalistic heroes for this exercise in elementary hygiene. Anyone who wants to rehabilitate THAT man before history please consult Thompson's work. Hunter, I hope you find the Brown Buffalo wherever you are. Read this book. Read all his books.

His Worst Collection of Tripe.......2005-08-29

This collection of 100 or so newspaper columns is probably the worst material I have read of Thompson's. First of all, it starts OK, but then turns into a liberal rant for the last half of the book. In almost all cases, Thompson's wild and repeated predictions about the fall of Republicans never come to pass. In fact, not one of them came true.

It is a shame that a man with such insidious ability to write from the gut would allow himself to slide into the dark, slimy Left side of politics, all the while failing to report-much less admit-that the Left was as much if not more corrupt than the Right.

I would pass this tome of incoherent bloviating. His other works are far superior to this wasted cache of paper.

Take this in small doses.......2005-08-02

What we have here are over 100 op-ed pieces (about 2 1/2 book pages each) that ran in the San Francisco Examiner over a three-year period, December 1985 thru November 1988 and are now compiled in Gonzo Papers Volume 2 (Volume 1 was The Great Shark Hunt). These were originally meant to be read at the rate of one a week, but of course you can increase your speed on this compilation. However, I read them in a handful of sittings and suffered from severe overload. First of all, at this fast rate you get a good deal of duplication that waters down the overall affect Thompson was trying to create in his weekly column. Thompson reminds me of the famous Groucho Marx line: "Whatever it is, he's against it!" Just picked at random: "Any baboon with a healthy heart and good diction... could do Neil Frank's job (director of the National Hurricane Center). President Reagan: "...seems to be dumber than three mules." Frank Sinatra: "...is said to be smart, but he was fired and cut off from every casino in New Jersey when he tried to play blackjack by rules he learned in Nevada...They chased him out like a wino. It was an ugly thing to see." And these quotes all come from just one article. Pick a name or event from the headlines of these three years and you'll find a bombastic opinion from Thompson aimed directly at it. It is a fun and funny read. You'll find yourself thinking and speaking in the Thompson style. It's addictive. But, too much at one time can put you over the top. For more reasons than one, this would make for good bathroom reading material.

Hunter rants on 80s Sports, Gambling and Politics.......2005-05-01

The 80s must have been a tough decade for Hunter S. Thompson, and the writing shows it. Easy access to drugs, as well as a rising tide of Republicanism and Conservatism to rail again. On the the surface, this would make for great writing. In reality, this is not his strongest work. Great columns, as well as some of his legendary lucid lines, are interspersed with nominally coherent rants against the political powers that be. Perhaps that is to be expected from him in an anthology of his newspaper writings.

This is an important read for those very in tune to his genre. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a better start if you haven't read anything of his before. It will also provide better context to his mindset in the 80s.

Transforming America: Politics and Culture During the Reagan Years

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Transforming America: Politics and Culture During the Reagan Years
Robert M. Collins
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0231124007

Book Description

By the end of the 1980s, the "malaise" that had once pervaded American society was replaced by a renewed sense of confidence and national purpose. However, beneath this veneer of optimism was a nation confronting the effects of massive federal deficits, a reckless foreign policy, AIDS, homelessness, and a growing "cultural war."

In Transforming America, renowned historian Robert Collins examines the decade's critical and controversial developments and the unmistakable influence of Ronald Reagan. Moving beyond conventional depictions that either demonize or sanctify Reagan, Collins offers fresh insights into his thought and influence. He portrays Reagan as a complex political figure who combined ideological conservatism with political pragmatism to achieve many of his policy aims. Collins demonstrates how Reagan's policies helped to limit the scope of government, control inflation, reduce the threat of nuclear war, and defeat communism. Collins also shows how the simultaneous ascendancy of the right in politics and the left in culture created a divisive legacy.

The 1980s witnessed other changes, including the advent of the personal computer, a revolution in information technology, a more globalized national economy, and a restructuring of the American corporation. In the realm of culture, the creation of MTV, the popularity of self-help gurus, and the rise of postmodernism in American universities were the realization of the cultural shifts of the postwar era. These developments, Collins suggests, created a conflict in American society that continues today, pitting cultural conservatism against a secular and multicultural view of the world.

Entertaining and erudite, Transforming America explores the events, movements, and ideas that defined a turbulent decade and profoundly changed the shape and direction of American culture and politics.

Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-Up

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A SHARPLY AWAKENING ANTIDOTE TO THE CURRENT SOPORIFIC LIES AND DECEIT
A Study in Integrity
Patriotism? Self responsiblity? Rule of Law? Character?
Sometimes wordy, always chilling account of a very dark time
This book explains why Walsh did not get any convictions

Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-Up
Lawrence E. Walsh
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0393040348

Book Description

As Woodward and Bernstein's All the President's Men was to Watergate, Firewall will be to the Iran/Contra cover-up. The independent prosecutor in the Iran-Contra investigation reveals the extraordinary duplicity of the highest officials of Ronald Reagan's presidency and the paralyzing effects of a cover-up that only now is completely disclosed. Firewall is the story of the most dangerous breach of presidential authority since Watergate. Far more than the madcap operations of Oliver North, the Iran-Contra conspiracy gave rise to a constitutional confrontation that pitted the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government against one another. The conflict, which desecrated the rule of law, reached into the White House itself, as two presidents deeply involved in illegal clandestine activities attempted to thwart investigations by Congress and the courts. The story begins in 1984, as President Ronald Reagan's first term in office was ending, and continues through 1993, through a quagmire of outright falsehoods by high-ranking officials, secret Swiss bank accounts, unreliable intermediaries, and shredded documents. An experienced and steely prosecutor, Judge Lawrence E. Walsh built up a powerful team of lawyers that pursued the truth, through a painstaking review of the secret transactions that brought forth the dramatic revelations from some of the key players. Only his vivid account exposes the full extent of the cover-up and the explicit roles of the president, the vice president, the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, the attorney general, and the director of the CIA, among others. Firewall draws on testimony and evidence that finally puts ultimate responsibility for the Iran-Contra scandal and its cover-up where it belongs and makes clear that honorable men who pretended to be out of the loop were actually caught in a web of deception for which they had only themselves to blame.

Customer Reviews:

A SHARPLY AWAKENING ANTIDOTE TO THE CURRENT SOPORIFIC LIES AND DECEIT.......2007-05-24

We at this point in history are required to grow misty eyed at the sudden recent discovery some twenty years later of alleged carefully hand written diaries beautifully bound of the now hallowed Reagan's recollections of times and events he later swore under oath he could not recall. We must remember earlier alleged handwritten diaries said to have been passed poolside at Managua's Intercontinental Hotel prior to a devastatng earthquake, from the scrawny hand of the elder Howard Hughes to an author later revealed as a fraud.

Let us rather bravely face the truth about the Reagan dynastic empire, run by papa bush (who claimed to be "out of the loop" while actually weaving it), and father to our present peril. Judge Walsh tells all, and then some, and describes all the subterfuge used to prevent his careful and judicious investigation from bearing any other fruit than an Ollie North career change.

As incredible as it may now appear, this book bears the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, supportable in a court of law as verifiable. Read it and watch how far down this darkly machiavellian path we have now proceeded, from this former time a generation ago in which the courts could still have possibly considered objective truth such as this.

This thick tome merits a place of honor upon your night reading stand. A more complete report may not be found in one place, but scattered throughout several other books and journals of that time. The criminals received no other punishment for their crimes against humanity and our Constitution than continued residence in the Oval Office.

Venceremos. No hay mal que dura un siglo.

A Study in Integrity.......2005-11-15

The Iran-Contra case is well known as a bipartisan bludgeon. Are the news outlines of it accurate? Was the affair a minor bureaucratic transgression preyed upon by liberal hacks; a deceitful attack on the constitutional separation of powers (checks and balances); or a hyped media event?

Presiding (Republican) Judge Lawrence E. Walsh skillfully relates the jurisdictional history of the investigation and trial in `Firewall.' This includes the record of defendants Oliver North and Admiral Poindexter (both convicted), as well as Judge Silberman (known as `our ambassador to Iran' before he overturned the verdicts).

Media star Oliver North now makes an bountiful living hawking American `New-Order' patriotism for Australian Rupert Murdock. Admiral Poindexter left the current administration only after he sponsored a prospective internet website speculating (wagering) on terrorism targets. Judge Silberman was recently enlisted for an intelligence committee report (to obscure the 9/11 Commission findings?).

Though this may seem ancient history, the principals remain active. Walsh provides the best vehicle to examine their early history. You decide.

Patriotism? Self responsiblity? Rule of Law? Character?.......2003-12-18

This book is the story of a life-long Republican retired federal judge's seven year struggle to unravel the truth behind a vast government conspiracy to conceal willful violations of our country's laws by President Ronald Reagan and many members of his cabinet,CIA officials, members of his national security team and assorted Republican political operatives both inside Congress and out. Mr. Walsh does yeoman work in presenting the unvarnished truth he and his many assistants were finally able to decipher out of hundreds of thousands of original documents and the direct testimony of those his team were able to catch in their lies and bring into court under indictment. The complex legal issues and large cast of perpetrators makes this a difficult and necessarily repetitve slog, but the chilling story is one that Americans of any political persuasion need to be aware of. Lead by a naive President in the early stages of Alzheimers disease,and guided by a perverse notion of patriotic anticommunism that was the bedrock of cold war Republicanism, our top leaders deliberately violated laws put in place by Congress and even their own foreign policies relating to terrorism. When discovered these "patriots" launched an unprecedented web of lies and stonewalling to save Reagan from possible impeachment. Mr. Walsh was impeded at every step of his investigation and by all branches of the government. The importance of this account by Mr. Walsh is that irregardless of the legal results of the investigations, the truth of what happened and who did it is revealed for all to see. When this party touts its patriotism, beliefs in the rule of law and self responsiblity and the importance of character, remember what happened here.

Sometimes wordy, always chilling account of a very dark time.......2003-05-07

At times, this reads as a text book. At times, it reads as a spy thriller. Walsh goes into great detail on the investigation and attempted prosecution of those involved in the Iran-Contra scandal. This book is best suited for those interested in the affair, and are anti Reagan/Bush. I was moved by the compassion of Walsh when after interviewing Reagan, felt it would have been more damaging to our nation to try and prosecute Reagan when it was apparent alzheimers had set in. Walsh felt Reagan knew more then he said, but he also knew that the alzheimers would have been humilitaing to Reagan, and would have made prosecution impossible.

This book explains why Walsh did not get any convictions.......1999-06-08

While I was at times confused by the legal problems Walsh's team were confronted with, I did clearly understand why Lawrence Walsh did not get very far with his investigation. Mainly it was because the targets of his investigation had designed a highly secretive plot and had the protection of the CIA or the National Security Council. Documents were denied or shredded, subjects lied or refused to testify all on the basis of "national security" or out of a belief that Congress had no right to interfere in foreign policy. After reading this book, I was shaken by the realization that under the guise of a "higher purpose" or holy war our democratic principles could so easily be dispensed with. Oliver North and President Reagan were rewarded with national affection despite showing utter contempt for the rule of law! Iran-Contra was a true case of Machiavellian politics because all of our most sacred principles were run over for the sake of the dictators ideology - that the end justifies the means. Firewall reveals the incipient dictatorship lurking beneath our fragile democracy.

Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA, 1981-1987

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The Veil...dive into the secret world of William Casey's CIA
CIA Internal Wars
Confessions of a CIA wordpusher?
What Casey was thinking
A contemporary account of still important issues

Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA, 1981-1987
Bob Woodward
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Intelligence & Espionage | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0743274032

Book Description

Veil is the story of the covert wars that were waged in Central America, Iran and Libya in a secretive atmosphere and became the centerpieces and eventual time bombs of American foreign policy in the 1980s.

Customer Reviews:

The Veil...dive into the secret world of William Casey's CIA.......2007-05-31

This is an excellent read where Bob Woodward with his astonishing access to sources deep inside the White House and CIA reveals the secret wars conducted by the CIA led by William Casey (1981-1987) during the Regan years. From Nicaragua to Afghanistan to the Iran-contra scandal Casey was involved in and controlled it all. The repercussions of his feverishly misguided policies and the secrets he kept from the U.S. Congress would have drastic effects on future generations of Americans and the world. One of Woodward's best!

CIA Internal Wars.......2007-04-22

This book is primarily about the war of words inside the government concerning how things should be done. Because of this, it was different than I had expected.

Confessions of a CIA wordpusher?.......2006-07-09

Woodward's story of Casey's years at the helm of U.S. state terrorism centers around Casey and his British-bred, WWII-honed perspective used to justify government covert actions that include torture, disappearance, and death. We learn that America did not begin her slide down the slope to Nazi Germany with the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq in the Twenty-First Century. It began when Hitler's faults began to take revenge on the Allies through the creation of the OSS in London, predecessor to CIA. Under Reagan's two terms as President with Casey at the helm of CIA, U.S. state terrorism ran rampant in its aim to establish a system of Anglo/U.S.-sponsored authoritarian states.

Woodward is interesting to read because he provides information along with disinformation, twisted around more information and more disinformation, so that unraveling it becomes a challenge. Beginning on page 6, Woodward lets us know that he intends to take the uninitiated for an Orwellian ride. Stansfield Turner was Director of the CIA when Jimmy Carter was President, but either the CIA did not keep him completely informed of its covert activities; or Turner did know - but Woodward portrayed him as not knowing in the interest of disinformation. According to Woodward, Turner wanted "to funnel covert money or assistance to some groups or individuals inside" Cuba, Libya, and Iran "to oust three leaders who were troublesome to U.S. interests - Cuba's leader Fidel Castro, Iran's leader Ayatollah Khomeini, and Libya's Muammar [sic] Qaddafi. The response from the DDO was: No, . . . Turner had been surprised at the depth of their reluctance" (p6).

The fact is that all three leaders were put into office by CIA and received subsequent CIA covert support to maintain their regimes. The Le Monde reported in 1979 that Khomeini had been stashed in France as part of a CIA Number Two back-up plan that, in the event that Shah Pahlevi and his SAVAK lost control in Iran, envisioned the CIA's Ayatollah Khomeini telling the Iranian people what they wanted to hear and duping them with Islamic rhetoric. And that is precisely what happened after the Shah fled Iran in October of 1979. Two weeks later the CIA personnel in Teheran were predictably taken hostage after CIA intentionally leaked the false rumor that they were going to reinstall the Shah. The hostage-takers wanted a swap - to exchange the CIA personnel for the Shah so he could be executed for his heinous crimes and Iranian fears could be put to rest that the Shah would wreak terror again. CIA subsequently sent Khomeini to do a Ross Perot on the Iranian people - to drug them with words they longed to hear, words of peace through submission to God. The CIA's Ayatollah duped many with his Islamic rhetoric, but the socialists could not be fooled - he later killed tens of thousands of them and caused a resulting diaspora of Iranian socialists around the globe. Once secure in his new position as Caesar in the new Iranian Roman-style republic engineered by CIA, the Ayatollah's Iranian F4 fighters were subsequently provided covert U.S. AWAC support against Iraqis MIGs during the Iran-Iraq War, Iranian surveillance stations were maintained along the Soviet border, and oil flowed from Iran to Europe and Japan. Despite the camouflaging anti-U.S. rhetoric from Khomeini ("The U.S. is an evil `Shaytaan'"), nothing changed in terms of U.S. strategic interests. The average man would do well to remember Tom Paine's truism - "war is the gambling table of governments, citizens the dupes of the game".

Since CIA hijacked the Iranian coup and installed Khomeini, how could a Director of CIA not know what was really happening in Iran? Either Turner did know and Woodward did not want his readers to know what Turner knew; or Turner didn't know. The idea of Turner not knowing is absurd considering the extent that CIA was complicit, but this is the disinformation that Woodward wants his readers to believe. Woodward writes: "When the Shah of Iran came to the United States for medical treatment in October 1979, two weeks before the American hostages were taken in Iran, . . . Turner realized . . . that he was isolated both from his own agency and from the President he served" (p8). The fact is, according to the Le Monde in 1979, that Iranians reacted predictably to intentionally leaked CIA reports that CIA was going to reinstall the Shah, and predictably the Iranians grabbed the CIA personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Teheran in order to later do a swap for the Shah - that way they could lock the Shah away and not worry about him reviving his CIA-maintained Hitlerite SAVAK regime. Woodward would have us believe that Turner is oblivious to what his CIA is doing or what Le Monde is saying about his CIA.

Woodward's disinformation quickly mounds up: "He and his CIA had studiously misread Khomeini as a benign, senile cleric, and now he held the United States hostage"(p11). The reality was that CIA had orchestrated the realization of the hostage crisis so that their number two man - Ayatollah Khomeini, could take over where the Shah left off by singing a different tune.

Having established himself as a disinformationist and probably a wordpusher on the CIA payroll in addition to his job at the Washington Post, Woodward's story progresses toward its main character William J. Casey. Casey came from the OSS - "the old-hand, old-boy network" that began in London, England during World War II. "These men were the operators, the inner agency, the band of brothers . . . the dedicated secretive operatives who did the dirty work . . . a club that didn't meet"(p4). Woodward explains "They had been trained by the British, and CIA traditions were British traditions". Woodward says Casey "sat in London headquarters creating a spy network" (p37). American-powered British empire was the result, although the British have remained discreetly behind the scenes (See Nicolas John Cull's "Selling War").

After WWII, Casey made one unsuccessful stab at running for election to public office when he sought the Republican Party nomination to be their Long Island candidate for Congress in 1966 and they chose someone else. Afterward, "Casey returned to behind the scenes, where . . . many . . . thought he belonged" (p19). By early 1980, he became Ronald Reagan's campaign manager when Casey was "writing a book on the OSS" (p17).

Ronald Reagan won the election and Carter lost his bid for reelection. Stansfield Turner was hoping Reagan would keep him on as CIA chief, but that was not to be. Woodward relates an interesting aside about a warning from French intelligence chief Colonel Alexandre de Marenches that was given to President-Elect Ronald Reagan after he and Vice President-Elect George Bush won the election and waited for Carter to leave the White House - "`Don't trust the CIA'"(p22). Woodward further relates "Reagan repeated Marenches' warning - `Don't trust the CIA' - to George Bush, who had been CIA chief in 1976-77. Bush thought it was hogwash, but all the same it obviously left a deep impression on Reagan" (p22). Reagan then asked Casey to head the CIA and he later agreed, but Reagan was shot anyway weeks later by the son of Bush's close friend in a deadly assassination attempt that was thwarted by the surgical prowess of Dr Rodman from Alliance, Ohio. Subsequently, Vice-President George Bush sat in the driver's seat at the White House while Reagan and his "voodoo economic" was on the mend. Bush, as former director of CIA, and Casey, as the current director of CIA, remained true to their OSS roots and British traditions.

On page 55, Woodward says that CIA chief Turner, prior to Casey, believed the Soviet economy was in trouble and that any alleged military superiority was false. If what Woodward says about Turner is accurate, then I can say that Turner was correct in thinking that the Soviets were in trouble because in 1980 the Soviets were certainly in trouble from my viewpoint on Shemya Island. That year I learned that Reagan's Red Scare was largely balderdash. He was scaring U.S. taxpayers into giving up large amounts of cash to his bomb-making corporatist friends to defend ourselves from a largely imagined threat. On page 56, Woodward says "That meant that the Soviet advantage was not real".

Woodward's story carries on for over 500 more pages and is chock full of information and more disinformation. My review can't possibly due justice to it all. Read the book and discern for yourself whether Bob Woodward is a CIA wordpusher or not.

What Casey was thinking.......2005-04-27

This book presents the history of the CIA during William Casey's tenure, from 1981 to 1987. Woodward focused the book primarily on William Casey himself. The book details not only the various operations that the CIA was involved in during the 1980s, but also Casey's motivations for his leadership decisions. The CIA operations described in the book include everything from the mundane details of placing bugs in the offices of foreign leaders to the Iran-Contra affair.

Woodward gathered material from a variety of sources when writing this book. One of his primary sources was Casey himself. Woodward interviewed Casey on numerous occasions, and Casey was aware that Woodward was compiling material for a book about his leadership of the CIA. Casey was surprisingly forthcoming about his involvement in many covert operations. He must have felt confident that Woodward would not betray his trust and expose any material prematurely. What is odd is that Woodward discusses not only Casey's professional life, but also his personal life, and includes comments about such things as peanuts getting caught in Casey's dentures that seem mean-spirited rather than relevant for the story. Nevertheless, the historical documentation of Casey's leadership and CIA activities in the 1980s makes the book well worth reading.

A contemporary account of still important issues.......2004-06-01

While this book may be a little old now, having been written prior to the first George Bush's Presidency, there are still insights into government operations as well as tidbits that are relevant today. Veil follows the tenure of the Director of the CIA Bob Casey. It begins with Reagan's election and ends with Casey's death. The book is written mostly from firsthand interviews (Casey wanted some of what he was saying to be put directly in the book).

During the course of the book readers will see names like Ariel Sharon appear (no Osama is never mentioned). For those interested in wondering how some of today's issues came into being you will see a glimpse herein.

There are, however, many operations that are discussed and at one point it is easy to lose track of which one is being discussed. Furthermore, for those readers who did not live through the time period or who were too young to care then, some of the names and events will seem very unfamiliar.

Book Description

For Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, the transition from the White House to Plains, Georgia, was painful. EVERYTHING TO GAIN is their warm and unpretentious account of their successful adjustment to a new life, full of encouragement and insight for any couple wanting to renew their commitment to each other and to life.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

A Blueprint for the Golden Years.......2005-03-06

As Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter left the White House in early 1981 they faced an uncertain future. Like many people who retire, they just weren't sure what to do with themselves and all of their free time. To make matters worse, they still had to deal with the hurt they felt after having lost the 1980 election. The decisions they made about their future have vaulted Jimmy Carter from having lost his bid for reelection in a decisive manner to one of the most beloved figures in the United States. In 1984 President Carter was no where to be seen at the Democratic National Convention, twenty years later Democratic Presidential candidates beat a path to Plains, Georgia to try and obtain his blessing. Along the way the Carter's learned many valuable lessons that apply to anyone who may feel that their productive years have passed. This book is the story of what they learned.

This book was published in 1987 and was I believe President Carter's third post-Presidential book and Mrs. Carter's second book and both of them had become quite good writers. They are both open and honest about their feelings and concerns, especially Rosalynn and because of this their narrative reaches the reader on a very personal level. Many of the activities they describe were only possible of course because of the office Mr. Carter held and because of the Carter Center but they go to great lengths to point out many worthwhile activities that anyone can participate in. Reading this book will definitely make you stop and think about all of the things you could be doing to help others and I think that was the Carter's goal.

Part travelogue and part handbook for volunteerism this book will give you the warm fuzzies all over. You will feel sad with the Carter's and laugh with the Carter's and you will feel as if you had known this former first couple for years. You will in fact feel like you have traveled with the Carter's and maybe even helped them build a Habitat house. If you are looking for a retirement gift for anyone, this would be a perfect choice!

A revealing and inspiring memoir.......2003-07-19

Collaboratively written by former American President and winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Jimmy Carter, and his beloved wife and former First Lady, Rosalynn Carter, Everything To Gain: Making The Most Of The Rest Of Your Life is a revealing and inspiring memoir about personal challenges they've had to face and overcome; the satisfaction of their work with Habitat for Humanity; their struggles to promote peace and human rights; and the personal steps they've taken to enjoy physical and spiritual health at home. Everything To Gain is enthusiastically recommended as a deeply rewarding and heartfelt encouragement to living our lives to the fullest.

Everyone Can Learn.......2002-08-11

... even former Presidents and their First Ladies, as Jimmy and Rosalynn show us in this, their entry in the self-improvement / retirement advice category.

Of course, anybody who's not a Dem is likely to be unwilling to take any such advice from the self-styled peanut farmer and his wife. So, I'm going over my stock of acquaintances, trying to remember who voted for Carter.

The book would make a great gift not just for recent retirees, but also those whose life has just gone through change, whether it be a layoff, a disabling illness, or the death of a spouse.

Sure wish my father had read it, twelve years ago, when my mother died -- so many ideas for him! Instead, he simply curled up in front of the TV.

Jimmy and Rosalynn show how devastated they were by their 1980 defeat, then, step by step, how they rebuilt. Parts of the book delve too far into global health and other policy issues, but chapter after chapter, they introduce new activities, like a flower opening!

If you're tired of fist-pounding self-improvement tomes, here is one that feels like a gentle friend, sitting beside you, arm around your shoulders, sharing the same problems you're having, and showing you several ways out of the "box" you've built for yourself. Read it and relax, then, go out and make the most of the rest of your life -- whether it's the next ten or next fifty years.

Nothing to gain..........2001-07-08

Despite the fact that this nearly broke up their marriage, this book is not what I hoped for when I picked it up and began reading. I missed the old Mrs Carter who had a wry story about her life on the campaign trail. I will never forget the many adventures that she detailed in "First Lady from Plains" which is a superior book in every way. The time she was trapped in bathroom stall and had to crawl out of it. Then there was the time when she had to cut her way out when trapped in a car by her seatbelt. Funny stuff and real human interest. If bizarre things can happen to the first lady of the land the can happen to anyone, can't they? The book I wanted to read was a kind of sequel to the masterful "First Lady from Plains." This clearly is not that book, though I hope Mrs. Carter will consider writing it one day real soon.

Photography of Invention: American Pictures of the 1980s

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Photography of Invention: American Pictures of the 1980s
Joshua P. Smith
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Book Description

"Perhaps in the future," Man Ray suggested to Duchamp, "photography would replace all art." The Photography of Invention hints at that future by documenting a decade of startling new work in American photography: work that challenges the accepted hierarchy of the arts and, arguably, establishes photography as the equal of the other arts.

Pictures that are made, not taken, are the focus of this exciting collection of works by 90 American artists who are using appropriation, computer technology, performance, and numerous other sources of inspiration to stretch the limits and expand the possibilities of photographic art. The selection of nontraditional pictures includes works by some of the decade's most interesting experimenters -- Cindy Sherman, Sherrie Levine, Richard Prince, Barbara Kruger, William Christenberry, Louise Lawler, Stefan Roloff, and others who create or manipulate the subject photographed.

Photography has traditionally been used to capture experience and create images; these works, however, examine preexisting images or image styles that dominate our culture. As Joshua Smith points out "mass media and popular culture advertising, fashion movies, television, video, and other electronic media have made the world photographic, become the common language, and shaped a generation's visual and critical viewpoint." Rather than commenting on or representing life, photography is now an independent art form that has expanded the creative vocabulary of contemporary artists.

These "made" pictures encompass a variety of styles and techniques: the artists may fabricate or arrange the subject matter for the camera; invent or subvert traditional styles; present themselves in fictive roles invoking allegory or myth, fantasy and illusion; reassemble existing art objects in new contexts; make the psychic appear real and the real hyperreal.

Many pictures are made in the usual optical/chemical manner, creating a tension between the obviously manipulated subject and the inherent "truth" of the photographic print; while others are made by the unconventional use of equipment, processes, and materials that intentionally deny the perfect print There are photograms, photocollages, light drawings, chemical images, marked or painted on negatives, photosilkscreens and photolithographs, and new high tech computer-generated imagery.

Joshua P. Smith is a leading authority on and a collector of avant-garde photography. He was guest curator for the National Museum of American Art exhibition "The Photography of Invention: American Pictures of the 1980s." Merry A. Foresta is Associate Curator, Graphic Arts, and Curator for Photography at the National Museum of American Art

Copublished with the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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