The Cinema of David Lynch : American Dreams, Nightmare Visions (Directors' Cuts)

Book Description

David Lynch is an anomaly. A pioneer of the American 'indie' aesthetic, he also works in Hollywood and for network TV. He has created some of the most disturbing images in contemporary cinema, and produced startlingly innovative work in sound. If the consistency of his 'vision' suggests he might be approached as an auteur, defining that vision raises many questions. The essays in this collection push toward a fuller account of the cultural and technological contexts within which his works developed during the 1980s and 1990s, and of his intense engagement with the creative and working practices of the industry. They offer an up-to-date range of theoretically divergent readings that demonstrates not only the difficulty of locating stable interpretative positions for Lynch's work, but also the pleasure of finding new ways of thinking about it. Films discussed include Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, The Straight Story, and Mulholland Drive.

Customer Reviews:

Very good read on David Lynch.......2007-07-06

I'm reading this book a 2nd time now. I would say this book is im my top three Lynch books as well and it provides a very good outline, and possibly, a key, for the way Lynch thinks. If anything, it will help you come up with more of your own conclusions. From a devoted Lynch fan, this is a great read!

lynch debunk.......2005-10-14

I gotta agree with Critic-AL... too much ink is being spilled about Lynch that reads like retread po-mo theories. I'll go with Pervert in the Pulpit too, and I'm not alone. You don't have to be a film student or academic to appreciate Johnson's heady read ... still, I think the review of Pervert by David Lancaster in the latest issue of Film and History totally sums up my thinking: "There is a slightly malicious pleasure in seeing a modish reputation being debunked, especially when the reader was mystified by the fuss in the first place. Pervert in the Pulpit is not a crude hatchet job, however. Rather, it is clear-sighted and informed, and, in true Manichean fashion, on the side of the critical angels."

adulation or criticism?.......2005-03-26

By calling Nochimson's book "amazing," [...]the problem with a lot of Lynch criticism: the audience for his films is divided between fans and serious students of cinema. As Lynch's reputation as an innovator continues to wear thin - face, it, his uneven oeuvre is not aging well - die-hard loyalists continue to gush about his, in my opnion, limited success as a cutting-edge film director. This book may be timely, but it isn't as interesting as Jeff Johnson's iconoclastic "Pervert in the Pulpit: Morality in the Work of David Lynch," which I'd recommend before any of the other, more pandering texts Joe cites.

One of the Best Books on Lynch.......2004-09-23

Is it possible for a good book of film criticism to be dominated by lavish photos and the like? Not in my experience. The closest to that is the BFI series, and those are hardly the sort of thing "a reader" is talking about. Of all the books on Lynch out there, this is probably my #3, behind Martha Nomchinson's amazing "Wild at Heart in Hollywood" and the essential "Lynch on Lynch."

The simataneous release of the paperback and hardcover editions should have clued "a reader" into the HC edition being a library edition... Don't let this person's stupidty put you off, this is one of the best books analyzing Lynch one can find.

Average customer rating:

Wait To Read This Until You Can Read It All
A HAUNTING TALE. THIS ONE WILL STICK WITH YOU.
GOSSAMER
Beautiful
Another Masterpiece

Gossamer
Lois Lowry
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618685502

Book Description

Where do dreams come from? What stealthy nighttime messengers are the guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears? Drawing on her rich imagination, two-time Newbery winner Lois Lowry confronts these questions and explores the conflicts between the gentle bits and pieces of the past that come to life in dream, and the darker horrors that find their form in nightmare. In a haunting story that tiptoes between reality and imagination, two peoplea lonely, sensitive woman and a damaged, angry boyface their own histories and discover what they can be to one another, renewed by the strength that comes from a tiny, caring creature they will never see.

Customer Reviews:

Wait To Read This Until You Can Read It All.......2007-09-21

...because you won't want to put it down. Lowry grabs your attention immediately with one of the most precious story characters of all time, Littlest. This tiny one is a dream-giver in training who has the most gentle of touches when she gathers memory information from the objects of the one whom she will bestow a dream upon. Littlest and her faithful trainer, Thin Elderly, become especially concerned about an elderly woman and her new foster son who has faced terrible abuse. The dialogue from this wounded boy is so poignant and heart-wrenching. He has only a few good memory objects to choose from and the sinisteeds (nightmare givers) are descending upon him in hordes. His mother, too, is attended to by dream-givers as she seeks to retake control of her life in a positive way in order to get her son back.

Gossamer would definitely have the potential of causing a nightmare or two in a younger child. The dialogues of abuse are very straight-forward for the naive. Personally, I think every child would benefit from reading this compassionate glimpse into the struggle of a single-mom, the inward pain of a foster child, and the lonliness of the elderly.

Captivating!

A HAUNTING TALE. THIS ONE WILL STICK WITH YOU........2007-09-15

I know that this is classified as children's literature, or at least literature for young folks, and sort of feel that this a shame as the story is more that suitable for adults. Where do dreams come from? Why do we have bad dreams and why do we have good. This is the hook the author hangs her story upon. This is a touching story of a young, troubled boy, two ladies and a dog with some very strange little creatures thrown in. Lois Lowry is a natural story teller and her style, while at first glance is simple, is indeed, rather complex. Her story here is told with sensitivity, is touching and is just loaded with imagination. As one reviewer has pointed out, there is an aspect of violence to the story but this has been well done and is far from gratuitous, something you too often see now days. This aspect of the story is necessary. I have read this one to several classes of 4th and 5th graders and they have universally loved it (well, almost I suppose). When I first started reading this one, I must admit to having taken it home and finished it on my own the first evening as I simply could not put it down. This is one of those books you might want to think about adding to your library as it is one you will most likely want to give a reread. Recommend this work highly.

GOSSAMER.......2007-08-20

Like gossamer (or a spider web), this book is lightweight, particularly in comparison to Lowry's other works. It is a quick read, not too deep, and probably not going to be a kids' classic, unlike Lowry's THE GIVER or NUMBER THE STARS.

However, like gossamer, it also shows enormous strength and craftsmanship. Though not her best work, Lowry clearly knows how to tell a story and lace it with some beautiful prose. The creativity is apparent, but that still takes a backseat to the most note-worthy aspect of this book: GOSSAMER is an excellent tool for teachers to use for classroom lessons in writing. When Littlest learns of the importance and develops the quality of her delicate touch of objects, Lowry give language arts teachers an incredibly valuable lessons in writing for the senses and the poetic nature of language overall. If for no other reason than that, teachers should introduce this book to their students. I will.

Beautiful.......2007-07-17

I am in the midst of reading the books I would like to read to my 4th grade class next year. I was absolutely enthralled by the sweetness of this story. Littlest is an absolute sweet and intriguing little character. I love the old woman and John the boy. He has troubles but trusts and grows from where he came. I am usually NOT a fan of fantasy but the mystical dream givers are so kind and good. They are a great way to explain why we dream and why sometimes our dreams are a bit scary. There is a superb match between fantasy and reality. Great story fast read! Loved this!!

Another Masterpiece.......2007-03-15

This is another well-written book by Lois Lowry. Her book reads like a kid is telling it, with a child's innocence. Although well-written, I do not think that it was particularly interesting for many people who are fourteen or older. Considering that books should be graded as a whole and not just by my age, I still give this book five stars. For anyone, though, this book is interesting and thought-provoking.

Average customer rating:

Silver is For Secrets
one of my favs
The Best Book Of The Series!
Best but sadest book ever!!
I think it's the best one!

Silver Is For Secrets
Laurie Faria Stolarz
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0738706310

Book Description

I'll make you pay ...

After graduation, spending the summer at the beach seems like the perfect vacation. All Stacey wants to do is relax, hang out with Jacob (her new boyfriend), and enjoy the ocean with her friends. But this proves to be impossible when her nightmares return, this time accompanied by annoying nosebleeds and a dreadful feeling that danger is lurking.

Stacey senses that Clara, a fifteen-year-old staying down the beach from them, is in deadly trouble. Cute, flirtatious, and rumored to be a boyfriend-stealer, Clara is not exactly popular with the girls. And Stacey is finding it difficult to help Clara when she's obviously hiding something. What is her mysterious secret? Why is she telling lies about Jacob and Chad? Can Stacey solve the mystery before someone gets hurt?

Customer Reviews:

Silver is For Secrets.......2007-01-16

I gave my daughter these books for Christmas '06. By January 10, 07 the title has worn off of this book. I asked her if she wanted me to return it for a replacement and she doesn't want to be without the text for that long. I am very disappointed that the artwork isn't remaining on the cover.

one of my favs.......2006-12-30

this is one of my favorites outta the whole series. A real page turner!! THe saddest part was when the story ended.

The Best Book Of The Series!.......2006-09-17

Over the summer I read all of the books in the series by Laurie faria Stolarz. That included Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, and Red is for Remembrance. My favorite one was Silver is for Secrets and that is the one I am writing about today. Laurie faria Stolarz put so much great detail into the whole series. I loved all of the books!
In Silver is for Secrets, Stacey Brown is the main character yet again. She has a gift. Stacey has dreams about people she knows and people she doesn't know that are going to be murdered. Stacey and her best of friends and her boyfriend Jacob go on a summer vacation trip to a cottage on the beach. Stacey's dreams had stopped until she arrived at the beach. She had a dream that a girl she did not know was going to get murdered. She found out it was a girl in a neighboring cabin. However, in the past whenever Stacey had a nightmare she usually had some source of bodily movements that end up helping her to find out how people will die (she wet the bed when the person ended up being found in a port-a-potty). So the constant nosebleeds she receives must be a clue into what will happen to Clara, the girl that her dreams are about now. Stacey is still trying to have a good time with her boyfriend Jacob who came into the picture when he had dreams about Stacey's death and transphered schools in order to find and save her. Once they met they knew they were soul mates. Stacey tries so hard to tell Clara about her visions but she does not really care. She doesn't take it seriously until she finds the words "I'll make you pay" written in red paint on a mirror at the cottage. Clara is by herself at her cottage because here parents went out to see relatives so she spends the night in Stacey and her friends cabin which sparks up problems between Drea (Stacey's best friend) and Chad (Stacey's ex and Drea's new boyfriend) when Clara is caught kissing Chad. This book is filled with twists and turns and an ending that you'll never forget. My advice is read the end of the book with a box of tissues at your side.
Absolutely read all of the books in the series. I read one a day because I could just not put them down! A page turning mystery that I would recommend to anyone! I give Silver is for Secrets by Laurie faria Stolarz two thumbs way up!

Best but sadest book ever!!.......2006-06-12

This book was the best. I read it in 2 days, I couldnt put it down. You have to read it, but I made the mistake by reading this book befor I read White is for Magic or Blue is for Nightmares. So if I could go back Id read those first. And Im not going to spoil the ending for you, but its very surprising and made me cry for a LONG time. You HAVE to read it!!

I think it's the best one!.......2006-05-20

I think that Silver is for Secrets is the best out of the first three books. I kind of predicted that Clara wasn't all that innocent. Mainly because she didn't really care about losing her life. She acted really childish and flirty. I never really liked her character. I never thought that she would do what she did at the end. Overall, this is a great book!

SPOILERS! DON'T READ ON IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!

This is a really nice twist in the books. Usually, these books don't really have endings like this. The ending usually are really happy and everything works out. Jacob fell into the ocean at the end and his body wasn't found. That's how Laurie ended this book. It was cool how she put the journal entried by Jacob and the hospital talk with the doctor and Stacey. I love this book. Can't wait to read the fourth one!

Average customer rating:

A Visual and Verbal Masterpiece!!!
Bela's Twilight......
DREAMS!!
I HIGHLY recommend this book! * * * * *

Bela Lugosi - Dreams and Nightmares
Gary D. Rhodes and Richard Sheffield
Manufacturer: Collectables Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0977379817
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Product Description

A scholarly, yet thoroughly entertaining study of Lugosi's entire life, focusing on the period between 1952-56 - his career, his marriages, his politics, and his close friendship with Richard Sheffield. This insightful hardcover edition contains previously unpublished research, interviews and hundreds of rare photos, many unseen until now. Includes details of newly discovered stage, newsreel, radio and TV work, as well as a filmography with new entries.

Customer Reviews:

A Visual and Verbal Masterpiece!!!.......2007-05-31

Wow! I've read lousy books with great covers and layout. I've read great books with lousy covers and layout. Here we have a book that is both visually stunning (one of the best book cover designs ever!)(lavishly seasoned with illustrative delight after delight) and a book that is superbly written: entertaining, informative, deeply moving and highly evocative of a time and place in the life of the legendary Lugosi - primarily covering the final decade of his days. I never wanted this book to end! Alas, I have just finished reading it...and was moved to tears at Mr. Rhodes' poignant description of the death and subsequent removal of Bela Lugosi's body from his home. All great things come to an end! Lives - and books! (One morbid and vague part of the book - and a few typos here and there - are the book's only flaws. The morbid and vague part of the text is the description of Richard Sheffield's unearthing of a corpse and the keeping of its skull. We never learn whose grave is desecrated and the reason why!!! Is an avid love of horror films enough of a reason to commit such a Norman Bate-ish act of vandalism? It may be poorly excused as a folly of youth, however as a lover of horror films from pre-school on I had, myself, as a teen, contemplated doing a Dr. Frankenstein on some stray gravesite...but never really could...or would! Apparently, Mr. Sheffield had no qualms about desecrating some poor, unfortunate's grave...and polishing up the gold tooth of the stolen skull. The recounting of this teen "prank" did, I must admit, leave me somewhat angered. The book could well have done without it. Is nothing sacred?) But back to the work at hand: Bela Lugosi must be smiling that wonderful smile of his down upon Gary Rhodes from that Castle Dracula in the sky!

Bela's Twilight.............2007-05-07

This is a wonderful book for all of us Lugosi fans. He was an amazing presence on film and this book recounts not only his later years but the years that led up to them, as well. Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Sheffield obviously share a great affection for Bela and so say all of us. Highly recommended.

DREAMS!!.......2007-02-23

Having read all of Mr. Rhodes books, and they all have been 5 stars,this is the best.Not to many people know about this part of Lugosi's life as well as Mr. Rhodes. This was truly a labor of love and dedication. All that is left is BRAVO, authario,BRAVO. Mr. Sheffield also deserves kudo's on all his knowledge of Lugosi. The stills and other bits of entertainment pieces make this a great read. HIGHLY RECOMENDED.

I HIGHLY recommend this book! * * * * *.......2007-02-21

Having followed the books of Gary Rhodes for quite a long time, I must say that he has outdone himself on this effort! Rare photos never before published of Lugosi's wives and early stage career make this book probably the most complete book on Lugosi's life ever published save for Rhodes' first book on Lugosi. It is clear that he put a lot of effort into this book (20 years worth!) Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down! I highly recommend Mr. Rhodes' new book. You will not be disappointed at all! Not to mention the insight given from Mr. Sheffield, what a delight! If you have never read any of Mr. Rhodes' books, pick up this one it is sure to knock you over with all of the new information. You don't know Lugosi until you have read this book from cover to cover!
Well done Mr. Rhodes!

The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream (First Time Books(R))

Average customer rating:

Superb
Good if you like the Berenstain Bears
Wonderful!
Bad Dreams Begone...With Help from the Bear Family!
Simple, Soft, Explanation of Nightmares for Young Children

The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream (First Time Books(R))
Stan Berenstain , and Jan Berenstain
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0394873416
Release Date: 1988-05-12

Book Description

After watching a scary movie, both Brother and Sister Bear are troubled by nightmares until Mama and Papa explain what causes bad dreams.

Customer Reviews:

Superb.......2007-07-25

This book shows that bad dreams may be scary but there is a reason behind them.

Good if you like the Berenstain Bears.......2007-01-26

I was looking for a book about bad dreams, and since the kids like the BB, this seemed like a lock. And in general, it is good, but it takes FOREVER to get to the actual bad dream part! The majority of the book is setting up all the things the cubs did all day which then precipitated the bad dreams. Then only about 4 pages are spent dealing with the actual dream. So that was a bit disappointing, but it is still entertaining and you can certainly use it as a jumping-off point to discuss bad dreams. (It is based on a TV episode that we've seen since.)

Wonderful!.......2005-12-15

The world lost a real gem of a writer when Stan Berenstain passed on November 29. Together, Berenstain and his wife, Jan, and eventually their two sons, created books featuring lovable but flawed characters who tackle just about every real issue that faces families.

All kids will experience their first nightmare at some point, hopefully later than sooner. This book is a great way to open up a dialogue with a kid who has had a nightmare. Like all of the Berenstain Bears books, it's not intended to provide a child with coping skills, but rather to help open up a line of conversation wherein the parent can help the child directly. It's simply a fable, an outline, a conversation starter. And it's a wonderful one.

Bad Dreams Begone...With Help from the Bear Family!.......2005-10-05

I loved this book, because it is a wonderful "bad dream banisher" for children of any age. Brother and Sister Bear are so much like normal, you-and-me kids that any child will understand where they're coming from. This book has helped all of the children in my family deal with nightmares...Definately a must-have for any Bear Family fans!

Simple, Soft, Explanation of Nightmares for Young Children.......2003-10-24

Both "Brother" and "Sister" Bear have bad dreams after they play with some toy monsters, and "Brother" sees a movie about them. "Mama Bear" and "Papa Bear" comfort them when they each have bad dreams that night:

"But it was so real!" she said, calming down a bit.
"That's how it is with dreams," he [Papa] said. "It's as if they're really happening, but they're not-they're just in your mind."

After Sister explains the dream, Mama explains that the mind keeps thinking during sleep, but in a nonsensical way, and that a dream "takes all the things you were thinking or were nervous about during the day and puts them together all jumbled like a mixed-up jigsaw puzzle." Mama validates that the dream is scary but also points out how it was interesting.

This may or may not help a child experiencing his/her first nightmares. It's might be useful as an initial explanation, but it doesn't (nor does it intend to) offer much more insight or coping strategies than those mentioned above. As usual, the drawings are fairly bland and unimaginative, but will be familiar to the Berenstain Bear fan.

Average customer rating:

No more nightmares!

Conquering Bad Dreams & Nightmares : A Guide to Understanding, Interpretation & Cure
Barry Krakow , and Joseph Neidhart
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Nightmares: How to Make Sense of Your Darkest Dreams

Insomnia Cures: Sleep Hygiene Practice Makes Permanent

The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment

ASIN: 0425132110

Customer Reviews:

No more nightmares!.......2002-07-03

I spent my entire life having nightmares routinely. After reading this book, I have conquered them for good. I cannot believe how simple it was, or how effective its been.

Like many one topic books, this one should be a chapter in a larger book instead of its own volume. But I can't argue with its success.

Average customer rating:

My two year old's fave book

Beware if you don't already have nighttime fears

My daughter loves this book

Kids Love This Book

Fantastic book for eager beginning readers

There's a Nightmare in My Closet
Mercer Mayer
Manufacturer: Dial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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There's an Alligator under My Bed

There's Something in My Attic (A Pied Piper Book)

There Are Monsters Everywhere

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Where the Wild Things Are

ASIN: 0803786824

Book Description

Childhood fear of the dark and the resulting exercise in imaginative exaggeration are given that special Mercer Mayer treatment in this dryly humorous fantasy. -School Library Journal

Customer Reviews:

My two year old's fave book.......2007-08-23

This book is great. It is the first book my two year old "read" himself...and my four year old loves it as well. Classic read - we like it so much we just bought it for our new niece, confident she will grow to love it as much as her cousins do! I'd give it six stars if I could!

Beware if you don't already have nighttime fears.......2007-07-12

Without much forethought, I pulled this book out of the closet to read to my nearly 4-year-old. Despite the child's unfortunate use of a weapon, a toy gun, to scare the monster/nightmare, this might have been an amusing way to talk about talk about 'things that bump in the night'. Unfortunately, in our house, it created worries about 'nightmares'. My child has no clue what a nightmare is, just that it's something she should be afraid of, causing an anxiety about falling asleep. After several discussions about the fact that a nightmare is a bad dream (like my childhood nightmare of losing my blankie), and how to handle them, my daughter continues to ask, "Mama, what color your nightmare?" English is my daughter's second language, making abstract concepts a bit more difficult to grasp. I wish I'd considered that before reading the book. Please don't read this to your child unless you're sure she/he can understand the message.

My daughter loves this book.......2007-03-26

My almost three year old daughter thinks this book is great. It is wonderful how the feared is befriended. The pictures are wonderful and very evocative. Enjoy it!

Kids Love This Book.......2007-01-12

When my daughter was two she quickly memorized this book and created and repeatedly used a play on words that tickled her pink. I've read it a zillion times to her and others and am prompted with the word, "again" when I am done. The pictures are very detailed and tell a story all their own.

I recently bought this book for another 2 year old who would choose this book over all the others on the shelf. My daughter is now 21. This book is timeless.

Fantastic book for eager beginning readers.......2006-11-11

My grandson loved this book! He's beginning to read and was ready for books with a bit more of a plot and more than a single line on a page. He loved this book. It appealed to his imagination and had him in giggles looking forward to what he'd find on the next page. I recommend it highly for those children reading at the first - second grade level.

The Dream and the Nightmare: The Sixties' Legacy to the Underclass

Average customer rating:

Waking Up to the Realities
The welfare mess
Victims of the 1960s' liberal fantasies
Beware of simple (and simple-witted) answers to complex questions
This is a landmark work for the ages...and to you who object...

The Dream and the Nightmare: The Sixties' Legacy to the Underclass
Myron Magnet
Manufacturer: Encounter Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1893554023

Book Description

Myron Magnet's The Dream and the Nightmare argues that the radical transformation of American culture that took place in the 1960s brought today's underclass-overwhelmingly urban, dismayingly minority-into existence. Lifestyle experimentation among the white middle class produced often catastrophic changes in attitudes toward marriage and parenting, the work ethic and dependency in those at the bottom of the social ladder, and closed down their exits to the middle class.

Customer Reviews:

Waking Up to the Realities.......2007-10-01

THE DREAM AND THE NIGHTMARE is an exceptionally important book. President George W. Bush specifically referred to it as one of the most influential books he has read and made it the cornerstone of his compassionate conservativism. In the book, Myron Magnet of the Manhattan Institute attempts to answer one of the true riddles of our time: In a society of such opportunity, why is there an underclass that seems totally entrenched in failure and that seems incapable of finding its way into the respectable mainstream of American life?

For those in the middle class, this really is a puzzle. The answers seem so obvious. Get a job; gain work experience in order to climb the ladder; do not expect something for nothing; be selective about who you have sex with and use those precautions necessary to minimize unwanted pregnancies; when you do have kids, read to them and oversee their upbringing so that they can properly interact with others; and if you do take drugs, well, just make it the occasional joint, don't get all crazy there. The answer Magnet reaches has less to do with policy and more to do with philosophy. THE DREAM AND THE NIGHTMARE is a manifesto to the concept that ideas have consequences.

Magnet points to the significant paradigm shift of the 1960s, in which many elites thought it was progressive, even compassionate, to denigrate traditional notions of morality and the American way of life. Shifting the concept from personal responsibility among the poor to the idea that the poor are victims of society entitled to handouts, racial separation among blacks, sexual liberation, permissiveness regarding drug use, and other attitudes that demonstrated an oppositional mindset to the traditional notions of how to get ahead filtered down from the upper classes who espoused them to the lower classes who adopted them.

The results have been disastrous. As Magnet points out, many members of the upper class knew that there was a limit to how far they could go before jeapardizing themselves. And even for those who did go over the edge, there was usually some safety net among one's family and social structure that softened the blow. Yet when these same ideas were adopted by those at the lower end of the ladder, without the socialization which might have provided an internal barrier to holding back before the edge and without the external social structure to soften the landing, the results were something else indeed. The destruction of the two-parent family, rampant drug use and its attendant violence, laziness and a 'I deserve something to be handed to me' attitude have combined to stop the advance of a large section of our society in its tracks.

Magnet's theory explains not only how the underclass was created but also why so many factors of urban life seemed to erode at the same time. Specific policies may have an effect on this or that issue. But significant changes in a people's philosophy, the zeitgeist in which they live and breathe, will have a far wider impact. That is what we now see and it is a deeply disturbing sight for those of us who are witness to the results.

Unfortunately, the biggest impediment to change is also philosophical. It is all but impossible for someone to even discuss these issues without those on the political Left howling about racism, blaming the victim, blah, blah, blah. And the underclass itself is now so violent and disfunctional that it is nothing short of flat-out dangerous to address its members directly. Even then, the members of the underclass are so enveloped in their thinking that it is like talking to a brick wall. It is so bad that telling it straight is simply interpreted as racism or naivity about what life on the street is really like. The underclass displays that most damaging of traits - an imperviousness to negative yet accurate feedback. The road ahead looks dark indeed.

The welfare mess.......2007-05-21

Myron Magnet's book is an excellent example of why 1960s leftists should be having second thoughts. In a nutshell, he argues that the mindset and the values of the sixties are largely responsible for America's urban underclass. The sixties counterculture and the sexual revolution both put in place a set of values and beliefs that for many turned poverty into a way of life.

The liberations promoted by the counter-culturalists - sexual, personal, political, economic - did not liberate. Instead, they enslaved people. Says Magnet, the no-fault way in which the counter-culturalist conducted his personal life was "mirrored by his no-fault social policy, all rights and entitlements without responsibilities".

These counterculture values had a very real bearing on the issue of poverty. The traditional values that either prevented poverty or helped one escape from poverty - thrift, hard work, responsibility, deferral of gratification, sobriety - were eschewed. In their place were enshrined the values of hedonism, sensualism and selfishness. These values can only entrap, not liberate. As Irving Kristol put it, "It's hard to rise above poverty if society keeps deriding the human qualities that allow you to escape from it."

Take the sexual revolution for example. The reshaped values of the sexual revolution were directly responsible for the breakdown of families, for easy divorce, for illegitimacy, for sole-parent households. Not that these problems didn't exist before the onset of the sexual revolution, but they were certainly exacerbated and compounded by it.

The new culture, as Magnet explains, "permitted, even celebrated, behavior that, when poor people practice it, will imprison them inextricably in poverty. It's hard to persuade ghetto fifteen-year-olds not to get pregnant, for instance, when the entire culture, from rock music to upscale perfume commercials to highbrow books, is intoxicated with the joy of what before AIDS was called `recreational' sex."

Moreover, the new culture "held the poor back from advancement by robbing them of responsibility for their fate and thus further squelching their initiative and energy. Instead of telling them to take wholehearted advantage of opportunities that were rapidly opening, the new culture told the Have-Nots that they were victims of an unjust society and, if they were black, that they were entitled to restitution, including advancement on the basis of racial preference rather than mere personal striving and merit."

Viewing poverty primarily in terms of a poverty of values is not a new thesis: Other social commentators, like George Gilder and Thomas Sowell, have argued this thesis. Moreover, earlier commentators like Max Weber have pointed out the connection between values and socio-economic development. Historical examples can be cited. For example, many historians now agree that the spread of Methodism in England in the 18th Century helped spare England the bloody revolutions taking place around it. John Wesley's preaching imbued the English people with a conservative orderliness that helped to avert revolutionary violence and upheaval.

Magnet's book confirms the thesis that the major operatives in a society are not just economic ones. Moral, religious and cultural values even more strongly determine how a society will fare - politically and economically. The question of crime also must be seen in terms of values. The use of force and threat - police, courts, prisons - is one way to restrain aggression and crime. However, "The most powerful curb isn't force at all: it is the internal inhibition that society builds into each person's character, the inner voice".

Instead of worrying about lenient sentencing or cumbersome legal procedures - as important as they are - of more value is ensuring that "inner barriers to violence and aggression are strongly in place. This is a cultural matter, a matter of how people bring up their children, a matter of the messages that get passed from the community to the parents and thence to the children.

The object is both to transmit the necessary prohibitions against aggression to each individual and to win each individual's inner, positive assent to the social endeavor."

And that of course is what is not happening in black urban America. Sixty-eight per cent of all black children are born without a father at home. Thus it is much harder for positive values to be transmitted. But the tragedy of broken black families is perpetuated by counterculture values: love'em and leave'em is the natural expression of the sexual revolution, and the economic reinforcement of illegitimacy is the logical outcome of welfarism. As Charles Murray noted, a welfare mother's child "provides her with the economic insurance that a husband used to represent."

Thus counterculture values reinforce and perpetuate the crime, poverty and despair of the ghetto. The poverty of values that emanated from the 1960s counterculture have left their mark. And welfarism simply ingrained the problems. Best of intentions, we have learned, unfortunately are not enough. Reformist zeal needs to be backed up by hard thinking and common sense. Simply throwing money at a problem will usually not suffice. The less politically tangible route of changing values and belief systems is generally more effective.

Victims of the 1960s' liberal fantasies.......2006-07-13

I was particularly interested in the sections on the 'homeless'. I spent some five years working in this field. As with Dalrympole's Life at the Bottom, and Bartholomew's The Welfare State We're In, Magnet applies a for too long dismissed common sense viewpoint. For too long the chattering classes have gotten away with arguing that social issues such as homelessness are the result of poverty, class, gender and race discrimination -(yawn!). The reality, as Magnet concurs, is a breakdown in Christian values (there is no alternative to the ten commandments),the family, and morality. Sadly, the resultant social policies stemming from the muddleheaded, liberal mindset of the 1960s has left in their wake, 'sink estate' victims. They have been the unwitting fall out from the failed experimental social fantasies of the 1960s' academics. The authors of these policies can escape along with their Chardonnay drinking cronnies to the comfort of their rural havens, but not so the many lives that their alternate social ideas broke. The homeless sections in Magnet's book complement Daibhidh Macadhaimh's Unlocking Carol's Smile (Trafford Publishing. isbn 141205550-4) a gripping novel set in the world of social exclusion. It is written from the writer's experience working in this field and tells it like it is. The emotional and social conflict involving the two central characters challenges a particular taboo within care in the community services: they develop an unlikely relationship. The book could sit comfortably on a social science shelf, not least because of its contrary ideological approach to the subject of the causes of social exclusion.

Beware of simple (and simple-witted) answers to complex questions.......2006-06-17

This would have been an interesting and original view of the problem of persistent poverty in the U.S. had it been published, oh, about thirty or thirty-five years ago. As it is, it grossly oversimplifies a complex problem, and worse, plays to the cherished superstitions of neoconservative intellectuals and their `lumpen' readers alike. It will probably come as a great surprise to the author, but I doubt poor black, Hispanic, and hell, even poor white kids have ever even heard of Norman Mailer, much less studied his essays in school. It may also have escaped the author's attention that inflation whittled the value of payments from programs such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children down to a fraction of 1960's levels, even factoring in occasional cost-of-living increases-which had all but ceased starting in the 1980's. Finally, under the impetus of a conservative Congress, the Clinton administration undertook reform of "welfare" in 1996 which included drastically tightening eligibility requirements, placing strict time limits on receipt of benefits, and actively directing recipients into jobs. Yet poverty seems to persist despite the implementation of conservative nostrums and even more amazingly, despite a near-full employment economy at the end of the 1990's. In other words, trying to blame everything on kids who grew their hair long in the 1960's, and vapid socialites hobnobbing with Bobby Seale at Leonard Bernstein's soirees forty years ago is not only not right-it isn't even wrong

Meanwhile, since the Nixon administration we have conducted a "War on Drugs" that has stuffed prisons full to bursting with (mostly low level) drug dealers and users-nearly all of them minorities--but accomplished very little else. Although crime rates have in fact dropped to historically low levels, this seems to have little if any correlation with incarceration rates, which have been relentlessly rising since the 1970's. This decrease in crime, by the way, confounded neoconservative predictions at the beginning of the 1990's that crime-allegedly inspired by our evil culture-would continue spiraling upwards without letup. Similar decreases occurred in out-of-wedlock births, but as an old saying goes, "A lady's reputation seldom improves." Especially when she is a member of a racial minority, I might add. It would seem that the underclass owes very little to the 1960's counterculture, although Encounter Books-once a source of urbane and intelligent works-would probably not have taken Mr. Magnet's manuscript had he concluded as much.

Neoconservatives, it turns out, are as rigidly locked into a mindless party line as the 1960's leftists they criticize. For example, black social scientists such as Glen Loury and William Julius Wilson were clutched to neoconservative bosoms when their research found that blacks suffered relatively little racial discrimination in hiring compared to past decades. They were dropped like hot potatoes however when their continued investigations showed that minority unemployment had a lot more to do with factors such as the virtual disappearance of even low-skilled work from most urban areas, and the lack of transportation to exurban areas where most job growth was. Kind of makes blaming the 1969 Woodstock festival look silly, to say the least.

There is no doubt that there is something that was once called "the culture of poverty" that inculcates some of the poor with self-defeating attitudes and behaviors. This was already old hat by the time "London Labor and London Poor" was published during the Victorian age. Presumably, the Victorian poor did not become or remain so because of Janet Jackson displaying her bosom on television a century later.

There are innumerable other criticisms to be made of this book starting with its confusion of drug-taking behavior among the poor (which tends to seek oblivion from hopelessness) with middle-class drug taking behavior (which is usually risk-seeking or thrill-seeking), but a complete enumeration of its mistakes, misconceptions, and half-truths would take an essay nearly as long as the book itself. Suffice it to say that instead of being random, the errors all seem to point in a certain political direction. Readers may conclude what they will about the author's presumed good faith from this. Those looking for `just-so-stories' to confirm their darkest prejudices towards racial minorities and justify doing nothing will certainly find what they seek in this book. Those looking for nuanced discussions aimed at trying to solve problems instead of finding scapegoats will have to look elsewhere.

This is a landmark work for the ages...and to you who object..........2005-07-30

This book is one of the most articulate explanations for post-1960s socio-economic trends and the damage the cultural movement left in its wake. TO THOSE NEGATIVE REVIEWERS: I wonder if any of you even read the book. The depth at which Magnet covers the connection between the ideological shift of the "haves" and failed social policies is extensive. This book is not a party-based flag waver. It is an unbias, multi-dimensional study that should give any open-minded person something to ponder. It's time to realize that the "haves" in this country aren't just big conservative blood-thirsty corporations, but that the privileged in this country often reside in the secular entertainment industry and the halls of congress itself. If you don't read this book, just know this: we live in the most privileged society ever to exist in history, even with our shortcomings, and people can only find true compassion, and create true change, if they choose to see the real problems and destructive social codes facing our communities.

Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare

Average customer rating:

Civil Rights Essential
So much insight
Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare
James Cone's MARTIN AND MALCOLM AND AMERICA Remains Top List
A Must Have!!!!

Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare
James H. Cone
Manufacturer: Orbis Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0883448246

Customer Reviews:

Civil Rights Essential.......2007-04-23

I purchased this book for my American Religious Diversity class and found that it gives you a clear timeline of the Civil Rights Movement and how Martin viewed it as the American dream and how Malcolm viewed it as a nightmare. The book's chapters follow the Civil Rights Movement chronologically by date and discuss Martin's and Malcolm's personal lives, religious obligations, beliefs, priorities, and virtually every other aspect in enough detail to give you a clear picture of the time. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Civil Rights Movement.

So much insight.......2006-11-30

Dr. Cone really points out the differences between Dr King and Malcolm X like no one else. But more importantly he sees so many simalaities. For erxample Malcom X encouraged blacks to go to Christian churches and get involved in social isues. Further, Dr Cone points out that Malcolm X wanted to go to Law School!!.

Also it is interesting that Dr. King refused to debate their respective postions.

Every time I am in Harlem at Lennox Ave and 125th St. I reflect on Dr Cone's masterpiece.

Have all children and adults read this book.

Darrell Pone,MD
Old Westbury, NY

Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare.......2006-11-06

Great book. Insightful writing.

James Cone's MARTIN AND MALCOLM AND AMERICA Remains Top List.......2004-11-24

Dr James Cone's MARTIN AND MALCOLM AND AMERICA: A DREAM OR A NIGHTMARE is one of the best books I've encountered.

Cone discusses the rhetorical strategies of Martin Luther King, Jr, and Malcolm X as they applied to their particular audiences: King to the South and Malcolm X to the North. Cone argues that Martin King's strategy of non-violent protest, while effective in the extremely segregated and anti-integrationist South, was not effective in the North (particularly in cities like Chicago and Detroit) because the discourse and policy of "integration" was already superficially accepted by Northeners. The "liberal" North found King's rhetoric to be more or less agreeable even as the structures of discrimination continued to subject black people to a brutal double-standard. Thus Malcolm X's policy of Black Nationalism (separatist rather than integrationist) that allowed for violence epitomized by the slogan "by any means necessary" was more successful in the North because it more effectively confronted personal and systematic racism. Long story short: two different rhetors with different rhetorics because of different situations, different audiences, with different immediate goals. Interestingly, near the close of both men's lives--Malcolm X killed in 1965 and Martin King in 1968--Malcolm began to sound a little more like Martin; and Martin began to speak even more forcefully, not unlike Malcolm had been known to do previously.

I had the great luxury of hearing Dr Cone present a lecture based on the book back in 1992. Twelve years later, my assesment of the book remains constant: Outstanding.

A Must Have!!!!.......2004-09-07

This book is one of the best books I've read concerning MLK Jr. and Malcolm X in a comparative manner. From beginning to end it is written in a fashion that keeps you intrigued. I won't provide a summary because that has already been done but the detail of these mens lives is remarkable. I definitely feel that you can not go wrong with purchasing this book because you will not be disappointed.

Homeowner Associations: A Nightmare or a Dream Come True?

Average customer rating:

Bandaid fixes??
Required Reading
Great, useful book!
Lots of good stories but not real pithy.
Nice Ideas, But The Inherent Flaws of CID's Are Glossed Over

Homeowner Associations: A Nightmare or a Dream Come True?
Joni Greenwalt
Manufacturer: Cassie Pubns Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 096591660X

Book Description

Do you thrive or barely survive in a community governed by an association? With humor, philosophy, and down-to-earth facts, this book offers real-life scenarios and solutions.

Customer Reviews:

Bandaid fixes??.......2002-12-13

Replacing the board is a good idea and can be helpful in some cases, however, in many cases and particularly with a well entrenched board and its allied management company, it is only a bandaid fix for the deep wounds of CID living.

In addition to reading this book, it would be good to follow up with, Villa Appalling! Destroying the Myth of Affordable Community Living, written by Donie Vanitzian and Stephen Glassman.

Required Reading.......2002-03-31

Did you ever wonder if you're alone in your feeling toward the Homeowners Association? Did you ever wonder what kind of people LOVE to run one? Did you ever wonder what you could do to make it better? One answer BUY THE BOOK. I live in an HOA that is run by people who have absolutely no regard for their neighbor's rights.
This book lets you know what CAN and HAS happen with an HOA. Some of the stories in the book are exactly what is happening in ours now. You should read this book while sitting down, this way you won't have to far to fall when you hit the floor. This is what happens when your neighbors nose doesn't end at their fence. The most freighting part is HOA's are getting bigger,stronger and growing fast. Lawyers and management companies love HOA's and the author tells you why. The author understands what many people don't, the HOA is a mini-government.
To see what CAN happen to YOU and HAS happened to OTHERS I think this book isn't a purchase, it's an investment.

Great, useful book!.......2002-03-21

Joni's book is great for new Board of Directors of HOA's. Her book is fun to read. But her book also taught me a lot about being a good Board member, searching for a new management (service) company, and establishing good policy for the community as a whole but also for the individuals who live here. Her book is also good for anyone who lives in a covenant-controlled community. Many thanks to Joni for taking time to write her book!!!

Lots of good stories but not real pithy........2000-04-17

This book is a good source for general stories about homeowner association nightmares. If you haven't already purchased a home having a homeowner's association this would be a good book.

The commentary supplementing these stories are mainly exhortations for developers, lawyers, and boards to be reasonable. This theme too often repeats itself throughout the book rather than offering more insight into how to handle the specifics of solving these problems.

Nice Ideas, But The Inherent Flaws of CID's Are Glossed Over.......1999-08-15

As a victim of HOA (CID) bureacracy, I purchased this book in the hopes that it would give me some legal advice on how to fight back. Rather, the author espouses a home-spun philosophy of working within the system. If your HOA problem is rather trivial in nature (such as a dispute over whether or not you can have a clothesline in your backyard, for example), this book could be very helpful. It's basically a collection of anecdotes and situations taken from the author's own real-life experience (she's the president of her HOA), as well as those of others involved in HOAs. One of the biggest hurdles in attempting to make any changes in the HOA scenario is that, typically, bylaws mandate that a minimum 3/4 majority of homeowners (voters) must concur for any proposals to take effect or board members to be elected (or removed.) Greenwalt gives some practical suggestions on how to galvanize support and make changes in your HOA despite this 3/4 requirement. All fine and good, but for someone like myself (who has been gouged for over $5000 in fines and legal fees over an orginal debt of $500 in overdue association dues), it's too little too late. After reading the book Privatopia, which outlines the history of HOAs, and--more significantly--exposes the reasons why they exist and proliferate, I've come to realize that there is nothing about HOAs that is designed for the benefit of the homeowner. (Even the goal of maintaining property values--ostensibly the primary reason for HOAs in the first place--is in place to satisfy the demands of the lending institutions that finance the developments, not to protect the homeowner's investment) Ironically, the author does make a brief quote from Privatopia, so one would assume that she has read it. The knowledge that HOAs are here because they maximize the profits of developers with no concern for the homeowner doesn't seem to dampen the author's enthusiam in regard to the HOA lifestyle. (Nor do the multitude of horror stories contained in her book and Privatopia) If you're resigned to living in an HOA (or even LIKE it, which perhaps some do), then I would recommend this book. Personally, I plan to sell out someday and seek residence outside of what is essentially a privatized enclave of socialism.

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