Download Description
How Living Supernaturally Will Take You from the Prison to the Palace.
Customer Reviews:
Rewriting the way you approach life.......2007-09-07
With so many dysfunctional up-bringings in people lives, we don't know how to step into our inheritance. This book challenges some of those inherent notions
Listen as you drive around.......2007-08-13
Lead a busy life running from place to place? This is for you. The Supernatural Ways of Royalty in CD! This is the easiest way to benefit from these writers. You will learn that you DO have power and authority along with grace and mercy and that it's time to believe it and have the confidence Father meant for us to have.
Bill has awesome insight..........2007-07-28
Bill has awesome insight to how God hsould be viewed!
Keys to Third Heaven...Using Third Heaven Revelation to Impact a World
Seers Handbook
Great Book.......2007-06-08
Learning to change a view that is wrong is the first step in healing. This book gives people the opportunity to change the course of their life and focus on what they are designed to do in life.
Spiritually Awakening.......2007-05-30
The Supernatural Ways of Roayalty is a book that can truly open one's Spirit to the realm of thinking above the normalacy of the daily Christian's walk in life. When reading this book, if one were to allow God to heal the wounds of the past, and renew a right Spirit within, this book can help pave the way to knowing who you are in Christ and allowing you to truly live the life intended as a Christian. Truly, we as children of the King should prevail to walk as such. Great teaching in the book and wonderful insight given to both authors to release God's love to the reader.
Book Description
DJs have gone from being underpaid live jukeboxes to becoming premier entertainers, producers, businessmen, and musicians capable of commanding admiration from thousands and earning serious money. Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton's Last Night a DJ Saved My Life was the definitive history of the DJ. Now they gather their mastery of the artistic and technical aspects of being a DJ into a clear, accessible, and entertaining guide. How to DJ is the perfect guide -- from the most basic keys to establishing a music collection and a distinctive sound, to elementary record-spinning, to the complex skills of scratching, hot-mixing, and beat-juggling, as well as the inimitable art of creating an evening of sound that is perfectly timed, balanced, and unforgettable. Diagrams throughout illustrate phrases, beat timing, and song structure with no reliance on music theory, and resource lists recommend everything from which songs are best (and most fun) to learn with, to good sources for building a library of disks, CDs, and MP3s. For those who want to turn pro, the authors give sage advice on the vagaries of the club and music business. Short quotes, anecdotes, and photos of famous DJs such as Grandmaster Flash and Derrick Carter are featured.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome...it's a "must have" for every dj..........2007-09-26
Although I'm a digital dj and laptop performer and this book is more "turntablist" oriented...I found it very interesting, every page you open has something to teach you...
Good pick and this is why............2007-08-09
I found the book to be very insightful and easy to understand. I would recommend this book to both the beginner and the advanced Dj.
"Show you how to party right".......2007-08-05
Very funny and informative guide to running the turntables. It takes a lot of work to make things happen in a club. This book takes you step by step through everything from how to find the best gear, to how to add special effects, scratching on beat, and making sure you get paid. There are plenty of pictures. The stories from real DJs such as John Digweed, Grandmaster Flash and more are laugh-out-loud funny. Go from dreaming of greatness to moving the crowd, with clues from the best.
Everything you'll ever need to know and how to love it.......2007-03-31
I had DJ'd for years prior to picking this up. Front to back in 2 days. I learned a lot of new technique and cleaned up on some of my old habits. The greatest thing I learned was how to get myself 'in'. I was a bedroom DJ all those years. This book taught me to grab the bull by the horns and show the world what I've got.
That was all great, but the true lesson was not something I learned from the book, but what the book reassured me of and demanded that I maintain.
Love for music.
The consistent undertone was that of a "you are a DJ, you have the duty to show the world this music and take them on a journey through it the way you see best".
If you own a single piece of vinyl or have been collecting for years and stuck in that bedroom, read this. If you've thought about being a DJ and have no vinyl, read this. If you have always wondered what "beat juggling" or "crab scratching" was, read this book.
Peace, Love and Jellybeans!
Good laugh and great start.......2006-11-11
Great book to get you on track if you're a beginner, or to give you a few new ideas if you've been spinning for a bit. Hilarious book, and you're sure to just sit there and laugh, then bust out the tables and try some new slip-cueing techniques. Recommended, highly.
Book Description
Today we hold the Constitution in such high regard that we can hardly imagine how hotly contested was its adoption. In fact, many of the thirteen states saw fierce debate over the document, and ratification was by no means certain. Virginia, the largest and most influential state, approved the Constitution by the barest of margins, and only after an epic political battle between James Madison and Patrick Henry. Now Richard Labunski offers a dramatic account of a time when the entire American experiment hung in the balance, only to be saved by the most unlikely of heroes--the diminutive and exceedingly shy Madison. Here is a vividly written account of not one but several major political struggles which changed the course of American history. Labunski takes us inside the sweltering converted theater in Richmond, where for three grueling weeks, the soft-spoken Madison and the charismatic Patrick Henry fought over whether Virginia should ratify the Constitution. The stakes were enormous. If Virginia voted no, George Washington could not become president, New York might follow suit and reject the Constitution, and the young nation would be thrust into political chaos. But Madison won the day by a handful of votes, mollifying Anti-Federalist fears by promising to add a bill of rights to the Constitution. To do this, Madison would have to win a seat in the First Congress. Labunski shows how the vengeful Henry prevented Madison's appointment to the Senate and then used his political power to ensure that Madison would run against his good friend, Revolutionary War hero James Monroe, in a House district teeming with political enemies. Overcoming great odds, Madison won by a few hundred votes, allowing him to attend the First Congress and sponsor the Bill of Rights. Packed with colorful details about life in early America, this compelling and important narrative is the first serious book about Madison written in many years. It will return this under-appreciated patriot to his rightful place among the Founding Fathers and shed new light on a key turning point in our nation's history.
Customer Reviews:
Tedious recounting of events without much analysis or perspective.......2007-08-03
I hate saying bad things about other people's books because I know how much hard work goes into each one, though I have to advise the reader of this review to find another book if you're interested in the creation of the Bill of Rights. If it weren't for this book being on audio disc I would never have finished it. It's very boring and flat. The material is doubtlessly interesting, and I imagine that depending upon the author's take on the subject, this book could come out in many different, yet equally interesting, permutations.
My strong criticism it that it is the book has no incisive analysis of the subject, nothing to make it read, no sense of perspective,...how this subject played out in the bigger scheme of things and over time. The epilogue was equally disappointing, offering the scantiest description of how the ideas contained in the Bill of Rights affected future generations. In fact, I was eagerly looking forward to reading the epilogue, it was the only thing keeping me going, and I was disappointed.
So, what we get is just a simply recounting of the events, without much to make the writing interesting. It really gets tedious and boring, sounding like a straight reading of an official transcript or diary especially when the author describes the proceedings of the Virginia Constitutional ratifying Convention and other similar events, which is what a lion's share of the book is.
Any suggestions??
Democracy in Action.......2007-06-17
"James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights" was a very enjoyable read, and one that I would definitely enjoy reading again. It is full of detail, but doesn't lack on readability either. Unlike some of the reviewers, I enjoyed the details of weather conditions and felt that this information was important to telling the struggle for the Bill of Rights as weather was a huge obstacle to travel in that time. I also was able to better picture what it would be like to sit in a hot, sultry, building with no ventilation (as when the windows had to be closed due to the noisy streets) and spend hours discussing how much power the constitution would grant the federal government or if it indeed would greatly infringe on individual liberties.
Lets go out on a limb, and say that James Madison probably wouldn't make it in politics today. He was 5'4", shy, soft spoken, and portrayed by the author as extremely timid when speaking in front of a large group. He also "flip-flopped" on his stance on the Bill of Rights, which at that time seemed to be democracy working (Today he would probably be eaten alive); Madison seems to not only believe passionately about the importance of a strong federal government, but evolves to believe just as passionately about the protection of the people's individual rights (Thus- A Bill of Rights). OK, it could be argued that he had to compromise and promise support of a Bill of Rights to get elected, but the author seems to feel that Madison truly believed in their importance. The story of Madison is very interesting and even for his time he seems to be somewhat of an underdog whose passion, intellect, and love for his country allowed him to prevail over his short-comings. His election to the House is nothing but fascinating as once again the cards were stacked against him (Thanks to Patrick Henry who gerrymandered his district so that he would likely lose).
The story of Virginia's constitutional congress was every bit as fascinating, and it can be said that human nature and the psychology of politics had many similarities then as it does now. Many people had passionately different philosophical views of what government should and shouldn't be. As could be argued today, both sides had some good points. It was interesting how fear seemed to perpetuate both sides passion. The Anti-Federalists being fearful of a monarchal type of government invading on individual liberty, and the Federalists fearful that individual states wouldn't have economic power or the ability to defend themselves. The author portrays the high-stakes decision of Virginia ratifying the constitution without a Bill of Rights. He points out that if this hadn't happened, George Washington wouldn't have even been eligible to serve in the new government. Anyways, the story of our founders verbally battling it out in a theater in Shocco-Bottom in Richmond is also well portrayed. For anyone interested in American history and politics, I would recommend this book as a must read.
A fascinating piece of history.......2007-06-16
The Bill of Rights was always just there at the end of the Constitution -- a list of unalienable rights to be interpreted, argued over and used to browbeat opponents in political discussions. I, for one, never gave much thought to how those 10 constitutional amendments came to exist within four years of the ratification of the Constitution in 1788.
Now that I know what a narrow thing ratification of the Constitution was (Virginia and New York sought to make adoption conditional upon the adoption of amendments; North Carolina and Rhode Island refused to ratify until the Bill of Rights passed Congress) and how difficult the adoption of amendments so soon after ratification, I'll certainly never take them for granted again. Anti-federalist opposition to the Constitution, particularly without a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties, was very strong in Virginia, led as it was by the able orator Patrick Henry, who dominated the Virginia Legislature during the late 1780s.
On one point the book is clear: the amendments would not have been proposed and adopted without the guidance of James Madison, first as a member of the Virginia Constitutional Ratifying Convention and then as a member of the US House of Representatives. The story of his battle is a fascinating one, from the first use of gerrymandering to prevent him from being elected to the US House (this was Patrick Henry's idea and it didn't work), to the final triumph in 1791 when Virginia finally ratified the amendments.
If you thought dirty politics was born in the current era, think again. I was struck by how much political maneuvering, both explicit and behind the scenes, existed at a time most Americans think of in mythological terms. Our cherished heroes were politicians all, attempting to satisfy local demands while at the same time doing justice to the larger, longer term issues. They didn't always succeed, but this time they did, thanks to Madison's persistence.
I strongly recommend this book for the light it sheds on a period in US history that is rarely discussed. However, I have only given the unabridged audio edition of this book 4 stars because I thought the narrator read too fast. I found I had to listen to many passages two and three times follow them completely. It's one thing to read fiction at a fast clip, and another when you attempt to speed through historical narrative.
A little more than necessary.......2007-03-09
When listening to books on cd or I-Pod, particularly when non-fiction, I try to make sure I get unabridged versions so I don't feel slighted. With this cd, I could have used a little slighting.
James Madison was indeed important for passing the Bill of Rights. It couldn't have been more amazing since Madison originally believed that a bill of rights was not needed: since Congress was not granted the powers to infringe on basic it rights, so the argument went, there was no need for a bill to protect those rights. Alas, he changed. And this point should serve as a reminder for how difficult it is to rely on supposedly original principles in the Constitution. (Rakove, in Original Meanings, makes that point best.)
The book looks at three or so important points: the Constitutional Convention, the Virginia Constitutional ratification convention, and the First Congress's effort at passing the amendments that would form the Bill of Rights. The first part, the miracle in Philly, has been covered so much elsewhere that yet another treatment wasn't really so necessary. The Virginia ratification convention was fine, but the arguments were very much the same. The First Congress section was the most interesting. Tidbit of interest: Madison wanted the amendments to appear in the main body of the text. Imagine that! What we now know famously as the first ten amendments could have been scatter shot throughout the original document. Shortsightedness on that point by Madison, though he was forward thinking in most other regards.
Labunski did a fine job and it is perfect for those unfamiliar with the Philly stuff. Otherwise it is still fine.
Lots of struggle, not much of what it was over.......2007-01-10
First of all, I do want to say that author Richard Labunski did a fine job detailing the trials and travails of the road to the first Congress travelled by James Madison, one of our most indispensable Founders. Labunski reminds us that history was, while in the making, not nearly as foregone as it seems this far removed. Madison could have lost his election to the First session of the House of Representatives after the new government was formed causing the Constitution to perhaps lose the addition of the Bill of Rights and that would have been calamitous, indeed.
I enjoyed the story of Madison's road as told by Labunski. Madison has been one of those founders who's position as a great Founder has been rocky. Up one decade and down another. Sometimes he has been considered a far lesser light than he deserves to be considered. Currently, he seems to be up which is fortunate. I think he should remain there. He is by far one of the most brilliant Founders we had and it is good that Labunski treats Madison with the respect he deserves.
Here is where I feel the book was lacking, though. Why was the Bill of Rights so important? What were the philosophies, the influences, the reasons the amendments were fought over? Labunski does not take much time to delve further under the surface to ferret out those reasons. He briefly mentions things here and there as the book moves along those lines, but I think his book would have been more complete with a bit more of it.
I found myself wondering what all the fuss was over far too much while reading the book and feel Labunski shorted the reader a fuller explanation.
Still, I give the book a pretty good rating. It is a good tale that is not often told (which is why I think he should have gone deeper, by the way).
It come recommended by me, anyway.
Book Description
One of the English language’s most skilled and beloved writers guides us all toward precise, mistake-free usage.
As usual Bill Bryson says it best: “English is a dazzlingly idiosyncratic tongue, full of quirks and irregularities that often seem willfully at odds with logic and common sense. This is a language where ‘cleave’ can mean to cut in half or to hold two halves together; where the simple word ‘set’ has 126 different meanings as a verb, 58 as a noun, and 10 as a participial adjective; where if you can run fast you are moving swiftly, but if you are stuck fast you are not moving at all; [and] where ‘colonel,’ ‘freight,’ ‘once,’ and ‘ache’ are strikingly at odds with their spellings.” As a copy editor for the London Times in the early 1980s, Bill Bryson felt keenly the lack of an easy-to-consult, authoritative guide to avoiding the traps and snares in English, and so he brashly suggested to a publisher that he should write one. Surprisingly, the proposition was accepted, and for “a sum of money carefully gauged not to cause embarrassment or feelings of overworth,” he proceeded to write that book–his first, inaugurating his stellar career.
Now, a decade and a half later, revised, updated, and thoroughly (but not overly) Americanized, it has become Bryson’s Dictionary of Troublesome Words, more than ever an essential guide to the wonderfully disordered thing that is the English language. With some one thousand entries, from “a, an” to “zoom,” that feature real-world examples of questionable usage from an international array of publications, and with a helpful glossary and guide to pronunciation, this precise, prescriptive, and–because it is written by Bill Bryson–often witty book belongs on the desk of every person who cares enough about the language not to maul or misuse or distort it.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
One of the English language's most skilled and beloved writers guides us all toward precise, mistake-free usage.
As usual Bill Bryson says it best: "English is a dazzlingly idiosyncratic tongue, full of quirks and irregularities that often seem willfully at odds with logic and common sense. This is a language where 'cleave' can mean to cut in half or to hold two halves together; where the simple word 'set' has 126 different meanings as a verb, 58 as a noun, and 10 as a participial adjective; where if you can run fast you are moving swiftly, but if you are stuck fast you are not moving at all; [and] where 'colonel,' 'freight,' 'once,' and 'ache' are strikingly at odds with their spellings." As a copy editor for the London Times in the early 1980s, Bill Bryson felt keenly the lack of an easy-to-consult, authoritative guide to avoiding the traps and snares in English, and so he brashly suggested to a publisher that he should write one. Surprisingly, the proposition was accepted, and for "a sum of money carefully gauged not to cause embarrassment or feelings of overworth," he proceeded to write that book—his first, inaugurating his stellar career.
Now, a decade and a half later, revised, updated, and thoroughly (but not overly) Americanized, it has become Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words, more than ever an essential guide to the wonderfully disordered thing that is the English language. With some one thousand entries, from "a, an" to "zoom," that feature real-world examples of questionable usage from an international array of publications, and with a helpful glossary and guide to pronunciation, this precise, prescriptive, and—because it is written by Bill Bryson—often witty book belongs on the desk of every person who cares enough about the language not to maul or misuse or distort it.
Customer Reviews:
useful but not amazing.......2007-05-08
For starters, this is a reissue of "The Penguin Dictionary of Troublesome Words" from 1984, which Bill Bryson was permitted to edit and amplify. The book was published again with his revisions under the current title in 2001.
Bryson is a fine writer, and enormously learned: he seems capable of writing literately about anything! And though the book would be a welcome addition to anybody's reference library, I don't regard it as anything special.
You should be warned that many of the terms -- and, well, linguistic disputes -- that Bryson discusses are meant chiefly, I think, for writers and editors. If you're in high school or just starting out in college, I think you might find much of this book's contents needlessly arcane.
For example, have you ever been confused about the difference between "who's" and "whose"? This book won't help you. Yet it has an entry on "razzmatazz" vs. "razzamatazz," if that happens to be a pressing concern of yours, or if you're unaware of what a desk dictionary is.
Need a review of "rise", "rose," and "risen"? You're out of luck, but Bryson does provide a separate entry that informs you that the title of Joyce's 1939 novel "Finnegans Wake" contains no apostrophe.
A lot of the rest of the book seems downright unfriendly towards those who are still learning. For example, the entry on "its" vs. "it's" begins, "The distinction between these two ought not to trouble a ten-year-old." Or howabout: "If you don't know it already, note now that there is no 'n' in 'resaurateur.'" A good deal of Bryson's writing here suffers from this haughty tone.
If you are a EFL or a ESL student, this book is not suitable for your needs either, most of its entries being far too recondite for anything save a very advanced user to care about.
Additionally (p. 28), Bryson warns you that his book "is primarily intended for users of British English." Predictably, then, many of his solutions and suggestions employ British spelling or punctuation, something that might well confuse a beginner.
Lastly, I'm a bit astonished that the "list" is not more complete: lists of commonly confused words are easy to come by (most dictionaries seem to have one in the back), and I'm surprised Bryson didn't incorporate more of them. Offhand I can think of several befuddling duos that didn't make the grade.
You'd think that if a guy was going to put together an entire BOOK of commonly confused words, he'd make sure that he threw in everything but the kitchen sink, but this is not the case. But, no. The definitive collection still remains to be written.
To Be Chewed and Digested.......2007-04-24
This book is subtitled "A Writer's Guide to Getting It Right." You should learn something critical from this: namely, that if you're not a writer, and you don't care much about words in their most precisely accurate usages, you won't care much about this book. I, myself, loved it.
I'm new to Bill Bryson, though I know he has won legions of fans with travel literature like A Walk in the Woods. In Dictionary, he provides "an essential guide to the wonderfully disordered thing that is the English language" (from book jacket) by using several What-Not-To-Do examples from well-known and well-respected newspapers and other publications. For instance, the Washington Post wrote in an article, "He did not feel he had received the kudos that were his due." Can you point out the error? Bryson explains, "Kudos, a Greek word meaning fame or glory, is singular. Thus it should be `the kudos that was his due.' There is no such thing, incidentally, as one kudo." Publications are not just guilty of grammatical errors, but redundancy as well as well. (little joke there) The Observer once printed, "Police searched his house in the tiny hamlet of Oechtringen." Bryson quips "It is the nature of hamlets to be tiny."
Dictionary is ordered, in proper style, alphabetically, with discussion on several hundred words that are most likely to be misused. He also includes some phrases and quotes from classic literature that have - over time - been misunderstood or misspoken. An entry under "W" clarifies, "`Water, water, everywhere/Nor any drop to drink" as being the actual lines from the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Anyone else remember the line finishing with "And not a drop to drink"? Ok, maybe it was just me.
Whether this book makes you better at your craft or more self-conscious about all your errors, I do think it is a fabulous resource for writers. And some of the entries are just pretty funny. Case in point, an entry under "K": "Koala bears is always wrong. Koalas are marsupials and have no relation to bears. Just call them koalas." Koalas it is, Mr. Bryson!
English and its Foibles.......2006-05-20
Bill Bryson's dictionary is a wonderful frolic through the foibles of the English language. The misused, the misunderstood and even the mis-spelled are treated with great humour and insight.
Many people will choose to randomly browse through "Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words". I chose the option of reading it cover to cover. Either way, the book cannot fail to both entertain and inform.
Unlike French, English is a work in progress with no bureaucracy trying to stifle change. An institution in the style of the French Academy is unthinkable for English. Indeed, herein lies the strength of English and the basis of its ability to continually re-invent itself and evolve through time. French, by way of comparison, looks increasingly like the fly stuck in amber.
Bryson is a highly observant wordsmith and his book should be read by all those who cherish English and its marvelous journey.
Hilarious and useful, but some problems.......2006-03-15
That about says it all. Bill Bryson is a hilarious writer. I like reading grammar books anyway, but I was always excited to read this book, as it's so entertaining.
Besides that, it can teach (or remind) you of a lot of good rules of writing.
The main problem is that several entries are unnecessary, and some necessary entries are left out.
An enjoyable reference not just for editors.......2005-01-13
If you are one of those people who actually care about your writing, then this book is for you. I picked up a copy recently at a bookstore and I've browsed through most of it. I'm embarrassed to say that I found a few words that I had been using incorrectly!
I don't know if I'd really use this book over a 'real' dictionary, but I would definitely consider it if I'm unsure of a definition or the proper usage of a word. I expect that I'll be reviewing this book occasionally to make sure that there isn't some word that I'm slipping up on.
If you are self conscious and concerned about your writing, then pick up this valuable resource. I guarantee you'll be able to find something in the book that you haven't been using properly or misspelling (if that's not the case, then congratulations).
Customer Reviews:
The easiest to read, most comprehensive debt book ever.......2007-05-07
I bought three debt books the last time I was at Amazon. They were all good, but this was the most comprehensive in easy to read format and sentences that it made things easy to develop a plan from this book. I already passed it on to two other people.
great information - but use with caution.......2006-12-14
This book is full of great information on high to prioritize your financial life in terms of debt reduction, retirement saving and other saving. But the advice assumes the reader has a fair amount of discipline (i.e., ability to budget and constrain extraneous spending). The book goes into great detail on how to balance debt reduction with maintaining financial flexibility, maintaining good FICO scores, etc. But far too many people who are deeply in debt (and seeking help from books like this) have a spending habit that needs more drastic surgery than this book gives. So, I would say this book gives outstanding advice, but only for a subset of the public who have the right discipline. For many folks, the more drastic "surgery" advocated by cheerleaders like Dave Ramsey will be more effective.
Thorough unbaised advice.......2006-02-03
I have known Liz Weston for years as a journalist and have always found her to be very thorough and no-nonsense. This book is no exception. It's well researched with unbaised and sensible strategies for dealing with debt. I had the opportunity to interview Liz on my internet radio show EverydayWealthRadio recently about the book and she clearly has great advice on this topic. She addresses things like 401k loan, pros and cons of different types of debt, and the common questions I hear from consumers,
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Service!.......2007-05-10
Excellent service and turnaround time! Would definitely deal with this seller again!
Please get this book!.......2000-03-20
This is an excellent book.
Mr. Young devotes only a few pages of this thick volume to his own opinions, mostly just allowing those alive back in Constitution-making days to speak for themselves about the Second Amendment. And speak they do. Truthfully, I've never read the whole book straight through, but every time I crack it open to some random page I am amazed at the attitudes people had back then. How different from our modern sheep-like mentality, or the version of history we're fed by today's pop culture.
This book ought to be in every public library and on every citizen's bookshelf.
An outstanding collection of primary sources........1997-07-04
The book reprints approximately 500 documents from the period surrounding the introduction and ratification of the Second Amendment. Included are newspaper articles, pamphlets, letters to the editor, debates from the federal Constitutional convention, debates from the state ratifying conventions, and Congressional debates.
Author David Young has brought together, for the first time, all of the original source material regarding what the Second Amendment meant to the nation which enacted it. The book opens in the summer of 1787 with the federal Constitutional Convention debating Congressional powers regarding the militia.
One of the final major documents of the book is a January 29, 1791 article in the Independent Gazetteer (a Philadelphia newspaper), in which the author, who identifies himself only as "A Farmer" warns: "Under every government the dernier [last] resort of the people, is an appeal to the sword; whether to defend themselves against the open attacks of a foreign enemy, or to check the insidious encroachments of domestic foes."
In between the first and last documents are a treasure trove of American history. Leafing through these pages, you encounter the great men who founded our Republic, and whose words speak to us today. Wrote Tench Coxe, James Madison's friend, in the Feb. 20, 1778 Freeman's Journal: "Who are the militia? are they not our selves...Their swords, and ever other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American."
Hear Patrick Henry thundering from the June 5, 1788 Virginia ratifying convention: "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force you are inevitably ruined."
The men who speak to us through The Origin of the Second Amendment harbor no fear that government would interfere with "sporting" guns or hunting. They express the greatest apprehension of select, uniformed military forces, such as the standing army.
As The Origin of the Second Amendment makes unmistakably clear, the great object of the Second Amendment was to preserve liberty by ensuring that the American people would have in their individual hands the weapons with which to resist federal tyranny. The "well-regulated militia" included almost every able-bodied free male.
In addition to collecting an excellent selection of documents, author David Young also provides a good introductory essay summarizing the historical context of the debate and ratification of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as well as an appendix giving the full text of all state Bill of Rights from 1787-89, and a very detailed index.
Besides supplying many hours of pleasure to anyone interested in American history, the book would also make an excellent gift to a local library
Customer Reviews:
(RAW Rating: 4.5) - What is happening to black men?.......2007-08-04
Demico Boothe has explored the reasons so many black men are indeed in prison in, WHY ARE SO MANY BLACK MEN IN PRISON? He begins with his own story of a shaky upbringing and his subsequent dabbling in drug dealing. He was caught with a few grams of crack cocaine but because it was the dreaded crack, he was given 10 years in prison. When he left prison after serving his time, he was actually railroaded back into prison by a crooked justice system. He delves deeply into our justice system and the motives behind all the new prisons that are being built. He gives succinct and reasonable views of exactly what is happening now in the United States and how the past has played a role in the present. He uses persuasive statistics regarding the number of black men in prison as compared to the number of white men who are incarcerated.
Demico Boothe has done an excellent job of researching his subject and it is a plus, if unfortunate for him, that he has actually experienced first hand what he's talking about. I knew I was hearing the real story rather than just statistics from an intellectual who had no real idea of what the prison system is really like. I would have liked for Boothe to search a little deeper into the Haiti, Aristide and USA question, maybe even reading Randall Robinson's take on the situation, and then he might see it a bit differently. Otherwise, it is a good book and one every one in America should read. We indeed, have a crisis going on.
Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Why Are So Many Black Men In Prison? A Comprehensive Account Of How And Why The Prison Industry Has Become A Predatory Entity In.......2007-06-09
The book was very interesting. I learned soooo much about the government and the prison industry. I did some searching independantly to check on the things reported in the book and they are very true. Great Read!! Buy the book.
A Must Read.......2007-05-25
Mr. Demico's book is a must-read for anyone concerned about young African American men. Although I did not agree with every conclusion he reached, Demico's main premises are convincing. As a white woman who teaches mainly students of color, I am always impressed, and often in awe, of those young men who reach college with so much going against them. Demico's books lays bare not only the horrible inequalities of our society, but also the racist attitudes of our political system - - Democrats, Republicans, and most everyone in between.
Why are so many Black Men in Prison?.......2007-05-13
I is a well put together book. He really goes into a lot of detail of how our society is really set up.
Why are so many blacks in prison?.......2007-05-12
I found this book very interesting. As a white devil myself, I had no idea that I was responsible for forcing blacks into committing crimes and then subsequently clogging up the whole "Prison Industrial Complex"(tm). I will try to stop causing this, as I am sure it is creating a LOT of trouble for everyone! Sorry!
It is probably also my fault that young black men dressed in XXXXL clothes overtly threaten me and my family members routinely. Can anyone tell me what I should do to make this not happen?
I imagine it's also my fault that black on white violent crime is WAY higher than white on black violent crime, even though blacks constitute about 12.5% of the population, and whites are about 70%. But since it is impossible for a black to commit a hate crime according to our criminal justice system (since blacks are not under any circumstances racist), statistically, there are more white on black hate crimes. Boothe notes a statistic regarding hate crimes, but he skips the one about interracial violence in general.
In sum, Boothe notes that just about everything blacks do is actually MY fault, because my skin is white. Boothe, I've got a word for you.
Introspection.
Book Description
Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911) is best known for condemning racial segregation in his dissent from Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, when he declared, "Our Constitution is color-blind." But in other judicial decisions—as well as in some areas of his life—Harlan's actions directly contradicted the essence of his famous statement. Similarly, Harlan was called the people's judge for favoring income tax and antitrust laws, yet he also upheld doctrines that benefited large corporations.
Examining these and other puzzles in Harlan's judicial career, Linda Przybyszewski draws on a rich array of previously neglected sources—including the verbatim transcripts of his 1897-98 lectures on constitutional law, his wife's 1915 memoirs, and a compilation of opinions, drawn up by Harlan himself, that he wanted republished. Her thoughtful examination demonstrates how Harlan inherited the traditions of paternalism, nationalism, and religious faith; how he reshaped these traditions in light of his experiences as a lawyer, political candidate, and judge; and how he justified the vision of the law he wrote.
An innovative combination of personal and judicial biography, this book makes an insightful contribution to American constitutional and intellectual history.
Book Description
The best-selling book that sparked a national debate about the class divide in black America
Michael Eric Dyson took America by storm with this provocative exposŽ of the class and generational divide that is tearing black America apart.
"A fascinating journey through black thought, American history and the psyche of an uptight, easily embarrassed, tittering black aristocracy.... Dyson does a brilliant job dissecting and demolishing Cosby's rhetoric."(Newsweek)
"Dyson is best when he vaults from particular Cosby comments into a wide-ranging review of current scholarship on black social issues.... Dyson effectively damns Cosby with his own words.... After this fight, Cosby needs a good cut man." (New York Times Book Review)
"Michael Eric Dyson is an ace rhetorician.... Far from despairing or keeping silent about black issues that feel to many of us like existential riddles, Dyson savors them. He eats them for lunch." (Los Angeles Times)
Customer Reviews:
us or them.......2007-10-16
in mr. dyson's world, every black man who would suggest taking self-responsibility over the things one CAN control, is simply a pawn of the evil white overlord who stands in purposeful oppression of black self-awareness. mr. dyson is a divisive separatist who seeks to promote the 'us against them' mantra that continues to wall us off from one another; from communication; from healing. he carries a great talent for distributing blame.
Dyson never makes excuses, he creates a influence of thought........2007-09-19
I thought the book was great. I don't believe that Dyson makes excuses for the stupid and evil stuff we as black people do. Bill Cosby was out of order in his approach about things. Correction, discipline and rebuking all have there context as to where,when and how it is applied, even the Bible makes this clear. This country is an expert at telling minorities what we do wrong, but a passive novice at what the majority does wrong. Dyson's book only challenges the reader to ask questions to Bill Cosby as to "Why?" Why wait so long to rebuke us? Why wait decades to decide to be a Black Leader, when we could have used you decades earlier? Why do you speak with such bitterness about and towards your on people? People who believe delivery of speech doesn't matter as long as your speaking the truth live on another planet. A person's words should always have balance with their actions. Who are you more likely to listen to and believe? A person who is repeatedly saying "I Love You," while they are stabbing you,or, a person who is repeatedly saying "I Love You," while they are there to discipline you?
Father knows best, even when the spanking hurts........2007-09-07
Someone asked Bill Cosy "How could you be a high-paid comic in the 1960's without using racial stereotypes or vulgarity? What's the secret of your success?"
"I spoke English," said Bill cosby.
I understand that Cosby's "Pound Cake" speech ruffled some feathers, and opened a can of worms, yet it's all true, not just about African Americans. It's about all of us.
Fewer and fewer teens (of both races) have jobs after school or on weekends. I taught in Harlem for two years, and had a stack of job applications in my desk, but none of my students got jobs. They'd fill out the application and never turn it in. Dr. Rudy Crew (former NYC schools chancellor) told me it's the "bling-bling" culture of today; kids can't see the connection between having beautifull things and paying for them. When it comes to teen pregnancy, they can't see the connection with having a child and having to take care of it.
Whites are not without social ills. Instead of trying to be the star student or basketball player, white girls want to be Paris Hilton. Women are making huge accomplishements today in sports, politics, NASA, and even boxing, yet girls would rather emulate a stupid rich bimbo.
I saw the same problems in schools with black AND white kids. Your child won't be a sucess unless you shut off the damn TV, pull the iPods out of their ears, and say "YOU WANT THESE THINGS, YOU"LL WORK FOR THEM!!!!"
A solid argument, but not his best work.......2007-06-02
First, I feel it necessary to state the obvious. The book has a political charge. As a result, some people, indeed some of the people who have 'read' his book will immediately shun his argument because it does not appeal to their own political tastes. This book will cut some people. Yet, in my opinion, any piece of scholarship deserves to be judged on its research and argument, not whether or not you happen to agree with the book. For this reason, I would implore those on the left, the right and the center to at least give the book a chance before judging it.
That said, I do not believe this was one of Dyson's stronger works. The issue is pertinent -- what is the division between upper-class and lower-class blacks, and what is the cause of this division. Fairly, he uses Bill Cosby, a cultural icon as his entry point into his argument. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, he pays too much attention to "Bill Cosby" as opposed to the larger and more important issue of the "black middle class."
Some of his points are valid, and he does a solid job of making a deconstructive argument against Cosby's speeches, as well as demonstrating some of the contradications in his professional career. I also find his notion of the "Afrostcricy" fasinating -- I have used this in my own academic work.
That said, Dyson's work doesn't go into depth regarding any single issue, which is why it does at times seem like he is making excuses for the black underclass. He does not give a comprehensive economic analysis, nor does he trace the history and development of the black middle class as a social category within the United States. Furthermore, while I am no fan of "balance," the failure of Dyson to explore issues of "personal responsibility" in greater depth only adds to the notion that he is making excuses for the black underclass.
But, as a whole, the argument is there, and the book is very accessible. I only wish that Dyson, who is clearly a great public intellectual, would take more time in developing his arguments as opposed to rushing for timeliness, and I also wish he would rely upon theorhetical basis for his arguments more, much like Cornell West. He seems to be drifting too far away from his academic roots, and this, I believe, is taking a toll on his arguments.
Nevertheless, I don't regret buying the book, and I do believe it makes many solid, if not spectacular arguments in defense of the black underclass. I just wish he would spend more time developing his arguments.
Wealthy educated or wealthy undereducated? Choose..........2007-05-18
I think we all should go back and see the movie 'A Soldier's Story', because Bill Cosby's attitude is eeriely similar to that of Sarge who feels a sort of twisted moral obligation to protect the Negro from embarrassment by keeping 'ignorant' Blacks in line. Yes, some of Cosby's depictions of a certain segment of Black society are somewhat accurate. But accurate or not, they were nontheless meanspirited and insulting. I wonder if he would have the nerve to say that at a welfare office in Compton, CA? What bothers me is how he allowed the success of a few overnight Black millionaires to infect him with a case of 'Haterade', if you will allow the expression. But more than that, this books points out a more glaring problem: the struggle for leadership and role models in the Black community. Doctors and lawyers are being supplanted as role models in favor of rappers and pro athletes, this you already know. The issue is how this impacts our culture and our youth(all of them regardless of pedigree). Mr. Dyson brings all the important issues to the forefront. The fact is that as America has become more hedonistic and self indulgent, a segment of Black America has chosen to follow suit reminiscent of the conspicious consumption by White people in the 80's. Many Black youths are in essence telling Cosby and his TV father alter ego, and the Afristocracy, in true Ghetto fashion, 'You can't tell me what to do; you ain't my Daddy'. And realistically speaking, we aren't their daddy. Many of their fathers are in prison now. But we have an obligation to try and teach them some sense. And that's the damnable misery of it all. Whether you agree with Mr. Dyson or not, if you are concerned about where Black America is right now, this book is a must-read.
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Face to Face With God
