Book Description
Most people
will be shocked to learn
that in 1933 a cabal of wealthy industrialists—in league with groups like the K.K.K. and the American Liberty League—planned to overthrow the U.S. government in a fascist coup. Their plan was to turn discontented veterans into American “brown shirts,” depose
F.D.R., and stop the New Deal. They clandestinely asked Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Major General Smedley Darlington Butler to become the first American Caesar. He, though, was a true patriot and revealed the plot to journalists and to Congress. In a time when a sitting President has invoked national security to circumvent constitutional checks and balances, this episode puts the spotlight on attacks upon our democracy and the individual courage needed to repel them.
Customer Reviews:
A cautionary tale, and a great American hero.......2007-09-06
After many years of searching for this too-long out-of-print gem, it is finally back. (I bought three copies just to make sure it gets disseminated to those in my own immediate circle.)
The story of Smedley Butler's colorful career as a Marine probably wouldn't have been interesting to me, but it provides a necessary backdrop to the larger story here, and Jules Archer sketches it out with just enough attention to detail so one doesn't get the feeling that major events are being glossed over.
I should say, at times the book feels like it has a "stories for young adults" quality, but don't let that distract (or detract) from the fact that men of influence, wealth and power sought to overthrow Franklin Roosevelt, the PRESIDENT of the United States, in 1932.
You've never heard of such a thing? Well, citizen, THAT'S how powerful the conspirators were! And when the light of inquiry was shone on their traitorous plot, they scurried for cover like cockroaches heading back under a refrigerator, loudly claiming it was all nonsense. A.J. Leibling's dictum about freedom of the press (for those who own them) has rarely been so resoundingly underscored.
So kudos to the publishers of this volume, for resurrecting it for another generation. In the words of researcher Dave Emory, "if you don't study history, the world's a mystery."
Learn Some History.......2007-05-14
Well-researched, authoritative account of Wall Street's attempt to force a coup in 1933 to prevent New Deal policies from taking place. Every American should know this history, and understand the true politics of Wall Street and the "miracle" of the market.
Did It Happen Nov.22, 1963 ?.......2007-05-07
Chilling reading as Jules Archer tells the story of the attempted Wall Street against FDR. Maj. Smedley Butler, a Republican exposed the Morgan - DuPont financed coup aginst the President and the American people before Congress ( the McCormick - Dickstein Committee )and the plot crumpled. But Wall Street has always favored Pro - Business,War Making Regimes, with more than a pinch a racism. Wall Street wanted to remove FDR ( too radical ) or make him a " figurehead " as a front man for a fascist government. The Military - Industrial Complex succeeded on November 22, 1963, with the murder of John Kennedy. Howard Hunt's recent " confession " should awaken all Americans to the danger just around the corner. The LBJ regime wasn't racist, just the opposite, but starting with Nixon, are old ways are creeping back. "War is a Racket " - Smedley Butler. He should know,he says that he, as a U.S. military officer, was a gangster for Capitalism and Wall Street. Lets defeat facism again, this time at home !
One of the greatest conspiracies of all time.......2007-03-08
Who knows what the world would have been like if this conspiracy had succeeded. We might have never declared war against the Axis (Japan/Germany/Italy) powers in World War II. As Joseph Schumpeter writes in the book Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy: The political world consists of a series of short-run events that can change the course of history...The idea that good always triumphs over evil is one of those happy falsehoods. All patriots need to be vigilant!
One of the most important books you will ever read!.......2007-03-04
Excellent attractive and inexpensively priced paperback edition of the Jules Archer classic. It is terrific to have this wonderful book back in print again! The book tells the shocking true story of how United States Marine Corps Major General Smedley Darlington Butler was the savior of our Republic from a fascist plot by Wall Street plutocratic militarists in the early 1930s. Author Jules Archer is featured in The History Channel documentary, The Plot To Overthrow FDR, a concise summary of this exceptional book.
For more on Butler and the attempted 1930's fascist coup d'etat against FDR, see my Amazon.com Listmania! book and video list, Smedley Darlington Butler.
Customer Reviews:
Talk about a Big Yawn!.......2007-09-09
This book was very boring after the first few chapters. There is nothing specail about the plot, characters, or writing. It sounds like every other dragon novel out there. It has very poor writing and keeps your intrest for only a few minutes. I would not reccomend this book to anyone.
White Wyrm not a great read.......2007-05-14
This book is a slow, difficult to maintain read that "builds" to a non-climactic unfulfilling ending. Save this one until you are scrounging for the very last Drangonlance or Forgotten Realms books that you still haven't read.
A look into a not-often-explored corner of Krynn.......2007-05-07
The bulk of this book dealt with a group of dragonhunters - Dragonbane. This group has been featured in a few of the anthologies published in the past few years but for the first time ever, they get the chance to shine in the spotlight. The writing itself is brisk and moves the plot along nicely. Hats off the author who manages to imbue his tale with a great sense of continuity by referencing events that are simultaneously occurring in the world of Krynn. A good example of this was the reference to events happening in "Price of Courage." While almost all the characters are affiliated with Dragonbane, it would have been nice if the author would expanded more on the mythology of the group. Several hints were dropped to tease the readers about the inner workings of the group but were not followed up in the story. Plotwise, I have to say that this was one of the recent Dragonlance novels that kept me interested from beginning to the end. I was quite invested in knowing what would become of the protagonist and the group. Furthermore, the introduction of a new subtype of dragon was interesting to say the least. There are many allusions to Moby Dick; however, such symbolisms and meditations do not work as effectively in the Dragonlance universe when magic is more involved than obsession. Of the three books in the Champions series so far, this might not be the best (Lucien Soulban's The Alien Sea remains firmly in that spot) but it is definitely a worthwhile entry into the world and mythology of Dragonlance.
borrowed plot line...bleh.......2007-04-09
The plot line of the Great White Wyrm might be decent...if it wasn't almost the exact same plot as Moby Dick with the exact same themes. Turn a the dragon into a whale and it's almost the same story with a few fantasy twists.
The characters aren't very developed either. Most of the elves on the crew are just names thrown at you, and have just as much depth as Aeneas' dead friends in the Aeneid; which isn't very much.
Another thing that annoys me are the cheesy plot twists that pop out of nowhere. Characters and information pop out in just the right time to help the main characters in a sticky situation,characters who know exactly everything that's going on and why, then are never mentioned again.
And don't even get me started on the romance. The forbidden elf-human love that appears screams Tolkien, and he did it a lot better. Problem with it in this book is, the love doesn't develop. It's just there as a side detail, it's just thrown in so the author can check 'forbidden romance' off his list of story elements and move on, not to mention the dialogue is completely cheese.
There's also a lot of overplayed destiny. Don't hold your breath for the role Ayshe ends up playing, it's really not that thrilling. It's only toward the end where the important prophecies turn up, and by then they're as lame as the helper characters that keep randomly appearing. In other words, the foreshadowing is in all the wrong places.
So if you want a story with a borrowed plotline, underdeveloped characters, has plot twists and cheese that are so lame they make you want to burn the friggin' thing, and great cover art, this is the book for you.
Solid Dragonlance novel.......2007-04-07
The Great White Wyrm by Peter Archer is the third book in a series of stand alone novels titled The Champions. The first book is Saving Solace by Douglas W. Clark and the second is Alien Sea by Lucien Soulban. Each novel in this series can be read in any order and no previous knowledge of the Dragonlance setting is needed. Of course, if you have previous knowledge then there are some things in this book that will be little nuggets for you. If you are looking to see if the Dragonlance universe is of any interest to you, this Champions series may be a good test run.
The plot of this book, at last on the surface, is rather linear and fairly one dimensional. It's a story of a group of adventurers who have been hunting a White Dragon for years and the story of how their determination pays off and the consequences of that hunt. However, after finishing the novel I have come to realize that this book is not as simplistic as it is first made out to be, in fact I think Mr. Archer put a great deal of thought into what he wanted to accomplish. The story is also about determination, revenge, and how having a single eye on something and thinking of little else can, in the end, be a detriment and hinder other choices. With all things considered, this book has a different `feel' than most Dragonlance books. There are still elves, dwarfs, dragons etc., but rarely do you read about this level of revenge and other things within the pages. I would go into more detail, but I fear that would create spoilers - and I would hate to do that. Suffice to say, this is a very solid plot and much deeper than I expected.
The characters in this book are a little different than traditional Dragonlance characters. There is a dwarf, Ayshe, who is not the cliché ridden dwarf. Meaning, he is not a crass, ale drinking character who hates the world. There are also elves that do not follow the traditional clichés either. In fact, the entire boat is run mostly by elves. To my knowledge, there are not many sea faring elves. There are a couple elves that are developed in this book, as well as the dwarf and a human. All members of the boat and the quest to hunt the White Wyrm. The character development in this book does not seem to be the most pressing issue for the author. While there is some, the amount of it doesn't seem to do the characters justice. In fact, the development in this book is really just revealing of motives and reasons not real progression of the characters. However, that fits with the feel of this book and seems right. Yet, if you are looking for a character driven book - this may not be the right one for you.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had an easy flow to it and had a good solid plot. If I had to say one thing I would have changed it would be adding a little more depth to the characters. Developing them just a little more. While this book is set in the Dragonlance universe, it could easily be set in any number of fantasy settings and be equally as good. I think fans of Dragonlance and fantasy in general will enjoy this book. It's one I would not hesitate to recommend.
Average customer rating:
- Rich descriptions, adventure, humor - can't beat it.
- Of another time
- Great Stuff!
- Thank you Louis Lamour
- Never drags-lots of excitement- great YA or even older book
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The White Company (Books of Wonder)
Arthur Conan Doyle
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
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Similar Items:
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The Black Arrow
-
The Mysterious Island (Modern Library Classics)
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Sir Nigel: Boyhood of the Commander of the White Company
-
Robin Hood (Robin Hood Juv CL)
-
Exploits and Adventures of Brigadier Gerard (New York Review Books Classics)
ASIN: 0688078176
Release Date: 1988-05-20 |
Book Description
Afterword by Peter Glassman. Young Alleyne Edricson journeys to France in 1366 to join the White Company, a bold band of archers, and is swept into a series of exciting adventures. Written by the creator of Sherlock Holmes and illustrated by one of America's most distinguished artists, this lavishly illustrated deluxe gift edition is available once again. A Books of Wonder Classic.
Customer Reviews:
Rich descriptions, adventure, humor - can't beat it........2007-06-03
Each poetically descriptive sentence is as a brushstroke that paints a colorful, lively picture of the scenery, landscape, characters, and events. You can picture everything very vividly in your mind. The characaters were each unique and fascinating. The story unfolded quite differently than I would have expected for a book about a war. It was a beautifully constructed story; an education about chivalry and how wars used to be fought. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book, and hope to re-read it in the future.
Of another time.......2007-03-08
An 18th century author writing about the dark ages. It reads more like incidents within a narrative rather than a single story. I found the ending abrupt and not credible. I expected more of the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Great Stuff!.......2006-09-05
I loved this book as a kid, and found new depths to it when I came back to it as an adult. A must-read! The breadth of imagination and the color and vividness of the descriptions are hard to match, and the characters are memorable -- Samkin Aylward the master-archer is my favorite.
Thank you Louis Lamour .......2006-05-23
I discovered the White Company while reading Louis Lamour's "Education of A Wondering Man". It was included in Lamours reading list from the 1930's. On a lark i checked it out.
What a gem this book is! I simply could not put it down. The language, the characters, the history and the humor simply crackle off the pages.
If you have a son, here's your next gift.
Never drags-lots of excitement- great YA or even older book.......2006-04-28
I can't remember how I happened on this book- probably Amazon herded me to it- but I'm quite glad. I'm more of a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories, but I found this as enjoyable as The Black Arrow or Robin Hood or any other medieval book that I've read, and I'd never even heard of it before. The protagonist is a young man raised at the monastery who joins a band of rough but good hearted archers and follows their exploits as they head to war in France and Spain. The old agnostic (Doyle) weaves in more respect for the Catholic church than one usually sees from so-called church leaders today, combined with some common sense insights of true morality. For Doyle chivalry not only is not dead, it'll cut off the head of anyone who says otherwise. In other words, a man's word was worth something, and a man's actions were worth even more. Lots of swordplay, a little (very little) romance, some interesting and well developed characters, and an undercurrent of humor. Not as clever as the Holmes books, but a lot more action, and one learns a little English history at the same time. I'd highly, highly recommend it for kids, or anyone really, and I am amazed that it's fallen through the cracks to this point- at least for me.
Amazon.com
"The FBI was ready to take down America's most politically powerful corporation. But there was one thing they didn't count on."
So reads the cover of this high-powered true crime story, an accurate teaser to a bizarre financial scandal with more plot twists than a John Grisham novel. In 1992 the FBI stumbled upon Mark Whitacre, a top executive at the Archer Daniels Midland corporation who was willing to act as a government witness to a vast international price-fixing conspiracy. ADM, which advertises itself as "The Supermarket to the World," processes grains and other farm staples into oils, flours, and fibers for products that fill America's shelves, from Jell-O pudding to StarKist tuna. The company's chairman and chief executive, Dwayne Andreas, was so influential that he introduced Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev, and it was his maneuvering that ensured that high fructose corn syrup would replace sugar in most foods (ever wondered why Coke and Pepsi don't taste quite like they used to?). There were two mottoes at ADM: "The competitors are our friends, and the customers are our enemies" and "We know when we're lying." And lie they did. With the help of Whitacre, the FBI made hundreds of tapes and videos of ADM executives making price-fixing deals with their corrivals from Japan, Korea, and Canada, all while drinking coffee and laughing about their crimes. The tapes should have cinched the case, but there was one problem: Their star witness was manipulative, deceitful, and unstable. Nothing was as it seemed, and the investigation into one of the most astounding white-collar crime cases in history had only just begun.
Kurt Eichenwald, an investigative reporter, covered the story for The New York Times and interviewed more than 100 participants in the case. He methodically records the six-year investigation, leaving no plot twist or tape transcript unexplored. While his primary focus is on deconstructing the disturbed Whitacre and revealing the malleability of truth, the portrait of ADM (and even the Justice Department) is damning enough to make anyone a cynic. --Lesley Reed
Book Description
From an award-winning New York Times investigative reporter comes an outrageous story of greed, corruption, and conspiracy--which left the FBI and Justice Department counting on the cooperation of one man . . .
It was one of the FBI's biggest secrets: a senior executive with America's most politically powerful corporation, Archer Daniels Midland, had become a confidential government witness, secretly recording a vast criminal conspiracy spanning five continents. Mark Whitacre, the promising golden boy of ADM, had put his career and family at risk to wear a wire and deceive his friends and colleagues. Using Whitacre and a small team of agents to tap into the secrets at ADM, the FBI discovered the company's scheme to steal millions of dollars from its own customers.
But as the FBI and federal prosecutors closed in on ADM, using stakeouts, wiretaps, and secret recordings of illegal meetings around the world, they suddenly found that everything was not all that it appeared. At the same time Whitacre was cooperating with the Feds while playing the role of loyal company man, he had his own
agenda he kept hidden from everyone around him--his wife, his lawyer, even the FBI agents who had come to trust him with the case they had put their careers on the line for. Whitacre became sucked into his own world of James Bond antics, imperiling the criminal case and creating a web of deceit that left the FBI and prosecutors uncertain where the lies stopped and the truth began.
In this gripping account unfolds one of the most captivating and bizarre tales in the history of the FBI and corporate America. Meticulously researched and richly told by New York Times senior writer Kurt Eichenwald,
The Informant re-creates the drama of the story, beginning with the secret recordings, stakeouts, and interviews with suspects and witnesses to the power struggles within ADM and its board--including the high-profile chairman Dwayne Andreas, F. Ross Johnson, and Brian Mulroney--to the big-gun Washington lawyers hired by ADM and on up through the ranks of the Justice Department to FBI Director Louis Freeh and Attorney General Janet Reno.
A page-turning real-life thriller that features deadpan FBI agents, crooked executives, idealistic lawyers, and shady witnesses with an addiction to intrigue,
The Informant tells an important and compelling story of power and betrayal in America
Customer Reviews:
Gripping narrative of FBI investigation.......2007-08-30
After reading the first few chapters of "The Informant" by Kurt Eichenwald, I could not put this book down. Eichenwald should be commended for maintaining a thrilling narrative that offers incredible insights into corporate crime, the workings of the U.S. judicial system, and the psychology of a disturbed individual.
That person, Mark Whitacre, a former Archer-Daniels-Midland executive, was by all prior accounts a talented rising star at ADM, the politically powerful Fortune 500 food processing company bearing the slogan "Supermarket to the world."
Whitacre was in charge of a billion-dollar business at the company, but decided to become an FBI informant who secretly recorded meetings among ADM and its competitors in which they plotted a multibillion-dollar price-fixing scheme that ensnared several multinational companies.
The FBI at first considered Whitacre a star cooperating witness, but gradually began to worry that its investigation would fall apart as Whitacre began to demonstrate all kinds of erratic behavior (I don't want to give away too much of the story--Eichenwald does a great job of adding new details and twists that are very compelling).
Eichenwald also details all the turf battles and power plays among the FBI, U.S. Attorney's office, and the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust and antifraud divisions.
I only wish there could have been more details about the behind-the-scenes efforts by ADM's lawyers to derail the case, but I'm sure those accounts will never become public. I was also curious about the reaction among ADM's customers, who were getting totally exploited by the company and its "competitors." Great book, overall.
Better than Fiction.......2007-08-07
My review may not be needed - since the "Informant" has already received many positive reviews. However, I do need to echo that the truth is often stranger than ficiton.
The story of "The Informant" could not have been invented through imagination... the author would have believed that the plot was too much of a stretch from reality and would have been unbelievable. Kurt Eichenwald has weaved together a very intelligent and informative read on the dangers of slippery slopes of lying and disception.
Back to the book- I highly recommend "The Informant" to lovers of non-ficition and those who enjoy John Grisham style novels (although Eichenwald style is superiot to Grisham's). You have crime, disception, cheating, and all of the other elements of a great crime novel....just remember that this one actually happened! Clearly a 5 star read.
Eichenwald is great.......2007-02-18
This is the second book I've read by Eichenwald (Conspiracy of Fools being the other) and I thought they were each fantastic.
Could not put it down!! ADDICTIVE!!.......2007-02-07
Well-written. I'm not a business major nor a businessman, but this was an easy read for me. I really loved reading this book. Of particular interest is a scene when FBI agent Hoyt talks to his hard-working, average Joe brother-in-law. In this scene, you will realize how this white collar crime affects the average person, like you and me. His research was incredibly thorough. I can't say enough about this book. It's well-written, thorough, and it's all true. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Like a Grisholm novel...but true.......2007-01-12
I dreaded reading this because it's long and the type is small. However, once I started it, I couldn't put it down. The story is astounding, made more so because it's true. It reads like a Grisholm novel. I remember the story when it happened, and learning the details made it even more fascinating.
Book Description
This spirited account of the exploits of a crew of Saxon archers during the Hundred Years War features cameo appearances by historical figures such as Edward III and the Black Prince. Flavorful and realistic in its depictions of medieval life, the novel combines the excitement of a rugged adventure with the romance of chivalry.
Average customer rating:
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The White Archer
James Houston
Manufacturer: Harcourt Brace & World
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GO4X3A |
Average customer rating:
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The White Archer: An Inuit-Eskimo Legend (Voyager/Hbj Book)
James Houston
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0156962241 |
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Adversaries & Allies
White Silver Publishing
Manufacturer: White Silver Publishing
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 142432212X
Release Date: 2007-03-12 |
Product Description
NPC, Monster, and other supplement book
Average customer rating:
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Black and White Skin Diseases: An Atlas and Text
Clive B. Archer , and
Stuart J. Robertson
Manufacturer: Blackwell Science
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0632025298 |
Books:
- The Prince (Bantam Classics)
- The Road
- The Sugar Solution: Weight Gain? Memory Lapses? Mood Swings? Fatigue? Your Symptoms Are Real - And Your Solution is Here
- The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
- The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Series #1)
- This Moment on Earth: Today's New Environmentalists and Their Vision for the Future
- Toxic In-Laws: Loving Strategies for Protecting Your Marriage
- Travels in a Stone Canoe: The Return to the Wisdomkeepers
- Two's Enough Three's A Crowd
- USMLE Step 1 Secrets: Questions You Will Be Asked on USMLE Step 1
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