Book Description
America's favorite sport has a serious problem. Many of the NFL's top players--including Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Merril Hoge, Ted Johnson, Al Toon, and Wayne Chrebet--have had their careers ended by head injuries. But few realize that most NFL players a
Customer Reviews:
Head Games - Football's Concussion Crisis.......2007-10-06
I had 11 concussions playing football in the 1960's. My last two happened when I was playing for the NY Jets Taxi Squad. They ended my career. "Head Games - Football's Concussion Crisis" has given information
and understanding that I had not known in 40 years. I think every parent should have knowledge about head injuries no matter what sport their children play. "Head Games - Football's Concussion Crisis" is a great way to start.
Fantastic book!.......2007-08-01
This is a fantastic book and a must read for parents, athletic trainers, coaches, and anyone else interested in seeing a summary of the current research on concussions. Nowinski breaks down the complex science into layman's terms and uses LOTS of stories and personal accounts to really drive home the importance of his message without ever taking an alarmist tone. As an athletic trainer, I would highly recommend this book to anyone remotely involved in sports, especially collision sports like football and wrestling.
Eye opening.......2007-02-20
This should be required reading for every clinician that sees patients who have had concussions.
An excellent read.......2007-02-11
As a physician and athlete, I was surprised at how much I didn't know about head injuries! Not only is this book an excellent layman's guide, it is a well-researched and even-handed review of the emerging data on post-concussion disability. Nowinksi has a personal writing style and uses his own experience for credibility and context. He is to be commended!
Great Book ! A must for every parent's bookshelf........2007-02-05
As an emergency medicine physician I found this to be a very entertaining and informative book that should be a mandatory read for all parents, coaches and health care professionals that are assosciated with contact sports .The author related up to date medical thinking in a easy to understand way that will have the majority of physicians thinking "Wow , I didn't know that ! "
I would suggest all parents "force " there sons to read this before playing to really emphasize the difference between "hurt and injured."
Average customer rating:
- Straight Talk from Jesse the Body
- Better than I thought it would be
- I Ain't Got Time to Bleed by Jesse Ventura
- Inspiring Story of True Strength
- Ex-Governance
|
I Ain't Got Time to Bleed: Reworking the Body Politic from the Bottom Up
Jesse Ventura
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Political
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| United States
| Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
State & Local Government
| Government
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Local Government
| Levels of Government
| Political Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Leaders & Leadership
| Political Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Midwest
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Inside the Ropes with Jesse Ventura
ASIN: 0375503323
Release Date: 1999-05-18 |
Amazon.com
"Career politicians are bought and sold," says Jesse Ventura, but "no one owns me. I come with no strings attached." His victory in the Minnesota gubernatorial race was one of the most surprising stories of the 1998 elections; even after he'd served as mayor of his small Minneapolis suburb, few pundits expected that the former pro wrestler, film actor, and radio personality had what it took to win a statewide campaign against two established politicians.
I Ain't Got Time to Bleed takes its title from the best remembered line in Ventura's film debut, the action/horror flick Predator. It's a phrase that neatly encapsulates his rough and tumble approach to political activism. In addition to a look behind the scenes at his campaign, and his stand on the issues affecting his state (particularly tax reform and public education), Ventura also shares with readers his experiences as a member of the U.S. Navy's SEAL program and as a pro wrestler. It's a lively read that's sure to satisfy his established fans and surprise skeptics with its thoughtful approach to politics and civic responsibility.
Book Description
When he left the navy SEALs to become a pro wrestler, the fans knew him as "Jesse, the Body."
When he hosted his hard-hitting KFAN radio talk show, he became "Jesse, the Mouth."
And now that this body-slamming, straight-talking, charismatic hero is masterminding Minnesota's gubernatorial decisions, you'd better start calling him "Jesse, the Mind."
In
I Ain't Got Time to Bleed, Jesse Ventura reveals the secret of his landslide electoral success—with record voter turnout—and maps his innovative strategies for pioneering a new era in American government. In his own inimitable words, he takes on bloated government, career politicians, and apathetic voters, and tells the wildly colorful story of his days as a navy SEAL, his nights in the pro-wrestling ring, and his experiences on radio and in films like Predator and Batman and Robin .
I Ain't Got Time to Bleed is Rocky meets Mr. Smith Goes to Washington—a book that will challenge readers' ideas of traditional government as it introduces them to one of American politics' most ferocious new heroes.
Download Description
In I Ain't Got Time to Bleed, Jesse Ventura reveals the secrets of his landslide electoral success -- with record voter turnout -- end maps his innovative strategies for pioneering a new era in American government. In his own inimitable words, he takes on bloated government, career politicians, and apathetic voters, and tells the wildly colorful story of his days as a navy SEAL, his nights: in the pro-wrestling ring, and his experiences on radio and in films like Predator and Batman and Robin.
Customer Reviews:
Straight Talk from Jesse the Body.......2007-04-29
Jesse the Body had an unconventional career before being a politician, so he's able to take risks in disclosing his background and ideas in a manner very refreshing in today's political arena. Jesse starts with his background in the Navy, moves on to his life as a wrestler, and lastly the motivation behind his entrance into politics. The pop-autobiography shows a few more warts than most in the genre, perhaps due to Ventura's security with his persona and life. All in all it's a very fun ride!
Better than I thought it would be.......2007-01-15
The Jesse Ventura story is an example of the American Dream where an average man can push himself into places that he never would have thought that he would go.
Ventura was a Navy SEAL in Vietnam, then became a professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, radio host, Mayor and then Governor of Minneapolis.
Ventura writes pretty well and tells it the way he thinks it is (which is ok, everyone should have an opinion).
Perhaps the only point that I would like to make is that it appears a very political book - not as in discussing politics (from which he makes some good points) but the rhetoric about not running for President. He mentions it a few times throughout the book, almost as if he wants us to think about him in the role and to start to generate support for the White House bid. It just seemed to me to be a little self-serving. That is a minor point though and could be just my imagination.
All in all, a readable book and worth the time.
I Ain't Got Time to Bleed by Jesse Ventura.......2006-02-05
This work is written in a simple and uncomplicated conversational
style. The author discusses the desirability of raising money
modestly and the judicious use of television time in campaigning.
Governor Ventura is in favor of term limits, legal reform,
low taxes and the consumption tax. The beauty of the consumption
tax is that it penalizes excess consumption and frivolous
purchases. The author would have the government refund budget
surpluses. In addition, people should not be driven off their
land due to increasing tax valuations. New York's Harlem is
becoming unaffordable to people who've lived there for generations.
The author urges us to improve public education and basic
literacy. He asks that we make math/science relevant and
involve parents in the schooling process. Reduced class size
and student work-study programs provide additional enhancements to the learning environment. The internet is a tremendous
tool for learners according to the author.
Ultimately, Americans are pioneers and visionaries. This is our
basic strength as a country. To continue prospering, we should
build upon these strengths.
Inspiring Story of True Strength.......2006-01-18
The title of Jesse Ventura's memoir is taken from his famous line he delivered in the movie Predator. It is a great mantra for a former Navy SEAL, pro-wrestler, and man-of-the-people elected official. Once you get through the first chapter that explains Ventura's views on the issues of the day, the rest is an absorbing, humorous, truthful, and motivating memoir of a true tough guy who can put his money where his mouth is.
Jesse tells all in this memoir. When he was a young man, he worked hard, and played hard. Drinking and sex are included here. My eyebrows went up a few times. It is clear he is not covering anything up in order to look squeaky clean.
Anyone who reads this book will wish there were a million more Jesses holding political office, instead of the Democrat/Republican factory of career politicians who are addicted to power. I never seriously considered the validity or need for a third political party until I read this book.
Ex-Governance.......2005-12-27
All who complain about G. W. Bush, take note.
it's possible that things could be worse:
For instance, suppose "W" had been a boorish stage wrestler, bald of head and great of girth, flat of feet. Of course there are always a number of odd candidates for president, that is to say beyond the normal four or five, probably thousands of others, but most of these others are hapless delusional sorts, nutters, schizophrenics -- exceedingly few of them ever make it onto the ballot. But wait! There was one such, indeed, a bald wrestler, alluded to above, who became, well, not president, but nonetheless the governor of an actual state. No, I'm not making this up--Minnesota was the state. The wrestler's name was Jesse Ventura. You can check for yourself, in case you don't remember--nothing quite like this has happened in this country since Reconstruction.
This wrestler's campaign was mercurial, yet his platform was utterly simple, to the point: "I'm fed up to here with professional politicians and unresponsive government," he would roar. A fresh face he was, something new on the scene. Bald he was, too, yes, but so, too, Dwight Eisenhower and John Glenn and other politicians. But, then too, what ho, a screaming, mugging wrestler? Why, never before-- never! He and his "Reform Party" filled the news, picking up where the politically departed H. Ross Perot (remember him?) had left off. Outspoken, and brutally honest, that's what they said. So refreshingly honest was he, yet also so vain and egotistical that he refused to wear makeup, unlike so many others, and of course he refused a wig, as well, though his bald pate glistened under the television lights. He would never beautify himself! And besides, he wasn't that ugly, all told: One of his political opponents, the disappointing son of the famous Hubert H. Humphrey, was nearly baldheaded, too, and quite weak. Why, that one could barely bench press 100 lbs!!
Mr. Ventura, nicknamed "The Body" during his wrestling days, made short work of them all -- "Body" slammed 'em, you might say---his first real victory (those WWWWWF wrestling competitons are staged, you know).
And, thus, after "The Body" was elected, his celebrity status went way up, all the way up, to his (bald) head. He loved to give colorful interviews. Publicity-seeking wrestler no more, he was everything, now, in the public eye always, and, also, as he liked to suggest, was he ever so attractive to the opposite sex. He even told the women of Minnesota that he didn't wear underwear. (According to exit polls, Munsingwear sales went down in the state that year, while dead-bolt lock sales went accordingly up.) His moment had come, and he knew how to take advantage of it; and, after many years of choreographed stage wrestling, he knew how to get down and dance, too (after a shuffling fashion). Staid old St. Paul became Rap Central, after he and his wrestlemaniacs took over the hoary old governor's mansion, a domicile which during the past century had mainly been occupied by shy public servants of Norwegian extraction, virtually all bearing the truly unpretentious Minnesota surname "Anderson"! Thus taken by storm, none of those in the state who had never before been treated to television wrestling knew exactly what to think of it all, at first. No, they didn't know what to think of the new governor, not in the least, but before long they became embarrassed by him, for he seemed to crave ever more publicity, he fed off it, desperately, like a giant, manic, gluttonous, 275 lb. baby! He tried stunt after stunt! He offered to referee celebrity wrestling matches, and even to Return To The Ring! Why, he wanted to fly fifty feet through the air and go plop onto the wrasslin' mat!! And, what ho, these full-coverage publicity stunts became his prime occupation, for his job soon bored him, he became tired of all the endless confusing mundane details of statecraft and governance, his attention deficit disorder raged, he started to feud with the legislature; and oh, what a terrible, fireworks-filled, WWWWWF Battlestar Galactica that feud became! And yet, somehow, incredibly, he managed all the while to COMPLAIN ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT more bitterly than ever before, as though he were some kook in the street, say, or some Somalian-hating Minneaplolis cab driver crank, with a loud opinion on every subject, who had inhaled too many of his own exhaust fumes. It almost seemed, in this respect, that no one had told him he had actually been elected, and that he was the governor of the very state whose government he was attacking!!
"I'm sick of Me!!!" he as much as said, and the public soon came to agree. They, too, became sick of the bad government.
One year after the election, NO ONE in the whole of Minnesota would admit to having voted for him. This Great Baldheaded No-Underwear Wrasslin' Reform Populist Governor was as UNpopular as Herbert Hoover had ever been during the Great Depression! Rather than taking responsibility for having voted for him, many adults blamed the whole problem of his having ever become governor on the 18-yr-olds who had been given the vote just before the election. Obviously, this argument was unfair-- that is to say, few 18-yr-olds could ever be as immature as "The Body."
Well, the state survived, though barely able to stand against his powerful slams, and though many decent souls did in fact move to Iowa, Wisconsin, Canada, North and South Dakota, while some stoics stayed put and opened their veins in silent protest. Nowadays, no one left alive in Minnesota would even think of voting for him. Why, he couldn't even get himself elected as a dog catcher --too opinionated, and too lazy. He would immediately come out against catching dogs! Not even garbage collector--of Zumbrota!! Why, he can't even publish one of his ego-letters to the editor; not even the New Ulm Daily Journal will have anything to do with him! Not even the poor little Sleepy Eye one-pager! The retired governor couldn't even get in a word in a local retirement home newsletter, not even edgewise!
I guess he'll just have to write another bad ghost book, a sort of sequel to his first. A good title for it? Gee, that's a good question. How's about, "What the (Vulgar Expletives) Is Wrong With This Country?" But to hear him crank off these days, you'll have to go pay him a visit--but beware, he has Rottweilers, and, besides, he, too, like so many others affected by his slammings, has left the state. He's outa-there!!
"Where could he possibly have gone?" you might ask yourself. Whithersoever such a wrasslin' man to wander?
Where, indeed, did he go? Did he go back on wrestling tour, as the "Bad Blood Monster Guv"? Is he now on stage, pummelling flabby fall guy Skip Humphrey, kicking Skip's stomach, and mashing Skip's poor face into the canvas with many a roar and thumping gorilla chest? A revenge match or two? No, no, he threw his back out a couple of years ago, no more flips. Those days are long gone, now. No, THAT didn't happen, and won't, either, but here's the REAL answer:
He went to, I'm not making this up, Harvard, to study, guess what, no, never mind, you'll never guess it, but I'll tell you anyway, and I'm not making this one up, either--GOVERNMENT!!! But at least the authorities make him wear, at the minimum, boxer shorts, before he is allowed on campus. He gets checked daily--the co-eds insist!
And get this, shades of John Quincy Adams and Andrew Johnson--a political comeback! Rumor has it that, due to some confusion of language, Mr. Body wanted to run for Student Body President, but was found to be ineligible--too old, these days!!!
In a certain sense he did reform politics from the bottom up, but the whole bad act never got very far up off the bottom....
Average customer rating:
- You're Not Alone Governor
- Everything I expected
- Philosophy at its practical best
- YES, YOU DO...GET OVER IT!!!!
- Remember, he is doing the best that he can!
|
Do I Stand Alone?: Going to the Mat Against Political Pawns and Media Jackals
Jesse Ventura
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
State & Local Government
| Government
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Practical Politics
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
U.S.
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0743405870 |
Book Description
MUD-SLINGING POLITICIANS, IDEOLOGICAL FANATICS, AND APATHETIC NONVOTERS BEWARE: GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA'S GOT A FEW CHOICE WORDS FOR YOU....
In his first controversial New York Times bestseller, I Ain't Got Time to Bleed, ex-Navy SEAL and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura told the remarkable story of his climb up the Reform Party ladder to the governorship of Minnesota. Now, with jackhammer force and candor, Governor Ventura issues an urgent wake-up call to America -- a resounding indictment of our creeping national cynicism, and how our political system rewards mediocrity while turning a blind eye to accountability.
In Do I Stand Alone? Ventura sternly warns against the danger of expecting too little from our elected officials. He decries the ease with which most Americans surrender their freedoms and apathetically accept a system of governance driven more by pork and patronage than by the best interests of the constituency. He also denounces an irresponsible media, taking them to task for too often confusing fame with notoriety, and for driving the news instead of simply reporting it. And he unabashedly speaks out on today's hot-button issues, including welfare, racism, youth violence, immigration, abortion, campaign finance reform, and gay rights.
Giving us fascinating insights into the future of independent parties, Governor Ventura ushers us deep into the polished corridors of power, exposing the best -- and worst -- of our current crop of political personalities. He offers straightforward, uncompromising profiles of the current presidential candidates, and lays out a workable strategy for bringing our political system -- and its politicians -- back to greatness.
In a forthright, razor-sharp, and entertaining critique, Governor Jesse Ventura has once again thrown down the gauntlet -- challenging today's politicians as well as a disenchanted public to transcend the tired rhetoric and defiantly reclaim the freedom and opportunity that is our American birthright.
Customer Reviews:
You're Not Alone Governor.......2007-01-12
The governor offers an excellent commentary and analysis of local government as well as at the state and federal levels. Does the governor stand alone? No, but I don't see many standing with him either when they know they should.
I would definitely highly recommend this title.
Everything I expected.......2003-10-03
This book (audio) was everything I expected it to be. I had not read anything from Mr. Ventura prior to this experience, although I had watched a couple of his debates. He sounded like he was a man with an idea, and some principal. I listened to the audio version and found that Mr. Ventura is the exact type of politician this country needs more of. I truly hope more people reado or listen to his material and are inspired to hold public offices, it is the last hope of a declining nation.
Philosophy at its practical best.......2003-07-29
I must admit, being the avid reader that I am I did NOT read this book but instead listened to the three-hour audio book as I drove home from a vacation with my wife. I have a lot of collegiate training in the fields of philosophy. Ventura, who is quite impressive with his practical knowledge, is really just applying the laws of logic to political beliefs in his book. In the last quarter of his book (Side 2 of tape 2), he simply goes through the irrelevance of giving "ad hominem" ('to the man') attacks, "ad populum" (to the population) attacks, red herring (irrelevant) arguments and common fallacies of logic used by many in debates. He makes many points, giving examples of each kind of logical fallacy, and when he is finished all I could do was agree with him. I must say, with 7 years of university training in theology/philosophy Ventura is right up there with any famous philosopher. I especially enjoyed his insights on how the news media notoriously twists things around by making invalid points to "prove" something that is really just wrong. I would recommend this to anybody, especially those who are pursing philosophical training.
YES, YOU DO...GET OVER IT!!!!.......2002-12-07
First, I have to say that I did like this book; when I first read it. Honestly, Mr. Ventura's positions are very close to my own and I'm sure I would have voted for him if I'd been in Minnesota.
So if it's not his points that cost him the stars, what did? His attitude. Since his last year and a half in office became a minor disaster, it's only confirmed the hints in this book. Ventura is very much into himself and (like so many other's in our government halls), suprisingly unconcerned with the people. I say this because through anecdote after anecdote, a book on policy (and I believe Ventura COULD have written one if he'd lost the ego) became about what he's done and why he's done it.
Still if you are a libertarian (l or L), there are some great things in here. Of course, they are better said elsewhere (all except for Ventura's deft criticism of republicrat government.) ...
Remember, he is doing the best that he can!.......2002-08-14
Although I currently live in Pennsylvania, I am a proud Minnesotan. Governor Ventura is my governor. However, as a student of political philosophy, it did not even begin to occur to me that Jesse the Body might be Jesse the Brain as well. After ready his book, Do I Stand Alone?, I am not positive what to think.
I enjoyed Do I Stand Alone?. Political science it is not. But, this book does provide an insiders perspective on the workings of Minnesota's and the nation's political machinery. Governor Ventura does an admirable job detailing the media-money monster's hold on America's government, and he makes predictions about where we as a country are headed if things don't change.
Governor Ventura is not an elitist, and his writing is aimed at about a high school level. The text is divided into short sections each headed by a catchy platitude. I found this style and other details of the writing to be ironic, given the author's negativity toward sound bytes and over-simplification.
Jesse Ventura is certainly one of the most interesting politicians in office today, and his ideas are worth the quick read that they are. While buying his book does contribute to his personal wealth, it does not constitute a vote!
Customer Reviews:
A Common Sense Political View.......2004-03-06
Are you sick and tired of whining liberal and conservative fanatics that ridicule everything they don't understand or agree with? Unlike other writers of partisan politics who only offer criticism, Ventura recommends solutions. Once you get past his macho wrestling image, he comes off as an intelligent, well-spoken man with reasonable views of how the world works. Ventura's credentials as a former Navy Seal and Governor give him a realistic view opposed to the myopic view of career politicians who have spent their lives in Washington.
A passionate look at American government.......2003-02-05
In this fascinating little book, Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, sets out to explain the American system of government, warts and all, to the young reader. He starts out with an interesting autobiography, focusing mainly on his political career, and then he launches into an examination of how our system works. Along the way, the reader is treated to many colorful pictures and highly informative sidebars.
Governor Ventura is widely known for his outspokenness, and this book contains quite a few of his opinions. But, in spite of that (or perhaps because of that), this is a great book, a passionate look at American government. If you are looking for an interesting introduction to the American form of government, then I highly recommend this book to you.
Jesse Ventura's passionate primer about American government.......2002-11-24
As the sub-title of "Jesse Ventura Tells It Like It Is," this is a book in which "America's Most Outspoken Governor Speaks out About Government." Now, at first look this title might suggest that Ventura is going to engage in his patented rants about what is wrong with the government. But the book is actually more of a primer about government for young readers, albeit based on Ventura's unique personal experiences in and out of office.
Co-written with journalist and children's author Heron Marquez, this book certainly plays on Ventura's notoriety. The book's introduction starts with a picture of Jesse "The Body" Ventura in action in the wrestling ring and campaigning for governor in jeans, a Timberwolves jacket, and baseball cap. Ventura's explanation for his surprising gubernatorial victory is simple: he had a key issue (returning Minnesota's $4 billion tax surplus to the taxpayers), a pair of "boring" opponents, and an electorate looking for alternatives to the Republicans and Democrats. He also inspired a lot of people to register and vote who had given up on politics or never gotten excited in the first place.
But the main part of this book does not look at Ventura's time in office, but rather at the government itself. In doing so, Ventura's political philosophy comes through: (1) What is Government? traces the development of the concept from family groups forming tribes to the complicated systems that exist today. Clearly Ventura favors the informal governments humans first created to fulfill these needs over the bureaucratic entities that exist today. (2) Freedom and the Constitution tells the story of how the Founding Fathers came to write the Constitution, which is based on the simple idea of freedom, and the Bill of Rights, emphasizing that the latter protects people from too much government. Sidebars in this chapter talking about how the Constitution can be Changed and some of Ventura's dealings with other countries as governor. (3) The Many Levels of Government uses the metaphor of the pyramid to explain how government works on the local, state and federal level. Ventura looks at September 11th and floods as examples of how the different levels of government function in an emergency. (4) Voting and Election Campaigns is the most autobiographical of these chapters, since Ventura talks about his own experiences running for governor and provides some of his most telling critiques of the current system (e.g., "I'll be you dollars to doughnuts, five or every six days are spent on political fund-raising. But if the candidates are raising money, they aren't talking issues"). (5) Cutting up the Pie talks about how we are taxed and what the government does with the money. A side bar allows Ventura to attack Special-Interest Groups, who he believes "control our government today, point-blank, no doubt about it." Consequently, Ventura emphasizes that his independence from such groups allowed him to "govern with no strings attached." (6) What Can Kids Do? elicits a simple answer from Ventura: "Keep them involved."
That last bit is what tips the scales for me with this book, which is certainly not the most informative book on American Government young readers can find. But there is a passion about the subject that Ventura brings and an insistence that people have beliefs and be able to justify them that makes this book, on balance, a good thing. We all know that the percentage of Americans who vote has been in a constant state of decline for decades and we can all tick off on our fingers the reasons why people have become apathetic and disgusted by politics and politicians. If there was one thing Ventura did in his two campaigns, for mayor of St. Louis Park and governor of Minnesota, it was drive up voter participation, and if at the end of his term of office he puts out a book like this get kids interested in politics, then I am all for it. I also appreciate the idea that kids will read this book long before they are eligible to vote.
The back of the book contains some of Ventura's pet political ideas, such as the unicameral legislature, discarding laws that are no longer useful, and reforming property taxes. There is also a list for further reading and useful web sites. My guess is that as time goes by readers will forget the specifics of Ventura's positions, but what they will remember is his passionate insistence that politicians listen to the voice of the people. It might be an elementary lesson, but when you consider the high dropout rate in American politics, it is a lesson worth repeating. We will have to see if Ventura's political legacy endures after he leaves office or if he becomes a political footnote.
Book Description
Prohibition failed once... now it is failing us again.
Provocative essays from peace officers, public officials, scholars, and policy experts analyze our drug laws -- and find they have failed us. Today's war on drugs funds terrorists, undermines justice, corrupts business, and destroys people's lives. Edited by Sheriff Bill Masters, these collected essays -- these voices of dissent -- challenge the core assumptions of what one author calls "our domestic Vietnam," the new prohibition of drugs.
Along with a foreword by Governor Jesse Ventura, The New Prohibition features 21 essays. The writers consist of two retired undercover narcotics officers, a U.S. district judge, a Congressman, a retired mayor who ran a needle exchange program, a lawyer who helped write America's drug laws, and numerous policy leaders from all points along the political spectrum.
Contributors address the relationship between the drug war and terrorism; the impact of drug policy on American business; the ethics of drug policy; the debate over marijuana; and the impact of prohibition on public health, civil liberties, and the right to bear arms. The last five essays discuss various strategies for reform.
In his foreword, Ventura writes, "My mother lived through Prohibition, and she told me that there are obvious similarities between alcohol then and drugs today…" Masters describes how he evolved from a drug warrior to an advocate of reform, a story he continues from his previous book, Drug War Addiction: Notes from the Front Lines of America's #1 Policy Disaster (2001).
The New Prohibition addresses one of the most problematic political issues of our day. As David Borden of the Drug Reform Coordination Network describes in his essay, "Whether the concern is health, safety, criminal justice, foreign policy, pain control, agriculture, civil liberties, housing, education, medical research, the environment, property rights, militarized policing of the borders and in our towns, or the corruption of our police forces and financial institutions, there are few aspects of policy -- or of life --that the drug war doesn't touch in some way."
Each of the essays approaches the problem from a unique perspective:
* Jesse Ventura notes that, because of today's drug war, "gangsters get rich while the government wastes money fighting a losing battle."
* Bill Masters concludes, "The only reason why drugs and crime have expanded to reach every Mayberry village in the country is our blind obedience to misguided laws and police tactics that just do not work. It is time to admit our own folly and stop our addiction to the drug war."
* Richard Mack writes, "In 1982, I was an undercover narcotics officer. I lived within the drug culture for six months. I hated every minute of it." Mack argues the drug war creates "more corruption and a huge black market in which organized crime flourishes and the police state crescendos."
* Joseph McNamara, a former chief of police, laments what he describes as "police drug gangsterism."
* Jack Cole, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, also worked in undercover narcotics. He writes, "I learned firsthand the family-destroying consequences of sending drug users (often mothers and fathers) to jail... I liked some of the people I was working on better than some of the people I was working for..."
* John L. Kane, U.S. District Judge, writes, "[O]ur national drug policy is inconsistent with the nature of justice, abusive of the nature of authority, and ignorant of the compelling force of forgiveness."
* Ron Paul, Congressman from Texas, concludes the drug war creates "[c]riminal gang violence, foreign military intervention, overcrowded prisons, threats to civil liberties, and a staggering waste of both tax dollars and law enforcement resources..."
* Kurt Schmoke, now dean of Howard University School of Law, helped organize a needle exchange program while mayor of Baltimore.
* Eric E. Sterling, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, argues "drug prohibition hurts the business climate, profits, and investor returns."
* Mike Krause and Dave Kopel discuss the foreign policy disaster caused by U.S. drug policies in Mexico and South America.
* Fatema Gunja notes America's drug laws harm race relations, social welfare, and public health.
* Nicolas Eyle describes the destabilizing impacts of the drug war on American neighborhoods.
* John Ross warns gun owners, "As long as we continue redoubling our efforts in the drug war, it will be used as the law-enforcement template for other prohibitions. Guns are at the top of the list."
* Doug Casey writes, "I see drug use as debilitating at best... But destroying liberty isn't an even remotely acceptable method to discourage drug addiction, nor is it very effective."
* Michael Huemer, professor of philosophy, argues that drug prohibition unjustly imprisons drug users.
* Ari Armstrong reviews the links between drugs and terror, and concludes the policies of prohibition are at fault.
* Paul Armentano and Keith Stroup answer the false claims about marijuana made by the Drug Czar's office.
* Jeffrey Miron reviews the difference between the liberal and the libertarian perspective on reforming drug laws.
* Jeffrey A. Singer, a medical doctor, suggests "medicalization" as an alternative to today's drug war.
* Ron Crickenberger describes his arrest for civil disobedience as he protested "a federal government crackdown on medical marijuana clinics."
* Jason P. Sorens outlines how state legislatures can restore states' rights with respect to drug policy.
* David Borden describes the international movement to reform drug laws.
Customer Reviews:
Awful, one-sided review of the war in drugs.......2006-04-15
This is typical legalization dribble from the same folks who bore us to death with their disdain for the truth and twisting of statistics. People who want a much more scholaraly and nuanced view on drug policy should read AN AMERICAN DISEASE by Musto or HEP CATS... (can't remember the author).
I mean, come on, Jesse Ventura is prominently featured in it. Doesn't that say enough?
Very interesting and thought-provoking read.......2004-07-27
I could not let down this book. I received it 2 days ago and have already finish it.
This book deals with the harm and political, economic and social consequences of drug prohibition and the so called 'War on Drugs' in America. What makes this collection of articles and essays particularly compelling is the different perspectives that the several authors bring into the discussion. Among the authors we have law enforcement officers, government officials, political, social and economic writers, medical professionals, philosophers, etc. This diversity of views and approaches helps a lot to understand the many aspects related to drug prohibition. It is also important to mention that several essays are very well documented, with extensive footnotes and references to studies, publications and other documents.
I will recommend this book to any person that wants to take a first approach to this subject and use it as a starting point for further research. This text will also appeal to civil liberties advocates concerned with the fact that such liberties are being eroded every day that current policies continue in place. One author even goes as far as saying that 'drug prohibition and criminalization is the biggest injustice in this country since slavery'. You might not agree with this conclusion, but after finishing this book, you will have trouble denying that the net result of the war on drugs is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a positive one.
Should be in every public library.......2004-05-31
I highly recommend this book.You will be impressed that several of the essays to end drug prohibition are written by members of the Law Enforcement community.The book is written in a style thats similar to the opposing viewpoint series."The New Prohibition" should be in every public library in the country.
Book Description
Jesse Ventura burst into national consciousness—and late-night punch lines—when the former professional wrestler was unexpectedly elected governor of Minnesota in 1998. An overnight political sensation whose only previous relevant experience was a brief period as mayor of a Minneapolis suburb, Ventura became a lightning rod for the media, combining the bravado of a Navy SEAL, the showmanship of a movie actor, and the blunt speech and bluff humor of a talk-radio host with a surprising passion for public policy and legislative reform.
In this revealing chronicle of Jesse Ventura's campaign, election, and time in office, political reporter Tom Hauser tells us what he saw as one of the "media jackals" covering the governor for local television station KSTP. In a saga full of drama, hi-jinks, and controversy, Hauser offers the inside story of the hubbub surrounding Ventura—from his triumphal tour of the late-night talk shows upon his election, to his outspoken and outrageous revelations in Playboy, to his stints as referee for the World Wrestling Federation and commentator for the failed XFL, to his ongoing battles with the state legislature. Hauser also provides insight into Ventura's popularity, character, and motivations—his impatience with conventional wisdom, his distrust of traditional politics, and his combative relationship with the media.
Though to many Ventura seemed to come out of nowhere, Hauser has been following him since the day he filed to run for governor, when he was the underdog in a race against two well-established career politicians, backed by major parties. Hauser offers the only detailed account available of Ventura's amazing rise and reign, providing an evenhanded look at a political story that will leave readers feeling that truth really is stranger than fiction.
Customer Reviews:
Tons of anecdotes and accesible.......2003-01-09
Even if you don't vote, hate wrestling and couldn't care less if Minnesota was part of the United States or not, you'd probably dig this book. It's an engaging read, following Ventura's phenomenal capture of the highest political office in his state from BEFORE day one, and it's filled with anecdotes, lively characters and flashes of endearing humanity. Entertaining enough for even conspiracy theorists. If Ventura didn't exist, the media would have to invent him, he's so engaging, which makes the book soar.
Great Great Great.......2002-11-24
Tom, I hope you keep track of these things! Thought the book was interesting.
Product Description
10 Tracks: 1. He Could be a Factor 2. CJ & Jesse/oil and water 3. Ban the Legislature 4. KAHN! 5. Chainsaw Hasskamp 6. Oklahoma 7. A Governor Armed to the Teeth 8. Southsiders Trip Up North 9. Flygirl 10. And the winner is .... the day after on KFAN
Average customer rating:
- Pathetic and Offensive
- Story had potential, author dropped the ball
- Great writing, interesting and objective take...
- Somewhat Informative
- TERRIBLE!
|
Body Slam: The Jesse Ventura Story
Jake Tapper
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Political
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Midwest
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0312972024 |
Book Description
In every arena, Jesse Ventura puts a headlock on the competition--now he's turning the country on its ear
How did an outrageous, outspoken, boa-wearing pro wrestler nab the title of Minnesota's governor in an overwhelming upset? This is the question the nation is asking--and Washington journalist Jake Tapper provides the fascinating answers. From Jesse Ventura's Navy SEAL days, to his infamous wrestling years, to his stunning political victory, read the story of the Body, a man who truly embodies the American Dream.
Get the real story on:
-His intense training to become an elite Navy SEAL and his experiences overseas during the Vietnam War
-His lengthy career in the pro wrestling field--from flamboyant pro wrestler to colorful commentator--including his feuds with Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon Jr.
-Ventura's acting stints, including a part in the film Predator
-How the Body mouthed his way to the top of shock radio
-His rise through the ranks of politics, from mayor to governor--and maybe beyond
-Ventura's political vision--what he sees for Minnesota and the country
-And Much, much more!
The Body Politic Will Never Be the Same
with 8 pages of amazing photos
Customer Reviews:
Pathetic and Offensive.......2000-07-26
I read this book to get an idea of what the masses are learning about Jesse Ventura. I'm a political science buff in Minnesota and can tell you that this book is a shallow portrayal of our surprisingly complex governor. Poorly written, poorly researched, this book was quickly written for distribution in grocery stores ect. This is not a serious or insightful biography, and should be avoided.
Story had potential, author dropped the ball.......2000-04-27
Unlike other books on the Body, Tapper took the low road with this dull expose. Avoid the book. Period!
Great writing, interesting and objective take..........2000-03-28
Tapper's done a fine job in capturing the "right-place-right-time" that has marked so much of Ventura's life. Using Ventura as an entre to explore the worlds of the Navy SEALs, pro wrestling, talk radio, and action movies, Tapper dissects and explains eccentricities of American culture. A gifted and heralded political correspondent for Salon.com, Tapper's a fine writer; his book on Ventura does not disappoint.
Somewhat Informative.......2000-03-05
This is the first book/first anything I've ordered on-line (I ordered it in December and received it on Christmas Eve). Very prompt and professional service. Anyway, as far as book content, this (the book) wasn't written professionally by any means. It appears to be aimed towards WWF fans with WWF mentality. Or at the very least (and most charitable), young people and/or people who don't have a large vocabulary. It was informative, however, gave a different perspective on "the Body"! The author interviews people who knew Jesse in different stages of his life. Any book or video on Jesse Ventura, whether authorized by him or not, will draw me to it like a magnet! Huge fan, huge follower, agree with much of what he has to say! Having been raised 5 minutes or less from Minnesota, there's a more personal connection for me! :) I highly recommend this book to any fan of Gov. Ventura's!
TERRIBLE!.......1999-12-04
The book's garish, campy cover does justice to the actual content of this schlocky book. Inane, boring, shallow analysis coupled with the low-brow antics of the sleazy Ventura (don't believe the hype, Ventura is a flash in the pan). What compelling book does Tapper have in store for us? Pray we don't find out......
Average customer rating:
|
The Case of the Hollywood Hound (Ace Ventura Chapter Book)
Jesse Leon McCann
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Humorous
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Popular Culture
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Mysteries, Espionage, & Detectives
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0439208629 |
Book Description
It¹s another challenging case for Ace Ventura and his semi-faithful simian sidekick, Spike the wonder monkey. A very special pooch - a puppy who doubles as a Hollywood star - has disappeared. So get out your trench coat and prepare for Hollywood. . . pet detective-style!
Books:
- Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- Holy Bible: King James Version, Complete
- How to Make and Sell Your Own Recording (5th Edition)
- I Am My Brother's Keeper, Journal of a Gunny in Iraq
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Travell & Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual
- New Media Art
- The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline, 3rd Edition
- Tattoos of the Floating World: Ukiyo-E Motifs in Japanese Tattoo
- Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1,500 Years
- The Last Colony
- Paddling Cape Cod: A Coastal Explorer's Guide
- Princess Alice: The Life and Times of Alice Roosevelt Longworth
- Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14, Aeronautics and Space, Pt. 60-139, Revised as of January 1, 2
Heads-Up on Sport Concussion
You're OK, It's Just A Bruise: A Doctor's Sideline Secrets About Pro Football's Most Outrageous Team
Wrestling Babylon: Piledriving Tales of Drugs, Sex, Death, and Scandal
Sports Neuropsychology: Assessment and Management of Traumatic Brain Injury
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Concussion Syndrome: The New Evidence Base for Diagnosis and Treatment (Oxford Workshop Series)
