Going Up the River: Travels in a Prison Nation

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One informative and great read.

Very Insighful

Timely and informative

There's a World Out There We Don't Know About

I learned a LOT from this book...

Going Up the River: Travels in a Prison Nation
Joseph Hallinan
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Worse than Slavery: Parchman Farm and the Ordeal of Jim Crow Justice

Gates of Injustice: The Crisis in America's Prisons (Prentice Hall Paperback)

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ASIN: 0812968441
Release Date: 2003-07-08

Amazon.com

Imagine a prison built "not because it was needed but because it was wanted--by politicians who thought it would bring them votes, by voters who hoped it would bring them jobs, and by a corrections establishment that no longer believed in correction." In exploring America's prison system--a system that holds more inmates than any other country in the world--Joseph Hallinan discovered that crime was big business. Further, he writes, "Few people complain. Prisons are tremendous public works projects, throwing off money as a wet dog throws off water."

In Going up the River, Hallinan comprehensively chronicles America's prisons, investigating how prison authority has passed from hard-nosed wardens to the federal court system, a change that simultaneously improved the treatment of prisoners while making inmate rehabilitation and safety more difficult to attain. He also addresses the prison boom: facilities quickly built for economic reasons, resulting in poor prison conditions and a system "so lucrative its founders have become rich men." This immense financial gain is ironically juxtaposed with the fact that most people view prisons as a terrible waste of money.

Hallinan also relays the stories of current wardens, guards, inmates, and even townspeople living in the shadow of a prison. He also focuses on the many challenges prisoners face, including gangs, fighting, and rape, as well as the sensitivity of controversial issues such as conjugal visits. The book makes obvious that America's prison system is in disarray, though neither the source nor the solution can be easily isolated. Hallinan does not offer answers or personal opinions; instead, he presents all angles and leaves the reader to consideration. --Jacque Holthusen

Book Description

The American prison system has grown tenfold in thirty years, while crime rates have been relatively flat: 2 million people are behind bars on any given day, more prisoners than in any other country in the world — half a million more than in Communist China, and the largest prison expansion the world has ever known. In Going Up The River, Joseph Hallinan gets to the heart of America’s biggest growth industry, a self-perpetuating prison-industrial complex that has become entrenched without public awareness, much less voter consent. He answers, in an extraordinary way, the essential question: What, in human terms, is the price we pay? He has looked for answers to that question in every corner of the “prison nation,” a world far off the media grid — the America of struggling towns and cities left behind by the information age and desperate for jobs and money. Hallinan shows why the more prisons we build, the more prisoners we create, placating everyone at the expense of the voiceless prisoners, who together make up one of the largest migrations in our nation’s history.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

One informative and great read........2007-07-28

Joseph Hallinan's book manages to be even handed in examining the prison culture and industry in our nation. Instead of taking a tempting tangent into the sociopolitical realm, Hallinan for the most part stays true to his investigative roots. While some of the material may not be new to those that have studied criminology or sociology, there is enough meat in the book to satisfy those in that arena. Hallian does a difficult task of informing the uninitiated as well as giving those within the aforementioned disciples something to chew on. With respect to building our way (prisons) as a means for a more effective criminal justice system, we may very well be beyond the point of no return. Hallinan's book only underscores the pandering and lack of true political will that has led to our prison nation.

Very Insighful.......2007-03-11

This is a very well written, insightful text on our "prison industrial complex." As a corrections professional, I am quite skeptical of the constant onslaught of prison-bashing books, citing the various incompetencies and underlying corruption inherent in many departments of correction. Hallinen's writing style makes for an easy read, almost like reading a novel. The book is full of personal interest stories and minimizes the use of statistics. I recommend this book to anyone interested in corrections, and certainly to policy-makers at the state level.

Timely and informative.......2006-11-02

Reads like a novel. As the United States becomes more and more of a prison nation, exporting the culture of incarceration around the globe, prison studies should become a bonafide topic of study in colleges and even high schools, and this inside glimpse should be one of the assigned readings.

There's a World Out There We Don't Know About.......2006-06-20

To me this book is sort of a Prisons 101 type book. For those of us who , fortunately, don't know much about the current prison system in the US it is very eye opening. For instance, I had no idea how many private prisons there are and how they have become an industry. We have reached the point that there are many people in the US with a vested economic interest in locking up more of 'em and keeping 'em there. Also, the author visits several prisons in small white rural towns with mostly black and Hispanic prisoners. Here again the prisons are about jobs in the community rather than rehabilitating prisoners ( Great line in the book, someone says rehabilitation doesn't work because you cannot rehabilitate someone who has never been habilitated ).

I was somewhat disappointed that the author, after having documented a lot of real world situations, didn't have any more suggestions for improving the whole mess. The book just sort of ended with the author saying he saw only a couple of approaches that boded well for the future. Left me somewhat depressed with it all.

I learned a LOT from this book..........2005-11-09

Fascinating book about the history, the sociology, conditions, traditions, etc. on US prisons. Very, very interesting. The author is a self-professed 'prison buff.'

I learned an awful lot from this book. I didn't realize how big of an industry prison actually is. Inmates make everything from the stereotypical license plate to clothing for regular people! Industries sometimes fight to have their business put in a prison. Food and toiletry industries, among others, compete for the prisons' business. And I was completely not aware of the fact that there are PRIVATE prisons in the US. Private prisons, not run by the state or the government, prisons that are there to make people money. Convicts are now a business. Amazing what this world has come to.

There Is a River: The Black Struggle for Freedom in America

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Scholarly Work
A must for anyone organizing against oppression of any kind

There Is a River: The Black Struggle for Freedom in America
Vincent Harding
Manufacturer: Harvest/HBJ Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0156890895

Book Description

From an unflinchingly black perspective, Harding writes of the struggle of heroic African americans to achieve freedom from slavery. Index; photographs.

Customer Reviews:

Scholarly Work.......2007-10-05

I purchased my first copy of There Is a River over two decades ago. I read, underlined, and wrote notes along the margins of almost every page, and purchased other books from Mr. Harding's extensive resource list. I couldn't get enough of this phenomenal text, so I read it several more times. Over the years, I purchased copies for my sons, and most recently, for one of my former students. This book truly is a must-read and it should be owned by every Black family in America. There is indeed a river! Thank you Vincent Harding.

A must for anyone organizing against oppression of any kind.......2000-12-17

Vincent Harding has introduced to us a well researched and well presented picture of the opposing forces to America's economic system based on slave and cheap labor. He chronicles the parallel between the systems of oppression and the systems of resistance against oppression. The River of resistance will forever run through a society where opportunity is squelched by the formation of inequality.

He removes the fictionalized view of the plantation and the relationship between master and slave and replaces it with documented reality.

Where there is oppression there is resistance to that oppression. This reality has been lost in the Hollywood depictions of slave uprisings, and the "run away slave". It is made clear that Harriet Tubman did not "run away" she was part of a well thought out and masterful organized effort to abolish slavery. There are many well researched and documented instances of organized resistance as well as individual acts of rebellion. These make up the river of resistance that flowed and continues to flow in the presence of human bigotry and oppression. This is a must read for individuals and groups of all races, cultures and nationalities who want to understand their own motives and actions against economic and social tyranny in America and abroad. Mr. Harding makes it quite clear that there are well thought out schemes and timing which are present with both the oppressor and those resisting and overturning oppression.

Customer Reviews:

Freedom River.......2002-10-16

Doreen Rapport Freedom River; Illustration by Bryan Collier
14pp. ISBN 0-7868-0350-9.-ISBN 0-7868-1229-X (pbk.).-ISBN 0-7868-229-0 (lib.bdg.)
(Intermediate)

Freedom River is a true story, about getting from Kentucky to the free state Ohio. John Parker a former slave, and now a businessman of Ripely Ohio. John then helps a couple and their child escape being slaves to freedom. The freeing of these salves is taken place through out the year. Both the author and the illustrator work wonderfully together to make this book seem real. The text clearly goes along with the pictures. The illustration is remarkable, the pictures look like photographs. Bryan Collier uses a different technique for his illustrations, it looks as if the pictures are pieces of a puzzle arranged together. As you begin to read this book look closely at the faces of the people, you will see wavy lines, these lines represent the Ohio River. The color schemes really put things in perspective also, they are realistic colors. Through out this book, Doreen Rapport uses short phrases to describe the event that is taking place: Run. Run, Row. Row, Listen. Listen, Wait. Wait, Closer. Louder, Crawl. Crawl. This gives the reader insight to what is going on in the picture by just two word phrases. Another author that does this same technique is Under the Quilt of Night by Deborah Hopkinson. The ending of this story is really surprising, I but when thought about it makes sense. This book is just not about the freeing of slaves, but it is about doing what is right in life, helping others out. I recommend this book to adults and children in the intermediate level. An interesting addition to the end of the story is a historical note which explains in great detail about the life of John Parker.

Freedom River.......2002-10-16

Doreen Rapport Freedom River; Illustration by Bryan Collier
14pp. ISBN 0-7868-0350-9.-ISBN 0-7868-1229-X (pbk.).-ISBN 0-7868-229-0 (lib.bdg.)
(Intermediate)

Worthy of a rating of more than 5 stars.......2001-11-16

In the book, A Freedom River, the writing of Doreen Rappaport along with the illustrations of Bryan Collier together create a stunning retelling of one particular trip on the Underground Railroad. This is the story of a slave family escaping from the slave state of Kentucky to the free state of Ohio.
The book's uniqueness lies not in its topic, but rather in the characters. John Parker, this true story's hero, was not only a conductor on the Underground Railroad, but also an accomplished businessman from Ripley, Ohio. He was born a slave and worked to buy his freedom. He owned his own foundry, and employed both black and white individuals from both Ohio and Kentucky. He helped to make this book unique because he is not a well known conductor, but his impact on the Underground Railroad was just as great. It is said that he helped over 900 slaves escape to freedom during his lifetime.
A Freedom River draws the reader into the experience of the Underground Railroad. It masterfully pulls forth every imaginable emotion, as the characters must make choices that may end in the separation of families, death or freedom. The pace of the book along with large, bold directives, such as RUN, CRAWL, and LISTEN, create a feeling of breathlessness, much as if the reader too, were running for freedom.
The illustrations work hand in hand with the written word in order to create the overall experience of the book. The multi-textured collages with realistic faces add emotion and dept to the story. Wavy lives found throughout the illustrations deeply symbolize the river and its importance in the search for freedom.
This is a beautiful book and worthy of a rating of more than five stars. It could be successfully used with children from 1st to 6th grade. It is an excellent book for introducing and further understanding the Underground Railroad.

A Powerful, Inspiring Story.......2001-05-16

Before the Civil War, Kentucky was a slave state. But just 1000 feet across the Ohio River, Ohio was a free state. John Parker, was as a conductor on the Underground Railroad and helped hundreds of slaves cross that river to freedom. John was a unique individual, an ex-slave who learned to read and write and was able to buy his freedom and a successful Ohio businessman who employed both black and white workers. But he never forgot his slave roots and the terrible pain of being separated from his mother and sold when he was eight years old. Because of this, he risked and devoted his own life to helping slaves escape to safety in Ohio. Freedom River tells the story of one of John Parker's trips to Kentucky to rescue a family of three..... Doreen Rappaport has written a powerful and inspiring story of the courage and determination of one man to right the wrongs of slavery. Her eloquent text makes John Parker and this story come alive and is complimented by Bryan Collier's vivid illustrations that add a real sense of drama and urgency. Perfect for children 8-12, Freedom River is a wonderful introduction to the Underground Railroad and includes historical notes to enhance the story and augment discussion.

An Historical & Artistic Treasure.......2001-02-01

There are many retellings of those who risked their lives to free slaves, but this is surely one of the best. Parker would certainly be proud to have his story told with such fluid, yet vivid, text. Collier's illustrations are poignant, and his explanation of the symbolism he depicts adds an extra layer of richness to this treasure. This book is so much more than a biography. Enjoy it with the special children in your lives.

Cannibal Island: Death in a Siberian Gulag (Human Rights and Crimes against Humanity)

Average customer rating:

An interesting glimpse into the 'second' Gulag
Powerful. Incredible. The holocaust at Cannibal Island.

Cannibal Island: Death in a Siberian Gulag (Human Rights and Crimes against Humanity)
Nicolas Werth
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0691130833

Book Description

During the spring of 1933, Stalin's police rounded up nearly one hundred thousand people as part of the Soviet regime's "cleansing" of Moscow and Leningrad and deported them to Siberia. Many of the victims were sent to labor camps, but ten thousand of them were dumped in a remote wasteland and left to fend for themselves. Cannibal Island reveals the shocking, grisly truth about their fate.

These people were abandoned on the island of Nazino without food or shelter. Left there to starve and to die, they eventually began to eat each other. Nicolas Werth, a French historian of the Soviet era, reconstructs their gruesome final days using rare archival material from deep inside the Stalinist vaults. Werth skillfully weaves this episode into a broader story about the Soviet frenzy in the 1930s to purge society of all those deemed to be unfit. For Stalin, these undesirables included criminals, opponents of forced collectivization, vagabonds, gypsies, even entire groups in Soviet society such as the "kulaks" and their families. Werth sets his story within the broader social and political context of the period, giving us for the first time a full picture of how Stalin's system of "special villages" worked, how hundreds of thousands of Soviet citizens were moved about the country in wholesale mass transportations, and how this savage bureaucratic machinery functioned on the local, regional, and state levels.

Cannibal Island challenges us to confront unpleasant facts not only about Stalin's punitive social controls and his failed Soviet utopia, but about every generation's capacity for brutality--including our own.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting glimpse into the 'second' Gulag.......2007-08-14

As the author states this was the 'second' so called GULag, where people weren't sent to camps for hard labor but rather deported to various parts of the Soviet Union, such as this section of Siberia, to populate a place not even the Tsars, who tried for 350 years, could. The story in and of itself is quite fascinating and surprising in many respects. The bureaucracy and the obvious Soviet policies are who and what one could easily blame, but those on the bottom also took part in this disaster.

The numbers prepared for deportation were constantly being changed, the monetary funds allocated for these people as well as the horses, tools, and equipment they were to receive their new lives. Always rounding down since those in charge thought if anything extreme occurred those settlers already living there would lend a helping hand. I was surprised by the fact that to oversee this large landmass and its thousands of settlers the OGPU (precursor to the NKVD) had only 44 men, of whom many were clerks and of those clerks many came from the deportees themselves! At least one of their stories is recounted. Militia were also raised to help guard these prisoners and many times these men would let power go to their heads, they didn't want to be here and would beat prisoners and steal their food and/or clothing.

Many of those coming to this Island and other stops along the way were already suffering from the famine that was gripping a large portion of the Soviet Union, their eventual deaths could hardly be prevented. They were arrested usually because they had come to Moscow trying to escape the famine conditions of their homes. The quotas so many hear about when it comes to the Stalinist government are shown here. Aside from criminals, those already in prison, those labeled Kulaks, etc, were people who were simply snatched from train stations who were either passing through Moscow or had just come to Moscow with all their papers and documentation on them. Some Muscovites were snatched off the street because they didn't have their passports on them but had left them at home, no excuses would save them. It's hard to understand how something like that could happen, although it should be mentioned that a few weeks after these people had been deported their stories were checked and many were freed, but they were not yet allowed to return home!

What happens after these people are deported can be seen by the title of the book, there were cases of cannibalism and there emerges the story of a whole violent criminal class that had committed cannibalism in the past, all of this is recounted in the book. Many of those that committed such acts were not starving, which pointed to the fact that they had done this previously. Thus it was also concluded that such acts were not a sign of famine conditions. This book will go to show that the history of the Soviet Union cannot be viewed in black and white terms, there are many variables which need to be understood and these events have to be looked at on a case by case basis. Many of those who died were bullied and killed by the guards or the enormous criminal element they were with. How can one measure out an equal share of the blame to the government for putting them in such a position and to those who did the actual killings? Also interesting is the fact that previous Kulaks who were displaced were not subject to such conditions, they built their settlements and went on with their lives. But these men were used to these conditions and used to living on their own apparently, these elements from the urban centers of Moscow and Leningrad, combined with criminals, could not account for themselves like Kulaks and peasant farmers. An enormous number also tried to run away, while some might have been successful, too many died trying to cross the river Ob while others were undoubtedly lost in the Siberian wilderness. There are accounts of dozens if not hundreds of drowned bodies laying on the shore for kilometers on the opposite river bank of the Island. Just as an example, for the entire year of 1933, 367,457 people 'disappeared', of them 151,601 were recorded as dead and 215,856 as "fugitives". (pg. 181).

It is a fascinating look at a failed project, the inquiry launched into it after the majority of those deported died also shows that the government wouldn't simply stand by, someone had to pay. Those that eventually paid the price were the lower level functionaries, sentenced to various sentences of one to three years in camps. An excellent edition to literature on the "second Gulag" which few know about and an intriguing look into the Soviet Union of the 1930's.

Powerful. Incredible. The holocaust at Cannibal Island........2007-08-13

In the 1930's Stalin decided to liquidate the all kulaks, those peasants who owned at least a bit of property. After having their crops confiscated, peasants starved to death by the millions. Some suffered an even worse fate. They were sent to Siberia's Cannibal island.

Thousands of these people were dumped onto Nanzino island, a small island on the Ob river surrounded by the vast emptiness of Siberia. There was nothing to eat but a few bags of flour. Already, "a very large number of the deportees--at least a third--were so emaciated...they could no longer stand" (p 129).

Nanzino had nothing, no shelter, no other people to help, nothing edible. Nor was any help to come from the communist government. Russia was in turmoil. The vast numbers of starving farmers became roving bands of thieves. By 1930, western Siberia alone boasted some 880 such bands, and those were the ones the government acknowledged.

Nanzino quickly degenerated into Cannibal island. The strong were willing to do anything to survive, even if that meant eating the weak. One guard was courting a pretty young girl. He had to leave for a short time. "People caught the girl, tied her to a tree, cut off her breasts, her muscles, everything they could eat, everything, everything..." (p X1V).

There have been so many movies made from the holocaust of the Jews under the Nazis. I wonder why none have ever been made about the gulag.

The Greatest Sedition Is Silence: Four Years in America

Average customer rating:

I get it
I don't get it.
Five Star Journalism
The Emperor's Clothes are ........
When the so-called "Right" Tells You It's Bad...

The Greatest Sedition Is Silence: Four Years in America
William Rivers Pitt
Manufacturer: Pluto Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0745320104

Book Description

This passionate and controversial book is the work of one of America's most outspoken and talented new journalists. William Rivers Pitt's caustic critique of the last four years of American government gives voice to the growing tide of dissent and outrage with America's leaders both inside the country and in the wider world.

Burning with anger, this incisive and readable book argues that, under George W. Bush, America makes a mockery of the values of liberty and truth that it purports to stand for, and that it is now more important than ever to speak out.

William Rivers Pitt reveals how the crisis in American has been engineered by a group of Christian conservatives, whose attempts in 1998 to bring down the Clinton government led to a perversion of the American electoral process, resulting in the illegitimate installation of George W. Bush into the Presidency by five like-minded conservative Justices of the Supreme Court.

In the aftermath of September 11th, America has in many senses lost its way. Citizens are counseled to "watch what they say" by the White House, just as questions of deadly import are ignored by the government and the media. In their rush to defend "liberty", George Bush and his allies are actually endangering the freedom of the individual, as laid down in international law. Yet how do we save freedom by limiting it? Why, after all this time, have there been no answers regarding what really happened on 9/11?

Pitt's message is clear: seeking answers and demanding truth is not treasonous. In these dangerous days, with all that is at stake, the greatest sedition in America is silence.

Customer Reviews:

I get it.......2006-02-21

A reviewer below posted that he doesn't get it. That "Sedition means incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority. Therefore, Pitt is saying that the greatest (best) way to rise up against Bush is Silence. The best way to counter Bush is to say nothing?"

Not really. Opponents of dissenting voices have long used the term "sedition" to criticize those who disagree with the party in power. The McCarthy Era being the time that springs to mind. Those who disagreed with Senator Joe McCarthy were called seditious and "un-American." Congress even set up a committee to investigate these un-Americans. Pitt is being ironic by pointing out that it is actually contrary to what our nation was founded on to allow a group (in this case the Bush administration) to damage our nation. Since America was founded by those courageous enough to stand up to a tyrannical King George, it is actually "un-American" not to stand up to this one and block his efforts to further erode the Bill of Rights, distort our national purpose and place environmental policy, tax policy and our military power in the hands of corporate oil interests (as it says in the Publishers Weekly review above). To remain silent in such a situation is more sedition than speaking out which is actually in keeping with the idea that gave birth to this nation. Clear enough?

I don't get it........2006-01-26

I don't get it. The title is "The Greatest Sedition Is Silence : Four Years in America." I know that Pitt is pro-America/anti-Bush and that he is writing to say that "We the people" have hurt our country by being silent to the horrors of the Bush administration.

Here's where I get confused. "Sedition" means incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority.

Therefore, Pitt is saying that the Greatest (best) way to rise up against Bush is Silence. huh? The best way to counter Bush is to say nothing?

Five Star Journalism.......2005-01-08

What more can one say... the truth hurts, but it needs to be said. As a researcher I know a thing or two about how hard it is to find the facts. It's not just documentation, itself a major task that goes well past the norm of a 9-5 type of job. Rather, it takes dedication, long sleepless nights, and what's even harder is putting your work into words. Mr. Pitts is and always will be this American Historians' journalist hero. If his name is on the book, it's as close to the truth as one can ever expect.

In a world where hero's are far and in between, just having the guts to write the factual truth should be enough, but if anyone can step up to the plate and prove Pitts is wrong, well, I'd like to see it. Thanks Mr. Pitt for giving me the truth when no other media had the nerve or cared to.

The Emperor's Clothes are ...............2004-12-24

My personal 9/11 was on 20th September 1999, when suddenly the nightmare in June 1999 was realized when the Professional Terrorists KPMG turned up, supposedly to re-organize company management... instead with perfect power suits and perfectly mouthed lies, they destroyed all, and my engineering career, finances and colon lay in ruin. (Only skydiving has saved my colon.) A taste of the corruption that is rife in large companies run by MBAs and now in the US government.

The second wake up was Gore Vidal's interview on Australian ABC radio from the August 2001 Edinburgh book festival, in the aftermath of 9/11, a very chilling foretelling interview indeed!

[...]

Thus I discovered hope. For here I find hard truth.

In addition we lost the Columbia Space Shuttle to "software" only testing and the use of the MBA's tool "PowerPoint".
I fear NASA's situation will only worsen. Given the strong anti-science stance and actions of the current US Government and much of the US population, scientists and engineers like myself deeply . Who will understand the technology of today, tomorrow, when we are forced to swallow "Christianity" and the 7000 year old Earth?

Electrical Engineering teaches one that, "Any system with improper, incomplete and/or false feedback will fail in time either castrophically or otherwise." This applies beyond just electrical systems...

I am grateful to have Willam Rivers Pitt raising the flag.
To tell the truth, is to give hope, and that is to create good.

Thank you,

Ps. According to the Evangelicals now coming into Australia from the USA, I am a Devil Incarnate and a Satanic person. As I have found reincarnation a truth...and dared to mention the "r" word. I am still waiting for these same Evangelicals to put their faith, as George W. does, into action, and have me arrested as a terrorist!

Yes, Carl (Sagan) you did warn us in "CONTACT".
You Carl knew what was coming... from the people for the people.

Bonsai'd
Down_Under
Get this book!
... and get your children to read George Orwell's 1984 too.

When the so-called "Right" Tells You It's Bad..........2004-12-23

you should probably read it, especially if you're concerned about your own rights.

Face it folks, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution are in tatters and the Theocratic Right Wing is responsible. BushCo has done more damage to this country than Bin Laden or a thousand terrorists groups could ever do. Bush and Bin Laden make such a good team, I'm surprised they're not having tea and crumpets at Blair's flat.

We, The PEOPLE did not defend the Constitution, nor did our elected representatives. Now, when we need it, it won't be there to defend us.

It's a dark, dark day in American history. Mr. Pitt brings that darkness to light. And Light is the natural enemy of the Right.

If you care about your civil rights, the rule of law and the future of the great experiment that was once America, you should read this book.

War on Iraq: What Team Bush Doesn't Want You to Know

Average customer rating:

Proves that the Bush administration lied and continues to lie
VERY EASY / GREAT
The "bad intelligence" was Bush's
Highly Recommended
This book proved Bush's lies

War on Iraq: What Team Bush Doesn't Want You to Know
William Rivers Pitt , and Scott Ritter
Manufacturer: Context Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1893956385

Book Description

War on Iraq offers a balanced, non-partisan examination of the current debate in Washington and beyond. In this shocking expose on the impending offensive against Iraq, activist, author, and teacher William Rivers Pitt sits down with former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter to expose the truth behind the hawkish rhetoric of the Bush administration. Ritter--ex-Marine, intelligence specialist, expert on Iraqi military strategy, and Gulf War veteran--dismantles the myths surrounding Saddam Hussein's biological, chemical and nuclear weapons capabilities while revealing the neo-conservative forces pushing the White House toward war. During the seven years the inspections took place, Ritter and other inspectors were able to confirm that Iraq's chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons programs were effectively destroyed, counter to current White House claims. Pitt and Ritter also explain the lack of any plausible link between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda, and highlight the absurdity of forcing democracy on a nation that has been divided for centuries. The book closes with a stark forecast for American troops if a ground war ensues and urges the White House to seek a diplomatic solution. A complete listing of contact information for U.S. senators as well as outreach and activist resources is included.

Customer Reviews:

Proves that the Bush administration lied and continues to lie.......2006-09-22

This small book contains an interview between William Rivers Pitt and Scott Ritter, a former UNESCO inspector in Iraq. Ritter had an exemplary career in the Marine Corps during the first Gulf War, and later became a UNESCO inspector. He was in charge of finding and destroying Iraq's chemical weapons capabilities and stockpiles after the war ended. He debunks Bush administration deliberate misinformation to legitimize the 2003 invasion, namely that Iraq had nuclear, biological and chemical weapons capability and could give it to al-Queda. There were no new nukes or ballistic missiles because we would have detected the testing of them. There were no biological or chemical weapons because the factories were destroyed in the first war, and the capability could not have been rebuilt because UNESCO was monitoring the country. Any hidden chemical/biological stockpiles were destroyed by the 5-7 year shelf life of the weapons. What else is Bush lying about?

VERY EASY / GREAT.......2006-03-29

IF YOU WANT A RECAP OF WHAT IS GOING ON ABOUT WMD'S THIS BOOK WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. IF I WAS A TEACHER I WOULD MAKE ALL MY STUDENTS READ THIS BOOK! IT REVEALS THE TRUTH!! WHICH IS VERY ELUSIVE....FROM THE BUSH CAMP!!!!!

The "bad intelligence" was Bush's.......2006-01-13

How incredibly prescient this book has turned out to be, and how unbelievably wrong the neocons were not to listen. I guess the verdict is in, and it doesn't look good for Bush.

Bush blames his Iraq fiasco on "bad intelligence." If the intelligence was so bad, how come Ritter knew the facts on the ground? How was he able to accurately predict EXACTLY what we found--that there were no stockpiles at all? Maybe the problem wasn't bad intelligence, but bad ideology, blindly ignoring what the weapons experts knew to be true.

In the end, though, I can probably agree that Bush does have a problem with bad intelligence. His own!

Highly Recommended.......2006-01-13

It's interesting how some folks who have "reviewed" this book can't decide whether they want to liberate Iraq or nuke it. Their obvious hatred of Iraqis and Muslims reveals quite clearly their ultimate disinterest in giving democracy to Iraq. They'd just as soon bomb it to oblivion if it served their arguement.

I actually read this book, unlike any of the one-star morons here. Pitt and River provide detail to the falsity of the Administration's claims. Of course, in the years since this book's publication, all of these same claims have been independently proven to be false, from Iraqi connections to 9/11 and Bin Laden, to Nigerian yellowcake claims, to WMD stockpiles, to our ability to occupy the country with a bare minimum of troops. Not to mention the claim (made by Wolfawitz) that the whole war would cost only $50 billion. Ha! We're spending that much every 6 months.

Everything involving the Iraq War has been a failure and a disgrace to our country. Bush has lost America much of its prestige. He is, without a doubt, THE single worst president in American history.

This book proved Bush's lies.......2006-01-13

This book, written BEFORE the Iraq war, exposes the lie that "everyone" thought Iraq had WMD's. In fact, the most credible and knowledgable person who had first-hand experience in dealing with Iraq's WMD programs, UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter, didn't believe they had any.

Ritter explains why he didn't believe the Bush Administration's now-proven hype and lies. This book remains as a poignant testament to what happens to a country as great as America when it is run into the ground by a deceitful, lying, ignorant, incurious, and incompetent scumbag like Bush.

Friend on Freedom River Edition 1. (Tales of Young Americans)

Average customer rating:

A good read-aloud about the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad in Michigan

Friend on Freedom River Edition 1. (Tales of Young Americans)
Gloria Whelan
Manufacturer: Sleeping Bear Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1585362220

Book Description

In 1850 the Detroit River was a major track along the Underground Railroad-the last step to freedom. The journey across the river was dangerous, especially in winter and especially for a 12-year-old boy. When Louis's father left him in charge of the farm he offered his son this advice, 'If you don't know what to do, just do what you think I would have done.' Louis relies upon his father's words of wisdom when a runaway slave and her two children come looking for safe passage.

Customer Reviews:

A good read-aloud about the Underground Railroad.......2005-03-23

A young man risks his own safety and freedom to help a family finish a trip on the Underground Railroad. Told from the young man's point of view, this picture book would be a good read-aloud to provide another perspective on this important part of North American history. The illustrations are large and colorful, adding to the book's value as a read-aloud. This book would work with groups of children between grades 1 and 4.

The Underground Railroad in Michigan.......2005-03-09

"Are you a friend?'

About 40,000 slaves traveled along Michigan's Underground Railway, many of them running for freedom through Detroit and across the river into Canada. There are memorials to this on both sides of the Detroit River. (You can see them at eddwight.com, click on Public Art Projects). Friend on Freedom River is the story of one such family, looking for friends to help them across, and the French immigrant family who helps them to safety.

When Louis' father went away for the winter to work in the logging camps for the winter he told Louis, "...just do what you think I would have done." Of course, neither of them had any idea that would involve a trip at night in December all the way across the nearly frozen river to Canada and back again. And with the patrol boats out on the river, too. On the other hand, "If you don't take us, we might as well jump in and drown ourselves."

So together Louis and the runaway slaves risk their lives in the strong current, rowing and singing together,

"O Lord, O my Lord, keep me from sinking down
I tell you what I mean to do
Keep me from sinking down
...I look up yonder and what do I see?
I see the angels beckoning me"

This book has wonderful large pictures stretching across both pages, that draw us into the minds of the characters. It also tells a little bit about an important part of the history of Michigan.

See pictures of the author and her family and her home in the woods of northern Michigan at www.gloriawhelan.com .

[...].

Sisters: Book Two Of The River Of Freedom Series
<i>a Novel</i>

Average customer rating:

Sisters is just breathtaking!

Sisters: Book Two Of The River Of Freedom Series a Novel
Tim Stafford
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785269061

Book Description

Susan Nichols wants the right to vote…but how hard is she willing to fight for it? Sisters is the powerful chronicle of a second-generation suffragist searching for her identity during the dramatic, turbulent times surrounding the woman suffrage movement in America. Though Susan-named for the famous women's rights advocate Susan B. Anthony-participates in the movement on several levels, she struggles with what it really means to be a woman in changing times. Striving to understand the true meaning of women's rights, Susan relies on her Christian faith for answers. Readers will be exposed to the role Christians played in the fight for women's rights.

Customer Reviews:

Sisters is just breathtaking!.......2007-08-11

Not being one to read romance novels, I've been looking for over a year for a good book to read. I found "Sisters" while browsing in the library one day and I was completely captivated. It covers the Women's Suffrage movement in a fashion where the reader gains appreciation for the depth of the struggle and all the intricacies of the politics involved. The main historical figures, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton seem very accurately portrayed as well.
The only real flaw I saw in the book is that the main fictional characters of the book struggle a lot over whether or not to dedicate themselves to the movement, which isn't very characteristic of grassroots campaigners, since they tend to be die hards. Nonetheless, the setting and the history presented makes this book simply one of the best books in the Christian market today. In fact, its one of the best books in the regular market as well. I really do recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Warm freedom from a cold river
Doorstopper, Indeed.
Truth is compelling reading
A great door stopper
Women On Writing: Review

Cold River: The Cold Truth of Freedom
Jozef Imrich
Manufacturer: Double Dragon Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Warm freedom from a cold river.......2007-05-14

It is a book in which the author weaves through a rich tapestry of life, living, loving, politics and all that goes with it under a strict "regime" of a young man. For me paints a picture of showing contrast and similarity of life then and now. It gave me an insight into a political regime and economics as well. One could just imagine the mother's anguish over loosing a son (without a goodbye) to freedom in the west.

I related to times of growing up where little was a lot, nature was the playground where adventures were had by children. There is conversation and story and morals to the stories.

But what struck me most was the message that "freedom" is valuable and can be threatened under any political regime. And in this time of capitalism, greed and globalisation it is relevant message.. times which for me where I feel that there is an erosion of freedom on all fronts where government and corporate worlds have the same goals.

Enjoy

Doorstopper, Indeed........2006-04-02

Doorstopper, indeed.

I was surprised at the review placed on this site saying that Cold River was nothing more than a doorstopper. Then I got to thinking-since I have read the book cover to cover. Yes, indeed, there are certainly those in the world who might find this a good doorstopper. People who don't respect freedom or care that others are persecuted. People who think that violence is a means to subjugating groups of individuals. People who lump others together in tight little groups so that they can be more easily hated. Yes. Some people might be just the kinds of people to use this book as a doorstopper. Sad that we must remind ourselves that there is a place even for hateful, uneducated readers/thinkers/reviewers. Oh, and folks, the book is insightful. And frightening. Because it's real.

Truth is compelling reading.......2006-03-22

The writer has enabled us to join him in his real pursuit of life with freedom. Freedom that can only be taken lightly by those who have never had it compromised. When the day to day annoyances of freeway traffic,rude check out staff and stress overtakes you, this book is a reality check of what we take for granted and a life journey we hope never to experience. A book to appeal to the intellect and hope in us all.

A great door stopper.......2006-03-19

I happened to trip over this book at a friend's place. Quite literally as it was on the floor being used as a door stopper. It seems that the 50 books the publisher had printed failed to sell and they were giving them away as door stoppers.

It saddens me to know that good healthy trees were wasted printing this dribble. Was the publisher awake when it approved this poor excuse for writing. Surely there could have been better uses for the paper.. say instructions on cleaning dog turds off your shoes.. as that is what it felt like to read 2 pages.. yes 2 as that is all i could get through before i began to feel ill.
I have already spent too much time of my life on this waste of space.. I just wanted to warn other readers to completely ignore Cold River as it is rubbish.

Reviewer

Women On Writing: Review.......2006-01-12

I relish the opportunity to share this hearty review by Janet Schmidt published in 2005 in the `Women On Writing.'

Reviewed by: Janet Schmidt
Publisher: Double Dragon
Author: Jozef Imrich

Communism is bad. Communists want to kill us, ruin all that is good and decent and destroy the American way of life. For Americans of a certain age, those statements are as gospel. When the Berlin Wall came down, when the USSR split, it was a modern triumph of good over evil. It was a bad way of life that had to end. But, what do we really know of Communism.

Cold River by Jozef Imrich shatters many illusions. Oh, yes, Communism is still bad, but, Jozef Imrich paints a picture of life under Communism that is both good and evil. By turns both joyous and heartbreaking, Cold River is a thought provoking book that needs to be widely read.

Jozef Imrich very nearly shares a birth date with my husband. He was born more close to my own age than I normally admit. He grew up during my growing up years. I grew up in a small American town in the Midwest. A town that exemplified all that was and is good about the United States.

And much of Jozef Imrich's childhood is idyllic and envious. He grew up in a small village in Czechoslovakia that had many charms. The child of a wonderful family, he knew great joy. Cold River is a story of the triumph of the human spirit. It is the story of the human obsession with life, with the basic need of humans to find good and survive at any cost.

Perhaps he was lucky. Perhaps Vrbov was unique. I don't know. I do know this. Cold River is not a light read. It is not an easy feel good book; although I feel good for having read it. It is the story of one man's experience under Communism. It is the story of a man and his family, of his history, and his family's history, superimposed over the broader story of communism in Eastern Europe. Of a horrible system of government that tried, but, ultimately failed to conquer the human spirit.

Cold River is not sad, as Angela's Ashes was sad. One is not left with pity, but with admiration. Jozef Imrich has a majestic ability to write so that the reader feels they are there. His images and background become real become a part of the reader that will always remain.

Jozef Imrich asks in the preface "Why should you get to know me, anyway? Survivors like me are not fiery writers, so I content myself with the role of the lukewarm storyteller. All I have is one small voice."

It is precisely because his voice is small that this story holds the reader. An ordinary man in extraordinary times takes a stand and the personal is political, sending a lesson to others that no matter how small the link, the larger chain is still made up of all of the links.

The child, the Jozef who is happy becomes the man Jozef who is aware of what he is lacking. Of the cost that lack extracts. And becomes willing to pay the price to achieve true freedom. The cost is great. The toll is sacrificing all he knows, all he holds dear for all that he needs and can become.

Jozef Imrich's escape is breathtaking and mind-boggling. It is hard to imagine this, and, yet, with the gift of a talented guide, one is left well able to not only imagine it, but to feel it. He gives a very human face to Communism. As the book progresses, the common humanity the reader feels with the writer ceases to be unsettling and becomes enlightening.

Cold River by Jozef Imrich is a very important book. It needs to be read and discussed. For those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it. By showing the human cost of what man can do to man, Jozef Imrich has given the world a manual on how not to be.

Jozef Imrich is a gifted writer. More than a tale of one man, Cold River is a tale of all men. Jozef Imrich deserves thanks for sharing what is both a heart warming and a heart wrenching story. This is his first book, but I am left with the sincere hope that it is not his last.

Jozef Imrich currently resides in Australia with his family. He has returned to his native land since the fall of Communism, and questions by his daughter are what motivated him to write this book. Jozef Imrich has also published essays and short stories in various publications.

(...)

Bio: Janet Schmidt resides in the Midwest with her husband, daughter and assorted pets. She is at work on her first novel. Janet enjoys gardening, cooking and reading. For more information on Janet Schmidt go to the Women on Writing

(...)

Why do we write about the most painful experiences in our life? Are we wallowing in the misery? No. Writing helps expunge our grief and lets us heal ...
(...)

Freedom's Apprentice: Book Two of the Dead Rivers Trilogy (The Dead Rivers Trilogy)

Average customer rating:

Better Than "Turning the Storm"
Hooray another installment
Interesting alternative history with better fantasy elements
Darned good follow-up; I can't wait for the final book
terrific alternate history fantasy

Freedom's Apprentice: Book Two of the Dead Rivers Trilogy (The Dead Rivers Trilogy)
Naomi Kritzer
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553586742
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

With Freedom’s Gate, acclaimed author Naomi Kritzer introduced a dangerous world of magic and intrigue. Now she continues the story of Lauria, a bold young woman who has turned against a way of life she once believed in....

FREEDOM’S APPRENTICE

Once the trusted aide to powerful military commander Kyros, freeborn Lauria hunted down his escaped slaves. But during a mission to infiltrate the bandit tribe known as the Alashi, Lauria’s loyalties shifted. When her
identity was discovered, she was cast out by both sides. Now Lauria is determined to regain the trust of the Alashi, and, with the help of her blood-sister Tamar, liberate those she once returned to captivity. But they cannot accomplish the daunting task alone. Desperate for a spell-chain to free a mine slave, Lauria turns to her enemies–the Sisterhood of Weavers–and apprentices herself to a sorceress. But learning to harness magic will come at a greater price than she ever imagined.

Customer Reviews:

Better Than "Turning the Storm".......2006-06-24

After reading "Turning the Storm" I was disappointed in most of the reviewer's opinions. In short, I didn't like it at all. So, I was very skeptical about picking this sequel up. However, "Freedom's Gate" had me hooked and I pledged to give this one a try. I am so glad I did! Where "Turning the Storm" was frenetic and unfocussed, I found "Freedom's Apprentice" to be a well-considered, carefully produced story. Unlike Kritzer's previous sequel, this one had a direct goal in mind, the freeing of the five slaves Lauria had previously tracked down, and it also allowed for a lot of variation in scene and character development without seeming lost and confused. As a writer matures in experience, I am convinced her work becomes fuller and more matured, as well. This is definitely the case here. I can't wait to read #3!

Hooray another installment.......2005-08-13

This is the second book of THE DEAD RIVERS trilogy. Although is could be read on its own as Ms. Klausner's remarked, a reader would miss a lot of the small details that truly support the story without reading the first novel. The series is set in a fictional reality in what would be our Middle East complete with all of the trappings of the decadent life of the rich supporting themselves on the backs of slaves and what amounts to as indentured servitude. Incase you missed them, please read Naomi Kritzer' s Fires of the Faithful (2002) and Turning the Storm (2003).

Interesting alternative history with better fantasy elements.......2005-06-22

I'm glad I didn't know this was an alternative history novel, I probably would have never picked it up. But she Kritzer changed the history so much, it doesn't even feel like Greek history (which is a good thing).

This has pretty much the same pacing as the first, "Freedom's Gate." Lauria is a great character, with good character development (which is really the basis of the story). Tamar is like her anchor, but enough personality to hold her own (which is good, because the next book will change to have both of their viewpoints.

This book, as well as the previous, deals with the issue of slavery on two levels: people and the djinni. Tamar wants to free slaves to help the world, and Lauria just wants to free those she has wronged. She also has the power to free the djinni, but as of right now will only really do it for selfish reasons (I feel even more development coming on). The one main problem I had with this book is that Kritzer often reexplains things. I felt like saying out loud, "I get it." Maybe she underestimated her audience.

Other than that, this book was very enjoyable. It didn't lose pace like many middle books, and the story moves along quickly.

Darned good follow-up; I can't wait for the final book.......2005-05-18

The middle book in any trilogy is always problematical. The author has to make the situation worse-and-worse for the protagonist, yet move the story forward. Yet, very little can be resolved, because there's a Book 3 to follow.

Kritzer does a great job. In the first book of this trilogy (don't even think of skipping it; you'd be lost), Lauria re-thought her role in the world. Instead of doing whatever Kyros wanted (in particular, catching slaves and returning them to their owners), she joined a peculiar rebellion, and earned a sense of purpose. (I won't say more, in case you didn't finish Freedom's Gate yet.)

In Freedom's Apprentice, Lauria aims to free all the slaves she'd previously recaptured, as atonement for her previous actions. As she travels around her world -- joined by her blood-sister Tamar -- she learns more about the nature of magic, what it takes to control it, and sets an even larger goal.

Oh dear, that sounds like the vague "back of the book" text, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers. The bottom line is that this second book is at least as good as the first; the author makes her world and her people believeable; and this tale is a fine place in which to lose yourself for a few hours. Recommended.

terrific alternate history fantasy.......2005-04-27

After Alexander dies, the Empire went into a decline until Penelope the first weaver learned how to control the djinn. Using their magic, they reconquered the countries that broke away from the empire, most learned to live with the Greeks as their rulers. Lauria, a free woman in service to Kyros the commander of the military garrison in Elpisia, as part of her job brings back runaway slaves who find refuge with the Alashi, a nomadic warrior group who remain free of Greek rule.

After infiltrating the Alashi, Lauria sees how wrong she was to return runaway slaves and vows to free them from their masters. A runaway slave recognizes Lauria and exposes her deception. The Alashi exile her leaving her with no home but even more determined to free the slaves she captured. With her friend Tamar who accompanies her on her quest, the two women free the slaves who are scattered all over the empire. Both women know if they are caught, the penalty for their crimes is a tortuous death.

This is the second book of THE DEAD RIVERS trilogy but it can stand alone because the storyline doesn't rely on the first book FREEDOM'S GATE. The use of djinn in the political and military arena is taken for granted and people see magic in their everyday life as something normal and natural. There is plenty of action in FREEDOM'S APPRENTICE as the heroine undoes the harm she caused to the runaway slaves. Some of the method she uses to find and free the slave are ingenious and will win her the admiration of the audience. Naomi Kritzer's world where the Greek Empire never fell and is the ruler of most of the known world is exciting and believable

Harriet Klausner

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