Book Description
A concise, lively, and bracing exploration of an issue bedeviling our cultural landscape–plagiarism in literature, academia, music, art, and film–by one of our most influential and controversial legal scholars. Best-selling novelists J. K. Rowling and Dan Brown, popular historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Stephen Ambrose, Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree, first novelist Kaavya Viswanathan: all have rightly or wrongly been accused of plagiarism–theft of intellectual property–provoking widespread media punditry. But what exactly is plagiarism? How has the meaning of this notoriously ambiguous term changed over time as a consequence of historical and cultural transformations? Is the practice on the rise, or just more easily detectable by technological advances? How does the current market for expressive goods inform our own understanding of plagiarism? Is there really such a thing as “cryptomnesia,” the unconscious, unintentional appropriation of another’s work? What are the mysterious motives and curious excuses of plagiarists? What forms of punishment and absolution does this “sin” elicit? What is the good in certain types of plagiarism?
Provocative, insightful, and extraordinary for its clarity and forthrightness, The Little Book of Plagiarism is an analytical tour de force in small, the work of “one of the top twenty legal thinkers in America” (Legal Affairs), a distinguished jurist renowned for his adventuresome intellect and daring iconoclasm.
Customer Reviews:
The Little Book of Plagiarism.......2007-05-24
The Little Book of Plagiarism
The author of this book is a judge who is an expert on the subjects of plagiarism and copyright infringement. He makes clear the distiction of these two terms and the penalties that will rain down on you for committing each of these acts. Plagiarism brings shame to one wo steals ideas, without acknowleging his/her sources; but infringing the legal rights of copyright owners can call forth financial contributions from you pocket. The author cities and analyzes a few court cases, to clarify your thinking on these subjects.
Big Subject, Small and Accessible Book.......2007-02-09
Plagiarism is not a legal offense in itself. Thus, you might think that Judge Richard Posner might not be the best of guides to it, even though he has written books about non-legal issues before. But plagiarism does sometimes include fraud, copyright infringement, theft, and unfair competition, issues that are clearly legal in nature. In _The Little Book of Plagiarism_ (Pantheon), Posner has turned a legal view onto the very gray areas of plagiarism, an offense that everyone thinks is bad, but which comes in many forms, each with variants that are not offenses at all. Plagiarism has been in the news a lot lately, with famous (or potentially famous) people damaged by the charge. In the digital age, plagiarism is easier, and so Posner has written a useful volume to guide logical thinking on a hot issue. It is indeed a little book, 109 pages of text, but there are plenty of big ideas here, expressed in pithy prose that calls out for re-reading just to appreciate its clarity and lack of superfluity.
People weren't always so picky. One of Posner's examples is that of Shakespeare's use of Sir Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's description of Cleopatra's barge, which shows up in blank-verse paraphrase in _Antony and Cleopatra_. Posner includes both passages here, and it clear that Shakespeare really did borrow North, and also clear that Shakespeare's description is more colorful and fun to read. ("If this is plagiarism," jokes Posner, "we need more plagiarism.") If Shakespeare were writing today, he'd probably be in trouble for all his borrowed plots and characters. Plagiarism changes depending upon time, locale, and profession. So, how do we know when something is plagiarism and when it isn't? Posner suggests, among other things, that we evaluate the harm done. An example Posner returns to repeatedly is that of Kaavya Viswanathan whose novel _How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life_ came out in April 2006. She was a sophomore at Harvard University (Posner gives many examples from Harvard here, and maintains that plagiarism is no more common in that estimable school, just more conspicuous, and more enjoyed by the public when revealed). She got a half million dollar advance for her work and a film deal with DreamWorks. Attentive readers, however, found that there were passages that had been lifted from the work of a fellow "chick-lit" author Megan McCafferty. Viswanathan didn't do her readers any real harm; her book is as good as they found it. She didn't harm her publisher (until she was caught), and she herself brought any harmful consequences to herself. The harm is done to McCafferty, and not simply because McCafferty's words were lifted and re-used, but because by doing so, Viswanathan boosted herself up as a competitor within the chick-lit field, an unfair advantage.
So a key for finding plagiarism is finding that harm has been done, but Posner does not wish to see it among the harms dealt with by the criminal courts: "The harms it causes are too slight to warrant cranking up the costly and clumsy machinery of the criminal law", and often the harm is insufficient to crank up the civil courts, either. Viswanathan got her measure of "... disgrace, humiliation, ostracism, and other shaming penalties imposed by public opinion on people who violate social norms whether or not they are also legal norms." So did Doris Kearns Goodwin, Stephen Ambrose, and Alan Dershowitz, whose cases are examined here. That high-profile authors would risk getting caught in such thefts is something that Posner cannot explain, but he does make the case that the digital technology which makes plagiarism particularly easy these days is also going to make it more detectable. There are programs on the market like Turnitin which are doing better sleuthing for plagiarism than any professor or general reader. Thousands of colleges license the program; Harvard doesn't, and Posner accuses it of being naïve. Turnitin looks for similar passages in previous works, especially those on the web (and remember that many quotations from modern books are found on the web, even if full books are not). The program also looks for similarities within papers that have been submitted to it for inspection before. Publishers aren't themselves using such programs much yet, because they would simply rather not know beforehand, but Little, Brown lost plenty on the Viswanathan affair. Posner says, "We may be entering the twilight of plagiarism." It is a rewarding intellectual amusement to share Posner's thinking about the subject, which presents plagiarism with penetrating originality.
Originality vs. creativity.......2007-02-07
This book is meant for a variety of readers: writers (beware), legal eagles (what is the difference between plagiarism and copyright infringement?), students (don't copy that Wikipedia article), professors (be careful about your student's research), etc. It is brief and to the point, yet raises several interesting questions. Do we most value originality or creativity? Posner defines the difference, although some readers may disagree with a a few bits here and there.
According to Posner, the concept of plagiarism as a bad thing is a fairly recent attitude. Shakespeare and others in the past -- from the Egyptians to the writers of the Bible -- have copied earlier works, improved on them or not, expanding the ideas and the discussion.
One concept is missing from the present discussion, however, that of "work for hire." For instance, writers are often paid to write works, fiction in particular, in a specific milieu, often under another name, without receiving public credit for that work. This may include students who do the research for a scholarly book that the professor writes (but I would not think the same holds true if the student does the actual writing and credit should be given, of course). Posner also states that plagiarism is more of a problem for students than professors. Given the "publish or perish" mentality of universities in hiring and granting tenure to professors, it would seem that plagiarism could become more and more of a temptation.
Beginning with the young "chick lit" author whose work was full of copied sections, working through scholarly writers, many instances of being caught are cited. Posner, like the news media, places greater emphasis on the fiction rather than the scholarly. The young Harvard student was virtually pilloried in the press. The only plagiarism in scholarly work that came close to being so condemned, was that of Stephen Ambrose. Most professors caught plagiarizing are forgiven by their institutions and, it would seem, the public.
It is important to consider this problem especially in light of the new software being used by universities that can identify plagiarism, access to virtually any written work via the Internet, and the ability for the news media and others to identify stolen work. There are some who espouse the idea that all creative work should be "open source." The possibilities are numerous.
if you are reading this, you should buy the book.......2007-01-21
For those of us who enjoyed Judge Posner's Public Intellectuals or Law & Literature, this very little book fits in that niche -- easy to read, full of charming bits, grindingly rational. The book's topic and brevity will give it a natural market among school administrators and teachers. Maybe a private school or two will make it required reading for students. Students in particular need to know that schools now are using an internet software service to catch plagiarists.
But like Posner's other books, this one asks a deep and haunting question. Why do we prize originality so much? The best writers (Posner cites Shakespeare) copied extensively, improving as they went. The ancient Egyptians went thousands of years painting the same odd figures on their tombs; they disdained originality. Ironically, Posner explains, student textbooks may be the least original of modern writings.
The book is well worth $[...], an evening's reading, and further reflection.
This review is not copied..........2007-01-20
While this review is not a copy of any other review (and indeed, to guard against any overt plagiarism, I am typing it without notes and straight to submission, without an editing stage), that is not to say that it will not in fact end up being copied by someone, somewhere. Plagiarism reaching epidemic proportions is one of the unintended consequences of the internet and its vast availability - much in forms easily adapated to cut-and-paste functions - makes it both a blessing and a curse.
Posner's book starts with the now infamous case of the Harvard student, who, having secured book and movie deals even prior to her entrance to the prestigious Ivy League school, was publically disgraced when it was revealed that substantial elements of her first novel were taken from novels of similar ilk, sometimes in almost verbatim terms. Posner's book goes on to look at other incidents both past and present (to what extent would Shakespeare be branded a plagiarist?), the philosophical implications (moral and ethical), and some legal and consequential issues. What should be done with plagiarists? Of course, the answer varies, as will the reader's opinion here.
Posner suggests that the internet will also be a saving grace in this -- indeed, I could relate to the issues he brings up as I am a professor who regularly uses the Turnitin.com service, which scans not only the internet but also a database of previously submitted papers. I have found at least one student in each of the last several semesters who has simply lifted an article or paper off the internet and turned it in as his or her own. Posner suggests that instructors who are not on the ball and using some kind of similar safeguard are naive.
I must confess, I'd heard some of what he's written before, but then duplication is acceptable, provided sources are cited, right? The book itself is very small -- I read it in one go, and reminded me somewhat both in style and size of Harry Frankfurt's book, the title of which the filters here don't permit me to mention...
Book Description
Americans are bombarded daily with mixed messages, half-truths, misleading statements, and out-and-out fabrications masquerading as facts. The news media–once the vaunted watchdogs of our republic–are often too timid or distracted to identify these deceptions.
unSpun is the secret decoder ring for the twenty-first-century world of disinformation. Written by Brooks Jackson and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, the founders of the acclaimed website FactCheck.org, unSpun reveals the secrets of separating facts from disinformation, such as:
• the warning signs of spin, hype, and bogus news
• common tricks used to deceive us
• how to find trustworthy and objective sources of information
Telling fact from fiction shouldn’t be a difficult task. With this book and a healthy dose of skepticism, anyone can cut through the haze of biased media reportage to be a savvier consumer and a better-informed citizen.
“Read this book and you will not go unarmed into the political wars ahead of us. Jackson and Jamieson equip us to be our own truth squad, and that just might be the salvation of democracy.”
–Bill Moyers
“THE DEFINITIVE B.S. DETECTOR–AN ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE GUIDEBOOK.”
–Mark Shields, syndicated columnist and political analyst, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
“unSpun is an essential guide to cutting through the political fog. Just in time for the 2008 campaign, Brooks Jackson and Kathleen Hall Jamieson have written a citizen’s guide to avoiding the malarkey of partisan politics.”
–Mara Liasson, NPR national political correspondent
“The Internet may be a wildly effective means of communication and an invaluable source of knowledge, but it has also become a new virtual haven for scammers–financial, political, even personal. Better than anything written before, unSpun shows us how to recognize these scams and protect ourselves from them.”
–Craig Newmark, founder and customer service representative, Craigslist.org
Customer Reviews:
All the tools for fact checking the news.......2007-10-21
I love factcheck.org, so when I found out some of the contributors were writing a book, I had to get it. Not only does it drive home the need to check sources and not believe everything you hear or read on the net right away, it explains why we're so willing to believe some things or disregard others so quickly.
This book explain to the reader when spin typically happens, how to recognize it, how to be on the lookout for it, and how to verify what the facts really are. Reading it and the examples given, I was suprised by how much I do. I have quite a bit of experiance verifying sources, questioning numbers, and scouring reports to see how the numbers have been crunched (I'm one of those librarians they mention in chapter 7), but I get taken in too-I had one of those Ab belts and thought that the bin Lauden family was allowed to fly out soon after 9/11. Of course, I had to read this book with an equally critical eye-I still wonder how some of the questions were formed in all those studies they cited...
Oh, and if you're like me and immediatly start looking for the bibliography-it's on their web page, not in the book.
With political ads, news bits (which seems to be ongoing political ads most of the time) and presidential debates heating up, this book is more and more useful.
learn your biases in order to make better decisions.......2007-08-28
Unspun was an informative read. The first part covered examples of manipulation by politicians and adverstisers. I saw the pattern early enough. They could have used fewer examples to make the point with me.
The steps to identify and deal with manipulation were straightforward and helpful.
But it was the latter part of the book that really grabbed my interest. They covered the psychological factors that "blind" us. I was intrigued by the brain studies that show that we don't engage our rational part of the brain when confronted with information that goes against our core beliefs.
Yet they didn't leave us in despair about the situation. The authors offered ways to find the biases in ourselves so that we can allow the rational part of us to evaluate all these messages. I would encourage anyone to read this book in order to evaluate situations better. Better evaluations lead to better decisions.
Excellent Summary of How Disinformation is Spread.......2007-07-07
"UnSpun" tells us that respect for facts isn't a major concern in the advertising industry, and is far too rare in politics as well. There is no federal law requiring truth in political advertising, and the few states that have tried have had their efforts overturned or proven ineffective. At the same time, lawsuits for defamation are rare, and move too slowly to do wronged candidates any good.
The authors then go on to provide a number of guideline rules to alert us to likely disinformation - eg. "If it's scary, be wary," and offer simple rules to also assist - eg. beware of stories that are too good, the dangling comparative (eg. longer than what?), weasel words (eg. "up to 50% off"), the blame game, glittering generalities, misuse of the term "average," baseline bluffing ("cuts" measured against alternative programs, instead of current spending), and use of value-laden words (eg. death tax, instead of estate tax).
"UnSpun" ends by offering some helpful rules for information consumers; unfortunately, it still is too easy to play games with words.
Good start on a much needed topic--but somehow I expected more!.......2007-06-19
I got this book from the local library and read it before checking any of the reviews on Amazon.com. The authors have many good points that they make. As others have observed, their liberal bias does sneak through as you read example after example that they cite. MY biggest disappointment came from my own expectation, based on the book's title, that it would cover more ground and give a broader range of specific recommendations for people who are searching for the TRUTH in a world of sensory overload, SPIN doctors, and shouting alarmists. For example, a summary page of references and web sites and the information covered would have been very useful. Although much of the info in the text given was very useful, it seemed at times like they were pushing their our website a little too much.
Just the facts, ma'am.......2007-06-17
This book is written by Brooks Jackson, the head of factcheck.org. It explains how factcheck.org confirms or disputes "factual" claims and is a how to book for thinking people. Rather than accepting what the political, news or advertising folks want you to think, this book will give you the tools to question the "facts" and inform yourself on any issue. Several websites factcheck.org considers reliable are listed and I've bookmarked a few of them for easy reference. The book itself is setting next to my monitor. It's an easy read with lots of great tips, great advice and examples of spin to illustrate the tactics used. It will open your eyes and save you money.
Book Description
Designed to provide learners with a foundation in medical law and ethics, this book uses case studies from actual legal procedures to illustrate key points of law, interpretation of statutes, as well as ethical dilemmas. This newly revised edition helps the medical office professional interact with the legal profession, recognize when they need legal advice, and protect their employers from medical malpractice complaints. In addition to understanding their rights as an employee, the rights of the patient are explored, as well.
Book Description
Have you ever wondered exactly what ethical standards exist in the media? ETHICS IN MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS: CASES AND CONTROVERSIES explains it all and shows you that there's a lot more to the story behind the scenes. Whether the issue is censorship, privacy, or accuracy, the media is governed by ethical norms that you need to know. And because it's packed with case studies and review tools, this media ethics textbook is the one that will help out on the test as well.
Customer Reviews:
Painful.......2007-04-16
Maybe it's not possible to write an interesting or engaging book on this topic. Maybe the muddle that is media ethics doesn't lend itself to a presentation in straightforward, punchy language. Maybe it's impossible to separate one's deeply held beliefs from laying out all sides of an ethical issue.
Whatever the reason, this is not an engaging text, and it isn't very helpful, either. Each chapter begins with a wandering narrative about the chosen topic. Day hems and haws for a dozen pages or so without ever really saying very much, although as you move from chapter to chapter an impression will likely build in your mind: The world would be a very boring place if Day decided what the media should include and exclude from publications and the airwaves.
The chapters end with several scenarios to consider. These are overwritten to the point of farce, littered with meaningless adjectives that appear to be intended to convey gravity but actually betray Day's opinion about each scenario. By the time you're asked what you would do, you can have little doubt what he would do.
Some textbooks simply need an update to be brought back to relevance. This book needs a new author who, instead of lamenting everything that has happened in the world since 1963, is prepared to engage with it and help young media practitioners make decisions in it. If you're about to be forced to read this book in class, prepare to be annoyed!
Amazon.com
These are tough times for journalism. Newsroom executives' bonuses tend to be based on their company's profit margin. Journalists are constantly jockeying for the time and space necessary to tell their stories as they see fit. Only 47 percent of Americans even read a newspaper. And Time and Newsweek--news magazines, remember?--"were seven times more likely to have the same cover story as People magazine in 1997 than in 1977."
It's no wonder that in 1997, the Committee of Concerned Journalists formed to "engage journalists and the public in a careful examination of what journalism was supposed to be." The Elements of Journalism reports the results of that study, which included 21 public forums (attended by 3,000 people), in-depth interviews with 100 journalists, editorial content studies, and research into the history of journalism. Part of what the committee members learned, they already knew. Journalism is complicated business: journalists are paid by management but work for the citizens; they tend to be self-taught (there is little evidence of mentoring and much disdain for journalism schools); and they need to be objective even when they're not impartial. This has always been the case. But the committee also detected a trend, one abundantly evident to anyone who has tried to find news on the evening TV news: "news was becoming entertainment and entertainment news."
"Unless we can grasp and reclaim the theory of a free press," warn Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, the book's authors, "journalists risk allowing their profession to disappear." Through their discussions with journalists, the Committee of Concerned Journalists defined nine "clear principles" of journalism, which Kovach and Rosenstiel explore in great detail. The first principle is, "Journalism's first obligation is to the truth." The last: "Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience." In between come issues of loyalty, verification, independence, and power monitoring, among others.
Invigorating reading for newsroom interns, jaded reporters, and anyone else who needs to be reminded of the rigorousness, integrity, and meaning of journalism. --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
The Book That Every Citizen and Journalist Should Read
“What this book does better than any single book on media history, ethics, or practice is
weave . . . [together] why media audiences have fled and why new technology and megacorporate ownership are putting good journalism at risk.” —Rasmi Simhan, Boston Globe
“Kovach and Rosenstiel’s essays on each [element] are concise gems, filled with insights worthy of becoming axiomatic. . . . The book should become essential reading for journalism professionals and students and for the citizens they aim to serve.” —Carl Sessions Stepp, American Journalism Review
“If you think journalists have no idea what you want . . . here is a book that agrees with you. Better—it has solutions. The Elements of Journalism is written for journalists, but any citizen who wonders why the news seems trivial or uninspiring should read it.” —Marta Salij, Detroit Free Press
The elements of journalism are:
* Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.
* Its first loyalty is to citizens.
* Its essence is a discipline of verification.
* Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
* It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
* It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
* It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.
* It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
* Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.
Customer Reviews:
Abstract/Strategic overview; Journalist's, not public's, perspective.......2007-01-05
This book is probably a good overview for someone new to these issues. However, for someone like me who has been interested in these issues for years, there is little here that you wouldn't have already seen in the newspaper coverage of this topic. I had hope of finding some pithy characterizations of the issues, but this book contained none that I hadn't already seen. However, for the newbie, this book does a good job at collecting and presenting them (and citing sources). And it is very readable.
My biggest disappointment was that the authors chose to exclude the issues of fairness and balance - as a person involved in events covered by the press, this is my biggest source of frustration with journalists. The most common problem is with the structure of an article: One side's position and arguments are given, and repeated, in the beginning and middle of the article, with other points of view not appearing until near the very end. When I try to talk to the journalist about the well-known problems with this structure, my comments are routinely dismissed with "But its all in there."
Note: By "fairness" and "balance" I mean what is understood by normal people and not the bizarre, discredited definitions used by journalists. Rather than try to rehabilitate these terms (a difficult task), the authors attempt, unsuccessfully, to introduce replacements (for example, "proportionality" which is presented by an unsatisfying metaphor).
My second disappointment was that the portion of the title "and the Public Should Expect" is an empty promise: The book is entirely focused on the journalist's perspective.
I did find it interesting the number of times that the authors commented that journalists were *not* trained in key aspects of their job but had to figure it out for themselves. This confirmed intuitions developed from my experience with journalists.
Captures all important elements of journalism.......2006-08-10
After reading Lippman's Public Opinion, this book provided a good review of what has happend in recent years.
The journalism is heading for a new direction, while preserving the old core values.
No stone is left unturned in this book with regard to journalism.
very good.......2006-02-20
I received the book in a good delay, and it was in perfect condition!
Great finish, no start........2005-03-21
I read this book as a first year grad student studying journalism. It's an interesting read - probably the only book I read that whole semester that I actually liked. It leaves the reader with a sense of purpose and commitment to the craft of journalism.
Then I went out and start reporting in the real world. I immediately realized "Elements of Journalism" is hopelessly idealistic. The book has a great vision for where the profession should be, but no suggestions on how to get there.
absolutely loved it.......2004-11-25
For my journalism class, I had to choose a book of merit about the media. "The Elements of Journalism" doesn't disappoint. This book takes the form of an instructional guide in that its objective does tell what journalists should be doing in order to create an effective press and what the public should expect from it. I find "The Elements of Journalism" to be of great use since it outlines what every budding journalist should follow to maintain ethics, objectivity, and truth in their work. It even describes man's history with the need for communication and a briefing of journalism's role in history. The book is written with clarity and the topics flow together. I also noticed that Kovach and Rosentiel developed many "theories" of the media-which all seem true too.
What will always stay with me is the "The Theory of the Interlocking Public"-that states that everyone has an interest and is an expert in something. We need to be knowledgeable about the realistic description of how people interact with the news in order to present information as accurately as possible so that an individual group is not drawn to an article but a WHOLE variety of people depending on their level of knowledge about the world. Good journalism targets each level. I always remember this while writing an article for the paper.
As for what citizens should expect from the press, I admired the quote "The marketplace fails if we as citizens are passive, willing to put up with a diminishing product because we have no alternative. It works only if we act with a voice and a reason." It basically means that the purpose of a press (to convey the information that people need to be sovereign) will deteriorate if the people don't take action and speak up in what they believe in and hold true.
And, I can go on and on....because this book is so full of insightful information. I recommend it for anybody interested in the workings of the media.
Book Description
New to this edition: Every new copy of Mass Media/Mass Culture is packaged with a Free Making the Grade CD-ROM, Free Access to PowerWeb: An Online Reader and Resource Guide, and a Free Text-Specific Online Learning Center Website.
Written for the Introduction to Mass Communication course, Mass Media/Mass Culture: An Introduction demonstrates how media impacts our culture today, and how the interrelationship of media and culture has influenced our civilization since dawn of mass communication. This textbook gives students the tools to understand the world around them and teaches them how to critically analyze the media that influences their lives.
Customer Reviews:
excellent!.......2005-09-12
Service was exccellent. Exactly the book with the exact description was recieved, with-in excellent time frame. Great work!
Very helpful.......2004-05-18
This book has been very helpful and interesting. I teach Communications at a Community college, and this book will be a great addition to the fall curriculum. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in a good communications book. I would also like to thank djtom33; the book I bought from him was in excellent condition and was delivered swiftly.
Mass Media Mass Culture.......2003-10-14
I use this book in my television production class and I must say it is a great book. It is easy to read and easy to understand. The photos and up to date articles make it even better! A+ for this book!
Excelent Book.......2003-02-03
This book is the best text book I have seen in years. With easy and fun to read chapters, color photos and the CD aide, you can't go wrong with this book. Wheather you are using it for a class or just want to learn about Mass Media, this is the book for you.
Book Description
Aiming to expand ethical awareness, this market-leading book uses original case studies and commentaries about actual media experiences to get readers thinking analytically about ethical situations in mass communication. Focusing on a wide spectrum of issues, the cases in the book cover journalism, broadcasting, advertising, public relations and entertainment. For anyone interested in the ethical aspects of mass communication.
Customer Reviews:
Best Applied Ethics Text, Media or Otherwise.......2006-06-27
A previous reviewer criticizes the book because throught-provoking discussions are begun but not wrapped up or resolved. If they were, the book would not fulfill its function. It's a TEXTBOOK for college classroom settings like the one in which I've used it, and all previous editions, over the past 15 or so years. It's purpose is to provoke discussion so that readers will thrash out the available options and do their own moral reasoning.
Using the Potter Model for moral reasoning as a foundation, the case study approach provides ample and diverse application material from classic situations to current events. The value of the Potter Model approach is well worth securing any edition of the text - it's the case studies which change from edition to edition.
The only drawback is the exorbitant price - all part of this wretched "gotcha!" situation students find themselves in, where publishers seem to be getting away with charging prices that begin at more than double what the market would tolerate for an equivalent non-textbook. Longman employees should be ashamed of themselves for gouging college students $74 for a paperback book which is widely used and therefore not a specialty oddball.
It's still a great book if you want to learn how to DO moral reasoning, with broad application to one's personal life.
Mediocre.......2006-02-25
The book is a great discussion started but hardly resolves any of the problems it presents.
Book Description
Producer, pundit, and media critic Jeff Cohen offers a fast-paced romp through the three major cable news channels — Fox, CNN, and MSNBC — and delivers a serious message about their failure to cover the most urgent issues of the day. Propelled by amusing anecdotes featuring famous pundits and media personalities, Cable News Confidential highlights the foibles, hypocrisies, and absurdities Cohen witnessed at news organizations run by entertainment conglomerates.
Customer Reviews:
Cohen explains my frustrations well.......2007-04-24
A big thanks to Jeff Cohen for confirming that I'm not crazy. He "found inside cable news was a drunken exuberance for sex, crime and celebrity stories, matched by a grim timidity and fear of offending the powers-that-be -- especially if the powers-that-be are conservatives. The biggest fear is of doing anything that could get you, or your network, accused of being liberal." If you keep in mind, it's not news (never was), then it makes it easier to swallow. After reading Cohen's account, you realize that Walter Conkrite would never get hired today in the face of fools like Chris Matthews, Sean Hannity, and Biff O'Really.
Great book!.......2007-03-05
I really enjoyed reading this book, and highly recommend it to everyone...especially people who don't really understand what a joke this all is..and how it became to be such a complete farce and and absolute threat to Democracy and so many other things sane human beings 'round these parts cherish.
Interesting read.......2007-01-04
A good read. Although the book felt a little short - I guess I'm used to novels - Cohen does get through his points without a lot of extra, unneeded pages. Some good anecdotes and references, and kept the story going at a good pace. You probably won't read this cover to cover in one sitting, but it still works read over a period of time.
Review: Cable News Confidenial.......2006-11-11
An excellent insight into the inner workings of cable news. I had no prior understanding of the increadable bias that exists on cable TV news. I highly recomment this book!!!!
A must read!.......2006-11-10
For anyone who watches cable news, Jeff Cohen's book is essential reading. He reveals how much corporations that own news outlets shamelessly distort the news. I hold this up there with Howard Kurtz's 2000 book "The Fortune Tellers."
Cable news has harmed the world, and reading these books will show you one of many ways they do so.
Book Description
You Are Being Lied To is a massive collection of articles that ruthlessly destroy the distortions, myths, and outright lies that are fed to us by the government, the media, corporations, history books, organized religion, science and medicine, and society in general. No one is spared, and all sacred cows are candidates for the grinder.
Do you believe any of the following?
* Alcoholics Anonymous is effective.
* Hackers pose a grave threat to the nation.
* There's a hidden code in the Bible.
* The Big Bang is an airtight fact.
* Thousands of species have gone extinct because of deforestation.
* Licking certain toads will get you high.
* Most terrorists are Middle Eastern.
Wake up! You're being lied to.
This book acts as a battering ram against the distortions, myths, and outright lies that have been shoved down our throats by the government, the media, corporations, organized religion, the scientific establishment, and others who want to keep the truth from us. An unprecedented group of researchers--investigative reporters, political dissidents, academics, media watchdogs, scientist-philosophers, social critics, and rogue scholars--paints a picture of a world where crucial stories are ignored or actively suppressed and the official version of events has more holes in it than Swiss cheese. A world where real dangers are downplayed and nonexistent dangers are trumpeted. In short, a world where you are being lied to.
Among the revelations inside:
* Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Sydney Schanberg on John McCain's efforts to conceal information on POW/MIAs
* Howard Bloom on liars in the media
* Riane Eisler on the realities of human nature
* James Ridgeway on tainted blood and more
* Jim Marrs on missing evidence in important cases
* Greenpeace cofounder Peter Moore on environmental myths
* Michael Parenti on atrocities in Kosovo
* Douglas Rushkoff on the information arms race
* Gary Webb on the gutless corporate media
* Howard Zinn on Columbus
You'll also discover that a human being has already been cloned, Joseph McCarthy was not paranoid, museums refuse to display artifacts that conflict wi
Customer Reviews:
Oh god!!!.......2007-07-16
Super Anthology! Worth every Federal Reserve note. This book does not lean left or right; instead the reader is given raw uncensored information -long; extensive and, heavily footnoted. Wonderful study companion.
Sensationalist and biased, just like anyone who claims to have the absolute truth.......2007-04-25
Because this book has been written by many authors, it's credibility varies. However I'll put the blame also on whoever picked the content.
Sure there are some very good points about media lies and exagerration, I've heard about them and some are old news to me. Some very reputable authors are there that I have read from before.
However when it comes to the contreversial and iffy topics on religion and science, this book is far to agenda-focused to be taken seriously. For example the article trying to disprove Jesus dosen't makes outright statements with "proof" that can be easily debated and is countered on other books supporting the other side. After that is a chapter glorifing all athiests and humanists, though it's not really a bad thing, it also bashes theists, and lumps "athiests, humanists, and freethinkers" together as if to say that all thiests are idiots, and pretty blaintly says it too. Meanwhile ignoring that there are many thiest intellecuals out there and if religion makes people stupid, then why are church afflitiated universities accredited? Not only that but it is completley ponitless to the topic, it dosen't reveal any disinformation.
To be fair, this book also attacks the scientific community too, but some of it's articles are questionable. For example, one of the articles focuses on a book called "Forbidden Anthropology", which states that human fossils correspond with Vedic records of being more than millions of years old.
Okay, so this book promotes athiesm, bashes Christianity, and is now supporting the New Age\Hindu idea that humans devolved from a higer spirituality and is supporting a book written by agenda-driven Hindu archeologists who at the end of the article start promoting their own spiritual beleifs.
Isn't that called a double standard?
Also some info here and there is pretty irellevant and just speculative. There is also a part disproving the Big Bang theory. I know may other scientists have thier own, non-religious ideas of how the universe began, but it just states "facts" why the Big Bang theory is flawed, but dosen't provide much else, or maybe there was a part but I didn't see it yet.
Okay, not all the aricles here are bad, though this book may blow things out of proportion, but it gives a good start to those seeking to have questions answered regarding the content in this book.
But the title is too absoulute of course, don't take anyone's word that what they are saying is the absoulute truth so fast. If you are indeed a "freethinker" then it would be wise not to consider this book to be absoulutely telling the truth. Who knows, maybe even these exaggerated things are right to some degree?
For Conspiracy Theorists Only!.......2007-01-11
If you're a conspiracy theorist, willing to accept as gospel assertions and allegations that are totally void of any supporting factual data, this book is for you.
However, those able to think for themselves and weigh the supporting data in search of the truth in any given theory will find this collection of supposititious essays quite lacking. I couldn't make it half way through this book before becoming so frustrated with the complete lack of any factual basis for each ineptly presented argument that I gave up and closed the book forever.
Opinions and perceptions are quite plentiful in the pages of this book but cohesive thoughts, supported by facts and credible witnesses are totally absent. An enticing title that just plain doesn't deliver.
Conspiracy Nuts?! NOT...An introduction to alternate views........2006-11-09
If you are already one who questions ALL of what you hear and MOST of what you see then this book is as another commentary stated, "great bathroom reading". Stating that "if" you have read Brave New World then you already know everything in this book is a little misleading. You Are Being Lied To mostly covers issue which are in front of us NOW which you might not have gotten accurate information from the major news outlets or any information at all if you do like most of the American public: Eat, Sleep, & S**T with a lot of work and T.V. taking up the rest of your time.
Powerful interests and "responsible" news outlets in order to better shape your thinking and thus public policy limit facts and/or distort the issues of the day. Definitely worth the purchase but as with all things take a grain of salt and check/research beyond this one source.
Rating: B
Somewhat Entertaining, Mostly Uncourageous, Often Trite.......2006-07-11
I'm normally delighted with any kind of alternative press, and picked this book up mainly because I always wanted to write one like it. Reading, I became ambivalent, for the book tries to do great things but falls short of its goal.
The best articles are "Anatomy of a School Shooting" by David McGowan and "Reassessing OKC" by Cletus Nelson, where the authors deal with eyewitness accounts of Columbine High School and the Oklahoma City bombing, respectively, providing tantalizing details omitted by the mainstream press. These two articles are exemplary of what the book aims to do: provide information mostly hidden by a pandering media.
"Oil Before Ozone" by Russ Kick gave an amusing critique of Al Gore and didn't shy away from dealing with character issues. "The Female Hard-On" by Tristan Taormino is downright pornographic and embarassing to have in my home.
The worst articles are, probably, "AA Lies" by Charles Bufe, who is so critical of anything that smacks of religion he can't even deal with Alcoholics Anonymous honestly (including the organization's own claims about itself - i.e. the news that the founders pulled much of their material from a Christian group is no news to anyone who can read history). The same goes for "The Truth About Jesus" by M.M. Mangasarian, who contradicts himself regularly and imposes a 21st-century, information age mentality upon 1st-century folks.
We all know the book has an agenda, and at the moments when its authors are able to look over their own prejudices, it's a delicious read. Unfortunately, too many of the articles are caught up in a particular political, philosophical, or theological perspectives to accurately correct "disinformation."
Worst of all, I found a lot of the writing trite and unskilled. It's hard to bore me, particularly when the subject of correcting lies and myths arises, but I had a hard time getting through most of the articles.
Read it? Nah. I suggest finding the relevant information elsewhere, and spending your money on a more informative, more interesting, less agenda-ridden claim to rid ourselves of agenda's lies.
Book Description
This volume contains a rich and varied selection of classic writings in philosophy and ethics through the ages. This volume features selections from Eastern religions, Native America, feminist perspectives, existentialism and environmentalism as well writing from Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, John Rawls, Immanuel Kant, Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill and others. For anyone interested in learning about the evolution of ethics and ethical thought in America.
Customer Reviews:
Not Dantes Friendly.......2001-04-17
I purchased this book, brand new, online for the purpose of obtaining the knowledge I needed to take a DANTES test. I found that the book consisted of the writings of philosophers and not narration of the philosopher's beliefs. The anicient writings are incredibly difficult to decipher. I ended up having to locate another source from a library and tossing this book into the dumpster! If I had not gotten the secondary source of information I would have been lost during the test.
Books:
- The Moral Imperative of School Leadership
- The Police In America: An Introduction, with "Making the Grade" Student CD-ROM and PowerWeb
- The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: How White People Profit from Identity Politics
- The Power of Focus: How to Hit Your Business, Personal and Financial Targets with Absolute Certainty
- The Prince (Bantam Classics)
- The Reading Coach: A How-to Manual for Success
- Training to See: A Value Stream Mapping Workshop: A Value Stream Mapping Workshop (Lean Enterprise Institute)
- Understanding American and German Business Cultures
- Understanding Business
- What Would You Do? (American Girl Library)
Books Index
Books Home
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General
| Criticism & Theory
| History & Criticism
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Writing About Your Life: A Journey into the Past
Not a Suicide Pact: The Constitution in a Time of National Emergency (Inalienable Rights)
Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court
Code: Version 2.0
Steal This Music: How Intellectual Property Law Affects Musical Creativity
