The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised As Freedom
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Worldview Wakup Call
  • Eye-Opening Must-Read
  • The truth the media won't tell me
  • worthwhile read, but some shortcomings
  • God or No God - Religion or No Religion
The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised As Freedom
David Kupelian
Manufacturer: WND Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581824599

Book Description

Americans have come to tolerate, embrace and even champion many things that would have horrified their parents' generation—from easy divorce and unrestricted abortion-on-demand to extreme body piercing and teaching homosexuality to grade-schoolers. Does that mean today's Americans are inherently more morally confused and depraved than previous generations? Of course not, says veteran journalist David Kupelian. But they have fallen victim to some of the most stunningly brilliant and compelling marketing campaigns in modern history.
The Marketing of Evil reveals how much of what Americans once almost universally abhorred has been packaged, perfumed, gift-wrapped and sold to them as though it had great value. Highly skilled marketers, playing on our deeply felt national values of fairness, generosity and tolerance, have persuaded us to embrace as enlightened and noble that which all previous generations since America's founding regarded as grossly self-destructive—in a word, evil.
In this groundbreaking and meticulously researched book, Kupelian peels back the veil of marketing-induced deception to reveal exactly when, where, how, and especially why Americans bought into the lies that now threaten the future of the country.
For example, few of us realize that the widely revered father of the "sexual revolution" has been irrefutably exposed as a full-fledged sexual psychopath who encouraged pedophilia. Or that giant corporations voraciously competing for America's $150 billion teen market routinely infiltrate young people's social groups to find out how better to lead children into ever more debauched forms of "authentic self-expression."
Likewise, most of us mistakenly believe the "abortion rights" and "gay rights" movements were spontaneous, grassroots uprisings of neglected or persecuted minorities wanting to breathe free. Few people realize America was actually "sold" on abortion thanks to an audacious public relations campaign that relied on fantastic lies and fabrications. Or that the "gay rights" movement—which transformed America's former view of homosexuals as self-destructive human beings into their current status as victims and cultural heroes—faithfully followed an in-depth, phased plan laid out by professional Harvard-trained marketers.
No quarter is given in this riveting, insightful exploration of how lies, both subtle and outrageous, are packaged as truth. From the federal government to the public school system to the news media to the hidden creators of "youth culture," nothing is exempt from the thousand-watt spotlight of Kupelian's journalistic inquiry.
In the end, The Marketing of Evil is an up-close, modern-day look at what is traditionally known as "tempation"—the art and science of making evil look good.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Worldview Wakup Call.......2007-09-28

As a Christian going through "The Truth Project", which is a study in developing a Christian worldview, this book is very relevant to my study. We have been sold a bill of goods by the world, and this book is very powerful in helping to identify these lies.

If you want to gain a better understanding of these destructive worldviews that lead to moral and spiritual decay, you need to add this book to your reading list.

5 out of 5 stars Eye-Opening Must-Read.......2007-09-13

Regardless of your politics or religious beliefs this book is a must-read. Even if you disagree with the author, it provides insights into the conservative point-of-view, which is something valuable for everyone.

Kupelian surveys the scourges of our culture and explores their roots. I am well educated and informed on many issues. I tend to dig deeper than the average media consumer. I was brought up in a liberal Christian home and I seek information from the left, the right and everywhere in between. Then I form my own opinion. I must say I learned a lot from his book. It is an eye-opener.

As a father, I connected with his exploration of youth culture exploitation. As a husband, his writing on divorce resonated. Having once been a fetus myself, I'm pro-life, yet his expose of the pro-abortion left was stunning. As one who cherishes our constitution, his probing chapter on the subject was informative. As a professional marketer, I found his entire premise, of The (media) Matrix, sobering.

Of course one can debate various finer points Kupelian makes. That is one of the book's best aspects. It is thought-provoking. Read it, think about it, and debate it. I'm convinced you will be affected.

5 out of 5 stars The truth the media won't tell me.......2007-08-06

When our only viewpoint of society comes from a media that has its own agenda, we are carried along on that agenda. It's time we knew the TRUTH behind the myths of modern times such as gay "rights." Is the phrase, "separation of church and state" even in the Constitution? What really goes on in our schools? Do the majority of Americans really approve abortion on demand? Why would there be a "plan" to destroy marriage? Why are people so easily duped? David Kupelian tells us the truth behind the myths, and I urge anyone who really wants to know "the rest of the story" to read this book.

4 out of 5 stars worthwhile read, but some shortcomings.......2007-07-22

Overall a good effort in identifying to Americans how their thoughts have been manipulated on many issues. Other reviewers have previously covered these issues in some detail.
Where the book does fall short in its search for truth, (important for Kupelian), is objectively looking at 9/11, the creation of Israel, the ownership of American major media and the role that the masonic orders have played in influencing the topics that he covers.
Please remember one very important thing: presidents that belong to a masonic order are NOT Christian !

5 out of 5 stars God or No God - Religion or No Religion.......2007-06-28

We all know there are some things that are just wrong.



The media is exposed for what it truly is in this book. How could we, in America, have succumbed to such deception? We fell for all of this marketing madness hook, line, and sinker. The only good news in this whole book is that WE CAN STILL CHANGE THINGS!



I applaud Kupelian for writing such truths in a dramatic and unapologetic way. The world needs to read this book. Killing babies is wrong! Selling sex to children is wrong! Being a "bug chaser" is wrong! Allowing the government to brainwash our children is wrong!



If you want to know the truth about America you must read this book. I could not put this book down. My eyes are opened.

Towers of Deception: The Media Cover-up of 9/11
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Barrie Zwicker: Vision TV's Answer to Geraldo Rivera
  • Nonesense
  • The Ideology of Conspiracy
  • Why Aren't People Accepting That 9/11 Was An Inside Job
  • BEST APPROACH POSSIBLE TO CLEAR THE SMOKE OF LIES ABOUT 9/11
Towers of Deception: The Media Cover-up of 9/11
Barrie Zwicker
Manufacturer: New Society Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0865715734

Book Description

A dozen carefully-researched books have exposed the official story of 9/11 to be a terror fraud. Yet the mainstream media have monolithically failed to ask elementary questions about anomalies in this story. So-called alternative media have been little better. Towers of Deception explains why and prescribes actions to break out the truth.

Authored by a lifelong journalist who was for 35 years a media critic, Towers of Deception provides 26 "Exhibits" of evidence proving "beyond a reasonable doubt" that 9/11 was an inside job. It then presents case histories of de facto censorship by mainstream media and examines the psychological phenomenon of denial. "False flag" operations and psychological warfare are dealt with in detail, as is the "Invisible Government" -- the powers pulling strings behind the scenes. Following a profile of Dr. David Ray Griffin as an authentic prophet of the 9-11 Truth movement, Towers of Deception urges people to speak truth to power and challenge all media.

Interspersed with photographs, diary entries and inspiring profiles of those who see 9/11 Truth as the Achilles Heel of the neocon agenda, Towers of Deception includes a professional quality DVD produced by the author: The Great Conspiracy: The 9/11 News Special You Never Saw.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Barrie Zwicker: Vision TV's Answer to Geraldo Rivera.......2007-10-08

Following in the tradition of David Ray Griffin's sci-fi series of 911 conspiracy books, and the three stooges Loose Change videos, Barrie Zwicker offers a compendium of theirs and other rabid 911 conspiracy cottage industry exploiters easily refuted claims.

Watching the behavior of the "truth" brigade reveals a fascinating phenomenon commonly known as the "Reverse David Brock Syndrome." Once David Brock was the scourge of the left when he championed Justice Thomas and slimmed Anita Hill. But Brock, the creator of Media Matters, currently enjoys the undying gratitude and blind allegiance of Liberals for his complete transformation into a Hillary Clinton crusader.

Imagine the ultra Liberal/Socialist Noam Chomsky, one of the treasured darlings of the anti American set, being dissed by Zwicker for not embracing the Bush/Israel, and now American media, conspiracy theory. Who is next on Zwicker's excommunication list? Howard Zinn? Keith Olbermann? Rosie O'Donnell? Charlie Sheen? Possibly even The Boss?

The idea of not only the American media being in on 911, but the British media as well, is a bizarre claim. Considering the "truthers" favorite piece of evidence of the 911 Bush/Israel conspiracy that the BBC reported the collapse of WTC 7, some 20-30 minutes prior to its collapse, would indicate that confiding with the media to help you initiate a massive conspiracy is probably not the swiftest idea. Naturally, when the BBC renounced this false story, the "truthers" claimed they were pressured into retracting the story. But here is the BBC reply:

"We didn't get told in advance that buildings were going to fall down. We didn't receive press releases or scripts in advance of events happening. In the chaos and confusion of the day, I'm quite sure we said things which turned out to be untrue or inaccurate - but at the time were based on the best information we had."

Had Zwicker never heard of the 1999 Payne Stewart incident where his Learjet Model 35 flew for two hours, without any response to FAA controllers, before F-16's intercepted the jet? I wonder what trumped up maneuvers the government had diverted NORAD with when Stewart's jet was wandering the skies over the U.S.?

But where in any of these cottage industry 911 conspiracy books and videos do these bastions of truth and enlightenment ever discuss Sandy Burger's stealing and shredding of stolen 911 documents from the National Archives? I know that the conspiratorial minded loved Waco and Ruby Ridge during the Clinton Administration, but does Clinton get a pass on 911? Maybe it is because his wife is close to getting the Executive Office that the "truthers" excuse Bill's complicity in 911.

Just as Geraldo was confronted with the embarrassment of no riches in Al Capne's vault, so to is the inevitable fate of Zwicker and company when the "truthers" realize their Emperor is wearing his birthday suit.








1 out of 5 stars Nonesense.......2007-09-19

After reading this book, I just wanted to laugh and the leaps people can make and others will believe.

1 out of 5 stars The Ideology of Conspiracy.......2007-08-09

Almost everybody has seen the headlines in the check-out lines and had a chuckle. We all know there are those who take this stuff seriously. The same can be said of the 911 "conspiracy". Some folks pay absolutely no attention to the various and many investigations that have disproved 99% of all the bogus claims but go orgasmic over the latest Youtube video by Joe Blow claiming he has the ultimate 911 truth. If you don't believe my conspiracy theory you are part of the plot - the perfect defense mechanism. I try to point out that despite universal claims of inside knowledge and the real "truth", the stories contradict each other in almost every detail. For example, the hijackers cannot be (1) alive & well, (2) non-existent, (3) murdered, (4) Mossad agents, (5) al Qaeda agents or (6) under remote mind control by the CIA.

Barrie Zwicker is described as a Canadian alternative writer and a left wing political activist (Wiki). Those phrases should set off warning bells as to his bias before we start. That is not to say that political leanings are always a factor - the liberal Skeptic Magazine came up with the same conclusions as the conseravite Popular Mechanics and the neutral Engineers of America and, for that matter, the 911 commission. Physical evidence is no longer used in the conspiracy since they were quite easy to disprove. A political conspiracy is easier to trot since it is entirely subjective, based on a hodge podge of overheard snatches of conversation, internet chatter and bizarre tales that almost always have a simple explanation, i.e. "pull" down WTC7 meant "pull" the men from the bldg but of course it was taken out of context and transformed into one of the most-quoted pieces of "evidence" around. Zweiker plays it safe - making several proposals that if proved would leave no doubt that indeed it was a conspiracy.

The fallacy of that approach is the same as its construction - its utter subjectivity. If I prove 10 but disprove 5 is it conspiracy? If I can't prove any but disprove one, does it fall apart? He carefully does not make the error of others and try for exactness. He asserts that the media were part of the "plot" by repeating erroneous stories, relying on unknown sources and in general, supporting the series of events proved by investigations. Someone has calculated the thousands it would take to pull off something of this magnitude and yet not a single soul has come forward with a confession...strange in this day of the confessional.

People are now noticing how other conspiracies are intertwining and becoming part of the mythology. These "odd? ideas are standard fare for the conspiracy addict but not the general public - Jewish bankers (Anti-Semites are drawn to such crap), New World Order, Knights Templar, the Illuminati, Big Oil, CIA remote mind control, the Vatican, aliens... Some sites now headline the catchy phrase - "No Planes, No Holocaust" - further damaging the dwindling credibility of the "movement". The success of this movement speaks volumes about our inability to think critically about problems. How much easier it is to imagine dark cabals of whispers and payoffs than the horrific truth. It is an exercise in nonsense, irrationality, political ideology and wish fulfillment for big kids. The results, however, are as tragic as any conspiracy buff could imagine. The "Patriot Act", "Homeland Security", the war in Iraq, the loss of liberties agreed to by both parties, the never ending war and surveillance...those are outcomes of 9-11 and do not even require a dark, secret plot as an explanation.

5 out of 5 stars Why Aren't People Accepting That 9/11 Was An Inside Job.......2007-07-24

I can't say enough good things about Barrie Zwicker's book. It is filled with wisdom pieces throughout. Barrie takes on the challenge of why people aren't accepting that 9/11 was an inside job and even devotes a whole chapter to a former hero of his, Noam Chomsky, selling out. I might also add Amy Goodman's name to that list. I couldn't put the book down. After reading 150 pages in my first sitting, I was compelled to write to Barrie letting him know how much I appreciated his book. Upon further reading I was not disappointed. That is an understatement for this very important book.

5 out of 5 stars BEST APPROACH POSSIBLE TO CLEAR THE SMOKE OF LIES ABOUT 9/11.......2007-07-07

I have seen many of different movies and read many other books on the subject, and Zwicker's approach is the best I have seen, in my opinion. Go out and get this book NOW, and I guarantee you will be impressed!!!
LAbyrinth: A Detective Investigates the Murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., the Implication of Death Row Records' Suge Knight, and the Origins of the Los Angeles Police Scandal
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Mindblowing Information
  • Great book, very well-written
  • Mindblowing!
  • Biased author, unsympathetic characters
  • Outstanding
LAbyrinth: A Detective Investigates the Murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., the Implication of Death Row Records' Suge Knight, and the Origins of the Los Angeles Police Scandal
Randall Sullivan
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Murder & MayhemMurder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 080213971X

Book Description

Flaunt magazine declares LAbyrinth "absolutely impossible to put down" -- a book whose stunning discoveries are nonetheless "incredibly thorough and surprisingly credible." Acclaimed journalist Randall Sullivan follows Russell Poole, a highly decorated LAPD detective who in 1997 was called to investigate a controversial cop-on-cop shooting, and eventually discovered that the officer killed was tied to Marion "Suge" Knight's notorious gangsta-rap label, Death Row Records. During his investigation, Poole would come to realize that a growing cadre of black officers were allied not only with Death Row but with the murderous Bloods street gang. And incredibly, he began to uncover evidence that at least some of these "gangsta cops" may have been involved in the murders of rap superstars Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. Still more shocking is what happened when Russell Poole became lead investigator in the murder of Notorious B.I.G.: as his shrewd detective work pointed to crooked cops such as David Mack, who orchestrated one of the biggest bank heists in Los Angeles history, Poole found his investigation stifled by a police chief wary of doing further damage to a department already sullied by the O. J. Simpson trial, the Rodney King beating, and the Rampart corruption scandal. Could it be that the Rampart scandal -- in which dozens of officers were implicated in a conspiracy of robbery, brutality, drug dealing, and false imprisonment -- was only a smokescreen for a far more damaging debacle? Igniting a firestorm of controversy in the music industry and the Los Angeles media, the hardcover publication of LAbyrinth helped to prompt two lawsuits against the LAPD (one brought by the widow and mother of Notorious B.I.G., the other by Poole himself) that may finally bring this story completely out of the shadows. Entertainment Weekly insists that "no single source presents so complete or damning a record" of this "compelling" epic tale of L.A. noir. "[An] engrossing, damning tale of widespread unchecked corruption in one of the nation's largest police departments, one that deserves attention." -- Renee Graham, The Boston Globe " "A deftly told, immensely relevant, true-life potboiler from the streets of urban America." -- Kirkus Reviews " "LAbyrinth is a jeremiad, leveling everything in its path." -- R. J. Smith, Los Angeles Magazine "You don't have to know anything about any of this to love this book." -- Carolyn See, The Washington Post "You haven't got the goods on any of these notorious cases until you read this intricate show-biz true-crime thriller." -- Mike Tribby, Booklist "Sullivan's reportorial writing style accurately reflects the investigative work ... while building the drama within the truly labyrinthine political cover-ups." -- Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Mindblowing Information.......2006-10-12

This book is one of the main reasons I could not bring myself to vote for former LAPD police chief Bernard Parks, in our most recent mayoral race. Seems we were so worried about more negative press in this city, we too often just looked the other way. One of the better documented works on the subject; the background info on L.A. street gangs, Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. are worth the cost alone. Will keep you glued to the pages.

5 out of 5 stars Great book, very well-written.......2006-09-02

I recommend this book for several reasons. First off, it is extremely well-written. There's no rambling, it's very well researched, and the way the stories and facts are expressed are not dry at all. The writer, Randall Sullivan, writes for Rolling Stone magazine, so it's presented in that style. Even if you aren't interested in the Tupac/Biggie story, this book still goes deep into the origins of the Bloods and Crips, East coast and West coast rap feuds, and especially, just how corrupt the LAPD was(and probably still is). I've read other books on these subjects, including the recently released book by "hip-hop cop" Derrick Parker, but this book is by far the best. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars Mindblowing!.......2004-07-21

If ur a fan of either tupac or biggie GET THIS BOOK .....russell poole blows the lid on how death row was really run. He explaines the level of corruption within the LAPD, and how and why the investigations into their murders remain unsloved. After reading this book, and watching the Nick Sullivan Biggie and Tupac dvd, its plain and obvious to all who was behind their murders!

3 out of 5 stars Biased author, unsympathetic characters.......2003-08-28

As a fan of both Tupac and Biggie, I was very interested in learning more about what really went down. Former Officer Poole seems to think he has the answers so I was eager to learn what he knows draw my own conclusions. I was very disappointed.

First of all, to my absolute surprise, nobody else seems to have picked up on the author's extreme bias. For example, on page 14 of the hardcover version, Sullivan notes that "[In the early 1960s], as now, black males committed a hugely disproportionate amount of crime in Los Angeles and across the country." WHAT? I can't even believe that went to print. Question: do black males commit a disproportionate amount of crime in this country or are they accused and convicted disproportionately? At the very least, if you're gonna make such outrageous comments, back it up. With no statistical data, I consider Sullivan's comment to be hearsay. Then, just a few pages later, on page 18, Sullivan gets a little diatribe going about how the LAPD hiring process has become less stringent over time, noting that "liberals had successfully argued that [baring applicants with juvenile records] limited the number of blacks and Hispanics who could join the LAPD." I'm not even 20 pages into the book, and my reading of the author is that he really doesn't like minorities or "liberals," whatever the latter term means to him because he sure doesn't define anything. Yet I decided to take these and similar comments with a grain of salt and press forward with the book.

If one-tenth of what's written in these pages is true, Biggie and Tupac were just as despicible as Suge Knight, the LAPD, the affiliated gangs, the attorneys and just about everyone else who graced the pages of the book. And that made me really sad because it's hard for me to listen to the music the same way. Tupac and Biggie were not innocent; they were just greedy [...] who courted violence successfully. Truthfully, none of the stuff about the LAPD or any of the other authority figures surprised me. Money and testosterone--bad combination. Lest you think I'm a man-hater, the women in this book are appalling, too. I hate to say it but Tupac and Biggie got what they deserved.

I do think that Sullivan's style is extremely readable and engaging. I also like the way he attempted to provide background on the LAPD history, the history of the Crips and the Bloods, etc. If you're not likely to be critical going into this book, it's not bad for escapism. Unless you were living in a plastic bubble or don't keep up w/ current events, I doubt that you'll be blown away by the overall picture Sullivan paints.

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding.......2003-07-26

An outstanding book. Very well researched and a methodical investigtion of the underworld that the rap music business has become. To the few people who thought that this book was a waste of time I can't imagine that you read the same book. There is so much evidence that the top brass of the LAPD covered up certain investigations that it is overwhelming.
Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge (P.S.)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • NEW TWIST ON ROYALTY!
  • WIll stimulate your interest in learning more history.
  • a delightful escape!
  • A wonderful romp in the pages of history
  • Very Apealling
Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge (P.S.)
Eleanor Herman
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060585447
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Book Description

What does Camilla see in Charles? Did the Duchess of Windsor REALLY think she was going to get the crown of England? Learn the scandalous truth about the illicit relationships of some of history's most powerful men – and the women who slept with them to get to the top. There was Madam de Pompadore – brainy but passionless mistress of Louis XV and her successor Madam duBarry . beautiful, stupid, but a whole lot more fun.

Fascinating, and endlessly entertaining, Sex With Kings explores sex, power, money, rivalry and revenge. This non–fiction journey through 500 years takes the reader into the throne rooms and bedrooms of Europe's most powerful kings. From the dawn of time, power has been a mighty aphrodisiac. The royal mistress, having conquered a king, often ran his kingdom, wielding her sexuality as sceptre. Sex With Kings is trailblazing in its exploration of this intriguing phenomenon – the position of royal mistress at European courts, the fascinating women who filled it, and how their responsibilities and rewards changed over the centuries. This is a chapter of women's history which has remained unwritten – until now.

Download Description

"

Throughout the centuries, royal mistresses have been worshiped, feared, envied, and reviled. They set the fashions, encouraged the arts, and, in some cases, ruled nations. Eleanor Herman's Sex with Kings takes us into the throne rooms and bedrooms of Europe's most powerful monarchs. Alive with flamboyant characters, outrageous humor, and stirring poignancy, this glittering tale of passion and politics chronicles five hundred years of scintillating women and the kings who loved them.

Curiously, the main function of a royal mistress was not to provide the king with sex but with companionship. Forced to marry repulsive foreign princesses, kings sought solace with women of their own choice. And what women they were! From Madame de Pompadour, the famous mistress of Louis XV, who kept her position for nineteen years despite her frigidity, to modern-day Camilla Parker-Bowles, who usurped none other than the glamorous Diana, Princess of Wales.

The successful royal mistress made herself irreplaceable. She was ready to converse gaily with him when she was tired, make love until all hours when she was ill, and cater to his every whim. Wearing a mask of beaming delight over any and all discomforts, she was never to be exhausted, complaining, or grief-stricken.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars NEW TWIST ON ROYALTY!.......2007-10-01

This is one of the funniest books on European Royalty I've read in a long time. As a student of history, I have heard of most of the royal mistresses mentioned but this was a great new way of telling the stories. It was almost like reading a girls gossip ring on paper and I couldn't put it down. I couldn't believe some of the things these men and women got away with!

All in all a GREAT book! A must have for anyone interested in history or royalty.

4 out of 5 stars WIll stimulate your interest in learning more history........2007-08-25

Eleanor Herman's book, Sex with Kings, is full of fun gossip. It is an easy non-complicated book that may start some readers off as future history fans. I think this book would be good as a supplement to a college freshman western civilization history course. If I was teaching European history to freshmen, I would use this book, along with other more scholarly books, but I think this book is very humorous, entertaining, and full of nasty details about the intimate lives of the powerful. It may make history come alive for those who find history boring.

There is one major problem with the book. Herman decided to group her chapters around various themes, such as the rivalry between the queen and the king's mistress, or the husband of the king's mistress, the riches to be obtained as the king's mistress, the potential political power that might be obtained, the issue of royal bastards, public opinion of the mistress, and the change of winds that occur when the king dies before his mistress. This would appear to be a very sensible way to organize the chapters, however it also means that each chapter is full of small paragraphs on each amorous couple and thus the text seems disorganized and choppy. If Herman had selected 12 royal mistresses and then followed the themes she identifies within each of these stories, the text would have been more easily understood and the narrative flow would improve.

That being said, the various adventures in this book were very entertaining. The story of Anthenais de Montespan and Louis XIV was a highlight of the book. Anthenais is obsessed with remaining as the king's favorite, involved in attempts to keep all beauties away from the eyes of the king while giving him secret love potions. Yet she is trumped by her children's old maid governess, Madame de Maintenon, who eventually becomes the king's legal wife after the death of the Queen. This is a fascinating twist of fate, and yet as Louis XIV grew older and more mature, it would only seem natural that he was less interested in exotic young beautiful lovers and became interested in a woman of intelligence, character and good judgement.

The mistress that receives the most coverage is, of course, Jeanne-Antoinette Etioles, Marquise de Pompadour. This beautiful, refined, intelligent, and sophisticated woman ruled the court of Louis XV, a man of normal intelligence and instincts but not a great thinker or strategist. Pompadour was probably the most influential and powerful of all royal mistresses in Western Civilization, chosing to make critical decisions of state on behalf of the king rather than to worry about jewels and finery.

The most entertaining mistress would have to be Lady Castlemaine, lover of Charles II. Her ability to manipulate Charles II, while gathering untold riches for herself, is almost unbelievable. Charles II actually was unable to pay the sailors in his navy because of the funds he spent on Lady Castlemaine.

The life of Marie Jeanne du Barry, the final mistress of Louis XV, is a wild tale of a beautiful prostitute, elevated to the role of the King's mistress due to her exceptional beauty, and yet she remained an innocent soul with little intelligence. Comtesse du Barry went into retirement with her jewel collection upon the death of Louis XV. Her jewels were stolen and later recovered in London. By this time the revolution had begun and Louis XVI and Marie Antionette were imprisoned. Comtesse du Barry was able to get permission to go to England to reclaim her jewels at a time when the revolutionary government was not allowing the ruling class to leave France. The ironic thing is that du Barry returned to France with her jewels and soon died on the guillotine.

The book ends with the abdication of Edward VIII to marry Wallis Simpson and the affair between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. Edward's low intelligence is explored as well as Prince Charles' lack of judgement around his life with Diana. Camilla actually comes across favorably in the final chapters of the book.

The book is full of odd sexy stories that might stimulate folks to actually pick up a history book one day.

5 out of 5 stars a delightful escape!.......2007-07-12

This was a new topic for me - intimate details of European royalty through history. This introduction sparked a newfound interest, which has not faded. This book provides terrific overviews of many mistresses and their relationships with the public, the courts, and their kings - organized by theme/topic. Sex itself, is a small portion of this book (and is not nearly as graphic as you might think at first). I had no idea how many different roles a mistress really played during her life, and have much more admiration (or sometimes disgust) for what these women did to obtain their goals.

The author does a wonderful job at making you feel like you are peeking through keyholes and eavesdropping on gossip, but without being disrespectful to those involved. Although the author has a beautiful and elegant writing style that paints picture after picture, she still manages to let the facts speak for themselves and allows you to draw your own opinions on these women and their controversial lifestyles. Additionally, previous historical expertise is not necessary to enjoy this book. However, be prepared for "accidental learning", as it happens quite easily and unknowingly. This book won't gather dust on you bookshelf. As soon as you're finished, you'll know of a friend to pass it on to...who will do the same when she's finished with it...

If you have any interest or curiosity about the women of this era, or history that takes on a more personal account AND if you enjoy books that allow you to live vicariously, or books that take your mind off of work or some other responsiblilty, I recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars A wonderful romp in the pages of history.......2007-07-10

I really liked this book. It was written well and very informative. I read a lot of historical fiction and there is almost always a mistress involved in something. This book brings them back to life and gives you insight on how they got to their status and kept it and or lost it.

5 out of 5 stars Very Apealling.......2007-07-07

I am an "avid reader" of historical biographies, and this book would be good for anyone who is just getting into history. The excerpts are short and funny and do their job of keeping your interest! Very interesting!
The Hollywood Book of Scandals : The Shocking, Often Disgraceful Deeds and Affairs of Over 100 American Movie and TV Idols
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Those who like this book really like it, those who don't really hate it
  • Poor book, badly disjointed, rehashing scandals most people already know about
  • I read this book before because it was WRITTEN before...
  • The Hollywood Book of Scandals
  • Debbie Davis could only like this book.
The Hollywood Book of Scandals : The Shocking, Often Disgraceful Deeds and Affairs of Over 100 American Movie and TV Idols
James Robert Parish , and James Parish
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  1. The Hollywood Book of Death : The Bizarre, Often Sordid, Passings of More than 125 American Movie and TV Idols The Hollywood Book of Death : The Bizarre, Often Sordid, Passings of More than 125 American Movie and TV Idols
  2. Hollywood Babylon: The Legendary Underground Classic of Hollywood's Darkest and Best Kept Secrets Hollywood Babylon: The Legendary Underground Classic of Hollywood's Darkest and Best Kept Secrets
  3. The Hollywood Book of Love : From True Romance and Blushing Brides to Tawdry Trysts and Femme Fatales The Hollywood Book of Love : From True Romance and Blushing Brides to Tawdry Trysts and Femme Fatales
  4. Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die? Fitting Ends and Final Resting Places of the Famous, Infamous, and Noteworthy Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die? Fitting Ends and Final Resting Places of the Famous, Infamous, and Noteworthy
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ASIN: 0071421890

Book Description

Popular cult author and show business insider James Parish exposes the scandals that rocked Tinseltown

Nothing intrigues the public more than a good, juicy scandal. Add a famous Hollywood star or two to the mix and the nation is hooked. The Hollywood Book of Scandals provides the full account of 32 big, provocative scandals—complete with all the sexy, scintillating, and often shocking details. Written by veteran show business chronicler James Robert Parish, this book dishes the full dirt on:

More than 100 black-and-white celebrity photos offer readers a close-up look at the leading players in these sordid dramas.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Those who like this book really like it, those who don't really hate it.......2007-07-12

There's not much space, it seems, for in-betweens, but place me firmly in the "like" camp, especially since I've talked up this book favorably in reviews of several other Hollywood-gossip books here on Amazon. I will say I'm also in Parish's corner. I haven't read a _bad_ book from him yet, IMO. His "Hollywood Book Of..." series specializes in relatively short, punchy articles that are well-researched (certainly in comparison to some other books in this genre), evenhanded and crisply written. While the photos are not always anything special (his series on actresses features much better selections of pictures), they're also usually well-chosen and a lot less sensationalistic than, say, _Hollywood Babylon's_ selections.

Another reviewer questioned why Cary Grant's rooming with Randolph Scott should even be considered a scandal in 2007, which misses the point. It's not that it's not scandalous now, in 2007; the point is how it was regarded _back then_. If Parish doesn't make it clear in that particular instance, he generally does elsewhere in the book (for instance, in his analysis of the Fatty Arbuckle scandal, where it was clear both at the time and now that Arbuckle was a railroaded, innocent man; in fact, Parish explodes the myth of Virginia Rappe's innocence and demonstrates that key (false) testimony was given by a friend of Rappe's who had an axe of her own to grind).

No book is perfect, though, and my own quibble is that Parish covers some material that's already been gone over in other books in the present series, while leaving out other material that clearly deserves inclusion. Specifically, I'm thinking of his section on the Woody Allen-Mia Farrow breakup, which was already discussed at length in "The Hollywood Book of Breakups". The space devoted to that rehash could have been used, instead, to talk about - for instance - the David Begelman check-forgery scandal (where actor Robert Stack discovered his name signed to a check he didn't draw or cash, which was ultimately traced to then-studio head Begelman).

All in all, though, I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

1 out of 5 stars Poor book, badly disjointed, rehashing scandals most people already know about.......2007-03-24

I found this book to be very disjointed, badly organized, and even poorly written. The list of "scandals" is the same old list of tired stories, innuendo, and might-have-beens that every movie fan and scandal fan likely knows about already. Worse, some of the occurrences Parish lists aren't really even scandals - the fact that Robert Blake was tried for his wife's murder may be a scandal, but in 2007 is the fact that Cary Grant shared a house with a fellow male star even slightly scandalous? The only scandal is in those who judged him, one way or the other.

In addition, this book could have benefited from thorough copy editing and fact-checking. There are many minor and major factual errors and, in addition, many typos and grammatical errors.

I don't recommend this book.

2 out of 5 stars I read this book before because it was WRITTEN before..........2006-09-04

If you have read the Hollywood Babylon books, then there is really no need to read this one. It is a rehash of what was in those books.

The only reason you might want to read this one is to save yourself reading the other two or maybe you have no clue at all about these scandals and want to catch up.

I found the book hard to follow in general. Overall I can't tell if this was a repeat by intention or what. I like John Robert Parish too, so this is no slam on him. I just don't get the point, but he isn't the first guy to so something over.

2 out of 5 stars The Hollywood Book of Scandals.......2006-07-29

The scandals themselves were interesting however I found the book hard to read. Some of the information was repetitive from chapter to chapter and it was not well written. I was looking for something that I could just pick up an read a story at a time and this was not the book for that.

1 out of 5 stars Debbie Davis could only like this book........2006-06-24

Only a short bus rider like Debbie davis could love this book.This book is the second book in a row this parish character wrote and its boring an old news from the old tabloids.Unless you have lived under the dirt there is nothing new here. Just an obvious attempt to make money. This has been done much better by better writers like Bob Thomas and James bacon and Earl Wilson!!!!- Note- one reviwer wrote Don Johnston of Beach Boys wrote I write the songs. His name is Bruce dear.
Tainting Evidence : Behind the Scandals at the FBI Crime Lab
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Extremely Well Done
  • Excellent
  • God Bless America
  • Well put together
  • Lacking Standards and Accountability
Tainting Evidence : Behind the Scandals at the FBI Crime Lab
John Kelly , and Phillip Wearne
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684846462

Amazon.com

Two crusading journalists investigate the FBI's forensic crime lab and deliver a strong indictment against what goes on there. Federal agents regularly dupe the public into accepting "scientific" findings that aren't based upon science at all, they charge, and the lab is infected with a troubling culture where truth plays second fiddle to prosecutorial interests, with information potentially useful to defendants withheld. The book's hero is FBI-scientist-turned-whistle-blower Frederic Whitehurst, and most of the chapters focus on the crime lab's controversial role in high-profile cases involving O.J. Simpson, the World Trade Center bombing, the Unabomber, and others. The authors at times appear to have a pro-prosecution bias of their own, but their conclusions shouldn't be ignored. They probably won't be; as one attorney tells the authors, "No defense lawyer in the country is going to take what the FBI lab says at face value anymore." --John J. Miller

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Extremely Well Done.......2006-04-22

"Tainting Evidence" is a book about the FBI crime lab. Stop wondering why the FBI always gets their man. They perjure themselves in court.

The book characterizes the FBI is a rogue government agency more interested in looking good than being good. Top priority is image building and public relations. An actual quote from an agent: "Before you embarrass the Bureau, you should be willing to perjure yourself."

The book surveys several high-profile cases. This careful scrutiny reveals an ongoing pattern of criminal misconduct-distortions, omissions, and downright lies. FBI examiners habitually give scientifically flawed, inaccurate, and overstated testimony under oath. They alter lab reports and give their testimony a prosecutorial slant.

The book's conclusion is that the FBI crime lab needs to be removed from control by the FBI. We are told that many other western nations have come to realize that an agency controlled by law enforcement and dedicated to securing convictions cannot run a laboratory designed to report objective analytical results.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2002-12-31

John contributed a chapter to "Into The Buzzsaw". Exposes serious malpractice within the forensic dept of the FBI, how it's been compromised in some of the biggest cases, requiring them to be reopened. From the Oklahoma City bombing to the OJ Simpson trial. Even the FBI explosive expert on the WTC. John's a brave guy, find out why.

5 out of 5 stars God Bless America.......2002-02-28

How many people remember when this report hit the news? How many people have thought about it since? (show of hands) Since then, how many times have we continued to seek justice utilizing this overblown, corrupt, self-serving organ of the Federal Government? Would you want their evidence at *your* trial, should you for some inauspicious reason find yourself at the wrong end of the military-industrial-prison-pharmaceutical-industry? Read this book and I'm sure you will say, out loud, in unison, with me -- I think not! Nothing has changed since that report hit the airwaves, the FBI continues to fly by the seat of its pants, making things up as it goes along, following orders in order to make sure the prisons are full of the candidates properly chosen by those it *is* accountable to...and it hasn't been accountable to the American people for a very long time. And to think we are basing a *war* on their "evidence" -- and it's a wonder I don't believe a word of it. Frankly, this book is only the tip of the iceberg in FBI complicity and complacence in a world that has gone crazy -- but it's a very important tip. This book is very thorough, documented, professionally written and very readable. A must for the library of any professed patriot.

You might want to particularly consider this book in light of the Jeffrey MacDonald case, and know that there is far, far more there than meets the eye.

God bless America.

5 out of 5 stars Well put together.......2001-06-21

Great book for anyone wanting to know the truth behind all the bungles the F.B.I has been having over the last 20+ years. A great incite on how the F.B.I is really ran.

5 out of 5 stars Lacking Standards and Accountability.......2001-05-25

The Inspector General's Report on the FBI Laboratory found a number of problems: examiners had given scientifically flawed, inaccurate, and overstated testimony under oath in court; altered the lab reports of examiners to give them a pro-prosecutorial slant; failed to document tests and examinations so their conclusions could not be properly checked. FBI lab management failed to check examinations and lab reports, allowed and inadequate record system, and had covered up incompetence instead of investigating them. This book goes beyond the IG's report thru reporting documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. The FBI lab has never agreed to real external scrutiny, never published the research data used for its forensic tests, never revealed the results of its own internal proficiency tests. This book is both educational and entertaining.

Most forensic scientists are not independent experts; most are affiliated with police or prosecutions agencies. Their job is to build a case for the prosecution. The authors mention the TV show "Quincy"; "CSI" is a better and current example, though a drama.

One example given is "voiceprints" - a unique pattern for any single individual's speech. But research by the National Academy of Sciences concluded there is no validity to this claim. Another fault is to use overstated conclusions using undefined terms such as "match" or "identical to". Its purpose is to hide information that is "discoverable". The FBI interpretation of the adversarial approach of the justice system serves neither science nor truth.

The FBI system is to let a civilian scientist do the tests, but have an FBI agent testify about them in court. This prevents a defendant from confronting the witness! And their lab does not meet ASCLD/LAB accreditation criteria.

Chapter 7 says that DNA typing is NOT a genetic fingerprint; to portray is as such is scientific fraud. Fingerprints are unique, DNA profiles are not. DNA typing produces a random probability match, not a definitive match. There are 3 problems in its use. It came out of regulated, pristine medical labs, but was adapted to unregulated crime labs; making a match is far from scientifically certain, it can be highly subjective; and, the means of computing statistical probability of a match was disputed. And evidence could have been both contaminated and planted. The odds of a match are created subjectively.

Chapter 4 on Ruby Ridge explains it all.
STATIC: GOVERNMENT LIARS, MEDIA CHEERLEADERS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO FIGHT BACK
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Amy Goodman is published by Mickey Mouse
  • Engrossing & Forceful!
  • Long-Time Viewer of Democracy Now!
  • Excellent analysis
  • If you want the truth . . .
STATIC: GOVERNMENT LIARS, MEDIA CHEERLEADERS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO FIGHT BACK
Amy Goodman , and David Goodman
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1401302939

Book Description

Torture. Kidnapping. Bogus wars. Illegal wiretapping. Propaganda. Spies in the newsrooms. Oil profiteers. Soldiers who won't fight. Mothers of fallen soldiers Who will.In Static, the bestselling brother-sister team of Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, and investigative journalist David Goodman takes on government liars, corporate profiteers, and the media that have acted as their cheerleaders. The authors cut through the official static to show the truth about war, torture, and government control of the media. Static breaks the sound barrier to present the voices of dissidents, activists, and others who are often frozen out of official debate.Read Static. Become informed. Fight back. Defend democracy.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Amy Goodman is published by Mickey Mouse.......2007-04-12

Amy Goodman is the recipient of numerous prestigious journalism awards and is presented as a hard-hitting journalist that goes after the stories the mainstream media won't touch.

From her appearance on Charlie Rose (PBS)

AMY GOODMAN: In a time of war we need independent reporting.

CHARLIE ROSE: I don't know what that means independent in contrast to what?

AMY GOODMAN: It means not being sponsored the corporations, the networks like CBS, ABC, NBC owned by General Electric -- or CBS owned by Viacom or Disney is ABC.

In her best selling book The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media That Love Them, Amy spends the majority of the book explaining that mainstream news is compromised because they are owned by huge corporations who use the news to protect their own narrow interests.

I agree with that sentiment, what is troubling to me is that Disney publishes Amy Goodman herself. Her first book 'Exception to the Rulers' and her latest 'Static", are both published by Hyperion, a division of Walt Disney.

I'm not saying Amy is guilty merely by association, but if you understand the argument that Amy Goodman puts forth, in interviews, books, etc. That is, the mainstream news is compromised because, in her words, "the networks like CBS, ABC, NBC" are "owned by General Electric -- or CBS owned by Viacom or Disney is ABC." Then what are we to make of Amy being published by Mickey Mouse? We have two, and only two possible answers; either Amy's thesis is incorrect or Amy is part of this compromised mainstream media.

5 out of 5 stars Engrossing & Forceful!.......2007-03-15

I happened to find this book while searching for another title here at Amazon ~~ it came as a suggested buy and I ditched the first title in favor of this one ~~ and I haven't regretted the decision since. Once I picked up this book, I wasn't able to put it down. It is disturbing and equally disquieting. I cannot believe there aren't more people talking about this book or Democracy Now!

This book covers the lack of media reportage of human rights violations across the world. That alone is disturbing. But what makes me even more nervous is that the violations are also being supported by the current administration that we have now. They are the most secretive administration ever in the US history and no wonder, after reading this book, are they so secretive. And the media goes right along with them in covering up their crimes. As a former news designer for a very tiny newspaper (remind you!), I have seen what happened when big corporations get in the way of decision-making of what goes in the newspaper on a daily basis, so it wasn't surprising to read of it here. What is more surprising are the news that just aren't being reported.

There's instances reported in here about innocent men being arrested just because they're Muslims or from the Middle East; torture chambers in different countries that are supported by the CIA; a Democratic leader from a small and impoverished nation being exiled because he wasn't going along with the administration's goals; a British diplomat who was fired for speaking up for the country he's an envoy for; military soldiers fighting against the Iraq War and mothers who want answers for their children's death; the firing of the prosecutors were mentioned in this book, long before that became an issue in the news just recently; suppression of true journalists (Helen Thomas comes to mind) when they ask probing questions, and many more instances.

It is enough to make you sick and at the same time, you're questioning if this is really happening ~~ because the media didn't really report it. Fortunately for me, I remember hearing a lot of these instances simply because my husband reads the entire newspaper from front to back and finds a lot of these snippets buried in obscure corners of the paper and he'll point them out to me. There were instances that I was not familiar with ~~ and was appalled. This book is not for weak stomachs. This book is enlightening. This book will make you so mad that you'll want to throw it across the room.

If you want to read something that is compiled of disturbing instances that we don't see in the mainstream media, this is the book to get. It is honest, gut-wrenching, and forceful in just the facts being reported. It is also well-written and engrossing that you can't put it down. But at the same time, it leaves you with a question hanging over your head, just what are you going to do now? Keep burying your head in the sand or face the fact that there are serious problems facing our country and it's coming from within, not from the outside.

3-15-07

5 out of 5 stars Long-Time Viewer of Democracy Now! .......2006-12-08

Undoubtably, Amy Goodman's knowledge of current and past events runs deep. The collective facts that
she and her co-author put together are not only insightful, but furthers public understanding of the severity of decision-making at the highest levels of government. Often underepresented, Democracy Now!'s journalism is noteworthy of near-perfect journalism; Amy Goodman reflects this in her recent work, "Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and the People Who Fight Back".

5 out of 5 stars Excellent analysis.......2006-11-10

This is an excellent analysis. It proves the enormous value to the public of an independent media. Amy Goodman is intelligent and insightful; the anti-Couric.

5 out of 5 stars If you want the truth . . ........2006-11-10

Excellent collection of facts of the scandalous Bush administration. By now, we know that America has figured it out, but reading it is a shocking detailing of just how arrogant our government can be when it feels it has to answer to no one.
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The AIDS Epidemic
  • important, profound piece of journalism...
  • magnificent and riveting
  • You've heard of
  • The Best Book I Read in 2005
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic
Randy Shilts
Manufacturer: Stonewall Inn Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  5. The Emergence of Aids: The Impact on Immunology, Microbiology and Public Health The Emergence of Aids: The Impact on Immunology, Microbiology and Public Health

ASIN: 0312241356

Amazon.com

In the first major book on AIDS, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Randy Shilts examines the making of an epidemic. Shilts researched and reported the book exhaustively, chronicling almost day-by-day the first five years of AIDS. His work is critical of the medical and scientific communities' initial response and particularly harsh on the Reagan Administration, who he claims cut funding, ignored calls for action and deliberately misled Congress. Shilts doesn't stop there, wondering why more people in the gay community, the mass media and the country at large didn't stand up in anger more quickly. The AIDS pandemic is one of the most striking developments of the late 20th century and this is the definitive story of its beginnings.

Book Description

By the time Rock Hudson's death in 1985 alerted all America to the danger of the AIDS epidemic, the disease had spread across the nation, killing thousands of people and emerging as the greatest health crisis of the 20th century. America faced a troubling question: What happened? How was this epidemic allowed to spread so far before it was taken seriously? In answering these questions, Shilts weaves weaves the disparate threads into a coherent story, pinning down every evasion and contradiction at the highest levels of the medical, political, and media establishments. Shilts shows that the epidemic spread wildly because the federal government put budget ahead of the nation's welfare; health authorities placed political expediency before the public health; and scientists were often more concerned with international prestige than saving lives. Against this backdrop, Shilts tells the heroic stories of individuals in science and politics, public health and the gay community, who struggled to alert the nation to the enormity of the danger it faced. And the Band Played On is both a tribute to these heroic people and a stinging indictment of the institutions that failed the nation so badly.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The AIDS Epidemic.......2007-05-10

Trace the beginning of the AIDS virus through society with this compelling account of the epidemic. You'll be shocked and horrified.

5 out of 5 stars important, profound piece of journalism..........2007-02-26

I read this book in 1991 after caring for a brother who died from AIDS. When he was alive and we were together we didn't know a thing about this virus except what it was doing to our lives. About five years after his time was up a friend gave me a copy of The Band Played On. It changed my life forever. This book might be the most important, profound and historical piece of journalism written in our time. This book should be required reading for future generations. Tracing the onslaught of the virus from patient zero to Rock Hudson. Randy Shilts leaves no one unscathed in our failed immediate response to the greatest health risk of our lifetime. There's blame and accountability for everyone politicians, gay community, doctors, society but this book is not about blame and pointing fingers. It is ultimately about a society facing it's ugly little secrets and coming to grips about what seperates us is maybe not as important as what unites us. If and when we ever reach the top of the mountain and can look down at what this virus has wrought on us and we can confidently say 'never again', each man and woman will have to look at their own soul's and search inside of themselves for the answer to the following question. Did I do enough during the greatest health plague of our times to make a difference? Randy Shilts certainly has by writing the most detailed, historical look at the early days of the AIDS crisis. By reading this book I was inspired to do my share. God bless us.

5 out of 5 stars magnificent and riveting.......2007-02-07

I read this as background for a thesis paper on journalism on HIV; I didn't realize quite what I was getting into with this one.

It may be the greatest non ficton books I've ever read, an utterly moving and compelling account of the epidemic and response. Shilts makes a high drama out of it; everything from the opening quote and the fonts makes the book as tragically poetic as it is informative and shocking.

Based on my work, I'd say it's also really a gold standard for journalism on HIV. He may have his personal feelings about it, but all they inspired him to do is question authority and delve deeper. He's very scrupulous about his sources and his research.

If you only ever read one book on the HIV epidemic, make it this one.

5 out of 5 stars You've heard of .......2007-01-16

"The age of dinosaurs" or "the age of mammals"? Wrong. All ages have been "The Age of Microbes". And they mutate fast, and are lookin' for a home. A memorable scene in "Angels in America" is of a PWA "visited" by his ancestors who had been dispatched by fleas on rats -- or an infected water pump.

Randy, God bless his soul, did not cut his own gay community any slack. A message to take away -- You are ultimately responsible for your own health. Not your doctor, not the government, not the CDC. There are plenty of threats you cannot do anything about. Why neglect those you can?

5 out of 5 stars The Best Book I Read in 2005 .......2006-07-26

And the Band Played On is an act of phenomenal research and writing, and a very frightening book on many levels because of the political wrangling, political bumbling, and political disregard for a medical crisis which cost the lives of so many, the scientific in-fighting which slowed medical break throughs and sacrificed lives, and the insanity of national agencies which were supposed to be saving lives, but which in this case knowingly risked the lives of many either because they didn't want to do the work, didn't want to spend the money, or didn't want to anger certain political groups. Gay men were deemed to be utterly dispensable by so many.

It's the sign of a good book when it brings out strong emotions. This book provoked in me anger, rage, confusion, compassion, sadness, and tears. I wish I could thank all those, like Don Francis, Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Dr. Selma Dritz, Marc Conant, Dr. Dale Lawrence, Paul Volberding, and Dr. Arye Rubenstein, who tried so hard, against such overwhelming odds, to save lives quickly. I would also chastise President Ronald Reagan and Merve Silverman and give Margaret Heckler and Bob Gallo a piece of my mind -- the skunks!

I am thankful that there are politicians like Orrin Hatch and people behind the scenes like Bill Kraus and Cleve Jones. Though he was woefully slow in responding I'm grateful for the response of C. Everett Koop and that once having made his stand he never wavered and took it to the media wherever he could.

Randy Shilts did an excellent job of showing the culture in the United States and France and the politics in the medical and scientific communities and the political posture and arena during the 1980s. He also humanized the crisis by following many of the patients from onset of medical problems to death (Enno Poersch, Gary Walsh, Frances Borchelt, Bill Kraus, and Gaetan Dugas) and by following the doctors and scientists in their fight to discover the properties of this terrible disease and conquer it. It was enlightening and helpful to have the book structured as a time line.

The amount and variety of research done for this book is astounding, requiring Shilts to conduct hundreds of interviews and read millions of pages of articles and medical material. In reading this book, my education has been enhanced and my life is more full and forever changed.

It is a great tragedy that AIDS killed Randy Shilts as it had killed so many other innocents, and that as I write this there is still no cure for AIDS. As far as I can tell, it is again being largely ignored by governments and the medical community. Where will the next Randy Shilts, Bill Kraus, and Dr. Gottlieb and the other saviors come from--and will they come soon enough?
The Queen's Necklace: Marie Antoinette and the Scandal that Shocked and Mystified France (Phoenix Press)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The Scam of the century
The Queen's Necklace: Marie Antoinette and the Scandal that Shocked and Mystified France (Phoenix Press)
Frances Mossiker
Manufacturer: Phoenix Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1842126148

Book Description

Written in 1961 and now back in print, this classic and fascinating true crime story stars none other than Marie Antoinette. Four years before the French Revolution, some priceless diamonds were purchased in elaborate secrecy from a court jeweler. The jewels, not yet paid for, were delivered into the hands of the first Prelate of the Church of France. He, in turn, gave it to a countess who claimed to be acting for Marie Antoinette. Although essentially an innocent bystander, the Queen became embroiled in a scandal that fatally weakened the monarchy.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Scam of the century.......2005-03-31

In 1785 The Queen's Necklace scandal broke over France. Queen Marie Antoinette was alleged to have bought a diamond necklace worth over 1.6 million franks and refused to pay for it, and had Cardinal Prince Rohan, a long time courtier out of favour, arrested for it along with his accomplices the Countess de la Motte-Valois and the famous mystic Count Cagliostro.

This book is a series of fascinating first person accounts of how the necklace swindle occurred and the trial that followed it. Most of the people involved in the scandal wrote their memoirs and virtually all the court related documentation is still available in France in archives. This book is a compilation of these memoirs and legal statements made by all the parties involved in this crime which opened the monarchy and France to the fury of the revolution.

The author does not impose her own interpretation of the events on the reader, but does provide explanations to the backgrounds of the people involved and the social and political niceties of the time that explain why people acted as they did.

This book is a lively account of this important French scandal that, because of the first person accounts, reads like a novel. If the story wasn't true it would be hard to credit such a cast of interesting characters, with their extravagant and wildly different backgrounds, coming together like this to play a crucial role in the downfall of the French Monarchy. Its also very interesting to compare this book to what is portrayed in the movie of the same name. There are a number of very significant differences!

Los Demonios del Eden (Actualidad / Actuality)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Los Demonios del Eden (Actualidad / Actuality)
    Lydia Cacho
    Manufacturer: Grijalbo
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    Conspiracy TheoriesConspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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    SpanishSpanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
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    ASIN: 9685961603

    Product Description

    Famous journalist reveals the abuse of major corporations to children sexual exploitation.

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