The Last Refuge: Patriotism, Politics, and the Environment in an Age of Terror

Book Description

"Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels" -SAMUEL JOHNSON, 1775

"a tightly reasoned, excellently written book that should be lethally effective in helping readers who aren't experts understand the contours of the crisis." -TOLEDO BLADE

Updated and revised following the 2004 elections, The Last Refuge describes the current state of American politics against the backdrop of mounting ecological and social problems, the corrosive influence of money, the corruption of language, and the misuse of terrorism as a political issue.

Setting out an agenda that transcends conventional ideological labels, David Orr contends that partisan wrangling is only a symptom of a deeper dysfunction: The whole political machinery that connects Americans' fundamentally honorable ideals with public policy is broken. The book offers a withering critique of the failings of the Bush administration, supplemented by new essays that look at the national-level dominance of the Republican Party and examine the fallacy that the evangelical right represents a Christian majority.

After analyzing the challenges of reforming the current system, Orr offers an empowering vision of a second American Revolution that peaceably achieves sustainability and charts a hopeful course for forward-looking citizens.

Customer Reviews:

Should be mandatory reading for politicians.......2005-12-27

Having read Orr's other books, I found this one to be very cynical. And whille the book is filled with prodound thoughts and suggestions, I fear that most of what he offers will, once again, be ignored. His comments on the connection between terrorism and environmental issues were enlightening.

Despite my own cynicism, however, I believe the book contains a great summary of what ails our political system (i.e. lack of courage and greed), and the book should be required reading for all students of environmental studies and politics. It should be mandatory reading for our congress as well.

The book is relatively short and is written in simple language, making it a very fast read.

Important, But Not Up to Orr's Usual Standards.......2005-03-01

There are really only a couple of dynamite essays in this book. The rest are, sad to say, fairly middle of the road. I had read two of Orr's other books, "Earth in Mind" and "Ecological Literacy," which were absolutely stunning. But this effort is uneven. There are certainly many practical and revolutionary suggestions for turning our earth's fate around, but most of them have been taken up with more conviction and detail by other authors. There is a nagging sense here that Orr is kind of late to the game in some of his ideas, like undermining the idea of corporate personhood, or amending the constitution to include ecological concerns for our descendents.

So while I do recommend this book, especially because Orr is such a graceful writer, I would suggest supplementing it with some harder hitting recent material (maybe "Unequal Protection" by Thom Hartmann, "Beyond Civilization," by Daniel Quinn, or the collection of work done by POCLAD, "Defying Corporations, Defining Democracy," available on www.poclad.org).

Best nonfiction book I've ever read.......2004-07-28

The Last Refuge is indeed the best nonfiction book I've ever read, and all I read is nonfiction, and a lot of it. I am now into my second reading of this valuable book! David Orr is my favorite environmental author. Known by some as the "sane environmentalist", Orr is not one to do anything other than tell it to us straight. With a wonderful writing style, Orr writes for the laymen. Covering everthing from campaign finance change necessities to control of corporate charters to a proposed environmental amendment to the Constitution, Orr gives a forthright, authentic, and thorough overview of the "Great Work" (Citing Thomas Berry's wonderful book)and the things that must be doone in politics to achieve a world where poverty, hunger, pollution, species extinction and more are dealt with and ended. David Orr cites our need to update our Constiitution (A living document, meaning able to be changed) to allow for the reeling in of corporate mega abuse of our world so that suceeding generations can have a world that enables the pursuit of happiness. This book is full of great ideas and wisdom and again, it is written in a way that anyone can understand it. This book needs to be read by folks all over the country!!! I would give it 10 stars if I could!

Timely Book.......2004-04-22

This book echoed my feelings exactly. Issues about the environment should be brought to the forefront of the national discussion...give this book to anyone influential you know and make them read it!

its a good book.......2004-04-16

In stark contrast to his earlier book, "Earth in Mind", Orr rids himself of any hesitancy to appease, and states the true state of American politics from an environmentalist perspectives. The essays are clear and lucid. It is a good book.

Average customer rating:

The Last Refuge
Clive Egleton
Manufacturer: Severn House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0727861824

Book Description

David Garnett continues his fight against the Russian occupation force The British Resistance needs Garnett once again. Intervention is called for between the terrorist Hawks and puppet Doves, and as the Russians pull out of England, someone has to smuggle six prominent politicians out of the country to head a Government in Exile. But the odds are heavily stacked against success. It is a gamble, and as it turns out, it is the final gamble . . .

Last Great Wilderness: The Campaign to Establish the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Average customer rating:

This is a truly wonderful book
It's a top, recommended pick
Fine Account of People and Place
The Definitive History of the Establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Last Great Wilderness is a Great Read

Last Great Wilderness: The Campaign to Establish the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Roger Kaye
Manufacturer: University of Alaska Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1889963836

Book Description

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is at the center of the conflict between America’s demand for oil and nature at its most pristine. Three decades before the battle over oil development began, a group of visionary conservationists launched a controversial campaign to preserve a remote corner of Alaska. Their goal was unprecedented—to protect an entire ecosystem for future generations. Among these conservationists were Olaus and Margaret Murie, who became icons of the wilderness movement.

Last Great Wilderness chronicles their fight and that of their compatriots, tracing the transformation of this little-known expanse of mountains, forest, and tundra into a symbolic landscape embodying the ideals and aspirations that led to passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964.

Customer Reviews:

This is a truly wonderful book.......2007-03-09

While focused on the ANWR, this eloquent work has broad application. Kaye's careful analysis of what it took to mobilize disparate interests to reach a common goal, and of the constant attention that must be paid even after "success" is reached to avoid the same pro-development forces rewinding the clock, is instructive to every grassroots effort to protect our precious wild places. Well done at every level, and urgently needed as an organizing guide.

It's a top, recommended pick.......2006-09-24

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has for decades been at the center of the conflict between American needs for oil and nature's preservation, yet until now little has been provided in the way of a comprehensive history of how the Refuge came to be. LAST GREAT WILDERNESS: THE CAMPAIGN TO ESTABLISH THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE covers this history, from the early visionaries who set forth to save an entire ecosystem to the battles which led to the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964. It's a top, recommended pick for any interested in wilderness preservation in general and Arctic or oil issues in particular.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Fine Account of People and Place.......2006-08-02

Establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was an epic struggle in conservation and remains a touchstone for many of us that prefer a hearty dose of wildness. In this book by Roger Kaye, the reader gains an appreciation of the place rightfully called the Last Great Wilderness, but perhaps more importantly we learn about the coalition of scientists, sportsmen, and wilderness lovers who were profoundly touched by this wild corner of Alaska and how they struggled to protect it.

The people involved in the campaign to protect what would become the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge read like a who's who of the early conservation movement. Among those described are the likes of Bob Marshall, Aldo Leopold, Olaus Murie, Mardy Murie, George Collins, and A. Starker Leopold. In those early days, no one knew what special designation was fitting for such land or which agency should manage it, let alone how to convince Congress or the President to act on its behalf.

One of the great lessons of this book is that despite long odds, persistence and dedication eventually pay off. Virginia Wood and Celia Hunter, two early Alaska advocates for protection, captured what I am certain was broad sentiment among conservationists at that time and even today, they wrote: "conservation gets so many setbacks...it is easy to get discouraged and feel that individuals or small groups are impotent in the machinations of `bigness' that plague the modern world."

Today, we are the beneficiaries of their unselfish vision and dedication. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is indeed the last great wilderness, stretching for more than 19 million acres - about 9 times the size of Yellowstone National Park - plus adjoining parks on the Canadian side. Roger Kaye's fine book reminds us not only why such an area was protected but why it is vital that we not lose this vision of a place where nature still plays out her natural rhythms in tune to forces yet only partially understood by scientists and philosophers.

The Definitive History of the Establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.......2006-07-31

As conservationists continue the prolonged struggle to protect the Arctic Refuge from oil development and other encroachments, the epic story of the campaign to establish the original Arctic National Wildlife Range, documented in Last Great Wilderness, now provides new inspiration and deeper understanding of why the Refuge should remain protected. This is an invaluable resource for all who will face the battles that lie ahead because in revealing the idealism and values upon which the Arctic Refuge was founded, it provides the most persuasive arguments for keeping it wild. While Last Great Wilderness is a thoroughly researched and authoritative history of the conflict, it is at the same time an absorbing, hard-to-put-down story. Color and black and white historical photos lend interest.

Last Great Wilderness shows how conservation pioneers George Collins, Lowell Sumner, Olaus and Mardy Murie, Starker Leopold, Justice William O. Douglas, and Sigrud Olson united with Ginny Wood, Celia Hunter and other Alaskans to forge a highly effective strategy of grass roots action on a national scale. Their successful struggle set a number of milestones in conservation history: establishment of the nation's first vast ecosystem-scale conservation unit and the first administered as an adventuring ground--a place for the kind of challenging, self-reliant, and exploratory journeys that Bob Marshall had extolled. The Arctic Range exemplified the wild values and recreational opportunities its advocates soon succeeded in enshrining in the wilderness Act of 1964. The victory laid the groundwork for the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).

While Last Great Wilderness is about what happened in the past, like any history, it was written to serve the future. For those who believe the vision, values, and ideals that led to the Arctic Refuge's establishment should guide its future stewardship, Last Great Wilderness will be an invaluable guide. And for those interested in the evolution of the wilderness movement, and especially its influence upon Alaskan conservation efforts, this book is a must-read.

A PhD in wilderness studies, Roger Kaye has been the Arctic Refuge's wilderness specialist and pilot since 1985.

Last Great Wilderness is a Great Read.......2006-07-30

"Last Great Wilderness is the story of the beliefs and values, the ideas and idealism, and the hopes and concerns for the future that inspired the leaders of the campaign and many of their followers. (LGW, review copy, p. xv) Because the national campaign for establishment covered the period from 1950-1960, Arctic NWR serves also as tracer for the evolution of the Wilderness concept and the 1964 legislation establishing America's National Wilderness Preservation System. The Arctic NWR campaign, in its broadest context, involved many famous names in environmental conservation annals--Olaus and Margaret "Mardie" Murie, George Collins, Lowell Sumner, A. Starker Leopold, F. Fraser Darling, Howard Zahnizer, and others. The foundational vision came from Collins and Sumner, but the Muries helped steer the campaign at critical periods and obtained broad support for the proposal in Alaska, a feat worthy of Hercules.

Make no mistake; Last Great Wilderness will help readers understand the significance of this largest and most threatened refuge in our U.S. Refuge System. The book presents the hopes and dreams of the visionaries who worked so hard and so well for its creation. It presents the compromises that had to be made, and it gives context to the International, scientific, wilderness, fish and wildlife, cultural, and landscape-level ecological values for which the refuge stands, thereby creating a preeminent symbol of freedom, "...freedom from the crowding and pollution of our cities, freedom to continue, unhindered and forever if we are willing, the particular story of Planet Earth unfolding here--freedom for us as well who need to come to the few out-of-the-way places still remaining where we can breathe freely, be inspired, and understand a little of the majestic story of evolution... ."

Traces of Eden: The Last of the American Wilderness

Average customer rating:

Natural Wonder
A gorgeous presentation; especially recommended for gift-giving
Dreams Become Reallity
Spectacular!
Three Years of Wandering Through the Wonders of Nature

Traces of Eden: The Last of the American Wilderness
Nishantha Gunawardena
Manufacturer: TOE Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0976997207

Product Description

Traces of Eden is one of the most stunning nature photo essays seen in years. It is an experience of the grandeur and the splendor of the American wilderness as captured by Nishantha Gunawardena during his three-year journey traversing the last remaining pristine wilderness areas in the United States. This books features over 120 breathtaking photographs, an evocative essay on conservation, and excerpts from the travel journal. Senator Sheila Kiscaden writes "these photographs inspire the viewer as they lovingly capture the beauty of our country. Nishantha's journey and these images cry out to us to open our own eyes to rejoice in the splendor of our country and preserve its vanishing natural spaces. The glories of nature revealed within this book stir the soul and call us to contemplation, reflection, and wonder. We are asked to consider all that is lost when we fail to be in harmony with and do not safeguard our environment."Chicago Tribune writes, "Traces of Eden is a simmering volume. Nishantha Gunawardena's photographs eloquently remind us of the Eden that greeted Meriwether Lewis and William Clark some two hundred years ago, but cautions us that if we do not embrace this gift with our minds as well as our hearts we are in danger of squandering it completely. ... The lush photographs are accompanied by Gunawardenas own anecdotes of adventurous travels to create the pictures, which put you in the shoes of a lone traveler awestruck by the humbling mountain ranges, verdant river valleys, foreboding deserts and diverse prairies that comprise this country. To look at these landscapes, these beautiful animals, is to wonder what we have given up, at what price and why. ... Nishantha Gunawardena is a witness for the defense of nature in all its forms. Traces of Eden showcases the beauty of America, and thereby gives us a challenge to preserve and expand the land that sustains us."

Customer Reviews:

Natural Wonder.......2006-06-02

"The vastness of the United States seems endless and the variety of ecosystems incredible. Deserts, rain forests, grasslands, wetlands, coasts, glacier-clad mountains, and temperate woodlands each brim with its own distinctive character. The spirit of the land caresses and engulfs the one seeking solitude in it. It is possible to hear the essence of the terrain resounding and relating its story in tranquility." ~Nishantha Gunawardena

Traces of Eden is a beautiful introspective work displaying natural wonders and soul-nourishing landscapes. Like a photographic meditation, each page presents images to inspire a love of nature.

Nishantha Gunawaredena's poetic prose throughout make this as much an emotional journey as a visual experience. He sets up camp outdoors in order to capture a perfect picture of the moon, the glossy reflection like sprinkles of stardust across the North Shore of Lake Superior. He lives in Minnesota, but traveled across America to capture the rest of the pictures.

Lavender mountains from Wyoming seem to be awakening in a sunrise and gorgeous watery landscapes contrast with old growth forests.

After waiting for hours in the snow, a perfect moment is captured at Crater Lake Oregon. The colors in many of the pictures make them seem more like artwork than winding blue rivers from an aerial view. Sea green glaciers almost look like angular emerald green waves. I had to look at the picture for a few minutes to figure out what I was seeing.

The use of lighting adds a shimmering glow to many of the photographs. They contrast in warm and cool tones with mist-drenched valleys on one page and horses running in dry pastures a few pages later. One picture of a duck with water beading across its feathers is truly spectacular.

Nishantha Gunawardena has created a world of beauty to inspire awe and a sense of nostalgia for areas of America we have visited or wish to visit. His writing enhances the artistic experience and leaves you with a warm glow of appreciation.

~The Rebecca Review

A gorgeous presentation; especially recommended for gift-giving.......2006-05-20

Humanity has disrupted the very elements of nature which it seeks to preserve, yet the vastness of the U.S. and its ecosystems abide, as TRACES OF NATURE: THE LAST OF THE AMERICAN WILDERNESS seeks to capture forever under its book cover. Gorgeous color photos of American parks and wild areas accompany Gunawardena's own evocative prose based on his personal travels to these regions. From Alaska impressions to California' Mojave Desert and the vanishing Everglades, each lovely and often quite dramatic full-page color representation is faced with a blend of personal observation, photographic insight and natural history reflection. A gorgeous presentation; especially recommended for gift-giving.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

Dreams Become Reallity.......2006-05-10

Considering our natural land is retreating, the photos take us to a landscape some dream to discover. From cover to cover we are able to dive into the last of the North American wilderness and camp out in our favorite retreats. The colors in the photos are vibrant and illuminating. Mr. Gunawardena's hard work paid off in delivering a true work of art. What a beautiful tribute!

Spectacular!.......2006-05-02

"We are but one thread within it. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth...Whatever he does to the web he does to himself." Chief Seattle

This quote opens this book of photography, and the sentiment is woven throughout the photos and text.

This is a visually beautiful book, and that's what first drew me to it. When I looked at the pictures, particularly the luminous and lush landscapes, I felt Icould step right into the photo, that I was actually there. But when I took the time to read the text accompanying the photos, I truly understood why the author undertook a three-year journey to document the "few remaining traces of a once lush Eden" in our 50 United States.

His is a deep and heartfelt need to accurately portray to those of us who aren't paying attention just what it is that we are in danger of losing in our never-ending preoccupation with our self-gratifying, self-indulgent lifestyles, our "frivolous desires."

We are neglecting the land, which asks so little from us, yet is so necessary to our very survival. What will it take for our environmental apathy to end? What will it take to finally get our attention, and show us just how utterly dependent we truly are on the health of the land and all of the Earth?

Unfortunately, it seems to me that our short-term avarice trumps any thought to the long-term consequences of our actions and decisions, and it will take major economic and environmental impacts before the majority of people will sit up and take notice. And by then it just might be too late.

Armchair Interviews: A spectacular photo book with a very strong ecological message everyone needs to hear.

Three Years of Wandering Through the Wonders of Nature.......2006-03-21

Nishantha Gunawardena is a journalistic photographer from Sri Lanka whose previous photographs have been directed toward reportage of events such as floods, poverty, disasters and man's ability to cope. In this grand yet quiet book he continues his ability of reportage, this time directing our attention to the endangered wilderness grandeur of this country.

Gunawardena's images in rich color capture leaves/ twigs/ branches/ trees/ forests at dawn, noon, sunset and night in an effort to bring the viewers' appreciation to the majesty of nature unfettered by human touch. His photographs range from astute close-up shots of flowers or petals to vistas of fields, mountain ranges, and skies. The quality of the photography is magnificent and the book's reproduction is excellent.

But nature books abound on the shelves of our bookstores, so why is this volume so different? The answer is in Gunawardena's eloquent comments on his three year journey that resulted in the treasures of nature captured in this volume. His writing encourages the response of awe in the reader, a response that hopefully will eventually be manifested in our more cautious care for the great American wilderness, a place that simply must be protected from the greed of resource exploitation. Highly recommended viewing and reading and contemplation. Grady Harp, March 06

Christ Our Refuge: Making It Safely Through the Last Days

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Christ Our Refuge: Making It Safely Through the Last Days
Norman R. Gulley
Manufacturer: Pacific Pr Pub Assn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0816313245

Average customer rating:

A shamus to die for
A very good debut book -- When's the next one out??
Enjoyable read but desperately needs a decent proofreader/fact checker
Good book, lousy proofreading
More Sam Acquillo

The Last Refuge
Chris Knopf
Manufacturer: Permanent Press (NY)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1579621376

Customer Reviews:

A shamus to die for.......2007-04-18

Hard to believe this accomplished, engaging novel is the author's first full-length offering. Its protagonist is the kind of outsider heroes fans of Lee Child and Michael Connelly will love. Ex-prize fighter, ex-engineer, ex-father, seeking refuge on the edge of the Atlantic. Sam stumbles across the body of an elderly neighbour and finds himself embroiled in mysteries and old secrets that involve land deals and hidden scandals. Snappy dialogue and punchy prose. Good fun.

A very good debut book -- When's the next one out??.......2007-04-07

Sam Acquillo is unemployed; living on what money is left from his invention after his divorce, drinks too much and lives in a ramshackle cottage in Southampton, Long Island. He has also inherited the care of his elderly neighbor, Regina Broadhurst, and her house from his father. When Sam finds Regina dead in her bathtub he doesn't believe it's an accident and becomes administrator in order to investigate her death.

I can't blame the author for the publisher's lack of proofreading and editing, but it did detract from the book. The story, however, I loved. This is plot-driven story that seems simple but becomes more complex as it progresses. It shows the side of Southampton not inhabited by the wealthy, but the ordinary person. Having spent time in this area, I really enjoyed the setting. I wasn't certain I liked Sam in the beginning, but he definitely grew on me as his history was unveiled. I very much enjoyed this first book and have his second ready to read and hope there will be many more books to follow.

Enjoyable read but desperately needs a decent proofreader/fact checker.......2006-06-27

The protagonist, Sam Acquillo is a 50something 'retired' engineer. I know guys like him and the character rings true. Sam is reluctantly put in the position to use his past R & D skills to solve a murder (and more!). It's an entertaining read and I will probably read the next one in the series. I will also recommend this book to an engineer friend (who I think will identify with Sam) albeit with a caveat to beware of the glaring typos and misinformation.

Good book, lousy proofreading.......2006-02-16

I enjoyed the book and echo the praise for The Permanent Press for rescuing the book from oblivion. The book does, however, suffer from a need for a good proofreader (heal for heel, e.g., and many other real groaners).

More Sam Acquillo.......2006-01-25

Chris Knopf uses a technique in "The Last Refuge" that I see from time to time some of in my favorite novels, whether they're murder mysteries or not. I've seen it in Lee Child and I've seen it in Herman Melville. It probably has a literary name, but for now I'll call it the Observational Aside. The narrative stops for a moment, usually just as something big is about to happen, and the author throws in a little treatise on some philosophical or physical subject. For instance, just before a corporate showdown, Sam Acquillo steps out of the moment and speaks directly to us, as if he were standing at the lip of the stage in a Greek tragedy, Omniscient Observer: "Embarrassment is a complicated human emotion. Probably because it's an aggregate of other emotions - shame, guilt, anger, regret - that assemble in temporary alliances to suit the particulars of the moment. It's also one of the few emotions truly scalable to large organizations."

Then the camera rolls again, the action resumes, and we pick up where we left off, with two benefits: a greater understanding and appreciation for what is about to occur, and a little shot of tension-building as a result of the interruption, like a second shot of espresso in the mix. I love that. This is a novel that uses the murder-and-mayhem form to examine the human condition, deeply and with conviction. Sam Acquillo is a guy fighting through never-ending pain, with no earthly idea why. A capable warrior without a lord, like the old Ronin samurai after the emperor was gone, wandering the countryside, looking for something to do and a reason to do it.

Buy this book, get down with Sam Acquillo, and join the rest of us in looking forward to his next challenge. Believe me, you want to root for this guy and his dog and his '67 Grand Prix.

Last Refuge of Scoundrels: A Revolutionary Novel

Average customer rating:

I'm disappointed in People
The real shame here, the book is just not funny
A Truly American Tale
HAHA, funny , but accurate??
The Worst

Last Refuge of Scoundrels: A Revolutionary Novel
Paul Lussier
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0446678139

Book Description

From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin to those whom history has neglected, here is the human side of the American Revolution that was never taught in school. Told from the perspective of two star-crossed lovers, John Lawrence, a key aide to General Washington, and Deborah Simpson, an American spy who disguises herself as a soldier, it is at once a love story and an inside look into the sardonic, ironic, often manic side of our countrys battle for freedom.

Download Description

The American Revolution has never been seen for what it really was: a circus of greed and self-aggrandizement as much as a war waged by colonial radicals. Last Refuge of Scoundrels focuses on the American Revolution as it was lived, breathed, experienced, and dreaded by historical characters who were actually there--from famous leaders such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin to the ordinary folk whom history has neglected, yet who were vital in the winning of our country's freedom. The story centers on the star-crossed love affair between two patriots, John Lawrence (a key aide to Washington) and Deborah Simpson (an American spy who disguises herself as a soldier), and through their eyes the events of the revolutionary times unfold. Along the way, the reader gets an up-close and three-dimensional look at such American legends as John Hancock, Franklin, Sam Adams, Washington, and other key personalities of the time. Lussier's historical account of these figures present the reader with a most entertaining and revelatory look at what really happened when our country was born. These Founding Fathers are nothing like the staid portraits we see hanging on library walls; rather, Last Refuge of Scoundrels presents these American movers-and-shakers as real people--with their own personal agendas--for better or worse.

Customer Reviews:

I'm disappointed in People.......2007-01-29

The thing that this book brought home to me was twofold: how human were the Founding Fathers, how ambitious and greedy and afraid, no different than the men and women who lead our country today, nor too different from me or anyone else; and how little has changed in the last 250 years. Indeed, I can only say that the folks who take jabs at this book fail to see the "message" that Lussier is trying to bring home: that men are men, and men who seek power usually do it for the wrong reasons. Individuals who gain power as a consequence of great acts are different than people who start out seeking power.

The Founding Fathers were a contentious, greedy lot... most of them aristocracy, most of them holding the common man in contempt and, truthfully, making so many obvious mistakes from 1770 on, many of them were bumbling fools. In that, they are little different than the bumbling fools that (regardless of party) are running our country today. They get lost in Parliamentary Procedure and "honor the Gentleman from Maryland" and debate upon debate, while the real problems go unsolved. This book is a wake-up call, and a reminder that the fundamental essence of Man has changed little in the course of history.

The real shame here, the book is just not funny.......2006-02-08

The Revolutionary War is ripe for a bit of revisionist satire; there is an inherent pomposity to be found in any number of the "Founding Fathers" that would be fine material for a more sophisticated examination. LAST REFUGE FOR SCOUNDRELS, unfortunately, lacks the sophistication to make his book anything other than a mildly annoying work of fiction. Using an exceptionally broad brush, Lussier gives us the Revolution and its main participants as mere puppets of Deborah, a prostitute who is fighting for the common man. Deborah's mission, aided by John Lawrence, a love struck boy who grows, remarkably, into a love struck man, is to manipulate the war and its participants into creating a country that will provide a better life for all. From Boston to the Court of Versailles, one by one, the important events of the War are on display, seen through the eyes of of our protagonists with nary a laugh to be found. I had high hopes for this one and perhaps the review is a little harsh because an excellent opportunity seems to have been wasted. Lussier is not without ideas, but the tale of Deborah and John that this story hangs on is one that left me cold.

A Truly American Tale.......2004-07-07

Occasionally I come across a book so remarkable that I am compelled to offer a review. One such book is a delightful offering by Paul Lussier entitled "Last Refuge of Scoundrels."

To be perfectly honest I picked up "Last Refuge" while simply looking for something to read so I was totally unprepared for, and unprejudiced towards, Lussier's work. What I found was a fascinating tale woven from historical facts that not only thoroughly entertained me but challenged many of my conventional views of the Revolutionary War.

Most of the story is told through the eyes of John Lawrence, a character who is based on John Laurens, one of General Washington's aides d'camp. Lawrence has a number of adventures with Deborah Simpson, based in great part on Deborah Sampson (also spelled Samson), an infamous cross dresser who fought in the Continental Army under her dead brother's name. Simpson's daughter, Alice, is based on a composite of actual young girls and boys who "dressed the part" and served alongside adult soldiers.

While some detractors may challenge Lussier's work as being revisionist, I would argue that the record shows his novel to be creatively populist. As the story line emerges he does pretty much portray the "Fathers of our Country" as arrogant, aloof, elitist buffoons. But that was how things were back then and by our modern standards we would probably regard their early behavior accordingly. We must remember that these individuals weren't born great statesmen, generals and politicians. They were caricatures of their era and had to "learn on the job."

Congress was preoccupied with debates over trivia, as was Parliament, and more often than not decisions involving pressing issues of the time were avoided. Thomas Jefferson declared that "All men are created equal," with the understood subtext that equality applied to only one gender, and that that the aforementioned men did not include Negroes or Indians. The aristocrats wanted independence while the common people wanted revolution.

One could argue that Lussier's approach and descriptions of our forefathers are irreverent. However the underlying message of his story is that the American experience was truly a convergence of many diverse views, social classes and races. It was the bringing together of all these common elements, effectively illustrated in Lussier's tale, that brought forth the greatness in those individuals who eventually evolved to become our great "Founding Fathers."

Similarly, as the fight for independence became the fight for revolution, a great new country was born, not without flaws, but with the ability to itself evolve and improve its lot.

Paul Lussier challenges our comfortable notion that great leaders are born, not made, and his novel implies that our present leaders and even we ourselves have to evolve and grow in our abilities in order to keep this country great and strong. When our type of society is confronted by our true political destiny, we can all potentially grow from complacent buffoons into great leaders.

The only weakness I found, if there is one in this book, is that John, Deborah and Alice are involved in an incredible number of adventures. However to provide continuity and for the story line to make sense to the reader, it probably made sense to limit the number of characters involved.

The cloak and dagger adventures that Lussier weaves into his story line can be substantiated by historical records and the point of the story is not lost in his creative crafting of the story line. "Last Refuge" is truly an American tale as told by unsanitized, ordinary Americans. This is a book well worth the reader's time, and well worth musing over once the novel has been finished.

HAHA, funny , but accurate??.......2003-10-30

Paul Lussier does a good job of bringing the Founding Fathers down from their glorious pedestal by portraying them as really despicable and cowardly men. I feel that he assuredly overexagerates much of his degrading descriptions. (I'm sure Ben Franklin wasn't near as bad as he seems from this book, but even Hancock and the Adams cousins must have been better than the slimeballs portrayed here).

While this book was fun to read and provides a very different perspective on the American Revolution, at least from a political perspective, its also confusing in that you don't really know what to take seriously and what is purely fiction. I'd say most of it is purely fiction (at least I hope so). The main story is told from the perspective of a young man who finds himself fighting for a revolution (that he doesn't care about) and in love with a woman (who is also a whore). The book takes you through all that happens to this guy and at the same time progresses through key occurances of the Revolution. Along the way, the Founding Fathers are portrayed as complete bufoons with no interest except their own petty wants. The British are made to look like they never really knew what was going on and the F. Fathers to incite a Revolution without ever really meaining to (which may very well be true?). I mean, I'm sure that the people of the time may not be as great as they are made out to be in middle school textbooks, but this book takes it a little (or a lot) over the top.

This book was entertaining but not very informative about the true happenings of the American Revolution.

The Worst.......2002-09-02

The worst book I ever read. I have no interest in a fantasy of the American Revolution.

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Last Refuge of Scoundrels
Paul LUSSITER
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KP1XMY

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Christ Our Refuge: Making It Safely Through the Last Days
Norman R. Gulley
Manufacturer: Pacific Press Pub. Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000P3ZFR0

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Last Refuge
Matthew Vierling
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595670490

Book Description

For 100,000 years, mankind has been the supreme predator on the planet, and inside the enormous biosphere called Gaia Two, a killer is stalking and murdering the residents. But according to the laws of natural selection, it's only a matter of time before evolution spawns a predator that will prey upon us.

On an isolated Pacific island, that time is now.

Mythological dragons have arisen!

The legend of Beowulf recounts the tale of a warrior who came to Heorot to save strangers. Beowulf was a forbidding killer welcome only because a voracious dragon was marauding for human prey. For the residents of Gaia Two, Bishop is their slayer of dragons, who insists on aggressively hunting down the dragons. His warnings are ignored however, and like Beowulf he knows the loneliness of the warrior who is merely tolerated during times of peace.

Then Bishop is proved prophetic and events begin to go catastrophically wrong on the island.

Last Refuge is an exhilarating eco-thriller about an isolated group of unsuspecting scientists fighting to survive the sudden emergence of a lethal predator heralding the planet's next cataclysmic extinction event, and perhaps the end of the human species. Now, we are the prey.

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On an isolated Pacific island, that time is now.

Mythological dragons have arisen!

Then Bishop is proved prophetic and events begin to go catastrophically wrong on the island.

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