The Choice: Global Domination or Global Leadership

Book Description

America must make a historic choice: Will it strive to dominate the world, or lead it?

American power and a pervasive globalization are the central realities of today's world, and the source of its most difficult dilemmas. America's historically unprecedented power is the ultimate source of global security, yet Americans feel less secure than ever. Global interdependence and the widespread political awakening of humankind promote American dominance even as they breed anti-American envy, mobilize global resentment, and empower America's enemies through the diffusion of ever more destructive technologies.

In The Choice, Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor to the president of the United States, reminds Americans that their preponderance should not be confused with omnipotence. America's well-being and the world's are entwined. Panicky preoccupation with solitary American security, an obsessively narrow focus on terrorism, and indifference to the concerns of a politically restless humanity neither enhance American security nor comport with the world's real need for American leadership. Unless it can harmonize its overwhelming power with its seductive but also unsettling social appeal, America could find itself alone and under assault in a setting of intensifying global chaos.

Brzezinski has been hailed by Samuel P. Huntington for his "clear-eyed, tough-minded...geostrategic thinking in the grand tradition of Bismarck" and by Paul Wolfowitz as one of the world's "most penetrating analysts of international affairs and...one of the leading practitioners of the art of strategy." In The Choice, he identifies America's crucial strategic imperative: America must be both guarantor of global security and promoter of the global common good.

The Puppy Papers: A Woman's Life and Journey into BDSM
Average customer rating:

Life story

Fantastic, real read!

I'm Looking for My Puppy

Puppy Papers

Unique and Interesting Reading

The Puppy Papers: A Woman's Life and Journey into BDSM
Puppy Sharon , and Steven Toushin
Manufacturer: Wells Street Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1884760031

Product Description

thebrc.net BDSM Resource Center.
The Puppy Papers is an instant classic in its genre. While the "Story of O" and the "Beauty Series" are fantasy, The Puppy Papers is reality.

There is no other book or story that captures so well the honest and real quest of a women's search for her Master in the alternate world of the BDSM lifestyle. The Puppy Papers is an interesting, well-constructed story geared towards the adventurous woman, the vanguard reader, and those thirsting for a story on the cutting edge of sexuality.

Customer Reviews:

Life story.......2006-10-10

This book was great. It offers insight into her thought processes and how she learns. I had my sub read this book so she could get an idea of what the lifestyle is like. She came away with things she liked and didn't like about it. So it was great book for her to understand the joys of bdsm and also express some of her concerns. Great book and should be in any BDSM bedroom library.

Fantastic, real read!.......2006-09-01

I loved this book. It was a real to life look at a womans entrance into BDSM. I think it is a must for anyone looking to see how a Dom and sub think and feel.

Fantastic read!

I'm Looking for My Puppy .......2006-07-06

I purchased this book on the recommendation from a friend of mine. Most books about BDSM are "How To" or fantasy books, the puppy papers wasn't either. The puppy papers was a fascinating book, it took me a while to realize that this book was non fiction. To confirm this I went onto the Internet to see if this Steven person was real, he certainly is, which made this book that much better. Also there are references to nationally known people in the BDSM community who Steven is friends with. Another thing about this book is that it does not have flowery descriptive words or phrases, it is written in the moment in letter conversation form. Their conversations are about life, their relationship, puppy's work, family, even when her husband accuses her of having relationship with another man, her past play partners and Master, her need to be with Steven, her need to serve and a lot of kink.

I was surprised when the story took a turn when Steven started to ask puppy questions about her life and told her that he may be putting a book together from their emails. At this point, Steven becomes an interviewer and puppy continues to reveals open and honestly all aspects of her life. I haven't found a woman that is this comfortable with herself, that can speak so openly about her life, as for myself I don't know if I can be so open and honest about myself either.

I was fascinated by puppy's letters answering Steven questions and that they don't always follow the normal pattern of conversation, but life doesn't always flow smoothly. In one of the letters she brings up about playing doctor/patient with her girl friends, describing how girls learn about their body, I was surprised to say the lest, this is a subject that is never discussed. When asking about her first BDSM awakening, experience which took place in a Hotel room with a stranger, you can take safe and sane and throw that out the window. I found puppy a very erotic kinky masochist who is very devoted to her Dominant and open to all types of play.

The progression of their relationship from Top/bottom to Dominant/submissive is evident in how puppy address's Steven, I found that very interesting. I do wish that there was more about Steven in the last part of the book, he took a back seat to puppy's story which was a good thing, but so is he. In researching Stevens life on the Internet I found it fascinating that he is in the adult porn sex business and his involvement with the police and federal government. I wanted more of him in the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Puppy Papers, Puppy writes very well in the moment and has a wonderful sense of humor. If their relationship lasts and evolves I want to read about it, they certainly do have an interesting life.

By the way, the title has nothing to do with puppy play, this book is about puppy's life in her letters. For myself, I have been involved in the BDSM for many years.

Ken Ballard
Mr. Iowa Leather 2005

Puppy Papers.......2004-11-02

I couldn't decide whether to call this book a biography or an autobiography. It is through a series of emails, over a period of six months, in which Steven Toushin asks puppy sharon probing questions about her past and her understanding of sexuality (in particular hers) that sharon's story comes out but it is through her writings that we get to know her. It could be thought of as an interview as well. Perhaps structurally it is a hybrid. Personally, I like that I can't easily classify this book. It allows it to function as all of the above and creates the ability to enter the material in a variety of ways.

Conceptually it is interesting to find myself (as the reader) participating as voyeur in the budding relationship between Toushin and puppy. To observe as she slowly opens up revealing a fascinating sexual life from childhood to the present. Steven stays out of the way, revealing very little about himself, creating plenty of room for her to divulge her sexual awakenings. The correspondence between the two plays out much like life. There are the mundane emails, the "how are you. I'm fine" aspects, but tucked in between those are treasures of information. Some of which most women growing up in rural and suburban middle America will surely recognize and others that are truly unique to sharon; her openness to exploration reveals a woman self-possessed enough not to be bogged down in the guilt and shame of a slow but maturing understanding of her sexual desires and needs.

sharon's descriptions of her introduction to the BDSM world are absorbing, typically awkward, and sometimes funny as she talks about the pitfalls, as well as the satisfying encounters. Her point-of-view is adventurous and sometimes reveals a naiveté that is inevitable when entering a new world of experience. It is encouraging for those new to this sexual realm to read from a woman's point-of-view who remains intact despite unsuccessful experiences. A woman who handles the situations with calmness, self-possession and a sense of humor not allowing others to defeat or discourage her from continuing her quest to find sexual satisfaction. She seems to know this is all a part of her sexual education, which she is clearly in charge of. It's refreshing to read a woman's story that does not revolve around exploitation.

For those like me, if you begin to become suspicious of who this Steven Toushin guy is (especially after sharon reveals stories about some of the creeps she's encountered) never fear. Check out the appendix. There is plenty of information about him there. Though I do wish he would have included more about himself within the context of the email exchanges I understand the attempt to stay out of the way of sharon's story. It is sometimes successful, sometimes not. There are times when I begin wondering more about who he is which becomes a distraction from sharon.

This book is open-ended leaving the reader with many questions, particularly regarding sharon and Steven's growing relationship. It's some of the most titillating aspects of the book and if you want arousing material then you'll be clamoring for more details regarding their intense sexual interactions. I smell a sequel, which I'd buy. My curiosity has been piqued. The reader is given enough information to keep interested but there is still plenty that is to be explored. Again it is a strategy that points to one of life's conundrums, the inability for one person to fully know another person's mind and the desire to probe their lives all the more intensely. It also reminds us that one cannot judge a person by the way they look. There are plenty of professionals, suburban mothers, and other "normal" everyday people who have interesting and even amazing hidden lives. Makes you what to stop and find out what lurks behind the façade of normalcy that so many exude. It's good to know there are people from all walks of life waking up sexually and being brave enough to follow their inner desires.

Unique and Interesting Reading.......2004-09-11

It was bound to happen after more than a decade of email becoming mainstream and popular. Autobiographies and biographies are best sellers in America these days and there are increasing numbers of them focused on people who enjoy kinky sex. "The Puppy Papers" is a biography told through emails. It is not, however, really just the story of one woman. Through Puppy Sharon's emails we certainly do read about her life but also about the lives of the men and women she'd met. Most of these are rather clueless in terms of how to do kink safe, sane, and consensually, often letting their fantasies dictate where experience would be a better guide. Her story, however, is probably far more common in the kink community than most people realize. At least with her current dominant, the man who organized and encouraged her emails, she has found someone better and that should give hope to everyone.

Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts

Average customer rating:

Serious, but accessible
Domination and the Arts of Resistance
James C. Scott's Domination and the Arts of Resistance
an epiphany on every page

Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts
James C. Scott
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0300056699

Customer Reviews:

Serious, but accessible.......2006-03-11

I got "domination" for a class, which does not tend to bias me in favor of liking a book. However, I have tentatively enjoyed reading it. It is a serious, scholarly book, but the topic is engaging and the case studies and historical examples cited are always interesting. I think that the author supports his complex thesis very well, and I would recommend this book to people who want to read something serious about race and culture.

Domination and the Arts of Resistance.......2002-01-23

This book is a clear indication of the problems with modern historians: the tendency toward presumption and the discovery of common sense as if it were a new planet. Scott claims to understand the REAL story beneath ordinary daily discourses, going so far as to state that young inner city black men play a game that involves trading insults in order to "practice" reacting to racism in non-violent ways. How ridiculous!
Scott also attempts to prove his thesis by stating that alcohol sometimes plays a role in hidden transcripts becoming public. I suppose he hasn't had much experience with alcohol or those who have partaken of alcohol, else he would realize this is painfully obvious and not a groundbreaking revelation.
I give the book 2 stars because of its readability and the obvious effort put into the research. However, I cannot recommend it, for it is a perfect example of historians who spend too much time in the office, and not enough time in the real world.

James C. Scott's Domination and the Arts of Resistance.......2000-11-12

Spanning the entire globe and covering over 1000 years of human history, James C. Scott's Domination and the Arts of Resistance is an intellectual odyssey into the relatively new field of subaltern studies. It is also an intellectual oasis for historians and general readers of history who have become disillusioned with the traditional historiography of power relations and resistance among dominate groups and subordinate groups. Indeed, Scott's use of folklore, speeches, ballads, literary theory,linguistics, and public ceremonies, e.g., parades and political rallies, greatly adds to the works of other innovative historians of culture, domination, and resistance, e.g., Scott gives the works of Michel Focault, Hayden White, Dominick LaCapra, and Natalie Zemon Davis, to name a few, new perspectives for cultural analysis. Perhaps of greater importance is Scott's examination of what he describes as "public" and "private" transcripts,i.e., dialogue among and between the dominate and subordinate groups. Furthermore, Scott puts great emphasis on the "infrastructure" of power relationships among the respective inner "communities" of theweak and the strong. In short, what goes on behind the scenes, away from the public eye, reveals the true nature of what Scott labels as "masks of power", which are, in effect, merely public performances designed to placate both dominate and subordinate groups. This absorbing work will certainly be influential for future generations of historians, anthroplogists, political scientists, and sociologists.

an epiphany on every page.......1999-05-14

"When the great lord passes the wise peasant bows deeply and silently farts." This book marks one of those moments for me when rethink just about everything...from elusidating certain truisms to hammering out theories and ideas that ring remarkably true, Scott's book is challenging, powerful, and engaging. Reading this book is like sitting in his office conversing...I find myself exclaiming and agreeing aloud. I really enjoy his comments on gender; a concept I have felt comfortable with for years, and suddenly I feel as though he has just clarified it for me. I have been doing double-takes as random comments about women in my primary sources (about fickleness of emotion) which I thought I could chalk up to typical misogyny begin to catagorize themselves in my mind as the effects of attempting to live within hidden and public transcripts. Very readable, interesting, engaging...in a word, fabulous.

Average customer rating:

A disturbing alternate history
the tip of an amazing iceberg of VERY Smart Spartans
Engrossing and horrifying masterpiece
Moral objections - phooey!
A Truly Underrated Alternate History Universe

The Domination
S.M. Stirling
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Alternate History | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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Amazon.com

It's about time! No more scouring used-book stores for tattered copies to replace the ones you loaned your friends: the first two installments of S.M. Stirling's superlative military-SF/alternate-history Draka trilogy are back in print, bound along with the third installment in hardcover. The only downside to this collection--which spans Marching Through Georgia, Under the Yoke, and The Stone Dogs--is the disappointing omission of the helpful maps, glossary, and so on that appeared in the original editions. But as some consolation, we at least get a bit of new backstory for the pseudo-sequel to Stone Dogs, Drakon, in the form of a prologue and a few interspersed paragraphs bookending each title.

The Draka series (dubbed The Domination in this collection) still requires a strong stomach--you'll find no shortage of blood and bullets or sex and violence here. But it's prudish to argue with Stirling's choices. A skilled writer and rigorous thinker, he's spun a compelling--not to mention plausible and well-researched--alternate history for earth: in this timeline, the Loyalists losers in the American Revolution set up shop in South Africa and then proceed to subjugate and industrialize the continent, eventually exporting their brutal system of slavery and conquest through WWI, WWII, and beyond to cover the better part of the globe. Page-turning, blood-pumping, realistic, and masterfully written combat SF, The Domination is part of the genre's canon. --Paul Hughes

Customer Reviews:

A disturbing alternate history.......2006-11-30

I will not get into the argument about whether the alternative history postulated in the text is "reasonable". Like all science fiction / fantasy it requires a suspention of disbelief to enjoy.

There is a great deal to enjoy about this book. The characters are believable. The plot moves along at a good pace. The writing keeps the reader interested. The story is exciting. Overall it is a great science fiction story and worth reading.

On the other hand this is one of the most disturbing books that I have read in a long while. Not for the negative aspects of the Draka--which are numerous. Not for the brutality that the Draka show to the conquered peoples who become their slaves. The most disturbing aspect was how "nice" and "enlightened" the key Draka characters were. These were intelligent, reasonable, principled people whose belief system allowed them to commit horrible acts.

It is easier to believe that people who commit evil acts (like the murder of every human being on planet earth) are irredeemably evil. That they are not someone you might enjoy having a conversation with at a cocktail party.

the tip of an amazing iceberg of VERY Smart Spartans.......2006-07-18

Stirling has the rare intellectual courage to ask "what if?" and

You don't need many people who think this way, at all, particularly when that tremendous Cultural shift is compounded over a CENTURY.

use the answer to change history. I believe that those who dismiss his thinking haven't thought it through.

The Janissaries were controlled in the Ottoman Empire by, among other factors, the promise of Metic Citizenship - a more important concerpt than many realize - AND separation from society from childhood, fostered in a Warrior Culture, and the belief of their inherent superiority. We have seen this before in science fiction, with Dune's Imperial Sardukar. In out world. I am constantly amazed at what the Marine Corps does in just three months. Take that and apply it with skilled, ruthlessly fair discipline over a decade, and the nerds in your school library playing "RISK" are suddenly playing "Civilization 4" - with real countries - and winning.

Now, do that for a CENTURY, with your visible Enemy vastly outnumbering you while living literally next door to you.

The Draka Society is explicitly eugenic, a Meritocratic Aristocracy right out of Aristotle, while ours has become tacitly dysgenic, and the differences, compounded out over a century, reveal two entirely different worlds inhabiting the same planet.

Simply stated, the Draka made their case as an isolated European aristocracy in South Africa, on the idea that they can not afford to lose - not once, not EVER! - and THIS mindset puts them solidly on the only path they can walk, the Path of Empire.

Part of what makes this work is the Draka formation of a Meritocratic Aristocracy; everyone fights, and everyone has martial discipline. This mindset appears in places and ways you would not imagine. You will shocked by the scene at a formal Draka society function, at one point, a romantically involved couple fight with pugil sticks, with ruthless viciousness, each fully intending to win. After, they retire to dine with the rest of the guest...

You don't need many people who think this way to make a tremendous difference, a difference that makes their enemies lay away at night in fear.

To such a people, the Kingdom of Heaven is HERE; they just have to clean up the Kingdom a little bit, get rid of the trash, that sort of thing, all the while asking yourself, "WWND?"

That's right.

"What Would Nietzsche Do?"

Against such, we would appear as sheep before wolves.

To understand the Draka, the Masters of Empire who WIN, start with Nietzsche. Amazon has no shortage of his works at very reasonable prices, and simplified, more easily understood commentaries of his works are available on Amazon.

Stay with him.

Engrossing and horrifying masterpiece.......2006-06-22

I have read all the volumes that S.M.Stirling has written about the Draka, and other reviewers have marked the plusses and minuses of this AH title. What I found at once fascinating and on the other side horrifying, was as I read Under the Yoke and beyond and was finding myself sympathizing with the protagonist/villains aka Draka as they set about creating their slaves. With a shake of the head and a shudder I moved on. The other element that I found interesting was the emphasis on the part of the Draka relating to a reverence for the ecology. Well worth the read and not to be missed, though I concur that those with weak stomachs might want to give a pass on this one.

Moral objections - phooey!.......2005-06-14

I was reading through the various reviews for this title and started to see a pattern emerging amongst the "anti's". It seems that they object to the moral content, and then, lo and behold, pick at the premise of the stories. I was under the impression that fiction, not least of all alternate history fiction, is to explore the improbable and to touch upon the "what if...". The tales of the Draka, to really explore the possibility of an extreme society, MUST touch upon the no-no's of modern thinking. If all people want is to read about someone waking up, existing for a day then going to sleep that night, then there would be no point in speculative fiction.

No-one asks the reader to subscribe to all that happens in the books. It isn't a requirement that there be a call for the establishment of a Draka state for like-minded individuals to congregate and inflict their dominance upon everyone else. No, they are stories that both guide an idea along a particular path, and in places, are drawn along by logical consequences to the plot-line. In my view Sterling has done a superb job with this storyline.

Wish there were more.

A Truly Underrated Alternate History Universe.......2003-08-28

Most Alternate History afficianados (myself included) are minutia fixated wonks. Because of this we sometimes dont see the forest for the trees. I recently read Stirling's explanation about what he was tying to do with the Draka Universe. I became a believer.

Stirling is not necessarily trying to make a technically plausible AH here. his main goal was to take the worst of Western Civilization (chattel slavery, single minded quests for power, misuse of technology, etc) and let it condense and fester. He does that by having British Colonial Loyalists evacuate America after the Revolution and set up shop in whats now South Africa.

That said, there are technical issues that are troubling. The Draka seem to develop in a vaccuum. While I can understand outside forces not making much of a dent on the Draka slavers, I cant see the rest of the world essentially ignoring the Draka military tech advances. Also, I just cant see other powerful nations sitting back and doing nothing while the Draka gobble up everything in sight.

To truly appreciate the Draka series, you must view them much the same way you would a comic book. If you look too deep, youll spoil the fun. So, take it for what it is and enjoy the ride!

Female Domination
Average customer rating:

A Fem Dom's Opinion

Obligatory for relationship counsellors

love it!

Great Book

D O N ' T ___G E T __T A K E N ! !

Female Domination
Elise Sutton
Manufacturer: Lulu.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1411603257

Book Description

Elise Sutton examines the prevalent male desire to be dominated by a woman. She explores from a psychological perspective why men have submissive desires toward the female gender, where these desires originate from, and how this common male fantasy reflects what is transpiring within society, as women are becoming more liberated and independent. Elise reveals that Female Domination is a large tent with many forms, expressions and lifestyles contained therein.

Elise takes the reader into the personal and intimate lives of forty couples, who are not unlike your family members, the people you work with or the people you socialize with, yet who practice different variations of the Female Domination lifestyle. Some couples like Female Domination to be soft and sensual, some like it hard and rough, some like it wild and trend setting, some like it romantic, some like it untraditional, some like it primarily in the bedroom, and some like it both inside and outside the bedroom.

Through the experiences of others, Elise depicts how the Female Domination lifestyle can build a bond of intimacy, defuse arguments, relieve stress, transport sex to a higher level than just the physical, empower women in society, and inject excitement into the mundane tasks of life such as household chores. Elise portrays how Female Domination can satisfy the inner male child, build up a woman's self-esteem, add spice to the bedroom, re-ignite romance, and cause a power exchange within the female/male relationship. Elise Sutton examines how society is evolving toward Female rule, one relationship at a time.

"Female Domination" discusses some intense and controversial sexual practices. "Female Domination" will no doubt arouse, titillate, shock and challenge. However, it is Elise's hope that above all, it will enlighten and educate.

Customer Reviews:

A Fem Dom's Opinion.......2007-02-16

This book offers an astounding insite into the psycholgy of male submission. It can be dry and acadamian at times, but in depth and based on 40 real life situations. A great read.

Obligatory for relationship counsellors.......2007-01-14

I found that Female Domination by Elise Sutton valuable, thoughtful and fresh insight into the psychology of an omnipresent but too often often 'unseen' or covert aspect of all male-female relationships, but that can become overt--with the happiest results--in many cases. In my view, this book sould be bligatory reading for all marriage/relationship counsellors.

love it!.......2006-08-04

I think nothing better exemplifies my "ideal" picture of the world and how it should be. I can't wait to apply all I've learned in this book in my real life. I think even as a businessman I could apply some of the teachings. I recommend this book to everyone that they might better understand this lifestyle. Bravo!!!

Great Book.......2006-06-19

I purchased this book and thought it was excellent. It was filled with great advice and stories that really connect the themes in the book.

If you are interested in female domination, I would highly recommend this book. It will explain the complex topics of a female led marriage in a simple manner that many of us have been searching for.

D O N ' T ___G E T __T A K E N ! !.......2006-05-28

[...]Save your money folks; this book is just plain awlful! The book is full of hype and doesn't deliver. It is poorly written and truly a very boring book with no true depth or insight as claimed. Plus, the binding soon began to fall apart like the cheaply made book it is.[...]

Ambiguities of Domination: Politics, Rhetoric, and Symbols in Contemporary Syria

Average customer rating:

A useful and engaging work on contemporary Syria.
Analysis of Syria's pseudo-cult of personality
Brilliant
Ground-breaking!

Ambiguities of Domination: Politics, Rhetoric, and Symbols in Contemporary Syria
Lisa Wedeen
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0226877884

Book Description

In Syria, the image of President Hafiz al-Asad is everywhere. In newspapers, on television, and during orchestrated spectacles Asad is praised as the "father," the "gallant knight," even the country's "premier pharmacist." Yet most Syrians, including those who create the official rhetoric, do not believe its claims. Why would a regime spend scarce resources on a cult whose content is patently spurious?

Wedeen concludes that Asad's cult acts as a disciplinary device, generating a politics of public dissimulation in which citizens act as if they revered their leader. By inundating daily life with tired symbolism, the regime exercises a subtle, yet effective form of power. The cult works to enforce obedience, induce complicity, isolate Syrians from one another, and set guidelines for public speech and behavior. Wedeen's ethnographic research demonstrates how Syrians recognize the disciplinary aspects of the cult and seek to undermine them. Provocative and original, Ambiguities of Domination is a significant contribution to comparative politics, political theory, and cultural studies.

Customer Reviews:

A useful and engaging work on contemporary Syria........2006-04-18

This engaging and often witty work asks the basic question, "how do rituals and symbols that are widely understood to be false or absurd help to support a regime?" Her answers help to complicate our understanding of the relationship between state symbolism and legitimacy in authoritarian states.

Happily, the value of this work is not limited to political theory. Indeed, for most readers, these theoretical issues will be secondary to the insights and observations Wedeen offers regarding the workings of the brutal and repressive Syrian regime. Her authorial tone is wry and, despite its theoretical sophistication, this is an easy work to read. In particular, her reliance on everyday communications and popular media and the breadth of examples she provides bring Syrian society to life in a way that few academic works have.

Analysis of Syria's pseudo-cult of personality.......2004-03-24

When I first traveled to Syria in the late 90's, I found the eerie, creepy phenomenon of what Wedeen terms Syria's state cult to be the most inscrutable, absurd and mind-boggling feature of the entire land-scape. After Asad's death, the succession of his son, Bashar, saw the ubiquity of his father's visage decline noticeably but still it did by no means disappear.

Wedeen's work does forcefully and with keen insight what I once thought was impossible. Though known to be patently absurd by all Syrians, inside and outside the elite, Wedeen argues cogently that this cult in its own way reinforces power for the state by demarcating the boundaries of political practice 'as if'...i.e., politics in Syria are to be practiced AS IF the cult expresses reality. Her analysis also broadens to include investigations of the vast amount of state resources squandered on the cult and the circumscribed efforts to resist and protest the gov't. Highly recommended reading for anyone studying the modern Middle East.

Brilliant.......1999-10-28

One of the best studies I have ever read on the nature of power and domination. Wedeen asks the simple question of how Asad is able to keep power in Syria when all of the people know that all of the state propaganda is false. Her elegant answer gets right to the heart of what makes a ruler powerful. Asad rules not through totalitarianism, but through authoritarianism. What's the difference? A ruler who controls everything that the people think (like in North Korea) is not really dominating them, they just don't know any better. But a ruler like Asad rules because the people fear him and become unable to dissent as a result of Foucault-ian discursive practices.

This book will facinate anyone interested in the modern Middle East or the nature of power.

Ground-breaking!.......1999-05-17

A ground-breaking exploration of the subtle ways power operates to structure everyday life. Rich in ethnographic detail and eloquently written. Definitely worth _much_ more than $17. A worthy read, not just for people interested in contemporary Middle Eastern politics, but for those interested in issues of power, discipline and resistance. Ms. Wedeen is a rising star in the field of Political Science. Bravo!!

Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination

Average customer rating:

Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination
Walter Wink
Manufacturer: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Unmasking the Powers (Powers, Vol 2)
Naming the Powers: The Language of Power in the New Testament (The Powers : Volume One)
The Powers That Be (Power)
Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way (Facets)
When the Powers Fall: Reconciliation in the Healing of Nations

ASIN: 080062646X

Thrones, Dominations (A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery)

Average customer rating:

Enjoyable, but not a replacement for Sayers
Lord Peter Wimsey - back on the case!
A different style from the originals
Halfway review
Well-Written and Enjoyable

Thrones, Dominations (A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery)
Dorothy L. Sayers , and Jill Paton Walsh
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Similar Items:

A Presumption of Death: A New Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane Mystery
Busman's Honeymoon
Unnatural Death (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries)
Have His Carcase
Gaudy Night (Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery)

ASIN: 0312968302

Amazon.com

Asked by her new husband, the gentleman detective Lord Peter Wimsey, why she is having trouble writing her latest mystery novel, Harriet Vane explains, "When I needed the money, it justified itself. It was a job of work, and I did it as well as I could, and that was that. But now, you see, it has no necessity except itself. And, of course, it's hard; it's always been hard, and it's getting harder. So when I'm stuck I think, this isn't my livelihood, and it isn't great art, it's only detective stories. You read them and write them for fun." Is this a clue to the mystery of why Dorothy L. Sayers put aside her 13th full-length Lord Peter novel in 1938 and never finished it? She had made lots of money, and was much more interested in translating Dante and writing about religion. Or is it another excellent novelist, Jill Paton Walsh, speculating--in a perfect imitation of Sayers's voice--on what might have happened? Walsh was invited by the estate of Sayers's illegitimate son, Anthony Fleming, to finish Thrones, Dominations. She has done a splendid job, certain to please Sayers loyalists on the "dorothyl" listserv as well as those new to the Wimsey canon. Lord Peter has been made much more human and interesting by marriage; Harriet is a wise and acerbic companion; and the story, about the murders of two beautiful young women involved with a theatrical producer, is full of twists and connivance. There's also a fascinating subplot involving the soon-to-abdicate King Edward VII and a country on the brink of World War II. Earlier Wimseys in paperback include The Five Red Herrings, Gaudy Night, Murder Must Advertise, and Unnatural Death. Books in print by Walsh include a mystery called A Piece of Justice and a novel, The Serpentine Cave.

Book Description

Deemed "one of the greatest mystery writers of this century" by the Los Angeles Times, Dorothy L. Sayers first captivated readers nearly seventy years ago with her beloved sleuths Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane in the novel Stong Poison. In Busmans's Honeymoon, her last completed Wimsey/Vane novel, Lord Peter and Harriet culminated their partnership with marriage. Now Thrones, Dominations, Sayers' uncompleted last novel, satisfies the vast readership hungry to know what happened after the honeymoon. Here award-winning author Jill Paton Walsh picks up where Sayers left off, bringing Wimsey and Vane brilliantly to life in Sayers' unmistakable voice. Readers and reviewers are rejoicing at the return of this delightful sleuthing couple--as adept at solving a baffling murder mystery as they are a balancing the delicate demands of their loving union.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable, but not a replacement for Sayers.......2007-09-06

This book is difficult to rate, and a glance at past reviews will tell you why. As a mystery, taken in and of itself, it's pretty good, as long as its readers have the patience to wait for the murder. As a continuation of the Lord Peter Wimsey stories, however, it has a number of problems. Critics who note that Walsh does not capture Sayers' voice are correct, but this is to be expected. You can't really expect one writer to sound exactly like another, and I'm not even convinced that it's a good idea to aim for precise imitation, as it could result in caricature of the original author's style. I won't, therefore, rate the book harshly for failing to "sound like Sayers." Wimsey fans just be aware that it will not be the same as a Sayers novel.

The larger problem is that Walsh fails to capture the characters correctly. The novel is told primarily from the perspective of Harriet, and as a result, Harriet's character emerges much more strongly. Still, I'm not convinced that Walsh's Harriet is really the same person as Sayers' Harriet. For example, Walsh's Harriet is a little more of a feminist, or rather a different kind of feminist, than is Sayers' Harriet. As an advocate of female colleges and a professional writer herself, Sayers' Harriet Vane certainly did not endorse traditional gender roles, but she DID promise to "obey" her husband, and I don't see Walsh's Harriet being willing to do that. In general, Walsh's Harriet is opinionated about some issues that I'm not sure that Sayers' Harriet would care about, while being uncertain in areas that I think Sayers' Harriet would be more confident in. However, all of these problems might be expected to some degree: no two authors are going to construct a character in quite the same way, even if it is supposed to be the "same" character. Walsh is, moreover, hampered by writing in the twenty-first century. She has the perspective of hindsight with regard to WWII, which may or may not be an advantage, but she has the disadvantage of not understanding what it was like to be alive in England in the 1930s. It isn't surprising that when her Harriet speaks, her opinions come across as more like what someone from our era would want a woman in the 1930s to say than like what an actual woman of the 1930s would sound like. This is one of the dangers of historical fiction.

The greater problem is with Lord Peter Wimsey himself. Walsh's construction of Peter simply doesn't work. He seems flat, almost two-dimensional, or he seems like someone else. He never comes off the page as a strong character, and he certainly doesn't come off the page as Lord Peter. I suspect that part of the problem is that Walsh is simply more interested in Harriet as a character than she is in Lord Peter. As a detective novelist, she may also understand Harriet better than she understands Peter. But given that Walsh is trying to write a *Lord Peter Wimsey* mystery, the book simply doesn't work properly. The main detective of a novel needs to be more alive than Walsh's Peter ever is. Frankly, I thought that Laurie King, in the brief cameo appearance she gives Peter in _Letter of Mary_, showed a better understanding of his character than Walsh did in this entire novel.

Having said all that. . . though I was initially disappointed with the style and characterization, as I got further into the novel I did find it enjoyable. I give it three stars, but I would hesitate to recommend it to a Wimsey fan without knowing something about the fan's own attitude towards fanfiction and adaptations. Readers who love Sayers' books for their literary references, their depth, and their style should steer clear of _Thrones, Dominations_. Readers who really love the characters and wonder "what happens next" may, on the other hand, be delighted to see a bit more of them. Readers who primarily love Peter as a character should realize that this is really a Harriet Vane mystery, and decide for themselves whether that's enough. The ideal audience for this book may be mystery lovers who aren't intensely dedicated to the original Wimsey books.

Lord Peter Wimsey - back on the case!.......2007-08-21

In 1936, Dorothy L. Sayers set out to write her new full length Lord Peter Wimsey novel (to follow Busman's Honeymoon), but then set it aside to pursue other interests. For this or that reason she never returned to it. For 60 years, the incomplete manuscript gathered dust until Sayers' estate commissioned British author Jill Paton Walsh to finish it. In 1998, THRONES, DOMINATIONS - this title being borrowed from John Milton's Paradise Lost - was published. First time I heard that there was a continuation of Lord Peter's adventures was a few weeks ago, when I saw this book at a used book store and instantly got that Christmas-y feeling. I snapped the book up, of course.

THRONES, DOMINATIONS begins shortly after the sad events of BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON. The Wimseys had just returned from a prolonged honeymoon (remember that a murder had marred their first few days of wedded bliss). Peter and his clever mystery novelist of a wife, Harriet, are in Paris dining out when they make the acquaintance of financier Laurence Harwell and his beautiful wife Rosamund. As the days and weeks go by, the two couples's lives intertwine in little ways. But, then, it all comes to a head when a crime of passion - of murrrder! - alarmingly surfaces.

Because the victim was one who walked in Lord Peter's rarified social circle, our monocled amateur sleuth is called in by his brother-in-law Detective Inspector Charles Parker to lend an assist to the constabulary. And Peter doesn't lack for suspects. Is it the devoted admirer and playwright? Is it the arrogant French painter? Or the wronged spouse? What about the two crude blackmailers? This case happens to coincide with Harriet Wimsey conducting research for her upcoming mystery novel. But, even so, she provides invaluable insight and a ready ear for Peter as he wends his way thru the muddle.

To my eyes, this upper crust murder mystery reads like a true Dorothy L. Sayers book. It's fun and evocative of its contemporary times, with lots of affectionate, poetry-laced dialogues between Peter and Harriet. Yet, on the periphery, we get a whiff in the air of the upcoming worldwide struggle as ominous groundwork is being laid out by Germany. Walsh obviously put in a lot of meticulous research and effort in the crafting of THRONES, DOMINATIONS. According to Walsh, she didn't have much to work with, as Sayers apparently only had managed a plot diagram and six chapters in rough draft before abandoning the project. Sayers did get as far as making it clear who the killer is. The guilty party, though, is so obvious you'd think it couldn't possibly be that person. But it is. The puzzle really lies more in the how of it.

Avid fan of Peter Wimsey that I am, this was a very fun read. Walsh weaves her own hefty contributions into Sayers' existing ragtag chapters and outline and creates something that is reminiscent of Sayers' style. This accomplishment is a testament to Walsh's storytelling gifts as well as the high esteem and fondness with which she holds Sayers and her character Lord Peter. In an interview she dubbed Peter Wimsey "the intelligent woman's literary pin-up." On a personal level, far more relevant to me than the mystery itself was the progression of Peter and Harriet's relationship and how Harriet was getting on in her new station in life as Lady Peter Wimsey.

We discover, thru Harriet's perceptiveness, why Lord Peter feels compelled to solve mysteries. This reason, by the way, has everything to do with the book's title. Meanwhile, the haughty Helen, Duchess of Denver, is demanding that Harriet quit writing whodunits and do her duty by Peter, meaning, have babies so as to provide potential heirs to the Wimsey name. And lest we forget Peter's loyal manservant, the authors come up with a twist for Bunter, a change in his personal life which impacts his staying on as personal valet to Wimsey, much to the latter's chagrin. And Harriet gets her own personal maid, a woman named Mango, whose intrepidness is quickly put to use in service of Peter's case. Also, there's a welcome cameo made by the gracefully aging and wonderful Dowager Duchess of Denver. She rocks mightily, and I love her letters and diary entries.

If you're already a fan of Peter and Harriet Wimsey, then of course you'll want to get a copy of this book. If you haven't yet read a Lord Peter Wimsey novel, then may I suggest that you begin with his earlier adventures? Then, this book will resonate more. Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries) introduces Peter Wimsey, but if that's too far back, then at least start with Strong Poison, which debuts Harriet Vane. THRONES, DOMINATIONS received enough props and acceptance by the fans and critics that Walsh was able to do up yet another Lord Peter Wimsey mystery, which was published in 2002 and titled A Presumption of Death. That, too, is worth reading.

A different style from the originals.......2007-03-16

I was sincerely looking forward to revisiting Peter, Harriet, Parker and the rest as I love the other Peter Wimsey books and own them all. While the characters are there, the feel of the original is missing, and not only is the writing style here busier - it seems to be trying to analyze the characters far more than we need to. The relationships seem more distant than previous and the characters far more superficial.

I don't think it's a spoiler to mention there's no mystery and no Bunter in the first quarter of the book.

If you'd like to see a totally different author write about Lord Peter and his family and associates, this book is worth a look. If you're hoping to recapture the actual style and substance of Dorothy Sayer's books and characters, better re-read the originals and skip this one entirely.

Halfway review.......2007-03-13

I probably shoulldn;t be reviewing this book as I am
only half way through it. But so far it is excellent.
I thought I had read all the Dorothy Sayers/Lord Peter
Wimsey mysteries and then this one came along.

Well-Written and Enjoyable.......2006-12-17

Okay, it's not Sayers. And I can't give it a five, because it's not world class in it's genre; not, for example, a "Gaudy Night." But it's a good story told by someone who, like Sayers, can actually write. Witty, learned, and engaging--a fine story, well worth reading in its own right and not just because it's a Sayers clone. I recommend it for all mystery fans.

Family Guy: Stewie's Guide to World Domination

Average customer rating:

If you like Stewie...
It gave me a few chuckles
Whitty and Humerous
Stewie is the best!
World Domintation?

Family Guy: Stewie's Guide to World Domination
Steve Callaghan
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Parenting & Families | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin - The Untold Story
Family Guy: The Official Episode Guide: Seasons 1-3
Family Guy: Brian Griffin's Guide: to Booze, Broads, and the Lost Art of Being a Man
Family Guy Book 1: 100 Ways To Kill Lois
Family Guy, Vol. 3 (Season 4, Part 1)

Accessories:

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0060773219
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

For the first time ever a cancelled show has been resurrected on the basis of its cult following in syndication, on the internet and on DVD (Over 2.2 million DVDs sold to date!) and we've got the tie–in book authored by one of the show's hilarious lead writers and animators!

At first sight, the Griffens may seem like a normal blue collar family from Quonochontaug Rhode Island, but Peter (the family's loutish dad), Brian (the erudite, martini–swilling pet dog) and Stewie (the evil toddler son) set them apart from all others.

Now Stewie––a true baby genius and the most popular of the Griffen clan––speaks out. Having been hell bent on achieving world domination ever since he escaped the cursed ovarian Bastille he was incarcerated in for nine grueling months, he has finally decided that in order to rule the world we live in one must first understand it. Herewith are his musings on family, love, parenting, preschool, work, pop culture, politics and more. If only we knew then what Stewie knows now, adults everywhere could have defeated their mother's matriarchal tyranny and toppled the "gynocracy" she ruled over . . .and god knows what else!

This book is for the insufferable child in us all, eager to buck the ways of the old guard or just eager for a laugh.

Customer Reviews:

If you like Stewie..........2006-01-24

My whole family loves Family Guy, so I bought this as a gift for my father (who normally doesn't read at all). Come Christmas morning, he couldn't put it down, and the laughs just never ended. Haven't read it yet myself, but I'm sure it must be hilarious...

It gave me a few chuckles.......2005-10-29

Overall, this book is nothing to write home about. Don't get me wrong now - I'm a huge Family Guy fan, and I love Stewie. Steve Callaghan - a producer and writer for Family Guy from its very first season - did a great job writing this book as though it was written by Stewie, and at times it's quite amusing. Unfortunately, Stewie's sarcastic and misanthropic wit isn't half as funny on paper as it is coming from Seth McFarlane's mouth and with his brilliant delivery, and most of the jokes here are stale and predictable - quite a lot of them were actually recycled from the show. More than that I was disappointed by the artwork - which is all snatched directly from the Family Guy episodes, hardly any new material was made freshly for the book.

In direct comparison with Bart Simpson's Guide to Life, Stewie's Guide to World Domination is less an original work and more an excuse to suck a few more bucks from the show's fans. Perhaps Family Guy just doesn't have enough years behind it to be as mythological as the Simpsons; or perhaps the book could have been funnier had Seth himself written it, but I doubt that would have made much difference. Stewie just isn't that funny on paper. Mind you, the devoted Family Guy will want to add it to his merchandise collection (I'd like to use this opportunity to point out that I'm wearing my Brian Griffin boxer shorts as I'm writing these very lines) but keep your expectations low. And for anyone else, you'll probably get very little out of it.

Whitty and Humerous.......2005-10-26

If you are thinking of entering world domination this toddler can get you on the right foot!!

Stewie is the best!.......2005-10-21

very funny....a perfect addition to our collection of Family Guy dvds

World Domintation?.......2005-10-11

Its a great book but it won't help you take over the world, which was my sole purpose for buying the book.

Russian Prison Tattoos: Codes of Authority, Domination, and Struggle

Average customer rating:

so so...
Excellent resource
excellent book
Russian Prison Tattoos: Codes of Authority, Domination, and Struggle
A world rarely seen....

Russian Prison Tattoos: Codes of Authority, Domination, and Struggle
Alix Lambert
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0764317644

Customer Reviews:

so so..........2007-04-10

This book was very interesting. But...simply put, not enough photos. Many of the photos included don't show any tattoos at all. Random elderly people and prisoners, jail cells, signs, etc. If you're wanting to understand the prison culture and politics, it would be wonderful!! If you're looking for an interesting photobook of people's tattoos, this is not the one to pick.

Excellent resource.......2007-01-03

For those passionate about Russian prison culture, this is the book for you. This book provides an excellent resource for the meaning behind Russian prison tattoos and it provides valuable information on contemporary Russian prisons...which don't seem to have changed much since the end of the Gulag system. The author attempts to show as many different tattoos as possible, but it does feel repetitive. What helps is the author providing information about Russian prison culture; this brings context and a story behind the tattoos.

excellent book.......2006-03-28

this is an excellent book about russian prison tattoos. it has a lot of clear pictures. it also has quite informative text from good research done by the author. i reccommend this book to anyone interested in tattooing in foreign cultures and countries.

Russian Prison Tattoos: Codes of Authority, Domination, and Struggle.......2006-03-17

The book is alright they break it down to politics, being a Russian who came here when I was ten, I realize that the American jails and federal prisons aren't so bad, except cook county jail and tent city in Arizona, lots of info, big photos, but to get the whole perspective, who the bitch is, and who swallows sperm , you would need to complement yourself with the second book called Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia. The books go together.

A world rarely seen.... .......2005-04-18

Fascinating anthropological, photo-journal examination of the symbolism and code representations of Russian prison tattoos. An explicit, brutal look at a world most Russians and indeed most Westerners will never see. For an American audience, the importance of tattoo symbolism may be somewhat lost. After all, we live in a world where over privileged frat boys and corporate conformists are now "inked" with designs once almost exclusively earned by members of our own working or "criminal" classes.

Overall a fascinating read, even if the brevity of the text leaves something to be desired.

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