Book Description
With nearly a million copies sold over five editions, America: A Narrative History is distinguished by its clear, colorful narrative and balanced incorporation of political history with social, cultural, and economic events. Retaining these classic strengths, the Sixth Edition introduces a new theme—the role of work in American life—and explores its social, political, and cultural dimensions. With an updated ancillary package that includes the new Norton Map Workbook in American History, America remains a superb choice for the US history survey.
Book Description
Over 120 delightful pen-and-ink illustrations by the author add another dimension of good-natured charm to these wide-ranging explorations. A mind-expanding volume for the layman and the science-minded.
Customer Reviews:
Don't Think Too Hard.......2007-09-22
This book takes very complex theories and theorems and puts them into simple, everyday words that most of us "regular" people can understand. By finally understanding them, you yourself will start to boggle your own mind thinking about other theories and maybe, if fortunate enough, will even form your own.
What a book!.......2007-09-04
I somehow came across this book when I was about 12, started reading it, and couldn't put it down. Now at the age of 52, I happened upon it once again, started reading it, and once again couldn't put it down. The delightful style of writing of Mr. Gamov, along with his tremendous knowledge, make this book a real gem. Highly recommended for children or adults with an inquisitive mind.
Hoping My Grandson Noah Enjoys the Delightful Exploration.......2007-08-11
"In plain words our result means: the most probable distance of our drunkard from the lamp post after a certain large number of irregular turns is equal to the average length of each straight track that he walks, times the square root of their number." G. Gamow
Exploration of scientific puzzles:
One book, which I read in 1960 (The Revised edition) when I graduated in Engineering was, "One, Two, Three... Infinity," a wonderful book by George Gamow who explored science and its speculations. George Gamow, a nuclear physicist wrote an entertaining book, describing the wonders of nature and, how we understand facts and perceive issues about the universe. That book was selected as one of the top 1000 books ever written, translated in Egypt to inform the younger generation of the New republic. The fascinating chapters of the readable book on contemporary science, takes you from playing with numbers to the microcosmos on: number theory, relativity, fourth dimension, entropy, genes, atomic structure, the riddle of life and the days of creation.
Storytelling by a Renowned Physicist:
In a storytelling style with which the author and great mathematics educator, George Gamow, approaches his subject and grabs the interest of the reader goes far beyond math, science, physics, and mere numbers placed in esoteric formulae. Continuing on through more exploration of mathematical randomness, and statistical approximation of probabilities, simple game theory and related problems. Gamow leads the lay reader from mathematical complexity into a treatment of aspects of organic chemistry to genetic theory, and out to a cosmological mindwarp territory, taking you from the roots of the ancient Alexandrian world through early and later geometrical analysis and extrapolations from the phenomenon of parallax, to the spherical shape of earth by an early Alexandrian mathemetician, Eratosthenes. Gamow diligently coaches the novice through passing items such as supernova explosion, galactic clusters, a collection of diverse examples of stars and stages of their development, expanding of the Universe as the expanding of a balloon's surface, with points on the surface all retreating from all others at the same rate (fig 127). The volume contains over 120 delightful pen illustrations by the inspiring author, adding another dimension of good-natured charm to these wide-ranging explorations, a mind-expanding volume for the layman and the science-minded.
Book Recent Review:
"Gamow did indeed 'strive' ... in One Two Three...Infinity - to 'emphasize' the importance of science and technology. ...In his original Preface, written in 1947 at the time the book was first published, ...he did not 'attempt to tell the whole story" of modern science; he also shows his ability to understand and be modest when he writes..." Academon
"It seems that almost all the reviewers had the same experience: we read this book at an early age, and it was so fascinating, so inspiring, and so magical that it directed us into math and science for the rest of our lives." Stan Veroony
The New World of Mr Tompkins
Albert Einstein's Vision: Remarkable Discoveries That Shaped Modern Science
Can you count INFINITY?.......2007-07-14
Can infinity be counted? Is there more than one type of infinity? Answer: Yes to both questions. Learn how counting things that (seemingly) cannot be counted is done - and, while you're at it, learn about the fourth dimension.
A classic that has been recommended reading for over 50 years!
99% is unrelated to infinity.......2007-06-30
The book, contrary to its title, talks little about infinity. About 1% of the book is dedicated to the subject. The rest of the book is an 8th grader's introduction to science. The concepts are very basic and while the ideas are explained well this book is not intended for any kind of introductory study except for those individuals who have a very limited concept of science in general.
Book Description
Complete with maps and illustrations, George Washington and Benedict Arnold presents the amazing story of two would-be patriots, one who became the father our country, the other became a man without a country.
Customer Reviews:
George Washington and Benedict Arnold: A Tale of Two Patriots.......2007-07-22
Excellent piece of history -- incredible detail -- easy reading. Dave Palmer is a retired general and past supervisor at West Point. He is also a terrific speaker and a very ethical person. (Obviously, I have heard him speak, after which I bought the book).
Those Who Ignore History..........2007-02-21
Reading Palmer's great book made me think about today's events in Iraq. Those who don't read history believe that most events that occur are happening for the first time. They believe things have never been worse. As Palmer so eloquently writes, Washington had major problems in his execution of the war and had not only enemies on both sides, but cabals of fellow military men working for his defeat and wanting his job. Some of these narratives were revelations about our first president. He lost more battles than he won, the war was going terribly and the morale of his troops was so low they were loathe to re-up when the terms of their duty had expired. More than once he had to intervene to keep from losing troops to desertion. He acted firmly in handling all these obstacles and persevered to win the war and save the fledgling nation. There may not have been a CNN, MSNBC or NY Times working to bring him down. But, as Palmer tells us, there were many who published the most vicious things about Washington, and sometimes, directly to him, and wished him ill throughout the war. So, some things never change. Things go wrong in wars. People, including the Congress, carp and think they can do better. Washington had the character to see the plan through to its satisfactory ending. This in spite of having a "friend" like Benedict Arnold working eventually to defeat him and the rest of the new nation. Palmer's book serves as a defining account of the Revolutionary War and why George Washington deserves a day in his honor. It should never have been diluted into a "President's Day." Read the book and learn more than you've ever known about Washington, Arnold and the Revolutionary War.
Good story, but something is missing.......2007-01-24
I enjoyed this book for the good narrative that it is. Most of my pleasure came from learning the rough details of Benedict Arnold's treason. I had only known him as a traitor prior to reading this book, but had no idea that he was "America's Hannibal" prior to becoming a turncoat, nor was I aware of the reasons for his treason or the way in which he tried to execute it.
The book is a quick, enjoyable, and easy read, which I am also grateful for, because if it weren't, I probably would have put it down and tried to find something more comprehensive on the subject of Arnold to read instead. I have never read a book on a subject such as this that contains no bibliography. Palmer includes a few suggested readings at the end of the book, but it is only about 10 books altogether, and two of them are prior works of his own.
Even within the text, Palmer several times says something like "as a prominent modern historian says 'George Washington was...'"
Well, who is the historian?!
This unwillingness to cite anyone else within the text or in a bibliography really bothered me the whole time I was reading the book. The whole thing reads like something a high school student would turn in to his history teacher. The only difference between this book and the student's essay is that the book is nearly 400 pages long.
There may be some very good reason for not including a bibliography or giving a prominent modern historian credit for his words in the text. I am not accusing Palmer of anything, only saying that these things bothered me quite a bit.
Now, I will find some more books on Benedict Arnold to get the full story.
The generosity of Gen. Palmer.......2007-01-09
Gen. Palmer came and spoke to the Betty Martin Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to review his book. We found out that every penny of profit that would be his is sent to fund Mt. Vernon, Washington's home. The book is an interesting contrast of two men with eerily similar backgrounds. Gen. Palmer contends that the difference in the outcome of the two lives is CHARACTER. Gen. Palmer is an excellent speaker. In his book, he presents a clear picture of the lives of these two very different men - each of whom played a major role in the foundation of our country. The character of the man determined the content of that role. I gave copies of the book as gifts at Christmas.
A Story of Character and Destiny.......2006-12-31
This is a great book! It is extremely well researched and powerfully written.
Composed by career soldier and historian David Palmer, "George Washington and Benedict Arnold" tells the story of two Revolutionary War patriots who left such diametrically opposed legacies, despite life trajectories that were at one time so parallel.
George Washington and Benedict Arnold were both more than just patriots and American soldiers, they were the heart of the American military movement against the British.
Washington was the brains, soul and conscience of the Continental Army, while Benedict Arnold was the sword of the Revolution. A soldier of tremendous courage, talent and energy, he managed, time after time, to turn defeat into victory on almost every major battlefield and changed the course of the war.
Indeed, Arnold's victories eventually convinced the French to enter the war on the side of the Americans. Shortly afterward, Spain and the Netherlands followed, turning a rebellion into a world war and all but ensuring a British defeat.
But as the war progressed and Arnold failed to recieve the recognition and rewards he desperately craved, the thoughts of America's premier soldier turned to treason. Had he succeeded in his betrayal, Washington would surely have lost the war and America her independence.
How is it that two men with lives that paralleled and intertwined so closely have legacies so vastly different?
George Washington is remembered as America's greatest soldier and the father of his country, while Benedict Arnold is still considered the greatest traitor in the history of the United States.
To quote the author:
"Your thoughts become your words.
Your words become your actions.
Your actions become your habits.
Your habits become your character.
Your character becomes your destiny."
"George Washington and Benedict Arnold" is a tremendously good read, recommended for those interested in America's war for independence and the impact of character on destiny.
Book Description
On the sparkling morning of June 25, 1876, 611 men of the United States 7th Cavalry rode toward the banks of the Little Bighorn in the Montana Territory, where 3,000 Indians stood waiting for battle. The lives of two great warriors would soon be forever linked throughout history: Crazy Horse, leader of the Oglala Sioux, and General George Armstrong Custer. Both were men of aggression and supreme courage. Both became leaders in their societies at very early ages; both were stripped of power, in disgrace, and worked to earn back the respect of their people. And to both of them, the unspoiled grandeur of the Great Plains of North America was an irresistible challenge. Their parallel lives would pave the way, in a manner unknown to either, for an inevitable clash between two nations fighting for possession of the open prairie.
Customer Reviews:
A new perspective.......2007-08-23
I have been a big fan of Ambrose and have read most of his books. I grew up in Montana and was aware of "Custer's Battlefield". The name was changed from Custer's Last Stand to the Battle of the Bighorn. Very appropriate.
Ambrose opened my eyes to the policy of the government as it related to the "Indian Wars". He does a great job in positioning both Custer and Crazy Horse throughout their lives and how they were destined to meet in SE Montana.
This book helps me understand how the Native Americans were treated and mistreated during the opening of the west.
If you are a history fan, I encourage you to read Stephen Ambose's works. His details allow you to put yourself in the shoes of an observer to history. Check out Undaunted Courage if you want to see the world through the eyes of Lewis and Clark.
Great introduction to 2 somewhat parallel lives.......2007-06-10
I went into this book primariliy interested in crazy horse, yet by about half way through i was captivated with custer. Many of Mr. Ambrose's detractors say he stretches the facts. This could easily be true, i am in no way an expert on either crazy horse nor custer. Yet when i walk away from this book i dont remember many facts but more so feel as though i have a sense of who these two individuals were and how they operated in their respective worlds. If i was writing a dissertation on the topic i probably wouldnt cite this as a source, at the same time i think this is a great introduction book to crazy horse, custer, and the indian wars. Overall its a captiviating and fun read, enjoy!
Crazy Horse and Custer.......2007-01-09
Excellent book-goes into depth about both of their lives and the parallels between them.
Death in Battle - Death in Peace.......2006-08-30
They are books like those written by Stephen Ambrose which keep the flame of my interest in reading of times and events of long ago burning. Some have accused Ambrose of taking too many liberties with the facts. To those I would say, Bah Humbug! This book is well written and worthy of the readers time, unless, of course, you are a "fact-checker", in which case the original sources, to the extent they even exist, might be more to your liking. For Orginary Joe's, like me, Mr. Ambrose has provided a good deal of reading entertainment and information. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be transported in time and place to the high plains during the Indian Wars.
Interesting.......2006-08-04
Great study of two complex personalities. I never realized what a mysterious figure Crazy Horse was, and his integral role at the Little Big Horn. Ambrose, as usual, does phenomenal research and his gift of prose make this book a pleasure.
Book Description
Hang in there-it's almost over!
Much of the nation has been counting the days since the first inauguration of the president who said, "I'm the commander-see, I don't need to explain-I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being president."
Yes, there is hope-and now you can count down the days while enjoying:
the best of Bush bloopers and blunders
the indictments, scandals, embarrassments and audacity of the president's advisors, admirers (think Harriet), cronies, appointees (see "cronies") and strange bedfellows
Customer Reviews:
What a bunch of bullcrap.......2007-08-03
Only an immature liberal would buy this. Who counts down two full years of their lives just so one president will finally get out of office? Here's a tip for the people that do: go get a life. Bush may not make a good president, but sitting here complaining doesn't do any good. Move on with your own lives and just hope that the next president is better. If he isn't, then what are you going to do about it? Just live with it and stop your whining.
Great Calendar.......2007-06-23
Great Calendar! Funny quips every month. On average five funny items per month. Good sized, functional calendar otherwise. A good purchase.
HOW CHILDISH.......2007-05-01
This calendar is nothing more than your typical liberal sour grapes. Keep it up guys. I like it as it helps our cause. Maybe one of these days the libs will grow up and become educated on the facts of this country and what is really happening.
I Can't Wait.......2007-02-20
Well, it's 2007, and the next Presidental election is coming up in less than two years. And what is a better way to bring it all in than a countdown calendar? True, it will take some time to get this nutjob out of office, but waiting will be twice the fun with this calendar. I highly recommend for people who truly love their country. Now I'm just worried about who our next President will be...
not happy.......2007-02-07
I am very unhappy that I ordered a 2007 calendar on Jan. 4, and have been notified - AGAIN - that its shipment has been "delayed". I cancelled my order today. I will have to reconsider using Amazon for "time sensitive" purchases.
Book Description
The Old Course at St. Andrews is to golfers what St. Peter's is to Catholics or the Western Wall is to Jews: hallowed ground, the course every golfer longs to play -- and master. In 1983 George Peper was playing the Old Course when he hit a slice so hideous that he never found the ball. But in looking for it, he came across a For Sale sign on a stone town house alongside the famed eighteenth hole. Two months later he and his wife, Libby, became the proud owners of 9A Gibson Place.
In 2003 Peper retired after twenty-five years as the editor in chief of Golf magazine. With the younger of their two sons off to college, the Pepers decided to sell their house in the United States and relocate temporarily to the town house in St. Andrews. And so they left for the land of golf -- and single malt scotch, haggis, bagpipes, television licenses, and accents thicker than a North Sea fog. While Libby struggled with renovating an apartment that for years had been rented to students at the local university, George began his quest to break par on the Old Course.
Their new neighbors were friendly, helpful, charmingly eccentric, and always serious about golf. In no time George was welcomed into the local golf crowd, joining the likes of Gordon Murray, the man who knows everyone; Sir Michael Bonallack, Britain's premier amateur golfer of the last century; and Wee Raymond Gatherum, a magnificent shotmaker whose diminutive stature belies his skills.
For anyone who has ever dreamed of playing the Old Course -- and what golfer hasn't? -- this book is the next best thing. And for those who have had that privilege, Two Years in St. Andrews will revive old memories and confirm Bobby Jones's tribute, "If I were to set down to play on one golf course for the remainder of my life, I should choose the Old Course at St. Andrews."
Customer Reviews:
If you love Golf you'll love this Book........2007-08-06
This has to be one of the "Gems" of Golf Travel books.
From start of finish I found this book well written, humorous, sophisticated and wonderfully self-effacing. I would like to meet George Peper; I'm sure we would get along very well. Maybe a game on the Old Course would do the trick.
This is a fabulously entertaining tale of George and his wife's move to St. Andrews from an important position in the U.S.A., namely editor of Golf Digest. The story begins with the acquisition of an apartment overlooking the hallowed turf of the 18th Green of the Old Course at St.Andrews, the home of Golf.
George has the extremely good fortune of being a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and sets about using this privilege to good effect. Not only does he become a popular and successful member, he also achieves a long held ambition; playing a round on the Old Course in Par.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have been inspired by his "two years of golf" and long to follow his example by playing the Old Course, at least once.
His fondness for the people of St. Andrews and Scotland in general comes through with a warmth and genuinely felt emotion.
I can not imagine anyone finding this book disappointing. To me it has been a wonderful windfall.
I felt as if I were there.......2007-07-29
Someday before I turn 50 (I just turned 40), I plan to visit Scotland and St. Andrew's. But I already feel as if I have been there once after reading Mr. Peper's book.
Mr. Peper really captures the spirit of the town. It's so much different from the hustle and bustle of American life and the digital age in general. He breaks the book into small mostly unrelated "chapters" which highlight part of the town, the course, family, etc.
Thanks, George! Your book was an enjoyable read cover-to-cover.
A good read if you have been to St Andrews.......2007-07-23
George Peper is no Herbert Warren Wind, but his book is an enjoyable read for those who have spent time in St Andrews.
Wonderfull writing of golf and life in its birthplace.......2007-07-19
I loved this book. It was the perfect combination of life and golf in golf's birthplace - St Andrews. The writer provided an excellent look into life in the golf club and the village of St Andrews; their people, the culture and the history. Mr Peper writes with an excellent dry witt and makes you feel as if you know him personally. I enjoy books the most when I feel like I can relate to the place and people being written about and the author was very good at doing this. While being a single digit handicap golfer and a past editor of Golf Magazine and traveling in a very select inside group of professional golfers, media personalities and celebrities, Mr. Peper never took himself too seriously as a golfer, a writer or as a person. The more I read this book, the harder it became to put down and the more I looked forward to reading it the next day. It was educational, enlightening and enjoyable.It is a book you can just lean back, put your feet up and enjoy while at any time of day or night. The only thing that bothered me about this book was wondering how the author pronounced his name, Pepper or Peeper so I contacted a writer who interviewed the author for a magazine and was told that it was Pepper and that he was as enjoyable and selfless in person as he seems in his books. I look forward to Mr Peper's next book.
Great, interesting, funny : you live un st. andrews.......2007-05-16
Thanks George Peper!!!!:
For one of the best golf books. Its as if I was actually there.
I can`t wait to go to the "OLD COURSE" and expirience the magic you narrated in your book.
The srtucture of the story (expirience)is wonderfull and adictive.
You read the first page and want to keep on reading till you can barely keep your eyes open.
If you love reading and golf this book is a must read.
Amazon.com
Like all best friends, George and Martha do everything together--go to the movies, play at the beach, and just hang around not doing much of anything. No matter that they happen to be gigantic hippopotami, they learn the same lessons humans do about the ups and downs of true friendship. George and Martha teach each other (and adoring readers) that even in a close friendship, privacy is important, practical jokes can sometimes backfire, and among other things, pouring split pea soup into your loafers to spare the chef's feelings is not the best laid plan.
What's remarkable about the stories in this wonderful collection is the emotion James Marshall infuses into his understated, charming text and illustrations. Each brief tale is always humorous, never preachy, and his drawings--deceptively simple in appearance--are guaranteed to spark feelings of empathy, delight, and self-recognition. Maurice Sendak, in his foreword to this 25th anniversary compilation edition of all 35 stories, notes, "Those dear, ditzy, down-to-earth hippos bring serious pleasure to everybody, not only to children. They are time-capsule hippos who will always remind us of a paradise in publishing and--both seriously and comically--of the true, durable meaning of friendship under the best and worst conditions." (Ages 4 and up)
Book Description
George and Martha: not, as one might think, the first president and his spouse, but two hippopotamuses created by the singular talent of James Marshall. For the past quarter century, these stories have entertained, intrigued, and delighted readers of all ages. The portly animals have also taught us, in a humorous and lighthearted way, about what it means to be a true friend. A man with a talent for friendship, James Marshall defined its very essence in his stories about the world's two best friends. In this volume, all thirty-five episodes are brought together to celebrate friendship and two of the most lovable book characters ever created.
Customer Reviews:
A great collection of stories.......2007-05-30
I loved George and Martha as a child, and now my 4 year old son loves them too. We read a section of stories every night before bed. They are great, different stories about friendship. Good lessons about sometimes you don't get along with people, but you still love them.
Life coaching.......2007-04-26
The perfect wedding gift - will help all couples figure out how each others work & think.
George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends........2007-01-19
I love all James Marshall books and especially George and Martha
wonderful role models.......2006-11-06
George and Martha are hippos who set a great example for children on what it takes to be a good friend. The drawings are darling. The messages are cute. My nephews read them over and over again. I send this book as a gift to friends with children on a regualr basis.
We love George and Martha!.......2006-01-16
This book is wonderful because it contains ALL of the George and Martha stories. The stories are funny and sweet. We've given this book many times as a gift.
Amazon.com
The perilous ramifications of the September 11 attacks on the United States are only now beginning to unfold. They will undoubtedly be felt for generations to come. This is one of many sad conclusions readers will draw from Craig Unger's exceptional book House of Bush House of Saud: The Secret Relationship Between the World's Two Most Powerful Dynasties. As Unger claims in this incisive study, the seeds for the "Age of Terrorism" and September 11 were planted nearly 30 years ago in what, at the time, appeared to be savvy business transactions that subsequently translated into political currency and the union between the Saudi royal family and the extended political family of George H. W. Bush. On the surface, the claim may appear to be politically driven, but as Unger (a respected investigative journalist and editor) probes--with scores of documents and sources--the political tenor of the U.S. over the last 30 years, the Iran-Iraq War, the war in Afghanistan, the birth of Al Qaeda, the dubious connection between members of the Saudi Royal family and the exportation of terror, and the personal fortunes amassed by the Bush family from companies such as Harken Energy and the Carlyle Group, he exposes the "brilliantly hidden agendas and purposefully murky corporate relationships" between these astonishingly powerful families. His evidence is persuasive and reveals a devastating story of Orwellian proportions, replete with political deception, shifting allegiances, and lethal global consequences. Unger begins his book with the remarkable story of the repatriation of 140 Saudis directly following the September 11 attacks. He ends where Richard A. Clarke begins, questioning the efficacy of the war in Iraq in the battle against terrorism. We are unquestionably facing a global security crisis unlike any before. President Bush insists that we will prevail, yet as Unger so effectively concludes, "Never before has an American president been so closely tied to a foreign power that harbors and supports our country's mortal enemies." --Silvana Tropea
Book Description
Newsbreaking and controversial -- an award-winning investigative journalist uncovers the thirty-year relationship between the Bush family and the House of Saud and explains its impact on American foreign policy, business, and national security.
House of Bush, House of Saud begins with a politically explosive question: How is it that two days after 9/11, when U.S. air traffic was tightly restricted, 140 Saudis, many immediate kin to Osama Bin Laden, were permitted to leave the country without being questioned by U.S. intelligence?
The answer lies in a hidden relationship that began in the 1970s, when the oil-rich House of Saud began courting American politicians in a bid for military protection, influence, and investment opportunity. With the Bush family, the Saudis hit a gusher -- direct access to presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. To trace the amazing weave of Saud- Bush connections, Unger interviewed three former directors of the CIA, top Saudi and Israeli intelligence officials, and more than one hundred other sources. His access to major players is unparalleled and often exclusive -- including executives at the Carlyle Group, the giant investment firm where the House of Bush and the House of Saud each has a major stake.
Like Bob Woodward's The Veil, Unger's House of Bush, House of Saud features unprecedented reportage; like Michael Moore's Dude, Where's My Country? Unger's book offers a political counter-narrative to official explanations; this deeply sourced account has already been cited by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, and sets 9/11, the two Gulf Wars, and the ongoing Middle East crisis in a new context: What really happened when America's most powerful political family became seduced by its Saudi counterparts?
Download Description
"Newsbreaking and controversial -- an award-winning investigative journalist uncovers the thirty-year relationship between the Bush family and the House of Saud and explains its impact on American foreign policy, business, and national security. House of Bush, House of Saud begins with a politically explosive question: How is it that two days after 9/11, when U.S. air traffic was tightly restricted, 140 Saudis, many immediate kin to Osama Bin Laden, were permitted to leave the country without being questioned by U.S. intelligence? The answer lies in a hidden relationship that began in the 1970s, when the oil-rich House of Saud began courting American politicians in a bid for military protection, influence, and investment opportunity. With the Bush family, the Saudis hit a gusher -- direct access to presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. To trace the amazing weave of Saud- Bush connections, Unger interviewed three former directors of the CIA, top Saudi and Israeli intelligence officials, and more than one hundred other sources. His access to major players is unparalleled and often exclusive -- including executives at the Carlyle Group, the giant investment firm where the House of Bush and the House of Saud each has a major stake. Like Bob Woodward's The Veil, Unger's House of Bush, House of Saud features unprecedented reportage; like Michael Moore's Dude, Where's My Country? Unger's book offers a political counter-narrative to official explanations; this deeply sourced account has already been cited by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, and sets 9/11, the two Gulf Wars, and the ongoing Middle East crisis in a new context: What really happened when America's most powerful political family became seduced by its Saudi counterparts?"
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-09-26
Craig Unger has connected a lot of the dots! I think this should be required reading. It is depressing to read about all the crap that is going with our government and know that there is nothing that can be done about it. Left feeling outraged and helpless. At times it felt like a thriller and I am sorry that it is not fiction!
Politically correct!.......2007-07-26
It was during the 1930's that American geologists informed President Roosevelt about the immense oil resources of Saudi Arabia. Aware that the future of nations would greatly depend on oil, Roosevelt quickly established friendly diplomatic relations with the Saudi Royal family.
Then in 1974 a Texas aircraft broker named James Bath sold an F-27 turboprop to Salem bin Laden, Osama's older brother. (As a footnote, Salem bin Laden died in a small general aviation aircraft that he was piloting in Texas). From that moment onwards developed the "Houston-Jeddah Connection" which allowed wealthy Saudis to gain access to powerful Texas politicians and the Bush family that still lasts up till today.
The Saudis' ultimate goal was access to the inner sanctum of the US presidency. Businessmen such as BCCI's bin Mahfouz rescued American politicians' companies that were in financial distress. The author puts a price tag on the Saudis' contributions to the Bush family at a staggering $1.4 billion! Furthermore, $860 billion were invested by the Saudis in the US.
Then there is the Bush-Carlyle relationship. The Carlyle Group put George W. Bush on the board of one of its subsidiaries, Caterair, in 1990. From that moment on, the Bush family's relationship with the Carlyle Group began to become substantive. Key figures at the Carlyle Group included such powerful figures as James Baker, Frank Carlucci, and Richard Darman.
With former Secretary of Defense Carlucci guiding the acquisition of defense companies, Carlyle began making a lot of money from the Saudis, both through investments from the royal family, the bin Ladens and other members of the Saudi elite, and through lucrative defense investments.
The author shows how US leaders repeatedly chose to ignore the warning signs of Saudi extremism and corruption, in return for access to material wealth the Saudis promised them.
The Saudis also assisted the US in arming the Contras and Iraq.
According to the author, George W. Bush's narrow victory in the contested 2000 presidential election was due to the American-Arabs in Florida voting for Bush. They tipped the balance of the vote!
Many will find this Saudi-US relationship repugnant, especially when fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Despite this latter fact, the White House helped about 140 Saudi royals and bin Ladens to fly out of the U.S. only days after 9/11 when all commercial and private flights were grounded. At first, the FBI denied this fact. Later, it was substantiated. The author contends that, contrary to FBI's insistences, the Saudis weren't screened as required by the FBI. All this was happening behind closed doors when no one else was allowed to fly. Former President Clinton was stuck in Australia, and former Vice President Al Gore was stuck in Austria.
Craig Unger's book shows how world Presidents and politicians are more than just elected officials -- they are members of circles of family and friends out to serve their own purposes and goals.
This book might deceive the reader in believing that the powerful Saudi Royals can and do influence the US Government. This is absolutely not true, but rather the other way around. The US holds the Saudi Royals in a strait-jacket, and they know very well that should the US decide to remove them from power, they can easily do so. Seeking to maintain power at all cost, the Saudi Royals are nothing more than a US puppet regime making a strong effort to please the Americans at all cost. It's all about personal favors - you scratch my back and I scratch yours. To illustrate, Crown prince Abdullah was shocked when he saw a picture of an Israeli soldier with his foot on the face of a young Palestinian girl. He called his nephew, prince Bandar, then the Saudi Ambassador to the US, and asked him to deliver a personal message to Bush condemning the Israelis. The message used strong language and did not carry a friendly tone. Bush junior was shocked. He immediately replied with a handwritten letter, stating that he supported an independent Palestinian State and asked that the Saudi-US friendly relationship continue. Crown Prince Abdullah boosted about this letter to Arab leaders, displaying the power the Saudi government had over the US. This boosting was short lived, for days later the events of 9/11 unfolded, and the Saudis found themselves on the defensive. They could not influence the US; it was the other way around. The US now held the Saudis by the throat!
You might ask how was it possible for all planes to be grounded after the 9/11 attacks except for those planes that were carrying Saudis? Bush has a lot to gain personally to extend favors to his rich friends!
This book is also an expose of the US role in the creation of the Mujahedeen or "Holy warriors", Osama bin Laden, and of Saddam Hussein. The Mujahedeen were created by the US to fight for the American cause under the pretext of fighting in the cause of Islam against the atheist foreign invaders. One of these Muslim "Holy warriors" was Osama bin Laden, who was transformed from a spoiled rich kid educated in the US to the Mujahedeen leader. The US was not bothered by the Mujahedeen as long as they served the US goal of weakening the Soviets.
Saddam Hussein was created by the US to fight the Iranians who were viewed as a threat to the US. At first, under the Shah of Iran, the US supported Iran and armed it to the teeth. When the Shah of Iran was overthrown by the Ayatollah Khomeini and the US Embassy at Tehran was taken hostage, the US changed positions. Carter encouraged Saddam Hussein to attack Iran to ultimately free the US hostages. However, America soon realized that Iraq was gaining strength, so they once more changed positions and financed Iran. The US was giving Iran and Iraq conventional, chemical, and biological weapons to use on each other! This ping pong policy went on during Carter's presidency.
Reagan and Bush senior supported Saddam Hussein, even after they found out he was using chemical weapons against his own Kurdish citizens. Bush senior, during his Vice Presidency, went to the Middle East to give Iraq weapons of mass destruction and the media showed the meeting as "moving the peace process forward".
Of course the US was not bothered by Saddam Hussein as long as he served the US goal of weakening Iran. Saddam may have been a brutal dictator, but he was the US-made dictator. This is how the age of terrorism was born, sculpted by no other than the United States of America.
Saddam's relationship with Bush senior quickly deteriorated after Saddam invaded Kuwait and threatened to invade Saudi Arabia, thus endangering the global market for petroleum. The US asked King Fahd of Saudi Arabia to offer it bases in order to strike Saddam. Osama bin Laden, now viewed as a hero by all Arab nations for defeating the Soviets, asked King Fahd to deny the US request. King Fahd refused, and allowed the US to establish bases on Saudi soil. This angered Osama, and he declared a jihad against the United States because U.S. soldiers were being based in Saudi Arabia, the holy land of the two holy mosques in Medina al-Monawara and Mecca. Osama viewed the American bases as a blasphemy against Islam, with the "infidels" now standing on the "sacred soil". This rupture caused the King to send Osama into exile and confiscated his passport. Osama was therefore no longer a Saudi citizen. However, the other members of the wealthy bin Laden family remained close to the Saudi royals.
With its bases now in Saudi Arabia within easy striking distance to the Iraqi forces, the US, with the help of an international army, expelled the Iraqi army from Kuwait and imposed strict sanctions on Iraq as punishment. As a footnote, the author claims that Saddam Hussein did not amass a large army into Kuwait. The author alleges that two Soviet commercial satellites showed no Iraqi troop buildup in Kuwait except America's own troops.
Time went by, and Clinton was elected president. He continued the sanctions against Iraq and on several occasions bombed Iraq. But no crippling attempts were made against Iraq or removing Saddam from power. But when Bush junior came into power, he was determined to finish off what his father had started in Iraq. His goal also involved a highly personal grudge, as Saddam had previously attempted to have Bush senior assassinated while he visited his troops in Kuwait.
Prior to Bush junior's election, a policy favoring the overthrow of Saddam had already been written up by a neo-conservative group called "Project for a New American Century". Now Bush was waiting for any excuse to invade Iraq. This excuse came after 9/11. Bush junior grabbed this opportunity to invade Iraq, even though no Iraqis were on any of the airplanes in the terrorist attacks of 9/11; no al-Qaeda camps were present on Iraqi soil; and no weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq.
On March 28, 2002, Abu Zubaydah, a top al-Qaeda operative, was arrested in Pakistan. He was interrogated, and named three Saudi princes, including Prince Ahmed bin Salman, as al-Qaeda's link to the Saudi royal family. Zubaydah said Ahmed knew of 9/11 in advance. Prince Ahmed bin Salman died suspiciously on July 22, 2002, and the other Saudi princes named by Zubaydah mysteriously died as well by the end of the year.
Here are a few interesting comments by some reviewers on amazon.com:
"It goes without saying that the current Saudi monarchial regime is better than the alternative -- a radical Islamist theocracy."
"So what the heck are we doing dealing with these people? Three words: oil, oil, oil."
"How can you expect Bush to protect us from terrorism when he hangs out with the main financial backers of terrorism?"
"Have you ever wondered how the Saudi elite can be the playboys of the Western world, have homes in the United States, and still be the rulers of a strict Islamic nation that openly and vehemently despises anything Western and especially American?"
"Why was the Bush Administration opposed to an official investigation of 9/11? Remember, the 9/11 hijackers were mostly Saudis, and a few Egyptians -- no Iraqis or Afghans. Why did the Bush Administration censor 26 pages in the Congressional investigation of 9/11 about the U.S.-Saudi relationship? What secrets are the House of Bush and the House of Saud hiding from their respective peoples and the rest of the world?"
This book will leave you scratching and shaking your head in disbelief at the inner workings of governments. It will certainly change the way you think about politicians!
It Connects the Dots - Every Little, Bitty One........2007-07-08
I've been researching the "House of Bush" personally for over 20 years - peaked by the Iran-Contra Affair.
This copiously noted and researched book will put you on the top of the info wave....just in time for Bush43rd's turn at the helm of a Titanic ofa presidency.
With this information in hand, I am sure the Congress will be able to make their case for investigation of any and all trade agreements and security arrangements that Bush43 has been arranging with the House of Saud and their friends.
Great book for a long summer week out camping. Just remember to bring along Post-Its....you will be bookmarking every other paragraph for 'future reference'.
An Insightful Investigation Revealing a Lucrative Relationship .......2007-06-04
I must praise Unger for breaking down every detail for a clear understanding. I especially appreciated him jumping back to the roots of a secretive relationship between the "Bush Dynasty" and the wealthy elites of the desert monarchy of Saudi Arabia, to reveal the unknown wealth transferred between the two friends and how that money landed into the hands of the most notorious terrorist known to the modern world. Knowing the history of any relationship, event and or situation does enlighten ones eyes to the truths that lay hidden to citizens of the world, and Unger does just that, by revealing the secrets of the money transferring through the BCCI. I did enjoy the first half of the book more than the last half, only because Unger seemed to get wordy with descriptions, and declined to share with the readers critical information about the first gulf war (this is just one example: how Bush senior didn't want to invade Iraq itself, after deeming Saddam as dangerous not because he didn't want to start a war but because Iran would end up controlling the potentially weakened, Shiite majority country, and that is exactly what is happening today) Overall personally Unger was not as tell all as I thought he would be, and was a bit too conservative for my radical point of view.
The frightening truth.......2006-11-27
This is a must read for all. After reading this, if you still want to vote republican, fine. At least you are informed. For those who can really stand by the PNAC, go for it. The rest of us would like a democracy.
Book Description
Christians have lived in India since the early centuries of this era. In South India they believe their ancestors received the Gospel from the apostle Thomas. Written by two of the country's foremost theologians, this book traces the fascinating history of the various Christian communities, and describes the role of Christians in education, social services, multilingual publishing, and the freedom struggle. The first of its kind for the general reader, Christianity in India is a priceless compendium of history, theology, folklore and anecdote, to be relished and referenced by anyone curious about the Indian story and practice of one of the world's major faiths.
Customer Reviews:
A Brilliant History of Christianity.......2005-01-17
Fernando and Gispert-Sauch have produced a book which is not just a history of Indian Christianity but valuable for anyone who wants an easy-to-read insight into this religious tradition. There is not a patronizing line in it. It presumes the intelligence of the reader in India in particular, no matter their religious tradition, affiliation, or lack thereof. But it is also valuable for universal readership. A second edition would benefit from a glossary of the Indian terms used in the book but other than that it gives succinct explanations not only of Christian history but of its theology and philosophy as well.
I had the opportunity to meet one of the co-authors at a conference in Nagpur, India, on January 7, 2005, and he is as pleasant and competent in person as the material in the book is presented in a delightful and insightful manner.
I recommend the book with no reservations at all.
Catherine Berry Stidsen, Ph.D., Cayuga, Ontario, Canada
Customer Reviews:
State of the Art Commentary on the Phenomenology.......2005-02-01
Harris initially distinguished himself in the Hegel world through his publication, in the 1970s, of two massive volumes that studied Hegel's pre-Phenomenology works, and demonstrated through them the systematic development of Hegel's philosophical position. Since that time, he has been the pre-eminent English-language scholar of Hegel, and especially the Hegel of the Phenomenology of Spirit. In "Hegel's Ladder", Harris brings the same level of deeply detailed study to the reading of Hegel's Phenomenology. It takes two massive volumes for Harris to get through it all, and every page is worthwhile. Harris follows Hegel's text paragraph by paragraph, sorting through the technical language, deciphering the oblique literary allusions, supplying the relevant contexts from the history of philosophy, and most of all keeping a close watch on how the specific developments of the paragraph in question carry forward the larger systematic argument of the book as a whole. No one will agree with every detail of Harris's analysis, but no serious scholar can fail to see that Harris has brought the study of the Phenomenology to a qualitatively new level of insight and especially accuracy. This is without question the single best and most important commentary on Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit, and is a mandatory text for anyone intending to do serious research on Hegel.
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Books Index
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America: A Narrative History (6th Edition, Volume One)
For the Record: A Documentary History of America : From Reconstruction Through Contemporary Times
Major Problems in American History, Volume II: Since 1865: Documents and Essays
Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History but Never Learned (Don't Know Much About...)
America: A Narrative History (Study Guide Volume 2)
