Book Description
The loss of Jim Bakker's empire, his money, his home, and his reputation in the two years leading up to his imprisonment in 1989 was only the beginning. In prison, he was to lose even more - his freedom, his sanity, his dignity, his confidence in his faith, and eventually even his wife. Inmate 07407-058, one-time confidant to presidents, had hit bottom. Jim Bakker was wrong about many things. Exactly what they were and how he came to confess them will surprise and inspire you. This is his story.
Customer Reviews:
Resurrection.......2006-02-02
I picked up this book not because I had any interest in Jim Bakker or televangelist scandals but because, as a student of the Bible and theology, I was fascinated by Bakker's first paragraph revelation that he has renounced the false "prosperity gospel" which he had previously preached and which is becoming practically normative in his Pentecostal brand of Christianity. The "prosperity gospel" is the utterly non-Christian belief that God wants us to be rich and prosperous on this earth, so all we have to do is demand wealth and material goods from Him ("name it/claim it") and just wait for the goodies to magically roll in. So, I began to read the book hoping to learn more about Bakker's theological volte-face, but I was quickly drawn in to the incredible story of his epic downfall.
A 20 minute tryst with a young floozy in 1980 (which he somehow hoped would reconcile his failing marriage) resulted in the complete destruction of his life 7 or 8 years later when the woman re-appeared demanding hush money. His congregation would have forgiven him if had just told the truth but he tried to cover it up with lies and pay-offs. When the story went public anyway, Jim Bakker was finished. People he thought were his friends conspired to gain control of his PTL ministry and eventually stabbed him in the back when the government started looking into the ministry's financial dealings. It was those financial dealings which eventually earned Bakker a 45 year prison sentence, although Bakker claims he was completely innocent and was subsequently exonerated by the courts. In any case, Bakker's downfall was utterly complete. He went from mansions and luxury cars to scrubbing dried semen out of prison phone booths. He lost his fortune, his property, his reputation, his personal dignity, his wife (the completely insane Tammy Faye Bakker, who divorced him and married his best friend), everything except the love and support of his family and some friends. Bakker's prison experience is both harrowing and entertaining, as he goes through everything from an attempted sexual assault to soccer games with Columbian drug runners and political discussions with cellmate Lyndon Larouche. Bakker eventually had his sentence reduced and was freed in the early 90s. If nothing else, "I Was Wrong" is a fascinating account of a man who experienced a roller-coaster ride of a life, but for the faithful it is an instructive and inspiring tale of a man whose sin and pride brought him down into hell but who persevered and trusted in God and was brought to eventual redemption.
"I Was Wronged" true title .......2006-01-25
I agree with one reviewer that this is the true message of the book. True repentance says "I was wrong" PERIOD. Not "I was wrong BUT.........." It reminds me of children doing mischief together but when they are caught, each one shifts the blame.
I get the sense that Jim's greatest desire throughout the book is to receive pity from his readers and followers,not to state his fault in the whole matter.
Man's first sin, eating the fruit in the Garden of Eden. Man's second sin? Shifting the blame!
In case anyone is wondering, I love my Christian brothers and sisters and have been in full-time Christian work for over 30 years.I am just giving my evaluation of the book.
Interesting book, maybe worth a read.......2005-11-01
"I Was Wrong" is a kind of unusual title for an autobiography these days, and if he had called it "I Was Right", I don't suppose I would have read it. A number of reviewers on this site have said that they are not part of the target audience for this book. I am probably not either. I am a member of the reading public interested in current affairs, yes, but I am not a fundamentalist Christian. I grew up in the Anglican (Episcopalian) church and would now describe myself as very agnostic about religion.
Televangelist Jim Bakker had a TV show and ran a religious theme park that specialised in Christian counselling for married couples. So naturally, when his own marriage was rocky, he decideded that if he had sex with another woman, this would bring his wife back to heel. (Makes no sense to me either). He has sex with other woman, Jessica Hahn, but then decided maybe he won't tell his wife after all. It is not clear if Ms. Hahn was paid for the sex, but it is hard to figure out why she did it otherwise. We don't even know if a condom was used, come to think of it. Bakker has nothing to say about this.
This lack of specific information on questions that the reader would obviously ask occurs throughout the book, and makes me very suspicious as to how committed Bakker was, at the time of writing this book, to really get the truth out and clear things up.
Seven years later Ms. Hahn starts to blackmail Bakker, funds embezzled from his ministry are paid as hush money, and a process starts which ends with Bakker being convicted for enriching himself with funds solicited for some kind of timeshare vacation deal. This conviction remains controversial and Bakker maintains his innocence. However, Bakker and his wife pocketed $4 million over the previous four years, so they were definitely making out OK.
Bakker ends up with a long prison sentence which is eventually reduced to a more manageable 8 year stretch. During this time he realises that his original theology which held that God wanted Christians to get rich was a travesty. (This is the "I Was Wrong part.)
You might think that this would make him more wary of the fundamentalist Christian tendency to build a theology out of cherry-picked Bible verses, but other than this reversal, most of his thinking seems to have remained unchanged. After his release from prison he is shopping in a department store and his greeted by store clerks who tell him how much they love him and his TV show, but he says nothing to them about the fact that he has now totally repudiated the Jim Bakker of whom they are so enamored.
Interestingly Bakker never really questions the existence of God, or even whether God has abandoned him. He certainly never explains how he came to the conclusion that the Bible was an infallible encyclopedia to everything, rather than, say, a collection of historical writings asssembled by numerous authors over hundreds of years. His whole way of thinking is totally immersed in the fundamentalist religious mentality, which perhaps makes it hard for a not-very-religious reader like me to understand what was going on in his head. Bakker perceives himself at all times as a kind of actor in a morality play directed by God, in which his bad behavior is seen as morally equivalent to flubbing his lines.
There are fascinating passages and revelations in the book. For example, Bakker was seduced by an older male homosexual whose pseudonym is "Russell White" at the age of 11, a relationship that lasted some years. Bakker has forgiven "White" and never seems to have considered the possibility of exposing him, or if he did, this is not discussed. In this respect he is in the same boat as Oprah Winfrey, who has never named the family member who initiated her at a very young age.
(Interesting when you consider that hundreds of men have or are suing the catholic church for billions of dollars for the same offences.)
Bakker spends a lot of his time forgiving people who have wronged him, and comes across as somewhat self justificatory in the frequency with which he forgives people who have wronged him--regardless of any admission of guilt on their part. This reminds me a bit of the old joke about asking a man if he has stopped beating his wife.
In other parts of the book Bakker details his own problems with prescription drugs, the addictions of his wife--who was treated at the Betty Ford clinic--and alludes to substance abuse problems of his son also. The Bakkers seem very much to buy into the "pill for every ill" mentality, so it is no surprise that they are prone to substance abuse problems.
I am not quite as impressed as most of the reviewers of this book and I find myself constantly asking how frank Bakker really is in this account. There seem to be an awful lot of gaps in the narrative. For example, although he mentions that other ministers like John Ankerberg accused him of homosexual acts (falsely, he says) he makes no mention of an alleged longtime homosexual relationship with his right hand man David Taggart, about which others have spoken.
However, Bakker is a weird and wonderful person, and this book does give a bit of insight into one of the most bizarre episodes in modern American history, so it will probably still interest many readers.
When wrong is right ..........2005-03-28
I had never really liked Jim Bakker and the seeming insincerity of his program, so the title "I Was Wrong" caught my interest immediately. Surprisingly, the book follows that theme, which is refreshing in itself. For any public and/or religious celebrity to admit his wrongs....shows that they have now got it more right! There are some awesome insights, and NO WHINING !!! I am ordering paperback copies to send into a local prison and will give one to my pastor.
This Is A Great Book.......2005-03-12
This is the dedication - "To my two wonderful children, Tammy Sue and Jamie Charles, who never waivered in their love and support and who gave me a reason to go on when all hope was gone." In about 5 years Jim Bakker got his life back. He had been sentenced to 45 years originally. Due to the fact that he was famous/wealthy he was able to get quality legal representation for his appeal. He won his appeal and the sentence was reduced to one that fit the crime, about 5 years. Thank God, he did finally receive justice. One wonders, if Jim was a more ordinary person would he still be rotting in prison serving 45 years. That would be a terrible injustice.
Spiritual (Middletown 320/1)
Book Description
Authors Liz Bluper and Renée Plastique have sparked a revolution with their code word: M.I.L.D.E.W. (shorthand for Mothers-In-Law Do Everything Wrong). Their playful acronym is becoming a party of today's lingo as women talk to each other about that all-too-familiar marriage by-product-the mother-in-law.
The authors are helping women ¿laugh their MILDEW away¿ by sharing their hilarious strategies, stories and relatable experiences. Women from across the globe are now opening up and sharing their stories, lending support to those also suffering from ¿MILDEW build-up¿ and confirming that, indeed, they are not alone. They are discovering that when it comes to MILDEW, laughter really is the best medicine. ¿M.I.L.D.E.W. is truly therapeutic!¿ says one reader.
With its broad appeal, M.I.L.D.E.W. is inspiring mothers-in-law, too. By taking their scientifically calibrated quiz, more than one mother-in-law has been surprised at the results and subsequently changed her ways. Bluper and Plastique are hearing reports of reduced marital stress and improved family relations. ¿World peace can't be far behind!¿ quips Plastique.
From their all-too-revealing quiz to the laugh-out-loud stories to the "Hey, that really might work" strategies, this book gives new meaning to the word "MILDEW," and will keep you laughing and dying to share it with your friends.
Customer Reviews:
Funny!.......2007-05-13
This was a very delightful book, and it had me laughing throughout the entire thing. I loved it! Definitely a must read if you have a difficult mother-in-law!
Cute, a funny gift.......2006-10-22
This book is definately not a self help book. I frankly found it humorus to read some of these other women's stories. If you're looking for something to improve your relationship, this isn't the book. If you looking for something kind of funny to laugh at all the silly things other people's MILDEW do, this is. I think it would make a fantastic gift for a wedding shower or bachelorette party.
Don't waste your time........2006-08-11
I thought this book was horrible. If all you want to do is laugh about the problem instead of trying to correct it, then maybe this book is for you. However, I found the stories mean and not funny at all.
The quizzes they had in there were far from helpful. I couldn't even relate to many because they reference TV shows I have never personally seen, not to mention situations that are so superficial it makes you wonder whether or not it is the mother-in-law that actually has the problem. Some of us have to work and have children with no time to sit and watch television or worry about petty squibbles; we are trying to deal with the "real" family situations that allow people to rise up and create a good family environment.
The only thing I could find in the book that made me slightly laugh were some of the quotes from famous people. Other than that, the authors failed attempt at success makes me wonder if they do anything to try to make their mother-in-law situations any better or are just being cruel at their mother-in-law's and husband's expense.
Immature.......2006-06-15
This is a book lacking in compassion, with no attempt to understand the issues involved in a diffcult, but potentially correctible relationship. It's mean and vindictive, and not as funny as the authors think it is. Let's hear from them when they become mothers-in-law themselves. Interested families should read other, more helpful books that will alleviate, not exacerbate problems with cruelty.
Must Have Been Peeking In My Window.......2005-01-09
Take my mother-in-law, please.
I didn't submit one story to this book, but I swear these writers were talking about my mother-in-law!
Can't wait for an obvious follow-up to this great book.
Book Description
It happens without warning, and it hits you with devastating force. Your closest girlfriend, the Ethel to your Lucy, the Thelma to your Louise, cuts you off completely. No more late-night phone calls, no more afternoon e-mails, no more catch-up lunches and dinners. She has decided for whatever reason to move on with her life and has left you to figure it out on your own. The experience can be as painful and confusing as a sudden breakup with a significant other, and you replay scenes from the friendship and wonder what you did wrong.
Until now, women had to endure the heartache of losing a friend all alone, without the social support and understanding that accompanies, say, a romantic split-up -- and to make matters worse, they don't even have their best friend's shoulder to cry on. But What Did I Do Wrong? gives you that sympathetic shoulder and a resource -- and some answers -- that you can rely on. After author Liz Pryor had gone through a number of these breakups herself, she set out to discover why they were happening, how to help herself -- and others -- get through them...and how to prevent them from happening again.
Through personal interviews and her popular website, www.lizpryor.com, Pryor collected hundreds of stories of friendships with which you will identify. Now she draws on those stories to explore the dynamics of friendship breakups in a candid, intimate way, revealing the patterns, the warning signs, and some ways to put a friendship right or help it change to meet your or your friend's changing life. She also explains how to end a friendship -- if you find that you need to do so -- in ways that honor both parties' feelings and your history together.
Like the best kind of girlfriend -- one who really will stay friends forever -- Pryor blends plain, old-fashioned, feminine good sense and good humor with genuine empathy for the thousands of women who live with the confusion that lingers after an ended friendship -- for women of all ages, races, and backgrounds. What Did I Do Wrong? validates your feelings and inspires you to be more forthright and compassionate with new and old friends. It might even lead you to reconnect with a lost one. In the end, you will be moved and uplifted by the many stories of strong friendships, broken friendships, and renewed friendships that make this book a treasure of women's wisdom and experiences.
Download Description
It happens without warning, and it hits you with devastating force. Your closest girlfriend, the Ethel to your Lucy, the Thelma to your Louise, cuts you off completely. No more late-night phone calls, no more afternoon e-mails, no more catch-up lunches and dinners. She has decided for whatever reason to move on with her life and has left you to figure it out on your own. The experience can be as painful and confusing as a sudden breakup with a significant other, and you replay scenes from the friendship and wonder what you did wrong. Until now, women had to endure the heartache of losing a friend all alone, without the social support and understanding that accompanies, say, a romantic split-up -- and to make matters worse, they don't even have their best friend's shoulder to cry on. But What Did I Do Wrong? gives you that sympathetic shoulder and a resource -- and some answers -- that you can rely on. After author Liz Pryor had gone through a number of these breakups herself, she set out to discover why they were happening, how to help herself -- and others -- get through them...and how to prevent them from happening again. Through personal interviews and her popular website, www.lizpryor.com, Pryor collected hundreds of stories of friendships with which you will identify. Now she draws on those stories to explore the dynamics of friendship breakups in a candid, intimate way, revealing the patterns, the warning signs, and some ways to put a friendship right or help it change to meet your or your friend's changing life. She also explains how to end a friendship -- if you find that you need to do so -- in ways that honor both parties' feelings and your history together. Like the best kind of girlfriend -- one who really will stay friends forever -- Pryor blends plain, old-fashioned, feminine good sense and good humor with genuine empathy for the thousands of women who live with the confusion that lingers after an ended friendship -- for women of all ages, races, and backgrounds. What Did I Do Wrong? validates your feelings and inspires you to be more forthright and compassionate with new and old friends. It might even lead you to reconnect with a lost one. In the end, you will be moved and uplifted by the many stories of strong friendships, broken friendships, and renewed friendships that make this book a treasure of women's wisdom and experiences.
Customer Reviews:
A Breakthrough in Women's Studies.......2007-10-10
I was pleasantly surprised and gratified to find out about "What Did I Do Wrong? When Women Don't Tell Each Other the Friendship is Over". This is a book I have been waiting to read for a long long time. Bravo to Liz Pryor for addressing a topic that has been completely taboo. Even between the women involved, there is usually NEVER an open or honest discussion about the painful experience of a friendship ending between girlfriends. With a wide range of anecdotal material plus illuminating stories from her own life, Pryor illustrates the possible causes of these "break-ups". Strange misunderstandings, moral judgments, competition, overstepping of boundaries, insecurity and lack of communication seem to be key (all aspects of ego-mind, by the way). Occasionally, but not entirely without angst, both parties agree to end the friendship amicably due to "growing in different directions". In my own experience, a major factor is that old bug-a-boo jealousy, which is mentioned only briefly. Perhaps with her next book Liz Pryor can delve more deeply into the psychological issues that are significant barriers to unconditional love, trust and caring support between women-friends. In my view the number one reason why women treat each other so shabbily stems from an early negative relationship with one's own mother. The mother-daughter relationship becomes the ongoing dysfunctional pattern for how a woman will treat the other women in her life, unless the wound is acknowledged and transformed. Cattiness, pettiness, bitchiness, negative gossip, competition and jealousy between contemporary women is so prevalent these days it almost seems to be the norm, and that is not right. Healed and whole, women are the force of love in the world.
Good effort .......2007-03-29
The author made a good effort but it is missing something, maybe because it is based on her life and I am not in this social class.
For me this book reinforced the idea that Women are bad friends. The stories make me wonder who this author knows - sounds like a self-centered crowd.
The friendships she depicts seem shallow ending over gossip, petty squabbles and my personal favorite my husband doesn't like you. Is this the stone ages where a woman can't be friends unless her husband gives permission? My parents had individual friends and couples they were friends with. Each had individual friends that the other liked and didn't like so based on my experiences with friendship some of her stories seem silly and shallow.
I agree with other reviewers about writing a letter when you are in the midst of a painful end to a friendship is a bad idea. Most people are not going to wait until they have enough emotional distance to write such a letter and sometimes you have no idea what the recipient is going through. I would not want to write a letter to someone when I may not know what is happening in her life. Is she experiencing a deep depression? Is there a recent crisis? Sometimes regardless of the spirit in which a letter is intended the person will still read it though a lens that may be clouded by pain or bad circumstances.
This author is not an expert so in some ways her approach seemed fresh but having an expert voice involved could have made it a much better book.
This book brought me peace..........2007-01-23
After the grief and confusion with my own personal loss of a dear friendship, this book was like a breath of fresh air. The author, Liz Pryor really hit the nail on the head, and tackled a very common, very taboo friendship topic--what to do when a friend basically disappears into thin air. I am so grateful to her for her storylike text and ability to share perspectives from both sides. Through the number of personal interviews and stories within, the reader is truly able to gain some clarity and insight without having to skip chapters only to find what applies to her.
I wanted to give this book 5 out of 5 stars, however--there is an underlying tone that has an air of pretentiousness about it. While I could relate (who's not a little pretentious at times...?) some readers might not be able to connect with the women who are clearly from upper/middle class lives(the author is married to actor Thomas Calabro, from Melrose Place); there isn't much here for women who have more domestic issues or those who come from a different background than many of the women interviewed in this book. Either way, my opinion is that if you can get past that aspect--you easily have a five-out-of-five star book. I highly recommend it to ALL women seeking solace during such a confusing time.
Friendship falling outs.......2007-01-04
This book is good if you have experienced a falling out with a friend. It helps explain alot and makes you feel less alone. Might especially be good for younger women.
Author did everything right.......2006-11-20
Pryor's book exceeded my expectations. I picked it up out of idle curiosity and, midway through, got on the phone to a female friend: "You've got to read this! I have a story..."
And that's the power of What Did I Do Wrong (WDIDW): universal appeal and a compelling "can't put this down" narrative style. Pryor creates a unique genre between self-help and personal essay: she's more like the big sister or mentor, with research and attitude, rather than the expert or ordinary person with an opinion. Not bad.
Pryor focuses on women who have close friendships, lasting several years, with frequent contact and conversation. We learn what happens when one friend says, "Enough! I'm ready to move on." Maybe she's just outgrowing the friendship. Or maybe her friend inadvertently did something that made her see their relationship in a new, ugly light. The "initiator" of the breakup tends to just disappear out of the "receiver's" life, leaving the "receiver" baffled, hurt and angry, often unable to feel closure.
Pryor encourages the "initiator" to talk to the "receiver," either in person or via letter. She has become something of an expert in helping others write these letters, beginning with the straightforward communication question: "What is your objective?"
Before reading WDIDW, I would have said, "Typically these conversations create awkwardness and accomplish nothing." But now I would say, "It can be important to assure the receiver that she didn't do anything horrible." The most painful stories in Pryor's book describe situations when one friend believed a false rumor about the other -- in one case, a woman left her neighborhood after friends dropped her based on a bizarre story spread by one woman's housekeeper.
So I would say the most important confrontation may not be about losing the friendship, but about asking the question, "Is this true? Did you do this?" In fact, if a friend doesn't ask these questions, I'd wonder what else was going on. What kind of friend believes an unconfirmed rumor?
Pryor's lack of credentials (she states clearly on the book jacket, "I'm not a shrink or a Pulitzer prize winner") makes the book fun to read. But a social scientist might encourage us to move to deeper questions, such as, "When are these shifts likely to occur? Are friendship changes correlated with changes in residence, career, economic shifts or marriage?"
My own friendships tend to evaporate following a move, marriage, childbirth, or other family event. When I returned to graduate school for a PhD, friends disappeared because my schedule, interests and sense of direction shifted radically. Pryor's stories mostly came from women who resembled each other in terms of life status, such as "married with children." In one case, a friendship broke up when one woman's husband disliked her friend. This topic might deserve more discussion, especially as more and more of us are single and living alone by choice.
With more casual friends, often a single incident made me say, "I don't want to spend more time with this person." So I think it's important to note that, in today's mobile society, we often assume we're friends when we're merely acquaintances. We need to take time to get to know someone before investing emotional energy in a relationship.
But Pryor doesn't seem focused on teaching us, let alone giving us the "10 tips" we see so often these days. She presents evocative stories that encourage us to ask our own questions, talk to whoever's in our current circle of friends, and ultimately find our own solutions.
Not a book to take with you to a desert island!
Cathy Goodwin (.com)
Book Description
In this sequel to Misdemeanor Man, Dylan Schaffer returns with a mind-bending legal whodunit about small crime, big crime, and the reluctant lawyer caught in the middle.
Despite his recent successes in the courtroom, Gordon Seegerman is intent on sticking to his low-end practice, dealing with misdemeanors for the Santa Rita, California, public defender's office. His priority is his Manilow cover band, which is on the verge of hitting it big-if they can find a substitute for their drummer, whp's nine months pregnant and on bed rest, before a date with Barry in Vegas. But when the cops bust the state's leading high school quarterback for dog-napping and possession of marijuana, and then the dog's owner's wife winds up dead, Gordon finds himself back in the wrong sort of spotlight, and back at work.
And work has never meant so much trouble. The judge has a pathological disregard for the law. The city is on the verge of a violent eruption. And the client looks like he might be the next homicide victim. Forced into the most serious case of his life, Gordon discovers the truth behind a decades-old murder and learns a shocking lesson: he may not be the Misdemeanor Man after all.
A thrilling blend of mystery and Manilow, I Right the Wrongs will have you racing for the final page, singing all the way.
Customer Reviews:
I Right The Wrongs.......2006-08-27
What can I tell you? Same cast of characters, same extremely cool writing. This guy has me hooked. He didn't use quite as much humor in this book as in its predecessor, because it wouldn't have been appropriate for the story and perhaps because he's mirroring reality yet again.
Do you know what's difficult about writing mysteries? You have to put clues out in the open where the reader can see them, along with perhaps a few red herrings, but ideally the reader won't realize what he's seen and what the solution is until you tell him. Then he said "Ah ha!" and "Of course!" and you admire the author for making you feel a little bit silly.
Schaffer's hit upon a solution to the dilemma. As you read, you don't always know where the clues are. His subplots are not window dressing, they're not an afterthought, and they're not filler. Life's not as simple as figuring out whodunnit, lots of things are happening to the protagonist at once, and every scene can also be attributed to character development. The typical mystery author's focused, as is the reader. Schaffer is focused as well, but on a number of things simultaneously. It makes him extremely readable. But now I have to wait while he writes the third installment. Damn. I hate waiting.
{March 2006 Update - The author sent me an email because of these reviews. Is that cool or what? It'll be a long wait, because he's writing other stuff instead. Fine by me. As long as he's writing, I'm a happy reader. His site, in case you care, is at [...]}
Schaffer, once again, is riveting!.......2005-09-01
If you have any desire to get a sense of what it's like to actually be a public defender, Dylan Schaffer's books are a must read. While the main character himself in this book and in Misdemeanor Man may not be typical of public defenders, the courtroom action is dead-on.
I Right the Wrongs is in turn funny, touching, and engaging. Schaffer has a writing style that truly grabs the reader. My only criticism, is really not. I can't pick up one of Schaffer's books when I don't have the free time to actually read it non-stop, because I generally lack the willpower to put it down.
I can't wait for the next chapter in Gordon Seegerman's career.
Fun!.......2005-05-18
I really enjoyed reading this book. I read in bed at night before going to sleep and my fiancee kept looking at me sideways as I laughed out loud. The plot is good, the writing is clever and the characters are totally believable. Seegerman is a great protagonist and his hilarious quips alone are worth the price of the book!
A great second novel.......2005-05-10
Gordon Seegerman, the underachieving public defender in mythical Santa Rita, California (it's really Oakland), continues to want to lay low and spend as much time as possible preparing his Barry Manilow cover band for its next performance - in Las Vegas, for Barry himself. But, as in the wonderful "Misdemeanor Man", events conspire against Gordon and his lack of ambition.
Marcus Manners, the local high school athletic hero, is arrested for stealing a rival team's mascot. The fact that there's a little mysterious pot in the car shouldn't cause too much trouble in this basic `misdo' case. But Gordon draws an insane judge. The illumni of the rival school, many of whom are involved in the local legal system, are not interested in letting things slide. And then the wife of the mascot's owner is killed. Thus, Gordon is thrust again into the spotlight - much against his will.
Dylan Schaffer has written another marvelous story; not only is it chock-full of sly, acerbic humor, there's a deftly plotted mystery. It would be a mistake to think of this book as simply a funny legal mystery - while there's humor aplenty, Schaffer touches on a number of darker issues as well: racism; corruption, and the difficulty of dealing with ageing family.
This is a terrific second novel - I hope there are many more Gordon Seegerman stories to come....
Customer Reviews:
Interesting read.......2007-04-10
Interesting read. For a more detailed perspective on the creative process, I suggest The Act of Creation by Arthur Koestler.
Understanding Thinking and Breaking Paradigms.......2007-01-06
This book opened a lot of doors in my mind that I've been trying to get through for a long time.
This book is a great mix of topics that helped me gain a different understanding (several mental models are proposed in the book that offer a mental paradigm shift) of the relationship of emotion to thought to psychology, philosophy, belief, truth, etc. and helped me gain a historical and cultural understanding of the belief structures I have working in my life.
In this book, De Bono proposes that critical thinking is powerful, but less than perfect, if it is the only thinking we use. He proposes that Critical/Rational thinking as developed by Socrates/Plato has provided the means for our technological success today, but has also blocked our progress as humans because it is only one kind of thinking (black or white, right or wrong). There are other ways of thinking and when they are used in conjunction with rational thought we have a better chance at improving our human interaction and the world we live in.
I have a true, good friend who recommended this book. I had asked him for his opinion on why I feel the need to "evangelize" other people. "Why do I feel this need to convince other people that my beliefs are correct and that theirs are somehow flawed if they don't match mine exactly?" I've observed how this practice has had poor effects in my own life and also how similar practices have not had good effects in the world e.g. War, Politics, Religion, etc. On a technical level we've made all kinds of progress, yet on a social level we are still acting like cavemen!
So, anyway, this year I've been studying motivation, behavior, psychology, belief, various religions, etc. attempting to understand myself and how/why I interact with other people in the way I do even though I know my confrontational approach is less than Ideal. This book gave me some breakthrough thinking on this subject and I'm still sorting through the debris of my former beliefs on human motivation as a result. This is why I feel like I will give this book 5 stars in a few months after I've had a chance to study it more. Right now, I'm wondering if I've been logically tricked...
One thing is for sure, I didn't "get" De Bono's 6 Hats until reading this book. I bought "SIX THINKING HATS" at the same time I bought "I'M RIGHT, YOU'RE WRONG" and it seems like these two books together offer practical approaches to revolutionize our thinking patterns and improve our human interactions.
Do these ideas result in practical change and improvement for myself and world I live in? I will need to report on this later. As a intellectually stimulating book I give it 5 stars. For pragmatism, I give it 3 because I haven't tested it yet. So, for today, I give it 4 stars overall.
Note: This was not an easy book to read. It seemed like de Bono took forever to get to his points. In fact, at one point, I skipped a few chapters and then found I had to go back and make them up. His teaching seems so simple in hindsight! But de Bono is building a logical argument throughout the book and while it seems like he is taking too long to get to his points, the points are WORTH IT! This is NOT a book on practical tools. He has written other books about practical tools (of which he reminds you quite often). This book provides a foundation on which to develop practical solutions.
Too much analysis of the problems and minimal solutions.......2003-07-17
I agree with Daniel Crew of Nashville. This book has a few gem in it but it takes too much effort to dig them out. Dont get me wrong, I think highly of De Bono's thinking tools but this book failed to deliver against the expectations he never stop building up through out the entire book. AND he came across as a really insecure person because he constantly need to give himself credit for ideas he has already established as 'his' - which is irritating.
He did a pretty good job of explaining why the current system of thinking is archaic but he failed to explain in a simple and clear manner the solution that he is proposing - that is because he only made references to them - you wont find them in the book, you need to go out and buy more of his books to learn about those methodologies.
So, this book ended up sounding like a really long brochure on why you need to use his thinking tools and methodology. Save yourself the time and money. Just go out and buy Six Thinking Hats and the other books. He does a pretty good job in explaininig why the tools work and why you need them there again.
Don't waste time here.......2002-12-27
For the most part, this book seemed contrived and impractical. There are a few good ideas in here, but they are buried. It takes a lot of effort to sort through and pull them out. I have three main beefs with the book:
1) The author refers to himself and his works WAY too often. There is definitely more than Narcism there, I think maybe he is his own hero. But I don't find lateral thinking to be that fascinating. He satkes his reputation on this concept. "Lateral Thinking" is the same thing as "mechanized creativity."
2) There is a fundamental flaw in the book that shoots itself down. The entire book is about how we should avoid absolutes and deal with perceptions instead of concrete facts. Then it proceeds to claim that the author was "right" about this and that in previous works and it makes assumptions like that more food production is a goal to aspire to. Ultimately, this is a good "exploration" of a subject the author has not applied to himself. As such, I don't feel he should be regarded as speaking with authority.
3) It is about 200 pages too long. There are 3 redundant forwards, followed by a lengthy introduction (32 pages), followed by a redundant introductory section. On page 110, the author is still referring to things he intends to do with the book. Don't talk it up, just do it.
There are more than 70 pages building up what the book will do, and the rest of the book just fails to live up. ONE of the THREE Forwards says that the book is in simple terms because De Bono is a master and can dumb it down. Not so. It is in simple terms because it is not a complete concept and the whole book is filled with testaments to the author's lack of understanding of his own concepts.
All that said, I actually do enjoy the "lateral thinking" exercises of De Bono. I suggest spending your reading time there instead of here.
A concise explanation of a complex subject........2001-01-11
This book stands out as one of the best explanations of how the mind works, and doesn't work, and how to make make the best use of your own. He destroys in a few paragraphs a lot of deeply entrenched misconceptions that western society has been operating under for centuries. I've seen a lot of other long and wordy attempts that fail to get half as far as De Bono has in this little book. It's densely packed with concepts, each touched on just long enough to give the reader the main points, without all the flowery self-indulgent nonsense that so many other writers of books for the lay person love to fill their pages with. De Bono gets to the point. And good points they are! Excellent book.
Book Description
Charles Barkley has never been shy about expressing his opinions. Michael Jordan once said that we all want to say the things that Barkley says, but we don’t dare. But even die-hard followers of the all-time NBA great, the star of TNT’s Inside the NBA and CNN’s TalkBack Live, will be astonished by just how candid and provocative he is in this book—and just how big his ambitions are. Though he addresses weighty issues with a light touch and prefers to stir people to think by making them laugh, there’s nothing Charles Barkley shies away from here—not race, not class, not big money, not scandal, not politics, not personalities, nothing. “Early on,” says Washington Post columnist and ESPN talk show host Michael Wilbon in his Introduction, “Barkley made his peace with mixing it up, and decided the consequences were very much worth it to him. And that makes him as radically different in these modern celebrity times as a 6-foot-4-inch power forward.”
If there’s one thing Charles Barkley knows, it’s the crying need for honest, open discussion in this country—the more uncomfortable the subject, the more necessary the dialogue. And if the discussion leader can be as wise, irreverent, (occasionally) profane and (consistently) funny as Charles Barkley, so much the better. Many people are going to be shocked and scandalized by
I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It, but many more will stand up and cheer. Like Molly Ivins or Bill O’Reilly, Charles Barkley is utterly his own thinker, and everything he says comes from deep reflection. One way or another, if more blood hasn’t reached your brain by the time you’ve finished this book, maybe you’ve been embalmed.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
Charles Barkley has never been shy about expressing his opinions. Michael Jordan once said that we all want to say the things that Barkley says, but we don't dare. But even die-hard followers of the all-time NBA great, the star of TNT's Inside the NBA and CNN's TalkBack Live, will be astonished by just how candid and provocative he is in this book -- and just how big his ambitions are. Though he addresses weighty issues with a light touch and prefers to stir people to think by making them laugh, there's nothing Charles Barkley shies away from here -- not race, not class, not big money, not scandal, not politics, not personalities, nothing. "Early on," says Washington Post columnist and ESPN talk show host Michael Wilbon in his introduction, "Barkley made his peace with mixing it up, and decided the consequences were very much worth it to him. And that makes him as radically different in these modern celebrity times as a 6-foot-4-inch power forward."
If there's one thing Charles Barkley knows, it's the crying need for honest, open discussion in this country -- the more uncomfortable the subject, the more necessary the dialogue. And if the discussion leader can be as wise, irreverent, (occasionally) profane and (consistently) funny as Charles Barkley, so much the better. Many people are going to be shocked and scandalized by I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It, but many more will stand up and cheer. Like Molly Ivins or Bill O'Reilly, Charles Barkley is utterly his own thinker, and everything he says comes from deep reflection. One way or another, if more blood hasn't reached your brain by the time you've finished this book, maybe you've been embalmed.
"Charles Barkley always makes me laugh, and he always makes me think. He hasn't held anything back in his book -- if anything, this is the most personal I've ever seen him. The only whopper is the title: when has Barkley ever admitted to being wrong?"
TIGER WOODS
"Whether you think he's wrong or right, you'll never find Charles Barkley dull, evasive or afraid. He's blunt, honest and funny as hell, a man with strong convictions and a determination to express them without fear of offending the sensibilities of more timid souls. He's got guts, and there's as much to admire in this book as there is in the man. In I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It, Barkley refers to one of my campaigns as a rough experience. It might have been, but at least I never had to post up against Sir Charles. Now that would have been really hard."
SENATOR JOHN McCAIN
"I find Charles to be great company on the golf course. Of course, he has never been shy about his opinions, and he has not changed for this book! Charles addresses issues that are important to all of us, not just people close to the game of basketball. Frank, funny and provocative, this is a book that will stir people to think."
DEAN SMITH
Customer Reviews:
Barkley Gets It.......2006-12-17
Charles Barkley says that the goal of his book I MAY BE WRONG is to promote dialogue. If the number of times I have referenced the book since reading it is any indication, he has succeeded. Using examples from professional sports, mass media and his personal life to illustrate American structures of power and image, he makes a convincing case that racism is a structure rather than a belief. He speaks a commonsense language that invites you into his conversation, which may surprise readers who expect arrogant rhetoric. I can't wait to read WHO'S AFRAID OF A LARGE BLACK MAN? and to see how else Mr. Barkley will use his influence to change America.
A little more Charles, please, and a little less editing.......2006-10-17
You never know what to expect when you tune in to Charles Barkley or begin reading one of his books, but it's safe to assume that it's going to be interesting and most likely controversial. This book lives up to those expectations. In it, Barkley covers a wide range of topics, many dealing with race or race relations in one way or another, and mostly in a sports setting.
I found the book to be interesting and, in many instances, enlightening, but also to be lacking in Barkely's usual charm and humor. And, although I agree with almost all of what Barkley had to say, I was somewhat disappointed in what he didn't say. By that I mean that Barkely seemed to look at the world from only his own perspective. I would like to have seen what he had to say about the other side of the coin. But no one else ever addresses that side of the coin either, so that was probably too much to expect.
My biggest disappointment with the book, however, was that, although its contents most likely reflect Barkely's true beliefs, its language doesn't appear to be his. I loved to watch Barkely perform as a player and have always enjoyed listening to him express his views and opinions. In this book, I had hoped to read what he had to say in his own words rather than in the more grammatically correct language of an editor. Simply throwing in the word s_ _t every now and then just didn't seem to cut it.
I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It.......2006-05-17
After being born in a poor Atlanta neighborhood, former NBA star, Charles Barkley shows the reader how a little hope can go a long way. Barkley begins his story growing up and playing basketball in Atlanta; his basketball skills got him a scholarship to the University of Auburn. Fortunately, Charles's mother lived near Auburn and tried to go to all of his games. As you can see, the bond between him and his mother was very strong. After years in Auburn, Charles was then drafted to the Phoenix Suns; from then on he became one of the most renowned basketball players ever. He was traded to the Houston Rockets and retired, being known as one of the best in the NBA. TNT offers Charles as a job as a studio analysis. The question on everyone's lips now is "what will Barkley do next?"
Personally, this is my favorite book. Although, I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It is an adult book, this book is perfect for those who enjoy reading popular sports books and is not easily offended. Barkley hold nothing back but manages to teach the reader some life-long morals about life.
This book is so.....Charles.......2006-02-24
Charles Barkely is truly one of a kind. Most people eather love Charles, or hate Charles. I can't get enough of the man. He is an honest man, who will not hesitate to speak his mind. I admire that about him.
The book I May Be Wrong but I doubt It i thought was great. Charles covered many topics in this book. Charles grew up in a small, poor Alabama town. Growing up, he did not have the best relationship with his father who lived across the country. Charles had many problems growing up which he overcame. He went on to play 3 years of basketball at Auburn University. He then turned pro and was drafted 5th overall by the Philidelphia 76ers. There Charles got a chance to grow as a player with great veterans on the team. Charles ended up also playing for Pheonix and Houston. He also covers a lot of other different topics in the book. He talks about racism and how wrong it is. He also talks about how America discriminates against poor people. Charles makes some very good points. If you enjoy watching Charles on TV, this is a great book for you.
Don't waste your time.......2006-02-22
I could not even get through the first chapter, Charles is not as good as he thinkes he was. I would read bootlegger's boy by Berry Switzer famous coach of the oklahoma sooners if I were looking for a good book to read.
Book Description
Scarred by decades of conflict and occupation, the craggy African nation of Eritrea has weathered the world's longest-running guerrilla war. The dogged determination that secured victory against Ethiopia, its giant neighbor, is woven into the national psyche, the product of cynical foreign interventions. Fascist Italy wanted Eritrea as the springboard for a new, racially pure Roman empire; Britain sold off its industry for scrap; the United States needed a base for its state-of-the-art spy station; and the Soviet Union used it as a pawn in a proxy war.
In I Didn't Do It for You, Michela Wrong reveals the breathtaking abuses this tiny nation has suffered and, with a sharp eye for detail and a taste for the incongruous, tells the story of colonialism itself and how international power politics can play havoc with a country's destiny.
Customer Reviews:
Too close to the subject matter.......2007-03-27
This is in some ways a good and necessary book. It spotlights a nation and a set of problems that most of the world doesn't pay much attention to. But there is a problem. Michela Wrong is too close to the subject and her emotional attachment at times results in the book not being as objective or as good as it might have been. In particular, she seems to have been far too close to Eritrean rebel groups and their leaders.
Eritrea's history isn't about "betrayal". Its about the same problems that most African nations have faced. Rather than face the fact that the problems of Eritrea today are largely self-inflicted wounds, she falls back into blaming colonialism and cold-war politics in really unconvincing ways.
In her coverage of Italian colonial rule, she confuses events in Eritrea with those in Ethiopia. She is also willing to judge Italy to a far higher standard than she applies to the pre or post-independence governments of both countries. She is also more than a little unwilling to understand the role that Italy played in creating Eritrea.
The lowest point in the book is her coverage of Britain's wartime rule of Eritrea. She advances a theory that the british were racist than the italians because their rule produced fewer multiracial children. Somehow she sees superior morality in men who promoted widespread prostitution and produced children which they abandoned. It makes no sense to me. Her logic is also full of wrong assumptions about the number of British in the country and the nature of the occupation.
She also isn't very good about the details of the war. The war in East Africa and in particular the victory at Keren was not a British victory, but a victory of the British Indian Army. Somehow she misses the basic fact that much of the army that conquered and occupied East Africa was Inidian.
The British wanted out of Eritrea and got out of it seven years after the war ended (1952). As they got out, the issue of Ethiopia's historic and economic claims to Eritrea came to the surface. Wrong wishes to blame the united nations for betraying the people of Eritrea. But its not that simple. Eritrea's national identity has no particular good historical basis and arises mostly from the period of Italian rule and the money Italy spent on their colony. Furthermore, its independence results in two weak states in East Africa rather than one. Eritrea and Ethiopia need each other. Economically, independence is a disaster for both.
The war for Eritrea's independence was a pointless waste of lives for everyone involved. Wrong wishes to see it as a justified noble struggle for "freedom", but as events since independence have proved, it was anything but that.
After the overthrow of the Ethiopian government in 1976, horrible things were done in Eritrea and the author gets that part of the story right. Then she goes on to show the bright future Eritrea had before it in 1993 at independence and how everything went so terribly wrong.
But she can't bring herself to hold the right people accountable. She can't bring herself to admit that the rebels she had admired so much once in power turned to be little better than a criminal gang. A gang that destroyed the economy of the country, introduced a dictatorship and then threw the country into a disasterous war with Ethiopia. The world didn't do these things. The world's "betrayal" didn't make these decisions. It was the rebel "freedom fighters" who are responsible.
And thats the fatal flaw in the book. The author wants to give critiques of colonialism and the UN from on high. But the truth is that the country's problems are not a matter of "I didn't do it for you", they are "we did it to ourselves".
The end result of the great "struggle" for Eritrean independence has been an economic disaster for both Ethiopia and Eritrea. The political result is a government running Eritrea that is as bad (or worse) than what the author claims were the "repressive" Ethiopian governments of the 1950s and 1960s. Eritrea's government budget is wasted in preparations for more war with Ethiopia. The country is trapped in a situation where things will never get better. Its not a situation that outsiders should be credited or blamed for.
When the author says things like: "the national character traits forged during a century of colonial and superpower exploitation were about to blow up in Eritrea's face.", she in engaging in massive political self-deception. Her (dated) anti-colonial/anti-imperialism rhetoric leads her to excuse every bad decision made by an African as someone elses fault.
She also goes out of her way to make the American soldiers stationed in Ethiopia in the past look like they were exceptionally bad. Having worked and travelled in Africa, she must know how soldiers behave in most countries. Go to the area around any military base (including those on American soil) and you will find all sorts of unpleasent things going on. I'm not trying to excuse the behavior of anyone, but the selective moral outrage in the book is of little value to anyone.
I wanted to like this book and I want to see the author write more books about Africa. But she needs to put her political ideology to the side and report on Africa as it is. She did a far better job in "In the footsteps of Mr. Kurtz" than she did in this book.
The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nothing but the Truth..........2007-01-03
If you are an Eritrean and you are often at loss for words ( like me) to explain where, why, who, where and what of this small nation,
say no more! Buy and give each of your audiences a copy of this book.
Michela Wrong plainly expounds the intricacies of one of the longest wars in Africa, making this book to be exceptionally one of the best books ever written that comprehensibly states the Truth, The Whole Truth, Nothing but the Truth about the smallest nation in the world.
Fascinating.......2006-12-27
I read this book because one of my colleagues knows the writer. I wanted to know more about different countries throughout Africa and he suggested I read this and vouched the information was very accurate. I found the book to be 100% fascinating. I was intrigued by the way the Ethiopians and the rest of the world treated Eritrea. The terrible things the Eritreans had to endure not only from the Ethiopians but the British and the Italians. It so sad that all this went one with mere mentions of it throughout the world because no one cared enough. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history on Africa.
Well-researched and well-written spotlight on an overlooked land.......2006-09-09
I was directed to Michela Wrong's "I Didn't Do It For You" via my recent reading of Adrian Hartley's outstanding memoir "The Zanzibar Chest" (he dedicates the book to Ms. Wrong with a brief "Now it's my turn"). As the offspring of an Italian mother and a British father, Wong is uniquely qualified by heritage (in addition to her obvious journalistic talents) to tell Eritrea's story. We get an expert and detailed (and downright fascinating at times) accounting of this small country's sinuous path through two colonial masters, the rules of Haile Selassie and Mengistu, its machinations with the superpowers during the Cold War (mind-boggling complex because US-funded Ethiopia and Soviet-funded Somalia actually 'dance past each other' and switch sides), the long battle for Independence and - almost incredulously - another war after independence had already been won. If even there was a country that 'punches above its weight', Eritrea is it.
The title of the book is really a great choice. I don't want to give it away, but I'll note that it's a derisive quote uttered by a British soldier and it's not the entire quote. One key word has been left off the end, and it's that word that encapsulates the attitudes that have delivered the short end of the stick to this beleagured country time and time again.
Also worth noting: the 'P.S.' section in this paperback edition is outstanding. There's a great interview with Ms. Wrong and some excellent book selections recommended by both the author and the publisher.
Easy Reading.......2006-08-07
Great book that puts the reader into Africa and the events that transpired in Zaire/Congo. The author does a great job of explaining the background and key events that led up to the present situation in this African country.
Average customer rating:
- Why, you ask?
- all hate, no analysis
- Honest reviewing, dishonest elections
- THEY STILL DON'T GET IT!
- SHOULD BE ZERO STARS...
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The I Hate Republicans Reader: Why the GOP is Totally Wrong About Everything
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Book Description
Few have the time or constitution to be able to remember the details of every horror story about how the Republican Party has repeatedly attempted to hijack the American dream for its own selfish reasons. For those who want to be sure they’re not left sputtering in an argument they know they should win hands-down, The I Hate Republicans Reader—via a wide range of lively and entertaining essays, articles, speeches, and rants—will be the place to go for the many compelling reasons to detest the GOP. From era-defining scandals such as Watergate, Iran-Contra, and Enron to coldhearted policies on health care, welfare, and race, to their outrageous theft of the 2000 election and tearing down of the liberal democratic ideals for which the Founding Fathers fought, to the isolationist arrogance of George W. Bush, this book has it all. Divided into such easy-reference sections as Greed, Corruption, Malicious Stupidity, and Big Lies, this collection includes appropriate excerpts from the likes of Eric Schlosser, Michael Moore, Joan Didion, Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose, and David Brock, as well as Ralph Nader, Paul Krugman, Hunter S. Thompson, Barbara Ehrenreich, I.F. Stone, Jimmy Carter, James Carville, Christopher Hitchens, Al Franken, and Bill Moyers.
Customer Reviews:
Why, you ask?.......2007-07-18
Why the hate? Because we hate evil. The root of modern Republican ideology is what should be hated, because it has brought so much damage to this country, caused the deaths of at least 100,000 innocents in other lands, and they do all they can to wreck the ideals of the US Constitution. Those who don't speak out against their dark agenda, are complicit in the Republican criminal tendedncies.
all hate, no analysis.......2007-07-16
Many ratings of political books seem based on liking or disliking the claims of the book.
This review is based on more substantial considerations.
I thought it was time for a political book, so I got this one and Limbaugh's "Bankrupt".
In some ways they are similar; each tries to demonize the opposition, and each attacks on
many fronts. Limbaugh's book is mediocre and this one is far worse. In my review of
"Tragedy and Farce: ..." I said there were better "I hate Republicans" books. Even with
the title, this is not such a book.
Right from the start, the book is wrong. The subtitle tells us "...the GOP is Totally Wrong
About Everything." But most of the issues that separate the parties are not mentioned. Instead,
we have personal attacks. An opinion is wrong because the speaker is bald, or is developing
a bald spot or other equally relevant reasons.
The front matter tells us this book will help you win any argument with any conservative.
There are some facts that might help you, and many claims that might help you convince a
really dumb person that does not know what a logical argument is, but there is not much
that will help you with an open minded skeptic. Partly that is because there are few well
constructed arguments. There is mostly a bunch of name calling and accusations. "You're dumb
and your mother wears combat boots and I'm not going to invite you to my birthday party,
so there." Partly it is because you can not find what you might want to use. The table of
contents lists some general areas as chapter titles and gives the names of some of the authors
whose works are reprinted in the chapter. The first page of each chapter supplies the name
of each author. There is no index. There are few references.
There are many anagrams, convincing proof to some readers, I suppose. This book might appeal to
the left wing equivalents of Russ Limbaugh's dittoheads.
The best section is a reprint from The Onion, a spoof of a Bush speech just before the swearing in.
It was funny. The next best was an article from Greg Palast, claiming he had two CDs showing
the evil party had purged the voter rolls of likely Democrats months before the election. It had
charges I had not heard before. It also had some references, but most of them were just to where
he had managed to get the same accusations published previously. I asked for the CDs he said came
from the Florida Secretary of State and proved the evil deed. I got a reply almost immediately,
asking for clarification. I then provided all the details that were in the article. There has been
silence for over two weeks, so I suspect the charge can not be substantiated. I'll try to remember
to post an update if I ever get the "evidence".
Some of the claims are true. Bush had some dealings that reminded me of Hillary's cattle futures
trading. Some are likely to be true, but unprovable. How Bush and Dan Quayle got into the
National Guard smells like string pulling, for example.
The book is an anthology. The editor selected previously published material that the owner was
willing to have included. Many of the articles are opinion pieces from newspapers or magazines.
Those typically select some facts to stress and ignore others. Consider the Bush tax cuts. Democrats
say the rich saved millions and the poor got nothing. Republicans say everyone that paid income
taxes saved ( the really poor pay no income tax) and the top few percent paid a bigger share of
the total after the cut. Both are correct. Different people attach different values to the facts.
But this book is not about different opinions about the significance of certain facts. It is about
hate. Those with the wrong opinions are not just wrong, but evil. Some times they are simultaneously
stupid and evil, criminal geniuses.
Those that want a daily fix of hate can read this book or visit some blogs. Those hoping for
information about issues should look elsewhere.
Honest reviewing, dishonest elections.......2006-10-14
Giving a book one star because you are upset with its title is a waste of time. I don't like rodents but I don't complain about "Of Mice and Men."
Now, for a review of the book. I believe the talking points on the "I Hate Republicans Reader" are fantastic. They are well researched, many of the facts are documented (some are individual accounts, which obviously cannot be readily verified) and each has a running theme of disappointment with the GOP which I always approve of. It displays the horrors of the Reagan Administration to the "A-Okay with racism" style of Bush. I'd like to note that it differentiates between republicans (everyday GOP members) and Republicans (republicans in office). This is an attack against the capital "R" and it should be read as such.
However, what it has in information it lacks in style and use. Clearly its title scares away any curious moderate who wants to see what liberal leaders have to say and why (not to mention all the republicans - small "r" - who at least should read it so they know what to discuss with us). But that is not all - it is written in a style that is defeatist. It tells of great horrors but not action, when this is obviously a book that is attempting to promote political action. Therefore, it falls short of its goals. I also think it was a poor choice to put Michael Moore as the first essay, because he is barely respected among democrats (for all those curious why I said that, his facts ARE facts, but his inferences are unprovable which makes him lose credibility).
I encourage republicans to read it, even if you disagree, so you at least know how to discuss it in a civilized fashion. Really, I recommend this book, but it receives three stars because it falls short of its purpose.
THEY STILL DON'T GET IT!.......2006-02-23
The party of hate just don't get it. Their obligation to preserve, protect, and defend this nation takes a backseat to their personal and political pursuits.... they foolishly and relentlessly attack and undermine the very policies and institutions that have made our country a beacon of liberty and prosperity. They've wasted decades vehemently slandering conservatives as "extreme" and "dangerous"-conservatives who make it their life-long mission to stand up for the rule of law, a growing economy, small government, and a strong "@$$ whipping" military... This author still dosn't see (because he's blinded by HATE,) the true danger-or what we need to do about them... I already know what needs to be done to protect the future of this country, for my children, my children's children, and yes, you libs'... You may not want to admit it but since September 11, 2001, it was clear to the world: AMERICA IS AT WAR... so get out of the way and AT LEAST let the military protect us from your stupid interferences and terrorist who want to harm us... you are doing more harm than good and it is clear (crystal) that we have not been attacked since 9/11 thanks to our troops... (Do you think you can go about your days if the war was here, right now? Think about that one.) Quit trying to tie the President's hands with pointless, pathetic, political arguments. It's a lot of talk, but you ain't sayin' nothin'.
SHOULD BE ZERO STARS..........2005-11-17
This is everything that is wrong with party politics in America. My party - right or wrong. Forget what is in the best interest of the nation. Much of the writing and the ideas expressed are roughly equivalent to a junior high school understanding. Way too much emotion and ranting, with, as I said before, not enough real analysis of what is good for the country. These people (party politicians) are what is going to destroy America. And it is happening, at a far faster rate that even Rome fell.
Book Description
Americans have a lot of reasons to hate George W. Bush—and readers will find them all in The I Hate George W. Bush Reader. The anthology features the best writing about the myriad reasons to hate Dubya, including his bald-faced lies about everything from Iraq's “nucyular” program to his industry-written energy policy, his corporate giveaways disguised as environmental policies, his chicken-hawk militarism, his disdain for our civil liberties, and his pathetic economic record of squandered surpluses, record deficits and millions of lost jobs. In addition, there is his smug smirk, his silver-spoon incompetence, the way he butchers our language, his staff of misers, hypocrites and closet fascists like Gale Norton, John Ashcroft, Donald Rumsfeld, and Dick Cheney. The I Hate George W. Bush Reader features selections from our funniest, sharpest and most convincing political writers so that readers never again have to worry about losing an argument to a cocksure, ill-informed backer of the Pretender-in-Chief. Included are pieces from Al Franken, Paul Krugman, Molly Ivins, Greg Palast, Joe Conanson, and Michael Moore.
Customer Reviews:
Bush Buster.......2007-03-13
I will readily admit that I am no fan of Bush. In fact, the local democrats in my area refer to him as "Dumbya" and the Commander in Thief, sobriquets I feel he has truly earned. There are, as another reviewer on the US Amazon boards pointed out many reasons to hate and fear this "incompetent buffoon of a president," which is a chillingly apt description of Dumbya. One almost wishes he was a demagogue because one has to have some intelligence to be a demagogue.
Clint Willis has written some excellent, trenchant essays about the Commander in Thief as have other notable and distinguished authors such as Molly Ivins, Greg Palast, Michael Moore, Paul Krugman and Joe Conanson. These authors write with brilliant detail, offering levity to balance out the dire situations this president has caused. Dumbya's tenure in office is of the emperor's new clothes genre and it is long past time others admitted that the emperor is naked! Naked!
It is galling and appalling to hear the malapropisms directly from this president. It is even more alarming and horrifying to see his glaring misdeeds and atrocious administration replete with scandals. This book pulls the news pundits' reports on Dumbya and his atrocious administration and the reasons for why so many view it this way. For those who support Bush, this book will certainly provide input from a different perspective.
I hate liberals.......2006-02-23
The dubya stands for winner and the libs' still can not accept it. conservatives don't know how to steal an election. Hell, liberals invented election stealing, and its liberals doing the ballot counting. what, don't they know how to count?
The "I Hate America Textbook Series".......2005-12-24
I'd have to wonder how many trees were cut down to write this dribble? On the other hand, in case it gets cold out there and I run out of logs...it could be useful. But if George Bush had the (D) after his name instead of (R), the same people who hate him would be wanting to have his baby.
The title speaks volumes.......2005-12-04
Hate-filled people attract or convince very few people. At least this book is up-front about its level of rhetoric.
What a perfect title!.......2005-11-22
The only thing dumber than George W. Bush, are the people who voted for him. After reading this book, I have an even lower opinion of this moron! And I didn't think it could get any lower. You are ruining our country, please resign as our president! And don't touch Social Security! We are in bad enough shape as it is thanks to you. If you despise this president as much as I do, then this is the book to get.
Book Description
When John WeirÂ's debut novel, The Irreversible Decline of Eddie Socket, was published in the late 1980s, it was immediately recognized by critics across the country as one of the most perceptive, unsentimental, and beautifully written accounts of the political and emotional consequences of AIDS on both individuals and a community. In What I Did Wrong, his long-awaited second novel, Weir has written another powerfully moving—and often disarmingly funny—book about loss, character, and sexuality in the post-AIDS era, a survivorÂ's tale in an age when all the certainties have lost their logic and focus.
Customer Reviews:
A Review From Another Snarky Reader, Sort Of.......2007-08-31
I read on its publication THE IRREVERSIBLE DECLINE OF EDDIE SOCKET and remember nothing about it except that I liked it tremendously. I ran across quite by accident Mr. Weir's own review that is basically about other Amazon reviewers, after having read his latest novel, and have reread his review four or fives times now.
Certainly a novel does not have to have a plot in the traditional sense to be successful. On the other hand, not a lot happens in WHAT I DID WRONG. For example, Zack indeed does die, but we know that from the moment we first meet him. Neither does a reader have to identify with the characters to like a novel, three of which immediately come to mind: THE SOUND AND THE FURY, PERFUME and LOLITA. Although I am neither an idiot, someone with no sense of smell nor a pedophile, these three novels fascinate me.
Perhaps some readers may not like this novel because they actually sees too much of themselves in the narrator Tom and are uncomfortable with that. He is a gay man, after all, in his early forties who still has crushes on straight men (sound familiar?), and in the words of his friend Ava, hasn't changed much in all the time that she has known him. Another problem for Mr. Weir-- said to say--- is that many of his gay readers I suspect (me included) have read far too many novels about the horrors of dying of AIDS before the cocktail became available in the mid-90's and would like to forget not our friends but the unspeakable suffering associated with their deaths. Furthermore, Zack is one of the most unsympathetic characters (yep, it is hard to like him or identify with him) that I have encountered in a long time. Far too many of my friends, both close and casual, died of AIDS in the 1980's. While most of them may have been frightened and angry and did not go gentle into that good night, none of them acted at all like Zack.
But enough snarking. There are a lot of reasons to read this novel. Tom is a fine instructor who cares about his students. He and other characters make witty and profound statements about a lot of things: His straight friend Richie he describes as like a lapsed Catholic in a Graham Greene novel who knows that people are "worthless scum, but he can't get over the possibility of grace." A rule about being in hospitals is that "the longer you stay, the longer you stay." Zack's definition of being married (something I have said for years) is together all the time with no sex. Jack's comment, "if you think playground bullies are mean to fags, you should go to a gay bar" hits home. When Zack says, after finding out that his T-cell count is lower than his IQ, that if he were Dan Quayle, he would already be dead, should make the most jaded reader smile. How about Richie's definition of a date as "buying drinks for someone you don't intend to call"? Or Tom's comment on why he is not a bisexual since it doubles one's chances of being rejected? It is a little like a witty comment by a friend of mine when he grew a beard. He opined that he got rejected now, when he went to bars, by a much better class of people.
Finally in what is the most brilliant passage in this novel we have Tom on his irrevocably straight student Justin: Well, I'm a gay man writing fiction. If I were Dennis Cooper, I'd cut him up, but tenderly. If I were Edmund White, I'd rhapsodize about his ass. If I were Genet, we'd be in prison. If I were John Rechy, talking to Justin would cost me fifty bucks. Gore Vidal would make me kill him. Mary Renault would pretend he's Greek, and we'd be headed across the Peloponnese in golden chain mail. In Proust, he's a girl; in Tennessee Williams, I'm the girl; in Colette, we're both girls. Gertrude Stein would turn him into a verb phrase. Virinia Woolf would give him a sex change. Oscar Wilde would have him sit for his portrait. . ." This passage alone makes this novel worth reading.
WHAT I DID WRONG is also a novel about New York City. Reading it made me want to visit this great city again.
Fine ... with a few flaws.......2007-08-23
_Eddie Socket_ was a once-in-a-career book, in no small part because it appeared at a time when a fictional response to AIDS (and a literary reflection on the lives of urban gay men living through what felt very much like a war) was coalescing, and writers were still chafing under Andrew Holleran's pronouncement that "no one will ever be able to write a novel about AIDS" (a dictate that he, himself, has repeatedly violated). With _Eddie Socket_, John Weir expressed in print what none or few had managed; it isn't a great book solely because of its Zeitgeist, but it can't be ignored that Weir said something perfect about an era and managed to do it that era was still going on. That's no mean feat.
_What I Did Wrong_ doesn't have the impeccable timing of _Eddie Socket_, and it doesn't have the same sense of being an immediate, vital, and inevitable response to its age. If it's a bit unfocused, and it is, perhaps it's solely because the times we live in are unfocused: identity, desire, right, wrong, good, evil. As the deconstructionists said (and said and said and said), all of that was going to pass through the industrial grinder of the 1990s and come out on the other end looking more or less unrecognizable.
And that's what _What I Did Wrong_ wants to (forgive the word) foreground: the way things (d)evolved, the way surviving AIDS turned out to be simply what happened next for a lot of gay men of Weir's (and my) generation. The gay "community" many of us thought we belonged to because of the activism and immediacy that attended AIDS (or simply because of the respite that caring for sick and dying friends gave us from thinking about the larger implications of what was going on around us) moved on: my own 23-year-old queer nephew finds "all that AIDS stuff" as distant as I find accounts of living through the blitz of London.
And, in the meantime, "gay" changed as well, and one of the most fascinating things about _What I Did Wrong_ is the way Weir's characters are rummaging around in heterosexuality as much as they are in homosexuality, trying to figure out where or if the boundaries are--or, more to the point, *when* they are. In fact, what Weir has to say, and very plainly, about masculinity and the nature of being male has more truth in it than fifty articles in _Feminist Review._
Anyone who's alive in America today, especially young people, knows that Weir got this detail exactly right: We live a confusing reality in which every repressive, homophobic, closeted, retrograde, and funky response to queers and to being queer exists smack alongside levels of unprecedented openness, visibility, and cultural amalgamation and assimilation that were literally unforeseeable twenty years ago, in the long, lurid twilight of Reagan. It's the queer decade; it's the homophobe decade. You can hardly watch an hour of prime time TV today without seeing happy hordes of well adjusted homos; you can hardly watch an hour of news without learning that, somewhere in the world, queers are being fired, excommunicated, beat up, or executed. We're the Pope's favorite target for damnation; what's more, we're big box office and, at the same time, no big deal.
It's all very confusing; and Weir manages to work that sense of disorientation into _What I Did Wrong_ -- not as an intellectual question, but as the highly pragmatic quandary of a man in his 40s who lives in a New York--not to say an America--that is barely recognizable.
It's true: _What I Did Wrong_ is a bit short on plot - or, better said, it's got the kind of postmodern plot that "regards" plot and comments on it. You're either OK with that or you aren't; that is, you're either satisfied with following Tom through his often-present-tense descriptions of the "new," "post-AIDS" world, or you're looking for someone to tell you an entirely made-up story. There's less "story" here, in that sense, than there is a semi-autobiographical account of "what happened" (whether it's literally autobiographical, I couldn't say, but it is written that way: it's Tom's autobiography). But that doesn't mean the novel doesn't take you for a ride. And it's true: John Weir is sometimes too arch for his own good--in the novel for sure, but also in his response here to critics. (For the latter, I hardly blame him: the downside of Amazon's "citizen reviews" is that people who couldn't write a grocery list post hateful and/or stupid and/or ignorant drivel, and at a certain point in life you feel like you've stood quietly by and let enough stupidity go unchallenged.)
In short, _What I Did Wrong_ is a book for people who "get it." If you don't know what Weir is talking about or you just don't care, look elsewhere. If survival, in all permutations of the word, is as troubling a business to you as it ought to be, _What I Did Wrong_ -- for all its gritty urban ambiance and its millennial, "I'm so over it" sarcasm - is an exploration of being, an existential question mark, a riff on a cultural memory that too few of us still bear.
Answer: Actually, not much of anything.......2007-07-19
A funny, moving, smart meditation on a whole bunch of things that Weir finds space for between the covers of this book. I am reluctant to call it a novel as it feels more a fictionalized memoir than a story and the narrative arc is not it's strong point. But I was very happy to be lead on a meandering tour of the author's mind with lyrical detours for various tirades because, well, he writes so damn well. Immensely entertaining, wise in the ways of gay life in the Big City, squirm-inducing in the ways he gets the humiliations of adolescence so accurate, set piece follows set piece and you are left wondering, how did he get it all so right?
Nothing Wrong Here.......2007-03-20
If you like neat, spare, tidy novels where no one ever breaks wind, where the characters exercise sentimental hygiene and you leave the book feeling...vaguely...disturbed, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. This is the real thing--honesty, messy and raw emotion, unsparing insights. It's the kind of book where the narrator tells you he wishes his friend was dead because his death will be "more beautiful than anything we have together in life." Plus, it's funny. If you don't like it, I'm not sure I trust you as a critic and I'm sure I don't want you as a friend. Can't take it? Go find something by Anita Brookner instead. You'll find her in the "Freezer" section.
Lesson in Survival .......2007-03-04
This book, among many other magical things, is about survival. The survival of the terrors and bigotry of youth (is there any place on earth more full of hate and fear than a typical American high school?). The survival of the scourge of AIDS, especially AIDS in New York City in the 80's and 90's. The survival of never having self-esteem but creating a life in spite and because of this. The survival of loving people who are not wholy available; spiritually, sexually, psychologically.
As another great writer named Joni Mitchell has said, "Lesson in Survival, Spinning out on turns, That gets you tough, Guru books---the Bible, Only a reminder, That you're just not good enough . . . "
The main character of What I Did Wrong tells us what he sees in the world around him: lost skinny boys becoming poets, found muscle gay boys digging their heals in to avoid death but not avoiding death.
This book at times feels like a balloon that is floating up out of reach, what the hell is this story about? It can be exasperating. This book contains---hands down---some of the most gorgeous prose of the last decade but it is seemingly wasted on characters who are insufferable in their lack of direction. But that is the point, yes?
All survivors are smarter than where they land. They are bigger and brighter and more full of screaming feelings that no one hears until a wonderful writer like John Weir comes along.
The main character of What I Did Wrong, Tom, is a survivor. A gay survivor. An AIDS survivor, though he is not infected. He is affected, as they say. That being affected is the soul and spine of this great book.
Thousands of beautiful, hopeful, scarred young men were drawn to New York City in the late 70's and 80's because it was a place to be free to be. And yet so many died before their freedom blossomed into real self-actualization. And each death of each Zach affected a Tom, who lives on with a head and heart full of stories, moments, once were's and might have beens.
John Weir is the real deal. I don't want to wait 10 more years for writing that is this astonishing. Astonishing because it is true.
One thousand bravos.
Books:
- Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose
- Jackie: A Life In Pictures
- Kingdom Come: The Final Victory: The Final Victory (Left Behind #13)
- Mary, Queen of Scots: Queen Without a Country, France, 1553 (The Royal Diaries)
- Maus : A Survivor's Tale : My Father Bleeds History/Here My Troubles Began/Boxed
- Me and a Guy Named Elvis: My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley
- Me Talk Pretty One Day
- Michelangelo : The Complete Sculpture, Painting, Architecture
- Millard Fillmore: Biography of a President (Signature Series)
- My Life So Far
Books Index
Books Home
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- Marketing Research: The Impact of the Internet
- Evaluating Training Programs: The Four Levels
- Hidden Assets: Harnessing the Power of Informal Networks
- Wildflower Walks & Roads of the Sierra Gold Country
I Will Survive... and You Will, Too!
Son of a Preacher Man: My Search for Grace in the Shadows
More Than I Could Ever Ask The Story Of A Woman, Broken And Defeated, Who Found That Dreams Really Do Come True
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Jim Bakker: Miscarriage of Justice?
