Reviews (3)

An excellent introduction
An excellent introduction to International Human Rights. I enjoyed the extensive bibliography and the objectivity (not neutrality) of the author's commentaries.

all bark no bite
This book describes in great detail the instruments that exist to codify and protect human rights but which illustrates all too clearly the problem of inadequate enforcement instruments and procedures. The "law" empowers the UN or other bodies to "do a study" on complaints of non-compliance or violations. The creation of so many of these tools has been so politicized as to make many functions of the laws and treaties virtually useless and sometimes, apparently, contradictory (or at least open to debate and interpretation). What good is a "thorough study"? With no teeth, no authority and a backdrop of outside interfering factors (economic and political especially), these "norms" might be interpreted as existing in name only. In a section on gross violations of human rights and the UN Charter, one reads, "The required magnitude of the concept of `massive' or `gross' violations may also gradually require a lower threshold of severity as the international community becomes less tolerant of what is lawful behavior under the Charter. Viewed in this light, the human rights provisions of the Charter are `elastic clauses' whose expansion is tied to the evolving standards of international legality and decency."
In depth but HORRIBLE to read
International Human Rights in a Nutshell does one thing correctly: It spells out the law in clear, black and white language on human rights and some of the formations of the UN, EU, American System, and African States. On the other hand it is EXTREMELY hard to read as a book because all of the citations are put right in the middle of the reading; as such it doesn't flow at all. It still remains a very definitive reference that any scholar on human rights should have. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Human rights    2. International    3. Law    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    6. International human rights law   

Subjects:  1. Developing countries    2. Economic development    3. Human rights    4. Law    5. Political Advocacy    6. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    7. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Aid & relief programmes   

Reviews (2)

A Must for transfolk and their allies
Transgender Rights
The Transgender Movement as social movement
This volume of essays conceives transgender as a global social movement for rights, including discussions of law, politics and economics.It is academic in tone, but much of it is accessible to a lay audience.While its essays are wide-ranging, covering such diverse topics as multiculturalism, disability laws and Argentinian concepts of citizenship, there is, to my mind, a theme to these essays: the social contradictions that arise from the attempts of supposedly liberal Western societies to assimilate transgender identity.The title of Jan Morris's gender transition autobiography, "Conundrum," comes to mind.Paisley Currah's discussion of the transgender movement refers to it as one "that seeks the dissolution of the very category under which it is organized." Judith Butler's article about the psychiatric diagnosis of "gender identity disorder" notes that "the price of using the diagnosis to get what one wants is that one cannot use language to say what one really thinks is true." Dean Spade's critique of political economy and thegender compliance it demands discusses how the movement for gender identity non-discrimination constitutes a strategy of normalization that opposes, rather than furthers, the right of gender self-determination central to liberation.
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Subjects:  1. Civil Rights    2. Gender & the Law    3. Gender Studies    4. Legal status, laws, etc    5. Sex and law    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Transsexuals    9. Human rights    10. Social Science / Gender Studies   

Reviews (1)

A straightforward and well-researched discussion
The First Amendment In Schools: A Guide From The First Amendment Center is the collaborative effort of Charles C. Haynes, Sam Chaltain, John E. Ferguson Jr., David L. Hudson Jr., and Oliver Thomas, and provides the reader with a straightforward and well-researched discussion of crucial important First Amendment rights which protects all citizens with freedom of speech and expression in America with specific reference to how this applies to public school issues, policies and concerns. Discussing 50 key legal cases, as well as the rights and responsibilities of educators and students, and offering information concerning more than 60 educational and advocacy programs and organizations providing First Amendment resources, The First Amendment In Schools is an excellent primer on this often controversial and occasionally misunderstood civil right. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1st Amendment    2. Civil rights    3. Constitution    4. Constitutional    5. Educational law and legislatio    6. Educational law and legislation    7. Law    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. United States   

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business/Economics    3. Constitutional    4. Constitutional Law    5. General    6. Law    7. Legal Profession    8. United States    9. Business & Economics / General    10. Organizational theory & behaviour   

Reviews (24)

This Penguin Version is Excellent
America's defense department should take some of the billions spent on the stealth bomber or the B1 and spend it to make Arabic and Farsi translations of this book in the hundreds of thousands.We could pack the bomb bays of a squadron of stealth bombers with the translations and carpet the cities of Muslim countries with this treatise on freedom.This is The Book, folks.You cannot read this little book without it changing your life.It is an extended argument about freedom, about true morality, about freeing your mind, about untrammeling the possibility of peace and prosperity in the world.This is the book that lays out the path for treating other human beings with respect and opening the way toward progress in any and all societies. For the discussion of the "harm to others" principle alone, this book merits the world's attention and praise.
Liberal rights
A very definite view of legal rights, in that no interference from government should be permitted, save for when the actions of one harm others. This, of course, brings in questions about what constitutes 'harm', but all in all, a forceful argument for absolute free speech, unhampered by any law. I think this is interesting given the later restrictions placed on free speech. I was also interested to see how this book is rated on the high end of the 'difficult to read' scale, because I found Mill easy to follow and quite straightforward.

Precious wisdom
Few works argue as forcefully and eloquently for individual liberty as this one book.Written by one of England's greatest humanitarians, philosophers, and social scientists, this is one of the great classics in Western political philosophy.This book uses plain reason, clear logic, and objective reasoning to argue that the freedom of speech and its related freedoms such as freedom of assembly, press, petition, and religion, are ultimately beneficial to not only the individual, but to society as well.The latter argument goes as such; society is composed of individuals.Hence the knowledge and wisdom of a society is composed of the contributions of every individual.In order for a society to determine the truth, or best opinions on any particular topic, it must be allowed to see/hear all the opinions possible, which is only possible if everyone is allowed to voice their opinion.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. History & Surveys - 19th Century    3. History - General History    4. Liberty    5. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Human rights   

Reviews (14)

Good research, but too much fluff and "chicken-little"
Take out the fluff and chicken-little-the-sky-is-falling nonsense, and the meat of this book would make up a small pamphlet.There are many more informative authors on the subject of personal privacy."The Privacy Rights Handbook" is a much better start.

Excellent Privacy Primer
Michael Hyatt's book is a very comprehensive book on Good, Practical Advice on Preventing Personal Fraud
Author Michael Hyatt is a best- selling author and speaker who wrote this book to advise individuals on ways to protect themselves in today's digital age. He feels that we need to be aware of the everyday dangers to our personal privacy, and that we should not take this issue lightly. Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer crimes    3. Computers    4. Data protection    5. General    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Personal & Practical Guides    8. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    9. Prevention    10. Privacy, Right of    11. Reference    12. Security - General    13. Political Science / Reference    14. Current Events    15. Information Technology   

Reviews (3)

Better than most
The Redlich hornbook is a lot shorter and easier to read, but unfortunately is last updated in 1999.Until it is current, these are the best.

Disappointed
Normally, I recommend Examples & Explanation series over any of the other commerical outlines out there. I was very disappointed with both Constitutional Law books however. The examples are unhelpful, especially when a lot of the answers depend on material you won't learn for several chapters! Some of the text is useful but much of it is the authors biased view of what cases mean or should mean. This isn't helpful if you are not taking the class from them! A Must Buy for Constitutional Law Students
This book is the best study guide for Constitutional Law that I have read. It is written in narrative form, as opposed to outline form.Theexplanations of cases are clear and concise and reflect the nuances of thelenthy cases in this area where single-paragraph statements in outlinescannot.More importantly, the authors are well regarded constitutional lawprofessors whose evaluations of the cases can be trusted to be accurate aswell as even-handed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil rights    2. Constitutional    3. Construction    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. United States    7. Financial, taxation, commercial, industrial law   

Reviews (5)

Good overview
You won't get an A just by listening to these CDs, but it will help you to gain a solid overview.I listened to these CDs and then read the corresponding chapters in Chemerinsky's book on Con Law.I still hated my Con Law class, but these two study aids were great.They helped me much more than a commerical outline did.

Sum & Substance Audio CDs are great, but the Con Law one is the best!
Listening to Audio CDs is not for everyone, but for those of us don't take the best notes and sometimes miss the info when it's mentioned in class the first time, these CDs are great. They are also good to listen to while playing computer games, relaxing, studying, or sleeping.
Ex Party Federalist Style
I have to agree with most of what the Honorable Marshall says.Unfortunately, like most legal commentators since The Chief's own misguided opinion in Marbury v. Madison, Prof. Cheh significantly overstates the power of the Judiciary to impose their will on the other branches.Do not let her Federalist bias confuse you come exam time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Law   

Reviews (2)

Not business as usual
I've always been perplexed by the fact that we run our meetings according to rules dreamed up by a military engineer more than 100 years ago.Maybe Roberts' arcane procedures about what can be discussed by whom and when worked once upon a time, but they don't make sense either in the modern business world or for making important policy decisions today.
Great tool for developing effective communication
This book has great value whether you are a business owner, politician or public agency staffer, an environmentalist, a facilitator, mediator or any other interested party.It provides a simple, concise and easy-to-understand review of the consensus building process.From a communication perspective, consensus building lends itself towards helping any party in a negotiation develop a greater understanding and wider range of solutions that may be available on any given issue.
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Subjects:  1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Communication - Meetings & Presentations    4. Decision Making & Problem Solving    5. Education    6. Business & Management    7. Business | Management    8. Constitutional & administrative law    9. Law / Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice   

Reviews (5)

Are You Guilty of Commiting an -ism?
If you are white, you need to read this book to find out how evil your are. Then, you can begin deconstructing your whiteness.
Multicultural Requirement for Teacher Credential Program, CA
Book is a collection of narratives from perspectives of each diverse group.Not a joy to read, but not bad for a college text either. Personally I would much rather read short narratives than long and boring texts.
Readings for Diversity and Social Justice: An Anthology on Racism, Sexism,
The servise was nothing short of what I expected. Thank you very much. I needed it for a class and I got the books woth time to spare. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Discrimination & Racism    2. Ethnic relations    3. Minorities    4. Prejudice    5. Prejudices    6. Race relations    7. Racism    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Special Education - General    11. United States    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Education / General    14. Human rights    15. Sociology, Social Studies    16. USA   

Subjects:  1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    2. Administrative law    3. Constitutional    4. General    5. Law    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Outlines, syllabi, etc    8. United States    9. Constitutional & administrative law    10. Jurisprudence & General Issues   

Reviews (5)

Keep Your Powder Dry
The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." A straight forward enough statement that this book shows has been interpreted in ways that are far from what its original drafters intended. When the amendment was written, the drafters distinguished between the concept of common defense and the concept of self-defense, as established in English Common Law. The amendment was originally written to prevent the newly created federal government from disarming the state militias that were considered the first line of defense against foreign invasions, civil disorder, and usurpation of power by the federal government. At the time, "well regulated militia" meant organized citizen soldiers trained and equipped to provide a common defense. The rights to self-defense and the weapons necessary to that type of defense were left to the discretion of the states. As this book explains with admirable clarity, and using actual case studies, this distinction between common and self-defense has gradually been lost as the U.S. itself has changed over the last two hundred years. Anyone wishing a real understanding of the second amendment and the many unresolved conflicts that it has generated would do well to read this book.

Well-balanced and insightful
You would think that before writing a review of a book, "reviewers" would take the time to read it. (See comments by 'A guy in PA')
Readers Should Be Aware...
Readers of this work should be aware that Saul Cornell's "Second Amendment Research Center" is funded by the Joyce Foundation.
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Subjects:  1. 2nd Amendment    2. Constitution.    3. Constitutional    4. Firearms    5. History    6. History: American    7. Law and legislation    8. Legal History    9. Legal Reference / Law Profession    10. Militia    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. United States.    14. Abortion    15. History / United States / General    16. Law | Constitutional Law    17. Social law    18. USA   

Reviews (16)

Terrifying Justice Department Double Think
Mr Yoo moves on from his earlier arguments that torture falls at a point slightly short of physical death, organ failure or loss of limb. Mr Yoo makes some interesting if devastating points with his new theories. The President's war powers, he argues, allow him to do, basically, whatever he wants. The President may, if he chooses, crush the genitals of children, maim, torture or kill civilians. In this respect one might remember that Bush ordered an air strike on the house occupied by the infant grandchildren of Saddam Hussein AFTER the end of the Iraq war and even though the house was surrounded by US troops. The President is limited, according to Mr Yoo, only by how he CHOOSES to interpret International Treaties and as he has the power to repudiate such treaties or ignore them entirely (as in the International Human Rights for the Child Treaty, the Geneva Convention or the Treaty of Vienna,) then, this means that presidential power is absolute EVEN if despotic criminal or tyrannical. Mr Yoo appears now to say that the President and his henchmen, cronies and agencies MAY indeed use indiscriminant torture. Mr Yoo however does not adequately explain how the President can thus overturn congressional treaty ratification. As what constitutes a 'time of war' is also up to the President and does not rely on any 'legal' declaration of war (which is a matter of international law to which the US is thus not subject,) then the US may have, effectively, a Despot Emperor for President. Does the 'War on Drugs' thus give the President the same wartime powers as he asserts for his 'War on Terror' - an undeclared war on no particular nation state? Is the US thus always in a state of war? This is interesting, not just semantically, as the District and Supreme Courts appear to agree with Mr Yoo's interpretation, blocking cases connected with this on grounds of national security whilst Congress does not appear to care. Perhaps Clinton should have used Mr Yoo's arguments in the Monical Lewinsky scandal and impeachment hearings. War powers might have thus allowed him to do whatever he wanted with his cigar and to lie about it in the national interest. The problem with Mr Yoo's argument is that Checks and Balances thus no longer appear to exist. Interestingly if one applies Mr Yoo's arguments to their logical end he becomes an eloquent advocate for terrorism or for the Holocaust where the ends justify the use of any means, however horrible. Of course, either this is pretty much nonsense and makes toilet paper of the Declaration of Independence, Magna Carta, democracy and human rights OR the truth is more terrifying and the US is now a Stalinist or Nazi state. I suspect Mr Yoo could be subject to arrest as a war criminal should he ever leave the United States and visit a civilised country???

Yoo has no clue!
The 2 biggest mistakes made by government in my lifetime are Congress giving away war powers in 1965 and 2002.The constitution holds that declaring war is the responsibility of the Congress.If the Executive has grounds for war let him/her present them and Ccongress vote.Twice I have seen Congress abdicate this important power with disasterous results.This is just one of many examples why Yoo has no clue.

This book's point about constitutional checks and balances were once taught in 8th grade civics class.
The outrage this book caused on publication is a sign of the incredible ignorance so prevalent these days about was once common knowledge--that the powers of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches exist in parallel under the elegant system of checks and balances of the Constitution, each with their separate skill set and functions.This book is a necessary defense of the traditional constitutional idea that the executive branch has primacy in matters of war, national security, and foreign policy.It is sad that otherwise sensible people like Neal Katyal and Stuart Taylor should tout outre ideas about the Constitution as a big sandbag over the head of the President most especially in war, national security and foreign policy, as if this idea, which is strictly the invention of the left, were Con Law 101.It is so Nixon era.But there you go.The "me generation" took over the academy, threw out all the Rembrandts, and filled it up with their Hello Kitty and Marilyn tchotchkes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Foreign relations    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. International Relations - Treaties    5. Law and legislation    6. Legal History    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Political Freedom & Security - General    9. Political Science    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Taxation    12. United States    13. War and emergency powers    14. Constitutional & administrative law    15. Diplomacy    16. Political Science / Treaties    17. USA    18. Warfare & Defence   

Subjects:  1. Asylum, Right of    2. Australia    3. Constitutional    4. Emigration & Immigration    5. Emigration and immigration law    6. General    7. Law    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Legal status, laws, etc    10. Legal status, laws, etc.    11. Political refugees    12. Constitutional & administrative law    13. Law / General   

Subjects:  1. Cases    2. Constitutional    3. Constitutional law    4. General    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. United States    10. Constitutional & administrative law    11. Political Science / General    12. Politics & government    13. USA   

Reviews (43)

What the heck does Iron Maiden have to do with this book?
A wonderfully funny thing happened to me the other day, and never one to believe in coincidence, I thought I would share it.I just finished reading this wonderful book, "Spychips" by Katherine Albrecht and Liz McIntyre, the day before.In the last chapter, they coalesce some of the spiritual/religious/ethical issues surrounding RFID.As expected, they mention the passage in the Book of Revelations (ch. 13, v. 16-18) about the Mark of the Beast.That very next day, a knock on my screen door presented me with two Christian "students" hoping to get "scholarships" by selling religious books and magazines - quite a few of the lovely tomes, of course, delved into the Revelations and the so-called End Times.The kids were very nice about it all, and I politely declined their request.It wasn't until I walked away and started to do other things in the kitchen that I realized I had answered the door in one of my many Iron Maiden concert shirts, with Eddie (their mutant beast mascot) staring right back at them.(For those of you unfamiliar with the greatest band in the world, they have an album (and song) by the name "The Number of the Beast").
Gripping and Frightening, This Book will Change Your Outlook!
Although I'm reasonably well informed when it comes to privacy issues, I'll have to admit that this book shocked me out of my complacency.I've always been a little leery about things like Speedpass and other RFID instant pay systems, but when I read the quotations in this book from patent applications, public forums and company press releases it became obvious that while RFID technology could have some benefits, the potential for abuse is simply too great.
An Example of Where Technology is Going
I bought this book from Amazon based on reviews.I had heard of it through a mailing I received.It is obvious the authors both spent a lot of time and research and have untold passion to get this material into the hands of the public. The book is a current and informative tour through the marketplace detailing efforts of RFID (radio transmitters placed secretly in merchandise you buy among other places to spy on you, some transmitters half the size of a grain of sand). I have already seen similar evidence of their findings in the local supermarket (and I live in a small town). It is essentially a 200 plus page warning (with examples) to consumers with documentation sprinkled along the way.It does improve as it goes along, saving the most sensational for the last third of the book. My second reading of the book was more convincing that it is a necessary read for anyone interested in where technology is going.I would recommend it as an introduction to the subject, and it does include the website of the writers to keep up to date. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    2. Electronic surveillance    3. General    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    6. Political Freedom & Security - General    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Privacy, Right of    11. Radio    12. Radio frequency identification systems    13. Social Aspects    14. United States    15. Human rights    16. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Discrimination    2. Discrimination in employment    3. Gender & the Law    4. Labor & Employment    5. Law    6. Law and legislation    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. United States    9. Business & Economics / Human Resources & Personnel Management    10. Central government    11. Employment & labour law    12. Law / Labor & Employment    13. Law-Discrimination    14. Law-Gender & the Law    15. Management & management techniques    16. USA   

Reviews (3)

Understanding the Constitution
I first used this text in the seventh edition (Mason, Beaney and Stephenson) in my undergraduate Constitutional Law class, and it has remained a constant resource for me.I have invested in two of the upgraded editions, including this latest 14th edition.
American Constitutional Law
American Constitutional Law:Introductory Essays and Selected Cases by Alpheus Thomas Mason and Donald Grier Stephenson is a book that when read you'll find an intricate blend of history and politics. This book is the best basic text on U.S. Constitutional law.
For any student of American constitutional law, this book is the best exposition of the fundamentals of the U.S. Constitution and the Supreme Court. Further enquiry into the subject is not possible without an understanding of the ideas presented in this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cases    2. Constitutional    3. Constitutional Law    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. United States    7. Constitutional & administrative law    8. Political Science / General    9. USA   

Reviews (1)

A gripping tale of constitutional theory and law
This book is great! Truly, Mr. DeLeo is a master on the subject. I picked this up on a reccomendation from a friend and couldnt put it down! I especially loved the briefing on the "circle-square effect". Never before have I been so titilated by a the law in all its glory. Mr. DeLeo takes what would otherwise be a bland subject and breathes life into it in a manner that is like unto a gripping thriller similar to any good John Grisham novel! Be sure to pick this today! I bought 3 more copies for my friends and we are all now excitedly awaiting the sequel! Congrats on a job well done! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business/Economics    3. Constitutional    4. Constitutional Law    5. General    6. Law    7. Legal Profession    8. United States    9. Business & Economics / General    10. Constitutional & administrative law