Reviews (5)

Essays of the master moral philosopher of political liberty
Henry Hardy the devoted student and editor of the work of Isaiah Berlin has reedited and expanded Berlin's on Liberty. These essays are at the heart of Berlin's liberal political philsophy. And their most well- known conception is the distinction between 'negative and positive liberty'.
not another conservative or neo-liberal
I've read amazon reviews of this book that seemed to claim Berlin's liberalism for some kind of conservative or neo-liberal stance.
Brilliant and classic
In these essays, Berlin makes the case for what he calls "negative liberty," in his usual scintillating prose style. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Berlin, Isaiah,    2. History & Theory - General    3. Liberalism    4. Liberty    5. Philosophy    6. Political    7. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    8. Political Science    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Sir    11. Human rights    12. Liberalism & centre democratic ideologies    13. Political Science / History & Theory    14. Politics | Political Theory | Political Philosophy    15. Social & political philosophy   

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. History & Theory - General    3. Interpretation and construction    4. Judicial process    5. Judicial review    6. Law    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Political    9. United States    10. Jurisprudence & General Issues    11. Law / Constitutional   

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Executive power    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: American    7. Law and legislation    8. Legal History    9. Political History    10. Slavery    11. United States    12. United States - 19th Century    13. United States - Civil War    14. War and emergency powers    15. History / United States / 19th Century   

Reviews (3)

The Philosphy of Economics
The most basic idea, that one person's equality is another's inequality, is explored in detail.Sen illuminates many of the flaws in standard economic thinking, and how the philosophical underpinnings of economics guide and distort economic reasoning.

Fantastic- and I don't agree with a word of it, either!
I read this book in one sitting, and let me say it is a great book. An Excellent piece
Amartya Sen really questions the very foundations that determine of what is equality and development. It is indeed a marvellous piece of work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History & Theory - General    3. Legal Reference / Law Profession    4. Political Science    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    7. Welfare Economics    8. Human rights    9. Political Science / General   

Reviews (8)

Erroneous Information re John E. Holt
Statement that John E. Holt, an official of the General Services Administration proposed connecting all the goverments computers together in a Network called FEDNET is false. Statement that Vice President Gerald Ford had Holt demoted is also false.
Privacy education even at the gym!
I take your Ben Franklin privacy book to the gym...I can't tell you how many people are intrigued by the title. You can open to any chapter, and still be educated. I love it.
Broad and accurate - a wonderful book
Ben Franklin's Web Site is a wonderful book - clear, detailed, engaging, hype-free. Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. History    3. History / United States / General    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Practical Guides    9. Privacy, Right of    10. United States    11. Computers    12. Social aspects    13. United States - General   

Reviews (1)

one of two
I purchased this book in addition to How The U.S. Government Works, by the same author.I was pleased that the books do not talk down to my middle-schoolers, but instead explain in easily-understood terms how it all is supposed to work.This is a good reference book for a 'tween-ager.I keep both books on my homeschool bookshelf and my children have gone back to them several times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Constitutional law    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile Political Science    6. Juvenile literature    7. Social Science - Politics & Government    8. United States    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Politics & Government   

Reviews (6)

Scholarly & Representative of the Silent Majority of Muslims
This is a fabulous book!It illustrates the views of millions of Muslims that are never covered in the media or even by academicians.The "Orientalist" view of Islam has been promoted with tiresome frequency in the media and in scholarship as though it represents all of Islam -- it doesn't.This book gives a modern interpretation of Islam (that has nothing to do with terrorism) in a series of a short essays by Muslims and non-Muslims.These are scholarly essays -- not just the unreasoned opinions of journalists who have been cashing in on 9/11 to spin out their own books as fast as they can -- but liberal interpretations of Islam based on original Islamic texts, by renowned academicians.The interpretations of Islam in this book, though prevalent throughout the Islamic world, are usually neglected in the spotlight, eclipsed by juicier portrayals of extremists as representative of all Islam.Even when liberal Islam IS considered by academicians, they tend to put it into a Western framework: that is, with the attitude that in order for Muslims to become modern, they must abandon Islamic tradition altogether.In this book, we are shown how Islam itself can be modern, regardless of what Western tradition is doing. Thanks to Kurzman, these modern, majority interpretations receive attention here, and show us that Islam is a flexible, modern, equitable religion -- one advocating religious tolerance, women's rights, and democracy --and practiced peacefully by millions.

Scholarly & Representative of the Silent Majority of Muslims
This is a fabulous book!It illustrates the views of millions of Muslims that are never covered in the media or even by academicians.The "Orientalist" view of Islam has been promoted with tiresome frequency in the media and in scholarship as though it represents all of Islam -- it doesn't.This book gives a modern interpretation of Islam (that has nothing to do with terrorism) in a series of a short essays by Muslims and non-Muslims.These are scholarly essays -- not just the unreasoned opinions of journalists who have been cashing in on 9/11 to spin out their own books as fast as they can -- but liberal interpretations of Islam based on original Islamic texts, by renowned academicians.The interpretations of Islam in this book, though prevalent throughout the Islamic world, are usually neglected in the spotlight, eclipsed by juicier portrayals of extremists as representative of all Islam.Thanks to Kurzman, these interpretations receive attention here, and show us that Islam is a modern, equitable religion -- one advocating religious tolerance, women's rights, and democracy --and practiced peacefully by millions.

Liberal Islam: A Sourcebook.
Liberal Islam?The editor pre-empts the skepticism in his very first sentence, noting that this "may sound like a contradiction in terms."But, he goes on knowledgeably to show, such a phenomenon does actually exist, even if it is, in his terms, a "neglected tradition" whose power peaked before 1920 and whose exponents have since then been disproportionately the victims of violence.The first selections in this anthology date from the 1920s but the great majority (20 out of 32) of selections date since 1980. Kurzman does an exemplary job of selection-the excerpts are both interesting and important-and of finding writings from across the Muslim world, not just the Middle East.Authors include both those who are the household names of Islamic thinkers (Fazlur Rahman, Mahmoud Mohamed Taha) and others who are deeply obscure (Rusmir Mahmutcehajic, Ali Bulaç).Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Essence, genius, nature    3. Islam    4. Islam - General    5. Islamic renewal    6. Religion    7. Religion - World Religions    8. Human rights    9. Islamic studies    10. Liberalism & centre democratic ideologies    11. Religion & Theology | Islam    12. Religion / Islam    13. Women's studies   

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Constitutional law    3. Law    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. United States    6. Constitutional & administrative law   

Editorial Review

David Brin takes some of our worst notions about threats to privacy and sets them on their ears. According to Brin, there is no turning back the growth of public observation and inevitable loss of privacy--at least outside of our own homes. Too many of our transactions are already monitored: Brin asserts that cameras used to observe and reduce crime in public areas have been successful and are on the rise. There's even talk of bringing in microphones to augment the cameras. Brin has no doubt that it's only a matter of time before they're installed in numbers to cover every urban area in every developed nation.Read more

Reviews (28)

Puts NSA Wiretapping in Context

I have been giving this book to my friends
This is a "Must Read" for anyone who treasures an open society.The technology is here, and the cost of implementing it is dropping exponentially.The debate about who controls it should begin.This book addresses the question of "Who will watch the watchers" with a level of thoroughness and imagination unavailable anywhere else.
just picked this up
Other reviewers have covered the essentials of Brin's thesis, I won't repeat it. It's important to note that Brin's book is:
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Subjects:  1. Freedom of information    2. Future Studies    3. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    4. Politics/International Relations    5. Privacy, Right of    6. Responsibility    7. Right of privacy    8. Sociology    9. Anthropology    10. Human rights    11. Current Affairs   

Reviews (1)

For Quick Review This Pocket Guide is very useful
I found this pcoket guide very useful and handy when traying to recall the segments of the US Constitution. It is handy to have during discussions when you need the correct wording of the articles. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's All Ages - Legal Reference    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Constitutional    4. Constitutions    5. History    6. History: American    7. Interpretation and construction    8. Law    9. Reference    10. Social Science - Politics & Government    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. History / United States / General    14. History, American   

Reviews (6)

One of the Better Nutshells
The Nutshell Series is great for law students who want a refresher in the days before a final.The Con Law book is no exception.These books sum up all of the main points in an easy read that's broken out by subject so you can easily skip sections you didn't cover in class.However, unlike others in the series, I feel this one actually provides a pretty clear picture of Con Law even if you haven't taken the course yet.Usually I recommend you wait until the end of the semester to plow through these in a day or two, but this one may be worth buying before class starts to give you an understanding of the topic from the get-go.

Great, concise review!
Ok, so I'm a little biased since professor Barron was my con law prof., but this book is great. It's a nutshell, so don't expect a whole lot of depth, but it does a great job of boiling down the basic holdings of cases and tying them together with a narrative. It was almost as handy as my outline during the exam.

Good Summary of Con Law
This book was extremely useful to me, because it boiled down complicated areas of law, such as justiciability, the commerce clause, and state action. It helped me to get a high grade in Con Law. Even though I am done with the class, I am still using the book as a reference for seminar papers that I am writing. I recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. Constitutional    3. Constitutional law    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. United States   

Reviews (10)

How can we preserve local communities and economies?
Gary Hart has made a significant contribution to the national discussion on the nature of our political system and our aspirations as a nation.
Misunderstanding Jefferson
This book should be called "misunderstanding Thomas Jefferson". Its interpretation of Jefferson's political philosophy is weak and highly speculative. One has to read everything that Jefferson himself read and wrote, philosophically, to understand him. The author looked at a narrow slice of Jefferson (ward republics) out of context with Jefferson's world view.

Disappointed
This book appeared to be fashionable because it was authored by the name, Gary Hart. Having read just about everything on Thomas Jefferson, I rushed out to get this one. After reading it, I was disappointed. It was long on explaining Mr.Hart's personal opinions and short on explaining Thomas Jefferson's philosophy behind his idea of "ward republics". I have to tell you, I got more information and enjoyment out of another book about Jefferson's philosophy, including a section on ward republics, that pre-dates this book that I read a couple of years ago called "West Point: Character Leadership...Thomas Jefferson" by Norman Thomas Remick. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1743-1826    2. 2001-    3. Democracy    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. History & Theory - General    6. Jefferson, Thomas,    7. Political Science    8. Political participation    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics and government    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Republicanism    13. United States    14. United States - General    15. Human rights    16. International relations    17. Jefferson, Thomas    18. Political Science / History & Theory    19. Political and social views    20. Political structures: democracy    21. Politics | American Politics    22. USA   

Reviews (25)

I am gladdened that a somebody -a Somebody-minted this 21st c. concept
Fuller truly breaks ground here and starts the conversation by using real life examples to elucidate the tacit hierachy that shifts and blends and reverses itself as we go through our days in public and private. The concept at the core of all civil rights struggles is that each person , in a democracy- has a value equal to another- regardless of "rank" .There is a rare rare bird who can sidestep the ego and see through the illusions of power that we have created for ourselves. I am looking forward to the author's second book, "All rise"

Rank and Servant-leadership
The purpose for writing this book, the author told us in a foreword, "is to break the taboo on the subject of rank, and reexamine the prerogatives that accompany status in relations between individuals, groups, and nations" because "many of the difficulties we face in personal relationships, schools, and the workplace stem from the misuse of power associated with rank" (p. xix).Bertrand Russell "called power the fundamental concept in social science, `in the same sense in which Energy is a fundamental concept in physics'" (Burns, 1978).
ONE OF THE MANY PINK ELEPHANTS IN SOCIETY
I read this book while completing a leadership training program in New York City.How fortunate to discover this book and to be able to share it with my colleagues as we were being inculcated to the unspoken and sometimes quite obvious disease of RANKISM. Rankism is about folks who cannot help or keep themselves from either feeling shamed and/or needing to shame others in the work place...but in artful, skillful and, unfortunately socially "acceptable" ways.It's also about how systems and cultures will deny rankism and/or explain it away by pointing to the inevitable way that people react around power.
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Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. General    3. Multicultural Education    4. Psychology    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Sociology - General    8. United States - 20th Century    9. Education / Multicultural Education    10. Human rights    11. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (1)

Best concise analysis of the subject
As a former student of Dr Worger I can vouch for his deep knowledge of the subject. Here Worger and Clark give the undergradaute or anyone else with an interest in the subject a thoughtful and well researched analysis of a brutally repressive regime that simply did not just come out of nowhere (Africans have been oppressed in what is today South Africa since the 17th century)and will not simply be deposited on the dust heap for history. The legacy of apatheid will be long and painful for the generations that endured it and the new generations that will grow up in its shadow. Woger proves here beyong any doubt that the National Party regime was without a doubt one of the most vicious and murderous regimes of the second half of the 20th century. Even the Soviet bloc post-1956 fell far short in terms of brutality. Noam Chomsky estimates that some 1.5 million deaths can be laid at Pretoria's for the period of 1978-1989 alone (PW Both's tenure in office). I dont doubt it, Worger cornicles how Pretoria raided, bombed, and destablized all the nations of Southern Africa in a desperate attempt to stay in power. It tortrued and murdered its own Africans when they dared to protest. the work also has a very good section on books for further reading and those interested in the topic, such as myself, can delve deeper if they so choose to. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1948-1994    2. Africa - General    3. Apartheid    4. Discrimination & Racism    5. General    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Politics and government    10. Race relations    11. South Africa    12. South Africa - History    13. African history: postwar, from c 1945 -    14. History / General    15. Human rights    16. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    17. Racism & racial discrimination    18. Republic of South Africa   

Reviews (27)

Keep Reading Books by Sitting Supreme Court Justices
I think that it is good to read widely and get divergent perspectives.Thus, Christians and Jews should read the Quran and Muslims should read the Torah and the New Testament.Conservatives should read the Nation or the New Republic and visit the DailyKos website and liberals should read the Weekly Standard or National Review and visit RealClearPolitics.The same perspective applies with Breyer's book.Regardless of your perspective, you should read this brief and easily understandable statement of judicial philosophy from a sitting Supreme Court justice.(And, it would also be good to read the counterpoint from Justice Breyer for the same reasons.)
Buy it for the appendices, not the text
Even after trying to put to one side whatever opinion one has of Justice Scalia as a judge - something that, for example, the WSJ reviewer plainly couldn't manage, rating or reviewing this book poses (at least) two difficulties:
Exposes the Modus Operendi of Result Oriented Jurists
Great read.Scalia exposes the deceptive means by which activist judges often cloak their misdeeds, relying upon supposed rules of construction or plumbing the legislative record in a feigned effort to discern the "intent" of the legislature, when in reality the courts are often using these interpretive tools to "sanctify" judicial mischief, that is to say, conceal their true purpose of reaching their preferred result.At times providing historical examples, he leaves the activists naked and embarrassed.Come take a peak. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. Conflict of Laws    3. Courts - General    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Legal System    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Civil law (general works)    9. Jurisprudence & philosophy of law    10. Law / Constitutional    11. Political Science and International Relations    12. USA   

Reviews (2)

Excellent legal history overthrows common assumptions
Kersch challenges the conventional wisdom and offers a compelling rejoinder to what he terms "the Whiggish New Deal narrative" (p. 5). Such Whiggish accounts, he maintains, treat history as a morality play and "import a particular set of unifying myths into the study of constitutional development concerning civil rights and civil liberties" (p. 11). Instead of the flawed tale of a triumphant concern for civil rights and civil liberties overcoming the judicial solicitude for economic rights that characterized pre-1937 constitutionalism, Kersch presents a more complex and equivocal story. Important claims of right often conflicted, and some traditional liberties were rejected in order to advance newer understanding of which rights deserved protection. As Kersch explains, to picture this messy process involving difficult choices as a seamless march of progress, scholars have ignored inconvenient facts and made "extensive historical erasures" (p. 17). Indeed, he points out that progressives and liberals have not been consistent champions of personal rights and have frequently shifted from one cause to another while couching their essentially political choices in moralistic terms. Progressives and liberals often privileged group rights--on behalf first of organized labor and thereafter of blacks, for example--over individuals' rights claims.
Must read for anyone interested in constitutional history
This book shatters so many myths about the history of "civil rights and civil liberties," it's hard to know where to begin.Suffice to say, that if you were educated about the origins of modern American constitutional rights in law school or history or political science departments, much of what you believe about such things as the right to privacy, separation of church and state, and the origins of the civil rights movement is wrong, ss Kersch documents extremely well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil rights    2. Constitutional    3. General    4. History    5. Judicial review    6. Law    7. Law and politics    8. Political Science    9. Political aspects    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. United States    13. Constitutional & administrative law    14. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    15. Political Science / General    16. USA   

Reviews (22)

Terrific Historical Narrative
I first read this book several years ago for my high school American History class, and I just recently read it again. This book is excellent no matter what your age or understanding of U.S. History. One of its greatest advantages is that its narrative style makes the story of the Constitution so accessible. It is clear and easy to read; however, it does give a complete and thorough treatment of why the document was needed; the ideas and compromises that went into the document, and the debates that shaped the Constitution. Finally, the book is clearly, excellently based upon James Madison's notes from the Convention itself. All in all, an outstanding book for high school and college students, and anyone else interested.

Fabulous!
A breathtaking account! Includes countless historical facts told in an easy-to-read manner. One of my top five favorite books!

Useful But Not Comprehensive
They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but in this case you can tell a lot about the book just from its title. You can't expect any kind of objective commentary from something with the gushing title of "Miracle at Philadelphia". Ms Bowen's work is another in the long tradition of encouraging worship of rather than understanding of the Founding Fathers.
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Subjects:  1. (1787)    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Constitutional    4. Constitutional Convention    5. Constitutional history    6. General    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. United States    11. United States - Colonial Period    12. United States.    13. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    14. Constitution: government & the state    15. History / General    16. Pennsylvania    17. c 1700 to c 1800   

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Firearms and crime    3. Gun control    4. Political Freedom & Security - General    5. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Prevention    10. Public Policy - General    11. United States    12. Violence in Society    13. Violent crimes    14. Law    15. Political Science / Political Freedom & Security / General    16. Political Science and International Relations    17. Political structure & processes    18. Sociology    19. USA   

Reviews (1)

Lebaron Charts New Waters
This is an extraordinary book. For those of us involved in cross-cultural training and negotiations work, this book brings together a progressive practioner's life experience and emotional intelligence to create new ways of framing our work. I used up a "highlighter" through the first two chapters. If your work is in mediation, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, or facilitation, this book is a great investment. If you just want to know more about interactions between people and yourself, and come to better understand the internal dialogues you have when you are conflicted, this is a great, entertaining, and enlightening read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Dispute Resolution    2. Conflict management    3. Constitutional    4. Culture conflict    5. Law    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Business & Economics / Decision-Making & Problem Solving    8. Conflict resolution    9. Multicultural studies   

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