Subjects:  1. Civil war    2. Human Rights    3. Humanitarian law    4. International    5. Law    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Legal status, laws, etc    8. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    9. Protection of civilians    10. Securities    11. War victims    12. Armed conflict    13. International humanitarian law    14. International relations    15. International space & aerospace law    16. Law of the sea    17. Political Science / International Relations   

Editorial Review

The Isaiah Berlin lectures collected in this volume were originallyaired on BBC radio in 1952. They appear here in print for the first time, thanksto editor Henry Hardy, who produced these fine essays from BBC transcripts andBerlin's own notes. It is perhaps better to read Berlin than hear him; as Hardypoints out in his introduction, the late thinker had the unfortunate habit ofspeaking rapidly. A contemporary once said he was "the only man who pronounces'epistemological' as one syllable." Yet they are a joy to have in any form, asBerlin is a clear and crisp communicator of ideas. Political theory is notalways the most engaging subject matter, but on these pages Berlin makes itaccessible as he probes the legacies of "six thinkers who were hostile toliberty"--namely Helvetus, Rousseau, Fichte, Hegel, Saint-Simon, and Maistre. Hedoesn't exactly beat around the bush. Rousseau, he writes, "claims to have beenthe most ardent and passionate lover of human liberty who ever lived." ButBerlin's own verdict is quite different: He "was one of the most sinister andmost formidable enemies of liberty in the whole history of modern thought."Reading these jarring essays is like listening to a favorite college professorlecture on a topic he knows well. Read more

Reviews (2)

Six Enemies of Human Freedom
Isaiah Berlin has no need to be introduced.
Thinking out loud
I was more familiar with German philosophy, as an intellectual reaction to the French revolution, than with the French and Italian thinkers who are also discussed in the radio lectures which are included in this book.I also have the book, KARL MARX by Isaiah Berlin, and noticed some of the same themes, though this book is mainly concerned with a half century prior to the writings of Karl Marx.I try to see the humor in history, so when Isaiah Berlin says that Helvetius's principal work, published in 1758, "was found to be so atheistical, so heretical, that it was condemned both by Church and by State, and was burnt by the public hangman," (p. 11) I'm not surprised that this might be "the first clear formulation of the principle of utilitarianism."(p. 13).Read more

Subjects:  1. Free Will & Determinism    2. Free will and determinism    3. History & Surveys - Modern    4. Liberty    5. Philosophy    6. Political    7. European History    8. Human rights    9. Philosophy / Political    10. Political Philosophy   

Reviews (13)

So you think you know your rights?
If you've ever been surprised by the ruling of a court or a judge in regards to matters whose resolution would seem obvious to the casual legal observer, then perhaps you should read this book.Kennedy and Alderman walk through each of the "rights" we are guaranteed by the Constitution and give examples of court cases and decisions that often might seem counter-intuitive.
Entertaining and Informative
I was assigned this book as supplementary reading for my AP government class, and while some of my friends didn't like it, I loved and am now re-reading it. Review of In Our Defense
This book gave a good illustration of the Bill of Rights in Action. It gave a court case to outline each of the principles in each amendment. For example the first amendment has a case for freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly. These cases demonstrate how our laws are interpreted, how they have changed since the framers wrote the constitution, and exactly how our rights are limited. Each case also helps to define parts of each amendment that are in question. In other words, the cases are good examples of judicial decisions that help to defne our laws. I think that this book is amazing if you are in school, because it gives a very nice alternative to a textbook approach. Rather than just another boring textbook, this can be a helpful tool to teach the Bill of Rights with examples of the judicial process. Though this is a good book, I think that the Authors left out an important part of the book. It is lacking a historical background of the Bill of Rights. This book never illustrates what the framers intent was, nor does it try and communicate legal concepts. Though it may have been a good decision to leave out the legal concepts so the book would appeal to those without any legal experience, it would have been nice to at least get some information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cases    2. Civil rights    3. Constitutional    4. History: American    5. Human Rights    6. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    7. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Popular works    10. United States    11. International human rights law    12. Law / General    13. USA   

Reviews (11)

Excellent M/X compilation
This collection of writings and speeches by Malcolm X deals with the last year of his life and contains some really interesting material. M/X goes off on some ideas that would still make many people squirm, such as his idea that "Any Black person who registers as a Democrat or a Republican is a traitor to his people." What Black politican today would say this? He also stresses that the main thing for African-Americans to do is to undo the damage to the self-esteem of Black people done by slavery and Jim Crow (another capital idea seldom heard-but needed to be said-today). He warns against reactionary picketing against foolish and symbolic issues and bluntly states that if it's an idea that you aren't worth dying for, then you shouldn't demonstrate at all!
Some excerpts
I think the best way to describe this great book is a few excerpts.
A great book!
This wonderful biography on Malcom X is an intriguing book talking about Malcom's life and greatest triumphs. It describes his life as a child, on the streets, in prison, and as a leader. It told me almost everything I wanted to know about his life, with a some interesting tidbits to keep it from getting boring, but not too many so it isn't a foot thick. The book starts out nicely, with a story about when Malcom made sure that a young African American man captured by the police is kept in good health. Although, after reading this grabbing article, the book slows down a little bit, don't stop, because ahead of you is a fun and informative novel containing everything you wanted to know about this wonderful leader. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Civil rights    3. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Histor    4. General    5. History - General History    6. People of Color    7. Race relations    8. Sociology    9. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Blacks    10. United States    11. Black studies    12. Human rights    13. Other prose: from c 1900 -    14. Political science & theory    15. USA   

Subjects:  1. Cases    2. Constitutional    3. Constitutional law    4. Law    5. United States    6. Constitutional & administrative law   

Reviews (3)

Educational
I purchased the book after viewing the HBO special because I wanted to compare history and Hollywood. I was very impressed by the in-depth history given in the book. It is very educational without having a feminist overtone. I wanted to learn what the "Ironed Jawed Angels" did to change the course of women's lives, and to learn about those women who received the well earned nickname. Some of there are nothing short of fascinating. These women not only endured physical violence, but actually inflicted physical pain on themselves in order to get the press's attention. Nothing new about it now but back then it was pioneering. I learned a lot from this book and I have a new found appreciation for my rights that these women faught and died for. This is espcially hellpful for research purposes if you are in school.

Understanding militant feminism
Unlike militant feminism in England, which destroyed property, the militant movement in the United States was expressed in parades, speeches, banners, and other techniques designed to attract publicity and further the suffrage cause, according to Linda Ford.Suffrage techniques were not violent, but they attracted violence, especially during World War I. Ford provides a history of the militant movement, biographies of militant feminists, a thoughtful analysis of the techniques the militants used and a balanced look at their accomplishmentsThis is a scholarly work and resembles the video based on it only slightly.The previous reviewer who said that it was even better because it provided many more facts was correct.The book is interesting and very readable, providing much needed insight into a part of the suffrage movement few of us have heard enough about.

Iron Jawed Angels
This book is great. It is better than the movie. It made me, as a woman, understand what all the fuss was about and how hard these woman worked to get what they wanted. I really admire these women for what they stood for and for going through all of this for all the women everywhere.Thanks ladies. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1913-1921    2. 20th century    3. History    4. History: American    5. National Woman's Party    6. Political Process - Elections    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics and government    9. Suffrage    10. United States    11. Women    12. Feminism    13. First World War, 1914-1918    14. Human rights    15. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    16. Non-Classifiable    17. Political parties    18. USA    19. c 1900 - c 1914   

Reviews (4)

The best of the M/X compilations
In 1991 I met Malikah Shabazz (one of M/X's daughters) and she autographed my copy of this, telling me that this was her favorite of the varying complations that filled bookstores at the time. I agreed then and now. This presents a more complex look at the varying stages of Malcolm's evolving philosophy while other such compliations are more selective to represent such phases in Malcolm X's evolution Elijah Muhammad's teachings (which I personally have no use for), socialism, black nationalism, etc. to promote the point of view of the compliers. Here, we see that M/X, while consistant in his search for something better for Black people. So it can rightly be called "A Malcolm X Reader" or "The Evolution of Malcolm X Thought."
"There's a worldwide revolution going on"
Dr. Bruce Perry, former collaborator, more recently biographer of Malcolm X, searched for decades after Malcolm X died for more speeches and interviews by Malcolm X.He spent years tracking down the man who had the tapes that led to this book, finding him in the rain forest jungles of Guyana, and being able to interview him while the revolutionary government of Marice Bishop still ruled Grenada.He knew Pathfinder would publish them, because Pathfinder was the publisher Malcolm X chose while he was alive to publish his work, because they believe in Malcolm X's words because they are Malcolm's. Malcolm X's Words: A Guide To Action Today !
This book has all of thethemes that Malcolm spoke about during the last year of his life. He patiently explains over and over that the U.S. government is not and can't be "ours", not without a revolution : it is theirs, it belongs to thesuperrichRead more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Black Muslims    4. Blacks    5. Civil rights    6. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    7. History: American    8. People of Color    9. Race relations    10. United States    11. Black studies    12. Human rights    13. Other prose: from c 1900 -    14. USA   

Reviews (11)

From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaii
It is encouraging to have a Hawaiian book on Indigenism that, through the perceptions and words of a Native Hawaiian, reconnects Hawaii with victims world-wide of a 500+ year International Indigenous Holocaust.
Trask is the light for truth
"From a Native Daughter" is very intelligently written with strong academic and historical references.Who can fault Trask for being so passionate and angered about Hawaii's wrongful past?For over 110 years, Hawaii has been seized and administered illegally by the United States.The native people have had their culture, their sovereignty, and their spirits taken away.She is demanding a right of sovereignty for this island nation that has been falling on deaf ears for generations.
What it is we should know.
Many have critiqued Professor Trask's work for being "self-serving," "overly angry," "racist" or worse.These reviewers seem to miss the point that Trask is speaking from a highly personal though richly considered narrative position and not writing a history of Hawaii.In fact, to my recollection Professor Trask never claims to be writing history, but righting it.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Colonies And Colonization    3. Ethnic Studies - General    4. Government - State & Provincial    5. Hawaii - State Government    6. History - General History    7. History - U.S.    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. United States - General    11. United States - State & Local - General    12. Colonization & independence    13. Hawaii    14. Human rights    15. Indigenous peoples   

Reviews (2)

Poorly argued points hidden by complex vocabulary
I had to read this book for a political theory class in college.After talking with several other members I was happy to find out that I do not have the reading skills of a third grader...Benhabib goes out of her way to use vocabulary words that most educated people are not familiar with.The book is also not organized well.In order to really understand this book you will have to read it while taking notes.Points that could be grouped together for arguments are scattered throughout entire chapters and even the whole book.Benhabib may have used her vocabulary and lack of organization as tools to hide that the points she makes are not very well argued.Throughout much of the book Benhabib is trying to shoot down the theories of John Rawls and other theorists to support her views on migratory rights.To be honest, I disagree with her views and admit that I might have found her organization and vocabulary more tolerable if I agreed with her.Still, I do not have a problem with her making these claims if she did so logically.Much of her work is based on telling the reader why other people are wrong and she will use theories she supposedly already disproved in one arguement to justify her later arguments for disagreeing with other theories.
Bright Ideas but a hard translation
Benhabib is a writer that has researched his subject area well. The book reads almost like a report and and it is on an area less discussed. The meat of the book deals with immigrant rights as well as the world as a "Global Village". The vocabulary in the book is very tough however if you are determined you can get through it to uncover a different way of looking at the world. The book can be applied to U.S.A.'s immigration problem with Mexico. Apparently the United States of America only views the middle part of America as United and refuses to see South America as an extension of itself no matter how many puppet governments we setup. All in all the book includes very revolutionary ideas presented in a practical manner. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aliens    2. Citizenship    3. Civics & Citizenship    4. Emigration & Immigration    5. Emigration and immigration    6. History & Theory - General    7. Internationalism    8. Political Science    9. Political rights    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Sociology - Social Theory    13. Human rights    14. Political Science / History & Theory   

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Constitutional law    3. Law    4. Legal History    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Political questions and judici    7. Political questions and judicial power    8. Constitution: government & the state    9. Law / Legal History    10. Political science & theory   

Reviews (1)

Human Rights Explored
This book has illustrated for me the real need for western peoples to familiarize themselves with some elements of eastern life, literature and culture.One glance at the extensive bibliography shows that there is much to be learned before we can engage in meaningful dialogue with eastern peoples on sensitive issues that will influence the policies of nations and the lives of all of us, east and west alike.Read more

Subjects:  1. China    2. History & Theory - General    3. Human rights    4. Philosophy    5. Political    6. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    7. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    8. Politics / Current Events    9. East Asia, Far East    10. Human rights--China    11. Philosophy / General   

Reviews (1)

Natural Rights Theories for Grown-Ups
This book is a scholarly masterpiece.It surveys the history of European political philosophy from the High Middle Ages down through the seventeenth century, with particular emphasis on how "natural rights" emerged from the more general theory of Natural Law.It is a fascinating process, particularly as to the definition of "right" in this context: how can an individual have rights that are not granted by the State and can be asserted against the State?
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Subjects:  1. General    2. History & Theory - General    3. Legal Reference / Law Profession    4. Natural Law    5. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Human rights    9. Natural law - History    10. Political Science / History & Theory    11. Political science & theory   

Reviews (5)

As Danger Invites Rescue, Posner Stimulates Intellect
If I recall his New Yorker profile accurately, Posner gets up at 4 a.m. every morning to maintain his extraordinary and excellent output as a public intellectual and judge of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. At 145 pages, this volume is perhaps Posner's shortest and--both because it is aimed at a general audience and resulted from a lecture series--one of his most readable.My sense, however, is that it would only appeal to those already steeped in the profession.Not even a law student would find instructive comparisons with Stone, Hand, Friendly, Prosser, or Schaeffer.For those in the profession, however, I recommend this book most highly.It is less valuable for its purported study in reputation than for its profound, if succinct, understanding of Cardozo the man and the insight it provides into the style and logic of some of his best known decisions, Palsgraf and MacPherson chief among them.Posner's original attempt at a quantitative understanding of reputation relies on Cardozo's relative frequency of citation in some Westlaw data bases over the years.It is pseudo-scientific, redolent of Posner's application of economics to an understanding of the law and, while interesting, not very meaningful.The book as a whole, however, is most gratifying.

Deconstructing Justice Palsgraf
Judge Posner examines the reasons for Cardozo's reputation and, more important, analyzes the rhetorical methods the judge used in creating some of the most renowned and cited decisions in American law.How and why he crafted the statement of the facts a certain way for one decision, a different way for another; how Cardozo used a lawyer's persuasive skills in reaching results he believed were warranted.Posner also examines the inconsistencies in Cardozo's thinking and opinion-writing.The book presents a portrait of a brilliant, prudent jurist and illuminates his professional shortcomings as well.May have little appeal for the non-lawyer, but for anyone interested in legal writing, the judicial process, and opinion-making, this is a terrific book.

Compound Authority; a many-layered onion
This may be the classic book by Posner. Shorter than most his books--and less encyclopaedic--but also less maiandering. Cardozo: A Study in Reputation stays on track, while revealing a complex sensibility of jurisprudence by Posner and an astounding intuition by Cardozo. In this book we see two great legal minds at work: Cardozo's providing the interpretations that further social welfare and Posner's explaining why these interpretations are so desirable.Read more

Subjects:  1. Civil Procedure    2. Constitutional Law    3. Legal System    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Reference    6. Biography: general    7. Civil law (general works)    8. Law / Civil Procedure    9. Legal profession    10. USA   

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Globalization    3. Law    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Sociological jurisprudence    9. Law / Human Rights   

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Executive privilege (Government information)    3. Law    4. Law and legislation    5. Legal History    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. National security    8. Official secrets    9. United States    10. Constitutional & administrative law    11. Freedom of information & freedom of speech    12. USA   

Reviews (1)

The Law of Sex Discrimanation
An above average text book which did more than serve its purpose.It also provided a good reference for a research paper and talked in detail about a number of legal cases. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cases    2. Discrimination    3. Gender & the Law    4. Law    5. Law and legislation    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Legal status, laws, etc.    8. Sex discrimination against women    9. Sex discrimination in employment    10. United States    11. Women    12. Gender studies    13. Political Science / General    14. Social law   

Reviews (12)

Foundation Work With Two Core Concepts

intense
the book is really intense and gets a little hatey sometimes, but is very illustrative of the problems that arise from oppression, poverty and structural violence.

Physician Heal Thyself
Generally an excellent book, except for the Cuban adulation. Speaking of human rights and pathologies of power, why no mention of Oscar Biscet, the Cuban M.D., human rights activist and political prisoner? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Discrimination in medical care    2. Equality    3. Medical care    4. Political Science    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Poor    7. Public Policy - General    8. Social stratification    9. Sociology    10. Sociology - General    11. Human rights    12. Poverty    13. Public health & preventive medicine    14. Social & cultural anthropology    15. Social Science / Anthropology / General    16. Social classes   

Reviews (2)

The Best Place to Start to Understand Indian Law
Although I understand the earlier reviewer's concern regarding anti-discrimination law and how miserable law school can be, I have found this book to be the best possible introduction to Indian Law.My law school offered no Indian Law class, and wanting to learn more after I read about the Cobell case, I needed a concise book.Canby has done a wonderful job.His historical introduction is a quick and engrossing read, and the other chapters in the book are equally clear and concise.I owe him much, given that I wrote two papers on Indian Law in law school and quoted extensively from him.Yes, Indian Law is a complex field where tribal sovereignty and the government's trust responsibility often collide and where concepts of jurisdiction and property are seriously muddled, but Canby gives you just what you need to get your legs under you, understand the basic concepts, and know where to begin to research from there.
Don't sleep on this subject:It ain't easy!
I took Indian Law 7 years ago.I'm hoping this book corresponds to the Notes in a Nutsell for Felix Cohen's text.Indian Law didn't have those highly useful cliff notes on tape.It didn't have those cards with the questions on the front and the answers on the back either.So I needed this Notes in a Nutshell in order to survive.It was essential for writing an outline for the final.Indian law is no cute little topic.The rules that the US has used to jerk Native Americans and their tribes over are not easy to understand.This borrowed much from difficult subjects like civil procedure and property, rather than anti-discrimination law.If you choose to take this class, you will need this book in order to survive it.Then again, I'm a person who hated all aspects of law school, including the subjects that sounded like they'd be interesting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Government - State, Provincial & Municipal    3. Indians of North America    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Legal status, laws, etc   

Editorial Review

The 1976 Argentine junta that overthrew the ragged Peronista government launched a campaign of terror to crush dissent. "Ford Falcons without license plates would slide through the streets like sharks," says one witness, remembering nights when security forces "disappeared" hordes of people. Though many were tortured and executed in detention centers, junta leaders denied any knowledge of this. Determined to learn the fates of their sons and daughters, a group of middle-aged women who called themselves Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo braved beatings, threats, and abductions to spotlight the flagrant violations of human rights. This scholarly, somewhat dry book tells of their radicalization and activism, which helped galvanize world pressure against the junta and slow the tide of disappearances. Though stiff writing sometimes undermines their affecting, painful stories, this is an amazing and rewarding blueprint for cooperative struggle against abuses of power. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

life changing
I was directed to read this for a class. I had no idea that it would cause me to change my way of thinking. We all know that the atrocities of disappearances exist, and we might even place a bit of distance between ourselves and the subjects of this book so we can feel better about our own place in life. However, getting close to this subject brings an awareness and sense that something needs to be done, not donation of money, or thinking about it every now and then, (although these actions help) but everyday we need to be doing something. What the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo did was revolutionary. What they did, and how they went about organizing, spreading the word and surviving as they did in the roles that they were as mothers unfamiliar with is astounding. We can learn alot from the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. I hope that everyone who has been politically disheartened or disenfranchised reads this book! I believe the other review on this book may have articulated the response to it more thoroughly; nonetheless, I hope to get across that this is a must-read for those interested in social justice issues, activism and more.
A New Argentine Mother
This is an academic look at the organization of middle-aged Argentine mothers that began in the wake of widespread political and state sponsored terrorism in the period of 1976-1982, more commonly called the Dirty War. It began as a network of mothers who met while trying in vain to search fortheir children who had been `disappeared' by the government and grew intoan internationally recognized and admired group committed to changing thestructure of the Argentine political system from the bottom up. Thisbook focuses on the journey of these women from traditional housewives,many with no formal education, confined to the private sphere of home andfamily, to a highly politicized, ever present and very out spoken activistorganization.They have taken the traditional role of `mother' and used itto their advantage to bring to light the atrocities committed by themilitary junta against their children.As the title suggests, theirorganization has revolutionized the concept of motherhood by taking theconcerns and duties of mothers out of the private sphere into the publicand even international political arena. This book is an interestingdocumentation of the group and includes interviews with many members aswell as commentary from many Argentine and international publications aboutthe Mothers.It discusses their activities from the group's conceptionduring the Dirty War through the transition to democracy as well as theircontinuing struggle in Argentine political life today.The book alsodocuments the enormous obstacles they faced and continue to faceeconomically, socially, and within their own families as well as theirpolitical struggles.It also talks about their interaction and receptionin the international sphere, as they captured the attention of human rightsand women's organizations from all over the world.It even discusses theideological split among the Mothers after the return to democracy in 1982that caused some Mothers to break away from the original group to formanother group of Mothers with slightly different ideologies. One ofthe most interesting aspects of this book is the focus on the developmentof the women themselves.A great deal of time is devoted to thetransformation that has taken place among these women as they came togetherto find solace in each other that only someone experiencing the purgatoryof not knowing the fate of their children could offer.It documents thecourage, dedication, successes and disappointments of a group of women whocame together to help each other look for answers.It is detaileddocumentation of a very personal and painful journey of political awakeningthrough collective struggle and pain.It is one of the most valuable andmoving aspects of this book. By focusing on this personal transformation,one begins to understand the almost incomprehensible corruption andbrutality of the government. For these women, protesting meant standing inthe face all traditional social, religious and cultural roles for women,especially middle-aged women. By the end of the book, one can't helpbut share in their frustrations and pain as they continue to fight for theintegrity of the family and the supreme sanctity of human life.It isironic that it was precisely because they were quintessential Argentinemothers that they became political activists that began to transform theconcept of motherhood and the role of women in Argentine society.Theabduction of their children was not only a painful, emotional loss, butalso a direct assault on the institution of the family. It is interestingto note that throughout the book they emphasize their occupation, as amother, has remained intact. However, the activities involved with being amother have changed.To them, now to be a mother also meant fighting forthe rights of their children, left voiceless by the government and carryingon their children's work and memory in their absence. This book isan excellent source of information about the Mothers themselves as well asabout the atmosphere of Argentina as a whole during this time.It has manypictures of the mothers from the past and present and mixes academic facteasily with first person accounts, quotes and interview.It equallydiscusses successes and mistakes of the group, as well as variouscontroversies that have surrounded the group's history.It's content andstyle make it an emotional and informative book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Argentina    2. Disappeared persons    3. Ethnic Studies - General    4. Human rights    5. Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Assoc    6. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    7. Political Science    8. Political persecution    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Sociology    11. Women's Studies - General    12. Demonstrations & protest movements    13. History / Latin America    14. Women's studies   

Reviews (13)

Conscientious, scholarly, and accessible.
John Jay [1745-1829] has long deserved a full-length scholarly biography and here he receives one that does honor to subject and author alike.First-time author Walter Stahr, a practicing attorney specializing in international law, has done prodigious work in the original sources and the scholarly literature and presents his findings capably and responsibly.He blends rigorous scholarship with clear and direct prose.His work deserves a wide and grateful audience.I have one caveat.Having worked on John Jay myself, I respectfully dissent from Mr. Stahr's argument that historians have neglected Jay because of his religious and political conservatism.I think, rather, that there are three major reasons for the previous neglect of Jay.First, until the great body of his papers found a home at Columbia Univer