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   

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   

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   

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   

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   

Subjects:  1. Civil rights    2. Constitutional    3. General    4. Political And Civil Rights    5. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    6. Political Science    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Popular works    11. United States    12. Human rights    13. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. General    2. National security    3. Nationalism    4. Philosophy    5. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    6. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    7. Political Ideologies - Nationalism    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Terrorism    12. Human rights    13. Philosophy / General    14. Political science & theory    15. Terrorism, freedom fighters, armed struggle    16. Violence in society   

Subjects:  1. Civil rights    2. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    3. Ethics (Specific Aspects)    4. Human rights    5. Philosophy    6. Political    7. Political And Civil Rights    8. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    9. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    10. Political Science    11. Politics/International Relations    12. International human rights law    13. Social & political philosophy   

Reviews (17)

Real History
Mike Davis' Victorian Holocausts was to me a real eye opener. This in spite of the fact that I have read about the history of British India, one of the areas treated in the book. It is really an indictment of the way history is presented by mainstream historians and an indictment of journalists, who perpetuate the myth of the beneficial effects of British domination in various parts of the world. Just recently, Niall Ferguson, the noted British historian was quoted as saying that on the whole, British rule has been good for the countries affected. It is probably fair to say that Davis' book makes it clear that any beneficial effects of British rule, in India for example, were accidental. The book is admirably written and researched. It is especially noteworthy that there is no exaggerated language used, such as in more well-known holocaust literature, in describing the horrendous occurences in the various parts of what we now know as the third world. Finally, throughout my reading of the book, I could not help recall the fact that Queen Victoria, the icon of beneficial, benign British rule was presiding over much of these horrific happenings. This book has been long overdue. I highly recommend this book to all who are interested in "real history" rather than national mythologies.

The Supposed Political Economy of Famine
Davis has created a book of monumental proportions, but in doing so he has put too much into the mix and tried to leaven it toone thing -- economic imperialism causes famine.
One of the Best Texts in Recent Memory
Though I agree with other reviewers that Davis is at his best when discussing India, the sections on Brazil, China, and numerous other places (to which he pays insufficient attention, truly) are generally informative. Perhaps it's fair to say that he establishes his argument on the basis of the British genocides in India, and then produces schematic outlines of varying depths for the imperial genocides in China, Brazil, Egypt, the Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, and so on. That slight flaw noted, this text has very high quality--fine documentation and a well reasoned, committed perspective. Overall, this text is probably the first step in rationally countering the trash that is *The Black Book of Communism*--call this chapter one of *The Black Book of Capitalism* (perhaps Blum's *Killing Hope* can be chapter 2).
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Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Modern - 19th Century    6. Modern - General    7. Developing countries    8. Environmental impact of natural disasters & phenomena    9. Famine    10. Human rights    11. Social history    12. World history: c 1750 to c 1900    13. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (5)

fabulous first full encounter with bell hooks
Until now I have only read excerpts from bell hooks' works. Then I recently saw a C-Span program in which bell hooks led a discussion with a college audience. Reminded of the intriguing excerpts I had read, I chose Black Looks as my first full encounter with this intriguing woman's thoughts. Powerfully Moving
I'm biracial . . . my father is white and my mother is black, Latina, and Asian. hooks makes us look deeply and critically at the linkages of race, class, gender, and sexuality in ways that are painfully honest and moving. Oppression is never an easy topic. As she has stated, reading hooks' work should make us feel angry, sad, & uncomfortable. Finally, an intellectual who goes beyond the "taken-for-granted" simplistic non-analysis and makes us THINK DEEPLY! This book is a classic!

Bell Hooks is a Gifted Thinker
The cover of this book caught my attention at the library, so I just had to check it out. I must say, Bell Hooks's ideas and opinions are right on the money. She mentions issues such as black male masculinity, feminism, and racism and breaks them down very well. She's not the average traditional black feminist. She's not afraid to talk bad about white folks (like Madonna) and she's brave enough to use the word "white supremacy"; not in a militant way, but more reserved. It's easy to tell she's a liberal, but she's not restricted to traditional left-wing philosophy because of her strong Afro-centric view-points. This is a must read for all Black people, especially Black women who hardly have any intellectual role-model to look up to. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1975-    2. African American women    3. African Americans    4. Black American Sociology    5. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    6. General    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Racism    10. Social conditions    11. Sociology    12. Sociology Of Women    13. United States    14. Women's Studies - General    15. Black studies    16. Human rights    17. North America    18. Racism & racial discrimination    19. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Reviews (2)

Women's struggles: beyond the right to abortion
For a single-volume, in-depth history of women's struggles for reproductive freedom through out American history, college-level and many a public library holding will want to look at PREGNANCY AND POWER: A SHORT HISTORY OF REPRODUCTIVE POLITICS IN AMERICA. Historian Rickie Solinger argues that women's struggles go beyond the right for abortion: reproductive politics surfaced when slaveholders devised breeding schemes, the US government took Indian kids from families, and when doctors encouraged Latina women to be sterilized in the 1970s: thus PREGNANCY AND POWER embraces far more than the usual perspective.
An important, well written book
Pregnancy and Power is an eye-opening exploration of reproductive politics and should be read by anyone who cares about the social injustices women are subjected to in this regard. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abortion    2. Abortion & Birth Control    3. Birth control    4. Gender Studies    5. Human reproduction    6. Political Science    7. Political aspects    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Reference    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Women's Studies - History    14. Human rights    15. Social Science / Abortion & Birth Control    16. Social history    17. UNITED STATES_POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT    18. USA    19. WOMEN'S RIGHTS   

Subjects:  1. Discrimination & Racism    2. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    3. Political Science    4. Politics/International Relations    5. Human rights    6. Indigenous peoples    7. Latin America    8. Social & cultural anthropology   

Reviews (6)

Reading Malcolm Xfor yourself
Today Malcolm X can be seen everywhere from t-shirts to U.S. postage stamps. Most people have an opinion about him. But not nearly as many have heard/read his actual words. This collection of speeches is an excellent way to rectify that. This book takes the reader virtually to Malcolm's last words spoken in public two days before his [...].
An outstanding book.
An outstanding collection of speeches from the important last year of Malcolm's life.This is a must read for any student of U.S. history from any point of view.It will be most helpful to to those looking to change the status quo.
February 1965
This is the best book of Malcolms speeches from that last period in his life when he was most evolved. A must have!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Black Muslims    3. Civil rights    4. General    5. History - General History    6. People of Color    7. Sociology    8. Black studies    9. Human rights    10. Other prose: from c 1900 -    11. USA    12. c 1960 to c 1970   

Editorial Review

At first glance, this title is just another entry in the roster of books opposed to political correctness at American universities, yet it's surprisingly good--certainly the best of its type since Dinesh D'Souza's Read more

Reviews (59)

Publisher's Weekly Always Helps
I remember trusting Siskel & Ebert for movie reviews and Consumer Reports for cars and other products. Now I have a sure fire way to determine whether or not I want to read a book (vs. judging it by its cover). I simply read Publisher's Weekly review and do a George Constanza -- the exact opposite of what they say. It has worked brilliantly. Thanks PW.

more horrifying because of its careful documentation
A lawyer and a professor team up to take on the American university establishment!But in this case, the two Davids have an ally: the U.S. court system.Taking college after college to court, the pair not only obtained results exonerating those faculty and students denied their rights of free speech and due process but logged some blistering denunciations of the colleges for their denial of basic Constitutional rights from the judges who heard the cases.Kors and Silvergate have since set up a website where students and teachers can register what is being done to them.Visit it at www.thefire.org and read some of what's happening.If that doesn't scare you, don't bother watching Frankenstein.
Fresh
"The Shadow University" gives a profound and hair-raising analysis of the conflict between the freedom of expression and idiotic extremes of political correctness on today's American campuses (with the latter, sadly, winning). The examples (hundreds of them) are at times absurd to the point of being comical, and at times are puzzling and horrifying, leaving me with the feeling of frustration and helplessness.Read more

Subjects:  1. Academic freedom    2. Administration - General    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Education, Higher    6. Freedom of speech    7. Higher    8. Organizations & Institutions    9. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    10. Political aspects    11. United States    12. Higher & further education    13. Human rights    14. USA