Review of The Corporate Cult: More of What Men Know That Women Don't (Paperback)

Who is Zubaty you might ask?Good question.Zubaty followed the American dream: house, kids, business, and he even helped his wife through school.When she graduated, she filed for divorce and got half his stuff and probably most of his dignity.So what does he do?Cut a hole in a trunk of a car and shoot people at gas stations? No.He does what all of us wish we could do under the circumstances and got the heck away from the confused culture we are marinated in every waking hour.He spends his days traveling from country to country, island to island, with not much more than he can carry on his back.
By now you're thinking he's a nut, that he can't cope.Major publishers will not touch his work.He is refused any publicity by the major media conglomerates.So Zubaty is considered not "Disney worthy" and people have attempted to elbow him from the status of, well, being known.
Rich says it best on the book:

"You can't judge a book by lookin' at the cover...
And you sure can't trust reviewers you don't even know!
So flip open to any page and read any sentence.
Yes, NOW!"

Quite a bold statement when most authors just want a flashy cover.So I took his challenge.He's right.You can start on any page, any paragraph, and just read and read.I would classify Zubaty as a social Galileo of our times- he knows the score but people refuse to listen.They refuse to listen because he tells the truth in its dirty, raw, and sobering form.It's too much reality for those who haven't been tested in life.
I spend my days making good money designing tools and parts on the computer.Zubaty calls me a "manhole", a man who spends his days in front of the computer all day, worried about money and toys.And the nut was right.And I like him for his honesty. And I keep reading.
Zubaty goes on to explain that corporations are no longer treating people as people and instead as "units".No new news here, but he keeps going and going, paddling his way further and further from political correctedness, ending up in a place where you are free to think for yourself without worrying about offending anyone.He speaks of a village girl who goes to town every day to try to get a loan approved.She gets her family involved.She lies to her friends.She forges papers.Zubaty hones in with laser-like precision to the observation she's acting like a greedy dimwit who is taken over by American idealism.She wants the money but has no use for it.And then there's Joe the fisherman.
You can decide to not like Zubaty, but I don't think he minds as he's sipping coconut milk or fishing for the families who let him in.Read the book.You'll understand.

Product Description
Are corporations cults? Do they control our behavior, thoughts, information and emotions? Zubaty makes a pretty good case for that. Should the legal status of corporate ?persons? be challenged as a religious violation ? a gross infringement of the supposed boundary between church and state? He makes a pretty good case for that. Have we done a good job of keeping religion out of government but a miserable job of keeping government out of religion? He makes a pretty good case for that. Is Darwinism a science? Or a religion? You?ll get vertigo over his take on that.

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Review of Blue Moon Rising: Kentucky Women in Transition (Hardcover)

Having the privilege of editing Jennie's book is one of the best experiences of my life. Working with her was a pleasure and I am thankful that our paths crossed in this way.

The stories in Blue Moon Rising are incredible. These are amazing women who have overcome so much. But they are women just like you and me. It takes courage to share your story. It is my hope that all of these women will continue in the direction of their dreams and find serenity in God. I also hope that abused women who read this book will find strength to make the changes in their lives to take care of themselves and their children and that women who have been through similar trials will realize that they are not alone. --Dayna Spear (Williams), editor



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Review of X Saves the World: How Generation X Got the Shaft but Can Still Keep Everything from Sucking (Hardcover)

It's hard to be brief about reviewing the best recent book on Generation X. Gordinier's book is an update on the adult Xer and his forgotten place between the narcissistic Boomers and the clueless Generation Y--whom Karen McCullough labels as a group with a "much higher self-esteem than their abilities". Gordinier's book bluntly captures the essence of Generation X transitioning from its last coming-of-age moments in the 90s to its entrepreneurial spirit which brought influenced artistic alternative music and movies, the dot-com boom, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Napster, Youtube, and Google.

Gordinier's writing smacks of sarcasm and in-your-face rhetoric, which is both honest and entertaining. His vocabulary and pop allusions are for those of us who are part of his Xer world. If not, see you you later. Gordinier's writing is a brief dip into nostalgic "Cooler King Moments" such as the arrival of Nirvana. It also lambasts the Boomers at Woodstalk '94 with descriptive passages, and recently their immersion into recycled Beatles nostalgia in Las Vegas. Gordinier also clarifies what it means to recognize kitsch--borrowing on the Czech struggles for freedom in the late 80s.

The first half of the book calls to me, as if it were my finally-discovered anthem. It is an instant classic, starting with the author's 1984 job at Laguna Beach selling ice cream and testing the awareness of tourists with indie alternative music. Pure hilarity! There are other anecdotes and moments that also pique the reader's interests, such as the bookend to the Xer's youth: an escape symbolically depicted with a 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio commercial to the tune of "Pink Moon." Gordinier's scene of a simple South Park neighborhood in San Francisco at the height of the dot-com boom is eerie.

However, the second half of the book begins to lag as the author seems to search for answers to his book's thesis. He uses trite examples such as a poetry bus, subsistence gardening, and a self-conscious and frustrating view of the Bush years. His language loses its luster and instead becomes preachy. Gordinier still makes fine observations, but some of them are politcally motivated--such as alluding to Barack Obama as representing the Xer cause (and forgetting that Obama's poetic rhetoric has yet to produce any kind of ideas or practical solutions that appeal to Xers. There is nothing to suggest that he will relate to the self-sufficient spirit of the Xer). Gordinier does provide one more humourous scene in which alternative artist, Moby, encounters a futuristically fried Brittney Spears. It's worth the moment.

Overall: 5/5 stars for the first half and 3/5 stars for the second half. The books is still worthy of 4 1/2 stars for its refreshing observations, its defiant tone and wit, and its dip into nostalgia. And even if my views are not necessarily one with Gordinier's, I give him credit for attempting to provide solutions for the dismal aspects of our society. I'll take that anyday over a politician's poetic nonsense and rhetoric.



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Review of Unfinished Business: The 10 Most Important Issues Women Face TodayWith New Introduction (Paperback)

The book title is deceptive and often the focus veers way off womens issues (or maybe it takes the holistic view that all issues are womens issues).For example the chapter entitled Education is mostly about school vouchers and how each political party feels about those without any attempts to tie this in to the effect on women.If you are looking for different political takes on random issues, then you will be more satisfied than if you were looking for different political takes on womens issues (as the book title might suggest that it is about).It is about social support policies, which maybe because of stereotypes we think of as womens work.

So now it's established that this is more about party policies on social support in general than about women.Each chapter has a version written by Perry and a version written by Malveaux.Each gives their party's take on that issue and drops names of various policies and groups that are pushing those policies.At the end of each chapter is a list of activist organizations for the republican and the democrat sides of that issue.I liked having both takes lined up side by side and having names dropped so that I could maybe have a clue when I see something pop up later.The focus is very time specific, with what policies are in the works right now (in 2002), so the book won't age well.

A distraction for me were the copious typos through out the book.My favorite by far was "welfare deform" - a mispelling and not an ironic misnomer, used in the section on economic safety nets.It's as if a spell checker was run on the book, but an actual person didn't go over it before it was printed.I knew what they meant, but it was still distracting.

Overall, if you aren't into politics at all, then this contains a plethora of jumping off points.If you are more into politics and have researched any of the issues here, then the treatment is probably so brief that you will tend to not get much on that issue - this book is unlikely to change your mind.That said, no one knows that much about ALL issues (do they?), and this is a fast read, so it is worth the time to get that overview and those jumping off points.

Product Description
Women have made a lot of headway in society, but they need to continue to exercise their power and take action, say Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Deborah Perry. In this lively bestseller, they show us how, offering not only a spirited debate but a deeper understanding of the issues that affect our lives and futures, including:

Abortion € Crime € Work and Family € Equal Pay and Benefits € Education € Social Security and Welfare € The Economy € Race Matters € Foreign Policy € The Environment

Click Here to see more reviews about: Unfinished Business: The 10 Most Important Issues Women Face TodayWith New Introduction (Paperback)

Review of Unfinished Business: The 10 Most Important Issues Women Face TodayWith New Introduction (Paperback)

The book title is deceptive and often the focus veers way off womens issues (or maybe it takes the holistic view that all issues are womens issues).For example the chapter entitled Education is mostly about school vouchers and how each political party feels about those without any attempts to tie this in to the effect on women.If you are looking for different political takes on random issues, then you will be more satisfied than if you were looking for different political takes on womens issues (as the book title might suggest that it is about).It is about social support policies, which maybe because of stereotypes we think of as womens work.

So now it's established that this is more about party policies on social support in general than about women.Each chapter has a version written by Perry and a version written by Malveaux.Each gives their party's take on that issue and drops names of various policies and groups that are pushing those policies.At the end of each chapter is a list of activist organizations for the republican and the democrat sides of that issue.I liked having both takes lined up side by side and having names dropped so that I could maybe have a clue when I see something pop up later.The focus is very time specific, with what policies are in the works right now (in 2002), so the book won't age well.

A distraction for me were the copious typos through out the book.My favorite by far was "welfare deform" - a mispelling and not an ironic misnomer, used in the section on economic safety nets.It's as if a spell checker was run on the book, but an actual person didn't go over it before it was printed.I knew what they meant, but it was still distracting.

Overall, if you aren't into politics at all, then this contains a plethora of jumping off points.If you are more into politics and have researched any of the issues here, then the treatment is probably so brief that you will tend to not get much on that issue - this book is unlikely to change your mind.That said, no one knows that much about ALL issues (do they?), and this is a fast read, so it is worth the time to get that overview and those jumping off points.

Product Description
Women have made a lot of headway in society, but they need to continue to exercise their power and take action, say Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Deborah Perry. In this lively bestseller, they show us how, offering not only a spirited debate but a deeper understanding of the issues that affect our lives and futures, including:

Abortion € Crime € Work and Family € Equal Pay and Benefits € Education € Social Security and Welfare € The Economy € Race Matters € Foreign Policy € The Environment

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Review of Visible Man: A True Story of Post-Racist America (Paperback)

Though the book is non-fiction, it at time reads like a quirky novel, with memorable charactors like Buddy the overweight lesbian.

Now that the nation's welfare system is in its final years, its interesting to see theeffects of New York State's extreamly generous welfare benefits had on alow-income neighborhood and its residents in the first few years, which isthe background of the story, which concerns a black man falsly accused ofraping a white woman.

The books is very well-written and engrossing. Iread it in only two sittings.

Product Description
A new edition--with a new Preface by the author--of Gilder's seminal first book--the true story of Sam, a young, black ex-Marine whose charm and intelligence cannot keep him out of serious trouble. Gilder's indictment of the welfare system as a key element in what went wrong with Sam's life rings disturbingly true.

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Review of Avenues of Participation : Family, Politics, and Networks in Urban Quarters of Cairo (Paperback)

Singerman spent years living in "popular" (i.e., poor) parts of Cairo and came away with a fund of knowledge. In "Avenues of Participation" she explains many of the subtleties of everyday Egyptian life and then, with great verve, shows the significance of these patters for the government.

Perhaps the most fascinating of her explanations have to do with marriage. As every resident in Cairo will testify, the subject of marriage comes up in conversation almost hourly. Singerman shows why: because marriage involves not just a man and woman but also their entire families; and because it has huge implications for their social, economic, and even political lives. "Parents organize their savings and consumption strategies to be able to finance the marriage of their children, sacrificing their material comfort for the future of the family-not unlike parents in the United States who begin saving for a child's college education as soon as he or she is born."

Singerman explains how, on a national scale, the drive to finance marriages has profound implications for the state. The jam`iyat, a huge network of informal savings associations, keep most capital out of the state's hands; the preoccupation with saving a penny here and a penny there causes many Egyptians to live so close to the edge, they depend on subsidized food-making it difficult for the government to cut subsidies; and the millions of Egyptians who emigrate to countries like Libya and Iraq earning money for marriages tie the government's latitude in conducting foreign policy.

Middle East Quarterly, June 1995



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Review of Males, Nails, Sample Sales: Everything a Woman Must Know to be Smarter, Savvier, Saner, Sooner (Paperback)

This is mandatory reading. NO woman should EVER be allowed to enter into a relationship, take a new job, furnish her home, plan a party, shop for clothes, contemplate a vacation or raise children until she has this hilarious gem on hand.I just ordered a whole pile of them to give to ALL the women in my life -- especially my adult daughters while they're still young enough to avoid their mother's mistakes. I plan to give these books as stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, engagement and bridal shower gifts, and "just because" gifts to any woman with a good sense of humor and a great desire not to screw things up.

Product Description
What your mother, Oprah, and Martha never told you

Let's face it: we live in a complicated world. Lands' End has a swimsuit anxiety zones area on its website; a moisturizer can cost more than a weekend in Paris; they can send a man and a monkey into space, but they still can't find a cure for split ends.

Clearly, we all need essential life skills and operating instructions. But why should you have to learn from hard-won experience when Stephanie Pierson is willing to give you her vast life experience and wisdom (and share some of her more humiliating life lessons)?

This smart, funny, fabulous book will get you everything from a juicier chicken to a less hostile hairdresser. Read it and you will know what not to order from room service (eggs Benedict) to what never goes out of fashion (a crisp white shirt) to what is never in fashion (socks and Birkenstocks worn together). You'll know when a man isn't a keeper (he knows more Sondheim lyrics than you do), how to buy a house (location, location, location), how to assess an Oriental rug (condition, condition, condition), how to get the best price from the wedding caterer (say it's for a funeral), and how to get the dog in a custody battle (keep a dog-walking journal).

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Review of The goth Bible: A Compendium for the Darkly Inclined (Paperback)

This is actually the very first charming Goth book. We have had a few Goth epics in recent years, from my Net-based tome, to Paul Hodkinson's academic study, Gavin Baddeley coming from a Metal perspective, and Dave Thompson rummaging through the eighties. What is unusual here is that Nancy Kilpatrick hasn't any ego-driven agenda, and has actively sought out Goth opinions to decorate each chapter with. 95 Goths answered 125 questions each to form an alternative spine to this work and it makes it a very different book to the rest. Nancy is best known as a Horror writer but she is a Goth, and clearly delighted to be writing the book, as she also wants this book to help others understand Goth.

You get serious contributions on sex/relationships/Fetish/marriage/Goth children/Corporate Goth/Goth homes, Art and Literature (Old and New), and it ends with a chapter on the Future, even if that felt a little skimpy.

Basically, she goes through things that effect Goth life, from clothes to accoutrements, to relationships, religion, cemeteries, architecture, music and all the expected areas, with quotes and photos from her Goths interviews draping pages like curtains, as their comments go down the outer columns to most spreads. Those interviewed within the chapter text tend to be business-related individuals pertinent to the topic in question. So, in the Fashion or Lifestyle sections you have many a Goth contribution, but also meet Morpheus of Siren, R. Hunter Gough of `Gother Than Thou', Fred H. Berger of Propaganda, Terri of Ipso Facto, Natasha of Meltdown, Steven Of Gothic Beauty, Trish & Snooky of Manic Panic, Sonia (Hair Police), AntiSally (Goth Rosary), the Alchemy boys, Batty (Azrael's Accomplice), Mirabai (Tenebrae) Doktor Joy (Pennangalan Dreams), piercer Pierre Black and those lovely X-tra-X people. You can find a proper analyses of Absinthe, then on a similar vein find the weird story of how Michael Marchet finally got Vampire wine onto the market. Out of one area another little bubble will pop, making it a very pleasant read with unexpected dalliances emerging.

The only disappointing part of me was a curious lack ofmusical coverage but Nancy has admitted the music side of thing isn't her strong point. She looked for willing musical contributors and some of what they say is unusual.

Oh Hell, you get Clubs, and zines, net.goth, net habits, comics, gardening, Goth sub-species, and so on. It's a big book, commendably detailed in its travels to the heart of Goth and it is, without doubt, the most naturally jubilant, Goth-friendly, book which has so far been printed.


Product Description
What you don't know about goths could fill a book!

An artistic culture that revels in the Victorian romantic movement, The goth Bible brings to light the traditions and history of all that is goth.The goth culture has been one of the most controversial and maligned in media history. Presented as homicidal, suicidal and socio-pathic, in the national consciousness goths are coupled with everyone from Marilyn Mason to the murderers of Columbine.But this is not who the goths are.The goth Bible will help bridge the understanding between goths and non-goths.

From their historical origins as a Germanic tribe in the sixth century who fought along side the Romans against the Huns to their current incarnation as creatures of the night, The goth Bible presents the most complete and broad perspective of this society, culled from hundreds of interviews with bands, artist, designers, and goths from all walks of life.


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