A Book Plug
Since I have very little time to write today, I thought I'd do something I've been meaning to do for a while: plug a very good book. I do a fair amount of reading on the subjects I write about here, and I'm constantly being asked by publishers to recommend books to my readers. I almost never do.
But last month I finally got around to reading Takeover by Charlie Savage, and I was thoroughly impressed. It is, by far, the best book I've read about the Bush/Cheney administration. It's thoroughly researched and very well-written (which is often not the case with these kind of books). I really can't say enough good things about it.
As a blog reader and writer, I'm used to focusing on one incident at a time, post by post, day by day. And when you do that, you can sometimes lose sight of the big picture. It's hard to get a sense of scale. You often fail to appreciate how it looks when all of the daily scandals and outrages are stacked together into one comprehensive narrative. Takeover does what truly great nonfiction books do. It puts everything together--including a lot of details that were either under-reported or never reported--into a comprehensive and compelling narrative. When future political science classes study the Bush/Cheney years, I suspect that this book will be assigned reading.
More than any other mainstream political reporter, Savage really seems to understand how radical the Bush/Cheney administration has been in asserting and aggrandizing power. If you enjoy reading this blog, I can pretty much guarantee you'll like Savage's book.
Here's the Amazon link if you're interested:
Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of Democracy
But last month I finally got around to reading Takeover by Charlie Savage, and I was thoroughly impressed. It is, by far, the best book I've read about the Bush/Cheney administration. It's thoroughly researched and very well-written (which is often not the case with these kind of books). I really can't say enough good things about it.
As a blog reader and writer, I'm used to focusing on one incident at a time, post by post, day by day. And when you do that, you can sometimes lose sight of the big picture. It's hard to get a sense of scale. You often fail to appreciate how it looks when all of the daily scandals and outrages are stacked together into one comprehensive narrative. Takeover does what truly great nonfiction books do. It puts everything together--including a lot of details that were either under-reported or never reported--into a comprehensive and compelling narrative. When future political science classes study the Bush/Cheney years, I suspect that this book will be assigned reading.
More than any other mainstream political reporter, Savage really seems to understand how radical the Bush/Cheney administration has been in asserting and aggrandizing power. If you enjoy reading this blog, I can pretty much guarantee you'll like Savage's book.
Here's the Amazon link if you're interested:
Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of Democracy
posted by A.L. at 5:04 PM
7 Comments:
I have read it and, like you, found it to be compelling indeed.
I agree, too. Each chapter builds on the other to create a frightening picture of where we are today. Savage's use of interviews adds weight to his conclusions. Very well done.
It is one of the best books on the Bush regime that has been written thus far.
Mike
For those who seek an historical parallel, allow me to recommend an offering from 1963. It was indeed a compelling unmasking of the vast conspiracy that had so badly infected the American body politic, right before our unsuspecting eyes. Yes, we thought we had been participating in free elections. Yes, we thought we had a judiciary that would stand athwart the path to casual and cynical violations of the Constitution. Yes, we thought that a free press would expose any dangers to our democratic system, and allow the people in their wisdom to put a halt to it.
It was called "None Dare Call It Treason," and it was groaning under the weight of its authoritative footnotes, interviews and citations to the Congressional Record.
As it happens, it was also written by nutballs, and was sold in huge numbers to credulous fools.
Read Naomi Kleins book, "The Shock Doctrine", if you're interested in having the big picture laid out. You may also feel like slipping into the tub and opening your wrists.
You should also read "Absolute Power: The Legacy of Corruption in the Clinton-Reno Justice Department," by David Limbaugh.
Just for balance.
We have to get off the Dems vs. Republicans & change it to US vs. Them. They want to destroy all of our freedoms and Liberties unless WE do something about it.
Frankenfeinstein proved Dems will march in goose step with Bushy, to destroy the Republic. Vote out anyone who will grant immunity for the Telco's who the Govt. is forcing to spy on us.
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