Dharma Punx

Average customer rating:

A Memoir With A Heart... And A Path.

Great Book, Don't believe the Negativity

wow, just wow

Pseudo-spiritual garbage!!!!

Don't listen to the negative comments...

Dharma Punx
Noah Levine
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Dharma | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060008954
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Book Description

Fueled by the music of revolution, anger, fear, and despair, we dyed our hair or shaved our heads ... Eating acid like it was candy and chasing speed with cheap vodka, smoking truckloads of weed, all in a vain attempt to get numb and stay numb.

This is the story of a young man and a generation of angry youths who rebelled against their parents and the unfulfilled promise of the sixties. As with many self-destructive kids, Noah Levine's search for meaning led him first to punk rock, drugs, drinking, and dissatisfaction. But the search didn't end there. Having clearly seen the uselessness of drugs and violence, Noah looked for positive ways to channel his rebellion against what he saw as the lies of society. Fueled by his anger at so much injustice and suffering, Levine now uses that energy and the practice of Buddhism to awaken his natural wisdom and compassion.

While Levine comes to embrace the same spiritual tradition as his father, bestselling author Stephen Levine, he finds his most authentic expression in connecting the seemingly opposed worlds of punk and Buddhism. As Noah Levine delved deeper into Buddhism, he chose not to reject the punk scene, instead integrating the two worlds as a catalyst for transformation. Ultimately, this is an inspiring story about maturing, and how a hostile and lost generation is finally finding its footing. This provocative report takes us deep inside the punk scene and moves from anger, rebellion, and self-destruction, to health, service to others, and genuine spiritual growth.

Customer Reviews:

A Memoir With A Heart... And A Path........2007-08-31

I bought this book for my brother-in-law who was befriended by Noah while he (my BIL) was in recovery from drug addiction. He met Noah while in Juvenile Hall when Noah came to teach meditation as part of the Insight Prison Project and he benefitted greatly. When I brought the book home, I flipped through a few pages and ended up reading the book cover to cover that night. It is an engaging memoir with many branches - the cautionary tale, travel, drugs, spiritual inspiration, music, loss, finding a significant path in life, and more. When I read many of the other reviews of this great book, I was surprised to see so many people trying to make this book into something it was never supposed to be. It is a memoir of ONE man's journey from the depths toward his own version of enlightenment... If you can't indentify with it, if you don't appreciate the punk scene, or if your version of Buddhism involves poverty and chastity you may not enjoy the story, but that doesn't mean this book is a waste of time. Also, again, it is a memoir, not a spiritual guidebook. If that is what you are looking for, be sure to read Noah's new book 'Against The Stream'. Noah does wonderful work and has helped so many people (kids AND adults)... This book provides wonderful insight into the man and into ourselves.

Great Book, Don't believe the Negativity.......2007-08-01

First off, I'm gonna start out with the (recent) people criticizing this book. To those that say that Youth of the Apocalypse is sooo much better, you kind of sound like a street team member for books, since you mention Noah Levine in your review for Youth of the Apocalypse. Kinda sounds phishy your slamming a seperate author on a different page. 2) To those that whine and moan about the book not having enough discourse on bhudist methods and that there's too much delving into the what Noah went through/experienced. Well that is because it's a memoir (you do know what a memoris is, right?). Says so in plain English on the Cover so there's no trickery here. So I'll just assume you don't speak English too well and i'll say this in caps for you. GO READ AGAINST THE GRAIN FOR A GREATER DEPTH INTO BHUDIST THOUGHT. If you have a problem with the use of swear words or depiction of sexual acts, I suggest you possibly grow out of your preconcieved world and realize this is a story of a man struggling to grow and change while relating to you he's simply a human being hoping for the best.

As far as the book is concerned, the first 70 or so pages are a bit depressing but after this it's quite interesting and more uplifting. It's really an easy read and I was always left wanting to come back and read more, hating the fact i had to sleep. I really enjoyed the mention of the various punk bands of the 80's and the authors relationship to them. This may be why so many people have criticized the book, they may have no connection to these bands.

wow, just wow.......2007-06-01

Unlike pretty much everybody else that bothered to review the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it, from first to last page.

Yes, he is self-absorbed, that's the point. Yes, he has addictions to overcome, that's the point. This book is about the beginning stages of Noah's awakening. How ONE person came to the Dharma. He uses the sex, drugs and punk rock to illustrate his own short-comings. I didn't come away from his re-telling of his exploits with the idea that he was proud of himself. He was stating the facts. What he meant is up to the interpretation of the reader.

He doesn't hand you an antecdoct from his life and say "see this is where I should have been practicing Ahimsa". It's left open-ended. If he misses the point, then I guess I missed that.

Pseudo-spiritual garbage!!!!.......2007-05-22

I don't want to sound overly critical, but I just can't bear the thought that people would actually see this as being a good book, let alone a spiritual instruction manual.
Poor little rich punk Noah grows up in the "tough streets" of Santa Cruz, then falls prey to drugs and alcohol to fit in with the tough kids. He gets 12 stepped, then proceeds to transform himself into some kind a of sober, quasi-Buddhist messiah. He also likes to talk about all of the famous people in "the scene" he knows. Wow Noah! You know Rancid!? Neat!

Please don't waste your time. Read Brad Warner's book if you want a decent "young person's" outlook of the Buddha.

Don't listen to the negative comments..........2007-05-20

This memoir is one which I could not put down from the moment I picked it up, and knew it was one I would carry with me forever. For anyone who has experienced anything close to what Noah went through, this book gives you a ray of light at the end of a tunnel. I don't think this book was meant to be a bible for Buddhist; I think it is meant to be a guide for those who are struggling with an addiction and are trying to find answers. I went to one of Noah's meditation workshops, and there were so many parents there to listen to him talk and ask him questions concerning their own children. This book has had a great impact on many, so disregard the negative feedback many have given this book. People who are trying to make sense of thier own addiction, or that of someone they love, this book will answer a lot of your questions. Also, go to one of Noah's workshops if you get a chance-it was a really great experience.

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Worth the Read
Worse than Christian Rock
English Credit
A must read for any old punks or skins
"You Ain't no Punk you punk" Cramps Quote

Dharma Punx: A Memoir
Noah Levine
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Dharma | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060008946
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Amazon.com

"Buddhism and punk rock," writes former skate punk, drug addict, and petty thief and current Buddhist meditation instructor Noah Levine in his memoir Dharma Punx, "obviously have some huge differences." No argument there. "But," he continues, "for me they are both part of a single thread that has been stitched through every aspect of my life." Judging by Levine's childhood, it's amazing there's any salvageable material with which to stitch. He was suicidal at age five, smoking pot and drinking beer while crashing headlong into the Bay Area punk scene by the 8th grade, and in and out of jail as a wayward teen who stole VCRs from neighbors to finance a crack habit. After he hit bottom and embraced a Buddhist path similar to that endorsed by his father, author Stephen Levine, the trappings of his previous life were largely rejected. Except for the punk rock, which Levine channeled into a Buddhist worldview. The firs! t section of the book is harrowing as Levine details his descent into addiction and does so with a simple matter-of-fact approach that makes his tale all the more compelling. Levine is a potent central character, always sympathetic even when he's neither likable nor completely forgivable. Later sections lack the same impact and consist largely of travelogues of the author's journeys around the world in search of spiritual satisfaction along with attempts to reconcile the disparate worlds of punk and Buddhism. Nonetheless, it is satisfying to see Levine return to the juvenile halls where he was once incarcerated, this time as a counselor. While there is nothing especially unique about the literary genre of reformed addict memoir, it's a genre that rarely involves punk rockers or Buddhists. Levine's unique and skillfully related journey will appeal to punks, Buddhists, and anyone interested in the idea of redemption. --John Moe

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Worth the Read.......2007-10-13

"[H]e does not seem like a real buddhist at all" - I don't even know what that means! How does a "real" buddhist act?

I admit, he mentions his father's book (A Year to Live) a tad too many times, but I don't feel it undercuts what this book has to offer. Plus, his father's book is a solid contribution to the Buddhist community and I think it would be silly to think that he would act like his father (an accomplished teacher) had no influence on his decisions/life.

I don't care about punk/punk history, but I do like hearing about people changing their lives for the better and making positive contributions to society. So, Noah Levine has connections...most famous/accomplished people do.

This is a book about personal evolution and rebirth. This is a book about the struggle for a still mind and complete presence in every moment. If I learned anything from Noah, it's that meditation doesn't come easy and no matter how many temples/monasteries you visit, you must find it within yourself.

Moreover, I do feel the book is well written and is a great memoir for our generation.

Worse than Christian Rock .......2007-06-07

First off, I am an American ex punk-rock "thug" drug addict. The author is not. He gives real ex drug addict thugs a bad name. The book is aimed at middle class liberals filled with "white guilt."
He is just another spoiled suburban white kid who thinks the world revolves around him. He doesn't need spirituality, he needs to do ten years in prison without any help from his daddy.
Don't waste your money on this book. You'll just be enabling a spoiled brat.

English Credit.......2006-07-13

To me, this book came in and out of being inspirational. There were times when the details were trivial and the writing was poor. Although the bulk of the information was crucial to the eventual epiphanies; I felt that a lot of the material was weak 'filler.' Towards the end I had lost almost all interest and faith in the author's sincerity, when the writing made an abrupt improvement. Over all I'm not sure how I feel about the author, but several of his spiritual realizations were inspirational, nonehtless. I took what I could from it and applied however I could to myself.Those who have struggled with drugs and are looking for a new way to address their inner conflicts might appreciate Noah's journey.I would recommend this book to anyone who seeks inspiration fro improvement and who is open-minded about where they draw that inspiration from. I don't, however, recommend the book to anyone who belongs to and who is very defensive about either culture that Noah identifies with, because the integrity of his involvement in the punk movement and the Buddhist religion can seem weak at times.

A must read for any old punks or skins.......2005-08-18

This book was heartwrenching for me to read because it was so raw and so real, it was like I was re-living my youth. This man tells his story matter of fact, not dramatically, but for anyone who wasn't there back then it is an amazing read about what it was really like for street kids on dope in the 80s. He makes an amazing diplay of healing and growth that so many of the people in the same situation never got a chance to do. It seems he truly found enlightenment, which even a lot of "stable" people can't do.

"You Ain't no Punk you punk" Cramps Quote.......2005-04-16

Man did this suck IMHO. Coming from someone who grew up in the shadows of punk I couldn't believe this guy spoke of diving into punk the way he did. He was too young to dive into the middle of things so in that department he is considered a poser. In scholarly works this is nothing and really is a weak perhaps type of Buddhism for dummies type of thing. Man kids were not pissed off because their parents mediated they had real issues to deal with. To borrow from a Dead Kennedy's song; "What you really need is a Holiday Inn Cambodia" But not the travel you describe you need only a bowl of rice per day.

Grasshopper grap these stones

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Dharma Punx
Noah Levine
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEOEH2

Average customer rating:

Dharma Punx: A Memoir
Noah Levine
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEOEFE

Book Description

Selected as one of the best 100 books ever written on the Civil War by Civil War Times Illustrated in 1981 and by Civil War: The Magazine of the Civil War Society in 1995.

A new, revised edition of the only full-scale biography of the Confederacy's top-ranking field general during the opening campaigns of the Civil War. Albert Sidney Johnston was selected as one of the best one hundred books ever written on the Civil War by Civil War Times Illustrated in 1981 and by Civil War: The Magazine of the Civil War Society in 1995.

“Roland offers a useful corrective to some of the harsher critiques [of Johnston] . . . portraying him as an officer who, just one year into the war, was still growing as a leader.”—from the foreword by Gary Gallagher

Customer Reviews:

Still the Standard Account of Johnston's Life After 40 Years.......2007-01-03

The University Press of Kentucky reissued Charles P. Roland's impressive biography of Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston in 2001, and readers will be glad they did. It is telling, writes historian Gary Gallagher in a new Foreword, that no new biography of Johnston has come out in almost 40 years. Roland's balanced, entertaining, and informative work still stands as the standard account of this martial man's life. In telling Johnston's story, Roland emphasizes his devotion to duty no matter how distasteful the assignment. Time and time again, whether in Texas, Utah, or Tennessee, Johnston was faithful in discharging his duty despite any personal misgivings with those in authority. Many thought Johnston would run for President of the eponymous three republics, Texas, the United States, and the Confederate States. In all cases, Johnston declined, preferring military duty as the best way to help whatever cause he was then involved with. As of early 2007, Roland's study is and will remain for the foreseeable future the standard work on Albert Sidney Johnston's life.

Albert Sidney Johnston was born in Kentucky in 1803, the son of a practicing doctor who originally hailed from New England. Despite these Yankee roots, Johnston would become a thoroughly southern man. Johnston initially enrolled at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, and he later attended West Point. Johnston counted future Confederate President Jefferson Davis as one of his close friends while at the military academy. Johnston was a good student and finished eighth overall, requesting a commission in the infantry. Johnston seemed to be attracted to the most active areas all his life, first participating in the Black Hawk War in 1832, then moving on to the newly created Republic of Texas in the 1830's. Johnston became a General an d commanded Texas' main army after she had won her independence from Mexico. While in Texas, Johnston eventually found himself in a feud with prominent Texan Sam Houston, a situation which would endure even after Texas joined the United States. From Texas, Johnston also participated in the 1846-48 War with Mexico, first as a Colonel of volunteers and then as an honorary aide. After the Mexican War, Johnston became chief paymaster of the Department of Texas, and also unsuccessfully ran a plantation in that state. His job entailed long, lonely journeys away from his family, a situation that finally ended when Johnston was placed in command of the famed 2nd United States Cavalry. While in this position, Johnston commanded an expedition to Utah to possibly fight a war with the Mormons in 1857. Johnston's treatment of the Mormons was impeccable, though he disagreed with their way of life. Later, Johnston became commander of the Department of California, and was at this post when the Civil War broke out. Johnston, who identified strongly with Texas, decided to join the Confederacy as soon as the Lone Star state seceded.

Johnston was soon appointed as one of the five senior generals of the Confederacy, and his experience was so extensive that his personal friendship with Jefferson Davis never even factored into the equation. Davis considered Johnston to be the finest general he had available, and assigned him to command the entire western theater from eastern Kentucky to western Arkansas. What Davis didn't give Johnston enough of was men and materiel. He was expected to cover this massive amount of territory with less than 60,000 men initially, facing over twice that number in Union troops. Johnston's attempts to defend the easter expanse of this department failed when one of his strong points at Forts Henry and Donelson was taken. Not only did Johnston fail to hold the forts, but he also lost 15,000 badly needed men in the process. Roland rightly criticizes Johnston's actions during this time frame. To Johnston's credit, he managed to hold together his army through a long and demoralizing retreat which saw the loss of all of Kentucky and most of Tennessee including Nashville. Johnston and P. G. T. Beauregard now called in reinforcements from across the Confederacy in an attempt to overwhelm Grant's Army of the Tennessee at Pittsburg Landing. At the height of the attack, Johnston was hit and his boot heel torn partially from the boot. Johnston seemed fine, but in reality an artery had been nicked and the general bled to death in a short while. Johnston was never given the chance to achieve greatness, argues Roland, so we cannot honestly say what might have been regarding his development. Men such as Grant learned from their early mistakes; whether or not Johnston would have done the same is open for speculation.

Johnston spent most of his adult life in and around the military in one form or another, so this biography is naturally enough concerned with a lot of military matters. Roland moves equally well in military and non-military discussions of Johnston's life. His portrayal of Johnston's family and the general's inability to house all of his children in one home due to his financial situation was especially touching. That Roland's book still stands as the standard account of Johnston's life testifies to his mastery of the subject. From Johnston's days as a cadet at West Point to the various campaigns for different countries Johnston found himself in, Roland covers all aspects of Johnston's life in a consistently fair manner, giving the man's failures (mainly financial) and successes (mainly military) equal attention. Roland ultimately concludes that Johnston handled his military commands with aplomb throughout the antebellum years, and he was possibly on his way to this same success in the Civil War before his life was cut short at Shiloh.

The maps in this book were standard for their time (1964), and I was actually pleasantly surprised by most of them. They serve their intended role of familiarizing the reader with the situation without being too vague or too few in number to make a difference. Roland uses the footnote method at the bottom of each page, a process which works better for me in terms of actually looking through the notes at the pertinent point in the text rather than at the end of a chapter or at the end of the book. Roland's bibliography is extensive and uses quite a few manuscript collections as the foundation of his research. Johnston's letters to and from family, friends, and acquaintances are used to especially good effect. The index is functional and serves its intended purpose quite well.

Charles P. Roland's biography of Albert Sidney Johnston continues to stand as the only modern work of the general. The quality of the book will insure that it stays this way for the foreseeable future. Those readers interested in biographical works on the Civil War's leaders would do well to have a copy of Albert Sidney Johnston: Soldier of Three Republics on their shelves. No portion of Johnston's life, from his military and personal affairs, his financial failures and military successes, is left uncovered. This biography of Johnston can also be seen as a microcosm of the difficult choices facing men who had previously or were then serving in the United States Army in 1860. For many of these men, their state was more important to them than their country. This biography was also mentioned in several Civil War periodicals as one of the 100 best books written on the Civil War, a sentiment which is pretty close to the mark. Albert Sidney Johnston: Soldier of Three Republics will appeal to students of antebellum America almost as much as students of the Civil war, for most of Johnston's life was spent in those pre-war years. Considering the relatively low price and solid account of Johnston's life, this biography belongs in every Civil War buff's collection.

(Note: Special thanks goes to The University Press of Kentucky.)

An Important Biography of a Major Military Officer of the Civil War Era.......2006-01-28

I first read an earlier edition of this book in graduate school in the latter 1970s and found it an interesting and useful work. On re-reading "Albert Sidney Johnston: Soldier of Three Republics," it remains a very fine biography that may be appreciated by anyone interested in antebellum military history and the Civil War. Johnston, one of the senior commanders of Confederate troops in the first part of the Civil War was killed at Shiloh in 1862. Beforehand, he had enjoyed a significant career as both a U.S. Army officer and commander of the Army of the Republic of Texas. The U.S., Texas, and Confederate State of America are the "three republics" of the title.

Born in Washington, Kentucky, in 1803, Johnston was a West Pointer who gained broad experience in military command. In 1832 he participated in the Black Hawk War as adjutant to the commander. In 1834 he resigned his commission and two years later moved to the new Republic of Texas, where he soon became the ranking military official. He served in the Texan army for several years and later as the Texas Secretary of War. When the Mexican War arose in 1846, Johnston raised a regiment of Texas volunteers and commanded it until his men's enlistments expired.

After the Mexican-American War, Johnston remained in the U.S. Army and by 1855 had attained the rank of colonel. In 1857 when President James Buchanan named new officials to Utah Territory, reports from U.S. officials there declared the Mormons in rebellion against the government. To counter the situation, Buchanan sent a military expedition to Utah to quell the Mormons and install the appointed territorial governor, Alfred Cumming. Departing in July 1857, 2,500 troops marched from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Utah, at first under the command of General William S. Harney but within a month Johnston was named as his replacement. During the two year period that Johnston headed this expedition, negotiations were conducted that eventually led to a peaceful settlement of the controversy and the installation of federal officers in Utah. His success in handling this crisis led to Johnston's promotion to brevet brigadier general and his appointment in 1860 to command the Department of the Pacific.

Johnston commanded the Pacific Department at the time of the secession of the lower south in the winter of 1860-1861 and it led to a difficult career choice. Since his strongest loyalties rested with Texas, Johnston resigned his commission when Texas seceded although he was never an advocate of secession. In June 1861 he and a company of other southerners marched cross-country to offer military service to the Confederacy. As one of the most experiences military officers available, Johnston was immediately appointed by a personal friend, Jefferson Davis, a general in the Confederate army with command of the western theater.

Johnston immediately set about to prepare for war. Outnumbered and outgunned, his army's first real test came in the battles of Forts Henry and Donelson, in Kentucky, which fell to Union forces in February 1862. This defeat prompted a southern outcry against Johnston, but Jefferson Davis defended his friend as the best commander the South could muster. The next test came in April 1862 when Johnston gathered many of his troops around Corinth, Mississippi, from which he attacked Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant near the Shiloh church. Nearly successful in crushing the Federals the first day of the battle of Shiloh, April 6, Johnston was fatally wounded late in the day and his second in command, P.G.T. Beauregard, halted the attack until the next morning. This gave Grant time to reorganize his forces and bring in reinforcements. The next day Union troops drove the Confederates back to Corinth.

Since Johnston was killed so early in the Civil War it is difficult to assess his abilities as a commander of large numbers of troops, but Roland takes on this task. He notes that Johnston demonstrated caution early in the war, but showed tactical brilliance while commanding at Shiloh. The effect of his death has been a point of endless controversy ever since Shiloh. J.F.C. Fuller, the well-known British military analyst, called Johnston "brave but stupid," but others such as Charles Roland have assigned Johnston a place somewhere in the middle, neither brilliant nor stupid in his command decisions. One conclusion is appropriate, and Charles Roland makes this case well in his biography of this soldier, Johnston was a capable military officer. He was successful in every position of command he ever held, and at least in his handling of the Shiloh battle, he showed real ability to lead a large army to victory.

Balanced........2003-09-21

This is the story of a very interesting life. A good soldier and a fine man, Albert Sidney Johnston served in the background for so long that history questions his ability to rise to the top.

Adept at politics and administration, his leadership remains questioned despite involvement in the Black Hawk Indian War in Illinois, the protection of the early Texas Republic and frontier, the War with Mexico, the Mormon Campaign, and the stability of pre Civil War California.

Killed at Shiloh, the first top Confederate commander to die during the war, his death leaves the question of an unfulfilled life and thoughts of what might have been. His involvement in so many of the key areas associated with the early stages of this nation's Manifest Destiny, his life is an important one, one that impacts the long procession of events that lead up to the Civil War.

He is a person worth knowing about.

Daft Reviewer.......2003-04-12

One has to question the opinion of a reviewer who cannot even state the proper name of the focus of the biography and seems more interested in detailing his genealogy instead. The proper name of the General is Albert Sidney Johnston, NOT Sidney Albert Johnston, for those passersby who may be interested in the book. Also, I doubt the reviewer's assumption that possessing the name "Sidney" can be directly correlated to ignorant racist Southerners, or any Southerner, as he seems to assume.

Haven't read this book, but want laypersons to be familiar with the correct name of the General. Don't use "stars" as a way to rate books, either.

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ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON - SOLDIER OF THREE REPUBLICS

Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H42DNQ

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ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON Soldier of Three Republics
Charles P. Roland
Manufacturer: Univ of Texas Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORDSKS

Book Description

Reckless Disregard shows how liberal Democrats are wasteful of American military lives, and have committed themselves to policies that are inimical to America's national security. This is a frontline soldier's report on how liberalism and national security don't mix.

Customer Reviews:

Robert Patterson is a Great writer........2007-08-08

Patterson has such a great way with his writing. I loved this book. I was also fascinated by his earlier White House tell-all, 'Dereliction of Duty'.

"Buzz", if you're reading this, I think you should consider writing a novel.

Facts are facts ,whether you like them or not!.......2007-01-21

Lt.Col.Patterson now follows up his book "{Dereliction of Duty" with another in depth look at the differences between the performances of the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Republicans in several ways. Differences in the past,differences while in office,differences when in opposition,actions of the party leaders before being elected and finally what you can expect from them if elected to power;and particularly as Commander in Chief.
The book clearly summarizes the successes and failures of the performances of the two parties particularly since WWII.It is abundantly clear which party has done a better job of protecting the security ,keeping the best standards of military readiness,best supported the troops,which has engaged the enemy; and which party put political correctness,social entitlement programs,and preference for the well being of America in the hands of Europe,the United Nations and anti-Americian "isms".
You may wonder why a Canadian would read and review a book of this nature. Well,the reason is very simple. The only reason we live in a Country with any degree of security during this War on Terror is because of our great and dependable neighbour to the south;that meaning to the south of Canada,not to the south of the USA. You may also wonder what has happened to Canada,and Canadians who were once much more friendly and appreciative to the great relationship that used to exist between us.Very simple,what you hear coming out of Canada is the voice of the Liberal,Socialist Left ;which slants the Media to a far greater extent than yours does. The Government Oracle,the CBC,and other TV and Print media,continually look for and emphasize anything they can find negative about the US; while ignoring anything positive. You might even wonder, that since we recently changed from a Liberal to a Conservative government, won't things improve. Not likely,it would take years for the judicial,government employees and government to change;and the media is so massively left,that the change will be insignifient for decades. While it seems that there is a conservative government:it is a minority government.The Conservatives hold only 125 seats,the Liberals 101,the Bloc Quebecios (Quebec only Socialist Party) 51, the NDP (Socialists)29 and 2 are independent.As you can see, the Liberals and Socialists greatly outnumber the Conservatives. Talk about over government,we have 308 Members of Parliament plus a large UNELECTED Senate ,compared to the US with 550 including about 100 ELECTED Senators (I think).With a population 10 times Canada's maybe the US should have 3000 Congressmen,then maybe you'd understand our problem!
The Liberals and Socialists of Canada have similar views and agendas as the Left in the US,if not worse, so that is why our Military has been reduced,ignored,and so ill maintained that even with our paltry and token effort in Afghanstan our planes were useless (communications weren't secure),uniforms weren't even suitable for desert use,and we didn't even have means to transport them and their equipment to the war zone.This is the kind of security our Left has built.The new leader might like to change that,but his hands will be severely chained.
A book of this nature needs to be written for Cansda,but don't hold your breath!
A couple of good quotes from this book;

"Liberals believe we will be safer if we transfer responsibility for fighting terrorism to the United Nations. Liberals believe that we can opt out of a war on terror. The terrorists are praying for that to happen."

"So long as there are men there will be wars."...Albert Einstein

"Only the dead have seen the last of war."...Plato

"We fight wars that we may live in peace."...Aristotle

"The military ethic is based on LOYALTY TO NATION, COMMITMENT TO DUTY,and SELFLESS SERVICE,all alien concepts to the Left."

I also reviewed "Dereliction of Duty" on October 28,2004.The idea that the Clintons could once again occupy the White House is frightening.

Everyone who values Liberty and Freedom ,as wellas those who would like to see it trampled;is interested in what happens in America.If you don't believe this,and the left seem to fall into that sphere...

IMAGINE THE WORLD WITHOUT AMERICA!

Great read, tells it like it is...........2006-10-03

Which is why libs hate it. They don't want the truth to be told because if it ever was (which is to say if CNN and other lib talkers told the whole story), nobody would even think about voting for them.

Bush is the right president because unlike Bill, George doesn't just shake his finger at enemies while getting off on interns. He actually sees a war when its right under his nose, and doesn't ignore it. Clinton spread out our military while cutting their numbers back drastically. Thus, he proved that, just like other Liberals like Carter, he is ignorant to the ways of war. Then again what do you expect from a draft dodger who protested Vietnam in the UK while our actual patriotic americans (something that NO liberal will ever be) were dying in Vietnam?

Key facts here
* In the 45 years prior to the Clinton years, we deployed armed forces beyond our borders 8 times. In Clinton's 8 years in office, he deployed our forces 44 times. So we went from one deployment ever 5.6 years to 5.5 deployments a year. Why? Clinton used the armed forces as a peace keeping force in any and every area he could. To him, our men and woman in uniform could be sent in very small groups all over the world to be international police. He was ignorant to the job of being Commander In Chief. Maybe if he handn't been a traitor to the US in the 60's and actually served his time via his draft notice, then he might understand what honor and duty meant. Instead he he focused on "on her" and "booty."

* Clintons inaction during all the terrorist attacks we had in the 90's made us look weak. Afterall, if an enemy never fights back are you going to surrender or are you going to cheer in victory and fight more? Like Patterson says in this book "Pacifism never won wars, soldiers did."

I'm proud to be an American because of what our constitution and those who protect it stand for. From time to time we find those that live up to it, such as Reagan and Bush. Luckily enough Americans agree, as the red and blue election map of 2004 showed. As for those that want to point to our problems and try to find a better way, that is what needs to be done. Yet for those like Clinton, Kerry, Ted "the swimmer" Kennedy, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, and anyone who follows them and is ignorant enough to believe the war and Bush are wrong, I say to you "read this book" so that you might actually be able to learn from history. Then again, you liberals make it and art at ignoring history. In the end your beliefs and cries of protest are backed only by socialists, communists and extremists. Thus you are they, they are you. You have no home here, you are not Americans. To be an American requires more than just living here. You need to support the Americn ideals, which you do not. A die hard anti-war on terrorism liberal is basically saying "I don't believe we should be free, its ok for terrorists to attack us, leave them alone." Thus you are nothing more than an athiest who says he is a Christian.

Do us Americans all a favor you socialist libs - if you hate America so much, then move somewhere that you think is better. Like Alec Baldwin, you won't though because you know no other country is going to put thier butts on the line to save yours. People like Mr. Patterson here are the ones carrying on the American ideals, you libs are the ones who do all you can to destroy them.

Polemic, not scholarship.......2006-05-15

This is not a work of scholarship, not a work that examines its sources or parses ideologies for truth. This book certainly does not focus on truth.

For example, the author considers the "disastrous" presidency of Jimmy Carter to have fostered Islamic militantism. This position is unalloyed by any truth of the US-driven 1953 coup that installed the Shah, destroyed democracy in Iran and established all the groundwork for the 1979 crisis.

Nor is there any mention of the fact that Al Qaeda was created out of thin air by Ronald Reagan - who proceeded to fund and arm our future enemies.

Sadly, no, this is not a work of scholarship.

Liberal, reform, intelligence impotency.......2005-12-10

Robert Patterson wants a commitment to national security; believes the democrats can not be trusted to handle national security, saying the liberals have weakness on national security issues. Patterson blisters the liberal indicting, "liberals have done everything to ensure America's military defeat". Patterson blames Clinton force reductions, as the primary reason for dismantling America's military might.

Liberals are disloyal and get defensive about their patriotism. Patterson accusations are more than anger; he exposes Freedom of Information records detailing Ted Kennedy collaboration with KGB officials. The collaborations disclose to KGB interests an offer to "speak against Jimmy Carter on the condemnation of Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan" designed too advanced Kennedy's own political and business interests. The KGB took, the offer as military policy counter against Reagan. Patterson chops away at Kennedy sponsered 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that prevented the Executive Branch from monitoring foreign enemies in the US.

The liberals have weakened America. The liberals handcuff police enforcement and protect the enemy. FISA required agents to demonstrate to a special court sufficient specific or international terrorism. FISA allowed Zacarias Moussaoui slips through, after being arrested on immigration charges; agents wanted to search his computer but were denied; had they search his computer, his terrorist connections would have been revealed. Hostilities between the CIA and FBI left intelligence toothless. CIA reform open the door for 9/11; liberal infiltrated CIA jobs and caused functional breakdown.

Liberals hate America calling it evil and the enemies are good. Liberals advocate surrender to Soviet aggression. Liberal bilateral nuclear freeze is an admission of surrender; Soviet military hegemony walk away with a commanding lead in total number of warheads. Liberals oppose missile defense. Liberals would rather blame "America First" and are uncomfortable fighting war against Islamic fanatics. Liberals admire Islamic extremist. The Democrats of Jimmy Carter wrecked the intelligence community; liberals are weaker on terrorism than communist; liberals believe in police action not military action; liberals believe the fight of terrorism should go to the United Nations. The Guard and Reserve Units represent 97% of the civilian units, 70% of the engineering, 60% of police force, and 50% of combat units.

Book Description

It’s fairly obvious that one can’t be a ‘perfect’ environmentalist. But that’s okay. Perfection isn’t the goal. A good life is. And a good life has as much to do with your intent as with the end result.” —from the Introduction

The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life is the essential book for those of us who can’t live in an organic hemp tepee but do care about our quality of life, global warming, clean water, and disappearing resources.

Nell Newman shows you how to do what is within easy reach. Along with realistic, practical advice, she shows how and why living a more environmentally conscious life benefits you and your immediate surroundings. In addition to recycling and reusing, the book covers consumer-related steps such as

• how buying and eating organic food supports small farms (and tastes better, too)
• how you can buy clean power through your regular power company
• which long-distance telephone companies offer competitive pricing and service while returning a portion of their profits to environmental and educational organizations
• where to buy everything—from pots and pans to pet food—so that you can “vote with your dollar” and feel good about your purchases

Packed with profiles of fascinating—and sometimes zany—people and a heavy dose of sanity, this book is organized according to the way you really live, making it easy to identify what areas of change are viable for you. A resource directory of publications, retailers, groups, and associations is included in the back of the book.

Customer Reviews:

Helpful.......2007-07-11

This is a great practical book. It's written by Nell Newman (Paul Newman's daughter) and discusses briefly her company Newman's Own. She then spends the majority of the book sharing practical tips that she's found helpful in living a more Earth-friendly life. It was an easy read and felt more like I was listening to my aunt or grandma tell me a story. And it was great because she balanced it out. Not making things so black and white. Realizing that even being environmentally friendly still causes harm to the environment. It's less about being an extremist and more about making informed, practical decisions without being a moralist with it. Which was quite refreshing to hear. It made me want to give their food another try after my disastrous results with their salsa and popcorn.

Less hokey than the cover implies.......2007-02-20

I love this book!! I try and read it often to refresh myself on the contents. I was impressed that the book was printed on recycled paper, a percentage of the profits go to charity and its not a "buy my product" book also.

This book prouldy holds a spot in my Green Living Bookcase!

Beyond political agendas and judgmental shame tactics: just simple talk about living well in America........2006-09-24

There's some rubbish going around that there are two rigidly defined, black-and-white categories of people in the USA: conservative Republicans who don't care about the environment, and Al Gore's superforce of environmental enthusiasts. Or, if you prefer, blissfully ignorant normal people vs. crazy green hippie radicals. As a moderate who likes anybody whose category can't be rhymed with 'glass bowl', I dislike any either/or mindset. It's not the reasonable people who gain media attention, it's the radicals, and they become the stereotype of what we should avoid. In this vein, the absolute worst threat to the environment today is, ironically, the most passionate of environmentalists, whose self-righteous smugness and brimstone rants turn off the average reasonable person, understandably dismissing such vile attitudes. As with religion, environmental consciousness brings the stigma of personal manipulation via shame--for there are, no question, those who try to induce and exploit guilt for a hidden personal gain. The majority recognizes such 'activism' for what it is--at its worst, the pleasure of feeling superior to the 'unenlightened masses', labelled lazy, stupid, ignorant, blind, etc. simply for living in the world as it is. Those radical environmentalists who truly care at heart must see others from an empathic viewpoint, one which doesn't include heavy-handedness or bitter judgment, and thus has a chance of actually convincing others. This is the age of the new environmentalist--common people who come together for a cause that transcends political platforms, because regardless of our personal differences, we all want the same thing: a better life for us all. And you can bet that politicians across the board will need to listen. We are the voters, we have the power here, and we can encourage each other to use it in ways that benefit our country and our families.

What's refreshing about Nell Newman's book is that it is NOT a work of self-righteous extremism. Ms. Newman, while conscientious, passionate, and very 'green', doesn't try to shove rules down the throats of readers, nor does she stand on a soapbox and rant. She takes a nonpolitical, light-handed, self-critical, practical paradigm which communicates her point better than any alternative. In fact, she acknowledges that a lot of environmental suggestions are a tradeoff, and doesn't judge the reader for their personal decisions about what is manageable for them in their everyday life. All she tries to do, in this nicely written book, is offer thoughtful and intelligent research on how we can use the cutting-edge tools of our modern age along with well-tried old-fashioned ways of living, all to make life better. And that's something that pretty much everyone, whatever their politics or age or conscience or personal beliefs, wants to do.

If every American picked just two chapters from this book, and did only about 2 of the minor ideas listed in each, not only their environment but their own personal life would improve. I've tried the Newman's Own organic answer to popular cookies, which even my large chain grocery store carries, and you know what? In my book, besides being healthier, they actually taste BETTER than the commercial brand. The chocolate in the Newman-Os had a stronger flavor; the cream was softer, smoother, more appealing. And the Fig Newmans (har) redefined my idea of the word "Fig" and what it should taste like. It's also nice knowing that the actual profits go to charity rather than an already rich CEO's pockets. Organic may be a bit more expensive--now, while the businesses are small and struggling--but that will change the more we support them, and even in the meantime, the taste and health benefits are unquestionably worth it, at least once in a while. As Nell Newman frankly says in this book, the question is more, do we want to pay up front or down the road? In other words, would we prefer to pay a little more for the health of our pets, our family and ourselves now, or do we want to make it up in hospital and vet bills later?

Part of the reason we don't eat enough vegetables in this country is because we instinctively know they don't taste right. And they don't taste right because they aren't raised right, by small farmers with natural pesticides the way it should be. That's what organic eating is all about. Not being a hippie or a radical, or nut loaf with yeast gravy. Just supporting a better way of life and a better taste. After all, why give your dollar vote to a system that only tries to phase out partially hydrogenated oils after it becomes widely known among the public that they drastically increase the risk of heart disease, and even then uses tricks like '0 grams trans fat' to blind us to the fact that they're still legally allowed to put 0.5 grams into their stragtegically chosen serving size, which still adds up to an increased risk? The oils are listed in the ingredients, but they think we won't look there, relying on consumer trust to camouflage their cheap, unhealthful choices. And though wheat is becoming more popular as a selling point, its benefits can be stripped away without any indication given if you don't know their legal trick--that's the difference between 'wheat flour' and 'whole wheat flour'--whole wheat is what gives you the benefits, and it can be one of the last ingredients while still giving them the go-ahead to blast "NOW WITH WHOLE WHEAT!" all over the front label. Only '100% whole wheat' and 'NO trans fat' really mean healthy food, and those are the brands that deserve to be bought.

Judging from my range of emotions--disturbed at what unnatural pesticides used on produce can actually do to our bodies and our ecosystem, interested at the money-saver tips for energy, then slowly outraged at what I'd been unknowingly feeding my pet in giving her commercial dog food with vegetables and healthy meat printed all over the package--I'd say Nell Newman did a pretty good job of responsibly exposing the truth, with a little humor and charm along the way, and without being paranoid or alarmist. Corporations just think what they're doing is already good enough for the common person and animal--I've got to disagree with them. I think we deserve a better quality of life. And if enough people agree with that notion, we've got a fine basis for change right there.

That's only the food sections I've covered in this recommendation. If you're interested, pick up the book--there's a lot more to be seen and known, and it's your right to know it.

Good overview of "living green".......2006-07-26

I'm not a die-hard eco-liver, but I like to be good to the environment where I can. This book gave a lot of good ideas for just that. I also bought "Green Living" by The E Magazine at the same time. This one was better. It kept my interest and wasn't just a collection of fact and figures.

Highly recommended.

Buy a copy for your local library.......2006-05-29

The book may not have all that much to offer to those of us walking the talk environmentally, but it has great value as a book to give as a gift to someone who could use some wisdom and can do attitude as far as being materialistic.

Great book to give to your local library where hundreds of patrons will check it out. Now if someone could or would come out with a tough love book on the subject that would knock some sense into the average American.

It's the majority in my opinion who are NOT doing much to live either an organic life but a less materialistic one that bother me. The ones who drive the gas guzzlers while complaining of high gas prices. Or people who buy prepackaged or fast food for most meals each week. How do we reach these folks?

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