Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi

Customer Reviews:

What Could've Been...........2007-02-16

1,000 friends and family members were at the funeral. So many were such a big part of his life. They loved him and would do anything for him, but they didn't do enough. None could or would save him from himself.
"Wired: The Short Life & Fast Times of John Belushi" by Bob Woodward takes a good look at the events of his life that led him to sudden fame and his fast spiral downward of fast living and drugs that led to his death much too early for this brilliant and much loved comic genius.

You may learn more then you want to know about some pretty big names in the entertainment industry, that either unwittingly helped Belushi or partied hardy with him on his road to self-destruction. I admire them for stepping up and telling their stories to Author Woodward(even the drug dealers themselves have some interesting accounts), and although some actually lectured John on the evils of what he was doing to himself, and at one point a self-professed anti-drug enforcer was hired to help out,I was dismayed by the lack of courage on any of these giants, and those closest to him, to take drastic measures to save his life. Many times the interviewees say, he was headed for death. Woodward does an excellent job of supplying the details of his life and times,his fast rising career, the attitudes of his friends, the movie studio execs, his family and even his Doctors. No one could say NO to him.

It is clear that alot of time,hundreds of interviews, and extensive research has gone into this book, making it a must read for fans. John's bigger then life personality, his constant demand and need for artistic freedom and control are a very big part of this story. My problem came in about the first third of the book. To be honest I found this part a bit tedious and repetitive. Adoring fans, need not be reminded of nearly every line he spoke or wrote for the Saturday Night Live sketches. Long ago, we already made his famous phrases our own("Cheezbugga, Cheezbugga".... "But Nooooooo...." ), and we could probably still recall in great detail, all the great moments he gave us. I did however find the look behind the scenes of this great show, and the movie ranglings most interesting. Each film he did or had a script for is talked about in detail, along with his state of being during that time.As the book goes on though, and especially towards the end where we are with him every one of his last hours on earth, we get a very good look into the craziness his life spiraled.

By the end I was saddened once again by the loss of one of my favorites, and thought about all the laughs the world has missed out on. I also felt angered by the lack of help he received from all those close to him, and thought there were some matters that were just sluffed off by the particiapnats and not detailed enough by the Author, for example the police investigation.The book also has numerous pix..my favorite..John in his Samauri warrior costume.

An interesting read, one that may stir fans to say:

"'Bluto'....you have been truly missed" .....Laurie

John Belushi Was Not Funny.......2006-09-29

He guzzzled some JD in Animal House and pretended he was a zit; he also sliced some things up, over and over, in virtually the same skit repeatedly on SNL. Blues Brothers? Give me a fricking break already; he himself even advises you on one recording to "go out and buy all the blues you can" because he felt guilty making so much cash ripping off true artists.

He was a second-rate "performer" and major-league cokehead who happened to be at the right place at the right time. Apologies to his family, whom he apparently had no feeling or respect for, no one really misses him.

Hope some Playboy Bunnies are slurping coke off your sweat-drenched, bloated face now John; at least you're not boring everyone in Continental Divide.

Life In The Fast Lane.......2006-08-24

I read the book when it was first published and feel as strongly that it is a must read twenty years later.

John Belushi in many ways defined Saturday Night Live and was one of the first cast members to emerge as a prime time player in a string of successful movies. His success did not happen overnight and his tragic death was not caused at the final raucous party.

Bob Woodward leads the reader through Belushi's life and times, which in many ways defined the Wild West of the 1970s with celebrities and the many drugs of choice.

Woodward has been taken to task over the years by friends and family members of Belushi; typically with the criticism that Woodward relied too much on hired researchers to gather material and the portrait presented is not of the person they knew. At times I wonder if it's criticism of guilt, not of the finished work.

Wired remains my favorite book and I strongly suggest that you find a copy on Amazon or through a second-hand bookstore.

With Friends Like These . . . .......2006-02-19

The problem with this book is not that Woodward is too tough on Belushi. He's too easy on his sources. The breakdown is this:

Belushi, being dead, can't tell Woodward what happened to him. However, there are (literally!) hundreds of dope pushers, groupies, strippers, bikers, has-been comics, bar flies, scum bags, scrounge artists, movie directors, session musicians, and network television executives, who are HAPPY to sit down and tell Woodward THEIR version of John Belushi. And each and every one of these people has only ONE objective -- cover his own rear end. In other words, EVERY person here has to explain how HE didn't make John flip out, it was those other guys! The book reads like this for two hundred pages --

"Joe Blow had never made it as an actor, but now he liked to think of himself as a dope dealer with heart. It caused him a lot of pain to see John out of control, begging for more dope. Joe felt bad about selling to him, but what could he do? If he didn't, some other guy would -- some guy not as talented and well meaning."

Or it goes more like this --

"Harvey Katzenberg knew there was a good chance John would die before the film wrapped -- he was doing too much dope. On the other hand, if Harvey complained about the constant dope, the crowd of bikers and strippers, John might get mad and leave the set early. Then Harvey would be out millions. It was better, he thought, to let John keep on doing his drugs, at least until the film wrapped. At least then the film would get made and Harvey's daughter could get that new Porsche."

The book is so dry that you can't tell if Woodward is allowing these slimy parasites to kid him along -- or if he's laughing at them the whole time. I did read a fascinating PLAYBOY interview with Woodward some years later, where he indicated the whole Hollywood community hated him for showing them up --showing how they let their good buddy John kill himself right in front of them. Problem is, the book itself is dull because Woodward never imposes any kind of authorial voice or objective truth. All we get are 101 lying parasites rationalizing away, with Belushi's corpse stinking up the back room.

Very interesting and sad book, but not very well written........2005-05-17

The story of John Belushi's life was a rollercoaster ride of very low times of self destruction, separated by short rises of happiness and accomplishment. John seemed to be someone that just could not be happy in his own skin, he did not see himself as a worthy human being who deserved to be happy, but instead someone who did not deserve his fame, or did not feel he was respected in the ways he thought he should be, he was constantly trying to prove himself. John was selfish, yes, he would binge for weeks on drugs, parties, and the fast life looking to fill that void regardless of who it hurt. He destroyed friendships as fast as he made them, but was always the one quick to apologize and try to mend the bridge he had just burned. I feel sorry for John and wish that he would of been given the help he was crying out to receive. Like so many before and after him his problems were ignored in hopes that he would somehow see the light and snap out of it on his own. John is to blame for his own death, and partial blame goes to his friends, but a huge part of the blame rests on Hollywood's shoulders. A town that rewards it successful entertainers with money and fame, and then quickly shuns them the minute that entertainers value has been sucked dry. Hollywood glorifies a lifestyle, in it's movies, that in reality is an impossible one to maintain. The book is very poorly written in my opinion, and Woodward easily confuses the reader by jumping from quote to quote. The readers many times is left unsure of who the quote is being taken from or who exactly the quote is about. There are a lot of scattered bits of information in the book as well and also many typos. For example in one section John's heart is described as being 222 lbs after his death. The book was interesting but so scattered I found my self struggling to stay focused and had to re-read many paragraphs to fully understand what exactly Woodward was trying to say.

Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi.

Average customer rating:

Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi.
Bob. Woodward
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster c
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LQAS46

Wired - The Short Life & Fast Times of John Belushi

Average customer rating:

Belushi?...by Woodward?...

Wired - The Short Life & Fast Times of John Belushi

Manufacturer: S&S
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

SNL - Best of John Belushi

ASIN: B000GL6QN8

Customer Reviews:

Belushi?...by Woodward?..........2006-09-08

I read this book soon after it was published, mainly out of curiosity. Having come from the same town in Illinois, Woodward paints a fascinating and tragic portrait of the SNL funnyman. His rise and fall is the stuff of Hollywood legend and this book covers his childhood, professional life, relationships, and death by heroin overdose, despite the efforts of friends and loved ones to intervene. An interesting read.

Average customer rating:

Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi

Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EP85MG

Average customer rating:

Wired - The Short Life & Fast Times of John Belushi
Bob Woodward
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RZLNRC

Average customer rating:

WIRED - THE SHORT LIFE AND FAST TIMES OF JOHN BELUSHI

Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H42NCC

Average customer rating:

Wired - the Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi
Bob Woodward
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster, 1984
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QJGN3I

Average customer rating:

WIRED: THE SHORT LIFE AND FAST TIMES OF JOHN BELUSHI.

Manufacturer: Faber Book Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Customer Reviews:

bulletstopper.......2007-05-24

Snoringly informative. You need decimal ratings for things that don't deserve more than one hundredth of a star.

A good piece of Paraguayan history from an excellent writer.......1999-12-11

From the begining to the end you can feel latin american's scents. The writer can mix history and fiction magnificently

Historia, ideologia y mito en la narrativa hispanoamericana contemporanea

Average customer rating:

Historia, ideologia y mito en la narrativa hispanoamericana contemporanea
Julio Calvino Iglesias
Manufacturer: Ayuso
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Spanish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Augusto Roa Bastos's I the Supreme: A Dialogic Perspective

Average customer rating:

Augusto Roa Bastos's I the Supreme: A Dialogic Perspective
Helene Carol Weldt-Basson
Manufacturer: Univ of Missouri Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Latin American | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Caribbean & Latin American | History & Criticism | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Latin American | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0826208886

Die Frage der Macht in den Diktatorenromanen "Yo, el Supremo", "El senor presidente" und "El recurso del metodo" (Hispanistische Studien)

Average customer rating:

Die Frage der Macht in den Diktatorenromanen "Yo, el Supremo", "El senor presidente" und "El recurso del metodo" (Hispanistische Studien)
Petra Heider
Manufacturer: P. Lang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Perfect Paperback

Spanish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

German | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 3631465467

El Debate Politico: Modernidad, Poder Y Disidencia En Yo El Supremo De Augusto Roa Bastos (Wor)

Average customer rating:

El Debate Politico: Modernidad, Poder Y Disidencia En Yo El Supremo De Augusto Roa Bastos (Wor)
Adriana J. Bergero
Manufacturer: Peter Lang Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Spanish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0820425834

La escritura posmoderna del poder (Espiral hispano-americana)

Average customer rating:

La escritura posmoderna del poder (Espiral hispano-americana)
Rosalia V Cornejo-Parriego
Manufacturer: Editorial Fundamentos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 8424506464

Las historias del dictador: Yo, el Supremo, de Augusto Roa Bastos (Llibres del mall)

Average customer rating:

Las historias del dictador: Yo, el Supremo, de Augusto Roa Bastos (Llibres del mall)
Francisco Tovar
Manufacturer: Edicions del Mall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 847456400X

Average customer rating:

Yo el Supremo / Moi le Suprême
Augusto Roa Bastos , Milagros Ezquerro , and Iris Giménez
Manufacturer: Presses universitaires du Mirail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

All French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 2858161569

Average customer rating:

Yo Soy Porteo
Augusto (Gius) Giustozzi
Manufacturer: Editorial Biblos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

scholarly, well documented account about Pinochet's regime
Book in good conditions anf fast delivery
A good book, biased

Yo, Augusto/i, Augusto Pinochet
Ernesto Ekaizer
Manufacturer: Alfaguara
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Terrorism | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books

No ficción | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books

ASIN: 9505118775

Book Description

This book, based on more than one thousand interviews and based on the research of thousands of secret documents recently declassified, is the story of the man who continues to gain momentum in finding a place in the universal history of infamy. This is the life of an old, but still challenging and threatening general who encouraged the tenebrous "Caravan of Death". Ernesto Ekaizer won the journalism award "Ortega and Gasset" for his essays about the Pinochet case.

Description in Spanish: Contra todo pronóstico, la noche del 16 de octubre de 1998 Augusto Pinochet era arrestado en una clínica londinense. El bombardeo del Palacio de la Moneda, las últimas palabras de Salvador Allende y los rostros de las víctimas de la sangrienta represión que desató en Chile el golpe del 11 de septiembre de 1973 resucitaban casi treinta años después. La detención del dictador abría un debate acerca de las competencias de la justicia internacional para perseguir a los torturadores y genocidas. En la sociedad chilena, el pacto tácito de reconciliación -la presunta "transición"-, fundamentado en el olvido y la absolución, saltaba por los aires. Algunos llegaron a decir que España colocaba a Chile al borde del abismo.

Anciano, pero aún desafiante y amenazador, el general que alentó la tenebrosa "Caravana de la Muerte" veía esfumarse su sacrosanta impunidad a consecuencia de una de esas paradójicas jugadas de la historia que los dictadores, necios, cegados por el resplandor siniestro de su imagen, no suelen presentir.

El juez Baltasar Garzón, el fiscal Carlos Castresana, los abogados Joan Garcés, Enrique de Santiago y Carlos Slepoy en España, Andy McEntee en Londres y letrados de las víctimas en Chile, como Carmen Hertzy Eduardo Contreras, entre muchos otros, aunaron sus esfuerzos para conseguir el sueño: un juicio de Nuremberg para los militares comprometidos en las desapariciones, ejecuciones y torturas. El retorno del ex dictador a Chile, lejos de suponer el final de la historia, dio un nuevo impulso a la causa bajo el liderazgo del juez Guzmán.

Este libro, que se basa en más de mil entrevistas y la consulta de millares de papeles secretos recientemente desclasificados, es un relato sobre el hombre que sigue ganándose a pulso un lugar en la historia universal de la infamia.

Customer Reviews:

scholarly, well documented account about Pinochet's regime.......2006-03-29

This book presents a well documented picture of Pinochet's regime in Chile and the experiences of many whose basic civil liberties were denied in the best cases and in the worst case killed or dissappeared. Starting with the bloody coup d'etat in 1973, the military Junta turned Chile's democratic social experiment in an ELECTED socialist government to more than a decade of repression. This dictatorship sponsored a complete rewriting of the legal and constitutional framework of the country by the military and their civilian supporters. A book worth reading as the ravages of this US-backed right wing conservative dictatorship and its uncontrolled neo-liberal economic policies were a blight on generations of Chileans and has left indelible traces of its social and psychological destruction still tangible 15 years after Chile "transitioned" to democracy.

Book in good conditions anf fast delivery.......2006-03-20

Very good experience with this seller. five stars.

A good book, biased.......2004-04-06

A good biased account. Strongly from the left the journalist dissects and documents the Pinochet regime, explaining in terrible detail the horrors he visited upon many in Chile. The major drawback here is the fact that this book does not acknowledge that had socialist revolution not be stopped by Pinochet it would have continued on its course and Chili would look like Cuba today without freedom of speech and the other horrors of dictatorship. In the final analysis Pinochet was the lesser of two evils, regardless of the anti-Pinochet propaganda.

Seth J. Frantzman

Book Description

At the Chinese Communist Party's 16th Congress in November 2002, a group of new leaders took over the world's most populous country. Their accession as the "Fourth Generation" of rulers of the People's Republic--following the generations of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Jiang Zemin--signaled the end of a long, complex struggle for power.

Yet little has been known outside high Party circles about either that struggle or the men who emerged victorious from it. China's New Rulers, based on confidential Party files leaked to a Chinese writer abroad, offers an unprecedented glimpse into the most orderly succession in the turbulent history of the People's Republic. At its center are detailed descriptions of the nine men who will rule China for the next five years--their backgrounds, their characters, and their visions for the future. Among the challenges they will face are economic reform and China's integration into a global economy, pressures for political liberalization and human rights, ethnic unrest in Tibet and Xinjiang, the status of Taiwan, and relations with the US.

China's New Rulers is an extraordinary account of a high-level political drama that has largely taken place in secret. It portrays many key figures in the Party, government, and military, and provides new information on Jiang Zemin's thirteen years in office. Most importantly, it contains the first insights into matters of great importance to the West: who will lead China, what changes they may bring to their country, and how they may act as international partners and competitors.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Read.......2003-09-02

This book is an excellent read for anyone who wants to know about China's rulers. Granted the "secret files" in the title made me a little skeptical, but after reading the book and reading other articles as well, this book feels "real." It will be interesting to see how the new leaders guide China and how they will react to the challenges that come up.

To go along with this book, I recommend James C.F. Wang's "Contemporary Chinese Politics," the latest edition.

Look Inside Zhongnanhai.......2003-08-24

This book is great for anyone from a curious reader to an "expert sinologist" (who rarely know what they are talking about). While I would never advocate accepting any foreign policy text-especially one on China-without serious skepticism, I think this is an overall accurate look at the inside.
As many of the other reviewers have noted, this book became dated as soon as it went to print, but that is not as big of a fault as one might imagine. With a quick glance at the news source of your choice (or the reviewer a little further down the page) will bring you up to date quite easily.
My one disagreement worthy of mention is his definition of the world multipolarity- "many nations having a say in world affairs." While I agree that is what American pundits mean by the term, I would argue that Chinese politicians mean something slightly different. Praise for multipolarity is actually an effort to tie the US down to the UN (where China of course wields a veto) and other means of international oversight of US foreign policy decisions. There is a subtle difference between the meaning in the this word in the lexicons of the leaders of the two nations. America means it much as the authors describe it, but China means it as constrain America.

Fascinating, and loads of explanatory power.......2003-07-03

With the State and the Party so tied up together in China, trying to figure out the roles of the NPC, the State Council, the Politburo, Standing Committees, etc is extremely difficult! The best feature of this book is its ability to explain and clarify the role of each part of the Chinese government. Then again, maybe the best feature is its descriptions of the inside workings of the CCP. And then again, maybe the best feature is that after reading this book, you can read a New York Times article about Hu's possible liberal leanings, and say "What the?..." You'll know more than the average bear! Warning: This book is not necessarily an easy read, and will be most useful to those who take more than a passing interest in China.

New Rulers: A Consensus Team for Jiang.......2003-05-26

The value of this book is severalfold. It gives intriguing hints at the nature of top level Chinese decision-making processes. It contains excellent biographical sketches of top leadership in the Chinese Communist Party -- new and old. And it reveals relationships among the various players that is invaluable in attempting to fathom the workings of a secretive government that sees its relationship with the United States as the core of its foreign policy.

Even with insider information (the secret files), it is always risky business to predict the future, and authors Andrew Nathan and Bruce Gilley are surly aware of this. The fact that they got most of their predictions right isn't as important as examining the ones they got wrong, and trying to figure out what may have happened.

Jiang Zemin stepped down as general secretary and president -- as predicted -- but stayed on as chairman of the powerful Centeral Military Commission. This event was not foreseen. What happened?

Nathan and Gilley forecast that the Standing Committee of the Politburo would consist of seven members. That group today stands at nine. (The PRC constitution allows for seven to nine members on the PBSC.)

One of the seven predicted to attain Standing Committee status, Li Ruihuan, was not chosen. Li, a reform-minded member of the previous Standing Committee, didn't make the cut for this one, even though he would have been young enough to serve another term before "mandatory" retirement at age 70. Credit Jiang Zemin for his ouster.

Three unexpected members were chosen -- Huang Ju, Jia Qinglin, and Wu Guanzheng. Nathan and Gilley discuss these men (and many others) as well as the leaders they predicted would rise to power.

There are brighter red stars than Huang Ju. Jiang has mentored him since Shanghai days in the 1980s. A former mayor and party chief of Shanghai, his daughter is married to a pro-Taiwan newspaperman from San Francisco.

Jia Qingling, a former Beijing party chief, was the best man at Jiang's wedding, and saved by Jiang after a corruption scandal involving Jia's wife.

Wu Guanzheng is secretary of the important Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC. An ally of Jiang, he has close links with Hu Jintao as well.

The new members of the PBSC that were correctly predicted by Nathan and Gilley are:

Hu Jintao, Mr. "Zero Defects" is China's first "resume president." Hu used force in Tibet in 1989 two months before Tiananmin, creating the precedent for the June 4 massacre. Jiang labeled him the "core of the fourth generation."

Wen Jiabao is a protégé of Zhu Rongji and supported by anti-Jiang factions. As premier of the State Council, he will oversee economic reforms. A capable administrator, he has been called "most dazzling."

Wu Bangguo. A Jiang man from Shanghai days, Wu oversaw the Three Gorges dam project. He is said to have a "common touch" and is cautious about reform.

Zeng Qinghong has been mentored by and is the former personal secretary to Jiang Zemin. Zeng is perhaps the most influential member of the Standing Committee, and a possible challenger to Hu Jintao.

Li Changchun is supported by Jiang, but lost the premier's position because of purported missteps in Guangdong. Still, he was able to solve problems in the province and bring it in line with Beijing's policies in the 1990s, making it a favorite of Jiang and where he chose to announce his "Three Represents" campaign in 2000.

Luo Gan. Mr. "Go To" when there's trouble, Luo controls the security apparatus of PRC, including the People's Armed Police. He did Li Peng's bidding at Tiananmen.

At least seven of the nine are Jiang's men.

One of the interesting, if not amazing things that the authors show is that the succession to power of the "fourth generation" leadership in China is the most orderly transition of power in China's history. No small claim. Still, it remains to be seen how these men will govern and engage in foreign affairs.

None of the nine have any direct military experience. Only one has studied outside China (Luo Gan), and only one has had international travel (Hu Jintao). The preceeding leadership "traveled extensively, made diplomatic visits, attended summits, and entertained a ceaseless stream of visitors from abroad."

To varying degrees each man is well-grounded in domestic policy, and they are poised to work together as a consensus team under the watchful eye of Jiang. As Nathan and Gilley point out, and as many China-watchers agree, "stability" will be a key word in making policy at home and abroad.

Last year, some of my Chinese colleagues in Beijing attempted to forecast the future too. "There are others besides Hu Jintao," one high-ranking PLA officer told me. But he missed the mark more than "China's New Rulers" did.

If you're interested in the inner workings of the CCP, and the relationship between different levels and persons of power in Beijing, you'll appreciate the information this book conveys.

A Fascinating Look at the Fourth Generation.......2003-02-05

Starting late last year, a new generation of leaders -- often referred to as the "fourth generation" -- began to take over the top posts in China. This book is something of a scorecard of what we might be able to expect from them as they lead China.

Based on what is supposedly a Chinese insider's look at secret files on the new leaders, China scholars Andrew Nathan and Bruce Gilley write a highly readable account, focusing mainly on the seven men they expected to form the sixteenth Politburo Standing Committee (the book went to print before the announcement of the new leadership in November, 2002 -- however, most of the Chinese leaders it examines are still in power; with the exception of the early retirement of Li Ruihuan, it appears the authors were mainly correct in their early predictions).

The authors also briefly deal with other PRC leaders, including the top women leaders and those early candidates for leading the fifth generation. One of the final chapters focuses on the way the new leadership sees China's place in the world, including most importantly its relationship with the U.S.

This is a superb book that is not harmed by its being somewhat dated by recent events. Its only flaw is there is no index, leaving a reader to flail around when he wants to reread sections on particular leaders.

Book Description

These daring stories shed light on what life was really like in the Last Frontier just before, during, and after Alaska joined the Union.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting collection of Game Warden experiences.......2007-10-17

Ray provides a good overview of the challenges and adventures he faced in his wildlife enforcement career in Alaska. I'm a pilot; hence I enjoyed Ray telling his stories from a flying game warden's perspective. A good portion of the book conveys flying-related experiences--hence you'll enjoy the book more if you are a pilot and/or if you enjoy reading about plane "stuff."

Paul Schmitt.......2007-05-15

Not a barnburning read, but still OK. If you are looking for a book that focuses on rural wildlife law enforcement--keep looking. The book deals more with Mr. Tremblay's aircraft than law enforcement. Angle of attack, pitch and rolls and shaky landings highlight the book with some animal enforcement adventures mixed in. Easy read, but not exactly what I thought it was going to be about.

Great!.......2007-02-27

My father worked with Mr. Tremblay so I was really interested in this book. It is a great book, exciting! Neat pictures! I loved it.

Wild Journey : On the trail with a Wyoming game warden in Yellowstone Country

Average customer rating:

A Great Book about Wyoming Game Wardens

Wild Journey : On the trail with a Wyoming game warden in Yellowstone Country
Dave Bragonier
Manufacturer: Wordsworth
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Ecotourism | Specialty Travel | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0965294234

Book Description

Wild Journey takes the reader along on an exciting 35-year trail of beauty and commitment.

Retired Wyoming game warden Dave Bragonier has been characterized as among the best the agency has ever placed in the field. His talents as a straightforward writer are no surprise to anyone who knows him or his reputation as an honest, sometimes blunt, champion of wildlife and the irreplaceable country in which they roam.

Bragonier's memoir is more than a collection of game warden war stories. He addresses these wildlife issues of national importance: The future of the grizzly bear, the decline of ethical hunting, and the black market in wildlife trophies.

The author used his criminal investigative skills to develop a credible solution to the murder of two Wyoming game wardens just after the Second World War.

And there are plenty of chuckles here as well.

If you love wildlife, the Rocky Mountains, and straight talk, Wild Journey belongs in your library.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Book about Wyoming Game Wardens.......2007-03-26

I first found this title after reading C.J. Box's mystery series about fictional Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett. This book is a game warden's memoirs recounted around a number of issues, like the Yellowstone fires of 1988, increasing human/grizzly interaction, and a variety of outdoor topics. I found the book to be quite entertaining and readbale and presented in easy to read, straightforward language. I would recommend this book to any hunters, outdoorsman, wildlife photographers, hikers, and those who love the American West.

Game Wars: The Undercover Pursuit of Wildlife Poachers

Average customer rating:

Great book
I can't believe it's out of print!
A wake-up call for all who appreciate American wildlife.

Game Wars: The Undercover Pursuit of Wildlife Poachers
Marc Reisner
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

General & Anthologies | Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Endangered Species | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Wildlife | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0670814865

Amazon.com

If environmentalists ever get around to building a hall of fame, Dave Hall ought to be up for early induction. Hall, the hero of Game Wars, is the Dirty Harry of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service whose goal in life is to stop poachers dead in their tracks and who doesn't mind blowing away a few bad guys to do it. (Mind you, we're not talking about the backwoods denizen who bags a deer off-season now and again, but an organized underground economy that may soon drive the alligator extinct for its skin, the walrus extinct for its ivory.) Marc Reisner's account of Hall's dangerous exploits is as thrilling, and infinitely more satisfying on those rare occasions when the hero wins, than any movie chase scene.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2000-08-09

Having read Reisner's Cadillac Desert, I couldn't wait to read this. This book is different - and probably more readable to more people. There's more of a defined storyline, and has a more limited number of engaging characters. He follows 3 attempts to protect wildlife from poachers. The style is reminiscent of John McPhee (which I mean as a BIG compliment). If you can find this book, get it!

I can't believe it's out of print!.......2000-01-12

Simply the best wildlife conservation book around. Follow game warden Dave Hall as he works undercover among good ol' boys in Lousiana, Hell's Angels in Alaska and the mafia in New York City in an amazing, accessible (if you can find it) true story that'll be bound to raise your blood pressure over what poaching has done to our wildlife.

A wake-up call for all who appreciate American wildlife........1998-11-21

Reisner is an exhaustive researcher, who then parlays massive factual data into readable, entertaining (sometimes disturbing) prose. I found Game Wars to be more reader-friendly than Cadillac Desert in that the book moved faster and showed me a very human side of wildlife law enforcement. Through Reisner, I was taken along on numerous exciting U.S. Fish & Wildlife missions, including several life-and-death encounters between federal agents and big-time commercial poachers. As usual, Reisner imparts a sense of what the law is, how it works, and where it needs shoring-up. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in animals, law enforcement, or conservation.

Maryland's conservation laws, licenses, and enforcement officers

Average customer rating:

A Must Have Book For License Collectors Wildlife Historians

Maryland's conservation laws, licenses, and enforcement officers
Paul M Hanyok
Manufacturer: Old Line Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Law | Subjects | Books

Hunting | Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Wildlife | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Book Description

"Maryland's Conservation Laws, Licenses and Enforcement Officers" is a one-of-a-kind reference for history buffs and hunting and fishing enthusiasts alike. Contained in the book, the reader will find a comprehensive account of Maryland's early conservation laws and a history of the wardens who enforced them. Special attention was given to details on all phases of conservation law enforcement work. From the white-tailed deer to the oysters of the Chesapeake Bay, this work will show how Maryland's officials served to protect these resources for the benefit of the citizens.The work will also serve as a guide for the collector of hunting and fishing licenses and stamps. Several chapters are included that describe the licensing of Maryland hunters, fishermen and seafood harvesters. Much effort was made to research official documents for license issue amounts and to solicit license dealers and collectors nationwide for information on prices used in the price guide. The 100+ page, softcover book contains 80 photographs, some of which show early wardens at work and complete badge and shoulder patch collections. Also included are photographs of vintage hunting and fishing licenses and stamps and a recent license and stamp collector's price guide. This book is a must for the person interested in Maryland's conservation history and the work of its fish and game wardens. It is invaluable as a guide for the hunting and fishing license and stamp collector.

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have Book For License Collectors Wildlife Historians.......2001-02-12

Paul Hanyok has done a wonderful job of telling us the history of wildlife enforcement in Maryland. Anyone who collects Maryland hunting & fishing licenses needs a copy. Very extensive research on the years of issuance, on the numbers issued. Many photographs of licenses and more. The first part of the book really tells the story of the early days of wildlife enforcement. Also tells the history of conservation laws in Maryland. Very interesting reading. I learned of many licenses I didn't even know existed. Thank you Paul for the fine book!

Australia Burning: Fire Ecology, Policy and Management Issues

Average customer rating:

Australia Burning: Fire Ecology, Policy and Management Issues

Manufacturer: CSIRO Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Law Enforcement | Criminal Law | Law | Subjects | Books

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The phenomenon of fire in the Australian landscape traverses many interests and disciplines. At a national level, there is an urgent need for the integration of both the natural and social sciences in the formulation of public policy.

With contributions from 30 leading experts, Australia Burning draws together these issues, under the themes:

Ecology and the environment
Fire behaviour and fire regime science
People and property
Policy, institutional arrangements and the legal framework
Indigenous land and fire management

The book examines some of the key questions that relate to the ecology, prediction and management of fire, urban planning, law, insurance, and community issues, including indigenous and non-indigenous concerns. It looks at what we need to know to inform public policy, given the present risks and uncertainty, and explores the avenues for closer integration between science, policy and the community.

Average customer rating:
Customized Wildlife Law Enforcement

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0697219801

Average customer rating:
Field Guide to Reptiles and the Law

Manufacturer: Serpent's Tale Natural History Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 188520907X

Product Description

A fully revised and updated edition of this comprehensive guide to U.S. amphibian and reptile legislation at both the state and federal level. Complete listings of the species protected by both CITES and the U.S. Endangered Species Act, as well as in-depth reviews of the collection, possession, import/export, and other special regulations of all 50 states. An essential reference for wildlife law enforcement personnel, herpetologists, and field biologists, as well as hobbyists and herpetoculturists. B/w photos and line illustrations, protected species index, bibliography.

ON THE WILD SIDE: Authors true life experiences in Florida Wildlife Law Enforcement.

Average customer rating:

ON THE WILD SIDE: Authors true life experiences in Florida Wildlife Law Enforcement.
Tony Reed
Manufacturer: Sally Reed Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WWTPX4

Proceedings Of The International Conference On Improving Hunter Compliance With Wildlife Laws The Roles Of Management, Enforcement And Education

Average customer rating:

Proceedings Of The International Conference On Improving Hunter Compliance With Wildlife Laws The Roles Of Management, Enforcement And Education

Manufacturer: Univ. Wisconsin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GHF9EY

The Saturday night special : and other guns with which Americans won the West, protected bootleg franchises, slew wildlife, robbed countless banks, shot ... with the debate over continuing

Average customer rating:

The Saturday night special : and other guns with which Americans won the West, protected bootleg franchises, slew wildlife, robbed countless banks, shot ... with the debate over continuing
Robert Sherrill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00005WQZP

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books