newschoolpolitics

• Rated 4 stars

“The Iraq Study Group report is brief but full of information. The problem I had with the report is that it was far too basic. If you read blogs or watch serious political news shows, the information contained in the Iraq Study Group report will seem boring. There was not any information that I read in the report that I did not already know or that was not easily available, and the summaries I had read online before receiving the book from Amazon covered all of the relevant information. I am keeping this review brief because the book was not worth that much of my time. If you are reading this blog or any political blog you probably know more than the information that is available in the report. That being said, it is a good source to gather figures and statistics from and it summarizes complicated ideas into the lexicon that most Americans can understand. There are some ideas suggested that have merit, but you can find the ideas in the Iraq Study Group report and political theories that contradict them online. If you know little about the situation in the Middle East it is worth reading but to rely on it as an exclusive source of information and opinion would be a mistake. The report is available online as a PDF courtesy of the United States Institute of Peace.”

newschoolpolitics wrote this review Thursday, February 22 2007. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 0 stars

“Bruce Bawer's While Europe Slept is a book that will raise your blood pressure. The book is filled with information that will not only horrify you but will infuriate you. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is that a self-identified liberal who is also a member of the gay community wrote it. The author, Bruce Bawer, left for Europe in the late nineties when he became disgusted with the United States and sought an experience that would better align with his views. He moved to Amsterdam, one of the most liberal cities in the world. What he found shocked him. The level of anti-Americanism were appalling. The Europeans love to hate Americans but they fail to realize the monster that they have created. The Muslim influx into Europe is not only crippling the economies of Europe but it is sharply dividing the culture and raising the crime and murder rates. Europeans hope that Muslims will integrate into their society but many are sending their children back to schools in the Middle East to ensure that they are brainwashed to hate Westerners and follow the teachings of the Koran. The accounts of honor killings, terrorism, and the depictions of simple blind hatred will make you revaluate your views on the world.

The book is well-written but occasionally can be a bit slow. It feels like a long editorial, which can, at times, be a struggle to get through. This is compensated for by the fact that the material and subject is intriguing and kept my interest. As someone who has been to Europe many times I know what the author is talking about and as an American it is a topic close to my heart. This is the best account of the world that I have read for years, if you read this book you will begin to grasp the gravity of the situation not only in the Middle East but also in Europe. Save your time with the Iraq Study Group Report or the 9/11 Report. Most of those facts and figures are available through more accessible, better written opinion editorials and other reports. Much of the information in While Europe Slept is seldom mentioned in the media and reading this book will save you time searching blogs and the occasional Associated Press article. It does not matter what your political beliefs are, but if you care about contemporary issues and are a well-informed American, you must read this book.”

newschoolpolitics wrote this review Wednesday, February 21 2007. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink )