The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century1166 reviews Thomas L. Friedman Picador, 2007 The world is almost flat, but not completely flat. Friedman does a good job explaining how the world became flat, or I would say almost flat. The examples are very relevant, although the book originally was written in 2004. His "Dell Theory" deserves applause.             The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Modern Library Classics)68 reviews Edward Gibbon Modern Library, 2003 The Book + The Ultimate History of the Decline and Fall + free on the net + A Classic Work of History             Chutzpah10 reviews Alan M. Dershowitz Touchstone, 1992 An interesting discussion of Jews in the world today Plenty of Jews exhibit chutzpah (nerve). But there is a flip side to this, the fear of "shanda fur de goyim" (embarrassment in front of the gentiles). Dershowitz analyzes the discrimination he's seen against Jews. In some places, it is non-existent. In others, it is significant. In yet ...             Blowback, Second Edition: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire93 reviews Chalmers Johnson Holt Paperbacks, 2004 American Empire Triology + The Best of Johnson's Trilogy! + Fascinating + A fascinating book. + We were warned             Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism Are Reshaping the World71 reviews Benjamin Barber Ballantine Books, 1996 The unity between religious fundamentalists and big business elites EXPOSED ! It's amazing how despite all the tragedies and wars, big business elitists are able to cash in on the damage while religious fundamentalists never get caught, much less held accountable. The idiots who show their hate of this book are from terrorist nations that have a knack of socializing poverty ...             Chasing Ghosts: Failures and Facades in Iraq: A Soldier's Perspective141 reviews Paul Rieckhoff NAL Trade, 2007 An important read. + Just the truth + Short and Simple + Thought-Provoking and Intelligent + An Emotional and Patriotic Look at the Truth             Democracy in America (Penguin Classics)14 reviews Alexis de Tocqueville Penguin Classics, 2003 an extremely interesting, and well writen book about America + Wow, what a buy. + Democracy in America Book + Superb analysis of democracy in America and elsewhere             Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2003 to 2005315 reviews Thomas E. Ricks Penguin (Non-Classics), 2007 Best Documentation of Iraq War to date + Fantastic + Pleasantly Surprised + The story of an incredible American folly + INCOMPETENCY IN CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP.....WORST IN HISTORY             The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book) Teacher's Edition: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy ...627 reviews Jon Stewart, The Writers of The Daily Show Grand Central Publishing, 2006 I couldn't stop laughing + Good stuff from Jon Stewart and The Daily Show! + Reminds me of why I used to like the Daily Show + You will not regret it.             The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America's Power and Purpose15 reviews Tony Zinni, Tony Koltz Palgrave Macmillan, 2007 Knowledgeable approach + The Battle for Peace + Excellent overview of US interagency disfunction + Insightful blueprint for desperately needed changes             Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam18 reviews Jason Burke I. B. Tauris, 2004 Dont Judge it by its Cover + Fantastic book! + Excellent insight into global jihad philosophy + Know Your Enemy             Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent ...204 reviews George Crile Grove Press, 2004 The Best Non-Fiction I've Ever Read + Rollicking good story, but... + The enemies of our enemies are not our friends... + Absolutely Recommended Reading + This Book Kept My Interests             Rogue State, 3rd Edition: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower80 reviews William Blum Common Courage Press, 2005 Brilliant survey of US foreign policy + Tip Of An Iceberg + Essential for anyone's political library + It takes courage to open your mind to this message + When Democracy Kills             The Paradox of American Power: Why the World's Only Superpower Can't Go It Alone41 reviews Joseph S. Nye Oxford University Press, USA, 2003 The paradox is a problem; Nye has some answers + Simple Read with some Good Points + sage advice from a great theorist Although 40 people have reviewed Nye's book thus far, no one has directly quoted Nye's clearest expression on what the PARADOX of American power is. What is the paradox about America's power? The thesis is at the end of the 1st chapter. "The paradox of America power at the end of this millennium ...             Beyond Chutzpah: On the Misuse of Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History73 reviews Norman G. Finkelstein University of California Press, 2005 An essay about the truth + Ain't that the truth? + meticulously documented + Jewish soul-searching and anti-Semitism.             A Season in Mecca: Narrative of a Pilgrimage4 reviews Abdellah Hammoudi Hill and Wang, 2006 A Unique View of the Pilgrimage + A Muslim writer questions his religion's fundamentals In 1853, Sir Richard Francis Burton went on the pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca, and his wonderful account of his successful impersonation as a Muslim pilgrim is still an exciting book. There have been other non-Muslims and Muslims who have written about the travel, which is one of the five pillars of ...             The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (Vintage)287 reviews Lawrence Wright Vintage, 2007 This book will get under your skin + A plot cooked up by cavemen with computers + Good intro to the topic + An Excellent Primer on Al-Qaeda's Birth and Growth + The Looming Tower             Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq96 reviews Michael R. Gordon, Bernard E. Trainor Vintage, 2007 Cobra 2 + A Book Well Worth It's Weight... + An excellent in depth analysis of the war in Iraq + Too bad Petraeus wasn't in charge 5 years ago...             In the Belly of the Green Bird: The Triumph of the Martyrs in Iraq13 reviews Nir Rosen Free Press, 2006 Need info on Iraq? Ask Rosen. + Further reading Nir Rosen is lucky to be alive. Travelling through Iraq during a very dangerous time, Rosen risked his life every day. He also got some great firsthand information. Rosen's book really shows what disarray the country of Iraq is in. It also shows how much most Iraqis dislike Americans. And it is ...             Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA135 reviews Tim Weiner Doubleday, 2007 Excellent discussion of the CIA + An amazing history of the CIA. + A Wealth of information This is a fairly comprehensive study of the CIA and its history. The author has added very extensive endnotes. It evenly covers the sixty year history of the agency and the various manifestations. The most interesting past is the beginning sections, where the author relies on recent declassified ...