false 6 12 8 true 5986395 read 3 true 1061875 currently-reading 1 true 1061874 to-read 4 false 3672036 politics 4 false 3671972 history 2 false 3672080 society 2 false 3672055 fiction 2 false 3672087 america 1 false 3672077 marketing 1 false 3672034 religion 1 false 3672139 labor-movement 1 false 3672076 corporatism 1 false 3672201 war http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42891652 Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You With the Bill) by David Cay Johnston
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42891158 to: Perfectly Legal: The Covert Campaign to Rig Our Tax System to Benefit the Super Rich--and CheatEverybody Else (Paperback) by David Cay Johnston
bookshelves: currently-reading
Infuriating look at tax policy (I now that sounds dull to most people) but its really easy to understand. And you will not believe how the tax system is structured. How is so incredibly skewed to server the rich.

Just to give an example from the book to peak interest, we all MUST pay social security taxes (which is something like 5-7% somewhere in there I believe). Its all the same, pulled automatically at pay period. Well, that is only up to 100,000 (approx.) So for example Bill Gates who earns millions each year pays the same in SS as someone earnign 100,000. Since he pays at up to that amount, everything above is SS tax free. So while someone earnign 10,000 pays SS when they can barely afford it. Some who is earnign a million, and can clearly afford it (and quite frankly should pay more to support an ailing social system in this country) doesn't pay on on 900,000 dollars a penny to SS.

That's out tax system! That's only one example amongst hundreds outlined and described in the book. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42890958 to: Outliers (Hardcover) by Malcolm Gladwell
bookshelves: currently-reading
Like anything written by Mr Gladwell. Very, very interesting and easy to read. He has a great style in writitng in an entertaining fashion about complex issues by using great stories as examples.

The thesises are questionable just because the number of samples to back each theory are small. He isn't a scientist after all. But very, very plausible that the theories are correct.

Great (and quite frankly quick) read! Since book is so short might be a better value as paperback. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42890815 to: Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity (Hardcover) by Michael Lewis
This is bunch of articles over the last 15 years outlining the various financial crises. Abotu 75% fo the articles are good. There are some misses in there. And some too technical. But if you want a quick overview of the dot com bust or the current subprime mess this is a good book. Although I think all articles can be found probably on original publisher web sites. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36585163 to: Blindness (Paperback) by José Saramago
bookshelves: fiction
Conceptually, I like the idea of the book. What would it be like if people started going blind. In what ways would civility and society fall apart.

The problem is in the execution. I don't think its well written. Sentences, thoughts tend to drag..... Could be the translation from Portugese to English that is the issue. But I think the author is too wordy. Long sentences. Etc.

Not as fun of a read as I thought it'd be. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36583061 to: Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism (Paperback) by Michelle Goldberg
bookshelves: politics, religion
Well written, easy to read. Subject matter, no matter how infuriating, is easy to digest by the author's ability not to make it too depressing. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36585720 to: War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning (Paperback) by Chris Hedges
bookshelves: history, politics, war
Extremely depressing stories of war and human nature and capacity to cause harm and kill other humans. It was a hard book to read in that sense. But necessary to understand the capacity for cruelty in our species, and to guard at all cost against war. As there are no winners only losers. You read some of the stories in here from Sariavo, Somalia, Congo, etc. and you will understand.
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36584554 to: A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present (P.S.) by Howard Zinn
bookshelves: america, history, labor-movement, politics, society
Bar none, the best history book ever written. If you have an ounce of compassion for the people who built this country, this is the history of America to read. Yo will not hear these stories on TV, or in your high school or college History class. But these are the stories of the people of America (forgotten in time) who are the heart of the country.

Not only is it in my opinion the best history book, it is my favorite book of all time.

I highly recommend everyone read this! .... Especially politically right leaning individuals and libertarians who need a lesson in what people of leaser means and wealth have had to content with in our Country's history. This might lead to some development of the sense of compassion. And a respect for the other humans in this world, to counter then sense of American individualism and American exceptionalism.

]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36583529 to: No Logo: No Space, No Choice, No Jobs (Paperback) by Naomi Klein
bookshelves: america, corporatism, marketing, politics, society
This is one of those perfect books, along with "Zinn's People's History". Basically its a evaluation of corporations shift from manufacturing to marketing. From creating products to creating a brand. It addresses the social impact these decisions have had on American labor movement, manufacturing base. It also evaluates of how we see ourselves through the products we buy. It is extremely easy to read, well written, and good stories. I read alot of political books, but Naomi find so many stories I have never heard about. And writes about topics like marketing and advertising in a very entertaining way. And for once there are stories of victories for the good guy (yes the workers win a few once in a while!). There are extremely depressing stories as well, nothing that affects the labor force across the world is usually good. But Naomi strikes a balance.

You want to learn about who runs this world, and how power works, this is the book. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36583303 to: The Road (Hardcover) by Cormac McCarthy
bookshelves: fiction
This actually was a decent book, if you are into the end of the world, apocolyspe type stories. Which I am...... There is no happy side to this story. ]]>