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Hell On Earth: Brutality and Violence Under The Stalinist Regime

by Ludwik Kowalski

The author's father, a civil engineer, left Poland for the Soviet Union in 1931. An idealistic communist, he believed it was his duty to emigrate, and to contribute to the building of a new society. His wife and his infant son followed soon after. In 1938 he was arrested and sent to a GULAG camp in Kolyma, where he became a slave in Stalin's state of proletarian dictatorship. Two years later he died, most likely from exhaustion, working in a gold mine.

In this book The author, who is a retired physics professor (Professor Emeritus at Montclair State University, New Jersey), shares what he knows and thinks about Stalinism. Educated in the Soviet Union (elementary school), in Poland (high school and master's degree) and in France (Ph.D. in nuclear physics), he came to the United States in 1964. He deliberately avoided talking about Stalinism and concentrated on professional activities--teaching and research.

Approaching retirement, however, he wrote an essay on Stalinism entitled "Alaska Notes." It describes the gruesome Soviet reality, focusing on Kolyma, and on Stalin's inner circle. The essay contained comments on what has been published by some survivors of Stalinism, and by authors of several scholarly books, such as Leszek Kolakowski. "Alaska Notes" was posted on the Internet discussion list at Montclair State University.

This public forum revealed a wide range of opinions about communism. The animated discussion, mostly among professors, convinced the author to transform the essay into this book. It is dedicated to all victims of Stalinism, and in particular to the author's father, a naive idealist deceived by propaganda. Royalties will be donated to a Montclair State University scholarship fund.

Read Dr. Dolhenty's Review of this Book

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Crossing Hitler: The Man Who Put the Nazis on the Witness Stand

by Benjamin Carter Hett

During a 1931 trial of four Nazi stormtroopers, known as the Eden Dance Palace trial, Hans Litten grilled Hitler in a brilliant and merciless three-hour cross-examination, forcing him into multiple contradictions and evasions and finally reducing him to helpless and humiliating rage (the transcription of Hitler's full testimony is included.) At the time, Hitler was still trying to prove his embrace of legal methods, and distancing himself from his stormtroopers. The courageous Litten revealed his true intentions, and in the process, posed a real threat to Nazi ambition.

When the Nazis seized power two years after the trial, friends and family urged Litten to flee the country. He stayed and was sent to the concentration camps, where he worked on translations of medieval German poetry, shared the money and food he was sent by his wealthy family, and taught working-class inmates about art and literature. When Jewish prisoners at Dachau were locked in their barracks for weeks at a time, Litten kept them sane by reciting great works from memory. After five years of torture and hard labor-and a daring escape that failed-Litten gave up hope of survival. His story was ultimately tragic but, as Benjamin Hett writes in this gripping narrative, it is also redemptive. "It is a story of human nobility in the face of barbarism."

The first full-length biography of Litten, the book also explores the turbulent years of the Weimar Republic and the terror of Nazi rule in Germany after 1933.

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The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets: How to Keep Your Portfolio Up When the Market Is Down

by Peter D Schiff

In the wake of declining stock prices, the bursting of the real estate bubble, and a weakening dollar, the American economy is poised for a prolonged contraction and U.S. stocks will suffer a protracted bear market, so says seasoned Wall Street prognosticator Peter Schiff. Having accurately predicted the current market turmoil in his recent bestseller Crash Proof: How to Profit from the Coming Economic Collapse, the CNBC-dubbed Doctor Doom has helped savvy investors protect their portfolios in some very turbulent markets--and now, he'll show you how to do the same.

Written in a straightforward and accessible style, The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets reveals how you should protect your assets and invest your money when the American economy is experiencing perilous economic downturns and wealth building is happening elsewhere. Filled with insightful commentary, inventive metaphors, and prescriptive advice, this book shows you how to make money under adverse market conditions by using a conservative, nontraditional investment strategy.

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Failures of the Presidents: From the Whiskey Rebellion and War of 1812 to the Bay of Pigs and War in Iraq

by Thomas J. Craughwell and M. William Phelps

Stories of the disastrous blunders of American presidents will show readers the inner workings of the White House and how some of our greatest leaders could make decisions that were terribly wrong. The fascinating stories are recounted as narratives and are as entertaining as they are shocking.

The 23 stories, each about 10 pages in length, retell the histories behind bad presidential decisions. They are told in a real time narrative style, bringing readers inside the White House, introducing them to the main characters, exposing why these decisions were made, and describing the ill-fated aftermaths.

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The Coming China Wars: Where They Will Be Fought and How They Can Be Won

by Peter Navarro

In this comprehensive, contemporary look at the awakening giant that is China, Peter Navarro describes an emerging power beleaguered by both internal and external threats-if the Japanese don't get them, AIDS and SARS will. This will reassure those readers who are increasingly convinced that the Chinese will eat us for lunch. However, as Navarro points out, China's human and natural resources make her a formidable global player-and her native, amoral ruthlessness suggests she will win. Still, as a nation undergoing its Industrial Revolution in the Information Age, China has her problems transitioning from Communism to capitalist imperialism, as seems to be her goal.

Read an Article by the Author of this Book in the Politics Resource Center

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A Declaration of Energy Independence: How Freedom from Foreign Oil Can Improve National Security, Our Economy, and the Environment

by Jay Hakes

If you've wondered about how America can break links between oil consumption, terrorism, and the war in Iraq, A Declaration of Energy Independence: How Freedom from Foreign Oil Can Improve National Security, Our Economy, and the Environment will show you how our country can gain energy independence and solve its energy crisis. Written by a top energy expert, this book outlines seven economically and politically viable ways America can more efficiently use and produce energy. Find out how carbon fuels negatively impact our lives and understand the political framework of the energy crisis.

Jay Hakes was head of the Energy Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy from 1993 to 2000, where he oversaw the collection and dissemination of America's official energy data and analysis. He has given testimony before congressional committees on more than twenty-five occasions and is currently head of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta.

Read an Article by the Author of this Book in the Politics Resource Center

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The Complete TurtleTrader: The Legend, the Lessons, the Results

by Michael W. Covel

Richard Dennis, "the Prince of the Pits," a man who'd already made a fortune on the Street, was convinced that great trading wasn't a gift from God, but something that could be taught to anyone. So one day he made a bet with his partner, and ran a classified ad in the Wall Street Journal looking for trainees. And he didn't just hire finance professionals: his trainees -- who became known as the "Turtles" -- included an actor, a security guard, two professional blackjack players, a pianist, a fantasy game designer, and others. After two weeks of training, he set them loose, with a $1 million bankroll each to invest as they chose, and the right to keep a share of their trading gains for themselves, as long they adhered to the Turtle system. By the time the program ended, Dennis and his partner had made over $120 million -- from trades made by complete novices. Many of these Turtles then went on to trade for themselves, and some are among the top investors operating today.

As fascinating as Dannis and the Turtles' story is, Covel doesn't stop there. He lays out, in detail, the exact system the Turtles used to reap their millions. And because the Turtle system is a form of so-called technical investing, meaning the Turtles weren't concerned about the fundamentals of the investments they made, it is an investing strategy where a Wall Street operator, plugged into the second&endash;by&endash;second madness of finance, has NO advantage over an ordinary investor. And Covel takes us step&endash;by&endash;step through all the details needed to apply this at home.

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Where Does the Money Go?: Your Guided Tour to the Federal Budget Crisis

by Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson

From the editors of the award-winning nonpartisan Web site Public Agenda Online comes this irreverent and candid guide to the federal budget crisis that breaks down into plain English exactly what the fat cats in Washington are arguing about Federal debt will affect your savings, your retirement, your mortgage, your health care, and your children. How well do you understand the government decisions that will end up coming out of your pocket?

Here is essential information that every American citizen needs -- and has the right -- to know. This guide to deciphering the jargon of the country's budget problem covers everything from the country's $9 trillion and growing debt to the fact that, for thirty-one out of the last thirty-five years, the country has spent more on government programs and services than it has collected in taxes. It also explores why elected leaders on every side of the fence have so far failed to effectively address this issue and explains what you can do to protect your future.

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Read an Essay by the Authors of this Book

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The Politics & Economics Bookshelf


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