|
|
||
 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||
|
Brief Book Reviews - 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Index to Brief Book Reviews:
|
|
|
Daydream Believers: How a Few Grand Ideas Wrecked American Power by Fred Kaplan Wiley - January 2008 Reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty If someone had asked me fifteen -- or even eight -- years ago as to what position the United States would occupy today within the game of international politics, I would not have predicted what indeed has happened. I thought that the end of the so-called "Cold War" might, just might, bring about a world situation where rationality would finally triumph and the world's nations could get on with the business of bringing both sociopolitical stability and economic prosperity to the entire planet. Stupid me! Live and learn, I guess. Fred Kaplan, in his book Daydream Believers, now brings to the table his analysis of why America's "grand scheme" of global change has and is failing, and why we are in the international mess we are undoubtedly in. I have read maybe six or seven books in the past few years dealing with essentially the same topic and Kaplan's book is probably as astute and convincing as any of them, although I think one or two provided a more in-depth and detailed look at the current situation. Nevertheless, Kaplan's analysis is worth reading. The only real criticism I might have is that Kaplan puts his primary emphasis on the Bush administration and its errors, while I would argue that the prior Clinton era of foreign policy was also a disaster, not to mention the malfeasance of the first Bush administration in regard to foreign affairs. In other words, no president since 1990 has, in my judgment, performed very well in the arena of international affairs. But I could, of course, go further back than that. For instance, Woodrow Wilson's policy of "making the world safe for democracy" was steeped in self-deception and grandiosity. America's current adventure (or, to be truthful, "misadventure") in Iraq is what has spawned the spate of books about Bush's failings. And that includes Kaplan's work. What is important here is to try to understand how the United States got so far off track when it comes to dealing with matters of foreign policy. I suspect, and Kaplan seems to suggest this as well, that it is our unrealistic and illusionary "vision" of states of affairs and how to confront them that results in policies that do not, indeed cannot, work when dealing with nations around the world whose cultural, religious, social, and political diversity is so imposing. A brief diversion: When I was working toward my degree in political science way back in the 1950s, the anti-colonial movement in the Eastern hemisphere, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, was in its heyday. I argued, in a class in international relations I was taking at the time, that if the colonial regimes were forced to leave their colonies prematurely, the colonized nations would devolve into tribal warfare and the people would suffer for many years. Most of my classmates disagreed with me and accused me of being "antidemocratic" and opposed to "self-determination." So, what happened? The Europeans left their former colonies and -- surprise! -- we are still witnessing tribal warfare -- and genocide -- in many of those former colonies fifty years later. My point is this, and also why I think books like Kaplan's Daydream Believers are really important: If genuine social and political change is to come about in this very messy world of ours, it is vital that the "optics" we use to view the world actually reflect the situation as it truly is; the "ideals" we propose must somehow match the "possibilities" achievable; the "terms" we use for discussion and analysis must have meaning in the real world and not in our own constructions of reality; and the "consequences" of any actions must be carefully analyzed and acknowledged, paying particular attention to any "unintended" consequences which may result. As Kaplan correctly points out, America's power is in decline and our foreign policy is adrift. We are now, in my opinion at least, caught in an international "Catch-22" where it seems there is no dignified or acceptable way out of the labyrinth we, ourselves, have created. Before beginning his excursions into "regime change" and reshaping the world in his own image, George Bush should have been advised to read Herodotus and Thucydides (and maybe a little of Edward Gibbon). Moreover, before unnecessarily invading Iraq and bringing chaos to that country, Donald Rumsfeld should have read Sun Tzu and Karl von Clausewitz. At least the last mentioned author would have informed the secretary of defense about how to conduct a war and win it. Whether one agrees or not with everything Kaplan says, Daydream Believers is worth reading if for no other reason than it will force the reader to confront some issues that are vital to the future of the United States. I do have to agree with Kaplan's assessment that the Bush administration was full of people who thought they were visionaries but they only had visions, and they unfortunately believed in their daydreams. Hard reality always has the last say in this life; daydreams are nice to have and enjoy, but they are not a substitute for the way things really are. |
|
|
Body Signs: From Warning Signs to False Alarms...How to Be Your Own Diagnostic Detective by Joan Liebmann-Smith and Jacqueline Egan Bantam - December 2007 Reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty Body Signs is one of those books which really belongs in everyone's home library. Most people have become extremely health-conscious these days, even though many do not seem to act upon the medical advice which is -- relentlessly, it seems -- thrust on us by the media and our own healthcare providers. I receive at least three e-mail health reports every day and I'm sure others do as well. Unfortunately some of the information provided is inconsistent, counterintuitive, and even contradictory, but medical research is being conducted at such a rapid pace today that this is probably to be expected. But we all want to be physically and mentally well and so it behooves us to pay attention to the latest findings and, at least, give them some consideration in our lives. Recommendations for maintaining one's health is one thing; but what do we do when we notice that something seems not quite "right" or "normal" with our own health right now? I don't know anyone, young or old, who hasn't complained at some time about some unusual ache, sudden mysterious pain, or perceptible bodily change, and is unable to exactly identify the cause, whether or it classifies as serious or minor, temporary or chronic, or should be ignored or warrants a trip to the physician. Speaking for myself, I certainly do not want to run to my physician every time I suspect something is awry. (I should mention that I don't like such visits in the first place and definitely do not like hospitals, although I've been forced to stay in one twice in the past six years -- emergencies only, suffice to say.) So, what to do if we need some advice about our immediate medical concerns? Well, we might turn to this book, Body Signs, just to see if something might be serious and if it just a normal change due to age, diet, minor illness, or such. The book is premised on the idea that most of the signs of diseases and disorders can be detected by our senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. One could consider the book to be a diagnostic detective manual. Therefore, it should be understood that this is not a comprehensive "medical" reference book. It is more like a first-step checklist to determine if more information is needed about whatever condition one is experiencing. As the book points out, there are many perfectly normal and harmless physical "quirks" that we have from time to time; on the other hand, there are physical signs we can note that may indicate a serious health condition, necessitating an appointment with a health care professional or a trip to the emergency room. Body Signs covers our body from tip to toe (so to speak), from our hair, to our eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, from our necks to our private parts to our feet, and lots of other areas in between. I can't think of any part of one's body that is not discussed somewhere in the text. And, to add to the value of the material itself, the authors have spread throughout the book many little boxes (rather like sidebars) with headings such as "Sign of the Times" (interesting barely-related factoids), "Significant Fact" (interesting definitely-related factoids), and "Warning Sign" (self explanatory, I would think). The book also includes three appendices: one containing a body signs review, one suggesting relevant websites and books, and one which is a "checkup checklist." Highly recommended for everyone!
|
|
|
A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation by David W. Blight Harcourt - November 2007 Reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty History buffs in general will find A Slave No More a highly valuable read. For students of American history, and particularly for those who are interested in the Civil War and Reconstruction period, this book is must reading. There are not many first-person accounts by former slaves available to us. This volume contains two such narratives, hitherto unpublished: one is by Wallace Turnage and the other is by John Washington, both former slaves who found their way to freedom during the Civil War. David Blight presents them here in their original form "with virtually no changes to the grammar and spelling," although he has done some minor editing in their structure (primarily providing paragraph breaks) to assist in reading. The reader is not, however, immediately thrust into the narratives themselves. Blight spends the first 162 pages introducing us to the two writers, using genealogical data, and to the context in which the narratives were written. Turnage's and Washington's escape to freedom occurred during the chaos of this nation's most bloody war (over 600,000 casualties) and amidst a political and cultural conflict (state's rights and slavery) which had been ripping the country apart for many decades. It is, I think, essential to understand the plight of the Black slave on a personal level, to understand what it means to be someone else's "property," completely and totally subject to someone else's will, to recognize and accept that slaves were not thought to be fully "human." Blight does an outstanding job of providing the necessary background for the narratives. I recommend this book to all readers who love the study of history. It is a valuable contribution to the genre.
|
|
|
Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56 by Rafe Esquith Viking Adult - January 2007 Reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty This book by National Medal of the Arts winner Rafe Esquith will probably be a bitter pill for many school teachers to swallow. Frankly, when I finished the book, I was wondering if he does anything else in his life except being involved in creative activities with his students or preparing for them. Does the guy ever stop to take a breather? Does he ever spend any leisure time with adult friends? Does he take a bathroom break now and then? His account of his teaching practices often appears to be the educational enterprise on steroids! But I will say I was impressed with his dedication and his abilities and might suggest that with more teachers like him, we might not have the "problems" we do in our current public school system. I spent seventeen years in the public school system as a teacher and administrator. So I know something about how the system works. I am also aware that many of my views regarding the public schools were then and still are controversial and today most likely "politically incorrect." While I find nothing wrong with Esquith's general teaching methods, curricular ideas, or classroom management techniques, there is one thing -- and only this one thing -- of which I would be critical. Never would I have permitted a student to call me by my first name or, for that matter, allowed the teachers or other school workers I supervised to engage in such a practice. Call me old-fashioned or just not "with it," but I think that sort of familiarity is just not conducive to good classroom management. However, when Esquith gets into the issue of testing, there I am with him completely if I understand his opinions. Mass standardized testing for the purpose of comparing schools or measuring one school district against others or whatever, is, in my considered opinion, very destructive and mostly deceptive. Testing or measuring or what is often generally called "educational evaluation" is important to be sure. The problem involves the purpose or purposes for which such evaluation is done. In a school where I was the administrator for seven years, we tested the kids twice a year -- at the beginning of the year and in the final week of the school year -- using a standardized test called the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. At the time I thought this was the best instrument to test those basic skills every child ought to learn in order to actually learn, either in school or on his or her own. We did not, however, use the results of the testing to determine how we compared with other schools or districts, either locally or nationwide. The results were never openly published. The results were used for only two purposes: (1) individual pupil diagnoses to determine what that individual was already proficient at and what weaknesses needed to be addressed during the school year; and (2) a diagnosis of our current curriculum and teaching methodologies to see where and what we as educators needed to improve. The entire professional was involved in evaluating the progress of our school and suggesting improvements. Even though our school was located in an isolated rural area and over 90% of our school's pupils were officially designated as "culturally and economically disadvantaged," there was not a single child reading or doing arithmetic below grade-level at the end of seven years when I left for another position in the system. There is much that teachers might learn from Esquith's book. Certainly the success of his Hobart Shakespeareans cannot be ignored or dismissed. They are, after all, world famous. Esquith deserves the credit he is due for that. Virtually all of his teaching techniques are right on the money. As well as his general management style and the way in which he relates with his students. His emphasis on art and music education needs to be pondered by school boards everywhere. (I have never understood why art and music are the first things usually cut out by school boards when money is tight. These are the most humane of studies and yet athletics is considered more important. Oh, well...) I recommend this book to all readers, but especially to teachers and school administrators. It will open your eyes while you watch a "master teacher" at work in that most critical of enterprises, the preparation of the next generation of human beings for a life well lived. |
|
Main Page & Index
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
[Homepage] [Newsletter] [Search] [Support the Academy] [Link to Us] [Contact the Academy] [Citing Articles from Our Website] [Privacy Policy & Disclaimer]
Copyright 1998-99, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2006-07, & 2008 by The Radical Academy. All Rights Reserved.