John

Ms. Applebaum has written an excellent book, again. The research is thorough, the story engrossing, and the style reads well. The political history background comes to life through extensive use of memoirs to add human experiences.

Obviously, this book will be most interesting to people who are intrigued by this region: Poland, East Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, and to a lesser degree Bulgaria and Romania.

The author dreams that people will read her book and understand that Western apologists were wrong to paint rosy pictures of the Eastern socialist countries. However, the sad reality is most people disregard facts and stubbornly cling to bad ideas.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"

"The Tehran Initiative" lives up to the high quality standards set by Joel C. Rosenberg in his earlier novels. The characters, action, and plot kept me gripped throughout.

The viewpoint that people are correct to defend themselves against aggressors is very important to promote today, particularly since most Americans have shifted to a pro-appeasement outlook. The novel is therefore controversial as it goes against mainstream opinion.

The only weakness I see in Rosenberg's work is his effort to make this into a religious question. In fact, this is a matter of pure scientific rationality. If you don't defend yourself, you will die.

The quality of the narration was excellent. There was a bit of dramatization, but not too much.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"

Neal Stephenson is at his best in techno-thriller Reamde.

A particular reason why I like Stephenson's humorous characterizations is because the villains are depicted as idiots.

This is correct because a person must be an idiot in order to be a villain.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"

The theme of this book seems to be that everyone has a possibility to find a happy relationship. I guess this is a myth that makes some people feel good. However, it isn't reality because everyone has faults and therefore must make compromises. The suggestion that it is normal for people to pay therapists for 3 or 4 years makes me wonder if the objective of the authors is to gain customers for the therapist industry.

Far in the future, most humans continue to shun rationality and science and devote themselves to dogmatic religion. However, there is always hope. Science gets rediscovered no matter how hard the zealots try to stamp it out. Well written, brilliantly insightful, and funny at times.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"

This is the perfect novel for people fed up with sleaze in Washington. Enjoyable and meaningful.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"

The story is interesting throughout and the narrator is perfect for the part.

I like the themes in the struggle between Hamner, Randall, and Jellison on one side (Stronghold) and Armitage (New Brotherhood Army) on the other side.

The Stronghold group adheres to rationality and science and wants to preserve civilization. The New Brotherhood Army adheres to mysticism and fights civilization. Good stuff for fans of Ayn Rand.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"

Yaron Brook has done great work explaining Ayn Rand's philosophy in clear and concise language in "Free Market Revolution." Included is discussion on the "3 pillars of Capitalism": private property, individual liberty, voluntary association.

Mr. Brook has also listed examples of modern-day situations where the US government is doing the wrong thing and the economy is suffering as a result. The Democrats and Republicans are both at fault.

I enjoyed the style and content of the book. My only criticism (and this goes for Rand's books as well) is that Objectivists are dreaming if they think typical voters with low levels of intelligence will read a book like this and change how they vote.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"

"Wolves eat Dogs" is a well written and well narrated tale with important themes.

As usual, Arkady Renko is trying to discover and expose the truth while others with typical Soviet mentalities try to cover up the truth. Hurray for Arkady!

The history of the Chernobyl disaster is skilfully woven into the plot.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"

excellent book with many details about the idiotic sado-masochistic activities of the KGB in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s in Russia, Italy, France, USA, and elsewhere; well narrated

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society

Author Madhusree Mukarjee deserves credit for bringing attention to a part of WWII that Westerners have conveniently forgotten - over a million Indians died of starvation caused at least party by British demands for India to provide supplies during WWII.

However, the author goes too far in implying repeatedly that Indians would be rich people if the British would disappear. The reality is that most Indians have no ability to earn money and anyway they have lots of babies and cannot support those babies.

The narration was very good.

John Christmas, author of "Democracy Society"