"The Prince is as relevant today as ever"
I am going to buy a hard copy of the book. Often when I read a book that I want to refer to in the future I turn around and buy a hard copy. However, this was so interesting and insightful that I may even listen to the book again. This is a classic because it is genius. It clearly and concisely lays out the political strategy used by President Obama to gain power, and I suspect others have used parts as well. Obviously, you can not murder your opponents, but you can do everything possible to destroy (legally) those who oppose you. That is clearly the strategy used by everyone in power these days. Except in Iran, Syria, Egypt, or Libya where they actually do kill their opponents. Watch Putin as he deals with his political opponents, he jails them or runs them out of the country, or has them killed. Nothing has changed much, only the names and dates. This is as good an analysis of political (or bureaucratic) behavior as one can find.
Really, for me the Prince was unique. I like old books that shed light on our modern lives. I include "Democracy in America" by D' Tocqueville and the "Protestant Ethic" by Max Weber in that category. I also include "Confessions" by St. Augustine and Plato's descriptions of Socrates's works.
Machiavelli's description of his analysis of ancient kingdoms and principalities and how they were brought low by 1). other Nobles/elites; 2). the common people; 3). foreigners; or 4). Their own army. This of course is exactly the same from ancient times through today.
No, I listened to it over a period of days.
I did not listen to the Prince until i was 59 years old. I should have listened to it when i was 29! This is good instruction for anyone analyzing any organization and its leadership and power struggles. Understanding these basic principles will help one make sense of the world in which we live.
"Some authors still have integrity and courage!"
Sowell is such a intellect. He takes an issue, breaks it down into its key parts, and then analyses the whole to understand what is the cause and effect of the processes he is examining. Sowell follows the evidence, and the facts, where ever they lead. He is courageous and is not afraid of being attacked by the PC brigades.
The "Protestant Ethic" by Max Weber is looking at society and culture and trying to describe why American culture is the way it is. Sowell also is looking at the world, and trying to understand why we find what we find the culture.
Yes, this could be a one sitting book.
"Powerful description of Hitler's Evil Mufti"
Powerful. Who knew that Hitler made a pact with the Muslim Brotherhood to exterminate the Jews in the middle east to get the support of the Islamic leaders in the region? I certainly did not know this piece of history. Hitler's plans were not fulfilled because the Allies pushed his forces out of North Africa. However, he did use his Mufti to recruit Muslim SS units in the Balkans to track down and exterminate Jews in the region.
God's Battalions is similar, since it provides some of the history behind the current conflict in the mid-East.
This was a good listen.
yes, it was fascinating.
"Excellent description of the political battlefield"
I really had never heard anything like this before. This man analyzed the parts of the political debate and how the left has succeeded in mastering the process. The right has simply showed up to the game and thought since they obviously had the best ideas they would win. The author shows that having the right ideas is not enough since most of the people who vote can not articulate a rational reason for their choice. Something else motivates them to vote, and the author shows us some of the tactics that need to be used.
You could listen to this book in a sitting, I listened to it on the road in my truck.
"People make things work!"
It was fascinating how Rove described the election process. He really gave us an insight into the process that gets people elected in this country in the modern era.
Everyone called Rove the evil genius that got Bush the bumpkin elected, but Rove shows how he supported the President, and how Bush was always the leader. Rove was a key player, but he humbly shows how he was a part of the team, not the leader who lead the team to success. Leadership was Bush, Rove was an important staff aid to Bush.
Great book, and we should all thank Rove for his candid description of his duties, responsibilities, successes and failures.
No, not possible.
Listen to this book, Cheney's, Bush's,and Rumsfeld's books and you will totally understand the Bush administration.
"Fascinating, arrogant, educational!"
This is how big decisions are made.
Decision Points by George Bush.
I loved Rumsfeld's description of his time as the Chief of staff in the White House. This is an unobserved position by the public, but it is the most important position in the US Government.
Not possible.
Listen to the book and understand our decisions to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Understand how government actually works. Listen to this book and Cheney's and you will have a clear understanding of the bureaucratic decision making process in the White House.
"Everyone experiences pain; understand why."
A genius at work. Listen to this work, but keep a tissue close.
The loss of a beloved and the struggle of a Christian to understand "why life is so hard".
Pain's purpose.
"This Book will change your life!"
This is not only the best audio book I have ever listened to, it is the best book I have ever read. This is the powerful work of an honest genius. We as a people have been blessed buy the integrity and talent of this man. I wish I could have spent an hour talking to him, but the next best thing is reading this book, or listening to it. After listening to the book I bought a copy, and gave my kids a copy.
How C.S. Lewis reasoned his way to the knowledge that Christ was really who he said he was. How CS came to the faith in Christ at an advanced age rather than as a Child.
This is a good telling of the book.
This book made me take 9 graduate courses in apologetics and read or listen to 150 books and papers on the topic and listen to hundreds of hours of lectures and debates. This is an amazing work.
Christians or non Christians, read/listen to the book, you will be enriched.
"Truman like you never knew him!"
Truman was a real person, ambitious, simple, tough, and a product of his time. When he left the Presidency, he and his wife got in their car and drove home to Missouri. No speaking tours for millions of dollars for the man that Nuked Japan and ended the war.
Truman. Tough, intelligent, serious, a man of integrity, but not a perfect man, he did what he had to do to serve the Nation.
I wish God would stop time so David McCullough could write more history.
Clearly, Truman's decision to end the war with Japan by bombing two of her cities with atomic bombs. Tough decision that not many people could make.
"the work of a genius!"
What more can be said about C.S. Lewis,and particularly the Screw Tape Letters. This is smart, interesting, compelling, and useful to every individual.
It is important, and humorous at the same time. Genius.
Great reading of the book.
Look out! The Devil is everywhere.
Do not miss this book.
"you do not know what you think you know!"
This is not politically correct!
Baldwin, and others like him sold everything of their of their worldly possessions and took their families, recruited an army and marched from France to the Holy Lands to defend the Christians who were being slaughtered by the Saracens as they tried to visit the Holy Lands. These people decided to commit their lives to defending these people and these sites for Christianity. It was a calling and they heard the call. They never intended to survive this Crusade and return to France, they were going to establish a defensive position in the Holy Lands or die trying. This was not a quest for riches, this was a quest to defend the oppressed Christians of the land.
Really, this was a compelling telling of the story.
One group of crusaders did not have enough money to arm themselves and fund their trip to the Holy lands, so they decided to attack the Jewish communities along the way since they decided that the Jews were evil anyway. The Jews were actually defended by Catholic priests in Cathedrals. This is contrary to the typical version of the story known today.
The next time you year someone defending the horrible acts by Islamic barbarians toward Christians or the West as a reaction to the Crusades some 9 centuries ago, listen to this book. It will set the story straight.