Download Popular Titles Audiobooks in History, American

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Title: Fortress America

Subtitle: On the Front Lines of Homeland Security - An Inside Look at the Coming Surveillance State

Author: Matt Brzezinski

Narrator: Allen O'Reilly

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-17-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Heavily armed guards at the entrances to malls and restaurants. Citizens deemed suspicious taken away without formal charges or legal counsel. Would a safe America even look like America anymore?

One of the few journalists to penetrate the new counter terror initiative, Matthew Brzezinski offers an insiders look at the new technology, laws, tactics, and persistent vulnerabilities of the post-9/11 era. The result is this startling, sometimes controversial look at what it will take to achieve genuine homeland security and what it may be like to live inside Fortress America.

Is this what a safe America will look like?

In the aftermath of September 11th, a massive effort has been launched to protect us from another terrorist attack. But the costs of safeguarding our country will require not only unprecedented amounts of funding, but dramatic changes in the way Americans lead their everyday lives. Is this the new price of freedom?

Such high-tech measures are not the stuff of science fiction but in many cases are already being implemented. As Brzezinski discovers, similar measures have been in use for years in security states like Israel. But will Americans trade liberty for security? Will they have a choice? And can even the most radical measures insure that a 9/11 style attack wont happen again?

From an unheeded warning six years before the WTC disaster to dramatic war-game scenarios secretly conducted at Andrews Air Force Base and chilling on-site simulations of actual attacks, Fortress America paints a sobering picture of the future of freedom...and what life may be like in a maximum security state.

Members Reviews:

Facinating analysis

In depth portrait of the changes in America in the post 9/11 era. Brzezinski provides both a micro-level and macro-level perspective on the impact terrorism has made on American life.

Necessary Discourse

FORTRESS AMERICA is a well written, engrossing account of what we know so far and what COULD happen if forces go unchecked. We are, thankfully, a government of checks and balances and while most of the extreme scenarios in this book may not become a reality, it makes me even more vigilant that small measures (like the Patriot Act) do not snowball into larger issues. The fact remains that the future is even more uncertain than ever and I hope to never live in a country that would put my name on a list (or search my home or detain me or my family or even worse) for buying this book. I want to thank Mr. Brzezinski for exercising his First Amendment rights and would recommend this book to anyone who is concerned about the fate of personal liberties in this country.

I'm sorry to see that Amazon.com has become another political forum, of which maybe we have too many, instead of a book forum. It is hard to separate the two here, but previous reviewers seem to think that the two go hand in hand. Matthew Brzezinski's FORTRESS AMERICA is a necessary look at the COMING (see subtitle) surveillance state. It's not here yet and will hopefully never be here--but to guard against that, Americans have must voice their concerns and let their fears be known. We're not talking about the ragged old man announcing the end of the world with a placard on his back; we're talking about a serious journalist with serious concerns. I, for one, am glad to have read this, whether Mr.

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Title: Mightier than the Sword

Subtitle: Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Battle for America

Author: David S. Reynolds

Narrator: Daniel May

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-09-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

In this wide-ranging, brilliantly researched work, David S. Reynolds traces the factors that made Uncle Toms Cabin the most influential novel ever written by an American. Upon its 1852 publication, the novels vivid depiction of slavery polarized its American readership, ultimately widening the rift that led to the Civil War. Reynolds also charts the novels afterlife - including its adaptation into plays, films, and consumer goods - revealing its lasting impact on American entertainment, advertising, and race relations.

Critic Reviews:

"Fascinating... [A] lively and perceptive cultural history." (Annette Gordon-Reed, The New Yorker)

Members Reviews:

Great Overview of "Uncle Tom's" Impact and Legacy

I thought "Mightier Than the Sword" was an excellent overview of the impact and legacy of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." It offers interesting biographical background about Harriet Beecher Stowe and her motivations for writing the novel. It sets "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in the context of other anti-slavery literature and describes the immediate impact it had on the escalating debate over slavery. It shows what an incredible publishing phenomenon it was and how it became universally familiar to all Americans through hundreds of stage and music hall productions and, later, films. I found most interesting the author's discussion of how the story became trivialized and caricatured over the decades, including how the essentially noble Uncle Tom has morphed into a symbol of weakness and accommodation. There is a lot of interesting information about Stowe, her book, racial attitudes, the entertainment industry and much more in this book, all presented in a clear, well-organized way. It's a thoughtful read, packed with information. It's also inspired me to reread "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and to reassess it in the light of what I've learned from this study.

Breathtaking

The breadth and scope of this book on Uncle Tom's Cabin by David S. Reynolds is breathtaking. Reynolds does a great job of placing Harriet Beecher Stowe's book in historical and cultural context. I was very taken with the author's ability to show the impact and influence of Stowe's book on its times and far into the future. He shows that it still has impact in the 21st Century. The book is not long, but it is very well researched. Indeed, the quality of the research is impressive. It is a must read for anyone wanting to gain insight into race relations in this country.

I like the history detailing events and persons

I like the history detailing events and persons. Example, when the author spoke of a character he gave enough history to make the character understood in the context of the event or time or point being made

Mightier than the Sword

Fascinating book. I had to go back and read Uncle Tom's cabin again after reading this. How quickly we forget how the course of history is changed, sparked by a specific event. This book will make you think! I love the way the author demonstrates the role the church played leading up to the Civil War - a fair portrayal with its failures but also its successes, allowing true "love your neighbor" faith in Jesus to shine through.

Two Stars

Too confusing

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Title: The First Amendment and You: What Everyone Should Know

Author: The Great Courses

Narrator: Professor John E. Finn

Format: Original Recording

Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-08-13

Publisher: The Great Courses

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

A mere 45 words, the First Amendment to the Constitution stands as a pillar of our democracy and has had an incalculable influence on the development of human freedom in the United States and the Western world. To study the First Amendment is to learn something about the meaning of America and who "We the People" are - and to see the significant and far-reaching cultural implications of this fundamental constitutional provisions.These twelve practical lectures offer a guide to understanding the protections and limitations implied by the First Amendment.

You'll learn what and whom it protects, and why it matters to you personally. You'll consider questions of how we define speech, the meaning of "religion," and when the state can interfere with your rights.

You'll also explore the questions courts and citizens will be grappling with for years to come: How does the First Amendment apply to the Internet? Does the First Amendment apply to video games? Should new communication technologies make courts reconsider well-settled rules? Is social media subject to existing principles, to new ones, or to none at all?

Throughout these lectures, Professor Finn returns to a fundamental theme: What the First Amendment protects is largely a function of why it protects it-the why being America's commitment to democracy and liberty. In pursuit of these ideals, courts have often placed a higher value on political speech, although no such distinction is made in the Constitution. You'll examine numerous landmark Supreme Court decisions, including Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

Members Reviews:

Important topic but hard to follow

I am a political junkie and the US Constitution is particularly interesting and important to me. I feel very strongly that the Bill of Rights is an important part of what defines the US democracy so I was thrilled to see a series of lectures about the first amendment.

Professor Finn clearly knows his material very well and has a good sense of humor.

With that said, he tries to cover too much material in the amount of time allotted for each lecture. As a result, he ends up raising an important question or issue, citing the case and the decision and reading (some times at length) from the court's decision & the Justice's opinions.

What he does not do, but would have made this a five star listen, is to take some time to "decode" the extremely thick, legal comments made by the judges into "plain English." I would have liked to hear him say something like, "so, what Justice so and so is stating is that Free Speech can be restrict if and when."

I found myself rewinding a lot because the material is so densely packed. Worth checking out if you like to listen hard and pay attention to your books (or lectures). Do not buy it if you want to space out and absorb.

Not What Most People Think

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Simplify it by presenting a clear outline then, point by point, explaining the particular point and giving one or two simple examples. While not a simple topic, Prof. Finn presents it as though addressing a Law School audience.

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Title: Enlightened Democracy

Subtitle: The Case for the Electoral College, 2nd Edition

Author: Tara Ross

Narrator: Tara Ross

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-20-13

Publisher: Colonial Press, L.P.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Pick up a newspaper and read about the Electoral College. It is a sure recipe for losing respect for the institution. Media commentators are swift to dismiss the institution as outdated and elitist, an anachronism that should be replaced by a direct popular vote. In recent years, this discontent has found a voice as a well-funded, California-based effort seeks to bypass the constitutional amendment process and effectively eliminate the Electoral College through a series of state laws. Such efforts to eliminate the Electoral College are misguided, and this audiobook tells why.

In straightforward language, Enlightened Democracy traces the history of the Electoral College from the Constitutional Convention to the present. This second edition of the book is revised and expanded to include a new section about the National Popular Vote legislative effort. The Electoral College protects our republic and promotes our liberty. Americans should defend their unique presidential election system at all costs.

Members Reviews:

I love the Electoral College!

Would you consider the audio edition of Enlightened Democracy to be better than the print version?

I just finished listening to the audio edition of Enlightened Democracy. I loved it. I learned so very much, was informed about so many issues that I was not aware of, and I totally respect the data and facts used to make the various points.

What did you like best about this story?

The many different approaches the author used to question the validity of each idea, where it might take America in the future, if implemented, and whether a similar idea was ever implemented in our past. Excellent research.

What about Tara Rosss performance did you like?

I am so very glad she read the book on the audible version. She brings the entire subject to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I want to buy a copy for everyone, give a copy to every teacher to share with students, and spread it far and wide to help Americans know the facts about the Electoral College and what it means to Americans.

Any additional comments?

Thank you, Tara, for taking the time to write and read it!

An engrossing, conservative view.

Would you consider the audio edition of Enlightened Democracy to be better than the print version?

No. I think they complement one another nicely. The audio provides an efficient, informative overview; the hard copy, a meaningfully referenced source material.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The compelling arguments for protecting minority values and perspectives, not to be bullied by potentially irrational majority rule.

What about Tara Rosss performance did you like?

Clear, unhurried, objective, nuanced narration. Very nicely narrated indeed.

Whats the most interesting tidbit youve picked up from this book?

Gosh. Too many to identify only one.

Any additional comments?

I tend toward progressiveness. This audio made me rethink my inclination. I am appreciative of the gentle, informed, respectful counterpoise.

Great example of why an author shouldn't narrate

Fascinating subject and book ruined by the author narrating. She talks way too fast and without the polish of an experienced narrator. If you slow it down to 75% it's tolerable, but then too slow. I wish audible had a a 10% speed reduction available.

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Title: Framed

Subtitle: America's 51 Constitutions and the Crisis of Governance

Author: Sanford Levinson

Narrator: A. T. Chandler

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 05-16-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

In his widely acclaimed volume Our Undemocratic Constitution, Sanford Levinson boldly argued that our Constitution should not be treated with "sanctimonious reverence," but as a badly flawed document deserving revision. Now Levinson takes us deeper, asking what were the original assumptions underlying our institutions, and whether we accept those assumptions 225 years later.

In Framed, Levinson challenges our belief that the most important features of our constitutions concern what rights they protect. Instead, he focuses on the fundamental procedures of governance such as congressional bicameralism; the selection of the President by the electoral college, or the dimensions of the President's veto power - not to mention the near impossibility of amending the United States Constitution. These seemingly "settled" and "hardwired" structures contribute to the now almost universally recognized "dysfunctionality" of American politics.

Levinson argues that we should stop treating the United States Constitution as uniquely exemplifying the American constitutional tradition. We should be aware of the 50 state constitutions, often interestingly different - and perhaps better - than the national model. Many states have updated their constitutions by frequent amendment or by complete replacement via state constitutional conventions. California's ungovernable condition has prompted serious calls for a constitutional convention. This constant churn indicates that basic law often reaches the point where it fails and becomes obsolete. Given the experience of so many states, he writes, surely it is reasonable to believe that the U.S. Constitution merits its own updating.

Whether we are concerned about making America more genuinely democratic or only about creating a system of government that can more effectively respond to contemporary challenges, we must confront the ways our constitutions, especially the United States Constitution, must be changed in fundamental ways.

Members Reviews:

UPDATING THE CONSTITUTION

Readers who think they know a lot about the Constitution will find out how much more they have to learn from this book. Law Professor Sanford Levinson examines parts of the document few people pay attention to, and he compares the Constitution to state constitutions and to the constitutions in other countries.

In our era of political polarization, one thing that unites Americans across the spectrum is the perception that the federal government is profoundly dysfunctional. Only about one in ten Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, and trust in government is at historic lows. Levinson has a simple thesis, namely that government failure is caused in part by the constitutional structure of government, at both the federal and state levels, and that as much attention should be paid to the 50 state documents that also make up American constitutionalism.

Americans hold the Constitution in high regard, so criticizing it is considered akin to radicalism if not disloyalty. Most would-be reformers of the political system shy away from trying to change the structure.

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Title: Marijuana Legalization

Subtitle: What Everyone Needs to Know

Author: Mark A. R. Kleiman, Jonathan P. Caulkins, Angela Hawken, Beau Kilmer

Narrator: Steven Menasche

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-13-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Should marijuana be legalized? The latest Gallup poll reports that exactly half of Americans say "yes"; opinion couldn't be more evenly divided.

Marijuana is forbidden by international treaties and by national and local laws across the globe. But those laws are under challenge in several countries. In the U.S., there is no short-term prospect for changes in federal law, but 16 states allow medical use and recent initiatives to legalize production and non-medical use garnered more than 40% support in four states. California's Proposition 19 nearly passed in 2010, and multiple states are expected to consider similar measures in the years to come.

The debate and media coverage surrounding Proposition 19 reflected profound confusion, both about the current state of the world and about the likely effects of changes in the law. In addition, not all supporters of "legalization" agree on what it is they want to legalize: Just using marijuana? Growing it? Selling it? Advertising it? If sales are to be legal, what regulations and taxes should apply? Different forms of legalization might have very different results.

Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know will provide listeners with a non-partisan primer about the topic, covering everything from the risks and benefits of using marijuana, to describing the current laws around the drug in the U.S. and abroad. The authors discuss the likely costs and benefits of legalization at the state and national levels and walk listeners through the "middle ground" of policy options between prohibition and commercialized production. The authors also consider how marijuana legalization could personally impact parents, heavy users, medical users, drug traffickers, and employers.

Members Reviews:

Informative

What made the experience of listening to Marijuana Legalization the most enjoyable?

The narrator did a good job in staying neutral in presenting the case for both sides.

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Title: Bull by the Horns

Subtitle: Fighting to Save Main Street from Wall Street and Wall Street from Itself

Author: Sheila Bair

Narrator: Joyce Bean

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-06-13

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 34 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Sheila Bair is widely acknowledged in government circles and the media as one of the first people to identify and accurately assess the subprime crisis. Appointed by George W. Bush as the chairperson of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in 2006, she witnessed the origins of the financial crisis and, in 2008, became - along with Hank Paulson, Ben Bernanke, and Timothy Geithner-one of the key players invested in repairing the damage to our economy. Bull by the Horns is her remarkable and refreshingly honest account of that contentious time and the struggle for reform that followed and continues to this day.

A level-headed, pragmatic figure with a clear focus on serving the public good, Bair was often one of the few women in the room during heated discussions about the economy. Despite her years of experience and her determination to rein in the private banks and Wall Street, she frequently found herself at odds with Geithner. She is withering in her assessment of some of Wall Street's finest, and her narrative of Citibank's attempted takeover of Wachovia is a stinging indictment of how regulators and the banks worked against the public interest at times to serve their own needs.

Bair is steadfast in her belief that the American public needs to fully understand the crisis in order to bring it to an end. Critical of the bank bailouts and the Can. $29.99 lax regulation that led to the economic crash, she provides a sober analysis as well as a practical plan for how we should move forward. She helps clear away the myths and half truths about how we ran our economic engine into the ditch and tells us how we can help get our financial and regulatory systems back on track.

Members Reviews:

Interesting but hyperbolic

I really enjoyed starting to understand some of mechanics and causes of the financial crisis. I was a fan of the work at the FDIC during that time and still am.

The book did read as having an agenda. Perhaps the financial boys club is really what prevented Sheila Bair from saving us all from the financial fallout. Perhaps she really did have all the answers and was stymied at every turn.

More likely, this is one perspective on a complicated situation. It's a worthwhile read and a great education. Be prepared for quite a bit of editorial that may be factual but reads as if there's an agenda underneath it. The end of the book does drag a bit. It has a number of actionable thoughts for what we should be doing and I suspect it would read better than in audio format.

Wow! Bair Hates Geithner

What did you like best about Bull by the Horns? What did you like least?

I suppose I like hearing another point of view about the crisis. Sheila Bair really turned this into a Geithner bashing book

What could Sheila Bair have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I think she could have been a little more realistic. The others that wrote about the subject admit they made mistakes and tried to describe situations, Mrs. Bair treats her opinions as the perfect and correct choices every time. She basically makes herself a hero that is the victim of a huge conspiracy.

What does Joyce Bean bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Mrs. Bean reads it in a tone that I could really imagine Mrs. Bair using.

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Title: Why Intelligence Fails

Subtitle: Lessons from the Iranian Revolution and the Iraq War (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs Series)

Author: Robert L. Jervis

Narrator: Kevin Pierce

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-24-13

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 31 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

The U.S. government spends enormous resources each year on the gathering and analysis of intelligence, yet the history of American foreign policy is littered with missteps and misunderstandings that have resulted from intelligence failures. In Why Intelligence Fails, Robert Jervis examines the politics and psychology of two of the more spectacular intelligence failures in recent memory: the mistaken belief that the regime of the Shah in Iran was secure and stable in 1978, and the claim that Iraq had active WMD programs in 2002.

The Iran case is based on a recently declassified report Jervis was commissioned to undertake by the CIA thirty years ago and includes memoranda written by CIA officials in response to Jervis's findings. The Iraq case, also grounded in a review of the intelligence community's performance, is based on close readings of both classified and declassified documents, though Jervis's conclusions are entirely supported by evidence that has been declassified. In both cases, Jervis finds not only that intelligence was badly flawed but also that later explanations - analysts were bowing to political pressure and telling the White House what it wanted to hear or were willfully blind - were also incorrect. Proponents of these explanations claimed that initial errors were compounded by groupthink, lack of coordination within the government, and failure to share information. Policy prescriptions, including the recent establishment of a Director of National Intelligence, were supposed to remedy the situation.

In Jervis's estimation, neither the explanations nor the prescriptions are adequate. The inferences that intelligence drew were actually quite plausible given the information available. Errors arose, he concludes, from insufficient attention to the ways in which information should be gathered and interpreted, a lack of self-awareness about the factors that led to the judgments, and an organizational culture that failed to probe for weaknesses and explore alternatives. Evaluating the inherent tensions between the methods and aims of intelligence personnel and policymakers from a unique insider's perspective, Jervis forcefully criticizes recent proposals for improving the performance of the intelligence community and discusses ways in which future analysis can be improved.

The book is published by Cornell University Press.

Critic Reviews:

"In this cogently argued and revealing book, Jervis, a veteran CIA consultant, uses the Iranian and Iraqi cases to dissect why, in some circumstances, intelligence fails to provide accurate analysis to policymakers....Highly recommended for all interested academic and general readers." (

Library Journal)

"There is no one better than Robert Jervis at dissecting intelligence, and this book is proof. Happily, at long, long last he has managed to free his three-decade-old inside postmortem on intelligence failure during the early stages of the Iranian revolution from the dark of classification, and he has coupled that with his recent writings on intelligence's woeful performance over those Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that weren't. His conclusion is both wise and discomfiting." (Gregory F.

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Title: Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right

Subtitle: What America Can Learn from the Strange Genius of Texas

Author: Erica Grieder

Narrator: Bernadette Dunne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-23-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Texas may well be Americas most controversial state. Evangelicals dominate the halls of power, millions of its people live in poverty, and its death row is the busiest in the country. Skeptical outsiders have found much to be offended by in the states politics and attitude, and yet, according to journalist and Texan Erica Grieder, the United States has a great deal to learn from Texas.

InBig, Hot, Cheap, and Right, Grieder traces the political history of a state that was always larger than life. From its rowdy beginnings, Texas has combined a long-standing suspicion of government intrusion with a passion for business. Looking to the present, Grieder assesses the unique mix of policies on issues like immigration, debt, taxes, regulation, and energy, which together have sparked a bona fide Texas miracle of job growth. While acknowledging that it still has plenty of 21st-century problems to face, she finds in Texas a model of governance whose power has been drastically underestimated. Her book is a fascinating exploration of Americas underrated powerhouse.

Critic Reviews:

Thirty years from now theres a good chance that most of America will look like Texas and somehow, improbably, using some strange dark prose magic, Erica Grieder has managed to convince me that might actually not be so bad. Written with verve and nuance, this is a fascinating, provocative read. If there were a book like this for each state Id read every one.Chris Hayes, MSNBC host and author ofTwilight of the Elites

Texas isnt the uninhabitable right-wing bully East Coast howlers imagine and its not the open range paradise described by free-market myth-makers. Erica Grieder describes the state as it isa place shaped (and misshapen) by its past and by the entirely human characters who live there. She is a sure-footed guide, pointing out what is to be admired and warning when we had best watch our step.Bill Bishop, coauthor ofThe Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart

Journalist Grieder (a senior editor atTexas Monthlyand former Southwest correspondent for theEconomist) pens a primer on Texas that is serious and lighthearted in turnAnyone curious about or proud of Texas will find something of interest, as will readers of current politics.Publishers Weekly

Members Reviews:

Enjoyed presentation...

Excellent to be partially informed... From Left of Center perspective... I mean that genuinely. Now on to complete the picture.

Loved this book!

What did you love best about Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right?

I moved to Texas just in the last year and this book gave me a fantastic overview of the state, its politics, economics and unique sensibilities. The book also offers fascinating historical context that amplified my understanding of contemporary issues.

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Title: What if Latin America Ruled the World?

Author: Oscar Guardiola-Rivera

Narrator: Dick Hill

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 04-19-13

Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

For too many of us, Latin America exists "below the fold", an echo barely heard beyond the roar of U.S. economics, politics, and culture; the source of little more than dance steps, mesmerizing soccer, spicy food, and questionable politics.

But Latin America has been a vital part of the global community since the 17th century, when the Spanish silver peso became the world's first global currency instrument. Today it is home to 600 million people and some of the fastest-growing economies on the planet. Latin America may not outshine or outspend the United States on the world stage anytime soon, but its voices will be heard. Its consumers, resources, and emigrants are already affecting us; they will be even bigger factors in our future.

What if Latin America Ruled the World? deftly braids together the histories of North and South America from the exploits of Hernán Cortés to the political showmanship of Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales. Scholar Oscar Guardiola-Rivera is an ideal guide for a searching portrait of the Latin America that we rarely hear about.

Members Reviews:

Brilliant, Troublesome, Prophetic?

Assigning stars to Oscar Guardiola-Rivera's work was difficult and yet easy. There is no book I know of that raises the intriguing issues his has. Composed in the context of the Financial Crises wracking the leading industrial countries he asks if we are not seeing the beginning of a new era of economic reality and a new set of dominant powers. This is a run at brilliancy that deserves top rating, and yet his presentation will cause many readers to lay the book aside in fatigue. He has so much he wishes to say and a lack of systematic organization that creates redundancy and confusion. Advice: Wet your finger and mush on; it is absolutely worth the effort.

Why?

Brilliant?

Guardiola-Rivera is primarily an analyzer of Comparative Economic Systems versed in the history and development of his area of Latin America and willing to project where that region is headed and why. He deals with Economic History, Monetary Theory, and Economic Development and has a keen eye for the social dynamics that are shaping Latin American countries in new and challenging directions. One analogy he uses is that history has seen dominate power rise and fall and be replaced by new players: Rome by Spain by England by the United States, in turn, and now perhaps by China, but more likely by Brazil and the associated states of South America and the Caribbean in new alliances and organizations that override the OAS, the IMF, and the World Bank that have functioned as agents of primarily American power. China he sets aside as lacking the dynamics of democratic systems. The dynamics he describes are generated by the long transformation of a repressed region and particularly the repressed indigenous and Afro-Indian populations that support the leaders we are seeing in today's news from the region.

Troublesome?

If you were raised on the market fundamentalism or neoliberalism notion that `History is Dead' and that Free Market Capitalism and its associated intuitions have resolved all economic issues, then this book will cause you to rock.