#A must read for anyone who wants to form their own opinion (2007-06-01) This is a very good book. Ayaan Hirsi Ali does a good job of giving a first hand account of her experience with Islam and extremism. While it is one person s view and undoubtedly fans the flames of controversy, it does give the reader a decent look at a religion that many of us aren t familiar with. I would not recommend it as your only reference source on Islam, but it s a point of view that should be heard. The book does give a good critique of fundamentalism, why it s dangerous and offers up some suggest...

#Courageous and highly readable (2007-01-13) In this perceptive work, Ayaan Hirsi Ali explores a major problem of our times with admirable fluency and erudition. In the preface she points out the similarity in attitude towards the Soviets by leftists then and Islamic culture now by the adherents of multiculturalism. Because of the victim culture, those intellectuals refuse to criticize oppressive practices as Muslims are perceived to be victims of the West. For the same reason, Israel is fiercely condemned because it belongs to the West while the Palestinians get a free pass. She c...

#Paine s prescient screed against authoritarian precedent (2004-05-12) Rights of Man (1791-92) is Thomas Paine s famous response to Edmund Burke s Reflections on the Revolution of France (1790). Although it helps have read Burke s essay, a general background is sufficient to understand and appreciate Paine s basic and groundbreaking arguments. Paine and Burke were originally allies, Burke not only supported self-rule for the American colonies, he also supported the emancipation of the House of Commons from monarchical control and the independence of both Ireland and India. Many of h...

#Historically important, but can t stand on its own. (2002-06-07) This book is important for the historian who wishes to get a glimpse into the workings of the mind of an important figure in American Revolutionary history, but it doesn t stand on its own. It is written almost entirely as a response to Edmund Burke s Reflections on the Revolution in France, so I would not recommend reading this one until and unless one has read that one. Otherwise, it is impossible to judge the fairness of the rebuttals of Burke s points, as one only sees them through Paine s perspective, and Paine ...

#Defender of Self Government (2001-05-21) Thomas Paine s ",Rights of Man", is truly a classic defense of self government and reprsentative republicanism. Paine copmletely demolishes Edmund Burke s defense of aristocracy and monarchy as outmoded and absurd institiutions. Paine shows the immorality of monarchy and the plunder that it commits on it s own people through high taxes,unjust property laws,and priveleges for the nobility. Paine shows the virtues a representative system has over the monarchial form. He denounces aristocracy and monarchy as ",frauds", and base...

#Founding Work of Modern Statism (1999-09-24) This book, above all others, reveals the breakdown of classical (libertarian) liberalism into the statist liberalism of today. Although the first part of the work, being a refutation of Edmund Burke s silly nonsense, is stellar, and is well worth reading. Regardless, the second part, the chapter on ",Ways and Means", in particular, is composed of the most despicable, anti-liberty doctrines that one can find. What Paine basically proposed was a late 18th century form of the welfare state, replete with progressive taxatio...

#CONTINUING TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF HUMANITY TODAY (1999-07-16) The Rights of Man is a riposte to Edmund Burke s criticism of the French Revolution. Its message is the superiority of reason, in the form of Republican government armed with the Declaration of the Rights of Man, over despotism which holds populations in ignorance. With the American and French revolutions fresh in his mind, Paine was writing in a world on the threshold of freedom and that comes through in his forceful and forthright style. That said, and most important for the reader to appreciate, much of what he h...

#Timeless classic by Alinsky (2004-06-26) Saul Alinsky wrote this book before I was even born, but little did he know that we would still be reading his work thirty years later. When I was finished with the book, it was full of underlines and thoughts of wisdom about advocacy, organization and political reality. I will catalog this book in my library with the rest of my timeless treasures.

#Dated but valuable (2004-06-09) People--and their writings--are a product of their culture and their times. Alinsky s writings are no different. A number of previous reviewers called him Marxist. That s possible but his tactics were aimed at helping the people of his era--the 30s to the 60s--crack the Capitalist monopoly on this country. Reviewer John Devlin s ridiculous rant about Alinsky, using the words, . . . wealthy, privileged, how a spoiled juvenile from a, (relatively), wealthy, privileged background would approach social change. Starting from the position of most a...

#Could have been a 25-page book (2004-06-03) Alinsky could have said everything of importance in this book in about 25 pages. The remaining 200 pages are war stories and examples he uses to show how much smarter he was than the rest of us. And he does it in a very paternalistic fashion, much in the style of the older professor tutoring a freshman. Tedious.

#Hillary s Playbook (2004-04-04) Marxist Alinsky was Hillary s mentor at Yale. This is her playbook. Read it. Now we know what to call her: An Alinskyite--not that she hasn t moved to the left of old Saul by now.

#Essential Reading (2004-02-19) Right or Left--this book is essential reading. As a young (conservative) political activist, I was required to read this book by my boss. I loved it! Alinski teaches how creative thinking and attacking your opponent s weak areas can magnify a small organization s impact. Some of his anecdotes are unforgettable!This is an easy read full of real-life demonsrtations. Think Sun Tzu goes in to activist politics. You may have to hold your nose at some of his politics, but you can still learn from this man. And, yes, I did enjoy beating the Left wi...

#We don t need the HRC s (2010-07-26) If you re offended, take em to court on your dime, not mine. And what leftist, agenda driven troll wrote the Quill & Quire product review? The Human Rights Commissioner?

#Free speech, but how far would Ezra go to defend others? (2010-06-01) It s interesting how Ezra was caught up in this fight for free speech. I was wondering if this didn t happen to Ezra how he would feel about people like Ernst Zundel and other so called holocaust deniers and their plight fighting for their own free speech issues? Is all of this about free speech or is certain free speech not tolerated when the topic attacks the Jews and their view of historical events such as the holocaust?I sense you can bet If Ezra had his way, he d give no columns in his newspaper to the likes o...

#Should be required reading (2010-03-24) Every Canadian should have and read this book. If you care about free speech, about your way of life, about the abuse of Human Right s processes, or about the abuse of government power and your tax dollars - read this book and be very, very concerned.

#A startlingly important book (2009-12-31) What can I add that hasn t been mentioned in the reviews so far? And yet I feel the need to briefly share my experience with Mr Levant s book - simply put, this book reads like a thriller and addresses issues that are fundamentally important to all Canadians. Secret trials, censorship, and thought control - all in a work of non-fiction about modern-day Canada.

#A Book Every Canadian Should Read (2009-12-11) I couldn t put this book down, and as I read, I became more and more angry. This is a book every Canadian should read! You hear bits and pieces of how the Human Rights Commission makes decisions that defy common sense, but to see the details in writing, gathered together in one book, the eyes open and righteous indignation takes hold. Anyone who cares about the freedoms we enjoy in this country will be shocked at what is happening in the name of human rights. From the ridiculous decision in favour of a MacDonald s employee who compla...