BOOK CLUB: Poll for MAY book

[crispini]

Poll question: BOOK CLUB: Poll for MAY book

1. "Overworld" "The Life and Times of a Reluctant Spy" by Larry J. Kolb (nominated by: katmondoo)
"A vivid and gripping portrait of a spy at every stage of his life and career, from the son of a spymaster who became a spy himself.

Larry Kolb was born into a house of spies. Raised all over the world as the son of a high-ranking American spymaster, Kolb was taught by his father to think, look, and listen like a spy. But when Kolb himself was recruited to join the CIA, he declined, choosing instead to pursue a career in business. He became, among other things, Muhammad Ali's agent, a role that turned out to be a circuitous route back to the world of espionage."

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1573222534/ref=ase_theauthofover-20/103-8638655-7964600?v=glance&s=books

2. "Homegrown Democrat" nominated by FLDem5
"In a book that is at once deeply personal and intellectually savvy, Homegrown Democrat is a celebration of liberalism as the "politics of kindness." In his inimitable style, Keillor draws on a lifetime of experience amongst the hardworking, God- fearing people of the Midwest and pays homage to the common code of civic necessities that arose from the left: Protect the social compact. Defend the powerless. Maintain government as a necessary force for good."

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670033650/qid=1112389432/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-8638655-7964600

3. "Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic" by John De Graaf nominated by CrispyQGirl
Very good book about America's #1 epidemic. I thought this might be a timely choice considering the new bankruptcy bill that is likely to pass. I remember one section where the author states that America traded in their citizenship to become consumers. It's a great book.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1576751996/qid=1110411941/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-8638655-7964600?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

4. The Boys on the Bus, by Timothy Crouse nominated by Emboldened Chimp

Political spin-doctoring has become something of an art form in the last few decades. It was less artful in the early years of the information age, and Crouse's entertaining look at the attempts of both the Nixon and McGovern '72 campaign staffs to control the media seems almost comical, so poor were they at the image-and-sound bite manipulation that now defines our politics. Crouse is a serious-minded journalist, however, and his firsthand report on how political news is made and shaped remains important reading. Check out Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 for a more madcap view of the same matters.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0812968204/qid=1110478891/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8638655-7964600?v=glance&s=books

5. Bad News by Tom Fenton nominated by Caution
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
What makes this discourse on the current state of broadcast news such a gripping read is not that it critiques the establishment—it's the specific nature of Fenton's complaint. The author, who's been reporting for CBS News for 34 years, accuses the industry not just of having a political bias, but of being supremely lazy and incompetent. Fenton shares his own opinions, but buttresses them with sharp interviews from the Big Three (Brokaw, Rather, Jennings) and elder statesman Cronkite, who, not surprisingly, is most forthcoming, admitting he doesn't even watch the CBS Evening News anymore: "Nothing there but crime and sob sister material." Fenton lays out the hows and whys of what he sees as the problems present in today's news media (largely broadcast news) with exacting logic. After the end of the Cold War, an unfortunate confluence of factors—including the lack of a pervasive threat that might keep audiences attuned to foreign news, a growing herd mentality within the media, and "cutbacks, bottom-line fever, and CEO-mandated news criteria"—resulted in an industrywide dumbing-down and a decline in ratings. Along with this well-structured explanation of what's wrong and how to fix it, Fenton also provides a convenient guide to the biggest underreported stories and why they're important. (Mar. 1)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060797460/qid=1112389487/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-8638655-7964600

6. "Why Do People Hate America?" by Ziauddin Sardar, Merryl Wyn Davies nominated by erpowers
The controversial bestseller that caused huge waves in the UK! The Independent calls it "required reading." Noam Chomsky says it "contains valuable information that we should know, over here, for our own good, and the world's."


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0971394253/qid%3D1112389510/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-8638655-7964600

[rzemanfl]

1. Isn't Professor Freeman's book coming out in May? That's the

one I want to read.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DesEtoiles]

3. Next time: "Growing Up Red"

[CrispyQ]

4. Ok, so looks like

"Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic" by John De Graaf is the selection for May.