Category Archives: public policy

@War: The Rise of the Military-Internet Complex

In ‘@War,’ Shane Harris explains tells the emerging world of cyber warfare. It is a world of blurred lines – there are no national borders in cyberspace, and the roles of the military, law enforcement, and intelligence services are much … Continue reading

Posted in book, non-fiction, public policy, review Comments Off on @War: The Rise of the Military-Internet Complex

The King of Sports

Gregg Easterbrook’s “The King of Sports” should be required reading by anyone who watches football — professional, collegiate or high school. He covers the financial hypocrisy of the NFL (the “Non-Profit Football League”), as well as the all-too-brief careers of … Continue reading

Posted in book, non-fiction, public policy Comments Off on The King of Sports

Punching Out

In “Punching Out” (2011), Paul Clemens spends a year at the massive Budd Detroit Automotive Plant, Stamping and Framing Division in Detroit — the year after the plant has been shut down. He chronicles the plant’s press lines being disassembled … Continue reading

Posted in book, non-fiction, public policy, review Comments Off on Punching Out

The Watchers

In The Watchers: The Rise of America’s Surveillance State (2010), Shane Harris explains the modern world of “signals intelligence,” and how it got to be this way. To summarize the current state of affairs, some arm of the U.S. government … Continue reading

Posted in book, history, public policy, review Comments Off on The Watchers

Modern New York

In Modern New York (2012), Crain’s New York columnist Greg David offers an insightful history of New York City and its economy since 1965.  David demonstrates how tourism has filled the gap left by the decline of the city’s manufacturing … Continue reading

Posted in book, history, non-fiction, public policy, review Comments Off on Modern New York

Visit Sunny Chernobyl

I have to thank Andrew Blackwell for the time and effort that went into researching and writing this fascinating book of industrial disaster areas (some still serving industrial functions) throughout the world. As I might want to visit some of … Continue reading

Posted in book, history, non-fiction, public policy, review Comments Off on Visit Sunny Chernobyl

The End of Money

David Wolman’s The End of Money: Counterfeiters, Preachers, Techies, Dreamers — and the Coming Cashless Society (2012) is an interesting look at our faith-based economic system.  If you haven’t already thought the through the implications of an economic system based … Continue reading

Posted in book, history, public policy, review Comments Off on The End of Money

The Architect

The Architect: Karl Rove and the Master Plan for Absolute Power (2006) is an interesting (though uneven) review of Karl Rove and his ride to the White House by two veteran Texas political reporters. A non-believer who built a machine … Continue reading

Posted in book, history, public policy, review Comments Off on The Architect

Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun

Paul Barrett’s Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun (2012) is an eminently readable history of the lightweight Austrian pistol. Somehow, the gun that’s “uglier than a sack full of assholes” has become the “Google of modern civilian handguns: the pioneer … Continue reading

Posted in book, history, public policy, review Comments Off on Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun

Moneymakers

Ben Tarnoff’s Moneymakers (2012) tells the stories of three counterfeiters who plied their trade during different periods of American history – the Colonial era, early America and during the Civil War. While their stories are interesting, I thought he did … Continue reading

Posted in book, con man, public policy, review Comments Off on Moneymakers