Product Description
In the first update since the original printing in 1979, renowned herbalist Michael Moore adds another 20 years of research and expertise working with medicinal plants to his classic 'Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West'. In this greatly expanded (168 additional pages) revised and enlarged edition, the book covers the entire range of medicinal herbs found in New Mexico, Arizona, west Texas, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and California. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A Tribute To The Late, Great Michael Moore
This is a beautiful book about the medicinal plants of the mountains of the southwestern United States.It is a fitting trubute to a beautiful human being, who is sorely missed in the herbal community and in the family of man.

Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West
An exceptional resource, even for those who are novices in
botanical medicinal uses.A must have reference.

Rocky Mountain Herbal Medicine Bible....
I'm an amateur, but an experienced amateur.My father is a botanist, and my nextdoor neighbor grandma raised a family during the Great Depression using local wild plants for food.So I grew up a fair hand at recognizing plants in my native midwest, especially food plants.But medicinal plants....

Fifteen years ago, my wife & I moved to a cabin on Pikes Peak bordering a vast national forest, and I started to learn the local plants using not Grandma, but guidebooks.Gradually, I became knowledgeable, especially about wildflowers & food plants.Then someone introduced me to locally gathered mullein (or velvet dock), and I ended my struggles with antihistamines.That put me on the lookout:there's good meds in them thar hills!

If you buy only one book on medicinal plants of the Rockies, this is the book.(I know only the 2nd edition.)Moore has clearly collected, prepared & prescribed these herbs.It's readable (and I am NOT a botanist), even enjoyable -- I find myself skimming around just for the fun of it.I've checked out several books on Rocky Mountain medicinal plants, and this one beats the others for completeness and comprehensiveness.It gives solid descriptions of the plants' types of environment & geographic locations.In general and for each plant, it gives good descriptions of how & when to collect, how to prepare and how to use & not use.(These plants can be VERY potent, and they sometimes have dangerous look-alikes.)Moore discusses the various subspecies -- which are best, which are common, which are endangered, where they're found.I've used Moore and found him quite helpful in the central Rockies, on the western slopes and down into northern New Mexico.I suspect he's good in the northern Rockies, as he mentions these regularly and they're on his maps for each species.

So if you only buy one book, buy this one.

But #1:The pictures are clear, but black & white.For me, I can have trouble going from them to real-live plants in color.In the field, I usually carry a couple of guidebooks with pictures or drawings in color, for example, Plants of the Rocky Mountains and Guide to Colorado Wildflowers: Mountains (Guide to Colorado Wildflowers. Vol 2. Mountains).You probably want to check amazon, maybe local National Park, Monument, Forest professionals for the best local books.

But #2:Herbal medicine comes from many, many traditions collected by many, many investigators from many, many sources.With so many "local" plants coming from Europe & Asia, these traditions are truly world-wide.Additionally, there's a growing scientific literature on what's effective.All this information is widely scattered.For example, Moore doesn't include goldenrod.But I found it in Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies (see my review), dried some, and it stopped a couple of colds dead, when nothing else helped.While Moore mentions research data, a book like Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies mentions more, and includes many plants found in the Rockies.

But #3:No book is entirely comprehensive in the sense of safety.For example, Moore has a great entry on chokecherry (wild cherry bark).Chokecherry bushes & trees have various cyanide compounds.Moore states that these are safe, even for children.I collected some local bark and tried it.Like Moore said, it smelled wounderful, tasted wonderful, felt wonderful in my throat -- WAY beyond anything I've ever had from my local herb stores.And it REALLY didn't do well in my tummy.As always with a first use, I tried only a little.So I checked around and found in, among other places, the Kerry book mentioned above, that only COMPLETE drying or VERY LENGTHY boiling (esp. at high altitudes) destroys the cyanide.

So various rules of thumb include:Don't buy one book, check out many.Find people who are knowledgeable.Go slow & be careful.Use common sense.If something doesn't seem right, don't do it.OF COURSE:check with a doctor for any medical condition that even MIGHT be serious.Take all cautions seriously.Stuff like that.

But I've also found good meds in my mountains.

An aside:Moore mentions food use, but this isn't the book for that.Locally, I prefer Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies and Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains.

Every Weed Has a Reason
Comprehensive without being stuffy, Moore has written an engaging description of western medicinal plants that includes lists of their active ingredients, how they are used, and how to prepare them. His text is readable enough for the novice but does not skimp on informative details for the seasoned user of native plants.

So easy to understand!!!
Michael Moore makes it easy for the average reader to understand his works.His descriptions of plants and there uses are wonderful and to the point without being tedious to read.I'm a fan! ... Read more

Product Description
In addition to his work as a mega-bestselling author, Michael Moore is an award-winning director. He lives in Michigan.Amazon.com Review
The people of the United States, according to author and filmmaker Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine, Stupid White Men), have been hoodwinked. Tricked, he says, by Republican lawmakers and their wealthy corporate pals who use a combination of concocted bogeymen and lies to stay rich and in control. But while plenty of liberal scholars, entertainers, and pundits have made similar arguments in book form, Moore's Dude, Where's My Country? stands out for its thoroughly positive perspective. Granted, Moore is angry and has harsh words for George W. Bush and his fellow conservatives concerning the reasoning behind going to war in Iraq, the collapse of Enron and other companies, and the relationship between the Bushes, the Saudi Arabian government, and Osama bin Laden. But his book is intended to serve as a handbook for how people with liberal opinions (which is most of America, Moore contends, whether they call themselves "liberals" or not) can take back their country from the conservative forces in power. Moore uses his trademark brand of confrontational, exasperated humor skillfully as he offers a primer on how to change the worldview of one's annoying conservative blowhard brother-in-law, and he crafts a surprisingly thorough "Draft Oprah for President" movement. Refreshingly, Dude, Where's My Country? avoids being completely one-sided, offering up areas where Moore believes Republicans get it right as well as some cutting criticisms of his fellow lefties. Such allowances, brief though they may be, make one long for a political climate where the shouting polemicists on both sides would see a few more shades of gray. Dude, Where's My Country? is a little bit scattered, as Moore tries to cram opinions on Iraq, tax cuts, corporate welfare, Wesley Clark, and the Patriot Act into one slim volume--and the penchant to go for a laugh sometimes gets in the way of clear arguments. But such variety also gives the reader more Moore, providing a broader range of his bewildered, enraged, yet stalwartly upbeat point of view. --John Moe ... Read more

Customer Reviews (907)

Michael Moore is wearing on me...
written with Moore's general attitude of "it's all the GOPs fault". What he never seems to comprehend is that the entire system is at fault.

Informative but exaggerative.
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RCP15K579XJ4P

LOTS OF KNOWLEDGE AND HUMOR
I LEANRED SO MUCH AND IT WAS HILAROUS ! I THINK HE REALLY WORKED TOO HARD FOR THIS BOOK. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T GIVE THIS POSITIVE RATINGS ARE THOSE THAT OPPOSE CHANGE BECAUSE THEY'RE DASTARDS!

Michael Moore is a jerk!
I used to love Michael Moore's movies after he came out with Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, but after reading this book, my opinion of the guy has pretty much gone down hill. He made some statements in his book about abortion and religion that had nothing to do with the subject matter of the book and just really made himself out to look like an arrogant ass!

I suggest the next time you write a book, Michael, that you stick to the subject at hand and leave your personal opinions out of the matter. I wont be buying anymore of your books.

A Conservative Reaction
Being a conservative, I naturally found Moore's political views repulsive. However, my review is not meant to be a conservative rant against liberalism or Michael Moore personally. Rather, I am writing this review to express my concern that by internalizing Moore's attitudes regarding conservatives, liberals may become increasingly hostile toward conservatives. This attitude of hostility toward conservatives could lead the fan of Michael Moore to become the liberal version of the bigot portrayed in this book.
As I read the "A Liberal Paradise" chapter, I found it disturbing that Michael Moore took views which are common among both conservatives and liberals and claimed that they are liberal territory. For example, as Moore sought to prove that America is mostly liberal, he cited examples such as the view among Americans that interracial marriages are perfectly acceptable and that criminals shouldn't legally have access to guns. When he wrote this, the implication seemed to be that conservatives are against interracial marriages and that conservatives think criminals should have guns. I found this image of conservatives to be misleading.
In his chapter about how to talk to your conservative brother-in-law, Moore made the implied image of conservatives from his "Liberal Paradise" chapter more obvious. The chapter was based off the idea that your annoying brother-in-law brings up politics inappropriately at a thanksgiving dinner around his liberal family. Moore portrayed this brother-in-law as impossible to reason with. Moore then went on to write that while people like this brother-in-law are impossible to reason with, it may be possible to reason with RINOs (republican in name only). He stated that these people are conservatives only in that they don't like taxes. Moore portrays these people as selfish by providing his liberal readers with arguments which basically stated that conservatives will save money by adopting his views. I found this to be an overly simplistic image of conservatism. Generally, conservatives are slow to warm up to the idea of new taxes because they fear that the money they pay to the government in taxes will be spent irresponsibly.
My message to those liberal fans of Michael Moore is this: When you finally meet a conservative and engage in a political debate with him or her, do your best to avoid the assumption that Michael Moore has an accurate conception of conservatism. By believing in Michael Moore's conception of the conservatives, you will become so filled with hatred that you will likely give up your ability to accept the potential merits of their reasoning on certain issues. Thus you may run the risk of becoming the liberal version of the same bigot which you have come to reject so vehemently.
... Read more

Product Description
The official companion to the #1 documentary of all time includes never-before-published material and updated information from the film’s release.

In Fahrenheit 9/11, Academy Award–winner Michael Moore presents a scathing examination of the Bush Administration—and the role of their family and business ties—in the wake of the tragic events of September 11. The result is one of the most controversial films of the year, a documentary that many think will impact the 2004 presidential election.

The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader will be a must-havefor the film’s millions of fans. It includes an Introduction by Michael Moore, fact-based source materials; and critical response to the movie, including articles, reviews, editorials, and cartoons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Contains a lot of truth
Of the last 7 books or so that I've read this is one of my favorites.I cruised through it picking up information that was quite interesting.The book contains many things that the media didn't get across with the emphasis they deserved.

Fantasy Posing as Mockumentary
Darn it's impressive that they loved it in Cannes!But fiction is really their "bag" so of course they would love this one. Moore along with Howard Dean and Cindy Sheehan were not visible at the Democrat convention; and it shows you how the party classifies these three as unpresentable, as well they should.

This was a work of fiction and it's disturbing to see people taking it as fact.I know sensible Democrats who are not.

Good reference material for the DVD
Michael Moore released this book to act as a back-up to his DVD Fahrenheit 9/11, so watch the DVD before reading the book.

The book is the screenplay of the movie followed by articles on the Iraq War and the Bush Administration's handling of it. Needless to say that there are some good articles written here and Bush comes off as someone who has made some mistakes.

Whether the facts presented in the book are true or not, it is still a worthwhile read.

He's Laughing All the Way to the Bank...
Save your money. Or, if you must read it...and maybe you must!...pass it around to all your friends! Now that I ponder it ,the movie and this book are possibly THE PRIME example of the Freedoms in this country that we take for granted. Where else in the world could you write this garbage and not be beheaded immediately?? It is also a prime example of capitalism at it's core...and the big guy. Michael Moore is no ordinary working man. He's a mulitmillionaire, with the means to promote this garbage and make EVEN more money!! It is a prime example of many of the cultural and social leaps in this country that we have made...and many of us don't call it "progress"...that lies and propaganda and hate spew and disgusting discourse can be embraced by so many Americans...and Usama Bin Laden and that you can enjoy the rights and privileges of America...even abuse them in a trashy way is Michael Moore's trademark PORN....

reviews for sheep
Fahrenheit 911 has already been exposed for the collection of lies and misleads that it is.This book constitutes a weak attempt to add legitimacy to Moore's dishonest film (liberals everywhere will now be able to claim "I read it" when regurgitating their vitriol).

Take a look at some of the reviews for this product, and other Moore products.See how often reviews are deemed "useful" when the review in question is nothing more than an unfocused political rant that has nothing to do with the product being "reviewed".Are you liberals such sheep that you deem a review "useful" that has nothing to do with the product, but somehow validates your closed-mindedness by agreeing with you?

I'm sure this book will appeal to fans of the movie.However, do not rely solely on leftist propaganda to become "informed".Get your news from a variety of sources.

Books like Moores distort the truth, and encourages hatred towards all things conservative.When you're pumped up to hate one side without even hearing what they have to say, you have already lost the political debate.

If you insist on being "informed" by this book, don't cheat yourself.Check out contrary opinions and views, or forever wallow in ignorance while padding the fat wallet on Moore's fat ass.Yes, keep throwing money towards the already wealthy person who hates the country and government that allowed him to become rich.He's not one of you, or one of us.He's a pampered elitist who believe in freedom of speech for like-minded people only (case in point...he threatened to sue anyone who criticized his movie). ... Read more

Product Description

• The government has been seized by a ne'er-do-well rich boy and his elderly henchmen . . .
• Our great economic expansion is unraveling faster than a set of Firestones . . .
• Our water is poisoned, the ozone's in shreds, and the SUVs are advancing like a plague of locusts . . .

The polls indicate that 60 percent of Americans are "upset or angry" about this land in which we now live -- a land where crooked courts select the president and money rules the day. So if you're feeling the same way and you're wondering what's going to give out first -- the economy, Dick Cheney's pacemaker, or your new VW Beetle -- here's the book for you.Amazon.com Review
Stupid White Men, Michael Moore's screed against "Thief-in-Chief" George Bush's power elite, hit No. 1 at Amazon.com within days of publication. Why? It's as fulminating and crammed with infuriating facts as any right-wing bestseller, as irreverent as The Onion, and as noisily entertaining as a wrestling smackdown. Moore offers a more interesting critique of the 2000 election than Ralph Nader's Crashing the Party (he argued with Nader, his old boss, who sacked him), and he's serious when he advocates ousting Bush. But Moore's rage is outrageous, couched in shameless gags and madcap comedy: "Old white men wielding martinis and wearing dickies have occupied our nation's capital.... Launch the SCUD missiles! Bring us the head of Antonin Scalia!... We are no longer [able] to hold free and fair elections. We need U.N. observers, U.N. troops." Moore's ideas range from on-the-money (Arafat should beat Sharon with Gandhi's nonviolent shame tactics) to over-the-top: blacks should put inflatable white dolls in their cars so racist cops will think they're chauffeurs; the ever-more-Republicanesque Democratic Party should be sued for fraud; "no contributions toward advancing our civilization ever came out of the South [except Faulkner, Hellman, and R.J. Reynolds]," because it's too hot to think straight there; Korean dictator Kim Jong-il "has got to broaden himself beyond porn and John Wayne" by watching better movies, like Dude, Where's My Car? (which contains "all you need to know about America"). Whatever your politics, Stupid White Men should make you blow your stack. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1126)

came on time, as described
my book came in good time & in the condition described by seller. i would definitely order from this seller again.

Ten years on....
"Stupid White Men: ...and other sorry excuses for the State of the Nation!" by Michael Moore is an interesting book.This book is more about what was/is wrong with our country and how both parties are guilty of causing it.It is also a call to take back our country one step at a time.This book was written pre 9/11.

Michael Moore throughout this book takes the time to disprove some of the myths some of us live with and possibly believe.He pulls no punches he points out the problems with both the Republicans and Democrats and shows the Clinton's actions were not that much different then George W. (see pgs. 209-228, Democrats DOA).

Even though it was written almost 10 years ago it still has a lot to say to both the right and the left the Democrats, the Republicans, the Independents, and the Tea baggers.I would highly recommend reading this book.

Great!
Thanks Mr. Moore! See also George and Condi: The Last Decayed: A Collection of Poems from the Last Decade Beaver Tales and a Canada Goosing: Poems Illustrating a Uniquely Canadian Perspective (See ArtisanPacificPublishing Website).

Micheal Moore is a Good, Cool, Smart, Caring, White, Dude
I just read this book in 2010, after some important moments have long past, but it still has some relevance to the present and makes a good historical reference of late 90s to 2001 before 9/11. A very informative book I must say.

I agree with most of what Mike says. Bush did scam himself into office. That the US is an idiot nation, demonstrated by people voting for bush in 2004 after scamming himself into office, unable to connect the dots to 9/11, and starting a revenge war in Iraq on fictitious WMDs. That African Americans are pretended to be doing fine is also true. I believe in his assessment about Russia, that many Democrats are similar to Republicans, and other facts.

I don't agree with Mike on a few issues and I'm white. If recycling is a scam I believe it's no reason not to separate the plastic, glass and what not since recycling can only get done if all parties do their part, so just because one group may not be doing it's part does not mean that we all should give up, but does mean that something needs to be done to get these non compliant groups to get with the program. I don't believe that switching to bottle water, because tap water has some contaminants, is good (the plastic is not environmentally friendly) and I'm sure that bottled water is also contaminated if tap water already is. I don't believe that more women being born than men is nature's way of eliminating men. Some can even argue that it is nature's way of increasing the human population (polygamy for example).

I'm mixed with Mike about beef and Bill Clinton. It's good to give up on beef (cattle farming is not environmentally friendly) as he has done, but I don't believe in his reasons for it, though it doesn't matter as the ends are just. I'm not sure about all his assessments about Bill Clinton. He tried to pass some health care reform for example. I agree though that Clinton also did many bad things. I'm happy that Hilary did not become president.

The book cites many references, so you know Mike is not making up stuff as the conservative critics claim, so there is no need to read "Michael Moore Is a Stupid Fat White Man", unless you are a conservative.

Has anyone caught the unintentional irony?
I'm sure Micheal Moor did not think this one through:He is on the cover of a book entitled "Stupid White Men". How appropriate! Of stupid white men, he is their Grand Poobah!

When God was handing out brains in Heaven, Michael thought He said "trains" and stepped aside!

I can't wait for the overdue and deserved death of Liberalism/atheism/communism, and this book will be one more giant step toward the cemetary.

... Read more

Product Description
A perennial favourite, "Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West" is a user-friendly guide to over 300 species of plants geographically ranging from Baja California to Alaska. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Excellent book.
Beyond useful. Packed full of information, sordid (but intriguing/useful & necessary) details that make clear what you want & need to know. The author is well studied & experienced on his subject & laces his work with humor that makes this book so much more fun to read & use. This book's value cannot be measured in monetary value. A must have essential for all herbalists, botanists/ethno-botanists & plant enthusiasts alike. 10 out of 5 stars.

Great info!
I like this book a lot, and I appreciate the style that Mr. Moore uses. He just cracks me up! One of the things that I find very appealing in this book is the comprehensive information that Mr. Moore offers, along with his own experiences with the plants. I wish it were a book that would help me identify plants better. The graphics are not conducive for someone like me to use it to identify plants in the wild. But if I know what I am looking at it is easier.

Beloved book teaches well
Author writes in accessible and entertaining style even with technical content. Very thorough book and I have not seen another that even compares. If you want to know about medicinal plants in the northwest, this is THE book to read!

A Revolutionary Book
Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West has been the book I most often refer to when trying to treat a certain ailment or disease.
I came across this book when I attended the California School of Herbal Studies in California.Moore's ability to pinpoint specific uses of herbs, but at the same time his ability to admit to being wrong is what attracts me so much to his herbals (not to mention his humorous and quirky writing style).I was once told that Moore was one of the few herbalists who have doctors running up to his front door asking for answers.I have no idea if this is true considering the stubbornness of most M.D.'s, but it wouldn't surprise me considering the extent of his knowledge. I can't recommend this book enough.

I love moore
I live by this book.It is a little technical sometimes but I love the author's humor and his indepth research.a wonderful book that is easy to look things up in.just love moore.haven't found a more complete book yet. Reverend Z ... Read more

Product Description
This title includes letters from service people and their families to Michael Moore from Iraq and Afghanistan together with an introduction by Michael Moore. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (143)

This Is Necessary Reading
I found this book in all places, The Dollar Tree where everything is a dollar and it was remaindered from the publishing house because it is 4 years old. I don't remember seeing it back in 2004 but I am glad that I found it. I have seen his movies, "Farenheit 9/11" and "Sicko" (couldn't finish that one because it literally made me sick to my stomach when hearing about the state of our health care industry). I like Michael Moore. It takes a lot of guts to produce movies that provide the truth which is sorely lacking in today's mainstream media.

I didn't expect this book to wallop me with a punch. These letters from men, women, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers ... are heart-wrenching and poignant. Most of them had voted for Bush in his first election and now they were fighting against his re-election in 2004. It's a shame that they didn't get their wishes ... because as we all know Bush got "re-elected" again in spite of those veterans and families' efforts to spread the truth about the real reason why they were sent overseas to Iraq. These are letters from everyone who woke up and realized that they were lied to and purposely misinformed ... they are angry and sad and ready to fight for the truth.

I wish I had read this book four years ago. I knew early on that we, Americans, were lied to and misinformed about the reasons why we went to war and even today, there is no end in sight for bringing our soldiers home. It would have been nice to know that my husband and I weren't the only ones who believed that ... it would have been nice to know that Michael Moore had written books like this one. I just finished this book this morning and I plan to keep it for my sons so if they ever decide to go to war for our country, they will at least question the reasons why we're going to war. This book is a must-read for every American who wants to be informed about the state of affairs in foreign policy ... these soldiers' voices and their families' are important to hear.

11/6/08

funny but scary
he kept it funny while telling the dark and horrible truth, not for everybody but if you find humor in irony than this is a good read

USA back to consciousness
I do not pretend that Michael Moore is the archetype of the American citizen. I do appreciate many of his books and films such "Bowling for Columbine" and "Farenheit 9/11".
Michael Moore does not put himself in the big show of a mediatic war. He publishes letters from soldiers, veterans of a non-told war, coming or not coming (family). The facts are terrible. There are more soldiers having Post traumatic stress disorders in the 4 years of the Iraq war than in the total years of the Vietnam war.

The picture is clear : the military engagement in Iraq was mislead on false facts; known by many countries such as France which was despised (traitor, coward etc.). USA live a real drama.

The Words of Soldiers
For the record, Michael Moore is the fellow who put this book together, through his invitation to soldiers to write to him.Mr. Moore, as we all know, is a polarizing figure who you either hate or love, for your own reasons, and he's the guy who came up with the idea for this book.The real authors of this book, though, are the soldiers who responded to his invitation and wrote back about their feelings of our military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.This book really belongs to them and their honesty in expressing their thoughts.Now, not all soldiers feel the same way as those who appear in this book, just as there is no clear-cut concensus at home of our military presense in these Middle East countries.Yet I do not believe for one minute that the feelings of these soldiers are just isolated examples from the fringe of our military;when asked to possibly lay down your life for your country, a soldier needs to believe that the cause he is fighting for is good and just, and if there is some question as to the legitimacy of this military operation, soldiers question if their wounding or death would be in vain.Military action was much more clear-cut until about sixty years ago; then our pretense for military operations became progressively more blurry for those out on the battlefield.The soldiers in this book are the real stars of this story: they are the ones with the most to lose and the ones who see the what is really going on in the countries under siege, plus they are the ones who know best about the good or bad that we are creating in these countries.Michael Moore, for his part in the authorship of the book, has put together the book and then has ask the ultimate question: given our blurry pretense for military operations in the Middle East for the last five years, will we (or should we) ever be trusted again when we say that we need to go to war?It's quite a good question, based on the e-mails of those who have been asked to fight.

A Non-Fiction Account
Michael Moore says that he does non-fiction, unlike some people who make up stories about WMDs in Iraq to justify a war which is really aimed at filling the pockets of individuals with vested interests in a "liberated" Iraq.

This book is a collection of letters from soldiers at the frontline of the war in Iraq. There are also letters from the soldiers' families and veterans. Moore aims to inform the American public about what the soldiers feel. They are proud to serve, but they also want to know exactly what they are fighting for when there are no WMDs and liberating the Iraqi people is none of America's business.

Michael Moore's powerful words: "They served so that wedon't have to. They offer to give up their lives so that we can be free. It is, remarkably, their gift to us. And all they ask for in return, is that we never send them into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. Will they trust us again?"

Titles of letters include:
"War slaves"
"I feel like I have blood on my hands"
"Obvious ulterior motives"
"There is no excuse for this war"
"Where are the WMDs? Why are we over in Iraq?"
"I call myself an American"

This book is so important at a time when the mainstream media in the US was totally one-sided in favour of the war. I could have given it 5 stars alone for content, but to be honest, I was little bored towards the middle and had to skip some letters before coming to the end. The worst thing is, this book didn't manage to convince enough people not to re-elect George Bush. Is it because people didn't know or they just didn't care?

This book is outdated. Reading it totally will not give the same impact, the hope and despair felt by the first readers before the elections. I hope that almost everyone in America realises by now that this war was a mistake from the start. ... Read more

Product Description
Imagine. . . waking up the CEO of a car alarm company with the sound of a dozen car alarms going off outside his home. . . sending someone in a chicken suit to volunteer his crime-fighting abilities to local authorities. . .hiring a chorus line to sing songs of tolerance to the KKK. . .

Michael Moore, creator and host of the Emmy Award-winning TV Nation series, did all that - and a lot more.Daring to turn this country on its ear with outrageous, irreverent stunts, Moore went in search of his own brand of gentle justice.

In Adventures in a TV Nation, he recounts some of the show's most memorable episodes, including the CEO Challenge - sure they can run huge corporations, but can the CEO of Phillip Morris roll a cigarette; has Baron Hilton ever made a bed; can the Chairman of Citibank use an ATM? Moore and Company set out to see if your average CEO really knows his product.

Also included on this audio are some of the ones that kissed the cutting room floor. Though TV Nation got a lot of leeway, there were some subjects the networks felt were too racy to air, like the man in search of “small” sized condoms, a re-enactment of the LA Riots (if Civil War fanatics do it, why can't we?), and a “where are they now?” segment on the key players in the Savings and Loan Scandal.

Always willing to question authority, confront ignorance, and lampoon societal mores, Michael Moore, Kathleen Glynn, and the TV Nation team will have you in stitches as they careen down the highways of America trying to make it a better'and a funnier'place to live. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

TV Nation - Different From the Nation's Usual TV Shows
I can't say that I remember much of Michael Moore's show "TV Nation."After reading the book of show it was created and the content of its episodes, missing the show is definitely my loss.The creativity of the individual pieces in the show, displaying the humor, in-your-face confrontation with a smile and making a point at the silliness of people's actions is not something that you'd find on many, if any, newsmagazine shows.Moore took a proactive approach to many of his pieces, being on screen to help move the story's action in the way that would be most enlightening and create the most exposure.A couple of favorite pieces sited in the book: the farewell tour for Communism, and the guy who shredded checks at the Heritage Institute.The book, while not seeming to be a complete history of the show, is worth reading for its laughs, creativity in shows and for showing how TV could be if TV producers allowed themselves to take chances/go out on a limb into stories that may be somewhat uncomfortable to others.It's a very entertaining book.

Light but readable
I am a huge fan of Michael Moore but sometimes he seems to like getting new products out on the market without putting the proper amount of work into the product.

In this book, you need to have watched the TV Nation series before reading the book as the knowledge from those shows (brilliant shows by the way) means that you can understand this book.

For people not lucky enough to be able to buy a copy of the tapes (they seem to be rare these days), then you will read this book and wonder why Moore is so light in the writing. Lots of photos and some humour but nearly at the level of Stupid White Men.

Readable nevertheless for the Moore devotees.

Brevity is the soul of wit
Brevity is the soul of wit. Each segment of this TV show was allotted 8 minutes. I think that's what Michael Moore forgot at some point after 1995. When to stop talking.

I didn't see ROGER AND ME in 1989. I found the DVD in China almost 15 years later. My first exposure to Michael Moore was through this TV show. At that time, I'd left my working class roots behind to become a homeowner and a businessman. I'd all but abandoned my writing, and I rarely even read. When my mind was working, it was working for the company. When it was too tired, there was TV. The glistening idiot box. Yeah buddy, I was a citizen of the TV nation.

This show absolutely cracked me up. He went in, skewered someone in "the machine" (big business, rich folks, government) and then he was outta there. Each episode lasted 60 minutes, 45 without commercials, and had at least 5 segments, 8 minutes each. Brevity for the short attention span of the TV nation. And hey, 8 minutes is enough.

For example, "Love Night." 8 minutes, 4 hate groups as targets. The TV Nation Gay Men's Chorus serenades North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms by singing "What The World Needs Now Is Love." It doesn't matter which side of this debate you're on. The skit is absurd, hilarious, and only about 2 minutes long. In this particular example, as in so many others, cops are involved.

As a two-minute bit, it's hilarious. As a feature film like FAHRENHEIT 911, I suppose we get a long-winded political history and a blunt object that polarizes people so badly that I lost 100 subscribers simply by reviewing it.

It's easy to say those people weren't gonna buy my books anyway, and they weren't, but the divisiveness reminds me of George Wang's life during the Cultural Revolution, as described in BETWEEN TWO WORLDS. It's crazy.

Back to TV NATION. You know I've been reviewing some hefty tomes lately. I needed a break. This is it! Something I can scatter across several evenings without losing anything. It's probably better that way, in fact, to avoid the redundancy of seeing too many episodes compressed into a single sitting.

So, if you're in the mood for a short story collection instead of a novel, and you want some irreverent humor that'll crack you up, this is the book to get.

When Michael Moore was funny...
When this show first aired as a summer replacement many years ago, I could not believe that NBC (and then Fox) would put Michael Moore's commie self on national television, but they did. When I saw this book I wanted to find out how this decision was made.

I found out, and you can, too. This book is for people who think Dilbert has sold out, and that the proletariat will eventually rise up to overtake the means of production. Even with the recent strong reaction to our policies in Iraq and New Orleans, this outcome still seems mighty remote...

Michael Moore is gifted, persistent, and wrong about everything. His is the voice of a victimized America - offended and self-pitying, but with a good reason. Enjoy this book as much as I did. Once voices like his are silent, we're greatly diminished as a nation, TV nation or not.

And you can get the communist party's website URL from the appendix for the price of the softcover.

Compelling and Provocative
Creator Michael Moore's Adventures in a TV Nation chronicles the best episodes of this most radical experiment in mainstream television broadcasting. The Gay Men's Chorus serenades the home of Senator Jesse Helms from his front lawn. Janeane Garafolo and a small army of riffraff storm the public-yet-exclusive beach of Greenwich, Connecticut. A benefit concert is staged to raise funds for corporate welfare. An Emmy-nominated black actor and a convicted white felon see who can catch a cab faster in New York City. A red 18-wheeler emblazoned with the Soviet hammer and sickle freights Communist paraphenalia across the country, stopping at church socials, PTA functions, and Jerry Falwell's church en route. If you're a Michael Moore fan... I highly recommend this one. ... Read more

Product Description

Watching Michael Moore in action—passing off manipulating facts in Bowling for Columbine, spinning statistics in Stupid White Men and Dude, Where's My Country?, shamelessly grandstanding at the Academy Awards, and epitomizing the hypocrisy he's made a king's fortune railing against—has spurred authors David T. Hardy and Jason Clarke to take action into their own hands. In Michael Moore Is a Big Fat Stupid White Man, Hardy and Clarke dish it back hard to the fervent prophet of the far left, turning a careful eye on Moore's use of camera tricks and publicity ploys to present his own version of the truth.

Customer Reviews (695)

Micheal Moore is a Good, Cool, Smart, Caring, White, Dude
This horrible pile of manipulated trash is not only a waste of paper, but I feel sorry that I have wasted my precious time on it. The mind is a terrible thing to waste!

I read this piece of junk from the library because I would not spend money on to buy it.
Reading this book, I found the authors really made empty arguments and based the book on taking cheap shots at Moore. It is obvious the author's trying to cash in on Moore's recent success, but will never come even close to Moore's success and talents.

While I'm sure the right has decent arguments against Moore, but doing it like this just pushes us with an open mind further in the direction of the left. Combat Moore in his own court! Don't resort to antics most of us haven't seen since we left the schoolyard playground. Base your arguments more on fact than on slander.

So many patriotic people see America as this ideal and perfect place and Michael Moore is telling them "not so" and they can't accept that the government is corrupt and selling out the future of ordinary Americans.

well written and TRUTHFUL
This book finally puts into words all the frustration the silent majority of not only Americans but english speakers around the globe feel towards this pompous airhead.The book articulately and comprehensively exposes moore's work as nothing more than shallow populist lies. A must read!

Huckster Exposed
Yeah, the title for this book could have been better. However, it does get your attention. I think this book does a good job of looking into Michael Moore's motives for making his movies. Also shows how he distorts the facts to reach a conclusion that he already has. Then he tweaks whatever information that he gets to come to his own forgone conclusion. Dresses up the final product and treats it like a documentary when it is really just bad humor. And he makes a ton of money doing it. Only in America !

If you read the book you will look at Michael Moore and his pseudo-documentaries from a very different perspective. Especially if you have gone to one of his movies and thought how great it was. Though I doubt that many of those folks will buy this book. Too bad.

Good job with the book. I enjoyed reading it. Kept my interest and gave me a few good laughs as well.

Facts are liberal kryptonite
Aside from the insane leftists in education and Hollywood, most Americans have seen through the hatred and hypocrisy of the millionaire Halliburton-stock-holding Mikey Moore. If not, this book puts the proverbial nail his big coffin. There are so many great FACTS that prove Moore to be an incompent, angry liar. This continues today with his current films and $40,000 speeches. Moore is not adept at covering his tracks when he alters newspaper articles, dubs in words to speeches, etc. It's a shame some leftists love his propaganda so much they'll believe anything. Sound familiar?

And to those who gave this book one star, as others have wisely indicated, it's rather apparent that most of the negative reviews come from people who obviously have not read the book. So true. I gave this book to many left wing friends and NONE would read it. Typical.

The Awful Truth - Michael Could Be A Liar!!!!
It took me quite a while to get this book discovered (more than two and a half years after its release). I already owntwo books (Stupid White Man and Dude, Where's My Country?) and a DVD (Fahrenheit 9/11) by Michael Moore. When I bought them all, it was not necessarily because I'm his fan and agreed with everything he said, but I thought that his pieces of work could be at least entertaining, for talking about controversial subjects which were en vogue.

This time around, I decided to see the flip side of the coin by buying "Michael Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Man". At first I thought I would only see pointless and personal attacks to Michael, but the book actually does much more than that.

Basically, this book shows that every Michael's piece of work since his early years with Roger & Me is just a compilation of disconnected and unrelated facts assembled in such a way that the general public would believethe opposite. Throughout the reading, it is possible to find the most polemic points of each of Michael's works with explanations on how a certain "lie" became a "truth" after a good dose of manipulation. The book even approaches the details on what makes a documentary a real documentary and as it seems, none of Michael's movies can really be called a documentary, but just dumb entertainment.

If I remember well the details on how Michael's books and movies were made, the revelations from this book make a lot of sense to me, although I'm still not able to determine who's telling the truth in the end of the day.Maybe both, maybe none.

The only conclusion I'm able to draw is: regardless if this is a book which reveals the real truth about Michael or not, it entertained me a lot, just like Michael's ones. So my five-star rating is for the entertainment this book provided me, not necessarily because I believe in those presented assumptions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Get to Know Michael Moore
Quick easy reading book.Fun, humor, and truth in the Michael Moore style.If you like him, you will like the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Americans today are working harder, working longer and yet for most of us, in this time of ruthless downsizing and political cronyism, job security, a decent standard of living and a comfortable retirement are becoming harder and harder to find. In this brilliantly funny and right-on-target diatribe, irreverent everyman Michael Moore gives his own bold views on who's behind the fading of the American dream.

Whether issuing Corporate Crook trading cards, organizing a Rodney King Commemorative Riot, sending a donation to Pat Buchanan from the John Wayne Gacy fan club (which was accepted) or trying to commit former right-wing congressman Bob Dornan to a mental hospital, the in-your-face host of TV Nation and director/star of Roger & Me combines an expansive wit with biting social commentary to make you think and laugh at the same time.

In hardcover, Downsize This! stormed the bestseller lists of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle and others. Given Michael Moore's enormous -- and growing -- constituency, this trade paperback edition brings his unique perspective on the nation to an even greater audience.Amazon.com Review
Who says the left wing doesn't have a sense of humor? Maybe itdoesn't, but documentarian Michael Moore sure does--Exhibit A wasRoger & Me; B was the ill-fated TV Nation; and C is1997's print skirmish Downsize This! Moore's politics arerabidly liberal, populist, and anti-big business--about what you'dexpect from the former editor of Mother Jones. While thisrestricts his audience to Americans on the left side of the aisle, forthem Downsize This! will be a chance to point and laughhysterically (if ruefully) at the clique of rich white guys who runeverything.

Moore is at his best as a prankster, whether it'strying to see if Pat Buchanan will take a campaign donation from theJohn Wayne Gacy Fan Club (yes) or whether he can have Bob Dornancommitted to an insane asylum based on his bizarre behavior (no, butit was close). Moore is one of our sharpest satirists, and DownsizeThis! makes one wish he would write a "Sorry State of theUnion" every year. But only if it doesn't cut into hismoviemaking--that's too big a price to pay. --Michael Gerber ... Read more

Customer Reviews (142)

The More Riches, the More Stitches
The nice thing about coming late in a book review is that my review will show up first for a long time to come. This book is about the problems facing the nation back in the mid 1990s. Unfortunately those same problems continue to plague us today and not much has been done to make things better.

The biggest issue covered is how big companies fire many workers when at the same time the companies are reporting huge profits and getting all kinds of tax breaks, hence the more riches, the more stitches. These companies contribute to the campaigns of politicians and the politicians support big business back with the tax breaks. This scenario is all wrong and destroys people's lives.

Other issues covered that are still plaguing us today include racism, immigration, abortion, and the little differences between the two major parties.

The book is funny at times, easy to read, and suggests ways for fighting back, such as running for local office and doing some whistle blowing.

Written with humor
If you are a reader looking for unadulterated Communism, this book would be of interest to you.

Fast, Fun & Furious
This is a humorous, satirical look at the USA circa 1997.Liberal activist (or propagandist) Michael Moore skewers usual suspects like Newt Gingrich, big corporations, and vitrolic Republicans.But he also takes on more liberal targets like Union leaders and President Bill Clinton (while confessing a crush on Hillary).Moore is bitingly effective when he attacks corporate welfare and downsizing, and when he describes the plight of laid-off workers forced into short-term contract work and low-paying, zero-benefits temp jobs (Manpower, Inc. is one of his targets).At times he's downright mischievous, like when he sends checks to GOP candidates from phony organizations like Pedophiles for Free Trade.I often enjoy the author's deliciously proprangadistic style, but that's also his weakness. Sometimes he simply goes too far - like advising a Rodney King commemorative riot in wealthy Beverly Hills.Still, this is humurous, informative and thought-provoking,It's also worth reading by liberals, conservatives, skeptics, centrists, and anybody seeking fast, fun, furious satire.

nothing but propaganda
The only thing that needs to be downsized is the stupendous gut of Michael Moore

1 star

Love it
I just love Michael Moore. Have a few books by him. He is frank, to the point and raises questions. He makes you sit and think and ask questions yourself. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides a wealth of information about herbal remedies native to the Southwest, infused with wisdom, wit, and personal reminiscences. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great book.Loved it.Keeping for reference,
Good reference, limited in size of contents but very useful information.Should be used by someone familiar with herbs.Herbs should not be used haphazardly.

Book is a wonderful resource
This is an extremely unique book written by one of the foremost experts of herbal medicine - specifically herbs of the southwestern United States. It is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in this topic.

Clear good info
Very much liked the traditional, latin and common names for each herb.

Good book.
Most of Michael Moore's books I would put a 10 on, and I would rate it a 10 as far as the information goes, and the cross referencing, etc. For usability, while good, its not what I would call superior.

It is a fun book to go thru and read about how another culture uses various plants and herbs. Not to mention the names they have for them, and that is one of the reasons I originally purchased the book and still pick it up and go thru it. If you like knowing the Spanish names for plants, along with the English I would highly recommend it for that purpose. Michael Moore does a wonderful job on all his books, he is another author who's books are always at the top of my list of books to buy. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (16)

non-surfer delights
As someone who has never been on an actual surfboard (the crack to the back of the head off a skateboard was a big deterrent...), I was very curious to learn about the History of Surfing. I did learn some history and some facts, but what I really got was a story. Michael Scott Moore's prose had a way of making me feel like I was listening to a fascinating travel adventure, not always clean and definitely not easy, but true; real. The passion for surfing has also stimulated my imagination - I very much want to be as close to flying as a human can be without a pair of wings now! I recommend this read to anyone who enjoys the darker corners of experiences had, truly a delight.

Excellent history of surfing
My surfs and I thought it would be interesting to find out more about the history of the sport.I was amazed at just how far back it goes.I also found it fascinating what different stigmas actually have been attached to surfing through the years.This book has it all from missionaries "cleaning" up the Hawaiian natives to modern day.This was an enjoyable and educational book.

Some history... with a little anthropology and a lot of travelogue
To be honest, I think that the appeal of Sweetness and Blood is limited to those serious or semi-serious surfers.It's a great read if you're familiar with surfing people and their environs, but at times it seems to develop a little bit of "been there... saw that... got the t-shirt" feeling.

For me, the "how" is too often cloaked in mystery and legend.There is some history, but the true interest in this is the way that surfers adapt to local cultures and lifestyles (like surfing on a German canal).If there is one recurring theme throughout though, it's that the single development most responsible for the spread of surfing around the world, it's the invention of the wet suit!The Germans, English and Scandinavians will second that notion, I'm sure.

Surfing but much more
Thinking this book was mainly about surfing and surf culture I was surprised, happily, to find it covers much, much more.It's fascinating, enjoyable, informative and great fun to read.I would recommend it to just about everyone!

Amazing Reporting
I wrote this review for San Francisco Magazine.

The king of Morocco institutes a surf school to combat Islamic radicals. Punks in Munich dodge local police to surf urban rivers. A Cali fornian doctor sneaks surfboards into Palestine for the Gaza Surf Club. What's happening here? When you think about America's global pop-culture influence, Beyoncé, George Clooney, and Michael Jordan come to mind long before Kelly Slater. But journ alist, avid surfer, and former SF Weekly theater critic Michael Scott Moore does a fine job of arguing that surfing--yes, as in Point Break--may be our country's most influential cultural export. (The sport is Polynesian in origin, but its modern incarnation is distinctly American.) Moore travels to unlikely surf destin ations worldwide, dredging up fascinating historical tidbits and interviews, many of which debunk long-held myths: For example, the first surfers to ride waves in Indonesia were not Australian hippies in the '60s but an American couple, Bob and Louise Koke, in 1936. You don't necessarily come away from Moore's book convinced of his thesis, but his irreverent style and diligent research capture a truer--and sometimes darker--aspect of the surfer's sacred search for the perfect wave.A-

--JAIMAL YOGIS, author of Saltwater Buddha ... Read more

Product Description
Find out how biblical families resolved their conflicts in order to begin the necessary process of healing your own family. The Word of God will help your family. Reading this book, along with the Bible will be time well spent. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (91)

Entertaining read although a smidgen light
This is not a bad read at all. Michael Moore writes in an entertaining and humourous manner that makes one continue to read him.

The book is written in early 2008 when the question of whether Obama or McCain would be President was the crucial one for voters so Moore's book would have been good to use to provide a laugh but it was too light in terms of content to provide anything more than a laugh and to be used as a signpost for more reading on the topic.

Good read as always from Michael Moore.

Good book
i very much enjoyed this book although i wish i would have read this before the 2008 elections.

Expecting more
The book is amusing enough, and it does have a lot of facts, but I just wasn't thrilled with it.I adore my friend Michael, but I was a little disappointed,

very funny look at the election
Michael Moore takes a look at the current election and gives advise about how Barack Obama could win (which he obviously did)and answers questions about the U.S. Government (the one about the hanging chad cracked me up) and also what we should do with Bush on Jan. 20, 2009 (he thinks a purp.walk would be appropriate)

All in all a very funny, entertaining, fast read

Should be called "I Hate America"
I chose to review the man.Marxist, racist, makes American soldiers look like butchers.His "movies" are half truths at best.He has one agenda, and that is himself.This is done by using the fact that americans are too damn lazy to research anything, so they use him to get their opinions.If he hates this country so much, why does he not leave?Oh yea, we have made him millions, which is truly all he cares about. ... Read more

Product Description
Michael Moore fuses the holistic and the scientific to show how to identify and deal with problems concerning the urinary tract. Diet, stress and constitution can all be contributing factors to many difficulties. Remedies are drawn from diet and lifestyle changes, and from safe, simple herbal teas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Packed full of health wisdom well beyond just the U. Track
I learned more from this little volume about health than I've learned from many other much longer books. I appreciated the brevity, clarity, and simplicity of Michael Moore's style---as well as his wry sense of humor. If you are interested in health, let alone herbs, let alone herbs for the urinary tract, I highly recommend this book.

Quick delivery!
I was squite happy with the prompt response to my purchase.Quick delivery, as promised. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a collection of essays written by Moore which form a thorough examination of the theory of criminal responsibility. The author covers a wide range of topics, giving the book a coherence and unity which is rare in assembled essays. Perhaps the most significant feature of this book is Moore's espousal of a retributivist theory of punishment. This anti-utilitarian standpoint is a common thread throughout the book. It is also a trend which is currently manifesting itself in all areas of moral, political and legal philosophy, but Moore is one of the first to apply such attitudes so sytematically to criminal law theory. As such, this innovative, new book will be of great interest to all scholars in this field. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive resource highlights the most recent practices and trends in blended learning from a global perspective and provides targeted information for specific blended learning situations. You'll find examples of learning options that combine face-to-face instruction with online learning in the workplace, more formal academic settings, and the military. Across these environments, the book focuses on real-world practices and includes contributors from a broad range of fields including trainers, consultants, professors, university presidents, distance-learning center directors, learning strategists and evangelists, general managers of learning, CEOs, chancellors, deans, and directors of global talent and organizational development. This diversity and breadth will help you understand the wide range of possibilities available when designing blended learning environments. ?Order your copy today! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

a useful book
Recently my company was considering moving from offering total eLearning to blended learning solutions. I am glad to find this book because it offers both theoretical analyses and success stories from the real world, both of which are needed to convince both internal and external customers why blended solutions can work more effectively.

What amazes me is that after thinking, reading and talking about blended learning for some time, I have come to accept blended learning as common sense because when well designed, it combines the best of online and FTF learning. But I guess many people won't agree, esp. if they haven't read this book yet. Still, I predict blended learning will become more popular in the coming years, and this book will be among the classics for educators and trainers alike.

Why not blend?
In this book, is "blended" creative and critically the depth of the academic reasoning with the corporative perspective oriented to the organizational performance, that is to say, it takes the advantages from the formal learning of the school with the advantages from the informal learning of the daily experiencie mixing the technologies of distance education with classroom. It makes emphasis not only in the quality of the ingredients that are blended but in the "glue" that holds all those pieces together: the interaction. Interaction's quality instructor-learner, learner-content and specially to learner-learner from collaborative learning's perspective allow building effective virtual communities of learning. It is not a recipe for a single dish, because each dish requires its own recipe. This book is oriented towards an approach blend of blends of many dimensions, more appropriate to actual requirements technological and cognitive. The Jay Crooss's question is really appropriate today: "Why not blend?"

The Most Important Educational Trend in Years
'Blended Learning,' buzzword for training that mixes formal face-to-face instruction with computer aided instruction was said by the American Society for Training and Development as one of the top ten trends to emerge in the knowledge delivery industry in 2003. I think that's understating what's going on.

For the first time, the educational system has a way to provide the individual student with instruction that can be exactly tailored to his ability, level, interest and so on. The gifted can go far beyond the standard textbook using the web as an infinite resource. The slower can get additional instruction in areas where he is having a hard time. At the same time, all students are being trained in the use of computers, a skill in its own right that is all but mandatory for the future in any job.

This book summarizes the state of the art as it exists today using institutional models from both industry and educational institutions, 'case studies' from around the world to illustrate in a practical matter what is being done, and some chapters that provide the authors thinking about where blended learning is going.

Anyone working in a teach the teachers environment needs to be aware of these developments which are rapidly growing in importance. ... Read more

Book Description
The Prince & the King presents a series of guided visualizations for men seeking to know themselves better. By combining powerful archetypal images with elements of the father-son relationship, Gurian helps you to transit from the "Prince" stage to the "King". - loving, wise & powerful ... Read more

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"Well written, witty, and wise. Jesse Larner's book goes well beyond its brief: it helps us understand where the left has been going for the last few years, and where it might end up."
—GEORGE MONBIOT, columnist, The Guardian (UK)

"Forgive Us Our Spins is a very smart and well-researched book about the ever-controversial Michael Moore. Larner does a great job at showing why Moore's political and cultural adventures often do more damage than good. And Larner is a man of the left who doesn't make excuses for the right. A concern for decency and the quality of public discussion in this country shine through in this book—a healthy antidote to not just Michael Moore but also the intellectual clowns of the right, like Ann Coulter and Michael Savage. Let's hope Larner's voice is heard by many."
—KEVIN MATTSON, professor, Ohio University, and author of Upton Sinclair and the Other American Century

As the 2004 presidential election approached, Michael Moore repeatedly expressed confidence that his film Fahrenheit 9/11 would have a powerful impact on the outcome of that bitter contest. The talking cogs in the right-wing media machine were happy to agree with him. They foresaw that Moore and his flawed, shallow, and factually sloppy film would be major factors in motivating and energizing their base.

Left, right, or in between, everyone has an opinion about Michael Moore. His books reside on bestseller lists, his films are unfailingly controversial, and his politics range far to the left of any elected official on the national scene. So why is he the only voice capable of bringing progressive issues and ideas to public awareness? What message should the Democratic Party glean from his immense popularity? What impact will Moore and his work have on the future of the left?

In Forgive Us Our Spins, you'll meet Michael Moore as you've never seen him before. This witty, well-written critique of America's most commercially successful radical examines Moore's life and work, reveals the personal history that underlies his political passions, and takes a clear-eyed look at his controversial trouble with the facts.

Love him or hate him, you can't deny Michael Moore's political stature. Is he the champion the left has long yearned for or the kind of friend that's more dangerous than an enemy? Read Forgive Us Our Spins, then decide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Over-the-top liberal bias
I finished reading this book before the recent revelations that the insurance industry coordinated an attack on Moore. The reason I found the book very monotonous is that the author just repeats the most common liberal lies. Larner does not proceed logically, so the book just becomes one shrill screech after another.

Critical but fair evaluation
Is it possible to be a liberal and still not like Michael Moore? Yes, and Jesse Larner shows how. Larner shows Moore to be a deceptive, dishonest propagandist. For example, on Farenheit 9-11, Moore absurdly tries to show pre-war Iraq under Saddam to be an oasis of peace and freedom. Larner shows Moore to be the Ann Coulter of the left, someone who makes a lot of money out of shock value, but who has little constructive to offer. I highly recommend this book.

A troubling look at a complicated man
I was drawn to this look at Michael Moore because the author, like me, shares many of Moore's liberal/left views, yet, as the title suggests, he also is bothered by both Moore the person and Moore the filmmaker. I wanted to find out why.
Larner is persuasive in delineating some of Moore's deceptive methods. Example:Contrary to the whole implication of "Roger and Me", Moore did indeed interview Roger Smith of GM - and at length. As Larner suggests, this and other misrepresentations (like the obvious distortion of depicting happy Iraqi children in Saddam's Iraq, pre-war) serve to give ammunition to the Right and detract severely from his cause.
But in the end I was disappointed with this book since it fails to give Moore enough credit for the enormous success he has had in shining light on injustice in our country. At the end, my clear impression was that Larner basically supports our war in Iraq and can't forgive Moore for "Fahrenheit 9/11".
So read this book, if you wish, but then do as I did and also read "Citizen Moore" by Roger Rapoport, another liberal.Rapoport also describes Moore's shortcomings, but he does the great service of quoting both people who know Moore, like Ralph Nader, and Moore himself at great length. He editiorializes very little and lets the reader sort out for him/herself the strengths and weaknesses of this very talented and complicated man.

a book about us
Jesse Larner's book is a refreshing page-turner and (despite his occasional lapse into outright silliness over blogs) largely right on the money.It is refreshing because here is someone who believes in social justice; believes in unions; is outraged at Caterpillar because it is a union-busting company (don't hear that very often, do you?); offers the most plausible explanation of how the 2000 Election was stolen before a single voter walked into the voting booth I have ever heard--and who is outraged at Michael Moore.

But this book is not really about Michael Moore.It is about us.It is about a political debate that "is couched in terms of blind ideology"; about a culture that prefers the simple, emotionally satisfying story about "good and evil" to an honest analysis (or even an assessment of our own interests).In such a political culture, when the time is right (and after the 2000 Election, 9/11, and the Iraq War the time was very right indeed), a Michael Moore, an Ann Coulter, and many, many others find a receptive audience, can become quite wealthy and can come to "represent their" side in the popular imagination, at home and abroad.

And that, as Larner points out is destructive indeed.It is destructive in the first instance to "their side" but in the long-term it is destructive to the whole point of politics which is supposed to be about reasonable, pragmatic compromise.And so I highly recommend that you read this book.Not so much for what it says about Michael Moore but for what it says about us.

An enjoyable read...
Jesse Larner's "Forgive Us Our Spins" is a refreshingly even handed response to the Age of the Polemic. The media culture at this point in history is filled with single-minded, manipulative propagandists bent on dividing American voters. Whatever the intent behind it, the tactics of such a movement are questionable. There are additional questions of what effect all this media razzle dazzle has on elections and the culture overall.

In his book, Larner takes on the left's most ubiquitous spin master, Michael Moore. I am a fan of Michael Moore which is why I read the book. Larner is perhaps less of a fan, but he does seem to share Moore's politics. He looks into Moore's background, analyzes his films, and takes a more general look at Moore's place amidst other notable polemicists like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh.

The book works best as a companion to Moore's work. I was less compelled by it as a comprehensive look at the media age. Larner doesn't seem to have any conclusive data about the effect of Moore's work (and political presence) on the elections. At best he can speculate, a limitation he seems to acknowledge. He ends the book by challenging collegues on the right to do similar investigations into their polemicists. Fair enough.

Larner doesn't dwell enough onwhat I consider to a be an important point: there is a difference between polemics that take on institutional power and those that attack people. Michael Moore is a critic of consolidated power and its representatives. His right wing collegues often attack minority groups who have very little power, like gays and lesbians, single mothers, and illegal immigrants. That is a rather large distinction in my mind.

I don't know if this book will add much to the national discourse, but it is an enjoyable read. ... Read more

Product Description
The follow-up anthology to Wired Hard #2 of erotic science fiction with gay male themes and characters. These scorchingly hot tales of men on men are far from ordinary, with a touch of futurism here, a dab of fantasy there. Wired Hard 3 brings you everything from high tech interplanetary street hustlers to a gay Cupid. Includes 12 stories! Simon Sheppard, Gary Bowen, Jay Starre, S. S. Moses, Karl-Rene Moore, David Macmillan, Jon-Emory Michael, Jack Dickson, Tim Chadwick, Michael Barnette, Jason Fortenbraugh, and Chris Jones. [Warning: Explicit sex.]
... Read more