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Reading
List
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August
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The book "Sick" by Jonathan Cohn shares many personal stories of our current system's failing and best of all it addresses how we should go about solving the national healthcare debate. There are some great solutions and facts in the book that will help all of in our understanding of this complex crisis.
Talking Points: None
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July
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Amid rising public concern about the proliferation and privitization of prisons, and their promise of enormous profits, world-renowned author and activist Angela Y. Davis argues for the abolition of the prison system as the dominant way of responding to America's social ills. "In thinking about the possible obsolescence of the prison," Davis writes, "we should ask how it is that so many people could end up in prison without major debates regarding the efficacy of incarceration."
Talking Points: None
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June
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Marshall takes on some of the biggest names in liberal thought and leaves them bleeding from their own contradictions and posturing. Should be an interesting discussion as this author takes on a lot of the issues driving the '08 eleciton and the candidates we have been presented by the DNC.
Talking Points: None
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May
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This is not a book for car nuts, it is really a book about the issues around electric and other alternative fuel vehicles that is a very hot national topic right now. I hope you can attend another rich discussion on a topic that is being discussed quite a bit here in Michigan and around the country.
Talking Points: None
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April
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The March book is "The Undercover Economist" from NPR commentator Tim Harford.
It's an economist's version of The Way Things Work, this engaging volume is part field guide to economics and part expose of the economic principles lurking behind daily events, explaining everything from traffic jams to high coffee prices. The Undercover Economist is for anyone who's wondered why the gap between rich and poor nations is so great, or why they can't seem to find a decent second-hand car, or how to outwit Starbucks. This book offers the hidden story behind these and other questions, as economist Tim Harford ranges from Africa, Asia, Europe, and of course the United States to reveal how supermarkets, airlines, and coffee chains?to name just a few?are vacuuming money from our wallets.
Talking Points: None
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February
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The February book is Barbara Ehrenreich's "Bait and Switch." Ehrenreich is a sociologist who mimics the same kind of approach as John Howard Griffin undertook in "Black Like Me." The idea of the sociologist learning through adopting the life of the character of study. Ehrenreich goes on a professional job search and experiences what it means for a professional woman to undergo the trials of search for employment.
Talking Points: None
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January
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With the Democrats now in a leadership position, it is a great time to learn what one of the thought leaders is considering about the direction of the Democratic Party and how Dems can influence society.
From the Washington Post, "Obama offers a more sensible perspective on 'how we might begin the process of changing our politics and our civic life.'"
Talking Points: None
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November
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We have been reading a wide variety of topics as of late and, in doing so; have taken a short break from the political landscape. Our October meeting is a return to our roots, where we will be reading one of the most compelling political, socio-economic books of 2006. Kevin Phillips' book "American Theocracy" covers the "potent change in this country?s domestic and foreign policy making?religion?s new political prowess and its role in the projection of military power in the Middle Eastern Bible lands?that most people are just beginning to understand."
Talking Points: None
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August/September
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One of the worst natural disasters on our soil happened in August 2005 without an effective response from our government.
This book follows the trials and tribulations of one family's experience through the Katrina hurricane pointing out
issues around poverty, government assistance, and personal sacrifice.
Talking Points: None
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July
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So you think you know everything about everything. Our July book, as Monty Python might say, "and now for something completely different," is a unique read from W. Hodding Carter entitled "Flushed: How the Plumber Saved Civilization." It's summer time and time for some light reading while you sip your lemonade and enjoy the beautiful Michigan humidity. Carter's book is a whimsical historical look at plumbing. Yes, it is a bit different from our normal political neurosis.
Talking Points: (Will be distributed one week prior to the meeting.)
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June
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One of my favorite things about this club is the variety of books and topics we cover. June is no exception. We will be reading a book that came recommended by one of our regular members. It looks into the plight of the small farmer and its impact on our economy, quality of food, and other topical issues surrounding the agriculutural industry. The book is George B. Pyle's "Raising Less Corn, More Hell: The Case for the Independent Farm and Against Industrial Food."
Talking Points: None
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May
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Our May selection is a fictional novel "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe. I forgot to mention this book at the meeting so I hope people have an interest in doing something different for May. It is a short and captivating book from what I've been told. I think we will find it very interesting and relevant. Occasionally, we may read a piece of fiction provided it has significant political and social aspects to the story. In this 1958 novel from Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, written just two years before Nigeria declared independence from Great Britain, the book eschews the obvious temptation of depicting pre-colonial life as a kind of Eden. Instead, Achebe sketches a world in which violence, war, and suffering exist, but are balanced by a strong sense of tradition, ritual, and social coherence. His Ibo protagonist, Okonkwo, is a self-made man. The son of a charming ne'er-do-well, he has worked all his life to overcome his father's weakness and has arrived, finally, at great prosperity and even greater reputation among his fellows in the village of Umuofia. Okonkwo is a champion wrestler, a prosperous farmer, husband to three wives and father to several children. He is also a man who exhibits flaws well-known in Greek tragedy.
This novel came highly recommended from a person I met who works for Woman for Woman International, a charity designed to help women who are affected by wars and civil conflicts. The volunteer I met said the book tells what she has seen internationally so well that it should be considered non-fiction. After this May selection we will probably read a book on U.S. war policy. Hopefully, Achebe's book will provide some great insight into how policy affects indigenous people.
Talking Points: None
Supplemental Materials for those who
would like some additional opinions and information relating
to this title:
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March/April
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Our April reading is John Nichols and Robert W. McChesney's book "Tragedy and Farce: How the American Media Sell Wars, Spin Elections, and Destroy Democracy." A media that is more consumed with the sensational rather than serious news is causing a major problem in our democratic process. Some politicians have learned how to take advantage of this flaw and are finding outlets to drive wedge issues, inaccuractly paint the opposition, and enhance bias while looking objective.
Talking Points: Please view
this document to see what we will be discussing
Supplemental Materials for those who
would like some additional opinions and information relating
to this title:
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February
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If you attended the January meeting where we discussed Jim Wallis' "God's
Politics" you had an opportunity to enjoy a fun, lively, and compelling
discussion with a lot of different viewpoints. I personally loved what everyone
brought to the discussion and have already heard some great feedback from those
who atttended.
At the close of the meeting we chose John Perkins' "Confessions of an
Economic Hit Man" as our next book for the February meeting.
From the publisher, "In this riveting personal story, John Perkins tells of
his own inner journey from willing servant of empire to impassioned advocate for
the rights of oppressed people. Covertly recruited by the United States National
Security Agency and on the payroll of an international consulting firm, he
traveled the world-to Indonesia, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Iran,
and other strategically important countries. His job was to implement policies
that promoted the interests of the U.S. corporatocracy (a coalition of
government, banks, and corporations) while professing to alleviate
poverty-policies that alienated many nations and ultimately led to September 11
and growing anti-Americanism."
We hope you get a chance to join the discussion. Please RSVP and thanks to
everyone for making this one of my favorite social/learning events.
Talking Points: (Will be distributed one week prior to the meeting.)
Supplemental Materials for those who
would like some additional opinions and information relating
to this title:
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December/ January
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The book for our January meeting is Jim Wallis' much lauded title "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It." Several members have recommended this book so we hope many of our less frequent members will get a chance to join in for a lively discussion after the holidays. Another great thing about waiting to read this title is it is in both paperback and audio CD.
Talking Points: (Will be distributed one week prior to the meeting.)
Supplemental Materials for those who
would like some additional opinions and information relating
to this title:
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November
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This month we are reading Newt Gingrich's new book outlining the 21st Century's Contract for America. Sun Tzu wrote, "If you know yourself as well as your enemy, you will come out of one hundred battles with one hundred victories." It is the philosophy and desire to better understand the other side that led to our decision to read Gingrich. Howard Dean has shared a couple times how he learned a lot from Gingrich's marketing in the early nineties.
Talking Points: Please view
this document to see what we will be discussing
Supplemental Materials for those who
would like some additional opinions and information relating
to this title:
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September/October
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C-SPAN's BookTV bus is stopping by to film the group as we discuss Robert Reich's Reason. Reich covers several issues the Democratic Party needs to address to win in the upcoming 2006 and 2008 election cycles.
No Supplemental Materials were created for this meeting.
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August
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We had another great meeting in July and hope some of you who couldn't make it get a chance to attend the August discussion where we will discuss Pietra Rivoli's "The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy : An Economist Examines the Markets, Power, and Politics of World Trade."
This interesting, captivating book takes you through the journey of making a t-shirt in today's global economy. Rivoli also brings in personal stories from a variety of people involved in the production, transportation, and sale of a simple t-shirt. As one Amazon reviewer put it "the book will make you think no matter where you stand on the issue of global trade."
Talking Points: (Will be distributed one week prior to the meeting.)
Supplemental Materials for those who
would like some additional opinions and information relating
to this title:
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June/July
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For the July book club meeting we will be discussion Paul Hawken's seminal work The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability. After Diamond's book on societal collapse due to poor regulation and economic planning, we hope to gain some positive perspective and action on how best to affect environmental change. Hawken thinks both environmentalist and business leaders need to be at the same table to come to a workable solution for all. Please join us.
Talking Points: Please view
this document to see what we will be discussing.
Supplemental Materials for those who
would like some additional opinions and information relating
to this title:
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Agenda
21: The UN's comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally
and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and
Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment. This is
the primary action plan on Sustainability. Read it to understand where this
debate is today.
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ICLEI: Local
Governments for Sustainability is an International organization assisting
local communities and governments with implementing a global sustainability
model. Check out the US
Matrix showing examples our country has adopted using Agenda 21.
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Sustainable
Development: The Evil Facing America an article by Tom DeWeese of the
Ultra-Conservative (so far Right they attack Republicans) Think Tank American
Policy outlines a criticism of the Sustainable Agenda. If you want to
know how the Far-Right is attacking Hawken's sustainability model, then read
this article. DeWeese is also marketing videos on this topic to further
spread his message to his supporters.
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The
Anti-Communitarian League web site is a very interesting spin of the
Far-Right (sorry I stumbled on some great counter arguments against
Sustainability that shows the thinking of the other side in its rawest
form.) Basically, this site says Sustainability or The US Constitution
which one do you choose? They are opposed. More fear and more
misunderstanding of what Sustainability is all about. Enjoy it if you can
stomach it.
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April/May
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How humans act in the global environment is not lost on Left political circles. Jared Diamond
applies why our actions are important and how such actions can impact a society's success or failure.
Diamond is not an environmentalist so he does tend to be brief about environmental principles and
assumptions, but he is a historical anthropologist who understands how history can teach us lessons.
Talking Points: (Will be distributed one week prior to the meeting.)
Supplemental Materials for those who
would like some additional opinions and information relating
to this title:
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March
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February
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January
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