Book Review - Leviathan (Penguin Classics) by Thomas Hobbes

		Leviathan (Penguin Classics) by Thomas Hobbes
Great Content, Masterful Philosopher, Horrible Read, March 1, 2014 If you could bifurcate the review, I would give 5 stars to Hobbes and his brilliant discourse on the need and virtues of absolute government, the need to have church subordinate to state, and the challenges of religion and ecclesiastical governance in general. Mind you, I don't agree with Hobbes on most of his points - especially the absolute government aspects - but find his thinking clear and cogent, well argued, and a fascinating read. Unfortunately, that brilliance is clouded and pained by Penguin's translation of the text, which retains all of it's 17th Century English "Charmme". Penguin "thoughtfully" left in all the 400+ year old spelling, grammar, capitalization and vocabulary that renders the text (already 700+ pages) a pretty ponderous read. The accessibility to the brilliance of the argument is masked by the need to translate into modern English. If this would only have been translated into modern English (and I believe some versions of Leviathan are), this would have been an extraordinary 5 star read. Read Hobbes. In a modern translation. And if there isn't one, I might just have to do it myself...

A Christmas message

• “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” – Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States
  
  Regardless of your religious or ethnic background, the spirit of giving, peace and goodwill celebrated on Christmas Day is a potent reminder. A reminder that the phrase “…on Earth, peace and goodwill towards men…” wasn’t conditioned on race, creed, color, age, nationality, orientation or any other definition.
  
  As you think about the Christmas Holiday, I would like to share and encourage the spirit of inclusion, tolerance and acceptance represented by the Christmas Spirit.
  
  As the wise man said 47 years ago:
  
  “He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more!” 

   

   

  

Book review - The Victory Lab by Sasha Issenberg

Politics has evolved over the last 50 years from a spray and pray approach to campaigning to a much more data and demographically driven approach. Using various measurements and statistics, political campaigns are able to use rifle shot precision to target those voters that are most likely to swing an election result with a message that will resonate.

The book discusses this approach in detail - in fact, too much detail. Some of the history - especially the early days through the 1992 campaigns - is interesting. The remaining parts of the book - taking the reader to the 2012 election - becomes redundant and bogs down in names and seemingly endless and forgettable small vignettes and names of data scientists and rehashed approaches.

There is very little actionable here for most political scientists. It is more of a history than a how-to. Probably a useful read for someone fascinated by the subject, but for the casual reader, the book gets quite dry after the first 200 pages.

Book Review - On Writing Well by William Zinsser

The biggest concern I have in writing this review is that I now realize how poorly I write. "On Writing Well" should be required reading for everyone age 16 and up. The author's style embraces humor and directness. Where many books could read like a textbook, Zinsser's conversational tone and relaxed style feels like a personal discussion with the author. I expected a slog, and instead experienced an enjoyable journey through non-fiction writing techniques.

Zinsser is modern and relevant. Even though this is an older edition of the book, it covers modern technology and the challenges of tech slang and new vocabulary. There is nothing truly dated in the book other than the copyright.

It's been 20 years since I took a writing course, and this book was my gateway back to writing improvement. I am amazed at how bad my writing became, and how difficult it is to truly write well. When you read this book, you will experience the same realization, and I will guarantee that your writing will improve - if only through self-awareness. It is a must read.

 

Book Review - Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

I had the opportunity to hear the author speak, and following his very interesting and enlightening presentation, decided to buy the book. As with most authors, the presentation given largely paralleled the book, and both were worth the time. Ferrazzi overcame what would for many people appear to be near insurmountable odds to become a master networker and a professional with an Ivy League education and a Rolodex that would be the envy of most executives.

The book explains many of his approaches - and the fundamental one that resonates best with this reader is that you will do better when you figure out how to make others more successful and connected than you do by driving your own agenda. As noted by many of the other reviewers, nothing here is overly shocking or groundbreaking. Yet, it is well written, concise, and peppered with anecdotes and stories that bring the techniques to life. It also bears mentioning that the approaches - when used with this reader - can range from endearing to enraging. I am not a huge fan of the telephone ambush or the hyper persistent pest. However, the book will provide valid techniques, tactics and give comfort to the novice networker.
 

Book Review - Why Liberty by Tom Palmer

This collection of essays provide a nice introduction into libertarian political philosophy. Written at a level that can be read and understood by the typical student or adult, the book eschews big words and intellectualism for practical and approachable big picture views of how libertarian policy works in theory and practice.

The anthology of essays, many written by students, cover elements as diverse as the history of the movement, healthcare, tax policy, free trade, slavery and minimal government. Some of the most persuasive arguments for the support of a minimalist state as well as positioning libertarianism as a centrist political position are well articulated in the book.

Short (less than 150 pages) and well edited by Tom Palmer, this is a must read for anyone looking to explore a libertarian worldview.

 

2014 Election Issues - Civil Liberties and Gun Control

Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make.  An individual's right to make choices in life is protected by our constitution and is a foundational freedom.  It does not mean that I necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices. As Voltaire is supposed to have said: "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Full freedom of expression and opposition of government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology is critical to the functioning of our Republic. 

Additionally, the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others is a protected constitutional right. The government should take no actions which either aid or attack any religion.

The Fourth Amendment grants citizens to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records.

Government exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property.  Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Actions that actually infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes.We need to look at all criminal statutes on the books and repeal those that do not fit that description, while vigorously enforcing laws that protect the rights of our persons, home and property. 

When a crime is committed, part of the punishment needs to provide for restitution to the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. The constitutional rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. 

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.

Having been raised in a home where abortion was viewed as a moral wrong, I do not and cannot personally support abortion.  However, recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, I believe that government should neither support nor oppose (through funding or otherwise) abortion - and leave this difficult question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

It is critical that the individual right recognized by the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms not be infringed, and individuals exercising their rights of self-defense should not be punished for it. Law abiding citizens should not have their right to own, buy, sell, transfer or carry firearms taken from them.