Good introduction, 17 Nov 2008
There is a difference between political philosophy, ideology and day to day politics.

Political philosophy asks question about the nature of democracy, the ideal state and the like. This subject is the most abstract and introduces ideas such as how should citizens be organsed and education (see Plato) or why do we need a sovereign (see Hobbes) or are we entitled to private property (see Locke).

Ideology (which is sometimes a dirty word) tends to refer to braod political ideas such as Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism and Communism. Ideology tends to form a bridge between political philosophy (and other subjects such as history, economics and sociology) and day to day politics. Whatever they claim, most parties tend to draw on a broad 'ideology' which helps them in their formulation of an election manifesto which also tempers the party's ideology to meet practical needs and to stand a reasonable chance of getting elected.

Political philosophy is essentially an abstract subjects quite removed from day to day politics and concerned with debating the meaning of fundlemental political concepts and the nature of man and society.

This is a good but basic introduction.




Unsatisfying, 28 Feb 2008
This was a mildly interesting introduction to an interesting subject. I felt it rambled a little, and was disappointed that it did not introduce any key theorists and missed out some key concepts (sovereignty, for example). The book only really succeeds in raising some key questions, but does not introduce one to the multifarious attempts to answer these questions. Furthermore, Miller's own opinions (given heavy weighting in the final chapters) are not particularly interesting or radical, and given the nature of the medium (a 'very short introduction') would be better presented elsewhere.

If you want a very short introduction to the subject of political philosophy, a good alternative is the 'Politics: A Very Short Introduction', which I have found to be a much better read and much more thorough.

Gets my vote, 03 Dec 2007
Short, readable, crystal clear. Politics books are often a hard climb or at least a tedious trudge. This is a smooth glide by comparison.
Miller states at the start that he wants to avoid jargon and academic mumbo-jumbo and he does just that, taking us on a concise but enjoyable tour of political philosophy. He begins at first principles and gradually builds his arguments, with deftly chosen examples adding depth and colour to the text. The logical progression means that the focus is firmly on democracy (since that is the political system that makes most sense to most people nowadays). Although he presents (and knocks down) arguments for alternative systems, don't expect great forays into the pros and cons of ideologies like Communism or Fascism. Among the concepts he tackles are justice, social justice, freedom, multiculturalism, feminism and globalisation.
The thoughts of political philosophers such as Plato, Rousseau, Locke, Mill and Rawls are woven beautifully into the flow, compact nuggets that reinforce rather than halt the narrative. Anyone who has tried to trawl through Rawls in the original will whisper a quiet thankyou when they arrive at the digested wisdom of Miller's version.
Miller makes a promise at the outset and he sticks to it: to be scrupulously fair and present all sides of each argument, even if the reader doesn't share his own leanings (which I sensed were slightly leftward).
In sum, it would be hard to do better than this for a well-reasoned introduction to (or refresher course in) political philosophy.

perfectly pocket-sized political philosophy, 17 Jul 2007
This little book is a quick yet thoughtful work-through of some major areas of political philosophy. Whats great is that you can finish it in a single evening and know loads more than before. David Miller is a very good writer and his narrative style sweeps the reader along as he investigates political issues. Miller has refrained from cluttering his text with unnesscary jargon. Throughly enjoyable and refreshingly different to other introductions, this is simply a very good book. I loved the way in which Miller used a 14th century painting ('Allergory of Good and Bad Government' by Lorenzetti) to act as a discussion point for opening up political philosophy becuase it really added flavour to proceedings.

It should be warned, however, that this book is far from comprehensive even in an 'introduction' sense of the word. Instead of being written with a quick synopsis of all the major discussion, Miller instead opts for a continuous narrative that works through *some* of the major topics of the discipline. Interestingly, Miller's book is not so much an illustration of the debates as it is an argument for his personal conclusions through illustrating these debates. This is not neccessarily a bad thing, though, as it still serves to introudce the reader to the fundamentals and still allows the reader to come to their own opinons. In many ways, it is actually quite nice to see conclusions made for once rather than questions left unanswered as coming to conclusions is also a part of the philosophical discipline.

I have given this book five stars becuase its great, but it should be realised that other, more comprehensive introductions could prove better due to more depth. However, it undoubtedly introduces political philosophy in an excellent manner, especially considering its length (130 or so very small pages). It is, afterall, meant to be a very short introduction and it scores five stars when taken as such.

Life saver, 07 Dec 2003
I have always had my doubts about chosing to study political philosophy at university like i did. Although i enjoy the subject, i have never fully understood the principals...until now! David Miller uses great explanations of the ideas behind the subject so that everyone can understand. It is short, but he has used the space well and now i am well on course for a first!

Good introduction, 17 Nov 2008
There is a difference between political philosophy, ideology and day to day politics.

Political philosophy asks question about the nature of democracy, the ideal state and the like. This subject is the most abstract and introduces ideas such as how should citizens be organsed and education (see Plato) or why do we need a sovereign (see Hobbes) or are we entitled to private property (see Locke).

Ideology (which is sometimes a dirty word) tends to refer to braod political ideas such as Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism and Communism. Ideology tends to form a bridge between political philosophy (and other subjects such as history, economics and sociology) and day to day politics. Whatever they claim, most parties tend to draw on a broad 'ideology' which helps them in their formulation of an election manifesto which also tempers the party's ideology to meet practical needs and to stand a reasonable chance of getting elected.

Political philosophy is essentially an abstract subjects quite removed from day to day politics and concerned with debating the meaning of fundlemental political concepts and the nature of man and society.

This is a good but basic introduction.




Unsatisfying, 28 Feb 2008
This was a mildly interesting introduction to an interesting subject. I felt it rambled a little, and was disappointed that it did not introduce any key theorists and missed out some key concepts (sovereignty, for example). The book only really succeeds in raising some key questions, but does not introduce one to the multifarious attempts to answer these questions. Furthermore, Miller's own opinions (given heavy weighting in the final chapters) are not particularly interesting or radical, and given the nature of the medium (a 'very short introduction') would be better presented elsewhere.

If you want a very short introduction to the subject of political philosophy, a good alternative is the 'Politics: A Very Short Introduction', which I have found to be a much better read and much more thorough.

Gets my vote, 03 Dec 2007
Short, readable, crystal clear. Politics books are often a hard climb or at least a tedious trudge. This is a smooth glide by comparison.
Miller states at the start that he wants to avoid jargon and academic mumbo-jumbo and he does just that, taking us on a concise but enjoyable tour of political philosophy. He begins at first principles and gradually builds his arguments, with deftly chosen examples adding depth and colour to the text. The logical progression means that the focus is firmly on democracy (since that is the political system that makes most sense to most people nowadays). Although he presents (and knocks down) arguments for alternative systems, don't expect great forays into the pros and cons of ideologies like Communism or Fascism. Among the concepts he tackles are justice, social justice, freedom, multiculturalism, feminism and globalisation.
The thoughts of political philosophers such as Plato, Rousseau, Locke, Mill and Rawls are woven beautifully into the flow, compact nuggets that reinforce rather than halt the narrative. Anyone who has tried to trawl through Rawls in the original will whisper a quiet thankyou when they arrive at the digested wisdom of Miller's version.
Miller makes a promise at the outset and he sticks to it: to be scrupulously fair and present all sides of each argument, even if the reader doesn't share his own leanings (which I sensed were slightly leftward).
In sum, it would be hard to do better than this for a well-reasoned introduction to (or refresher course in) political philosophy.

perfectly pocket-sized political philosophy, 17 Jul 2007
This little book is a quick yet thoughtful work-through of some major areas of political philosophy. Whats great is that you can finish it in a single evening and know loads more than before. David Miller is a very good writer and his narrative style sweeps the reader along as he investigates political issues. Miller has refrained from cluttering his text with unnesscary jargon. Throughly enjoyable and refreshingly different to other introductions, this is simply a very good book. I loved the way in which Miller used a 14th century painting ('Allergory of Good and Bad Government' by Lorenzetti) to act as a discussion point for opening up political philosophy becuase it really added flavour to proceedings.

It should be warned, however, that this book is far from comprehensive even in an 'introduction' sense of the word. Instead of being written with a quick synopsis of all the major discussion, Miller instead opts for a continuous narrative that works through *some* of the major topics of the discipline. Interestingly, Miller's book is not so much an illustration of the debates as it is an argument for his personal conclusions through illustrating these debates. This is not neccessarily a bad thing, though, as it still serves to introudce the reader to the fundamentals and still allows the reader to come to their own opinons. In many ways, it is actually quite nice to see conclusions made for once rather than questions left unanswered as coming to conclusions is also a part of the philosophical discipline.

I have given this book five stars becuase its great, but it should be realised that other, more comprehensive introductions could prove better due to more depth. However, it undoubtedly introduces political philosophy in an excellent manner, especially considering its length (130 or so very small pages). It is, afterall, meant to be a very short introduction and it scores five stars when taken as such.

Life saver, 07 Dec 2003
I have always had my doubts about chosing to study political philosophy at university like i did. Although i enjoy the subject, i have never fully understood the principals...until now! David Miller uses great explanations of the ideas behind the subject so that everyone can understand. It is short, but he has used the space well and now i am well on course for a first!

A non-ficton book that;'ll scare you a bit., 06 Oct 2003
I give this five stars, because it is a must read book. However, first let me warn you that the cosmetic appearance of this book might turn off many discerning readers. The sensational title, the quoted reviews from not-quite-reputable magazines, the wildly speculative sounding description on the back cover, and some interior illustrations such as the photo of a FATE magazine might give a very erroneous impression of the importance of the book. I myself probably would've avoided buying it had I seen it at a book store, and that, my friends, would have been a mistake.

Jerry E. Smith presents us first with the facts and details of the HAARP installation in Alaska. He tells us fairly what the government says is its intended purpose. He painstakingly explains the technology of the project and what the capabilities are, and this is indeed where the book starts getting scarier than Stephen King. At least, we can dismiss Mr. King's works as fiction. Not so with this book.

Mr. Smith's style is often conversational, and yet always authoritative. He keeps the reader interested throughout the book, and gives hooks at each chapter's end telling us what's coming up ahead. He's easy with the science, thank goodness, since I was no star in high school or college science. He does refresh our memories of what scientific knowledge is necessary for understanding HAARP and it's potential uses and effects. Even if HAARP is an innocent little scientific research toy that our tax dollars are making possible, it can inadvertently do our environment irreparable harm. And if anybody decides to take advantage of the capabilities that Mr. Smith proves it has, it can affect our weather, wipe out the user's enemies (real or fancied), and--according to the technological evidence presented, affect our thinking, our perceptions, our minds.

In building this case, Mr. Smith is fair in citing sources. If a statement is supposition, not supported by hard evidence, the author tells us so. I considered some of the sources rather unreliable, but even if one dismisses questionable sources, those that are inarguable are enough to be convincing that HAARP is a dangerous presence.

Once establishing the dangerous potential of HAARP, Mr. Smith examines possible conspiracies. We're quite aware of the New World Order. Some feel this projected world government would better the world, end war, enable us to solve Earth's problems. Others fear the emergence of leaders and controllers who are more concerned with wielding power than with the public good. Such a group would naturally have access to HAARP and it's capabilities. Many Christians are convinced that a benevolent appearing but actually malevolent "Anti-Christ" who has extraordinary powers and will inspire worship from the masses will be in control of the New World Order. HAARP has the potential of giving such a leader these powers. Many of us feel such a leader or group of leaders would be inevitable in any New World Order whether or not one gives any credit to Biblical prophecy. And the author emphasizes what any conspiracy type group could use HAARP for. There are many other conspiracy theories detailed here, some being wildly speculative. However, Mr. Smith explains that in this section of the book, he is merely pointing out possibilities that many see as threats regardless of his personal opinion.

Finally, we're inspired to action. Smith tells us just what each of us can do as individuals. Each of us has a sphere of influence in which we can influence others, and each person one of us influences will in turn influence others, so each individual can make a difference. The writer shows ways to do this.

In summation, I realize there will be readers who will find ways to dismiss the allegations here. And this is certainly a right each has. However, even if you reject the book's premise, even if you take the opposite side and decide to defend HAARP, you will have learned from this book and you will have been inspired to take a stand.

I do rather hope you decide to read this book.

An important and well researched book, 20 Aug 2003
So many conspiracy books are based on unsourcable accounts, suppositions and pure speculation. It is a refreshing change to read a book which is both well researched, and based on proven, scientific fact.

The writing style and broad coverage of the issues, both technical and ethical, surrounding the HAARP project make this book an important yet easily digestible work. This only serves to make the conclusions of this book even more shocking. Investigative journalism at it's best.

A truely FANTASTIC read., 10 Jan 2001
Jerry E.Smith's account of the HAARP project, it's links to other conspiracy's and how it governs our day to day life is truely remarkable. Thought provoking and a certain must for all. I look forward to reading all the books by Jerry E. Smith.

psychotronics/ good information, 30 Apr 1999
book is a good read- lots of information found that is NOT covered ever in the mainstream and alternative presses on isssues of psychotronics and electromagnetic mind control

One of the MOST important books you'll read this Century, 14 Mar 1999
I highly recommend Jerry's book - it is extraordinary - investigative journalism - at its best. It goes beyond 5 stars - I rate it 17 stars - hands down - because of the quality of research within its pages and the evidence presented that does in fact mark HAARP as the ultimate weapon of conspiracy. I am confident that Jerry's HAARP book is destined to become a great scientific classic. It delves into HAARP's nature, tells its history and makes one wonder ... is HAARP a Star Wars device? ... Science out of Control? ... Is it to control mass minds? ... Will it even control our weather? ... Your head will spin at the possibilities as many applications for HAARP technology are explored here. This book is presented in an intriguing style - it's easy to read and will stimulate your thinking - you'll want to read this book from cover to cover and not put it down. Read this fascinating story on HAARP & become informed. If you value your personal library - this book absolutely belongs there.

Good introduction, 17 Nov 2008
There is a difference between political philosophy, ideology and day to day politics.

Political philosophy asks question about the nature of democracy, the ideal state and the like. This subject is the most abstract and introduces ideas such as how should citizens be organsed and education (see Plato) or why do we need a sovereign (see Hobbes) or are we entitled to private property (see Locke).

Ideology (which is sometimes a dirty word) tends to refer to braod political ideas such as Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism and Communism. Ideology tends to form a bridge between political philosophy (and other subjects such as history, economics and sociology) and day to day politics. Whatever they claim, most parties tend to draw on a broad 'ideology' which helps them in their formulation of an election manifesto which also tempers the party's ideology to meet practical needs and to stand a reasonable chance of getting elected.

Political philosophy is essentially an abstract subjects quite removed from day to day politics and concerned with debating the meaning of fundlemental political concepts and the nature of man and society.

This is a good but basic introduction.




Unsatisfying, 28 Feb 2008
This was a mildly interesting introduction to an interesting subject. I felt it rambled a little, and was disappointed that it did not introduce any key theorists and missed out some key concepts (sovereignty, for example). The book only really succeeds in raising some key questions, but does not introduce one to the multifarious attempts to answer these questions. Furthermore, Miller's own opinions (given heavy weighting in the final chapters) are not particularly interesting or radical, and given the nature of the medium (a 'very short introduction') would be better presented elsewhere.

If you want a very short introduction to the subject of political philosophy, a good alternative is the 'Politics: A Very Short Introduction', which I have found to be a much better read and much more thorough.

Gets my vote, 03 Dec 2007
Short, readable, crystal clear. Politics books are often a hard climb or at least a tedious trudge. This is a smooth glide by comparison.
Miller states at the start that he wants to avoid jargon and academic mumbo-jumbo and he does just that, taking us on a concise but enjoyable tour of political philosophy. He begins at first principles and gradually builds his arguments, with deftly chosen examples adding depth and colour to the text. The logical progression means that the focus is firmly on democracy (since that is the political system that makes most sense to most people nowadays). Although he presents (and knocks down) arguments for alternative systems, don't expect great forays into the pros and cons of ideologies like Communism or Fascism. Among the concepts he tackles are justice, social justice, freedom, multiculturalism, feminism and globalisation.
The thoughts of political philosophers such as Plato, Rousseau, Locke, Mill and Rawls are woven beautifully into the flow, compact nuggets that reinforce rather than halt the narrative. Anyone who has tried to trawl through Rawls in the original will whisper a quiet thankyou when they arrive at the digested wisdom of Miller's version.
Miller makes a promise at the outset and he sticks to it: to be scrupulously fair and present all sides of each argument, even if the reader doesn't share his own leanings (which I sensed were slightly leftward).
In sum, it would be hard to do better than this for a well-reasoned introduction to (or refresher course in) political philosophy.

perfectly pocket-sized political philosophy, 17 Jul 2007
This little book is a quick yet thoughtful work-through of some major areas of political philosophy. Whats great is that you can finish it in a single evening and know loads more than before. David Miller is a very good writer and his narrative style sweeps the reader along as he investigates political issues. Miller has refrained from cluttering his text with unnesscary jargon. Throughly enjoyable and refreshingly different to other introductions, this is simply a very good book. I loved the way in which Miller used a 14th century painting ('Allergory of Good and Bad Government' by Lorenzetti) to act as a discussion point for opening up political philosophy becuase it really added flavour to proceedings.

It should be warned, however, that this book is far from comprehensive even in an 'introduction' sense of the word. Instead of being written with a quick synopsis of all the major discussion, Miller instead opts for a continuous narrative that works through *some* of the major topics of the discipline. Interestingly, Miller's book is not so much an illustration of the debates as it is an argument for his personal conclusions through illustrating these debates. This is not neccessarily a bad thing, though, as it still serves to introudce the reader to the fundamentals and still allows the reader to come to their own opinons. In many ways, it is actually quite nice to see conclusions made for once rather than questions left unanswered as coming to conclusions is also a part of the philosophical discipline.

I have given this book five stars becuase its great, but it should be realised that other, more comprehensive introductions could prove better due to more depth. However, it undoubtedly introduces political philosophy in an excellent manner, especially considering its length (130 or so very small pages). It is, afterall, meant to be a very short introduction and it scores five stars when taken as such.

Life saver, 07 Dec 2003
I have always had my doubts about chosing to study political philosophy at university like i did. Although i enjoy the subject, i have never fully understood the principals...until now! David Miller uses great explanations of the ideas behind the subject so that everyone can understand. It is short, but he has used the space well and now i am well on course for a first!

A non-ficton book that;'ll scare you a bit., 06 Oct 2003
I give this five stars, because it is a must read book. However, first let me warn you that the cosmetic appearance of this book might turn off many discerning readers. The sensational title, the quoted reviews from not-quite-reputable magazines, the wildly speculative sounding description on the back cover, and some interior illustrations such as the photo of a FATE magazine might give a very erroneous impression of the importance of the book. I myself probably would've avoided buying it had I seen it at a book store, and that, my friends, would have been a mistake.

Jerry E. Smith presents us first with the facts and details of the HAARP installation in Alaska. He tells us fairly what the government says is its intended purpose. He painstakingly explains the technology of the project and what the capabilities are, and this is indeed where the book starts getting scarier than Stephen King. At least, we can dismiss Mr. King's works as fiction. Not so with this book.

Mr. Smith's style is often conversational, and yet always authoritative. He keeps the reader interested throughout the book, and gives hooks at each chapter's end telling us what's coming up ahead. He's easy with the science, thank goodness, since I was no star in high school or college science. He does refresh our memories of what scientific knowledge is necessary for understanding HAARP and it's potential uses and effects. Even if HAARP is an innocent little scientific research toy that our tax dollars are making possible, it can inadvertently do our environment irreparable harm. And if anybody decides to take advantage of the capabilities that Mr. Smith proves it has, it can affect our weather, wipe out the user's enemies (real or fancied), and--according to the technological evidence presented, affect our thinking, our perceptions, our minds.

In building this case, Mr. Smith is fair in citing sources. If a statement is supposition, not supported by hard evidence, the author tells us so. I considered some of the sources rather unreliable, but even if one dismisses questionable sources, those that are inarguable are enough to be convincing that HAARP is a dangerous presence.

Once establishing the dangerous potential of HAARP, Mr. Smith examines possible conspiracies. We're quite aware of the New World Order. Some feel this projected world government would better the world, end war, enable us to solve Earth's problems. Others fear the emergence of leaders and controllers who are more concerned with wielding power than with the public good. Such a group would naturally have access to HAARP and it's capabilities. Many Christians are convinced that a benevolent appearing but actually malevolent "Anti-Christ" who has extraordinary powers and will inspire worship from the masses will be in control of the New World Order. HAARP has the potential of giving such a leader these powers. Many of us feel such a leader or group of leaders would be inevitable in any New World Order whether or not one gives any credit to Biblical prophecy. And the author emphasizes what any conspiracy type group could use HAARP for. There are many other conspiracy theories detailed here, some being wildly speculative. However, Mr. Smith explains that in this section of the book, he is merely pointing out possibilities that many see as threats regardless of his personal opinion.

Finally, we're inspired to action. Smith tells us just what each of us can do as individuals. Each of us has a sphere of influence in which we can influence others, and each person one of us influences will in turn influence others, so each individual can make a difference. The writer shows ways to do this.

In summation, I realize there will be readers who will find ways to dismiss the allegations here. And this is certainly a right each has. However, even if you reject the book's premise, even if you take the opposite side and decide to defend HAARP, you will have learned from this book and you will have been inspired to take a stand.

I do rather hope you decide to read this book.

An important and well researched book, 20 Aug 2003
So many conspiracy books are based on unsourcable accounts, suppositions and pure speculation. It is a refreshing change to read a book which is both well researched, and based on proven, scientific fact.

The writing style and broad coverage of the issues, both technical and ethical, surrounding the HAARP project make this book an important yet easily digestible work. This only serves to make the conclusions of this book even more shocking. Investigative journalism at it's best.

A truely FANTASTIC read., 10 Jan 2001
Jerry E.Smith's account of the HAARP project, it's links to other conspiracy's and how it governs our day to day life is truely remarkable. Thought provoking and a certain must for all. I look forward to reading all the books by Jerry E. Smith.

psychotronics/ good information, 30 Apr 1999
book is a good read- lots of information found that is NOT covered ever in the mainstream and alternative presses on isssues of psychotronics and electromagnetic mind control

One of the MOST important books you'll read this Century, 14 Mar 1999
I highly recommend Jerry's book - it is extraordinary - investigative journalism - at its best. It goes beyond 5 stars - I rate it 17 stars - hands down - because of the quality of research within its pages and the evidence presented that does in fact mark HAARP as the ultimate weapon of conspiracy. I am confident that Jerry's HAARP book is destined to become a great scientific classic. It delves into HAARP's nature, tells its history and makes one wonder ... is HAARP a Star Wars device? ... Science out of Control? ... Is it to control mass minds? ... Will it even control our weather? ... Your head will spin at the possibilities as many applications for HAARP technology are explored here. This book is presented in an intriguing style - it's easy to read and will stimulate your thinking - you'll want to read this book from cover to cover and not put it down. Read this fascinating story on HAARP & become informed. If you value your personal library - this book absolutely belongs there.

Interesting, Quick Read, Few Faults, 18 Jun 2007
Sauder collects basically all the publically available info re: Underground bases and tunnels. It's outdated, but his second tome likely covers more up to date info. The research itself likely took a lot of time, and it is a very quick read. His writing style is simple and understandable, and he only presents the facts and asks very pertinent questions to which he states he does not know the answers.

There are also tons of pictures, schematics and patents that he has found which are totally worth the price of the book. The info on tunneling technology is also highly interesting as is his listing of 'official' underground installations.

The fault i found with the piece is towards the end he kind of tampers off and it doesn't really 'end' with anything solid. He goes into nuclear testing and EPA programs to monitors human/animal contamination - which is good info, just not really pertinent in a piece about underground installations. He also compares commercial technology and techniques to animal mutilations and alien abductions which is relatively inconclusive, thou the comparisons are interesting in an of themselves.

All in all, worth reading, and it won't take you long.

Good for the serious military bunker researcher, but..., 10 Nov 1998
The book would be much more interesting if the author didn't make such a major effort to link facts & speculation regarding known & suspected hardened military structures (bunkers) with gross speculation regarding UFO conspiracy theories. He amassed a lot of research material regarding bunkers, but it is tarnished by his idle UFO paranoia.

So so, 14 Feb 1998
This book is kinda interesting and not much more than that. In fact the only interesting content is a discussion of tunnel making technology.

Good introduction, 17 Nov 2008
There is a difference between political philosophy, ideology and day to day politics.

Political philosophy asks question about the nature of democracy, the ideal state and the like. This subject is the most abstract and introduces ideas such as how should citizens be organsed and education (see Plato) or why do we need a sovereign (see Hobbes) or are we entitled to private property (see Locke).

Ideology (which is sometimes a dirty word) tends to refer to braod political ideas such as Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism and Communism. Ideology tends to form a bridge between political philosophy (and other subjects such as history, economics and sociology) and day to day politics. Whatever they claim, most parties tend to draw on a broad 'ideology' which helps them in their formulation of an election manifesto which also tempers the party's ideology to meet practical needs and to stand a reasonable chance of getting elected.

Political philosophy is essentially an abstract subjects quite removed from day to day politics and concerned with debating the meaning of fundlemental political concepts and the nature of man and society.

This is a good but basic introduction.




Unsatisfying, 28 Feb 2008
This was a mildly interesting introduction to an interesting subject. I felt it rambled a little, and was disappointed that it did not introduce any key theorists and missed out some key concepts (sovereignty, for example). The book only really succeeds in raising some key questions, but does not introduce one to the multifarious attempts to answer these questions. Furthermore, Miller's own opinions (given heavy weighting in the final chapters) are not particularly interesting or radical, and given the nature of the medium (a 'very short introduction') would be better presented elsewhere.

If you want a very short introduction to the subject of political philosophy, a good alternative is the 'Politics: A Very Short Introduction', which I have found to be a much better read and much more thorough.

Gets my vote, 03 Dec 2007
Short, readable, crystal clear. Politics books are often a hard climb or at least a tedious trudge. This is a smooth glide by comparison.
Miller states at the start that he wants to avoid jargon and academic mumbo-jumbo and he does just that, taking us on a concise but enjoyable tour of political philosophy. He begins at first principles and gradually builds his arguments, with deftly chosen examples adding depth and colour to the text. The logical progression means that the focus is firmly on democracy (since that is the political system that makes most sense to most people nowadays). Although he presents (and knocks down) arguments for alternative systems, don't expect great forays into the pros and cons of ideologies like Communism or Fascism. Among the concepts he tackles are justice, social justice, freedom, multiculturalism, feminism and globalisation.
The thoughts of political philosophers such as Plato, Rousseau, Locke, Mill and Rawls are woven beautifully into the flow, compact nuggets that reinforce rather than halt the narrative. Anyone who has tried to trawl through Rawls in the original will whisper a quiet thankyou when they arrive at the digested wisdom of Miller's version.
Miller makes a promise at the outset and he sticks to it: to be scrupulously fair and present all sides of each argument, even if the reader doesn't share his own leanings (which I sensed were slightly leftward).
In sum, it would be hard to do better than this for a well-reasoned introduction to (or refresher course in) political philosophy.

perfectly pocket-sized political philosophy, 17 Jul 2007
This little book is a quick yet thoughtful work-through of some major areas of political philosophy. Whats great is that you can finish it in a single evening and know loads more than before. David Miller is a very good writer and his narrative style sweeps the reader along as he investigates political issues. Miller has refrained from cluttering his text with unnesscary jargon. Throughly enjoyable and refreshingly different to other introductions, this is simply a very good book. I loved the way in which Miller used a 14th century painting ('Allergory of Good and Bad Government' by Lorenzetti) to act as a discussion point for opening up political philosophy becuase it really added flavour to proceedings.

It should be warned, however, that this book is far from comprehensive even in an 'introduction' sense of the word. Instead of being written with a quick synopsis of all the major discussion, Miller instead opts for a continuous narrative that works through *some* of the major topics of the discipline. Interestingly, Miller's book is not so much an illustration of the debates as it is an argument for his personal conclusions through illustrating these debates. This is not neccessarily a bad thing, though, as it still serves to introudce the reader to the fundamentals and still allows the reader to come to their own opinons. In many ways, it is actually quite nice to see conclusions made for once rather than questions left unanswered as coming to conclusions is also a part of the philosophical discipline.

I have given this book five stars becuase its great, but it should be realised that other, more comprehensive introductions could prove better due to more depth. However, it undoubtedly introduces political philosophy in an excellent manner, especially considering its length (130 or so very small pages). It is, afterall, meant to be a very short introduction and it scores five stars when taken as such.

Life saver, 07 Dec 2003
I have always had my doubts about chosing to study political philosophy at university like i did. Although i enjoy the subject, i have never fully understood the principals...until now! David Miller uses great explanations of the ideas behind the subject so that everyone can understand. It is short, but he has used the space well and now i am well on course for a first!

A non-ficton book that;'ll scare you a bit., 06 Oct 2003
I give this five stars, because it is a must read book. However, first let me warn you that the cosmetic appearance of this book might turn off many discerning readers. The sensational title, the quoted reviews from not-quite-reputable magazines, the wildly speculative sounding description on the back cover, and some interior illustrations such as the photo of a FATE magazine might give a very erroneous impression of the importance of the book. I myself probably would've avoided buying it had I seen it at a book store, and that, my friends, would have been a mistake.

Jerry E. Smith presents us first with the facts and details of the HAARP installation in Alaska. He tells us fairly what the government says is its intended purpose. He painstakingly explains the technology of the project and what the capabilities are, and this is indeed where the book starts getting scarier than Stephen King. At least, we can dismiss Mr. King's works as fiction. Not so with this book.

Mr. Smith's style is often conversational, and yet always authoritative. He keeps the reader interested throughout the book, and gives hooks at each chapter's end telling us what's coming up ahead. He's easy with the science, thank goodness, since I was no star in high school or college science. He does refresh our memories of what scientific knowledge is necessary for understanding HAARP and it's potential uses and effects. Even if HAARP is an innocent little scientific research toy that our tax dollars are making possible, it can inadvertently do our environment irreparable harm. And if anybody decides to take advantage of the capabilities that Mr. Smith proves it has, it can affect our weather, wipe out the user's enemies (real or fancied), and--according to the technological evidence presented, affect our thinking, our perceptions, our minds.

In building this case, Mr. Smith is fair in citing sources. If a statement is supposition, not supported by hard evidence, the author tells us so. I considered some of the sources rather unreliable, but even if one dismisses questionable sources, those that are inarguable are enough to be convincing that HAARP is a dangerous presence.

Once establishing the dangerous potential of HAARP, Mr. Smith examines possible conspiracies. We're quite aware of the New World Order. Some feel this projected world government would better the world, end war, enable us to solve Earth's problems. Others fear the emergence of leaders and controllers who are more concerned with wielding power than with the public good. Such a group would naturally have access to HAARP and it's capabilities. Many Christians are convinced that a benevolent appearing but actually malevolent "Anti-Christ" who has extraordinary powers and will inspire worship from the masses will be in control of the New World Order. HAARP has the potential of giving such a leader these powers. Many of us feel such a leader or group of leaders would be inevitable in any New World Order whether or not one gives any credit to Biblical prophecy. And the author emphasizes what any conspiracy type group could use HAARP for. There are many other conspiracy theories detailed here, some being wildly speculative. However, Mr. Smith explains that in this section of the book, he is merely pointing out possibilities that many see as threats regardless of his personal opinion.

Finally, we're inspired to action. Smith tells us just what each of us can do as individuals. Each of us has a sphere of influence in which we can influence others, and each person one of us influences will in turn influence others, so each individual can make a difference. The writer shows ways to do this.

In summation, I realize there will be readers who will find ways to dismiss the allegations here. And this is certainly a right each has. However, even if you reject the book's premise, even if you take the opposite side and decide to defend HAARP, you will have learned from this book and you will have been inspired to take a stand.

I do rather hope you decide to read this book.

An important and well researched book, 20 Aug 2003
So many conspiracy books are based on unsourcable accounts, suppositions and pure speculation. It is a refreshing change to read a book which is both well researched, and based on proven, scientific fact.

The writing style and broad coverage of the issues, both technical and ethical, surrounding the HAARP project make this book an important yet easily digestible work. This only serves to make the conclusions of this book even more shocking. Investigative journalism at it's best.

A truely FANTASTIC read., 10 Jan 2001
Jerry E.Smith's account of the HAARP project, it's links to other conspiracy's and how it governs our day to day life is truely remarkable. Thought provoking and a certain must for all. I look forward to reading all the books by Jerry E. Smith.

psychotronics/ good information, 30 Apr 1999
book is a good read- lots of information found that is NOT covered ever in the mainstream and alternative presses on isssues of psychotronics and electromagnetic mind control

One of the MOST important books you'll read this Century, 14 Mar 1999
I highly recommend Jerry's book - it is extraordinary - investigative journalism - at its best. It goes beyond 5 stars - I rate it 17 stars - hands down - because of the quality of research within its pages and the evidence presented that does in fact mark HAARP as the ultimate weapon of conspiracy. I am confident that Jerry's HAARP book is destined to become a great scientific classic. It delves into HAARP's nature, tells its history and makes one wonder ... is HAARP a Star Wars device? ... Science out of Control? ... Is it to control mass minds? ... Will it even control our weather? ... Your head will spin at the possibilities as many applications for HAARP technology are explored here. This book is presented in an intriguing style - it's easy to read and will stimulate your thinking - you'll want to read this book from cover to cover and not put it down. Read this fascinating story on HAARP & become informed. If you value your personal library - this book absolutely belongs there.

Interesting, Quick Read, Few Faults, 18 Jun 2007
Sauder collects basically all the publically available info re: Underground bases and tunnels. It's outdated, but his second tome likely covers more up to date info. The research itself likely took a lot of time, and it is a very quick read. His writing style is simple and understandable, and he only presents the facts and asks very pertinent questions to which he states he does not know the answers.

There are also tons of pictures, schematics and patents that he has found which are totally worth the price of the book. The info on tunneling technology is also highly interesting as is his listing of 'official' underground installations.

The fault i found with the piece is towards the end he kind of tampers off and it doesn't really 'end' with anything solid. He goes into nuclear testing and EPA programs to monitors human/animal contamination - which is good info, just not really pertinent in a piece about underground installations. He also compares commercial technology and techniques to animal mutilations and alien abductions which is relatively inconclusive, thou the comparisons are interesting in an of themselves.

All in all, worth reading, and it won't take you long.

Good for the serious military bunker researcher, but..., 10 Nov 1998
The book would be much more interesting if the author didn't make such a major effort to link facts & speculation regarding known & suspected hardened military structures (bunkers) with gross speculation regarding UFO conspiracy theories. He amassed a lot of research material regarding bunkers, but it is tarnished by his idle UFO paranoia.

So so, 14 Feb 1998
This book is kinda interesting and not much more than that. In fact the only interesting content is a discussion of tunnel making technology.

a fascinating overview., 07 Aug 2006
I love this book for many reason (clever analysis, interesting interpretations, substantial knowledge of Russian cultural context, collection of wonderful photographs ) but also for the deep and warm attitude towards the subject. Indeed this is a work not only of mind but of soul.
Highly recommended.

In the post-war period, the CIA funded not just the right-wing bits of European intellectual life but also the centre, in order to detach intellectuals from the Left, and this book tells us how. It is touching on the career of Michael Josselson, the principal intellectual bagman who in 1950 became the Congress' Administrative Secretary, and his eventual betrayal by various people like Stephen Spender who scapegoated him. Sanders demonstrates that, in the early days, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and the emergent CIA were less dominated by the far right than they later became, and that the idea of helping out progressive moderates--rather than being Machiavellian--actually appealed to the men at the top.

Many intellectuals were still drawn to Stalin's Russia. Saunders superbly traces the crisis of conscience that McCarthyism and its associated bookburning in US libraries caused, and the subsequent rise of more moderate ideals. Saunders does not discuss the way the cult of Kennedy grows out of the same soil as a lot of this stuff--he was an excuse to love America after all. This is an exhaustive account, which, despite neglecting some important side issues, is an essential book. --Roz Kaveney

Good introduction, 17 Nov 2008
There is a difference between political philosophy, ideology and day to day politics.

Political philosophy asks question about the nature of democracy, the ideal state and the like. This subject is the most abstract and introduces ideas such as how should citizens be organsed and education (see Plato) or why do we need a sovereign (see Hobbes) or are we entitled to private property (see Locke).

Ideology (which is sometimes a dirty word) tends to refer to braod political ideas such as Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism and Communism. Ideology tends to form a bridge between political philosophy (and other subjects such as history, economics and sociology) and day to day politics. Whatever they claim, most parties tend to draw on a broad 'ideology' which helps them in their formulation of an election manifesto which also tempers the party's ideology to meet practical needs and to stand a reasonable chance of getting elected.

Political philosophy is essentially an abstract subjects quite removed from day to day politics and concerned with debating the meaning of fundlemental political concepts and the nature of man and society.

This is a good but basic introduction.




Unsatisfying, 28 Feb 2008
This was a mildly interesting introduction to an interesting subject. I felt it rambled a little, and was disappointed that it did not introduce any key theorists and missed out some key concepts (sovereignty, for example). The book only really succeeds in raising some key questions, but does not introduce one to the multifarious attempts to answer these questions. Furthermore, Miller's own opinions (given heavy weighting in the final chapters) are not particularly interesting or radical, and given the nature of the medium (a 'very short introduction') would be better presented elsewhere.

If you want a very short introduction to the subject of political philosophy, a good alternative is the 'Politics: A Very Short Introduction', which I have found to be a much better read and much more thorough.

Gets my vote, 03 Dec 2007
Short, readable, crystal clear. Politics books are often a hard climb or at least a tedious trudge. This is a smooth glide by comparison.
Miller states at the start that he wants to avoid jargon and academic mumbo-jumbo and he does just that, taking us on a concise but enjoyable tour of political philosophy. He begins at first principles and gradually builds his arguments, with deftly chosen examples adding depth and colour to the text. The logical progression means that the focus is firmly on democracy (since that is the political system that makes most sense to most people nowadays). Although he presents (and knocks down) arguments for alternative systems, don't expect great forays into the pros and cons of ideologies like Communism or Fascism. Among the concepts he tackles are justice, social justice, freedom, multiculturalism, feminism and globalisation.
The thoughts of political philosophers such as Plato, Rousseau, Locke, Mill and Rawls are woven beautifully into the flow, compact nuggets that reinforce rather than halt the narrative. Anyone who has tried to trawl through Rawls in the original will whisper a quiet thankyou when they arrive at the digested wisdom of Miller's version.
Miller makes a promise at the outset and he sticks to it: to be scrupulously fair and present all sides of each argument, even if the reader doesn't share his own leanings (which I sensed were slightly leftward).
In sum, it would be hard to do better than this for a well-reasoned introduction to (or refresher course in) political philosophy.

perfectly pocket-sized political philosophy, 17 Jul 2007
This little book is a quick yet thoughtful work-through of some major areas of political philosophy. Whats great is that you can finish it in a single evening and know loads more than before. David Miller is a very good writer and his narrative style sweeps the reader along as he investigates political issues. Miller has refrained from cluttering his text with unnesscary jargon. Throughly enjoyable and refreshingly different to other introductions, this is simply a very good book. I loved the way in which Miller used a 14th century painting ('Allergory of Good and Bad Government' by Lorenzetti) to act as a discussion point for opening up political philosophy becuase it really added flavour to proceedings.

It should be warned, however, that this book is far from comprehensive even in an 'introduction' sense of the word. Instead of being written with a quick synopsis of all the major discussion, Miller instead opts for a continuous narrative that works through *some* of the major topics of the discipline. Interestingly, Miller's book is not so much an illustration of the debates as it is an argument for his personal conclusions through illustrating these debates. This is not neccessarily a bad thing, though, as it still serves to introudce the reader to the fundamentals and still allows the reader to come to their own opinons. In many ways, it is actually quite nice to see conclusions made for once rather than questions left unanswered as coming to conclusions is also a part of the philosophical discipline.

I have given this book five stars becuase its great, but it should be realised that other, more comprehensive introductions could prove better due to more depth. However, it undoubtedly introduces political philosophy in an excellent manner, especially considering its length (130 or so very small pages). It is, afterall, meant to be a very short introduction and it scores five stars when taken as such.

Life saver, 07 Dec 2003
I have always had my doubts about chosing to study political philosophy at university like i did. Although i enjoy the subject, i have never fully understood the principals...until now! David Miller uses great explanations of the ideas behind the subject so that everyone can understand. It is short, but he has used the space well and now i am well on course for a first!

A non-ficton book that;'ll scare you a bit., 06 Oct 2003
I give this five stars, because it is a must read book. However, first let me warn you that the cosmetic appearance of this book might turn off many discerning readers. The sensational title, the quoted reviews from not-quite-reputable magazines, the wildly speculative sounding description on the back cover, and some interior illustrations such as the photo of a FATE magazine might give a very erroneous impression of the importance of the book. I myself probably would've avoided buying it had I seen it at a book store, and that, my friends, would have been a mistake.

Jerry E. Smith presents us first with the facts and details of the HAARP installation in Alaska. He tells us fairly what the government says is its intended purpose. He painstakingly explains the technology of the project and what the capabilities are, and this is indeed where the book starts getting scarier than Stephen King. At least, we can dismiss Mr. King's works as fiction. Not so with this book.

Mr. Smith's style is often conversational, and yet always authoritative. He keeps the reader interested throughout the book, and gives hooks at each chapter's end telling us what's coming up ahead. He's easy with the science, thank goodness, since I was no star in high school or college science. He does refresh our memories of what scientific knowledge is necessary for understanding HAARP and it's potential uses and effects. Even if HAARP is an innocent little scientific research toy that our tax dollars are making possible, it can inadvertently do our environment irreparable harm. And if anybody decides to take advantage of the capabilities that Mr. Smith proves it has, it can affect our weather, wipe out the user's enemies (real or fancied), and--according to the technological evidence presented, affect our thinking, our perceptions, our minds.

In building this case, Mr. Smith is fair in citing sources. If a statement is supposition, not supported by hard evidence, the author tells us so. I considered some of the sources rather unreliable, but even if one dismisses questionable sources, those that are inarguable are enough to be convincing that HAARP is a dangerous presence.

Once establishing the dangerous potential of HAARP, Mr. Smith examines possible conspiracies. We're quite aware of the New World Order. Some feel this projected world government would better the world, end war, enable us to solve Earth's problems. Others fear the emergence of leaders and controllers who are more concerned with wielding power than with the public good. Such a group would naturally have access to HAARP and it's capabilities. Many Christians are convinced that a benevolent appearing but actually malevolent "Anti-Christ" who has extraordinary powers and will inspire worship from the masses will be in control of the New World Order. HAARP has the potential of giving such a leader these powers. Many of us feel such a leader or group of leaders would be inevitable in any New World Order whether or not one gives any credit to Biblical prophecy. And the author emphasizes what any conspiracy type group could use HAARP for. There are many other conspiracy theories detailed here, some being wildly speculative. However, Mr. Smith explains that in this section of the book, he is merely pointing out possibilities that many see as threats regardless of his personal opinion.

Finally, we're inspired to action. Smith tells us just what each of us can do as individuals. Each of us has a sphere of influence in which we can influence others, and each person one of us influences will in turn influence others, so each individual can make a difference. The writer shows ways to do this.

In summation, I realize there will be readers who will find ways to dismiss the allegations here. And this is certainly a right each has. However, even if you reject the book's premise, even if you take the opposite side and decide to defend HAARP, you will have learned from this book and you will have been inspired to take a stand.

I do rather hope you decide to read this book.

An important and well researched book, 20 Aug 2003
So many conspiracy books are based on unsourcable accounts, suppositions and pure speculation. It is a refreshing change to read a book which is both well researched, and based on proven, scientific fact.

The writing style and broad coverage of the issues, both technical and ethical, surrounding the HAARP project make this book an important yet easily digestible work. This only serves to make the conclusions of this book even more shocking. Investigative journalism at it's best.

A truely FANTASTIC read., 10 Jan 2001
Jerry E.Smith's account of the HAARP project, it's links to other conspiracy's and how it governs our day to day life is truely remarkable. Thought provoking and a certain must for all. I look forward to reading all the books by Jerry E. Smith.

psychotronics/ good information, 30 Apr 1999
book is a good read- lots of information found that is NOT covered ever in the mainstream and alternative presses on isssues of psychotronics and electromagnetic mind control

One of the MOST important books you'll read this Century, 14 Mar 1999
I highly recommend Jerry's book - it is extraordinary - investigative journalism - at its best. It goes beyond 5 stars - I rate it 17 stars - hands down - because of the quality of research within its pages and the evidence presented that does in fact mark HAARP as the ultimate weapon of conspiracy. I am confident that Jerry's HAARP book is destined to become a great scientific classic. It delves into HAARP's nature, tells its history and makes one wonder ... is HAARP a Star Wars device? ... Science out of Control? ... Is it to control mass minds? ... Will it even control our weather? ... Your head will spin at the possibilities as many applications for HAARP technology are explored here. This book is presented in an intriguing style - it's easy to read and will stimulate your thinking - you'll want to read this book from cover to cover and not put it down. Read this fascinating story on HAARP & become informed. If you value your personal library - this book absolutely belongs there.

Interesting, Quick Read, Few Faults, 18 Jun 2007
Sauder collects basically all the publically available info re: Underground bases and tunnels. It's outdated, but his second tome likely covers more up to date info. The research itself likely took a lot of time, and it is a very quick read. His writing style is simple and understandable, and he only presents the facts and asks very pertinent questions to which he states he does not know the answers.

There are also tons of pictures, schematics and patents that he has found which are totally worth the price of the book. The info on tunneling technology is also highly interesting as is his listing of 'official' underground installations.

The fault i found with the piece is towards the end he kind of tampers off and it doesn't really 'end' with anything solid. He goes into nuclear testing and EPA programs to monitors human/animal contamination - which is good info, just not really pertinent in a piece about underground installations. He also compares commercial technology and techniques to animal mutilations and alien abductions which is relatively inconclusive, thou the comparisons are interesting in an of themselves.

All in all, worth reading, and it won't take you long.

Good for the serious military bunker researcher, but..., 10 Nov 1998
The book would be much more interesting if the author didn't make such a major effort to link facts & speculation regarding known & suspected hardened military structures (bunkers) with gross speculation regarding UFO conspiracy theories. He amassed a lot of research material regarding bunkers, but it is tarnished by his idle UFO paranoia.

So so, 14 Feb 1998
This book is kinda interesting and not much more than that. In fact the only interesting content is a discussion of tunnel making technology.

a fascinating overview., 07 Aug 2006
I love this book for many reason (clever analysis, interesting interpretations, substantial knowledge of Russian cultural context, collection of wonderful photographs ) but also for the deep and warm attitude towards the subject. Indeed this is a work not only of mind but of soul.
Highly recommended.


Fine study of intellectual corruption, 02 Jun 2008
This splendid book examines the US Central Intelligence Agency's role waging a cultural and propaganda war against socialist ideas in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The CIA created, funded and ran the Congress for Cultural Freedom, while both bodies always claimed that the CCF was quite independent.

From the start of the US state's not-so-altruistic Marshall Plan, it gave $200 million a year to support the CIA's various activities, including assassinations, coups, strike-breaking, election-rigging, and setting up supposedly independent magazines (like Encounter), festivals and organisations.
.
The CIA worked closely, as it still does today, with the Foreign Office and MI6. The Foreign Office's secret Information Research Department supported the 'left-wing' Labour journal Tribune and distributed its material internationally.

The US state backed moves towards a federal Europe and the EEC, rightly seeing the EEC as a capitalist bulwark against socialism. So the European Movement was "funded almost entirely by the CIA through a dummy front called the American Committee for a United Europe".

Saunders concludes, "the same people who read Dante and went to Yale and were educated in civic virtue recruited Nazis, manipulated the outcome of democratic elections, gave LSD to unwitting subjects, opened the mail of thousands of American citizens, overthrew governments, supported dictatorships, plotted assassinations, and engineered the Bay of Pigs disaster. `In the name of what?' asked one critic. `Not civic virtue, but empire.'"



Cutlure's dark corners., 12 Jul 1999
This is a wonderful work of both scholarship and story-telling. It demonstrates something one hadn't previously figured about the CIA, that it contained pockets of idealism and a desire to work with the non-communist Left. Out of the CIA came the backing for Abstract Expressionism, the music of Schoenberg. But of it also came the successful campaign to deprive Pablo Neruda of the Nobel first time round. Everyone working in the field of culture should read this book and consider how far political allegience should be allowed to go with art? Only a kiss or all the way? Frances Stonor Saunders has wonderfully re-created the times. This is a marvellous book

Good introduction, 17 Nov 2008
There is a difference between political philosophy, ideology and day to day politics.

Political philosophy asks question about the nature of democracy, the ideal state and the like. This subject is the most abstract and introduces ideas such as how should citizens be organsed and education (see Plato) or why do we need a sovereign (see Hobbes) or are we entitled to private property (see Locke).

Ideology (which is sometimes a dirty word) tends to refer to braod political ideas such as Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism and Communism. Ideology tends to form a bridge between political philosophy (and other subjects such as history, economics and sociology) and day to day politics. Whatever they claim, most parties tend to draw on a broad 'ideology' which helps them in their formulation of an election manifesto which also tempers the party's ideology to meet practical needs and to stand a reasonable chance of getting elected.

Political philosophy is essentially an abstract subjects quite removed from day to day politics and concerned with debating the meaning of fundlemental political concepts and the nature of man and society.

This is a good but basic introduction.




Unsatisfying, 28 Feb 2008
This was a mildly interesting introduction to an interesting subject. I felt it rambled a little, and was disappointed that it did not introduce any key theorists and missed out some key concepts (sovereignty, for example). The book only really succeeds in raising some key questions, but does not introduce one to the multifarious attempts to answer these questions. Furthermore, Miller's own opinions (given heavy weighting in the final chapters) are not particularly interesting or radical, and given the nature of the medium (a 'very short introduction') would be better presented elsewhere.

If you want a very short introduction to the subject of political philosophy, a good alternative is the 'Politics: A Very Short Introduction', which I have found to be a much better read and much more thorough.

Gets my vote, 03 Dec 2007
Short, readable, crystal clear. Politics books are often a hard climb or at least a tedious trudge. This is a smooth glide by comparison.
Miller states at the start that he wants to avoid jargon and academic mumbo-jumbo and he does just that, taking us on a concise but enjoyable tour of political philosophy. He begins at first principles and gradually builds his arguments, with deftly chosen examples adding depth and colour to the text. The logical progression means that the focus is firmly on democracy (since that is the political system that makes most sense to most people nowadays). Although he presents (and knocks down) arguments for alternative systems, don't expect great forays into the pros and cons of ideologies like Communism or Fascism. Among the concepts he tackles are justice, social justice, freedom, multiculturalism, feminism and globalisation.
The thoughts of political philosophers such as Plato, Rousseau, Locke, Mill and Rawls are woven beautifully into the flow, compact nuggets that reinforce rather than halt the narrative. Anyone who has tried to trawl through Rawls in the original will whisper a quiet thankyou when they arrive at the digested wisdom of Miller's version.
Miller makes a promise at the outset and he sticks to it: to be scrupulously fair and present all sides of each argument, even if the reader doesn't share his own leanings (which I sensed were slightly leftward).
In sum, it would be hard to do better than this for a well-reasoned introduction to (or refresher course in) political philosophy.

perfectly pocket-sized political philosophy, 17 Jul 2007
This little book is a quick yet thoughtful work-through of some major areas of political philosophy. Whats great is that you can finish it in a single evening and know loads more than before. David Miller is a very good writer and his narrative style sweeps the reader along as he investigates political issues. Miller has refrained from cluttering his text with unnesscary jargon. Throughly enjoyable and refreshingly different to other introductions, this is simply a very good book. I loved the way in which Miller used a 14th century painting ('Allergory of Good and Bad Government' by Lorenzetti) to act as a discussion point for opening up political philosophy becuase it really added flavour to proceedings.

It should be warned, however, that this book is far from comprehensive even in an 'introduction' sense of the word. Instead of being written with a quick synopsis of all the major discussion, Miller instead opts for a continuous narrative that works through *some* of the major topics of the discipline. Interestingly, Miller's book is not so much an illustration of the debates as it is an argument for his personal conclusions through illustrating these debates. This is not neccessarily a bad thing, though, as it still serves to introudce the reader to the fundamentals and still allows the reader to come to their own opinons. In many ways, it is actually quite nice to see conclusions made for once rather than questions left unanswered as coming to conclusions is also a part of the philosophical discipline.

I have given this book five stars becuase its great, but it should be realised that other, more comprehensive introductions could prove better due to more depth. However, it undoubtedly introduces political philosophy in an excellent manner, especially considering its length (130 or so very small pages). It is, afterall, meant to be a very short introduction and it scores five stars when taken as such.

Life saver, 07 Dec 2003
I have always had my doubts about chosing to study political philosophy at university like i did. Although i enjoy the subject, i have never fully understood the principals...until now! David Miller uses great explanations of the ideas behind the subject so that everyone can understand. It is short, but he has used the space well and now i am well on course for a first!

A non-ficton book that;'ll scare you a bit., 06 Oct 2003
I give this five stars, because it is a must read book. However, first let me warn you that the cosmetic appearance of this book might turn off many discerning readers. The sensational title, the quoted reviews from not-quite-reputable magazines, the wildly speculative sounding description on the back cover, and some interior illustrations such as the photo of a FATE magazine might give a very erroneous impression of the importance of the book. I myself probably would've avoided buying it had I seen it at a book store, and that, my friends, would have been a mistake.

Jerry E. Smith presents us first with the facts and details of the HAARP installation in Alaska. He tells us fairly what the government says is its intended purpose. He painstakingly explains the technology of the project and what the capabilities are, and this is indeed where the book starts getting scarier than Stephen King. At least, we can dismiss Mr. King's works as fiction. Not so with this book.

Mr. Smith's style is often conversational, and yet always authoritative. He keeps the reader interested throughout the book, and gives hooks at each chapter's end telling us what's coming up ahead. He's easy with the science, thank goodness, since I was no star in high school or college science. He does refresh our memories of what scientific knowledge is necessary for understanding HAARP and it's potential uses and effects. Even if HAARP is an innocent little scientific research toy that our tax dollars are making possible, it can inadvertently do our environment irreparable harm. And if anybody decides to take advantage of the capabilities that Mr. Smith proves it has, it can affect our weather, wipe out the user's enemies (real or fancied), and--according to the technological evidence presented, affect our thinking, our perceptions, our minds.

In building this case, Mr. Smith is fair in citing sources. If a statement is supposition, not supported by hard evidence, the author tells us so. I considered some of the sources rather unreliable, but even if one dismisses questionable sources, those that are inarguable are enough to be convincing that HAARP is a dangerous presence.

Once establishing the dangerous potential of HAARP, Mr. Smith examines possible conspiracies. We're quite aware of the New World Order. Some feel this projected world government would better the world, end war, enable us to solve Earth's problems. Others fear the emergence of leaders and controllers who are more concerned with wielding power than with the public good. Such a group would naturally have access to HAARP and it's capabilities. Many Christians are convinced that a benevolent appearing but actually malevolent "Anti-Christ" who has extraordinary powers and will inspire worship from the masses will be in control of the New World Order. HAARP has the potential of giving such a leader these powers. Many of us feel such a leader or group of leaders would be inevitable in any New World Order whether or not one gives any credit to Biblical prophecy. And the author emphasizes what any conspiracy type group could use HAARP for. There are many other conspiracy theories detailed here, some being wildly speculative. However, Mr. Smith explains that in this section of the book, he is merely pointing out possibilities that many see as threats regardless of his personal opinion.

Finally, we're inspired to action. Smith tells us just what each of us can do as individuals. Each of us has a sphere of influence in which we can influence others, and each person one of us influences will in turn influence others, so each individual can make a difference. The writer shows ways to do this.

In summation, I realize there will be readers who will find ways to dismiss the allegations here. And this is certainly a right each has. However, even if you reject the book's premise, even if you take the opposite side and decide to defend HAARP, you will have learned from this book and you will have been inspired to take a stand.

I do rather hope you decide to read this book.

An important and well researched book, 20 Aug 2003
So many conspiracy books are based on unsourcable accounts, suppositions and pure speculation. It is a refreshing change to read a book which is both well researched, and based on proven, scientific fact.

The writing style and broad coverage of the issues, both technical and ethical, surrounding the HAARP project make this book an important yet easily digestible work. This only serves to make the conclusions of this book even more shocking. Investigative journalism at it's best.

A truely FANTASTIC read., 10 Jan 2001
Jerry E.Smith's account of the HAARP project, it's links to other conspiracy's and how it governs our day to day life is truely remarkable. Thought provoking and a certain must for all. I look forward to reading all the books by Jerry E. Smith.

psychotronics/ good information, 30 Apr 1999
book is a good read- lots of information found that is NOT covered ever in the mainstream and alternative presses on isssues of psychotronics and electromagnetic mind control

One of the MOST important books you'll read this Century, 14 Mar 1999
I highly recommend Jerry's book - it is extraordinary - investigative journalism - at its best. It goes beyond 5 stars - I rate it 17 stars - hands down - because of the quality of research within its pages and the evidence presented that does in fact mark HAARP as the ultimate weapon of conspiracy. I am confident that Jerry'