Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.

Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.

The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.

Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.

The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.

The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.

I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.

To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.

Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.

Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.

Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.

The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.

Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.

The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.

The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.

I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.

To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.

Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.

New Translation of the Prince, 19 Jul 2008
This is a new translation which was reviewed on BBC Radio 4 as the Book of the Week. The Great and the not so Good fought to review it. It was wrenched out of my hands recently by a famous Hollywood film producer, who was still looking for someone who could turn it into a decent film script. "How do you know about this"? she asked accusingly. A lover of BBC Channel 4, she had yet to tune into BBC Radio 4.

Machiavelli was commander of a mercenary army, hired by the Medicci Family, to take Pisa back. Mission accomplished he was subsequently imprisoned because as he posed too much of threat, to his masters. He decided to decant a lifetimes study of how great men come to and remain in power; as a gift. Written in a charming voice, not too ingratiating voice, the big plonker rejected it. Machiavelli was too clever by half; and the two hounds he had been given for hunting were far more fun.

Others saw the merit in it, and fortunately preserved it for us. Possibly the first self help book ever written, and if the Vatican had had its way, the last.

Psychopathic or extreme pragmatist, you decide about Machiavelli. He casually sizes up principalities for acquisition, like an asset stripper. He offers advice to both potential princes and their subjects. Written about five hundred years ago, it is astonishingly still true of life today. Is God up top pouring olive oil down the slope, while we struggle to push polenta up hill?

Read The Prince and your struggle with adversity, will be simplified.

Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.

Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.

The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.

Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.

The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.

The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.

I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.

To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.

Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.

New Translation of the Prince, 19 Jul 2008
This is a new translation which was reviewed on BBC Radio 4 as the Book of the Week. The Great and the not so Good fought to review it. It was wrenched out of my hands recently by a famous Hollywood film producer, who was still looking for someone who could turn it into a decent film script. "How do you know about this"? she asked accusingly. A lover of BBC Channel 4, she had yet to tune into BBC Radio 4.

Machiavelli was commander of a mercenary army, hired by the Medicci Family, to take Pisa back. Mission accomplished he was subsequently imprisoned because as he posed too much of threat, to his masters. He decided to decant a lifetimes study of how great men come to and remain in power; as a gift. Written in a charming voice, not too ingratiating voice, the big plonker rejected it. Machiavelli was too clever by half; and the two hounds he had been given for hunting were far more fun.

Others saw the merit in it, and fortunately preserved it for us. Possibly the first self help book ever written, and if the Vatican had had its way, the last.

Psychopathic or extreme pragmatist, you decide about Machiavelli. He casually sizes up principalities for acquisition, like an asset stripper. He offers advice to both potential princes and their subjects. Written about five hundred years ago, it is astonishingly still true of life today. Is God up top pouring olive oil down the slope, while we struggle to push polenta up hill?

Read The Prince and your struggle with adversity, will be simplified.

Excellent, and timesaving in academic emergencies, 08 Sep 2007
This book is brilliant, with well-written introductions to various aspects of constitutional law complemented by excerpts from key theorists and cases, which help illuminate the controversy over public law principles.

Excellent , 06 Oct 2006
This book contains a wide range of source materials and informed commentary which illuminates the political and constitutional process.

The author applies a contextual approach which is invaluable in allowing you to see the bigger picture. This would compliment standard textbooks, because it provides a stimulating perspective on the way we are governed.

I have read this book again and again and you always learn something new.

Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.

Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.

The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.

Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.

The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.

The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.

I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.

To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.

Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.

New Translation of the Prince, 19 Jul 2008
This is a new translation which was reviewed on BBC Radio 4 as the Book of the Week. The Great and the not so Good fought to review it. It was wrenched out of my hands recently by a famous Hollywood film producer, who was still looking for someone who could turn it into a decent film script. "How do you know about this"? she asked accusingly. A lover of BBC Channel 4, she had yet to tune into BBC Radio 4.

Machiavelli was commander of a mercenary army, hired by the Medicci Family, to take Pisa back. Mission accomplished he was subsequently imprisoned because as he posed too much of threat, to his masters. He decided to decant a lifetimes study of how great men come to and remain in power; as a gift. Written in a charming voice, not too ingratiating voice, the big plonker rejected it. Machiavelli was too clever by half; and the two hounds he had been given for hunting were far more fun.

Others saw the merit in it, and fortunately preserved it for us. Possibly the first self help book ever written, and if the Vatican had had its way, the last.

Psychopathic or extreme pragmatist, you decide about Machiavelli. He casually sizes up principalities for acquisition, like an asset stripper. He offers advice to both potential princes and their subjects. Written about five hundred years ago, it is astonishingly still true of life today. Is God up top pouring olive oil down the slope, while we struggle to push polenta up hill?

Read The Prince and your struggle with adversity, will be simplified.

Excellent, and timesaving in academic emergencies, 08 Sep 2007
This book is brilliant, with well-written introductions to various aspects of constitutional law complemented by excerpts from key theorists and cases, which help illuminate the controversy over public law principles.

Excellent , 06 Oct 2006
This book contains a wide range of source materials and informed commentary which illuminates the political and constitutional process.

The author applies a contextual approach which is invaluable in allowing you to see the bigger picture. This would compliment standard textbooks, because it provides a stimulating perspective on the way we are governed.

I have read this book again and again and you always learn something new.

Challenging, riveting, subversive, creative, wonderful, 04 Jun 2008
This is one of the best, most challenging and thought provoking books around at the moment. Despite it's American target audience (we don't have a president here - yet) it makes great reading for any reader, as its themes are universal.

This is unlikely to look like any book you have ever read before, it's got nearly as much in common with a graphic novel as it has with a standard text book. The best comparison I can give, and it is quite inappropriate really given the anti consumerist approach of the authors, is with a Howies clothing catalogue. It has that same earthy, lived in, thoughtful, artistic and engaging feel, but thankfully without the pictures of models wearing expensive clothes.

Put simply, this has got to be one of the most beautifully designed books on the market - working with the writing, the design emphasises the creative, radical spirit of the text, and the provocative joy of the authors. Quite rightly the designers are credited at the end of the book along with the writers. The colour is full throughout the book, with design elements interacting with the text throughout, which adds immensely to the value of the content. If you liked the look of `Irresistible Revolution' then this is a quantum leap forward, like as if the publishers suddenly realised what this thing was all about...

In some ways it reminds me of an illuminated manuscript, from back in the day of monkishness, when religious texts were coloured and illustrated by devoted scholars. This fits with the fact that the authors are part of the new monastic movement - and perhaps this could be seen as the contemporary equivalent.

But aside from a fantastic design job - what does the latest offering from our dreadlocked brother actually contain? Well first point to make, there are very clearly two voices audible in this book. Claiborne and Haw have coinciding views, but different emphases, or perhaps just different experiences, which while bringing occasional difficulties to the academic niceties of the text, actually help lend weight to this book. Actually - if you count the design, then add in one or two more voices as well.

Written throughout in easily digestible chunks, the book begins as a dissection of a theme of radical God politics which the authors show running through the bible. It sidetracks through stories of friends, writings of early Christians and reflections on current affairs.

It's a book of stories, parables, and prophecy, it is not supposed to be a tome, or a text book, or a prize winning essay - this is a work of love, an object of discussion, a catalyst (for want of a less clichéd term) for renewed engagement with the themes, and an encouragement to live a different way.

Rather than taking an easy option, such as a single standpoint of Christian anarchy for example, or an anti war vote, Claiborne and Haw manage to turn the whole idea around, arguing for a radical Christian engagement with politics and society in a way that is at once submissive and subversive.

American voters wanting to know who the writers say they should vote for, will find themselves left with the same choices, but hopefully looking at them through new, or perhaps ancient lenses. I suspect also that this will help many bring a new creativity to their decision making.

Pacifism and anti (or non) consumerism are key themes, but they each form only part of the overall principal argument, which is to see God's people as a people set apart by God, called to live another way, and to follow only one leader. It critiques the philosophy that one can serve God, and walk in the way of the world.

This clarion call to a subversive and renewed people of God is a creative and stimulating read - it's not without its problems, one cant help thinking that if Claiborne authors another book, he will have come close to being part of the system which he so clearly wants to work against, but at the same time, I like many others would be happy to read anything he writes. One might also question how the authors can happily work with others such as Jim Wallis who argue for a more conventional approach to politics... clearly McLaren is not the only one with a generous orthodoxy these days.

Some readers may find biblical references to apocryphal books troubling or confusing, I don't, in fact I like it. Some factual discrepancies may exist within the text, (numbers of dead in Iraq, or etc) but these are minor when looked at in context, and can be put down to the issue of dual authorship.

It's a beautiful, peaceful, challenging, affirming, prophetic, subversive and creative book, well worth reading, sharing, mulling over... likely to become a classic.

Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.

Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.

The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.

Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.

The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.

The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.

I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.

To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.

Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.

New Translation of the Prince, 19 Jul 2008
This is a new translation which was reviewed on BBC Radio 4 as the Book of the Week. The Great and the not so Good fought to review it. It was wrenched out of my hands recently by a famous Hollywood film producer, who was still looking for someone who could turn it into a decent film script. "How do you know about this"? she asked accusingly. A lover of BBC Channel 4, she had yet to tune into BBC Radio 4.

Machiavelli was commander of a mercenary army, hired by the Medicci Family, to take Pisa back. Mission accomplished he was subsequently imprisoned because as he posed too much of threat, to his masters. He decided to decant a lifetimes study of how great men come to and remain in power; as a gift. Written in a charming voice, not too ingratiating voice, the big plonker rejected it. Machiavelli was too clever by half; and the two hounds he had been given for hunting were far more fun.

Others saw the merit in it, and fortunately preserved it for us. Possibly the first self help book ever written, and if the Vatican had had its way, the last.

Psychopathic or extreme pragmatist, you decide about Machiavelli. He casually sizes up principalities for acquisition, like an asset stripper. He offers advice to both potential princes and their subjects. Written about five hundred years ago, it is astonishingly still true of life today. Is God up top pouring olive oil down the slope, while we struggle to push polenta up hill?

Read The Prince and your struggle with adversity, will be simplified.

Excellent, and timesaving in academic emergencies, 08 Sep 2007
This book is brilliant, with well-written introductions to various aspects of constitutional law complemented by excerpts from key theorists and cases, which help illuminate the controversy over public law principles.

Excellent , 06 Oct 2006
This book contains a wide range of source materials and informed commentary which illuminates the political and constitutional process.

The author applies a contextual approach which is invaluable in allowing you to see the bigger picture. This would compliment standard textbooks, because it provides a stimulating perspective on the way we are governed.

I have read this book again and again and you always learn something new.

Challenging, riveting, subversive, creative, wonderful, 04 Jun 2008
This is one of the best, most challenging and thought provoking books around at the moment. Despite it's American target audience (we don't have a president here - yet) it makes great reading for any reader, as its themes are universal.

This is unlikely to look like any book you have ever read before, it's got nearly as much in common with a graphic novel as it has with a standard text book. The best comparison I can give, and it is quite inappropriate really given the anti consumerist approach of the authors, is with a Howies clothing catalogue. It has that same earthy, lived in, thoughtful, artistic and engaging feel, but thankfully without the pictures of models wearing expensive clothes.

Put simply, this has got to be one of the most beautifully designed books on the market - working with the writing, the design emphasises the creative, radical spirit of the text, and the provocative joy of the authors. Quite rightly the designers are credited at the end of the book along with the writers. The colour is full throughout the book, with design elements interacting with the text throughout, which adds immensely to the value of the content. If you liked the look of `Irresistible Revolution' then this is a quantum leap forward, like as if the publishers suddenly realised what this thing was all about...

In some ways it reminds me of an illuminated manuscript, from back in the day of monkishness, when religious texts were coloured and illustrated by devoted scholars. This fits with the fact that the authors are part of the new monastic movement - and perhaps this could be seen as the contemporary equivalent.

But aside from a fantastic design job - what does the latest offering from our dreadlocked brother actually contain? Well first point to make, there are very clearly two voices audible in this book. Claiborne and Haw have coinciding views, but different emphases, or perhaps just different experiences, which while bringing occasional difficulties to the academic niceties of the text, actually help lend weight to this book. Actually - if you count the design, then add in one or two more voices as well.

Written throughout in easily digestible chunks, the book begins as a dissection of a theme of radical God politics which the authors show running through the bible. It sidetracks through stories of friends, writings of early Christians and reflections on current affairs.

It's a book of stories, parables, and prophecy, it is not supposed to be a tome, or a text book, or a prize winning essay - this is a work of love, an object of discussion, a catalyst (for want of a less clichéd term) for renewed engagement with the themes, and an encouragement to live a different way.

Rather than taking an easy option, such as a single standpoint of Christian anarchy for example, or an anti war vote, Claiborne and Haw manage to turn the whole idea around, arguing for a radical Christian engagement with politics and society in a way that is at once submissive and subversive.

American voters wanting to know who the writers say they should vote for, will find themselves left with the same choices, but hopefully looking at them through new, or perhaps ancient lenses. I suspect also that this will help many bring a new creativity to their decision making.

Pacifism and anti (or non) consumerism are key themes, but they each form only part of the overall principal argument, which is to see God's people as a people set apart by God, called to live another way, and to follow only one leader. It critiques the philosophy that one can serve God, and walk in the way of the world.

This clarion call to a subversive and renewed people of God is a creative and stimulating read - it's not without its problems, one cant help thinking that if Claiborne authors another book, he will have come close to being part of the system which he so clearly wants to work against, but at the same time, I like many others would be happy to read anything he writes. One might also question how the authors can happily work with others such as Jim Wallis who argue for a more conventional approach to politics... clearly McLaren is not the only one with a generous orthodoxy these days.

Some readers may find biblical references to apocryphal books troubling or confusing, I don't, in fact I like it. Some factual discrepancies may exist within the text, (numbers of dead in Iraq, or etc) but these are minor when looked at in context, and can be put down to the issue of dual authorship.

It's a beautiful, peaceful, challenging, affirming, prophetic, subversive and creative book, well worth reading, sharing, mulling over... likely to become a classic.


Enlightening, 22 Oct 2008
I'll never see a political advert in the same light again; Professor Westen uses his experience in the field of clinical psychology to dissect how the campaign ad and the political speech affects the average Jane Winebox. Westen makes some important points relating to how elections can be won or lost on the language used in and delivery of these two mediums.

It's a compelling read, and a crucial one at that - given the impending US elections. Even if you're not usually one for political non-fiction, I would recommend you give this book a go.

Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.

Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.

The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.

Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.

The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.

The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.

I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.

To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.

Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.

New Translation of the Prince, 19 Jul 2008
This is a new translation which was reviewed on BBC Radio 4 as the Book of the Week. The Great and the not so Good fought to review it. It was wrenched out of my hands recently by a famous Hollywood film producer, who was still looking for someone who could turn it into a decent film script. "How do you know about this"? she asked accusingly. A lover of BBC Channel 4, she had yet to tune into BBC Radio 4.

Machiavelli was commander of a mercenary army, hired by the Medicci Family, to take Pisa back. Mission accomplished he was subsequently imprisoned because as he posed too much of threat, to his masters. He decided to decant a lifetimes study of how great men come to and remain in power; as a gift. Written in a charming voice, not too ingratiating voice, the big plonker rejected it. Machiavelli was too clever by half; and the two hounds he had been given for hunting were far more fun.

Others saw the merit in it, and fortunately preserved it for us. Possibly the first self help book ever written, and if the Vatican had had its way, the last.

Psychopathic or extreme pragmatist, you decide about Machiavelli. He casually sizes up principalities for acquisition, like an asset stripper. He offers advice to both potential princes and their subjects. Written about five hundred years ago, it is astonishingly still true of life today. Is God up top pouring olive oil down the slope, while we struggle to push polenta up hill?

Read The Prince and your struggle with adversity, will be simplified.

Excellent, and timesaving in academic emergencies, 08 Sep 2007
This book is brilliant, with well-written introductions to various aspects of constitutional law complemented by excerpts from key theorists and cases, which help illuminate the controversy over public law principles.

Excellent , 06 Oct 2006
This book contains a wide range of source materials and informed commentary which illuminates the political and constitutional process.

The author applies a contextual approach which is invaluable in allowing you to see the bigger picture. This would compliment standard textbooks, because it provides a stimulating perspective on the way we are governed.

I have read this book again and again and you always learn something new.

Challenging, riveting, subversive, creative, wonderful, 04 Jun 2008
This is one of the best, most challenging and thought provoking books around at the moment. Despite it's American target audience (we don't have a president here - yet) it makes great reading for any reader, as its themes are universal.

This is unlikely to look like any book you have ever read before, it's got nearly as much in common with a graphic novel as it has with a standard text book. The best comparison I can give, and it is quite inappropriate really given the anti consumerist approach of the authors, is with a Howies clothing catalogue. It has that same earthy, lived in, thoughtful, artistic and engaging feel, but thankfully without the pictures of models wearing expensive clothes.

Put simply, this has got to be one of the most beautifully designed books on the market - working with the writing, the design emphasises the creative, radical spirit of the text, and the provocative joy of the authors. Quite rightly the designers are credited at the end of the book along with the writers. The colour is full throughout the book, with design elements interacting with the text throughout, which adds immensely to the value of the content. If you liked the look of `Irresistible Revolution' then this is a quantum leap forward, like as if the publishers suddenly realised what this thing was all about...

In some ways it reminds me of an illuminated manuscript, from back in the day of monkishness, when religious texts were coloured and illustrated by devoted scholars. This fits with the fact that the authors are part of the new monastic movement - and perhaps this could be seen as the contemporary equivalent.

But aside from a fantastic design job - what does the latest offering from our dreadlocked brother actually contain? Well first point to make, there are very clearly two voices audible in this book. Claiborne and Haw have coinciding views, but different emphases, or perhaps just different experiences, which while bringing occasional difficulties to the academic niceties of the text, actually help lend weight to this book. Actually - if you count the design, then add in one or two more voices as well.

Written throughout in easily digestible chunks, the book begins as a dissection of a theme of radical God politics which the authors show running through the bible. It sidetracks through stories of friends, writings of early Christians and reflections on current affairs.

It's a book of stories, parables, and prophecy, it is not supposed to be a tome, or a text book, or a prize winning essay - this is a work of love, an object of discussion, a catalyst (for want of a less clichéd term) for renewed engagement with the themes, and an encouragement to live a different way.

Rather than taking an easy option, such as a single standpoint of Christian anarchy for example, or an anti war vote, Claiborne and Haw manage to turn the whole idea around, arguing for a radical Christian engagement with politics and society in a way that is at once submissive and subversive.

American voters wanting to know who the writers say they should vote for, will find themselves left with the same choices, but hopefully looking at them through new, or perhaps ancient lenses. I suspect also that this will help many bring a new creativity to their decision making.

Pacifism and anti (or non) consumerism are key themes, but they each form only part of the overall principal argument, which is to see God's people as a people set apart by God, called to live another way, and to follow only one leader. It critiques the philosophy that one can serve God, and walk in the way of the world.

This clarion call to a subversive and renewed people of God is a creative and stimulating read - it's not without its problems, one cant help thinking that if Claiborne authors another book, he will have come close to being part of the system which he so clearly wants to work against, but at the same time, I like many others would be happy to read anything he writes. One might also question how the authors can happily work with others such as Jim Wallis who argue for a more conventional approach to politics... clearly McLaren is not the only one with a generous orthodoxy these days.

Some readers may find biblical references to apocryphal books troubling or confusing, I don't, in fact I like it. Some factual discrepancies may exist within the text, (numbers of dead in Iraq, or etc) but these are minor when looked at in context, and can be put down to the issue of dual authorship.

It's a beautiful, peaceful, challenging, affirming, prophetic, subversive and creative book, well worth reading, sharing, mulling over... likely to become a classic.


Enlightening, 22 Oct 2008
I'll never see a political advert in the same light again; Professor Westen uses his experience in the field of clinical psychology to dissect how the campaign ad and the political speech affects the average Jane Winebox. Westen makes some important points relating to how elections can be won or lost on the language used in and delivery of these two mediums.

It's a compelling read, and a crucial one at that - given the impending US elections. Even if you're not usually one for political non-fiction, I would recommend you give this book a go.

Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.

The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.

Peter Hennessy, former journalist turned scholar of contemporary political history, is an academic aeolus whose infectious enthusiasm for his subject, Whitehall and Westminster, blows the dust off documents and reinflates a mandarin's minute with a telling topicality. The holder of the Chair of Contemporary History at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, he has natural gift (and inclination) for grafting germane gossip onto the gravity of his subject and thus enlivening his expert exhumation of archives with appropriate anecdote. His earlier work, Whitehall has become a classic, and in his latest study he turns his attention to the steady accretion of power by Prime Ministers since the last world war and makes an assessment of each occupant of 10 Downing Street. Hennessy delights in proceeding by exposure as well as explication, throwing up fascinating insights on Premiers as they arrive at crucial decisions. He is undoubtedly happiest when chronicling the manoeuvrings of the backroom boys in Whitehall rather than those in the corridors of the Palace of Westminster, but then the shift of power away from the legislature to the executive is becoming all too apparent. In each of his studies, Hennessy shows how individual Prime Ministers struggled and shaped the governance of the nation to their different personalities, and then their day of hard graft and glory is gone. As Harold Macmillan, one of the more charismatic holders of the office, said after his resignation, "nothing rolls up more quickly than a red carpet" --Michael Hatfield

Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.

Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.

The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.

Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.

The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.

The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.

I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.

To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.

Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.

New Translation of the Prince, 19 Jul 2008
This is a new translation which was reviewed on BBC Radio 4 as the Book of the Week. The Great and the not so Good fought to review it. It was wrenched out of my hands recently by a famous Hollywood film producer, who was still looking for someone who could turn it into a decent film script. "How do you know about this"? she asked accusingly. A lover of BBC Channel 4, she had yet to tune into BBC Radio 4.

Machiavelli was commander of a mercenary army, hired by the Medicci Family, to take Pisa back. Mission accomplished he was subsequently imprisoned because as he posed too much of threat, to his masters. He decided to decant a lifetimes study of how great men come to and remain in power; as a gift. Written in a charming voice, not too ingratiating voice, the big plonker rejected it. Machiavelli was too clever by half; and the two hounds he had been given for hunting were far more fun.

Others saw the merit in it, and fortunately preserved it for us. Possibly the first self help book ever written, and if the Vatican had had its way, the last.

Psychopathic or extreme pragmatist, you decide about Machiavelli. He casually sizes up principalities for acquisition, like an asset stripper. He offers advice to both potential princes and their subjects. Written about five hundred years ago, it is astonishingly still true of life today. Is God up top pouring olive oil down the slope, while we struggle to push polenta up hill?

Read The Prince and your struggle with adversity, will be simplified.

Excellent, and timesaving in academic emergencies, 08 Sep 2007
This book is brilliant, with well-written introductions to various aspects of constitutional law complemented by excerpts from key theorists and cases, which help illuminate the controversy over public law principles.

Excellent , 06 Oct 2006
This book contains a wide range of source materials and informed commentary which illuminates the political and constitutional process.

The author applies a contextual approach which is invaluable in allowing you to see the bigger picture. This would compliment standard textbooks, because it provides a stimulating perspective on the way we are governed.

I have read this book again and again and you always learn something new.

Challenging, riveting, subversive, creative, wonderful, 04 Jun 2008
This is one of the best, most challenging and thought provoking books around at the moment. Despite it's American target audience (we don't have a president here - yet) it makes great reading for any reader, as its themes are universal.

This is unlikely to look like any book you have ever read before, it's got nearly as much in common with a graphic novel as it has with a standard text book. The best comparison I can give, and it is quite inappropriate really given the anti consumerist approach of the authors, is with a Howies clothing catalogue. It has that same earthy, lived in, thoughtful, artistic and engaging feel, but thankfully without the pictures of models wearing expensive clothes.

Put simply, this has got to be one of the most beautifully designed books on the market - working with the writing, the design emphasises the creative, radical spirit of the text, and the provocative joy of the authors. Quite rightly the designers are credited at the end of the book along with the writers. The colour is full throughout the book, with design elements interacting with the text throughout, which adds immensely to the value of the content. If you liked the look of `Irresistible Revolution' then this is a quantum leap forward, like as if the publishers suddenly realised what this thing was all about...

In some ways it reminds me of an illuminated manuscript, from back in the day of monkishness, when religious texts were coloured and illustrated by devoted scholars. This fits with the fact that the authors are part of the new monastic movement - and perhaps this could be seen as the contemporary equivalent.

But aside from a fantastic design job - what does the latest offering from our dreadlocked brother actually contain? Well first point to make, there are very clearly two voices audible in this book. Claiborne and Haw have coinciding views, but different emphases, or perhaps just different experiences, which while bringing occasional difficulties to the academic niceties of the text, actually help lend weight to this book. Actually - if you count the design, then add in one or two more voices as well.

Written throughout in easily digestible chunks, the book begins as a dissection of a theme of radical God politics which the authors show running through the bible. It sidetracks through stories of friends, writings of early Christians and reflections on current affairs.

It's a book of stories, parables, and prophecy, it is not supposed to be a tome, or a text book, or a prize winning essay - this is a work of love, an object of discussion, a catalyst (for want of a less clichéd term) for renewed engagement with the themes, and an encouragement to live a different way.

Rather than taking an easy option, such as a single standpoint of Christian anarchy for example, or an anti war vote, Claiborne and Haw manage to turn the whole idea around, arguing for a radical Christian engagement with politics and society in a way that is at once submissive and subversive.

American voters wanting to know who the writers say they should vote for, will find themselves left with the same choices, but hopefully looking at them through new, or perhaps ancient lenses. I suspect also that this will help many bring a new creativity to their decision making.

Pacifism and anti (or non) consumerism are key themes, but they each form only part of the overall principal argument, which is to see God's people as a people set apart by God, called to live another way, and to follow only one leader. It critiques the philosophy that one can serve God, and walk in the way of the world.

This clarion call to a subversive and renewed people of God is a creative and stimulating read - it's not without its problems, one cant help thinking that if Claiborne authors another book, he will have come close to being part of the system which he so clearly wants to work against, but at the same time, I like many others would be happy to read anything he writes. One might also question how the authors can happily work with others such as Jim Wallis who argue for a more conventional approach to politics... clearly McLaren is not the only one with a generous orthodoxy these days.

Some readers may find biblical references to apocryphal books troubling or confusing, I don't, in fact I like it. Some factual discrepancies may exist within the text, (numbers of dead in Iraq, or etc) but these are minor when looked at in context, and can be put down to the issue of dual authorship.

It's a beautiful, peaceful, challenging, affirming, prophetic, subversive and creative book, well worth reading, sharing, mulling over... likely to become a classic.


Enlightening, 22 Oct 2008
I'll never see a political advert in the same light again; Professor Westen uses his experience in the field of clinical psychology to dissect how the campaign ad and the political speech affects the average Jane Winebox. Westen makes some important points relating to how elections can be won or lost on the language used in and delivery of these two mediums.

It's a compelling read, and a crucial one at that - given the impending US elections. Even if you're not usually one for political non-fiction, I would recommend you give this book a go.

Excellent introduction to Obama and the place of faith in US politics in 2008, 03 Aug 2008
This is a short book at about 130 pages (although with a 45 pages of appendices including texts of speeches) but it provides an excellent introduction to Barack Obama and the place that his Christian faith holds in his life. It briefly describes his upbringing by an atheist mother and Muslim father, his conversion to Christianity and his relationship with his mentor, Jeremiah Wright. The book doesn't delve deeply into Obama's political history but discusses a few of his political views and how they fit with his faith. There is a particularly helpful chapter which looks at Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W Bush and the way in which the faith of each of them works out in their lives.

The book was an easy read with some interesting anecdotes and no strong political axe to grind although I didn't feel that I got a very in-depth look at the character of Obama, he still felt somewhat distant. The book accurately portrayed the rising importance of Christian faith in American politics and showed the different ways in which the faith of the candidates can be demonstrated. It is a helpful resource for those interested in American politics and in the man who may well be the next President.

The perfect guide to the eleven post-war Prime Ministers, 09 Jul 2004
Peter Hennessy is an expert on post-war political history and has written an excellent account of post-war Prime Ministers. The author attempts to introduce the varying challenges of the British premiership and the relative success and failures of Prime Ministers such as Attlee, Churchill, Wilson and Thatcher. This book looks in detail at the ranging personalities and abilities of the previous eleven Prime Ministers and accounts for extra-parliamentary matters such as diplomatic crises like the Suez affair, the Cold War and European integration. Throughout the book, the reader should be able to compare varying styles of the premiership and judge what constitutes an effective Prime Minister. Hennessy allows the reader to make such judgements as he regularly displays each PMs strengths and weaknesses. Also, many examples of quotations, interviews and information from the PRO ensures that the book includes credibility to Hennessy's arguments. Illustrations throughout the book enables the reader to understand each PM's character and situation in greater detail as they are placed particularly following each PM. Prior to introducing the various Prime Ministers, special attention is directed at the powers of patronage, the state of the premiership prior to 1945 and the ongoing conflict following WWII including the possibilities of WWIII with nuclear weapons which would inevitably involve the PM; this introduces the reader to the wide ranging capabilities of the Prime Minister, which is shared by every post-war PM. The main problem is that the book only contains the first government of Tony Blair so if you are searching for a more recent analysis of the premiership, it would be better that you look elsewhere. Nonetheless, I believe 'The Prime Minister' by Peter Hennessey is an intriguing and well written account, which must be read by anyone studying politics, history or is generally interested particularly in the Prime Minister

Excellent!, 20 May 2004
A simply excellent piece of writing. Hennessy rattles along at a fair pace in his analysis of the individual PM's, with amusing anecdotes and truly engaging and pithy analysis, which never fails to capture the reader. You can quite easily be drawn in, and feel totally compelled; it really is a 'just the next few pages' sort of book. Don't expect a full analysis of every policy from top to bottom under each PM; that is not the purpose of it all, but rather, to give readers a real 'feel' of the individuals involved - which Hennessy never fails to do.

The history of the office, and in particular Hennessy's prescriptions for the future are probably the most dry and inaccessible of the sections of the book; I found them a fairly hard slog, even being a self-confessed Politics geek who usually loves that sort of thing. Also, a (slightly obvious.) warning; a generally high level of familiarity with post-war British politics is expected throughout - in these two senses, the book is rather more academic than it is immediately accessible to the lay reader.

A invaluable resource, 05 Nov 2002
This book is an amazing piece of work. My only regret is that it only covers prime ministers since the war as I would have preferred it to cover many prior to 1945.

The first part deals with the actual role of the prime minister and his/her powers rather than dwelling on any one holder of the office. I never appreciated exactly how many pies a prime minister has his/her fingers in until I had read the book.

The second part of the book deals with individual prime ministers since 1945 and varied in how ineteresting it was. This was down primarily to the individual prime minister and not the author's prose which is first class throughout.

Any student of politics should own a copy.

If you like history, or current affairs - an absolute must!, 25 Sep 2001
In general, this is a well constructed, and arresting analysis of the office of the PM, and its holders. The reason why it "hits fifth gear" is based on the level of personal contact with the incumbents, and the depth of reasoning; this raises the book from genuinely interesting to absolutely compelling.
When read thoroughly, the central fact is absolutely shocking: Britain never really came to terms with its post-war status. Whilst measures where taken, the economy/city/markets repeatedly forced action on a reluctant government, which comprised a set of people living in a state of perpetual denial. Collectively, the judgement on the office holders is therefore harsh - they were led by events, they did not lead - this is the central fact, even it is not spelled out explicitly. There are a couple of great stories, of which I mention the funniest: "Mrs Thatcher was both self-aware and quite unrepentant about these traits. One one occassion she opened a ministerial meeting by banging the celebrated bag on the table declaring 'Well, I haven't much time today, only enough to explode and have my way'."
Buy it - you will not regret it!

A must buy for anybody interested in heavy weight Politics, 04 May 2001
This book is a fascinating, well-written and immensely detailed insight into the office of prime minister in the U.K. The author paints superb behind the scenes pictures and focuses on major issues in recent history. It is well researched, with former senior politicians and Whitehall mandarins providing Mr Hennessy with the authentic details from source. I found this book both an eye opener and thought provoking, a must buy for anybody interested in heavy weight British Politics.

Right to be biased?, 23 Oct 2008
After being in China and seeing the closed society as well as a brainwashed belief in the system that still exists today, then you know that something irregular had happened. This fired up my interest in China's history. As this book is still banned in China, I waited until I was out of the country to read this epic biography.
Yes, it's biased, but are not all biographies? As Ms. Chang has had lots of family and personal history in the country and lived under the tyrannical rule of a lunatic, whose self- importance mattered more than the astronomical amount of suffering Chinese, then she has every right to vent her anger.
This is a well reasearched book that should not be avoided by anyone who has an interest in China. I hope it is released there soon.
I would also like to comment on one reviewer. If you haven't lived or experienced life under a regime, then you shouldn't be hasty in saying that it brought great things to the world, wouldn't evolution and diplomacy do the same?
This book opened up my eyes.

Biased but illuminating, 05 Aug 2008
I read Jung Chang's Wild Swans several years ago and it really sparked my interest in China and its history. When I travelled to a nearby region earlier this year I thought her biography of Mao would be an ideal book to take to read on the long train journeys. I also took a couple of novels for light relief, but found Mao to be accessible and interesting enough to keep me entertained for most of the trip. Certainly it's not an unbiased approach but given what we learned about Jung Chang in her earlier book I was never really expecting it to be. It does present enough information for readers to take their own view on what's being described - and on some occasions I found myself coming to different conclusions from those expressed by the authors. Overall a worthy and important read.

The Truth Hurts For Some Readers, 04 Jul 2008
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of some of the people here. This is a superb book and a great read. Of course, if some folk still wish to idolise Chairman Mao that is their business, but Jung Chang has done her best to reveal the ghastly nature of the man and the regime that he led.

Not your typical biography, 21 Jun 2008
When you read biographies, the subject of the book is typically presented in a cool, analytical fashion. The biases and feelings of the author don't typically come through in the writing of the book and the reader is expected to make his own judgement about the character of the person they're rading about.

The approach I just described is especially true when you read biographies about people of historical import, whose actions, it can be argued, can speak for themselves.

The cool, analytical approach was not used here. Mao is presented here as a ruthless man who wanted to be a leader within the Chinese Communist Party, and as someone who would sacrefice anything, or anyone, to get where he wanted to go. No one who reads about Mao's actions, are described here, can be left with anything but a clear understanding of the view they are supposed to form about Mao.

I'm no deep analyst, but there is no doubt that the authors have a very blinkered view of Mao, and that view colours every page of this book. That has lead to some criticism of the book, especially amongst those who take a certain view of historical biography, and how it should be written. That view might be right, or it might be wrong. It is up to the reader to decide what they want. If you want cool and analytical, don't read this book.

To those that argue they want analytical biographies, however, I would simply ask; if Mao did half the things that he is supposed to have done in this book what other view of Mao could you from? This question is doubly hard, given that there is seemingly little argument he did all the things that are ascribed to him in this book.

Excellent telling of an extraordinary life, 27 Jan 2008
Mao certainly dominated the world stage in the last century. From the Long March through the Cultural Revolution to the meetings with Nixon, Mao was a giant historic figure. This book attempts to get behind the icon. In a fairly straightforward convention of following Mao's life, the detail of the Chinese leader's story is explored in detail. The detail is immense and yet the writing style allows you read rather than 'absorb' an academic tome. It's big book befitting a big figure. If you are interested in China's development then it's a good guide to a lot of the working of the Communist Party in an important period of China's modern history. There are a lot of revelations about Mao the man and his motivations. If you like solid, meaty, well researched biographies then this will be an excellent read for you.

New Translation of the Prince, 19 Jul 2008
This is a new translation which was reviewed on BBC Radio 4 as the Book of the Week. The Great and the not so Good fought to review it. It was wrenched out of my hands recently by a famous Hollywood film producer, who was still looking for someone who could turn it into a decent film script. "How do you know about this"? she asked accusingly. A lover of BBC Channel 4, she had yet to tune into BBC Radio 4.

Machiavelli was commander of a mercenary army, hired by the Medicci Family, to take Pisa back. Mission accomplished he was subsequently imprisoned because as he posed too much of threat, to his masters. He decided to decant a lifetimes study of how great men come to and remain in power; as a gift. Written in a charming voice, not too ingratiating voice, the big plonker rejected it. Machiavelli was too clever by half; and the two hounds he had been given for hunting were far more fun.

Others saw the merit in it, and fortunately preserved it for us. Possibly the first self help book ever written, and if the Vatican had had its way, the last.

Psychopathic or extreme pragmatist, you decide about Machiavelli. He casually sizes up principalities for acquisition, like an asset stripper. He offers advice to both potential princes and their subjects. Written about five hundred years ago, it is astonishingly still true of life today. Is God up top pouring olive oil down the slope, while we struggle to push polenta up hill?

Read The Prince and your struggle with adversity, will be simplified.

Excellent, and timesaving in academic emergencies, 08 Sep 2007
This book is brilliant, with well-written introductions to various aspects of constitutional law complemented by excerpts from key theorists and cases, which help illuminate the controversy over public law principles.

Excellent , 06 Oct 2006
This book contains a wide range of source materials and informed commentary which illuminates the political and constitutional process.

The author applies a contextual approach which is invaluable in allowing you to see the bigger picture. This would compliment standard textbooks, because it provides a stimulating perspective on the way we are governed.

I have read this book again and again and you always learn something new.

Challenging, riveting, subversive, creative, wonderful, 04 Jun 2008
This is one of the best, most challenging and thought provoking books around at the moment. Despite it's American target audience (we don't have a president here - yet) it makes great reading for any reader, as its themes are universal.

This is unlikely to look like any book you have ever read before, it's got nearly as much in common with a graphic novel as it has with a standard text book. The best comparison I can give, and it is quite inappropriate really given the anti consumerist approach of the authors, is with a Howies clothing catalogue. It has that same earthy, lived in, thoughtful, artistic and engaging feel, but thankfully without the pictures of models wearing expensive clothes.

Put simply, this has got to be one of the most beautifully designed books on the market - working with the writing, the design emphasises the creative, radical spirit of the text, and the provocative joy of the authors. Quite rightly the designers are credited at the end of the book along with the writers. The colour is full throughout the book, with design elements interacting with the text throughout, which adds immensely to the value of the content. If you liked the look of `Irresistible Revolution' then this is a quantum leap forward, like as if the publishers suddenly realised what this thing was all about...

In some ways it reminds me of an illuminated manuscript, from back in the day of monkishness, when religious texts were coloured and illustrated by devoted scholars. This fits with the fact that the authors are part of the new monastic movement - and perhaps this could be seen as the contemporary equivalent.

But aside from a fantastic design job - what does the latest offering from our dreadlocked brother actually contain? Well first point to make, there are very clearly two voices audible in this book. Claiborne and Haw have coinciding views, but different emphases, or perhaps just different experiences, which while bringing occasional difficulties to the academic niceties of the text, actually help lend weight to this book. Actually - if you count the design, then add in one or two more voices as well.

Written throughout in easily digestible chunks, the book begins as a dissection of a theme of radical God politics which the authors show running through the bible. It sidetracks through stories of friends, writings of early Christians and reflections on current affairs.

It's a book of stories, parables, and prophecy, it is not supposed to be a tome, or a text book, or a prize winning essay - this is a work of love, an object of discussion, a catalyst (for want of a less clichéd term) for renewed engagement with the themes, and an encouragement to live a different way.

Rather than taking an easy option, such as a single standpoint of Christian anarchy for example, or an anti war vote, Claiborne and Haw manage to turn the whole idea around, arguing for a radical Christian engagement with politics and society in a way that is at once submissive and subversive.

American voters wanting to know who the writers say they should vote for, will find themselves left with the same choices, but hopefully looking at them through new, or perhaps ancient lenses. I suspect also that this will help many bring a new creativity to their decision making.

Pacifism and anti (or non) consumerism are key themes, but they each form only part of the overall principal argument, which is to see God's people as a people set apart by God, called to live another way, and to follow only one leader. It critiques the philosophy that one can serve God, and walk in the way of the world.

This clarion call to a subversive and renewed people of God is a creative and stimulating read - it's not without its problems, one cant help thinking that if Claiborne authors another book, he will have come close to being part of the system which he so clearly wants to work against, but at the same time, I like many others would be happy to read anything he writes. One might also question how the authors can happily work with others such as Jim Wallis who argue for a more conventional approach to politics... clearly McLaren is not the only one with a generous orthodoxy these days.

Some readers may find biblical references to apocryphal books troubling or confusing, I don't, in fact I like it. Some factual discrepancies may exist within the text, (numbers of dead in Iraq, or etc) but these are minor when looked at in context, and can be put down to the issue of dual authorship.

It's a beautiful, peaceful, challenging, affirming, prophetic, subversive and creative book, well worth reading, sharing, mulling over... likely to become a classic.


Enlightening, 22 Oct 2008
I'll never see a political advert in the same light again; Professor Westen uses his experience in the field of clinical psychology to dissect how the campaign ad and the political speech affects the average Jane Winebox. Westen makes some important points relating to how elections can be won or lost on the language used in and delivery of these two mediums.

It's a compelling read, and a crucial one at that - given the impending US elections. Even if you're not usua