J. A. McCarron

A Leftist View of The World

Revisado: 04-27-24

I was hoping for data analysis. Instead the book is full of cherry picked stories from history to spin a leftist view of the world.

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The solution!

Revisado: 10-06-20

This book is the most important book I have read on current political problems. And that is because of the solution he proposes.

You, or I, may disagree with David French about the causes of our division, and who is to blame. But that is of secondary importance. Just like it is of secondary importance how you tore your rotator cuff (or if anyone is to blame). The important question for the doctor remains how to fix it.

Most books try to solve the problem by explaining why their side is correct. And that is fine and good to have that discussion. But at some point we have to admit that Americans have some fairly fundamental disagreements and both sides are increasingly turning to the raw power of the federal government to force their views down the other's throat. That is not freedom. That is intolerance.

The solution is healthy federalism. To sane people that do not get too wrapped up in politics, "federalism" might sound like increasing federal power. But it is the opposite. It means giving states more leeway/power to let the people in each state live the way they want. It means tolerance. Even though you think someone/state is wrong, you recognize the value of letting them chose their own path in life.

Federalism means more state power vis a vis the federal government. David addresses head on the common concerns about federalism. Those concerns are not as acute as they once were, and they are certainly less troubling than the our current trajectory of forcing unpopular government across very divided communities.

The dream is people in Tennessee can love those wacky people in California even though they have some crazy ideas, and the people of California can have the same view of those in Tennessee. How can that happen? Well that may be asking too much but we know what is currently doing the opposite and causing hatred. Forcing people in these states to live the same way and value the same things as the other is causing animosity and will continue to do so.

The dream is also to have your hopes and dreams for yourself your family and your community, not be so dependent on the outcome of presidential election that you really have very little control over. I have more control over what state I live in, than I do over who becomes president.

David French is a constitutional lawyer and scholar so he sketches out how federalism can be done correctly within our constitutional framework. There are some difficulties to sort out but that is not the biggest problem for this solution. The first and biggest obstacle is helping people understand the huge advantages of federalism. That is really where the most work needs to be done and that is where this books excels. We need more people to understand the advantages of federalism so we can build the political will to implement it. That is what all fair minded, freedom loving, and tolerant people need to start focusing on. Elect a federal government whose first priority is to let California be California and let Tennessee be Tennessee.

The next time you see an issue government should address, don't think the president should do something. Think my mayor or governor should do something and the president should get out of the way and let him or her do it. We can elect a federal government that allows us to be governed the way we want. We just need to recognize the easiest, and best, way to do that is electing a federal government that allows *everyone* to be governed the way they want. EDIT:UNBELIEVABLE THAT AUDIBLE DOES NOT ALLOW PARAGRAPHS IN REVIEWS SORRY I CANT CHANGE THIS.

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esto le resultó útil a 8 personas

Great book glad it is written before 2016

Revisado: 01-25-19

The book covers a large topic but she really did a great job keeping it entertaining with interesting anecdotes while also maintaining the larger themes and lessons to be learned.
She identifies many of the methods used in the Soviet Union's countries including control of a secret police force. For those Americans who are not concerned about the politicization of our FBI (for either party) you should read this book. A few arrests will keep hundreds in line.

Also there is the press. How it can become subtly biased and that can snowball. Of course along with that there is the propaganda. Everyone who is not with the left is a Nazi. Everyone who is not with the left is extreme right wing.

Then there is the undermining of any other institutions that might compete with the state - the church and other cultural groups.

I had listened to a few interviews of Anne Applebaum before reading this book where she attacks Donald Trump. I am not a big fan of Trump but it seems to me that the left is using most of these tactics much more than Trump has been. That said I think the most common mistake is to claim that now is just like some other time in history. From her interviews I am pretty sure she would agree every time in history is unique.

Nonetheless lessons can be learned and dirty tactics can be identified. This book was written before the Trump and the wars between conservatives and the left leaning media. So the books coverage of this time is like pure snow. I just hope she never does another edition which might be tainted.

I thought the narrator was excellent. I love history but it can be dry especially when the book is 25+ hours. This narrator I thought did a great job. BTW it is not like the book was too long. I was always excited to hear more throughout the book and I am glad she did not cut anything out. I would actually like to listen to more about this time in history including some countries that weren't especially covered in this book such as Romania and Czechoslovakia. (This book mainly covers Hungary, East Germany, and Poland.)

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esto le resultó útil a 8 personas

should be a movie or 3

Revisado: 09-18-12

I couldn't ask for a better history book.

I have read several books about the crusades but this was the first book I have listened to relating to this time period and this theatre of war. I was surprised at what I had been missing.

Since this is my first book dealing specifically with this time period I don't feel qualified to address bias. I will say that partisans on both sides, who are inclined to try to read these books to justify, or vilify, either side will find much ammunition in this book.

The soldiers who fought in these wars on both sides tend to define both bravery and cruelty in a strange mixture.

The author did a masterful job of providing fascinating anecdotes from early sources as well as setting the context and informing the reader a bit about the context of the times. Even, as a new reader to this time period I did not feel lost as the story unfolded.

The reason I say a movie "or 3??? is that there were several major battles covered and any one of which could make a great movie. Rhodes, Malta, and Lepanto seem obvious choices.

As stated by several others, the narrator was first class.

Bravo to all involved in this audible book.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Great course

Revisado: 04-16-11

If you looking for people who want to try to twist history into sensationalist claims then I guess Dr. Madden won't be for you. You won't get the recently popular nonsense about how Mary Magdalene had Jesus's baby on the coast of France or whatever. If missing out on that means it will be boring to you, then this will be boring.


But he gives allot of the information regarding early church history and doesn't have an axe to grind. With him it seems facts first and then theories. The theories may not be as spectacular but they also aren???t horribly misinformed. And I will say even the seemingly less sensational theories that spring up from listening to his lectures have always given me allot to think about.



As far as his tone of voice and that sort of thing, I had no problem with it. But then again I find the material interesting.

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esto le resultó útil a 15 personas

good sci fi

Revisado: 04-08-08

I agree with Michael, at times the author repeats himself about lag. Nevertheless, thats sort of the point. Battles on this scale and at these speeds are all about lag and trying to deal with it.

BTW I think the narrator is does a great job.

I enjoyed the book and will read/listen to the next book in series.

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esto le resultó útil a 12 personas

Authors view nothing more but worth a read

Revisado: 12-14-05

Mr Kung goes through church history rather selectively. It is after all a short history so he is going to cover only the points he think are important. Of course, those are the events that will support his views. Nevertheless his views are often insightfull and I beleive quite valuable.

One theme throughout the book is that the Church should stop trying to act like a thought police department. This is the strongest point of the book. He draws a picture where we can see most of the greatest tragedies that the church faced/caused were due to trying to micromanage peoples religious beliefs. Excommunication should not be the rebuttal to every divergent view.

He starts to lose the thread every now and then when he talks about his political/social views about birth control and abortion. At times he seems to argue the church should condone whatever the majority of people think. He even cites gallup polls suggesting that the church should follow them in how they teach the christian message. That type of argument can only drag his credibility down.

The book isn't as objective as the title may suggest but overall a book worth reading.

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Best audible book yet

Revisado: 03-11-04

Martin Luther King was not a politician he was Christian Preacher who felt compelled to "do right." You may not agree with everything he says (eg. re. viatnam and role of UN) but, if you listen, you do know this man *truly* believed in what he said. He was in every way a true believer. He also truly belived in and loved all people and perhaps especially African Americans.

People who want to ignore religion in his life just don't get it. People who believe that the only reality is the physical things of this life just don't end up with drive to do well in the world like MLK had. After listening to this book I am convinced he felt God was driving him to do his work and acting through him. After listening to this book I believe his feeling was correct.
Whether someone truly believes in a cause or not this book will enlighten you about someone who does believe in a cause and throws his soul into. It also indicates what he go through and how he handles it. This was truly inspirational

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