All Consuming : mccheese

A review of "The Second Bill of Rights: FDR's Unfinished Revolution and Why We Need It More Than Ever"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 04:23:31 GMT

The Second Bill of Rights: FDR's Unfinished Revolution and Why We Need It More Than Ever

by Cass R. Sunstein

comes this short work from Cass Sunstein. With the dominance of conservativism since Reagan (including during the Clinton presidency) liberal thought has been fasting in the same desert where the Conservatives of the 60’s languished for so long. Cass Sunstein seems to be one of the intellectual lights of the left that is trying to lead our country back to the path of social responsibility that characterised this country’s “mission statement” from the presidency of Roosevelt until Reagan broke with the idea of a social contract, replacing it with 80’s style laissez faire. Sunstein attempts to remind us of the social contract that used to exist between the government and the people. At one time it was taken for granted that government’s function was to protect both negative and positive rights. These positive rights included the right to work, the right to a living wage, the right to leisure, medical care, and security in old age. In FDR’s view, government acted to regulate the predatory nature of capitalism, thus effectively protecting capitalism from itself. Sunstein describes how the contract evolved, and also presents an argument for the modern reader trying to pursuade us to reclaim that view of government. Sunstein is somewhat weak as a historian (at least in this book) but he argues very strongly in favor of restoring this functionality to government. It’s worth reading if you like progressive political theory.

Why I recommend "Pure Drivel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 07:14:46 GMT

Pure Drivel

by Steve Martin

No more wondering what it’s like to be a Steve Martin.

Hey, Steve, “Writing is Easy.” Thanks.

A story about "Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 06:45:32 GMT

Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life

by David D. Friedman

Damn, the library is mad. I better return this. One more chapter tomorrow. I t i s a s l o o o o o w read!

Why I recommend "Faithful Ruslan: The Story of a Guard Dog"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 05:47:00 GMT

Faithful Ruslan: The Story of a Guard Dog

by Georgii Nikolaevich Vladimov

One of two great dog stories in Russian lit (at least that I know of). This is a sad and touching story of abandonment. You will figure out who the dog represents.

For extra fun, follow this dog story with Bulgokov’s “Heart of a Dog.” Another book about communism, but here communism is in it’s prime. A biting satire, if there ever was one! :)

A review of "GOAL!: The Dream Begins"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 07:21:59 GMT

GOAL!: The Dream Begins

by Robert Rigby

It isn’t literature or anything like that. Nobody’s going to confuse it with Dostoevski or Lermontov, but it is a lot of fun anyhow. Anyone who likes soccer would enjoy this. It is “Horatio Alger in soccer boots.”

A question I have about "Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 13:44:13 GMT

Hidden Order: The Economics of Everyday Life

by David D. Friedman

I’m giving this one more chapter. Seems to be pablum for the huddled masses who can read.

Oh come on. Friedman asserts: “Cost = Value = Price”. On what planet?

Not true from the producer’s view, that’s for damned sure. Otherwise where is the profit? (price – cost). You almost want to go back to Marx, who at least knew of “surplus value”.

It looks like he will have to develop two systems of economics to incorporate profit – one for consumers and one for sellers. It works about as good and honestly as two sets of books – one for the executives and one for the shareholders meeting.

I might have to stick around until he justifies huge executive bonuses used to grease corporate mergers and buy-outs. $14 mil for three week’s “work”? America, what a country.

Why I recommend "The White Guard"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 13:26:39 GMT

The White Guard

by Mikhail Afanasevich Bulgakov

His most beautifully written book. Characters are truly human, despite being “class enemies.” Similar to Pasternak in that way.

Stalin loved the dramatic version of this story, “The Day of the Turbins.” I recall reading that Stalin saw the play dozens of times. The fact that Stalin was a great fan probably saved Bulgokov’s arse during the purges.

Why I recommend "Notes from Underground"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 13:19:28 GMT

Notes from Underground

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

One of the five best opening sentencea in literature.

Dostoevsky’s concept of “the double” originated here, I’m told.

A story about "The Master and Margarita"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:56:05 GMT

The Master and Margarita

by Mikhail Bulgakov

Rereading it. The Best book ever… especially the Mira Ginsberg translation!

That seventh proof IS the most convincing of all.

A story about "The Godfather, Part II (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:33:29 GMT

The Godfather, Part II (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)

by Francis Ford Coppola

Utterly dark, and maybe the best of the three.

A story about "The Satanic Verses: A Novel (Bestselling Backlist)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:28:39 GMT

The Satanic Verses: A Novel (Bestselling Backlist)

by Salman Rushdie

One of the great books of the 20th century.

If not for the PC police in the west and the islamic world’s occaisional homicidal nuts, this book would be taught in every literature class for the questions it raises.

Despite all the hoopla due to the fatwa, this is really a thoughtful book and dense with literary symbolism, allusions, and themes. From the first assertion regarding the height of Mt. Everest, all truth (including the truth in this novel) is called into question. It is timely in examining the products of fanatical belief and modern skepticism.

Belief and skepticism, reality and illusion, good and evil are all contrasted. And in the contrasting Rushdie muddies the waters to show that good and evil aren’t as obvious to the beholder as our religions might have us believe.

A story about "Finnegans Wake (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:10:16 GMT

Finnegans Wake (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)

by James Joyce

Someday I will finish this. If not in this, then in a future lifetime.

A story about "War and Peace (Modern Library)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:04:01 GMT

War and Peace (Modern Library)

by Leo Tolstoy

Too long. S.O.S… shoot me!

A question I have about "Remembrance of Things Past"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:00:48 GMT

Remembrance of Things Past

by Marcel Proust

Nearly died of exhausting reading this. Ok I guess it’s experimental literature… but if it’s experimental it would have been much more scientifically elegant if only it was shorter. Please god, in his next life let Proust find an editor.

How "The Brothers Karamazov" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:52:54 GMT

The Brothers Karamazov

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

It took me a whole summer to get through this book. This book, along with Master and Margarita (Bulgakov) helped me to believe in God again. Can’t say I’m convinced, but open to it now.

Dostoevski proves the need for God in this work. In the absence of God, any Crime is possible (similar to the theme in Crime & Punnishment).

While on the subject, Bulgokov finished the Russian argument in favor of God by showing that proof of God is not necessary.

Why I recommend "Bluebeard (Delta Fiction)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:44:04 GMT

Bluebeard (Delta Fiction)

by Kurt Vonnegut

This is likely Vonnegut’s swan song in literature since he’s probably too old to write another “great” work. He was very powerful in his recent set of essays… but that’s another entry.

In Bluebeard Vonnegut again fleshes out one of his stock characters – this time Rabo Karabekian in old age. In doing so he tells us something we might not have known about modern art – that some of those folks – including fictional Rabo – really could draw and paint. He also sheds light on why they chose not to.

This ranks with the best of Vonnegut. And it has – if such a thing exists in a Vonnegut book – a happy ending!

Why I recommend "The Fall"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:29:57 GMT

The Fall

by Albert Camus

Camus’ best. It is to literature what “Casablanca” is to movies – full of one-liners, aphorisms and black humor.

The theme sneaks up on you. It isn’t until nearly the end of the book that you discover that you are reading the 20th century’s version of “Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner” (if killing the gull was replaced by complicity in the holocaust).

Why I recommend "Fear And Loathing In America: The Brutal Odyssey of an Outlaw Journalist (Thompson, Hunter S. Gonzo Letters, V. 2.)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:15:07 GMT

Fear And Loathing In America: The Brutal Odyssey of an Outlaw Journalist (Thompson, Hunter S. Gonzo Letters, V. 2.)

by Hunter S. Thompson

Promises, platitudes, lies, drugs, scandals, everything you could want in a political campaign except a good outcome.

Come to think of it, 72 was a lot like 04… except that the Democrats of two years ago couldn’t nominate a candidate with ideals, and the Republicans of yesteryear couldn’t avail themselves of the gay-marriage wedge issue or electronic ballot tampering :)

A review of "Everybody Smokes In Hell"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:01:13 GMT

Everybody Smokes In Hell

by John Ridley

This is the most extremely violent, repulsive and sick book I’ve read in ages. It is also, as a result, screamingly funny!

The characters are all stupid and utterly pathetic. They include: a psycho gangsta hit-girl, a dealer wanna-be who never will, a whiney little black guy who can’t stand his job, an arabic convenience store clerk, a drugged out Marylin Manson type, a pimp, a host of ho’s, the whole shee-bang… er gang-bang.

And the ending is worth the trip. Read it.

A story about "The Good Society: The Humane Agenda"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mccheese) — Fri, 26 May 2006 05:47:04 GMT

The Good Society: The Humane Agenda

by John Kenneth Galbraith

Interesting liberal approach to economics. Written very conversationally – was probably dictated.

Intended by Galbraith to defend New Deal/Great Society approach to macroeconomic engineering and provide a modern argument for pursuing such a society. Also seeks to define what a “good society” would be, contrasting it against “utopia’s” by describing how it (unlike utopia) can realistically be achieved.

Is very cutting in it’s many jabs and insults at free-market and other Neo-classical economic approaches. It proposes to be practical rather than ideological (which is a fault he attibutes to neoclassical economics). But his Marxist views on history and determinism show through in many places. It is surprising that he didn’t seem to question them. I guess he’d believed them too long, as he wrote this book in his 80’s, I think.

Worth the read. I’d like to check out the books he wrote when he was younger, more vigorous and more rigorous in his analysis.