And interesting, novel and IMPORTANT take-down of the "zombie" economic ideas, that despite multiple refutation still do damage!
340148
Interesting and novel approach.  Well-written and right on the money about just how much damage these never quite deceased "zombie" ideas still cause in the way we, -- even or especially economists themselves! -- think about economic matters.
Some very important points are made here of which I only wish our would-be "leaders" were better apprised!!  The take down of neoclassical and "neoliberal" economic myths is also very telling!
2485856
I can sum up this brilliantly insightful book in one sentence: "America is a neo-colonial, capitalist abomination which must be destroyed!" But don't take my word for it - read the entire book and get every gory, extremely well-documented detail. Then organize in your precinct so we can all get rid of this pathological menace in 2012!
2420777
This is one of the smarter and more unusual zombie novels you will ever read. Max Brooks has created a zombie mythology for an apocalyptic future where a plague of walking dead decimate the earth. There are historic figures, famous battles, customized weapons, and unique language. This world is wide open for further embellishment should Mr. Brooks or others decide to explore it.

There is no main character for you to identify with or become attached to. Each section has a different narrator, speaking about his or her specific experience in the zombie war. I was skeptical at first, but this device actually works. Of course, some narratives are better than others, and there were several that I wish had been expanded further. I particularly enjoyed the accounts of the female pilot who has to parachute in the middle of zombie territory, the young Japanese man who is trapped in an infested highrise, and the wandering submarine crew.

Some sections got bogged down with extraneous detail--elaborate descriptions of goverment agencies and histories of various regions. While I understand this was an attempt to add background and context, it often slowed the momentum of the story.

Surprisingly, there were long stretches without zombies. However, when they did appear it was worth the wait. Rather than pummeling us with zombie carnage, Mr. Brooks parceled it out in effectively creepy amounts. That's the hallmark of good suspense; leave 'em breathlessly wanting more.

All in all, this was an interesting new spin on the zombie novel and I applaud Mr. Brooks' effort. Without a main character, however, it beats me how they will make this into a movie.
1188768
The author takes an unconventional view on the accelerating technology and its overall affect on the economy.
I personally think the scenario described in this book is far into the future(may be couple of decades from now).

Even if you don't completely agree with the author's premise, the book is a fascinating read.
74721
I'm addicted to zombie novels and post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction, and this novel did not disappoint that interest of mine. However, something that really turns me off in this genre is the right-wing, survivalist, "gold bug" bent of many authors.

While for the most part Shriver provides a pretty apt critique of Keynesian economics, I did get the sense that the author's political views crept in, especially towards the end.

Things happened a little too quickly for me in the second half. While the last chapter does provide good closure for the characters, it seemed a little rushed and too "happily ever after" for me. However, the first half of the book is riveting, and overall the book is definitely worth a read.
1857946
The Russian Revolution has been a seminal catastrophe influencing Europe and the world in the past 100 years. Far from the polished propaganda narrative of those who chose to lie (among them, the pamphlet written by the American John Reed and many other "scholar works"), it was a coup d'&eacute;tat of very few choosing the bloodiest possible course to create a murderous (and illegitimate) police state that lasted 74 years. Sean McMeekin work is in continuity with the reference opus magnum of Richard Pipes, and shows how devastating was the event that too many still admire as a victory against the "injustice of Capitalism". Industrial production in 1920 fell to 18% of 1913. The world has not learned the lesson, Socialism is still rampant, and its damage still present (see Venezuela, but also the rhetoric in the U.S. about tax the rich). The book is very well written and should become a reference for american colleges, to warn the new generations about the false pretense of egalitarian theories like Socialism and the danger of extending the State right to dictate to its citizens. It also shows the abysmal hypocrisy of the "leaders", that while preaching the value of communal properties and proletary expropriation and inflaming the masses against the rich, did not hesitate to hoard the best food and live in the luxurious mansions in the middle of devastating famines caused by their economic theory and the expropriation of private property. Lenin himself did not hesitate to be chauffeured on a 1915 Rolls Royce for which he spent thousands of 1920 dollars to buy replacement parts (!). If the book has a weakness, it is being too short. The author (or the editor) have chosen to condense what must have been a very extensive research in the russian archives. Should we look for a future edition in 2 or 3 volumes?
1849408
What fascinates me most in apocalyptic fiction is what might happen to human societies and human behaviour in the wake of massive upheavals. In Book Two of this series Michael Peirce continues to explore the creation of an independent military state of Georgia in the wake of the z-poc. The history book feel continues to fascinate, mixed as it is with occasional emotional editorialising from the unnamed narrator or historian.

Mr Peirce writes with pace and aplomb. His knowledge and use of military history (from European to African to North American) is admirable, anchoring a piece of speculative fiction in reality, and adding another pint of interest. This adds to the credibility of the book, enhancing its "non-fiction" feel. He adds (in places) religious perspectives on the zombie phenomenon as well as on societal changes, and this is a welcome area of exploration that most post-apoc books avoid.

The addition of a Glossary at the back of this Volume is valuable and fun.

A smart and pacy continuation of a unique series.
3098919
The information emerging from Russia is full of contradictions.  The government insists there is no problem, and yet health care workers from around the world have been summoned.  Is it the West Nile virus?  Ebola?  Nearby countries are shutting their borders and ordering vaccinations.  But against what?  Nevertheless, the mysterious virus spreads throughout the world as official information slows to a trickle.  Blogs report infected individuals exhibiting extreme aggression, attacking other people.

Apocalypse Z is written in the form of a daily journal by a young Spanish widower which gives the story a sense of urgency and immediacy.  The unnamed narrator, along with his cat, Lucullus, must make a decision: When society has fallen, is it wiser to seek refuge among other survivors, or should you tough it out on your own?  I suppose every form of apocalypse requires a different approach, but in the case of zombies, the answer is clear: stay away from huge clusters of humans, lest you all become dinner.

The narrator exhibits intelligence not often seen during a zombie apocalypse.  What does he wear to battle zombies?  A neoprene wetsuit!  Genius - it's form-fitting, so zombies can't grab hold of him easily, he's covered from head to toe, and most important - neoprene is not easy to bite or claw through.

It's hard to find unique stories in the zombie genre anymore, and I won't claim that this one breaks new ground.  But the combination of exciting action, good depictions of violence, and genuine intelligence exhibited by the lead character make this an enjoyable read.
329632
This book truly does an amazing job going down the what-if zombies took over the world scenario. It doesn't read like your typical work of fiction, but is arranged as a series of interviews with some of the protaganists or antagonists who have survived (or even prospered) when a deadly epidemic sweeps the world turning most of the population into the living dead who feed off the living. The main reason why this book works so well is that like most good horror novels it is so firmly grounded in reality that you truly believe that something so horrific could actually happen or is happening. In fact the reality here is  played-off so effectively against current events and references (direct or indirect) to present day political reality that you have to remind yourself somewhat regretfully that it is a work of fiction after all. Brooks' use of footnotes peppered liberally to explain some fictional militaristic jargon or colloqualism is highly effectual in creating the journalistic ambience of the novel. The description of zombie warfare and the explanations for why it is so hard to fight them even with all the modern strategy and technology at hand is evidence that Brooks has thought and played the scenarios out carefully and logically. And logic is really the key here, what-if scenarios often breakdown when the logic is exhausted but here it is maintained with a straight face right through to the end. George Romero revealed a little of this hyper-reality juxtaposed against zombies in those news footages he interspersed in his "dead" series but I think Brooks has really taken that to a whole new level. There are a few "interviews" which feel a little contrived, especially the Japanese experiences which seem right out of some bad samurai flick. But the scope of the book is quite international and not so ethnocentric which makes it all the more impressive. The only question I would have for him is: What happened in North Korea?
4232331
The history of economics is the history of man made disasters. As Obama's disaster unfolds, it is clear that the 90% are just collateral damages for the 10%. In making the world safe for banks and insurance companies, Obama has ensured that there is no future for the rest of us: Obamanomics is Bush III. Jack Rasmus's book Obama's Economy: Recovery of the Few, is an irrefutable  indictment of Obama's economy and a roadmap for those who would make America work for the many.  It is also a superb overview of the "richest economy in the world." with two omissions worthy of note.
 Rasmus does not explain why Reagan/Bush I & II ran up huge deficits----after all they are "conservatives" . Nor does he explain why military spending was the chosen vehicle. As to the trillions of dollars of deficits, David Stockman told us why: the deficits were chosen to destroy social security and medicare by financial strangulation and as Rasmus documents, Obama has significantly moved forward toward the destruction of both, cynically timed after the November 2012 elections. As to military spending, military spending creates very few jobs for the trillions of dollars spent: once again, as Rasmus documents, again and again Obama refused to do anything of significance to create jobs but he was more happy to spend more on the military and war. In fact, as Rasmus documents, his only vehicle for job creation was long term infrastructure projects that will take decades to carry out------the job equivalent of defense spending in terms of real job creation.
 The lack of Obama job creation is more than just a continuation of the Reagan/Bush I & II economic agenda; it contrasts sharply with FDR. In one of the most compelling sections of the book, Rasmus does a year by year contrast of FDR and Obama. Although both were faced with depressions, at a critical juncture, FDR turned from a bank/business agenda to a job and housing agenda and it not only saved the Democratic party, it salvaged what was left of the America economy. Obama has done neither and the Democratic party is in tatters as well as the economy.
 But why is Obama so adverse to job creation? In answering this question, Rasmus is quite helpful: Obama's distaste for job creation is only matched for his hunger for "free trade" agreements which have been instrumental in dismantling the American economy and shipping the real jobs overseas.
  The virtue of the Rasmus book is also its downside. The dense detail is convincing but numbing. A billion here and a billion there does add up to real money but the numbers also become meaningless. The problem with the dry language of economics is that it does not convey human damage. Rasmus is not Charles Dickens. Perhaps he should take a tip from Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and include photos.
 To make the numbers real, consider that tens of million more unemployed/under employed means thousands more bankruptcies, early deaths from lack of medical care, suicides, divorces, child abuse, abortions, wife beatings, homelessness, drug addicts, alcoholics, prisoners----the endless miasma of human misery. Obama and his kind will weep prodigious crocodile tears at the damage caused by their policies but at the end of the day, despite all the cynical political theater of hand wringing, they will do nothing. We should thank Dr. Rasmus for his roadmap out of their economic hell but it will take a million or so people occupying Washington DC to push Congress to recovery.

For not forever will the poor man be forgotten
 the hope of the lowly not lost forever
Arise, O Lord, let not man flaunt his strength,
 let nations be judged in Your presence.
O Lord, put fear upon them,
 let the nations know they are mortal.
  Psalm 9
1806623
"The Soul of Capitalism: Opening Paths to a Moral Economy," is filled with challenging ideas for changing Wall Street's DNA.  Author William Greider carefully reviews the historical nature of capitalism and offers sound advice on how to improve the integrity of the financial system in the United States.  To this end, Greider demonstrates how deceit and manipulation of information by financial firms has triggered a public outrage.  And he provides a convincing argument that unless the bottom line includes humanity in its bookkeeping...capitalism will eventually destroy society.
For the most part serious tier-one traders of equities, bonds, commodities and forex markets will ignore the contents of this book.  They are on the cutting edge of establishing value and have no technical or fundamental instrument to quantify humanity in the daily battle of market pricing.  However, senior management, bankers and administrators would be wise to examine this text.  They are in a position to promote change.  And only they can end the callous indifference and greed that dominates Wall Street.
Greider does his homework.  He introduces the thoughts of several social gospelers and philophers to punctuate many important points.  At the top of the list of culprits is how senior corporate executives have no true social responsibilities other than to make money for shareholders.  On the contrary, the heroes of nurturing solid corporate social values are union managed pension funds who advocate wholesome investments.
On a less than positive note...Greider's "agitating inquiry" tends to get a little carried away with his criticism of certain segments of the financial system.  For instance, his allegations of fuedalism and master/servants labor systems in today's capitalist society are weak and will be discounted by objective economists.  Nevertheless, this is an important book that explores how downsizing, restructuring and outsourcing reduce human dignity, equity and self-worth for many Americans.
Bert Ruiz
2342753
Why should you buy this book?  B  R  A  I  N  S  !  And plenty of it for your enjoyment!

Witty and punny, this delicious book is teeming with smart essays on the interminable and ubiquitous cultural phenomenon of zombies.

What accounts for the never-ending interest in/popularity of zombies?  In the intro, Commentale and Jaffe provide lots of interesting reasons (because there are lots of different kinds of zombie).  First, theres our psychological fixation on the way the familiar and securely-seated past has the potential to rise up and become deeply weird.  Or on how the stuff we weve always loved and desired is actually gross and disgusting.  Beyond the personal/psychological, we also seemed to be much more freaked out these days about the larger hazards and risks that we thought were over-and-done-with, such as the soul-destroying operations of global capitalism or the long-term dangers of pollution.  Moreover, we now live in a world in which, as the editors say, nothing seems to die anymore.  We spend hours in the massive digital crypt, exposed to the strange temporality of our electronic world and its terrifyingly infinite archival power.  And finally, were living in a nightmarish condition that Mad Men tries to sketch out in lighter colors -- the endlessly regenerative nature of commodity culture, its mind-numbing sequels, and next-best-things.  This condition has an etymology that includes of course the history of Haiti, the dehumanization of slavery, and the ruined humanity in the wake of imperial conquest.

In addition to being an expression of disapproval and critique (we are dead in the midst of life), zombies also seem to be attempts to imagine how to live in the midst of these widespread conditions.  Punk appropriations of futureless anarchy, as this book points out, are ways of inhabiting the waste land.  Even more punk is the fact that the zombie can do more than point to some well-known meaning or allegory (were all mindless consumers; AIDS is gonna get you; your most cherished self is actually a hilariously monstrous and mostly mechanical body); the zombie is the figure who kills the very fantasy of permanent and necessary meanings.  And that is so scary that we MUST try to kill the zombie first!  Last one to kill is a rotten egg!

I haven't come close to exhausting the list of topics the collection deals with.  Theres a bunch more:  the population bomb, race, biopolitics, outmoded institutions, the persistent humanities, linguistics .  I have not read every single essay yet, but Ive come across some great onesby Jaffe, Commentale, Soldat-Jaffe, and Eburne.  When I read more of this awesome collection, I may jump back on and update this review!
1085805
When I read through the reviews, I had second thoughts about buying the book. But Im glad I bought it anyway.

This is the first zombie novel Ive read, and I have to admit its an eye-opener and rather thought provoking. At times, it can be difficult to read . . . but like I said, thought provoking.

My favorite part was the buildup. I love how the author started out with a normal America and watch the different school of thoughts as things unfolded. The buildup made the characters really believable, and I couldn't help smiling at some of the things the characters did because I think I wouldve reacted the same way!

As a woman, reading about the depravity of what the characters do in the book can be tough.

I have seen some complaints in a few reviews, but I think there are some hard truths we have to come to terms with. We all like to think that in times of a disaster, well all be on our best behavior. But the book shows us the reality of lifenot everyone can be trusted, not everyone will continue to be who they were before things went south.

I want to tell you more, but I won't spoil the book for you! Overall, its an interesting book.
4518185
Knowing the historical significance of this book at the time, I can say that it definitely deserves the 5 stars given. The fact that I disagree with just about everything written in the book does not lessen its importance. The application of game theory and brinksmanship, along with the outright censorship of the multiple side effects in a nuclear exchange such as radiation, firestorms, etc, in my opinion, brought us closer to the edge of destruction than was ever generally known. His arguments that it was somehow  survivable if only the proper planning was applied, clouded the clear vision of nuclear limitation talks achieved later.
This is an important book to read, if only to get a glimpse of the mindset of one of our "Bland Corporation" cold war planners.

Probably the scariest book that I have read in 10 years!!!!
2136645
An excellent explanation of the "lost colony,"  what may have happened and the horrifying potential for general human depravity and insanity rooted in pseudo religious beliefs to carry into  the present from dark origins thousands of years ago. It is really a rip-roaring yarn that keep one reading and as important, is remarkably consistent throughout. Of course, Robinson is very good at that sort of thing, and apparently so is Sean Ellis. Highly recommended.
1020864
Most of us have a nerdy side, even if it is very tiny.  Mine loves economics in all its variations.  If you have ever wondered how the crash and the subsequent financial pain happened, this book will answer a lot of your questions.  First, I should apologize for Alan Blinder.  He is a brilliant economist, but not an especially interesting writer.  His sentences tend to go one forever.  That fault aside, he does offer an interesting and compelling case for how the banks, government, and yes... all of us were complicit in creating the BIg Bubble that burst and slimed the world economy.  Feel free to skim the boring parts, but please pay attention to the undeniable facts.  Mr. Blinder's analysis is careful and well-supported.  I think this is a must-read for anyone who hopes that this pain will not be revisited on America.
3152284
Very interesting book, with a strong point of view of how the dystopian apocalypse that's the theme of many modern speculative works could be caused, not by nuclear war or pandemic, but by economic collapse of the US. Unfortunately, the book seems to have been written from the perspective of a right-wing conservative, as the aforementioned collapse is brought about by too many baby boomers refusing to die and being supported in high style by social security, augmented by 80% taxation, while the young people scrape and starve to have tiny amounts of money loaded onto chips implanted at the base of their skulls to they can live in hovels and live on bare rations. The hero, a practical young strategist named Willing, goes off the grid and off his chip with his great aunt Enola, to Nevada. IN typical Western maverick fashion, the state has seceded from the union and become a libertarian paradise, where everybody's poor, not just people who were never rich (they don't accept any currency but their own). I'm a baby boomer and, like blaming the problems in the US on immigrants, terrorists, criminals etc., blaming imaginary economic woes on one generation seems like an extreme over-simplification and a bit of fear mongering. But even though the characters are mostly annoying caricatures of generational stereotypes,  it's very well-written, funny and smart. Just a bit farcical, and I think meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but one can't be sure....if she means it without irony, ouch.