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These 27 traditional folk stories were written down, shortly before her death, by Jamal Sleem Nuweihed, who had recounted them to the children of her extended family over many years. Authentically Arab in their themes, yet timelessly universal, they are sometimes magical, sometimes naturalistic, and combine a wealth of vivid detail with elements of pathos and humor. Translated by family members of various generations, then expertly edited, the book is a precious store of the kind of tale endlessly cherished but in danger of disappearing. ... Read more

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Democratic Thought is an introduction to the Edward Bunn's diverse analyses of democracy's influence on various countries and of the world in various time periods.These Selected Writings begin with an insightful analysis of the eventual transformation of Cuba from an authoritarian regime into a democratic state.The Writings continue by tracing democratic institutionalism and the effects thereof on society in Central and South America and ends dating back to the origin of the Olympic Games.Moving forward in time, the Writings make a stop at the turn of the Twentieth Century with a biographical analysis of an amazingly talented black female pilot-Bessie Coleman-and her impact on society, which has yet to be fully explored in any other works other than those of Edward Bunn. In a never before seen study, the Writings depict a mathematical equation for measuring an individual's the impact on society.The results are intriguing if not controversial. ... Read more

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Necessity and crisis produce the laws most significant to society. The greatest socially designed crisis is war. But, as productive as it is of laws and yet recognized by society as lawful, it violates the very fundamentals of organized society. War is the legalization of strife and tyranny.The purpose of the study is to seek out the war powers exercised by our Presidents upon domestic soil. The study looks back through the pages of our war history to the early exercises of Presidential war powers to note their beginnings and to show their developments. The study reflects the extent to which the President's office has had sufficient powers to meet the war emergencies and whether Congress has performed its constitutional obligation to enact legislation conferring capable war powers upon the President. It will be seen that the present powers bear the marks of evolution. The most significant development will be found in the economic controls and the present stage of plans to impose further economic controls. Plans have been made and additional wartime economic controls may be just around the corner. The study notes that the President and the Congress are both functioning on the misunderstanding of the dynamic role public opinion has played in times of crisis. There is an inextricable interwoven relationship between public sentiment and all decision making in this country. One could not expect otherwise where freedom of speech is paramount. Up to the point where emergency action is an absolute necessity, public sentiment has played an abiding overriding role in our war power decision making. The President and Congress have failed to capitalize on this abiding overriding power that has been such a guiding force behind Presidential wartime powers. They have more fear of the public than is justified and vastly more support from it than they recognize. They have focused all too much on the limiting effect of public sentiment and failed to take advantage of its power. While it is frequently said that ours is a government of checks and balances between the three branches-Legislative, Executive and Judicial-the true depth of power and the weighty check upon the abuse of that power has been that of public sentiment. Ours is a government of balance and we must not tilt or ignore any aspect of the balance-the President, the Congress, the courts and the public sentiment. ... Read more

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"Walter Brasch is the most informed, opinionated, witty, and delightful commentator on the media scene today." -Aspen Media Review

Like two of his role models, Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton was one of the nation's most dynamic and effective presidents, and like his mentors, he was one of the most vilified. He left office with one of the highest approval ratings for his personal moral conduct. He would affect Americans like few people ever could, and no one could be neutral. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Joy of Sax May Be Better than the Joy of S...
Walt Brasch has something in common with Bill Clinton.They both play sax.That same Walt Brasch has something in common with me.We've both been columnists.What better excuse, then, for him to put together a book of his columns called "The Joy of Sax" and for me to write about it?

The "Joy of Sax" is subtitled "America During the Bill Clinton Era." It couldn't have been assembled better by anyone. For one thing, Walt knows his stuff.He covered part of the Clinton-Gore bus tour during their first campaign.For another thing, he has good reporter skills.He also wrote a lot of columns and that makes for a nice, fat book.But mostly it's because Walt Brasch has a sense of humor.If more people had a sense of humor during the Clinton years, we'd all have had a jollier time.After all, we were all rich compared to the last couple of years.For that matter, if we all had a better sense of humor now....

But I digress.Back to Walt's book.Sometimes his humor is blatant.Other times he lets you figure out what he's getting at but it's still funny as heck.My favorite column is called "Singing Off-Key in the Starr Chamber" and it's my favorite for the first nine paragraphs that go like this:

"When President John Adams imposed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798...and violated the First Amendment, no one required him to testify before a special inquisitor.

"When President Abraahm Lincoln suspended several Constitutional rights, no one required him to testify before a special inquisitor.

When President U.S. Grant pleaded ignorance that his own cabinet was one of the most corrupt in history...."

The next paragraphs include heinous "violations" by Warren G. Harding, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and the first George Bush.I was rolling in the aisle and Brasch was only being droll. His "hilarious" hadn't even begun!

If you don't see that Brasch is at least entertaining, then maybe you don't really need to read this book.Mmmmm.On the other hand, if you don't see that, then maybe you are the one who does need to read his book.

Walter Brasch is opinionated, logical, and broad-minded.None of these qualities is a crime. The do all help to make this book a kick for anyone with a political hair in his head.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "This is the Place" ... Read more