Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Book Review; Rethinking the Great Depression – Gene Smiley
“Rethinking the Great Depression” – Gene Smiley ISBN-13: 978-1-56663-471-7 (from my review posted on www.amazon.com) (163 pages) Short review: a strong three star. Could have been a four star but for some minor flaws detailed below. The title is ambiguous, and some of the other reviews were a bit vague. I didn’t really know what…
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Book Review: “The New Dealers’ War ” – Thomas Fleming
The New Dealers’ War – FDR and the war within World War II ISBN: 0-465-02465-3 Massively interesting, challenging and infuriating book, January 27, 2009 (from my review posted on www.amazon.com) (561 pages) Short review: Fascinating. Disturbing. Tragic. Infuriating. Heart breaking. Brilliantly written. Excellent prose. Detailed references and notes. Long review: Covers roughly the period 1932…
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Book Review: “The Myth of the Robber Barons ” – Burton Folsom
“The Myth of the Robber Barons ” – Burton Folsom ISBN: 0-9630203-1-5 Making industrial history readable – even fascinating, December 26, 2008 Great book. It flows beautifully and logically. It deals in turn with the steamship industry, the transcontinental railroads, The Scrantons and America’s first iron rails, Schwab and the steel industry, Rockefeller and the…
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Book Review: “New Deal or Raw Deal ” – Burton Folsom
“New Deal or Raw Deal? ” – How FDR’s economic legacy has damaged America. by Burton Folsom, Jr. ISBN-13:978-1-4165-9222-8 Threshold Editions Interesting book. This is a very well written and well researched book. A keeper. It is not one I read cover to cover over two days. It’s more a case of reading a chapter,…
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Diary (8) “Challenges ahead “
Diary(8): Challenges ahead Sunday, April 5th 2009 Already I am enjoying new found acquaintances through the medium of the “Abbeville Writers and Poets’ Group “. It is stimulating to respond to new challenges, and differing opinions. Duncan and I will probably debate “structure ” online, in which our philosophical nuances will come under the microscope.…
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On safety
Glass houses are cliche, so I’ll say mine is one of bones, made of my own And when I toss, or hurl, or juggle sticks and stones my walls crack and threaten to t u m b l e completely to the bare ground around me So I tend to hold my fire
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The inverted pyramid approach to winning elections in the US democratic system
The inverted pyramid approach to winning elections in the US democratic system Imagine if you like, a pyramid. Imagine that it is a pyramid that represents the level of understanding of economics and history by the people. It stands to reason that a few, select individuals, right at the tip of the top, are truly…
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Squandermania
SQUANDERMANIA I had heard the term ‘squandermania’ used before in connection with exorbitant New Deal public spending. It was therefore interesting to run across this quote in “The New Dealers’ War ” (Thomas Fleming). (p.63) “They also confronted a rising chorus of critics who began telling the nation the New Deal was a fraud and…
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Would the real Franklin Delano Roosevelt please stand up?
Would the real Franklin Delano Roosevelt please stand up? (1) January 19th, 2009 I decided today to start keeping a log on my attempts to get to know President Franklin Roosevelt. The greatest president ever. A hero for millions. Invoked by Hillary Clinton. And Mr Barry. I ask myself why I want to keep a…
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Book Review: “FDR’s Folly “
“FDR’s Folly ” by Jim Powell ISBN 0-7615-0165-7 January 10, 2009 (Note: I own and have READ all of this book) (…) Short review: A heavy read for us simple bears, written by an accomplished academic. It’s bursting full of information, and very thought provoking. I like the lay out of the contents, where each…
Got any book recommendations?