Charles Murray's Coming Apart deserves a wide audience. Unfortunately, it will accomplish little in the near future. I am very pessimistic. There is also the possibility wealth redistributionists will use it to cause further harm. They are influenced by Marxism and overly obsessed with economic class inequality. The permanent underclass citizens of Fishtown are not poor due to a lack of money, but their self destructive values and behavior. Giving these people more financial assistance will only add to the grief. Murray wishes to avoid the awkward subject of race as much as possible. It is hopeless. Any serious discussion concerning the troubles of white people will inevitably involve blacks living in similar circumstances. Politically correct ideologues will not hesitate to throw around the race card. The social disintegration of Fishtown began some forty years ago. The situation continues to deteriorate. Immature women and men know the government will provide support for the children they bring into the world. Why sweat it? Let the good times roll. The welfare state will continue paying the bills. This is especially true if the recipients are racial minorities other than Asian. Our guilt ridden society feels obligated to fund what Murray describes as the "custodial democracy." The author is an admitted agnostic, but still realizes that religion is indispensable to underpinning a viable society. A religious revival of some sort may present our only real chance to overcome these difficulties. Secularism acts, in my opinion, like battery acid applied to the skin. Do we even have ten years to reverse the decline? I think not and Murray seemingly disagrees. Let's hope he is right.

ACORN has not disappeared. The national organization's formal dissolution via bankruptcy has simply compelled it to be split into smaller local groups with differing names. It is also still committed to pushing socialism down the throats of unwilling Americans. The writings of Saul Alinsky guide the organization's operational policies. Outright lying and criminal activity are second nature to ACORN's leadership. Matthew Vadum provides countless well documented examples of such deceitful behavior. "ACORN is a nonprofit version of Enron, the infamous failed energy company that imploded under the pressure of hopelessly confusing, misleading, and illegal accounting practices," adds the author. Barack Obama has a close relationship with these ideological thugs. We can take it for granted the president will continue helping them behind the scenes. ACORN has fraudulently helped Democrats win a number of elections. It is existentially hostile towards Republicans and constitutional government. ACORN advocates soft totalitarianism. Vadum's book must be read by everybody who lives in an area directly threatened by ACORN. Your vote is in serious jeopardy. The same holds true for your local economy. Pay attention immediately---or you may live to regret it.

Richard Miniter has written an insightful and important book. Still, one wonders why he is the first to write a major work focusing on Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. What does this say regarding our culture? Are Americans hesitant to confront the existential fight to the death we are presently engaged in against the Islamic extremists? KSM is a key player in the 9/11 massacre of close to 3,000 human beings. The man has devoted much of his adult life to murdering those who reject Islam. He spent enormous amount of time and energy thinking of new ways of carrying out terrorist attacks. The author delves into the motives of this monster who could have easily opted for a secure and affluent lifestyle. KSM was not someone living in abject poverty with no realistic hopes for the future!

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was water boarded during the Bush administration. The author believes this mild form of torture saved countless lives. The terrorist mastermind has been replaced by other evil Jahadis. This existential struggle to the death will likely continue long after we are gone. We cannot afford to think KSM's detention or even Osama bin Ladin's death puts everything behind us. You should read Miniter's book to help you more clearly understand the conflict. Ignorance is not bliss.

Kevin D. Williamson has written a work that should prove valuable to even those fairly knowledgeable about the subject matter. It is appropriate and challenging reading material for everybody ranging from young college students to somebody who is very familiar with the conventional arguments against socialism. The author understands that while those who advocate on behalf of its failed policies may claim to be altruistic---they ultimately seek to empower and enrich themselves. In other words, these individulas are minimally lying to themselves. The Swedish model may seem somewhat successful until it is looked at more closely. America is purportedly a capitalist country, but socialism is still a pervasive part of the overall total picture. Was Mahatma Gandhi a saint? The heck with his intentions. At the end of the day, the economically naïve religious leader ill served the people of India. The same is true of Jawaharlal Nehru and his foolish five year economic plans. President Woodrow Wilson is also taken to task. His vision was a socialist one even though he preferred the euphemistic label of Progressivism.

Williamson also has a keen sense of humor. He effectively employs his wit to assist the reader to clearly understand a subject that previously might have been considered difficult. You should own a copy. It will be very hard to put down. PIG Socialism easily earns five stars. I am more than willing to address any questions or concerns you might have in the comments section. Please feel free to fire away.

James S. Robbins convincingly argues that misinformation caused America to lose the conflict in Vietnam. The Tet Offensive was a victory for our military---but was reported by the major media outlets as a decisive loss. Robbins delves into the reasons and motivations behind this gross misreporting. We need to learn how to make sure such a blunder never again occurs. Vietnam is the only time in American history when we essentially had to raise the white flag of surrender. It did not have to happen. Robbins has performed a noble service. This book should be widely read.

The title somewhat confused me when the book initially came out in 2008. I failed to sense the impending worldwide crisis now threatening the economies of the Western World. It is now two years later---and Claire Berlinski has turned me into a total convert. Margaret Thatcher clearly understood the benefits of the free market. She realized that any compromise with members of the Labor Party or the squishy moderates within her own party hurts the British citizenry. The woman was not for bending. Thatcher committed herself to achieving her goals regardless of the costs. She would push aside and irritate in countless other ways anyone who got in her way. Thatcher was not known for always being gentle. Winston Churchill was a wartime prime minister. He never got to serve during peacetime. Thatcher is therefore the role model for today's challenges.

The author interviewed individuals who were not hesitant in revealing Thatcher as a strong willed lady that may have even occasionally rubbed them the wrong way. France's Francois Mitterrand even described her as "Brigitte Bardot with Caligula's eyes." She was also born and raised in modest middle class surroundings---and the elites never forgave her. One is also readily reminded of the friction between the American Sarah Palin and her big government Republican detractors. Mrs. Thatcher worked closely together with President Ronald Reagan to defeat the Soviet Union. This same sort of focus and vision is currently needed to combat Islamic extremism. Claire Berlinski has successfully made her case. The title of the book says it all. Margaret Thatcher still matters and there is no alternative. Great Britain is experiencing an existential crisis that may destroy its democratic institutions. Can it find another Thatcher before it is too late?

Mark Krikorian is well aware that Barack Obama wishes to transform America by turning illegal immigrants into staunch Democratic Party voters. It could be next to impossible to stop the relentless campaign to destroy our constitutional government. This Encounter Broadside pamphlet will help you better understand the issues---and how best respond to this leftist attack. Our very freedoms and the identity of America hang in the balance. Krikorian's earlier book The New Case Against Immigration: Both Legal and Illegal will be of great value if you desire to acquire a fuller understanding. Nevertheless, this particular work is more than sufficient in getting your feet wet. Please also considering ordering extra copies for those relatives and friends who have limited time, but still wish to acquire a basic understanding of the threat.

A key point made by Betsey McCaughey is that there is no reason for a health care bill to be roughly two thousand pages long. "Twenty pages should be enough," declares the former lieutenant governor of New York. This relatively short pamphlet is of great value to those who need to quickly get a handle on the current crisis. We have the best health care of any large country in the world. The medical professionals living in the United States also lead in the effort to develop new medicines. ObamaCare threatens our freedoms---and ultimately the health of our loved ones. We will also be financially bankrupt. Everyone should heed McCaughey's great advice. It might also behoove you to purchase a number of copies to give to your relatives and friends.

The Manchurian President should not have to be written. It covers a lot of information available long before the presidential election. This work is not a slime job. Aaron Klein and Brenda Elliot are very cautious with their facts. This book includes sixty-six pages of notes and index! It is very fair to describe Barack Obama as minimally a fellow traveler of "Communists, Socialists and Other Anti-American Extremists." I am personally persuaded that he is a committed radical who has learned the subtle techniques of Saul Alinsky. In other words, Obama has learned to hide his true agenda. Don't take anybody's word for anything. The authors encourage you to double check their evidence. One no longer has an excuse to pretend that Obama does not present a serious threat to our Constitution.

We do live in a ruder world. This is probably inevitable in an era when people are encouraged to think the planet should revolve around them. Alas, it is not legal to shoot such individuals. Violence is not recommended. Amy Alkon instead offers advice on how not to suffer fools gladly. They must pay for their sins. We must protect ourselves from further abuse. Read this book. It is not only humorous---but also useful. You may even wish to purchase a few extra copies to give to rude folks who make your life more difficult. Heck, they might even get the not so gentle hint.