I am not a fan of the Clintons and I emphatically voted against Hillary in the recent New York senatorial election. Nonetheless, I must say that this is a beautifully illustrated, tastefully written book about the White House and the Clintons' life in it. The book is chock full of excellent photographs and the glitter and style of America's most famous address is well covered. The book does not rate a fifth star for one reason: daily life in the Clinton White House is not well covered. If there was a book about the Ford White House, for example, you would have probably seen the photos of Ford preparing waffles for breakfast and daughter Susan, in shorts, tee shirt and bare feet, washing her car. Such personal glimpses of the Clintons are not in this book. Still, this is a wonderful book that belongs on your coffee table. I may not like Hillary but, I like this book.

Loved this book! Fabulously illustrated celebration of the White House's 200th. Annv. Nice variety of behind-the-scenes photos of the First Family and the White House staff, and a sneak-peek into the private places (once not allowed) hidden from the watchful-eye of the "JQ Public," historic treaures now ours to look at for as long as we like and to enjoy! Thank You, Hillary!

For many of us, the White House is a fascinating topic. There are never enough books to read. Hillary Rodham Clinton has given what I love to see: a book that is genuinely democratic, that is, featuring the butlers and stolling musicians alongside the statesmen and superstars (even to giving us the names of tree-decorating volunteers shown in the photographs). Like no other book on the President's House, this one makes it clear that this is the people's house. Of course it is much more. Within my lifetime it has become a magnificent museum of American History. And take note, not just an archive: the book clearly indicates that visitors will see objects received as the legacy of previous presidents and their families. I remember my once-only walk tour of the White House. It went so fast! While many rooms are a kind of blur, I will never forget leaving by the front door and walking down the curved drive to the street! What a rush. If you can't get to Washington or don't know the president well enough to get his personal guided tour, Mrs. Clinton's book is the next best thing.

This book is broken down really well as far as dividing information into 'digestable' portions for the beginning Perl programmer. It also seems pitched towards someone with little to no programming background. Having come from just BASIC programming myself, I found it very easy to follow along with and keep up with, without being the slightest bit dry. The book also provides many examples, and small quizzes and projects at the end of most chapters. And, of course, the price couldn't be beat.

HOWEVER... And this is a big however, I marked the book's rating down because the book (particularly the examples) needed a fine tooth comb getting those typos out. There are many examples where I thought to myself 'Wait, that doesn't seem right...', did it their way and had the program fail, and realized it was a mistake on their part. Just realize that what you see in those examples isn't gospel, and if you decide to buy the book anyway, use it as a chance to practice debugging little programs.

To be marketable in the IT world, you must be versatile. I recently spent a great deal of time interacting with HR people from several local companies as part of a new program in accelerated training at a local community college. In our talks, one theme was nearly universal, in that a generalized skill set and an ability to learn quickly was preferred over expertise in one particular area. Achieving this versatility is not easy and requires quality resources.
Recently, it was necessary for me to learn the Perl programming language in a hurry, and this is the book that I used. In less than a week, I was able to understand and teach the basics of how to write Perl programs as part of web page design. The lessons here are all short and to the point, ideal for experienced programmers who are time challenged. Over the years, I had looked at Perl from time to time, but never felt the urge or need to learn it. As a C/C++ programmer, the syntax was odd (different) enough to keep me away. That was a problem when going through this book, old habits do indeed die hard, but not enough to significantly slow me down. The clarity and brevity of the examples was enough to overcome this not insignificant hurdle.
A CD containing a recent implementation of Perl, the source code for the examples and other Perl tools is included. This allows you to get started right out of the shrink wrap without spending any additional money. It may not seem like much, but I always prefer having the source code on a CD rather than having to go to a web site to get it. The extra convenience really appears out of proportion to what it is.
Perl is a language that is powerful and seems to be growing in use. Much of that is due to the explosive nature of the Internet and business on the web. However, some of the change is also a consequence of the growing realization among employers that one language does not do it all, that solutions can often be coded much quicker in another language. Furthermore, a diverse skill set is now being recognized by more employers as their most valuable asset. If you are one who needs to make that improvement, then this book will work for you.

There was a time when all you needed to know was C and Cobol. However since I last played with either of these languages, countless more have been introduced, CGI, Java, Perl C++, J++ etc etc.. I have tried to learn them but hate manuals and rarely read them. I find most are badly written and I lose interest VERY quickly. However, up until now I have avoided needing to learn any new languages.

That has changed recently and I have had no choice but to pick up a Perl book and learn it. So I was surprised when after an hour in B&N reading all the perl books that I came across this one. It actually 'talked' to me in a way I liked and more importantly, kept me interested.

For a beginner, it is an excellant book and I would have no problems recommending it to anyone. It does come with it own CD which has the Perl language. Also all the code and examples are on the CD.

If you are a beginner, don't buy the impressive looking 1200 page book, it will just gather dust.

After I read FOOLS FOR SCANDAL nearly two years ago, I told everyone who would listen that all the voluminous Whitewater investigations would amount to zilch, zippo, nada. With the end of all the GOP led investigations, as well as the culmination of the Starr investigation, with its two mentions of Whitewater, Mr. Lyons was indeed correct.

Mr. Lyons, reviled as a "Clinton Apologist" by the media elite, has been proven not only prescient but courageous in his relentless determination to reveal the truth, no matter what kind of forty million dollar hoax the Washington elitists wanted to propagate.

Don't expect the television punditocracy to recognize or admit that Mr. Lyons was right, they don't have the journalistic integrity or character to acknowledge their failures.

A must read for anyone who wants a roadmap to this four year and forty million dollar boondoggle. Now, this is a fleecing of America!!!!!

After reading Jeff Gerth's Chinese spy stories in the NY Times, and realizing that they were mostly anti-Clinton innuendo with very few facts, I decided to read this book.

Lyons dissects Gerth's "journalism" word by word, innuendo by innuendo, half-truth by half-truth, lie by lie, smear by smear. Any reporter at a self-respecting college newspaper who was as dishonest as Gerth was in his Whitewater stories would've been immediately fired.

Before reading "Fools for Scandal," I was annoyed by Jeff Gerth's "journalism"; now I'm angry at both him and The New York Times, since they have obviously become tools of the most poisonous element in our political culture, the right wing.

When the history of this era -- with its right-wing smear machine and the corrupt journalism that is the machine's partner in crime -- is taught, "Fools for Scandal" should be required reading.

The nucleus of Lyons' book began as an October 1994 article in Harper's Magazine. In it he confirmed what I and others had suspected: There was no there there in the Whitewater story, and that it was a hoax with regard to the Clintons.

Two years later, at around the 1996 elections, Lyons and the editors of Harper's came up with this book. More than just a recounting of the Whitewater saga, this book is one of the most damning indictments of journalistic malpractice ever written. At the core of the book is the behavior of journalists at various newspaper and broadcast media outlets in general, with particular emphasis on the New York Times and the now-discredited reporter Jeff Gerth. Needless to say, Lyons' book got a lousy review in the NYT Book Review, yet nobody has ever refuted anything Lyons wrote. Indeed, his book has stood the test of time.

Breezily written, yet meticulously researched, Lyons' book can be read in a sitting or two. I also recommend the section in the back of the book featuring a discussion with Lyons and a number of other journalists with regard to the lack of journalistic standards in the Whitewater reporting.

This book can also be seen as a forerunner to Lyons' (and Joe Conason's) upcoming book on the so-called Clinton Scandals, "The Hunting of the President." If that book is anything like "Fools for Scandal," it should be very good, indeed. Lyons and Conason will still not be invited to the Georgetown cocktail parties, however.

Taming of the Shrew is not my favorite Shakespearean work. Actually, it's not even my favorite of his comedies, but it's a pretty good read. I didn't like it as much as I liked reading Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, or Macbeth. It drags a little despite the humor in it. I was annoyed that Baptista Minola allowed men to buy Bianca's hand rather than letting his daughters choose their husbands, although I realise that was the way things were done in Shakespeare's day. I think Bianca is a pampered little fool. She is spoiled by all the male attention she gets and by her father's undivided adoration. I think it's natural that she becomes the less perfect wife in the end. She was never very nice in my opinion. She ought to have been angry at her father for not allowing her to marry until Katherine married, not be angry at Katherine for not marrying against her will. I'm not sure whether to admire Petruchio's eventual love for Kathrine or hate him for initially marrying for money alone. The one character I definitely feel for is Katherine. I blame her initial shrewishness on the inattention of her family and the men of Padua. In the end, she loves and tries to please Petruchio. I think she will get her way with him in private. I can picture her speaking her submission with a glint in her eye and a plan for the future once she has his trust.

Of all of Shakespeare's plays that I have read, this is the most enjoyable. The characters are real and engaging - the sweetly stupid Bianca and her hoard of suitors, Baptista, who is more interested in selling his daughters to rich husbands than making them happy, the sly and masterful Petruchio, and most of all, Katherine, the Shrew. The play is full of action, comedy, and enough mistaken and hidden identities to keep the reader happily confused.

Katherine, who appears to be "tamed" by Petruchio's cruelties, learns the art of subtlety and diplomacy that will enable her to survive in a society ruled by men. Her speech in the last scene is not a humbling affirmation of the superiority of men, but a tounge-in-cheek ridicule of Petruchio, Lucentio, and Hortensio, who think that a woman can be tamed like a wild animal by a few days of bumbling controll.

The Folger Library of Shakespeare's plays are the most readable editions that I have seen. There are detailed side notes and definitions of unfamiliar words, which are perfect for the reader who is not familiar with Shakespearean English.

Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew is dramatic, witty, and hilarious all at the same time. The plot itself borders on ridiculous, as it is unlikely anything like it would happen in real life. However, the play is made plausible by realistic characters. Perhaps Shakespeare's characters are so believable because they all seem like people we could know today. The shrewish Kate and the seamless Bianca may as well be sisters in the house down your street. The doting Lucentio, Gremio, and Hortensio are reminiscent of high school teens trying to win the head cheerleader. In the end, this play not only takes us back to a time not so different from our own, but teaches us some lessons as well.
This comedy has a lot to offer readers. It reasons that like Petruchio with Katherina, sometimes it takes a little cruelty to show kindness. After days of starvation and punishment all under the guise of love, Kate learns to respect her husband. At the same time, she learns to love him.
Overall, this classic play is definitely worth reading. Those who take the time won't regret it.

This is an important "anthology" of the abuses of the Clinton-Gore administration. To regular Bovard readers, it does cover some of the material that his other works have detailed but is a disturbing litany of statist, unconstitutional, and power hungry moves by this administration. What this summary does is put in greater perspective the actions of the Clinton-Gore administration that range from seemingly unrelated domestic policy such as HUD and farm loans programs to foreign policy such as the WTO and the Serbian war.

The common thread is a executive branch gobbling ever increasingly amount of control over normal people's lives while dishing out intellectually contorted reasoning appealing to people's emotions and fears. Intentions are always more important than results, activity more desired than progress, the end always justifies the means, and the truth is simply a tool to be used, warped, or discarded to advance one's aims. When we are constantly told that "it's all old news" or "just about sex", the casual political observer can't help but sit back and wonder about the lies we don't know about. This is what the book is all about.

I recommend you read the one star review from the person from California ("Hatred, not analysis"). This is an ironic message that illustrates all that the Clinton administration wants you to swallow. The reviewer reminds you that any dissenting opinion is simply "right wing hatred". He/she -- knows -- that the author has his facts wrong but won't tell you how they know this nor site any examples of these errors ("just trust me..."). What the Clinton-Gore apologists want us to believe is that any administration discretion is just a rare, isolated brush fire that really isn't a big issue, has been dealt with and there's nothing to worry about except when one steps back and examines the forest they find that the entire landscape is in flames.

Bovard provides us with the big picture regarding the policies of the Clinton Administration, whereas the media has only looked at certain things in isolation. Coming in the wake of the Danforth Commission on Waco, which claims to absolve the government of any fault in the death of the Branch Davidians, Bovard devotes a chapter of his book to the incident. Like many people at the time of the conflagration, I was one of those Americans who thought, "Well, they were a bunch of religious fanatics, whattaya expect?" Therefore, it should be rather sobering to read in "feeling your pain" that BATF agents could have arrested Koresh at any time when he went into town prior to the raid, and that at one point Koresh even invited the ATF to come and inspect the compound, but they refused the invitation. Instead, they opted for a military raid to be covered by the media to bolster the agency's image in the minds of the American people. A lost tv cameraman inadvertently tipped the Davidians off, but knowing this, the ATF tried to storm the compound anyway. The rest, as we know, is history.

Civil libertarians should be troubled by the attempts of the administration to limit privacy over our internet commmunications and in banking. The book also gives a good summary of why the military intervention in Kosovo was such a blunder. Interestingly, I just read in the paper this morning that an American serviceman pleaded guilty to raping and murdering an ethnic Albanian girl in Kosovo. Is this what Clinton meant by a humanitarian intervention? Other areas covered include the War on Drugs, agricultural policy, HUD abuses and gun control efforts.

I had recently read Bovard's previous book, Freedom In Chains, which I gave 5 stars. One of the weaknesses of "feeling your pain" is that Bovard recycles some of the same material. There are even entire paragraphs that look like they were cut and pasted from "Freedom". But since some of the issues he looks at were the same, I suppose we cannot expect him to reword everything he said. This book also differs from Freedom In Chains thematically. Whereas "Freedom" examined the concepts of freedom and liberty and the conflict between liberty and statism in a philosophical framework, his current work looks at how the Clinton Administration's policies have curtailed or threatened to curtail our liberties in a number of policy areas.

While some of Bovard's detractors may dismiss "feeling your pain" as just another Clinton bashing book, Bovard acknowledges that the Republicans would not have had a much better track record on many of these issues if they controlled the White House. This book is a must for anyone who wants ammunition to argue with a die hard Clinton partisan.

James Bovard's "Feeling Your Pain" covers much of the same territory and the same abuses as his other excellent book, "Lost Rights." Nevertheless, "Feeling Your Pain" still is a very good book, especially in the chapters covering the abuses under Americorps. Bovard basically accuses Americorps of being a liberal indoctrination program which provides little to the communities in which they serve. His chapters on the abuses of the ADA and farm subsidies are also very interesting and show the extent of government waste in America.

I personally feel that Bovard should also be commended for continually reminding his readers about the abuses of civil liberties and human rights which happened at Waco and Ruby Ridge. Bovard's chapters on these almost forgotten scandals parallel those in "Lost Rights," although the chapter on Waco is more in depth to the aftermath of Waco. Bovard also offers extensive documentation of his resources in case readers want to verify Bovard's conclusions.

Basically, the only reason I am giving this book only four stars is because it covers the same material as "Lost Rights." Nevertheless, it still an excellent book from one of America's best liberatarian writers.

The review that follows my comments has been written by someone who is either totally disconnected from reality or has not, in fact, read VOODOO POLITICS. The book is exceptionally well written by a person who knows more about Haiti than most Haitians. I learned much from Garrison's observations, observations made from a viewpoint denied to all but a few. Garrison's situation was truly unique in that he was accepted into the upper levels of Haiti's military, and civilian government, to act as an important strategic advisor during the 3 year crisis. Most Haitians believe his efforts were responsible for Aristide's three year holiday in Washington.

During the present crisis that sees Aristide attempting to grab complete dictatorial control of Haiti opposition parties consult Lynn Garrison on possible strategies.

There are no hand-me-down history lessons in VOODOO POLITICS. VOODOO POLITICS is an important history lesson that will stand the rigors of time. Its revelations are stunning. Lynn Garrison's chapters are balanced. There is enough blame for everyone in its 582 pages as he deal critically with the series of disasters that have delivered Haiti to its present crisis in which Aristide - controller of the cocaine traffic - is given control of my poor homeland.

I didn't find any indication that Garrison believes the Haitian military was completely blameless or that Aristide's supporters are guilty of all crimes. Mind you - there is enough proof that Aristide controls 20 percent of America's cocaine consumption. Why then has the Bush administration followed meekly in the footsteps of Bill Clinton.

There is nothing racist in this book.

Two pages were reversed by the printer. BIG DEAL!!

The final chapter offers a blueprint for Haiti's future, a clear and concise outline that includes reforestation, a satellite school system, medical clinics, low-cost housing, revived agriculture, a new tourist industry and a program to attract an assembly industry lost to OAS intervention. This exact program has been adopted by a major non political movement to save the nation - RENAISSANCE.

At some stage a retrospective look at VOODOO POLITICS will place it as the most important Haitian book of this generation.

VOODOO POLITICS is an exciting book that reads like a novel. Take a look at www.voodoopolitics com for a couple of sample chapters.

"VOODOO POLITICS": Spectacular Revelations About The Clinton Administration, Aristide and Lavalas VOODOO POLITICS, The latest book about Haiti, is written by Lynn Garrison, a Canadian citizen who was an advisor to Generals Raoul Cedras and Philippe Biamby who, aided by Colonel Michel Francois, Chief of Police in Port-au-Prince, had engineered the coup d'etat that sent the then President Jean-Bertrand Aristide into exile. This book is an exhaustive account of facts and events that culminated in the return from exile of the deposed President and the coming again of the Lavalas Party (Fanmi Lavalas) to power in Haiti. It also tells about the role of different actors, Haitian and foreign in the crisis. The book by Mr. Garrison could very well be the most important one written about the Lavalas experience in Haiti, because the facts mentioned are told by an authority, a "committed witness' speaking with conviction. Through the details provided, the author attempts not only to convince the reader but also to prove the depth of research. An ally, auxiliary of the intelligence community, if not a turncoat, Garrison points out facts and calls names with such authority that he makes the reader feels as if he were at ringside. The most spectacular aspect of VOODOO POLITICS concerns big political and economic interests that the author links to the physical return of Aristide to Haiti and the deployment of the American troops. The list of beneficiaries of the economic fallout of the intervention stretches a mile long. Several big names in the Democratic Party are mentioned, namely members of the Congressional Black caucus and their political allies (Black and White), who were at the forefront of the political debate triggered in the United States by the September 30, 1991 coup d'etat and the never-ending diplomatic maneuvering to influence the media during that time. From Bill Clinton to Jimmy Carter with General Colin Powell, Senator Sam Nunn in between, the role of each actor is thoroughly analyzed and placed in its political, diplomatic and financial context with a rare touch of humor. The reader is asked to suffer while a more complete review of VOODOO POLITICS is being readied for a future edition. For the book only came off the presses October 15. Under the chapter titled "Armageddon," Lynn Garrison gives a long list of people who, according to him, "should be winkled out and put in jail." Among them, some outstanding American political figures, lawyers of great renown, actor, film-makers, functionaries...etc. In plain language, VOODOO POLITICS is likely to open jail doors or trigger massive lawsuits against the author. Nonetheless, Lynn Garrison confirms many a thesis and suspicion long held in certain Haitian circles regarding the political and financial reality which went into the decision to deploy 23,000 troops in Haiti

LYNN GARRISON has been closely involved with Haiti since 1979 and was personal advisor to General Raoul Cedras from September of 1991 through October of 1994. He was a major strategist in the battle to block the return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, an anti-American murderer deeply involved with the cocaine traffic. He supplied the medical dossier which became a foundation for a CIA generated psychological profile of the psychotic manic-depressive president. His September 18, 1994 eavesdropping on the Carter/Nunn/Powell team's phone conversations with the Oval Office was instrumental in derailing the Clinton sponsored invasion of Haiti... saving thousands of live... VOODOO POLITICS is the most important Haitian book of this generation.

One of the best books on appearance out there.

I have been a professional for a long time, and of all the books I have ever read on gentlemen's fashion and appearance, this book by Clinton Greenleaf III is by far the most comprehensive, informative and practical guide that I have come across. He writes in detail on the important aspects of dressing, handshaking, and general behavior and doesn't waste your time. The book is short and sweet, and to the point-- I first read it while on a business flight. This is by all means a MUST HAVE for any professional-- my copy is in my briefcase and it goes where I go.

Listen up, Ladies! This is THE book to buy for your man. My guy is the sweetest, funniest, cutest thing around but he has no clue about what looks good--his wardrobe is hopeless and he hates to go clothes shopping! When he got an awesome new job, I knew I had to do something, and that's when I picked up this book. Not only does it show a guy HOW to dress and act like a million bucks, it tells him WHY he has to. Thank you, Clinton Greenleaf--after hearing it from you, my guy finally got the message. Now he looks totally sharp (and all my girlfriends are so jealous . . .)

I read this biography not just because I'm a big and longstanding fan of Bob Dylan, but also because of the strength of many of the accolades the book has received, both in Amazon and elsewhere. I couldn't have been more disappointed. The biography is clearly well-researched, despite Heylin's proud but unconvincing defence of the fact that he has never met Dylan. However, the biography lacks any warmth or feel for Dylan and the huge and deep contribution his music has made to modern culture. The book comes down with detail, but much of it is incidental and irrelevant. Moreover, Heylin manages to be condescending and irritatingly opinionated, especially and unnecessarily so about other biographers. His constant use of direct quotes merely breaks the flow of the text and rarely adds much. Normally, when one reads a biography of a musician and songwriter who has played such an important part in one's own life, and especially when the author admits to being fan, one would expect to be driven back to the music with renewed vigour and interest. In the case of Heylin's biography this didn't happen. I can still recall the huge impact that some of Dylan's albums had on my life, and music more generally, but this does not come across in Heylin's often flat and at times self-important writing style. While there is plenty of gossip around Dylan's fondness for women, drugs and drink, few original insights are offered about his music. Indeed, Dylan's music is hardly assessed at all, apart from occasional references to the views of other critics. Dylan's life and music deserve a lot more.

Clinton Heylin's revised edition of Behind the Shades is, at this point, the definitive Dylan biography, and is not likely to be surpassed anytime soon. In spite of it's comparative neglect in relation to Sounes' Down the Highway (published almost simultaneously, to coincide with Dylan's 60th birthday), Heylin's book is a more informative and rewarding book.

In tone, Heylin's writing is not as journalistic as Sounes', and more judgmental of Dylan as artist and musician. It draws heavily on interview material with associates and friends of Dylan's, and is significant in giving detailed attention to Dylan's career in the 80's and 90's, which is necessary for anyone seeking to understand Dylan's recent critical resurgence.

Based on his knowledge as the world's pre-eminent Dylan scholar, Heylin gives extensive commentary on Dylan's albums and their recording, a process he has given even greater attention to in his companion book Bob Dylan: The Recording Sessions (1994). This is one of the major differences between Heylin's book and Sounes'. Sounes does not focus so much on Dylan as a musician or even Dylan as a lyricist. Sounes' biography is more, well, biographical, providing tons of anecdotal accounts of Dylan's life and travels, while missing the point - Dylan matters because of his music and his lyrics above all else. His life, so cloaked in mystery and seclusion, is a mystery, and will remain so. A recording artist is ultimately most communicative through their recordings - through what they are, what they're not, and how they are presented to the artist's audience. Sounes attempts to fill in the mystery of Dylan's life, which is ultimately an impossible task, at the expense of communicating any real understanding of his music.

Heylin's biography is also superior in that it draws on an extensive knowledge of Dylan's unreleased recordings. When dealing with a subject whose own officially released canon is so often poorly representative of his recording career, Heylin's knowledge is wide-ranging and intensely critical. An informed and considered discussion of Dylan's unreleased recordings, which are in many cases superior to those he has chosen to issue, is especially important when examining Dylan's 1980's output, a series of albums sometimes marred primarily by the choices of which songs and takes of songs to include on the released albums. Sounes barely acknowledges the existence of important unreleased recordings, and that diminishes the importance of his biography considerably.

Sounes' one trump over Heylin's biography is the much-publicized revelation of Dylan's second marriage. How important this biographical detail is to understanding or appreciating Dylan's music, however, is very debatable. If you are looking for an easily-readable, readily-digestable account of Dylan's life with little detailed discussion of his music, go for the Sounes bio. Otherwise, Heylin's Behind the Shades, especially in its new revised edition, is the real deal and is the preeminant Dylan bio. Highly recommended.

In Behind the Shades Revisted, Heylin presents his findings with the astute, detached eye of a detective. Some reviewers are skeptical of an unauthorized biography, but Heylin effectively defends his approach: With authorized biographies, the subject has ultimate approval of the finished product. Consequently, the results are unavoidably subjective and incomplete. Heylin culls from a multitude diverse sources (interviews with musicians Dylan has worked with, friends, former girlfriends, ex-wives, to name just a few), presenting many different sides of his subject. Heylin has never interviewed or even met Dylan, and while this makes Behind the Shades feel somewhat detached, it offers more potential for objectivity. [Dylan is notoriously disingenous with reporters, so the value of first-hand interviews is probably negligible.]

Heylin describes Dylan's childhood and adolescence in northern Minnesota. Dylan's origins (both personal and musical) are described; Dylan has been enthusiastic about music at least since his early teens. Heylin provides detailed analysis of Dylan's early influences (mostly American pop icons like Little Richard) and follows his evolution during his early 20s, when he discovered folk and blues. He then proceeds to describe Dylan's artistic heyday during the mid-60's, his late 60s-early 70s hiatus, and his mid-70s resurgence.

One of the most impressive aspects of Heylin's writing is his willingness to discuss Dylan's largely derided work during the 80s-early 90s. While Dylan's work during this era has been understandably ridiculed (though Heylin's interpretation of much from this period is a little more positive than most other critics), his analysis provides essential insight into his subject.

Whether intentionally or not, Heylin creates a dichotomous portrait of Dylan. The younger Dylan (ca 1960-68) is a vibrant, often affable personality with unwavering idealism. As the story progresses, the pressures of fame and the demanding nature of celebrity begin to take there toll to the extent that it seems to impact Dylan's work. By the time Behind the Shades concludes, Dylan is presented as a weary, slightly confused and misanthropic curmudgeon no longer capable of producing new material that is inspired or surprising. This is the only arguable flaw with Behind the Shades. This conclusion might have seemed perfectly reasonable in 1999 (when the edition I read was published), but the release of Love and Theft in 2001 somewhat discredits Heylin's conclusion. Heylin can hardly be blamed for this; Love and Theft, Dylan's most inspired work in fifteen years (and his most extroverted since the 60s), was a completely unexpected triumph, but it does make the last chapter seem a little dated.

Despite it's slight flaws in the last chapter or two (hardly his fault) Heylin has created a rich, multi-faceted portrait. By interspersing numerous quotes from Dylan's associates within his own writing, Heylin creates a book of many voices. Heylin definitely has strong views, but tries to be fair and accurate, and makes every effort to present contrary perspectives. Despite it's seemingly intimidating length (700+ pages), Behind the Shades is compellingly readable; his approach is always well-defined, and often clever (he subtly reference Dylan's lyrics on numerous occasions). Behind the Shades is a critical, objective portrait of pop music's greatest (and most psychologically elusive) songwriter.

"The Truth at Any Cost" cuts through the hatefulClinton spin campaign against Ken Starr and his investigation ofClinton's subversion of the legal process and trampling of the rule of law and offers a clear-eyed and level-headed look at the truth behind Ken Starr and his inquiry. Starr's character is redeemed by this fascinating and insightful study and the facts it cites surrounding the investigation and how it was carried out, to say nothing of the vile depths the Clinton team went to in an attempt to bring down Starr as its only means of rescuing Clinton's soiled reputation. Ken Starr is shown in fact to be driven NOT by partisan politics, but rather by a devotion to justice and the rule of law. It is clear that what motivated Starr was his indignation over Clinton's contempt for the judicial process. Political motivations are scarcely in evidence in Starr's decision-making. If anything, Starr is portrayed as being too politically tone-deaf. Clinton is the one who comes out looking mean, partisan, hateful and on a vendetta, not to mention guilty of serious criminal malfeasance. It will be difficult for Clinton partisans to dismiss this book, as it is written by two of the nation's premier journalists from mainstream publications not known to be part of the "vast, right wing conspiracy." It will also be difficult for them to maintain the James Carville spin that the Starr investigation was about nothing more than investigating consensual sex. Anyone who comes away from this book still thinking Clinton was an innocent victim, rather than an abuser of his power to deny justice to one less powerful, and that Starr was anything other than a reasonable, fair, scholarly, yet maligned legal mind is too feircely partisan to be taken seriously. The book is balanced in making clear that Starr made mistakes in his investigation, but that they were errors made out of naivete or out of a lack of political sophistication. But there is little in this account to indicate that Starr was ever on a political "witch hunt." You would have to be in severe denial to not see that there was substance to the charges that drove Starr to put his professional reputation, his good name and even his life at risk in his brave pursuit of the truth...

This book obviously inflames Clinton partisans because it doesn't deal with "spin," but only that which can be factually supported with court transcripts, produced documents and the like. There's no "Deep Throat" or other unidentified sources here. And the facts all lead to the same place: William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States lied under oath. A federal judge fined him $90,000 for that and Clinton didn't appeal the ruling. Sens. Lieberman, Feinstein and others all publicly announced their belief that the President had committed illegal acts that were punishable under criminal law, even if they didn't rise to the level of impeachable acts. Because the book relies so heavily on facts, it is somewhat slow reading and those who actually followed the events (not the "spin") will find little new here. Isikoff's book is actually more fun to read, though less encyclopedic in its fact gathering. For those who don't want the truth or can't admit to it, there's always Toobin. Starr doesn't come across as a hero really, but rather as a man who truly believes that no person is above the law and that the law is to be applied equally to low and high. If you've never been a party to a civil or criminal action or have any knowledge of the function of law in a democracy, you won't understand the importance of those two concepts - nor will you ever understand how important the service, however flawed from a "spin" perspective, Starr performed for the nation. If Starr could have only combined his legal skills with the charisma of a Clinton, the Clinton Presidency would have been over in a flash. Instead, as this book clearly demonstrates in its flat, dull language, we have established partisanship and spin as being more important than law. We will most assuredly suffer for that in the future.

Jerry

What a great book Washington Post investigative reporter Susan Schmidt and Kenneth Starr expert Michael Weisskopf (of TIME Magazine) have written, titled TRUTH AT ANY COST: Ken Starr and the Unmaking of Bill Clinton (2000). Of the slew of anti-Bill Clinton books recently published, THIS ONE is by far the best, the most readable, the most interesting, the most informative, and the most damaging.

In short, it's a delicious book, so go out and buy it right now for $26. ($39.50 in Canada), and get ready for a good time.

By far the best part of this spectacular tome is Ms. Schmidt's detailing of the Monica Lewinsky affair, in all its lucious and tasty details.

The legend of the Linda Lovelace of the White House will live on in glory, thanks to Ms. Schmidt. Here's what you get:

Details about Monica Lewinsky agreeing to testify publicly about what happened. The background investigation of Monica by the DOD and others. The tale of the famous blue dress with semen stains. The charges against and possible indictment of Monica. The tale of Bill Clinton, his cigar, and Monica. Clinton's (many) denials of his relationship with Ms. Lewinsky. Details of Clinton's sexual relationship with Monica. The place of Betty Currie in all this. The fingerprinting of Monica Lewinsky. The testimony of Monica's friends to the Grand Jury. Monica's gifts to and from Clinton. Mr. Ginsburg, the famous lawyer. The spicy grand jury testimony. Monica's handwritten admission about what went on. The importance of the grand jury testimony. The Paula Jones case and Monica. Vernon Jordan and Monica. Oral sex while Clinton talks to Dick Morris on the telephone (this last also listed in the book's steamier than average index under "Lewinsky, Monica"). Phone sex (also in the index). "Prom Night" (initial OIC interview at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel). Monica's status as "Queen for a Day." Monica's reaction to Clinton's second TV address. Mr. Speights as a lawyer. Stein and Cacheris as lawyers for Monica. Her strategy to lie about her relationship with Clinton and her affidavit about that subject. Her tanturm when Eleanor Mondale saw Bill Clinton. Her testimony given to OIC (Office of the Investigative Counsel) at Ken Starr's mother-in-law's house. Linda Tripp and Monica. Tripp's taped conversations with Monica. Monica's Valentine's Day message to Clinton (very romantic!). Her VANITY FAIR photo, and many, many more splendid details, all guaranteed to satisfy.

The dignity and splendor of the Clinton White House will live on forever thanks to this great book. It is truly a winner. It deals with many other anti-Clinton subjects than Monica, but the handling of Monica is by far the best part of the book and the best treatment of the entire subject to be found ANYWHERE!

Read this book. It's terrific.

This book describes White House press relations, primarily from the point of view of Mike McCurry and others on the White House PR staff, as they struggle with the campaign finance and Paula Jones scandals, and occasionally find time to push the President's legislative agenda. The White House press corps and Washington investigative reporters are the other characters.

Those who are C-SPAN junkies will find little new. I was surprised to find out how important CNN's Inside Politics is; since it comes on while I am at work, I've never seen it. I was also surprised with Clinton's handwritten note "ready to start the overnights now," which I had lost in the general glut of campaign finance coverage (perhaps as a result of the "document dump" strategy described in the book).

The book increased my dislike for much of the DC press corps, and made me much more aware of how many DC heavyweights are married to each other. The book reflects poorly on the Washington Post, but Kurtz never turns inward to what his paper has become.

The book was ultimately unsatisfying because it was focussed on the public side of DC. The material being screened by the lawyers and released by the press office was being provided to Congressional committees, the independent counsel, Paula Jones' lawyers, etc.; the release policy was to counter the inevitable leaks and charges coming from those sources. But we never see those sources, we never find out where the reporters are getting these stories to which the White House must respond on the eve of publication. We never find out who the editors are who assign these reporters to these beats and why. We never find out why the PR aspects of the Democratic fundraising schemes were never run by the PR people before they began.

Kurtz has produced a narrow-focus view of the PR operation (to the extent McCurry allowed it to be viewed at all), which updates the Deaver/Fitzpatrick version into the Internet age.

Howard Kurtz, aside from being a perceptive media critic, is a very luck man. Spin Cycle went to press just as the Lewinsky scandal broke. Now updated and in paperback, it is a must-read for anyone watching current coverage of the Clinton presidency and wondering how the heck we got here. Kurtz shows that the tensions between the Clintons and the White House press corps go back to the beginning of his presidency. For all his political savvy, Bill Clinton has never mastered media relations, and now, in crisis, he has no good will to call upon. Also central to Kurtz's story is outgoing press secretary Mike McCurry, a man who should receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his work in the trenches.