Review: Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark

Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark by Cassandra Peterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia

Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

* Pakistan’s Support for the Taliban
* The historical hatred for the Taliban by Shi'a Iran for Mazari's abduction, torture, and murder.

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Review: The Amazon from Source to Sea: The Farthest Journey Down the World’s Longest River

The Amazon from Source to Sea: The Farthest Journey Down the World’s Longest River by West Hansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Escape from Mariupol: A Survivor's True Story

Escape from Mariupol: A Survivor's True Story by Anne K. Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Peeling the Onion (Library Edition): A Memoir

Peeling the Onion (Library Edition): A Memoir by Günter Grass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: On Immunity: An Inoculation

On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Twentieth-Century Music: The Sense Behind the Sound

Twentieth-Century Music: The Sense Behind the Sound by Joan Peyser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Lively Ghosts Of Ireland

The Lively Ghosts Of Ireland by Hans Holzer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Review: The 48 Laws of Power

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

KEYS TO POWER
Using words to plead your case is risky business: Words are dangerous instruments,
and often go astray. The words people use to persuade us virtually
invite us to reflect on them with words of our OWO; we mull them over,
and often end up believing the opposite of what they say. (That is part of
our perverse nature.) It also happens that words offend us, stirring up associations
unintended by the speaker.
The visual, on the other hand, short-circuits the labyrinth of words. It
strikes with an emotional power and immediacy that leave no gaps for reflection
and doubt. Like music, it leaps right over rational, reasonable
thoughts. Imagine the Moon Doctor trying to make a case for his medical
practice, trying to convince the unconverted by telling them about the
healing powers of the moon, and about his owo special connection to a distant
object in the sky. Fortunately for hirn, he was able to create a compelling
spectacle that made words unnecessary. The moment his patients
entered the beer hall, the image of the moon spoke eloquently enough.
Understand: Words put you on the defensive. If you have to explain
yourself your power is already in question. The image, on the other hand,
imposes itself as a given. It discourages questions, creates forcehll associations,
resists unintended interpretations, communicates instantly, and
forges bonds that transcend social differences. Words stir up arguments
and divisions; images bring people together. They are the quintessential instruments
of power.
The symbol has the same force, whether it is visual (the statue of...

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Review: Movie Magic

Movie Magic by John Brosnan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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