Customer Reviews (8)

Don't Buy Another Vote, I Won't Pay for a Landslide: The Sordid And Continuing History of Political Corruption in West Virginia
Don't Buy Another Vote....is a wonderful, easy to read, eye-opening book. I think everyone including college students, West Virginians, people that follow politics very closely, and people that just vote should read. It is a very honest look at political corruption with a little humor along the way. Very well written! Go get a copy!!!!

Incredible Life Changing Book!!!!
I just finished "Don't Buy Another Vote, I Won't Pay For A Landslide" and find it to be one of the most amazing books I have ever read!I started reading and surprisingly, I couldn't put it down.Being a political junkie I thought I knew just about everything about politics, but this book breaks it down to a much more detailed level in a very comprehensive, yet readable way.The detail is mindboggling, but the conversational style of the author is refreshing.
In all of my years of reading political books and following politics, this is the first time I have ever read a book written in such a non partisan manner.I was skeptical at first because individuals often proclaim to be non partisan and write without bias, but that rarely is ever the case.The author is an equal opportunity offender, but it is clear that he doesn't pick on anybody.Instead, he tells the story of incredible corruption broken down at a state level.It includes amazing information about Mother Jones, the Hatfields and McCoys, the Coal Mine Wars, governors going to jail, a state attorney general hiring hit man to kill one of his deputies, another governor having his wife bribe a juror, a judge who bit the end off of a defendant's nose, and countless other stories.What makes this book different, however, is the that author provides a step-by-step way to fix the system that can be applied to all fifty states.This guy should run for Governor or U.S. Senator because we lack these types of visionaries in state and federal government these days.
This book should be read by everyone with any interest in politics, history, psychology, elections, etc....I was overwhelmed and have told everyone I know.Every single high school student in America should be given a copy of this book as they graduate.This book changed my life!READ THIS BOOK!!!!

Don't Buy Another Vote, I Won't Pay for a Landslide
Dr. Allen Loughry's "Don't Buy Another Vote, I Won't Pay for a Landslide" is truly a breath of fresh air in a genre that sorely needed it.Most books written these days about the political arena and the corrupt nature attendant to it are riddled with shortcomings and philosophical pitfalls and, in the end, simply don't deliver.More often than not they serve to advance the agenda of their own writer, and the most painful part of the whole experience is how patently transparent that writer's intentions are.They provide little more than a laundry list of rants by an author perched high atop his/her soap box driven by a far greater concern for hijacking the pages of his/her own publication to simply rail against the establishment.The greater problem with this is how rarely they provide anything substantive in the way of suggested remedies for a very broken and morally bankrupt system that rules the day in American politics.

With "Don't Buy Another Vote" Loughry breaks that mold. His writing is not only to the complete contrary of such a dissatisfying style, but it downright hits home.This is the political narrative that we've all been waiting to read, and it was well worth the wait.Unlike may authors who complain about the proverbial weather without doing anything to change it, Loughry does plenty, or at least he inspires us to do so.Not only does he call nearly 150 years worth of corrupt West Virginia officials out on the carpet for their egregious misdeeds, but he also provides suggestions for the type of reform he feels is necessary to correct this longstanding crisis.

Loughry's "Contract With the Voter" is as innovative and well thought out as it is groundbreaking.Before the smoke settles, don't be surprised if this model for change might very well be adopted as the accepted norm for those seeking office not just in the Mountain State, but in any state.It's prolific in its simplicity and after reading it you'll find yourself saying..."Yes, why can't we implement something like THAT!?"From cover to cover Loughry's message resonates and his voice is true to the mark.A crisp writing style that goes a long way toward walking us through a murky history in which nothing sacred holds.A must read for all of us, irrespective of our own political affiliations.Loughry points out that corruption is not confined to party lines.Neither, for that matter, is the book now chronicling its long and ugly history in West Virginia.

Great Book!
Dr. Loughry has accomplished what very few individuals in the world of politics have ever been able to. He has written a book about politics from a no-bias point of view. Dr. Loughry pulls no punches in this book. He adresses the short comings of a corrupt political culture in both the republican and democratic parties. So many times you read a book and it either sways heavy to the right or left, Dr. Loughrys book does not sway, he appears to be an indidual that does not see left or right, but just sees right and wrong. Finaly we have someone that is not afraid to speak his mind and say what is right. We have a very corrupt political culture in this country and as voters we sit back and allow it to happen. Dr. Loughry gives us numerous examples of just that. Although this book is written about West Virgina politics, you could very easily substitute any state into these stories and be accurate. Corruption in politics doesn't draw a line in the sand at the Wild and Wonderful signs leading into and out of WV. Political corruption is nation wide, and we as voters are allowing it to happen. Politicans will play by whatever the rules are, if we as voters change those rules and start holding our politicans accountable for what they do and say, they will have no choice but to change the way they do buisness. Dr. Loughy not only documents numerous accounts of political corruption, he also has a plan to fix it. A real plan, not just lip service. His "Contract with the Voter" is just what this country needs. If you buy this book for no other reason, buy it just to read the "Contract with the voter". I have meet Dr. Loughry and he is a very impressive man. You can just tell from talking to him that he has a passion for what he beleives in, and he truely beleives that we can change, but it has to start with each voter and at the grass roots level. This book is a must read for not only West Virginias but for every person that takes part in elections in this country. Politics in West Virginia is no different than politics in California, Texas, or even Alaska. Political corruption will not end until we as the voters put an end to it and stand up for what is right. Dr. Loughry has given us a blueprint for how to stand up for what is right. I highly reccomend this book.

A call to action
This book is a must have for all political junkies.More importantly, the average reader will find it both entertaining and informative.Dr. Loughry lifts up the rock, revaling acts of corruption, venality, and hypocrisy among public servants entrusted with the stewardship of one of the poorest and most vulnerable states in the Union.Not only is this book an act of courage, it is a call to action.The final chapter contains a practical, commonsense method of ensuring accountability from our elected officials. ... Read more

Book Description
The authoritative guide to landslide investigation, evaluation, and mitigation design
Landslides in Practice combines clearly written descriptions and real-life case histories in an authoritative, practical guide to landslide investigation, evaluation, and mitigation design. It presents state-of-the-art investigative techniques and practical information on proven remediation techniques and technologies, including handy checklists for undertaking an initial field examination of a landslide.
Landslides in Practice describes the technical tools needed to study landslides-site investigations, soil shear strength properties, and slope stability analyses-and details forty-five methods for stabilizing landslides or preventing instability in soils from occurring. Most remediation techniques are keyed to the ENR Construction Cost Index to help readers determine a rough estimate of the costs associated with the various techniques.
To-the-point summaries explain presented techniques without confusing jargon, and dozens of succinct case histories integrated throughout the book serve as useful examples. In addition, twelve expanded case histories illustrate in depth many aspects of the landslide events and remediation strategies covered.
Complete with hundreds of informative illustrations, Landslides in Practice is a valuable resource for engineers, geologists, consulting firms, and construction companies, as well as landscape architects, land developers, and trial lawyers in the construction industry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

fmr. Regional Director, FERC
This publication comprehensively covers both the art, and the science, of landslide causation, investigation, analysis, and remediation.It is the one book that a practitioner should have when dealing with landslide issues.The quality of the figures, the procedures for making preliminary cost estimates, and the detailed case histories substantially add to the value of the book.

Review by Practicing Geotechnical Engineer Seattle WA
Without question on of the most comprehensive texts about landslides to date.The text is full of practical and helpful case histories which are invaluable and set this book apart from the rest.Chapters on slope stability anaylses and dewatering alone are worth the price of admission.A must reference for all practicing geotechnical engineers.

Review by ex-Corps of Engineer Geologist
I can't imagine a clearer, more comprehensive or better organized treatment of this subject.This is a "must have" text for practicing engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers.It contains a wealth of information and many good case histories, and is far superior to anything else I've seen on this subject.I only wish it had been available earlier in my career.

Landslides in Practice
"Landslides in Practice" is the best practitioner's book on landslides I've seen.This excellent book is complete, logically arranged and written with an economy of words that makes the book highly useful as a practical reference.The full discussion of remedial measures - when and when not to use them, and cost estimating will be particularly useful in my work.I know I'll use this book often.

The Authoritative Source for Landslides
Landslides in Practice is an outstanding technical publication aimed at geotechnical engineers and geologists.I am very impressed with the format, layout and technical content.The book is well divided into three sections, with useful case histories in the third section.All figures are well presented and easy to follow.I am also impressed with the opportunity to estimate "ballpark" costs for various mitigation techniques.This textbook may become the "bible" on landslide design and mitigation.I will definitely keep it as my main resource for landslide/slope stability assignments. ... Read more

Book Description

Is the President the boss of the country?

What happens if there's a tie?

How does a voting machine work?

Who belongs to the electoral college?

Election fever is never higher than when the country is electing a president, but how does it all work? In a fun and snappy question-and-answer format, this book tells you everything you want to know about our democratic process in action.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Doesn't answer most important question
Hey, a handy little book for kids, but I think that it neglects to explain to them why they can't vote. It has a small section that says "When can I vote?". It would have been good if it would have been "Why can't I vote", although there would be no good reason, so I'm sure that's why they forgot this question.

Oops! Also, I was forced to mention that I was over 13 in the little checkbox. Neat. Way to promote rights of the people.

Answering over a hundred basic questions about an election
Do not let the fact that this is the 2000 Edition of Dan Gutman's "Landslide! A Kid's Guide to the U.S. Elections," because except for the appendix that is devoted to the candidates for the Presidency four years ago (Bill Bradley, Albert Gore, George W. Bush, and John S. McCain), Gutman's discussion of how elections work refrains from anything that would make the information outdated.More importantly, the first thing Gutman says when he introduces his topic is that "Every four years, the grown-ups of America go a little crazy."With that sort of understatement, Gutman properly sets up the more than 120 questions that children could (or should) ask about a presidential election, all of which will be as relevant four years from now as they were four years ago (even if what happened in 2000 repeats this year the other way around, there will not be any significant changes).

The six chapters of the book are devoted to: (1) The Presidency, (2) Our Government, (3) The Campaign, (4) Candidates, (5) Voting, and (6) The Election.So "Landslide!" begins with explaining why we have a President and what they can do, before moving on to the process of selecting candidates for campaign for the office.Gutman, who wrote "The Kid Who Ran for President" and "The Kid Who Became President," keeps a lot of his explanations simple and to the point.He also anticipates a lot of questions that kids would have that most teachers and adults might not think of, such as "Do you have to vote for your political party candidate if you don't like that person?" and "If I was eligible to vote, could I vote for my teacher instead of the candidates?"From my perspective he also works in a good deal of Presidential trivia as well that students will not get from their history textbooks.

The best test for "Landslide!" is to look at what Gutman covers that would have been of help to teachers and parents the morning after Election Day 2000.In Chapter 6, covering The Election, Gutman addresses such questions concerning the press getting the winner wrong and why the Electoral College determines the outcome and not the popular vote.In fact, on page 95 Gutman asks, "But isn't it possible to get the most popular votes and lose the election.Obviously the name of George W. Bush will have to be added to the list of John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Benjamin Harrison, who all won the presidency even though they lost the popular vote.

I think this is clear indication that Gutman has covered all of the bases in this book.The only area where Gutman might have some shortcomings is in his glossary of "Words You'll Hear in an Election Year," which runs from "ballot" to "veto," but avoids anything along the lines of "negative ads" and "smear campaigns" that unfortunately seem to matter more and more each election cycle.Teachers will find this book useful for answering a lot of the basic questions and they can even turn the tables on their students and ask them to answers these questions on their own before being provided the answers.That would certainly be interested indeed, especially if they have had the misfortune of being in a swing state where they are bombareded by wall to wall political ads.

Great book for teaching elections facts
I am a 5th grade teacher and I found this book very helpful in providing explanations to my students about various elections processes.The kids really enjoy as it is written in a question/answer format.I recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about our elections! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A nearly perfect juvenile adventure!
Monsieur and Madame Colson send their children, Laurent, Bertille and Daniel, to spend their Christmas holidays with their friends the Gunthers, who own a hotel in Montpierre.Laurent, who is fourteen, is placed in charge of his siblings as well as the two Berthier children, Véronique and Alexis, who are vacationing while their mother recovers from surgery.

An introspective and bookish boy, Laurent is overwhelmed by his new responsibilities, especially the care of his naughty and disobedient sister, and decides to take his charges back to Paris after only two days.As the little group is waiting for the train that will take them home, Bertille apologizes for her misbehavior, and Laurent decides they will return to the hotel.During the long, chilly, and wet walk back, Alexis falls and strikes his head, so the children seek refuge in the isolated home shared by Monsieur Nortier, a local inventor, and his sister.The elderly siblings have gone to the village for the day, and the children fall asleep while waiting for them to return.

While they sleep, the rain-soaked hillside collapses on the house, and the children are trapped.Unfortunately, no one is looking for them.When their vacation began, the mischievous Bertille wrote happy messages on a stack of postcards and bribed a little girl in Montpierre to mail one to the Colsons every day.While they are puzzled by the lack of mail from Laurent and Daniel, Bertille's daily postcard assures the Colsons that the children are enjoying their vacation in Montpierre.Because the Gunthers believe the children have returned to Paris, they travel to visit relatives and never see Mrs. Colson's letter about the scarlet fever epidemic that has closed the children's school and extended their vacation by a week.

The children finally figure out a way to send a Morse code message that is seen by a young boy who is bedridden with a sprained ankle, but because Bertille has mixed up the letters of the Morse alphabet, the schoolmaster must help decipher the message.Laurent, who has truly lived up to his responsibilities during this emergency, is becoming sicker and weaker from an infected wound on his arm.Will he die before help arrives?

This wonderful book is very nearly a perfect juvenile adventure.The characters are well defined and resourceful, and the plot exciting and suspenseful.Unfortunately, Laurent's explanations of various scientific phenomena, while considered accurate fifty years ago when the book was written, are now known to be incorrect.Still, this is a minor matter that should not impair the enjoyment of this fine book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The slippery slope of landslides
As an Engineering Geologist this book is an invaluable resource. As the title implies it covers all aspects of landslides from investigation to mitigation as well as current terminology and some insightful case studies.This is a well written book with a good selection of diagrams to support and enhance the text. A must as a reference book for those working or studying in the field of Engineering Geology. ... Read more

Product Description
Based on contributions to the first General Assembly of the International Consortium on Landslides,this reference and status report emphasizes the mechanisms of different types of landslides, landslide risk analysis, and sustainable disaster management. It comprises the achievements of the ICL over the past three years, since the Kyoto assembly. It consists of three parts: research results of the International Programme on Landslides (IPL); contributions on landslide risk analysis; and articles on sustainable disaster management. In addition, the history of the ICL activities (under the support of UNESCO, WMO, FAO, UN/ISDR, and UNU) is recounted to create a comprehensive overview ofinternational activity on landslides. The contributions reflect a wide range of topics and concerns, randing from field studies, identification of objects of cultural heritage at landslide risk, as well as landslide countermeasures. ... Read more

Book Description

This unique volume contains papers based on presentations and discussions at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Massive Rock Slope Failure; New Models for Hazard Assessment held in Celano, Italy in June 2002. 32 papers by 64 engineers, geologists, and geomorphologists from 16 countries address the issue of landslides from massive rock slope failure and associated phenomena (landslide tsunamis and landslide dams). Authors include some of the worlds leading authorities on the subject.

Customer Reviews (3)

One of the best by a fine author.
Desmond Bagley is one of the best action/adventure writers around, and this is one of his best novels. Not as good as "Running Blind" or "Wyatt's Hurricane", but on a par with "High Citadel", "Snow Tiger", "The Bahama Crisis", and "The Freedom Trap", this book, like many of his stories, not only has fast-paced action and plausible, very realistic characters, it also has some interesting information in the background. I've learned a lot from reading Bagley's novels, (in this case, about the geology of quick clay) all the while being thoroughly entertained.

Great way to fill a holiday!
Back in the 1960s and even 1970s, Desmond Bagley was easily one of the best thriller writers around. As a rule, his books tend to be short and to the point, filled with action and marked with innovative ideas. Landslide is one of my personal favorites which I suddenly stumbled upon after many years. Set in a "company town" in north America, this is a story of dominant business families and cowed townspeople which awakes when a stranger named Boyd arrives in town (Yes, you might almost say this is a classic Western novel!!). Recovering from a bad car accident and attendant amnesia, Boyd happens on the town by chance, then stays on as dim memory flickers make him realize he has been a part of it before - to what extent, his memory cannot say. In true "Western" fashion of course, the crimes are solved and he gets the beautiful girl as well. The story itself is very well told with Boyd as the narrator and the climactic collapse of the dam is every bit startling as it is educative. Great way to fill a holiday!

One of his best.
Some of the best books written by Bagley are based on a scientific phenomena.. This is one of them, based on a Landslide. ... Read more

Book Description
With the increasing need to take an holistic view of landslide hazard and risk, this book overviews the concept of risk research and addresses the sociological and psychological issues resulting from landslides. Its integrated approach offers understanding and ability for concerned organisations, landowners, land managers, insurance companies and researchers to develop risk management solutions. Global case studies illustrate a variety of integrated approaches, and a concluding section provides specifications and contexts for the next generation of process models.Download Description
With the increasing need to take an holistic view of landslide hazard and risk, this book overviews the concept of risk research and addresses the sociological and psychological issues resulting from landslides. Its integrated approach offers understanding and ability for concerned organisations, landowners, land managers, insurance companies and researchers to develop risk management solutions. Global case studies illustrate a variety of integrated approaches, and a concluding section provides specifications and contexts for the next generation of process models. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Clark Howard
Contempory fiction with political reviews. This book deals with mankinds daily struggles and the burden to the soul in dealing with them. The end
of this book is minblowing, very entertaining. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The best book on Iran-Contra
This oddly titled book is actually the best and most incisive work you can read on the Iran-Contra Affair.
The book describes in detail how Reagan set broad ideological guidelines, and expected those who worked under him to carry out the details and not bring him problems.
Did Reagan know that Bill Casey and North were funneling money to the Contras and lying to Congress? As the book details, there is no substantive evidence that he knew this.
However, it is clear that Reagan orchestrated the illegal sale and transfer of weapons to Iran in exchange for hostage releases. The quid pro quo was discussed in any number of cabinet meetings including Reagan, Bush, Weinberger, Regan, and others.
Does this make them all guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors?
It certainly does.

Can't Believe It's So Obscure
I sell used books and just happened to come across this. I'm straining to remember it (I'd be really surprised if it hadn't caused some ripples, as it came out in '88 when RR was still in office) but I just have no recollection. I'm a Democrat who was sort of undergoing a gradual process of reevaluating Reagan in a more positive light. Nevermind! The book makes a very strong indictment of RR as a decent enough fellow who was grossly incompetent as a President. My impression is that the authors are fairly moderate:a guy from the LA Times and a gal from the Wall St. Journal;neither are liberal papers. The used copies are way cheaper than they deserve to be (I'm keeping mine). Pulitzer Prize material IMO. Read it!

Detailed and Well Written
What a wonderful book this turned out to be.I was expecting a far more biased attack on the Reagan administration overall, instead the authors provided a well researched and written history of the last term of Reagan's presidency.The authors spent the vast majority of their time talking over the Iran - Contra issue and they did a good job of it.There is a wealth of details that really take you through the whole event from idea generation through execution to cover up.I also liked the details of how the staff did or did not get along, I have read some memoirs of some of the staff and they did not give me the full picture unlike this book. This book brought it all together.

My biggest surprise was how out of it Reagan seamed to be.I have always heard the positive about Reagan was that he stuck to his agenda, but after reading the book you see that at times he did not or he flat out ran out of agenda items. A good case that style wins over substance in American politics. The only knock I have on the book would be that the ending was a bit rushed. The authors could have spent more time on the last two years and how the investigation shook out to give a more complete picture. This is the reason I did not give the book 5 stars. Overall it is a great book that I would recommend to anyone interested in the time period, the Reagan presidency or the Iran / Contra issue.

The Dark Side of Ronald Reagan
This book explores the underside of the Reagan Presidency.The surprise is not that Reagan was not in control of underlings like Oliver North, but that he was so out of touch that incoming Chief of Staff Howard Bakeractually considered whether the constitutional provision for removing anincapacitated President might have to be invoked!Mayer and McManus writewith the sharp eye of crack investigative reporters.While the results maynot be as compelling as "All the President's Men," they stillpresent an unsettling account of what goes on in the corridors of power. ... Read more