Even more books received

Catholic New Times, Dec 18, 2005

Power Down: Options and actions for a post-carbon world by Richard Heinberg, Gabriola Island, New Society publishers, 2004 207 pp. Author Richard Heinberg clearly confronts the question of resource depletion and population pressure as oil runs out and The Us continues to bury its head in the and. He insists there are alternatives to a Blade runner future marked by war, economic collapse and environmental catastrophe. The author places four alternatives before us: last one standing-the path of competition for remaining resources, Powerdown-the path of cooperation conservation and sharing, Waiting for a magical solution and building lifeboats-the path of community solidarity.

The new American Militarism: How Americans are seduced by war by Andrew J. Bacevich, Oxford, 2005, 268 pp. with impeccable academic credentials as well as having the requisite military background, Bacevich takes aim at the overuse of US military power in the modern world. Inspired by the dramatic failure of the post 9/11 era, Bacevich strives mightily to recast US foreign policy. Culturally the author situates himself on the right yet his "disenchantment with mainstream conservatism and the Bush presidency is just about absolute. The chapter headings of this much-praised book give us a clue about its contents "California dreaming-standing with the troops",(Reagan and Clinton and Hollywood mythology), "War Club"(the military strategists as a priesthood), "Blood for Oil" and "Common defense."

Self-Help, Inc. Makeover Culture in American Life by Micki McGee, Oxford, Oxford University press, 2005, 288 pp. Are you "looking out for #1" or trying "to win through intimidation", maybe even avoiding "codependence"? Are you ready "to travel light" and "let go of extra baggage"? Do you have the guts to become "the CEO of Me, Inc.", then you may need this prescient, witty dissection of the Self-help business by cultural critic and prof, Micki McGee. A welcome critique of the phenomenon of unmoored souls in the neoliberal economy.

The Oxford dictionary of Modern Slang, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2005 324 pp. Oxford Press, the well known publisher of serious tomes shows that it can be hip and modern with this "out of sight collection, well worth the moolah" of slang. A great fun book for parties and family get togethers 5,000 slang words and phrases with good info on provenance, usage. and origins.