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ReviewCentral

Ron Lisy's reviews on books, movies, restaurants, or anything under the sun.

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Sunday, March 25, 2007

True Stories of Law & Order---Real stories of crime will stir your emotions


True Stories of Law & Order: The Real Crimes Behind the Best Episodes of the Hit TV Show:



As a fan of the Law & Order series, I was intrigued by the title. The book actually does not have much to do with the television series franchise, but the true stories inside are presented in a way that any fan of the television series will enjoy. Included are twenty-five true stories on which episodes of Law & Order are apparently based. These include the Liverpool murder of two-year old James Bulger by two 10-year old boys, the story of Jack Abbott, the protege of pulitzer-prize winning writer Norman Mailer, who stabbed aspiring actor Richard Adan to death over the use of a diner restroom; and the murder of Gulf War vet Anthony Riggs, killed by his wife and brother-in-law over life insurance proceeds. Reading this book is like watching 25 short episodes of law and order, except that these ARE the true stories, with the real names.Real stories of crime will stir your emotions,As a fan of the Law & Order series, I was intrigued by the title. The book actually does not have much to do with the television series franchise, but the true stories inside are presented in a way that any fan of the television series will enjoy. Included are twenty-five true stories on which episodes of Law & Order are apparently based. These include the Liverpool murder of two-year old James Bulger by two 10-year old boys, the story of Jack Abbott, the protege of pulitzer-prize winning writer Norman Mailer, who stabbed aspiring actor Richard Adan to death over the use of a diner restroom; and the murder of Gulf War vet Anthony Riggs, killed by his wife and brother-in-law over life insurance proceeds. Reading this book is like watching 25 short episodes of law and order, except that these ARE the true stories, with the real names.

posted by RonL @ 4:03 PM   0 comments

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Saturday, January 13, 2007

Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All

by Craig Shirley

A great narrative of the campaign that changed America

Craig Shirley has written a first class narrative of recent history in Reagan's Revolution.

It covers the 1976 Republican primary campaign, in which former California Governor Reagan challenged Republican incumbent Gerald R. Ford-- the only man to serve as American President who was never elected President or Vice-President.

Shirley does a good job of telling the story from each side of the the face-off, including the presence of current Bush administration members Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, who were members of the Ford administration.

A great work that provides insight into an important event in American history that is not often covered in such depth.

Shirley's work is also easily readable, often reading like a good novel.

posted by RonL @ 11:33 AM   0 comments

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Monday, December 12, 2005

Tom Johnson: The Life and Times of Cleveland's Greatest Mayor

Impressive Historical Biography

Tom Johnson: The Life and Times of Cleveland's Greatest Mayor
by Kevin O'Connell, 111 pages
Publisher: Green Road Press (December, 2001)

Tom Johnson: The Life and Times of Cleveland's Greatest Mayor provides a rare look at the life of Thomas Loftin Johnson, who served as Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from 1901-1909.

Often referred to as Cleveland's Greatest Mayor, Johnson has rarely been the subject of biographers-- Two books on his life were published within a year of his 1911 death, another in the early 1990's that is now out of print-- and now O'Connell's work.

In this volume O'Connell does a good job of painting the picture of Johnson, and his evolution from successful capitalist businessman to unabashed socialist politician.

Johnson's success in turning the City of Cleveland from a backward industrial city with a poor quality of life into a modern turn of the century metropolis is covered, as well as his quixotic campaign for Ohio Governor; where his progressive views were soundly rejected by Ohio voters, are covered throughly.

It is clear from this work that O'Connell, the biographer, is a fan of Johnson. The book is clearly pro-Johnson, rather than a neutral work. However I found this to be a great read. It really painted a picture of 1900's Cleveland and has given me a great amount of respect for Mayor Johnson and his accomplishments.

review by Ron Lisy,
councilmanlisy@hotmail.com

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posted by RonL @ 1:47 PM   0 comments

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Campaigns and Elections Magazine

If you want to learn the campaign trade this is the place to go!

Format: Magazine
Publisher: Congressional Quarterly

Campaigns and Elections Magazine is the undisputed champ of electoral politics. Articles include both how-to and case studies of recent campaigns from top consultants on both sides of the political aisle. C & E also offers insider news on consultant sign ups, polling and upcoming personalities. If you are a candidate, potential candidate, aspiring or accomplished political consultant, or political campaign scholar you need this magazine.

by Ron Lisy,
councilmanlisy@hotmail.com


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posted by RonL @ 1:45 PM   0 comments

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Sunday, December 11, 2005

Not All Politics Is Local: Reflections of a Former County Chairman

An Inside Play-by-Play of County Party Politics

Not All Politics Is Local: Reflections of a Former County Chairman
(Paperback)by William D. Angel Jr.

Paperback: 337 pages
Publisher: Kent State University Press (September, 2002)


Bill Angel gives an entertaining narrative of his campaign to oust a local Democratic party Chairman in small-town Lima Ohio. In the early 1980's, in a county where the Democrats are outmanned by Republicans, and saddled with an ineffective party leadership, Bill Angel is recruited by a team that believes their party can do better. Angel and his team organize a challenge to the sitting Chairman and pull off the upset taking control of the party apparatus. Then the tough part begins. Running a political party that is expected to do poorly by potential donors and potential candidates makes for a challenging environment. In this book Angel brings you there. You experience the promise of change in the organization, and the dissolution of fighting the uphill battle of electing candidates from the "wrong party". If you have always wondered about the inside working of party politics this is a great read for you. Or if you are a party insider who enjoys hearing political war stories, you won't be disappointed here.

Reviewed by Ron Lisy

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posted by RonL @ 10:43 AM   0 comments