Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle

Quebec City-born animator Guy Delisle spent two months in North Korea working for a French animation company. During his stay in Pyongyang, the capital of this isolated and remote country, he experienced first-hand its Stalinist-state.

In this excellent graphic novel, the reader is presented with a portrait of a country that lives in a completely different reality from the rest of humanity. In one particularly chilling section, Delisle is reading George Orwell's 1984 while staying in a creepy, run-down hotel built for foreigners. The juxtaposition between the fictitious dictatorship described by Orwell and the real-life horrors of North Korea (e.g. constant state control; prison camps; outrageous state propaganda that would be funny if not so tragic) was particularly disturbing.

This is a good work that provides a rare picture of this hermetic communist state. Overall, the animation is pretty good and the story captivating. If I had one criticism, however, it would be that Delisle's doesn't address the role that some Western countries have played in North Korea. For instance, on several occasions, the reader is told about how a French company worked on a certain project in the country. While critical of China's role in North Korea, the book does not comment about France's business relationship with Pyongyang. Given that this book is meant to be a personal memoir of his trip, perhaps this criticism is a bit unfair. Nevertheless, this thought did cross my mind after I finished the book which, overall, is quite good.

4 out of 5 stars

The Unfinished Canadian: The People We Are by Andrew Cohen

Andrew Cohen likes to point out that Canadians are sometimes smug, envious and petty. Based on his arrogant writing style, Cohen makes a perfect Canadian.

This book was a big disappointment. In terms of subject matter, the book is quite interesting: i.e. Cohen analyses the Canadian identity from various angle, from Canada's relationship to the U.S., to the Canadian identity formed by multiculturalism, to the borderline disdain that many Canadians have for the capital Ottawa.

Cohen's interesting analysis, however, is undermined by a literary tone that is, to be frank, right down snooty. It is ironic to hear Cohen complain about how Canadians can sometimes be smug, while engaging in a form of prose that is incredibly arrogant.

By the end of the book I was left with a bitter-taste in my mouth. On the one hand, I was impressed with the depth and variety of Cohen's ideas and analysis. On the other hand, I was not impressed by how much of an arrogant ass he was. All in all, reading this book is like going to a lecture of a brilliant professor who is also pompous and at times insufferable.

2 1/ 2 out of 5 stars

More Than Just a Game: Soccer vs. Apartheid: The Most Important Soccer Story Ever Told by Chuck Korr

During the dark, terrible days of apartheid in South Africa, numerous political prisoners (including Nelson Mandela) were imprisoned in Robben Island, located off the coast of Cape Town. This hell hole is now known the world over as an infamous symbol of the former racist white regime.

What is less known, however, is how the political prisoners at Robben Island were able to form (despite all the odds) a full functioning soccer league that provided hope to the imprisoned men. Fighting brutal and racist prison authorities, the inmates slowly won the right to form their own league, complete with a referees union, a football association, dedicated fans and most importantly full functioning football clubs. Among the leagues participants who were imprisoned at Robben Island were Jacob Zuma, the current president of South Africa, a couple of future cabinet ministers, a future constitutional judge, and numerous academics and business tycoons who rose to prominence in post-apartheid South Africa.

This remarkable organization, known as the Makana Football Association, would later be given honorary membership in FIFA in recognition of their courageous struggle against apartheid. This remarkable tale is truly breathtaking, and was an inspiration to the jailed men. (Thanks to the success of the soccer league, the prisoners eventually were able to organize other sports, such as a rugby league, tennis and athletics).

That being said, If there is one critique of this book it is that it has a slightly academic feel. Rather than allowing the characters to tell this wonderful story, this book reads at times like a university paper. Despite this small flaw, however, this story is a wonderful tale of how sport can be an empowering force in the fight for social justice.

3 out of 5 stars

How We Almost Gave the Tories the Boot: The inside story behind the coalition by Brian Topp

This interesting memoir tells the story of the Canadian coalition crisis in November / December 2008, when the NDP and Liberal parties almost formed a coalition government with the support of the Bloc Quebecois. Written by Brian Topp, the NDP's national campaign director during the 2006 and 2008 federal elections, and one of the lead NDP negotiators during the coalition crisis, this book describes in careful detail how the Conservative Party was almost replaced by the opposition. Overall this is a good read for anybody who is interested in Canadian politics.


3 out of 5 stars

Confessions of a Political Hitman: My Secret Life of Scandal, Corruption, Hypocrisy and Dirty Attacks That Decide Who Gets Elected (and Who Doesn't) by Stephen Marks

From 1994-2006, Stephen Marks worked as an opposition researcher for the Republican Party. Travelling across the United States, he dug up dirt on Democratic candidates and Republican clients who wanted to know how to defend themselves from political attacks. After working in numerous electoral campaigns (from local to state to national), Marks became disillusioned with both major U.S. political parties after uncovering countless cases of corruption and political hypocrisy.

When I first spotted this memoir in the public library I was intrigued. After reading it, however, I was disappointed to learn that it doesn't provide many political insights. It also very uneven. For while some parts of the book contain interesting stories, other chapters are simply “notebook dumps” of badly-written prose, with a few typos thrown in for good measure.

If you are interesting in learning how negative political campaigns are formed then you can skim through this book. But if you are looking for Machiavellian pearls of wisdom I would recommend looking somewhere else.

2 out of 5 stars

Taking On the System: Rules for Radical Change in a Digital Era by Markos Moulitsas Zuniga

This book is a valuable guide for political activists in the Internet age. Written by Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas, it is an excellent read for progressives who want to work towards social change.

This being said, after finishing this book, I couldn't help but wonder if Moulitsas and other left-wing bloggers and pundits (e.g. Daily Kos, Firedoglake, Huffington Post, Ed Schultz, Keith Olbermann) were paying attention to the advice in this book.

For instance, in Taking on the System, Moulitsas writes this: “

“Some battles are worth fighting to force rapid change, and choice and civil rights certainly qualify, but the fact remains that the most desirable pathway to change is slow, steady, and incremental, a process that can bring whole societies along. It’s the difference between having courts force something on the people, and having the people – through their elected representatives in a legislature – make that decision themselves. (p. 214).”

Given the health care debate in the U.S., I almost gagged when I read this. Taken at face value I completely agree with the above statement. In the real world, however, it seems that Moulitsas (along with a significant portion of the netroots) have completely disregarded this very sensible advice. For instead of recognising the value of incremental change, it appears that the left are insisting instead on certain reforms (e.g. the public option) that simply cannot be passed by this Congress.

In short, Taking on the System is an excellent book that is filled with great advice for activists. What I am less sure about, however, is whether the activists who read this book will be pragmatic or ideological.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream by Ross Douthat

This book was a pleasure to read. In an era in which U.S. conservatives have gone insane -- with the tea baggers and Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck -- it's good to know that there are some people on the U.S.-right who have not gone off the cliff.

I didn't agree with many parts of this book, but I would nevertheless recommend it. For in this age of political loons, it is refreshing to read a conservative viewpoint that engages in rational debate instead of hysterical screams.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

The Age of Abundance: How Prosperity Transformed America's Politics and Culture by Brink Lindsey

This book is an interesting take on the culture wars in the United States. Written from a libertarian perspective, it argues that political debate in the U.S. is dominated by two ideological minorities. On the left, there is a liberal class that promotes the cultural and sociological fruits of capitalism (e.g. cultural experimentation; an increasing capacity to pursue intellectual and scientific pursuits), while criticizing the very economic system that makes these fruits possible. Meanwhile, on the right, there are political partisans who recoil at the cultural opportunities created by capitalism, while defending the economic system that gives rise to these opportunities.

The thesis of the book is that these two extremes are vocal but minority groups. The majority – the libertarian center – comprises people who are more socially permissive than those on the right, but who also believe in free markets and the capitalist structure, which puts them at odds with many on the left.

I found this thoughtful book to be very enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone interested in U.S. politics. If I were to have one critique, however, is that it fails to describe in any great detail the so-called libertarian center. Though we hear a lot about hippies on the left and the religious-right, there is relatively little discussion of the center. The resulting effect is akin to a good comedian who forgets to say the punchline.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts and the Challenges to American Power by David E. Sanger

An excellent (and frightening) discussion on the major geopolitical problems facing President Obama. From Iran, to North Korea, to Afghanistan and Pakistan, this book should be read by anyone who is interested in learning about the most dangerous foreign policy threats facing the U.S. at this time.

4 out of 5 stars

The Last Best Hope: Restoring Conservatism and America's Promise by Joe Scarborough

I was disappointed in this book. As a regular viewer of MSNBC, I have became a fan of Morning Joe, finding it to be the most interesting and intelligent show on the network. And even though I often disagree with Joe Scarborough's politics, I have come to respect his willingness to discuss politics with people from various points of view.

This book, however, is a lot weaker than his TV show. It is also a lot less bold than it pretends to be. It is true that this book questions some political orthodoxies on the right -- a rare thing for a Republican these days. At the same time, however, I found this book to be filled with many cliche conservative arguments, rather than innovative thinking.

2 1/2 out of 5 stars

The Emerging Democratic Majority by John B. Judis

Contemporary politics in the United States is obsessed with the short-term. That is why this excellent book, which was written in 2002, is such a fresh of breath air. Written at a time when George W. Bush seemed invincible, this prescient work boldly predicted that, by decades end, the Democrats would emerge with a new majority that would replace the Reagan coalition.

With great detail, Judis and Teixeira clearly explain the deep cultural and demographic changes that are taking place in the U.S., and why they are leading to a Democratic majority. With a long-view of history, this work provides a fascinating description of the foundation that ultimately led to the election of President Obama.

4 out of 5 stars

40 More Years: How the Democrats Will Rule the Next Generation by James Carville

The U.S.-pundit class is filled with half-crazed ideologues that prefer to rant rather than think. Whether it’s the obnoxious jerks of the “right” (e.g. O’Reilly, Limbaugh, Coulter and Hannity) or the blowhards of the “left” (e.g. Ed Shultz and Keith Olbermann), political discourse in the U.S. has been hijacked by poseurs who would rather yell than exchange ideas.

James Carville – the famed strategist who helped elect President Bill Clinton – is a card carrying member of the screaming punditocracy. As this book demonstrates, Carville is very good at insulting Republicans, but not that good at engaging his political opponents in order to find solutions for the problems facing the United States.

That being said, this book does contain some thoughtful analysis. After ploughing through more than 100 pages of insults, Carville provides a convincing argument for why Democrats are better managers of the economy than Republicans. He also has an interesting chapter on young voters, and how Barack Obama's ability to capture the youth vote in 2008 could translate into long-term electoral victories for the Democrats. Besides these hidden gems, however, this book is just another addition to the sad canon of political temper tantrums.

1 out of 5 stars

Open & Shut: Why America has Barack Obama, and Canada has Stephen Harper by John Ibbitson

John Ibbitson should be commended for writing this book. I say this despite not agreeing with all of his arguments, which at times are contradictory. The point of this work, however, is not to make the reader agree with everything that Ibbitson says, but rather to start a conversation on a new approach to Canada-U.S. relations, and for that he deserves well-earned kudos.

In a nutshell, this book makes a convincing case that a person like Barack Obama could never become Prime Minister of Canada, due to the closed nature of Canada's political parties. It also puts forward a convincing argument that Canadian politics is overwhelmingly dominated by white males, despite our multicultural society. This is in sharp contrast to the U.S., where minorities wield a lot more political power. After making these very important points, Ibbitson counsels Canadians to get-over our inherent anti-U.S. smugness, and to be open to the possibility that we could learn some things about improving democracy from the United States.

On the negative side, however, this book contains some flaws. More specifically, on more than a few occasions, Ibbitson puts forward two different arguments which, on reflection, contradict each other. For instance, Ibbitson warns that Obama's environmental policies could hurt the Canadian economy as it could reduce production in the Alberta oil sands. (This leaves the reader with the impression that Ibbitson favours the development of the oil sands). Later in the book, however, he goes on to argue that Ottawa should participate in a cap-and-trade system with the U.S., even though this would also hurt oil sands production. (This second argument seems to favour the environment over short-term economic gain). At no point, however, does Ibbitson provide a clear answer to the question of how much oil sands production -- if any -- should be allowed, while balancing environmental concerns.

Despite these inner inconsistencies, however, this book is a fascinating read that will make Canadians rethink their relationship with the Unites States. In short, this is a well-written work that is well worth reading.

3 out of 5 stars

Obama: The Historic Journey by The New York Times

This book contains beautiful photographs but not much else. Purporting to be an in-depth look at the election of President Obama, this special collection is in reality a mishmash of previously published columns in the New York Times, snippets of news stories from Times' reporters, and -- in an annoying twist -- declarations on why the NYT's election coverage was so fantastic.

If you want a coffee table book with gorgeous photography, then this could be for you (though you would not be missing much if you skipped over the text). If you are looking for insight, however, then you would be better off taking a pass on this book.

1 1/2 out of 5 stars

Dark Days by Kerry Pither

This book should be read by all Canadians. Brilliantly researched and well-written, Dark Days tells the story of four men – Maher Arar, Ahmad El Maati, Abdullah Almalki and Muayyed Nureddin – who were detained in Syria, and then tortured, after being subject to investigation by Canadian police and security officials. In the case of El Maati, after spending over two months in Syria, he was transferred to Egypt where he was again tortured while being held in detention for 24 months.

Maher Arar has become a household name in Canada after a public inquiry found that he was falsely accused of being involved in terrorism. According to a report released in 2006 by Justice Dennis O'Connor, who headed an inquiry into Arar’s case, the RCMP passed on information to U.S. authorities that was, “inaccurate, portrayed him in an unfairly negative fashion and overstated his importance in the RCMP investigation.” This information, the report concluded, “very likely” led to the arrest of Arar at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York in September 2002, before being deported to Jordan, and then Syria, where he was repeatedly tortured. The Government of Canada later apologized to Arar and compensated him with more than $10 million.

The Arar story by itself is outrageous. But what is even more horrific is that at least three other men were detained overseas and subject to torture. A report released in 2008 by former Supreme Court of Canada justice Frank Iacobucci, who headed an inquiry into the men’s detention, concluded that the three men were tortured. The report also concluded that:

* The actions of the RCMP and CSIS indirectly led to the torture of El Maati;

* "Two actions of the RCMP" indirectly led to the torture of Almalki; and

* Certain instances of information sharing by CSIS and RCMP officials indirectly led to the torture of Nureddin.

In June 2009, the House of Commons public safety committee recommended that Canada formally apologize and compensate the three men.

5 out of 5 stars

A Long Time Coming by Evan Thomas

This is an in depth account of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, aided by the reporting of the staff of Newsweek. For those who followed last year's campaign closely, there isn't a lot of new material here that hasn't been reported elsewhere. This being said, there are some funny vignettes, such as Joe Biden saying, "Who's Palin?" when first told that John McCain had picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Though this book doesn't provide many new insights, it is well writen, and also does an excellent job of describing the Democratic and Republican primary campaigns, and then the general election. Overall, this is an interesting read for political junkies who are intersted in U.S. politics.

3 out of 5 stars

Bush at War by Bob Woodward

An intersting look at the initial reaction of the United States to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. With unparalleled access, Woodward describes how President Bush and his top officials planned the invasion of Afghanistan, in order to defeat Al Qaeda and their Taliban hosts. With great clarity, the reader is given a look into the animated debates between Secretary of State Powel and Vice-President Cheney, the moral certainty of President Bush, and the hardheadedness of Defence Secretary Rumsfield, who was intent on forming a new military strategy.

Reading this book in 2009, however, seven years after it was published, one can't help but shake their head in amazement about everything that has occurred since then. It is also inevitable to ask such counter-factual questions as: What would have happened if Bush did not invade Iraq? Or, would things have turned differently if the White House had used all of their energy to reconstruct Afghanistan? Unfortunately, we will never know the answer, but at least we can imagine a parallel universe were the international goodwill that arose after September 11 was not squandered.

3 out of 5 stars

My Life by Bill Clinton

This is an OK memoir that provides a straightforward account of Bill Clinton's Presidency. Unfortunately for the reader, however, this book doesn't offer any deep insight into the life and mind of this complicated man. Furthermore, reading this book today, one can't help but notice the striking difference between President Obama, who is renowned for his cool, cerebral manner, and the chaotic mess that was the Clinton White House.

Bill Clinton is, without a doubt, a brilliant man. It is also clear that he is extremely empathetic. But what is so regretable is that he is also haunted by demons, which it appears that even he doesn't understand. In short, this book left me with the lasting impression that it was written by a highly intelligent man who wanted to do good, but who failed to live up to his promise by shooting himself in the foot in spectacular fashion.

2 1/2 out of 5 stars

Cuba: The Morning After--Confronting Castro's Legacy by Mark Falcoff

An interesting look at contemporary Cuba that poses the $64,000 question: What will happen to the Caribbean island once Fidel Castro is gone? In this thorough work, Falcoff provides a comprehensive analysis of Cuba, and its complicated relationship with the United States. The result is an excellent study of the sole communist state in the western hemisphere.

Among other issues, this book looks at the economic structure of Cuba (with a particular focus on the sugar and tourism industries), the changing nature of Cuban immigration to the United States, and the true state of race relations and religion on the Marxist island. Despite having a strong anti-Castro bias -- is it possible to write an objective book on Cuba? -- Falcoff's work is a worthwhile read for anyone who is interested in the future of U.S.-Cuba relations.

3 out of 5 stars

What Obama Means: ...for Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Future by Jabari Asim

This book is an intriguing look at the forces that helped Barack Obama win the U.S. presidency, and on the social, political and cultural consequences of his victory.

In terms of groundwork, Asim presents a fascinating analysis of how artistic and athletic figures -- e.g. Prince, Michael Jordan, Sidney Poitier, President David Palmer in the tv show 24 -- laid the psychological foundation for the first African-American President. For by raising to the top of their respective professions, and in the process becoming a hero to millions, these cultural icons opened the imagination of the U.S. public to the possibility that the country could be led by an African-American.

Asim also discusses how the millennial generation, normally defined as being born between the early-1980s and early 2000's, is a harbinger of radical changes currently taking place in the United States. This group, who overwelmingly support Obama, is more ethnically diverse, more tolerant and more technologically astute than their elders. All of this indicates that the future United States, which will be led by President Obama, will be a dramatically different place from the U.S. of the last few decades, with its seemingly never ending loop of baby boomer culture wars and Vietnam-era grievances.

With this in mind, if I had one complaint about this book, it is that sometimes the narrative comes across as an undergraduate essay, in which a bright student tries to impress his professor by cramming as many sources as possible. This fault, however, is more than made up by Asim's deep insight into the cultural forces that helped to elect Obama, and the future that his election will usher in.

3 out of 5 stars