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Interviews | December 1, 2009

A Meaty Tale: The Powells.com Interview with Julie Powell

1 comment By Megan

Julie Powell charmed readers with Julie and Julia, in which she chronicled her quest to cook, in one year, every recipe out of Julia Child's... Continue »

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1. 
   $17.49 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

   Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession

   Julie Powell

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lyngla, May 8, 2006

What sets apart David Sirota?s Hostile Takeover: How Big Money & Corruption Conquered Our Government?and How We Take It Back from the panoply of books that capitalize on the current political angst is the strategy offered for action. Sirota does for his readers what Bush and his cohorts forgot to do for Iraq: plan not just for the assault but also for the aftermath.

Sirota?s premise is that we have a silent majority whose day-to-day issues are being ignored by those in power. Why? Because our political system has been sold out to corporate interests. Sirota, a veteran political operative, makes a strong case. For each of the broad issues considered, he points to recent history, neatly laying out how government policies have been designed as a reverse Robin Hood. Included in each section are some of the ?hacks? who have acted to ensure that corporate interests would be upheld and, importantly, some of the ?heros? who have worked to oppose the destructive policies. Sirota forcefully exposes the ?lies? and ?myths? the public is spoon-fed to garner support for policies that are anything but in the interest of the average American. For each of the standard defenses of corporate enrichment at public expense, Sirota rips apart the rhetoric and exposes the hypocrisy. Though the zingers are aimed mostly at Republicans who have been the more numerous promoters of the nefarious policies, guilty Democrats are not left behind.

Sirota appeals to readers to get on board and become part of the necessary changes. The checks and balances that used to be in place are no longer at play when big money drives policy and self-interest overrides common goals and empathy. It?s an uphill battle and Sirota doesn?t make pretenses about the difficulty. He understands, in fact anticipates, some of the responses that will be made to his cry for action and provides some context for preempting the criticism. The next step is up to the audience. Unlike those attending a theatrical performance, they have to participate even after the lights have gone down and the ?show? is over. Sirota?s style is breezy and chatty, as if you were having a cocktail conversation with someone who happened to bring up the topic. Even if you don?t intend to become an activist, this book will arm you with the facts you need to effectively argue your case.

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