BOOK CLUB: Voting Open for Dec, Jan. books!

[crispini]

Here are the ten choices which were nominated. Each one of these was seconded, and that's how they made the cut. Voting will close next Saturday at midnight CST. At that time, the top #1 choice will be our December book and the top #2 choice will be our January book. After that we'll vote one month at a time.

Yes, you only get one vote in this poll -- that's a little weird -- as a fallback, I suppose, if the 1st or 2nd choices aren't clear, we can always eliminate some of the less popular options and revote.

Here are your choices, with links and the snippets everyone wrote about them:

1- Tesebria: "What's the Matter with Kansas", by Thomas Frank
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805073396/qid=1100978876/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-0812768-1832166
Because it's new and relevant
**Seconded by Crispini
**Seconded by OrwellWasRight
**Seconded by 48percenter

2- Dem Bones Dem Bones: "Imperial Hubris" by Anonymous
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1574888498/qid=1100978935/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-0812768-1832166
About why the U.S. does not understand Osama bin Laden's motivations and why we will not succeed in establishing democracy in

the tribal Islamic society of Afghanistan, or fare much better in Iraq.
**seconded by DebJ
**Seconded by 48percente

3- OMG: "Chain of Command : The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib" by Seymour Hersh
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060195916/qid=1100980660/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-0812768-1832166
**seconded by Dem Bones Dem Bones

4- Dem Bones Dem Bones: "American Dynasty" by Kevin Phillips
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670032646/qid=1100980729/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-0812768-1832166
(about the Bushes)
**seconded by DebJ

5- Dem Bones Dem Bones: "Against All Enemies" by Richard Clarke
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743260244/qid=1100980835/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-0812768-1832166
about the screw ups, and the right things done by, four different American presidents that led us to our current situation
**seconded by DebJ

6- Tesebria: "Charlie Wilson's War" by George Crile
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0871138549/qid=1100980925/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-0812768-1832166
Great book b/c it is funny, however horrifying, and very revealing about how government really (?!) works
**Seconded by crispini

7- crispini: "Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate" by George Lakoff
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1931498717/qid=1100981051/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/102-0812768-1832166
this book is great, very timely and practical. Short, an easy read, and very good if you're wondering about "framing." Howard

Dean and John Kerry are both big fans of Lakoff. IMO this should be required reading for every candidate or anyone working on

a campaign.
**Seconded by 48percenter

8- mike6640: "The Blind Watchmaker" by Richard Dawkins
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393315703/qid=1100981129/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-0812768-1832166
It is a thesis on evolution and the complexity of life, one step at a time. Dawkins does a pretty good job quoting and

rebutting the 'creationist' arguments.
**seconded by Tesibria

9- 48percenter: "Running On Empty - How The Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans

Can Do About It" Pete Petersen
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0374252874/qid=1100981183/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-0812768-1832166
**seconded by Tangledog

10- Fleurs du Mal: "Freedom Evolves" by Daniel Dennett
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670031860/qid=1100981273/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-0812768-1832166
**seconded by Tangledog

[Eurobabe]

1. what's the matter with kansas

if i had to pick a second it would be lakoff don't think of an elephant.

[Crunchy Frog]

2. I have to go with "What's the Matter with Kansas".

It meets my most important criteria. I've already purchased it, but I havn't read it yet.

"Imperial Hubris looks really interesting too. I haven't bought it yet though.

[terrya]

11. I think "Kansas" is particularly timely. I've wanted to read this.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

3. Looks like "What's the Matter with Kansas?" might win.

I just tried to request a copy at the library. I'm the 13th person waiting in line for the first copy returned. There's 18 copies of the book. Maybe if everyone else reads the book really fast, I might be able to get a copy in about two weeks.

:)

[billyoc]

4. "...Kansas"

Thanks, Orwell, for reminding me about the vote. :)

[crispini]

5. Looks like it's time to go get "Kansas," methinks.

Goody. :D

[Tafiti]

6. Wow. As of this posting, we have a total of 45 votes on the poll.

I didn't know there were that many people participating. But, as they say, the more the merrier.

P.S. Can you vote on a poll twice, or does it recognize cookies and not let you vote again? Just wondering if it could be skewed...

[crispini]

7. I don't think you can vote twice.

But then I stay logged in with cookies, so I don't know.

And, ya know, if 1/3 of that 45 actually reads the book and drops by on a regular basis to post, we'll have a pretty good little discussion. It's really easy to vote in a poll... to actually participate in a book club, NSM... so we'll see. I have high hopes, though! :D

[billyoc]

8. This poll is a little off the beaten path,

it's not like a Lounge poll, so you may get more real votes here. :)

[stray cat]

9. Just read Running on Empty and thought it was excellent

and unpartisan. However, pretty economically scary.

[Tangledog]

10. Since Running on Empty won't make it...

...in this vote, could I talk you into giving us the nickel tour? :)

[crispini]

12. Woo hoo, we have winners!

Dec: What's the Matter with Kansas?
Jan: Don't Think of an Elephant.

I will now ask the mods to lock this thread for neatness purposes.