Kulturelle Reprasentationen Des "Holocaust" in Deutschland Und Den Vereinigten Staaten (German Life and Civilization)

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Conservatives aren't born--they evolve. And for Wall Street Journal ethics columnist Harry Stein--once vilified in The Village Voice as "a well-known asshole"--that evolution began with the birth of his daughter. But Stein's memoir on transforming from bleeding-heart liberal to someone who gets junk mail from Patrick Buchanan isn't a sappy tale of fatherhood; it's a witty, intelligent account of how one man began to think for himself. "I remember when I was called a fascist for the first time," Stein writes about a dinner conversation in which he sided with Dan Quayle over the Murphy Brown/single-motherhood controversy. While alienating his left-leaning friends, Stein takes to task The New York Times, AIDS hysteria, men-hating feminists, and Bill Clinton, just to mention a few bastions of liberalism that contributed to his social makeover. As if to prove he didn't start out this way, Stein spends a great deal of time trying to convince the reader of his liberal roots. His wife, a former story editor for a major motion picture company, once belonged to a group called Women Against Right-Wing Scum. His sexual escapades as a single man (including a trip to a New York "swap" club) make up a whole chapter. He also writes of his admiration for Tennessee Williams (whom he once interviewed) as if to say, "See, I am not a homophobe."

Contrary to another conservative stereotype, Stein manages to keep a sense of humor throughout the book, writing in a conversational, amused style. His quips and lists read more like naughty office e-mail than diatribes from an angry right-winger: No. 3 in the 12 Ways to Tell If You've Joined the Right-Wing Conspiracy: "You sit all the way through Dead Man Walking and at the end you STILL want the guy to be executed." Longtime conservatives and converts like Stein will find themselves nodding their heads in agreement. Others will simply get a good laugh. --Jodi Mailander Farrell

Book Description

As a journalist in an industry populated by liberals, Harry Stein carried the left-wing banner in his life and work. Then he became a father, and suddenly the Right sounded right. Even worse, the Left was starting to sound -- and look -- wrong.

Stein cuts through the distortions on both sides and fearlessly tackles such provocative topics as feminism, affirmative action, PC education, gay rights, and sexual McCarthyism, and shows how liberating it is to no longer have to pass as a correct thinker. Daring, brilliantly argued, and savagely funny, How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy will resonate with many who have witnessed the social revolution of the past thirty years and questioned its outcome -- even if only secretly.

Customer Reviews:

Good for Me, Bad for You.......2007-06-27

There are thoughtful, rueful memoirs of sincere political change. This isn't one of them. Stein opens with a typically 70's, upper-class-journalist/boyo recitation of his personal (pre-conversion) sluttishness, including key club swinging, screwing prostitutes, and even, shamefully, exploiting them in the workplace. Funny. Then he puff against others speaking of their past errors, accusing them of a lack of dignity and recommending mature silence. How'd he do that? By hewing to a singular theme: he's different. Special. Not like us. Most of his ire, of course, is reserved for Bill Clinton and feminists. He chides the former for behaving exactly as he did (pre-conversion) and the latter for advocating for stuff like child care, which he opposes, arguing that since he's lucky enough to have a cool job, hip apartment and (rich former entertainment executive) wife who happily abandoned her career to raise their kids, we should all do the same. Larded, of course, with fond memories of his "radical" days, Stein comes across as a braggard, name dropper and opportunist who fails entirely to see the irony in scolding actresses for having children out of wedlock while simultaneously opposing abortion and forgetting to mention, let alone also disapprove of, the rich, producer pals of his who knocked them up in the first place. Nice work, if you can get it.

Another liberal who evolves into an adult.......2006-10-23

Stein is a very good writer and does himself proud in this book. He was a darling of the Left, until he matured into a responsible adult, and then became their enemy. Like many former leftist elitists, he goes through the trials and tribulations of having life handed to him on a silver platter, looks down on the rubes who are too stupid to understand what he is talking about from his snobbish point of view, but comes to realize that the great divide between the red and blue states is a function of living life instead of reading about it in the New York Times.

While others have made similar transformations, such as Horowitz or Krystol, Stein goes further in exposing the idiocy of the Upper East Side liberals who rail against supposed violations of "free speech" except at the dinner tables they use to suppress it. His observations on the consequences of their liberalism which made NY the murder capital of the world until Giuliani somehow miraculously appeared from the sky as mayor even though they all voted for Dinkins as he presided over the carnage is particularly interesting.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at many chapters of this book, but I guess both emotions were appropriate since I have suffered through many of the hypocrisies that makes up the vast majority of the elite liberals today. His observations about "sexgate" as he calls Clinton's great role modeling of corruption for the country's youth of wagging your finger and lying as he performed his magic act with Monica and the disappearing cigars is a good example, but there are many more, such as the disappearing act of "Murphy Brown's" baby when the ratings decided this little Hollywood stunt should be aborted once it was no longer of use in attacking those who viewed intact families as something of value. Of course Brown's role modeling for the millions of unwed women who have babies but have to raise them makes for great observation on Stein's part.

This book was written in 2000, so it is a bit dated, but still relevant to the culture wars of today.

An Accessible Convert to Conservatism.......2006-08-16

The dust-cover copy caries a list of self-help style questions to determine if you might enjoy this book. While they are meant to be light hearted and fanciful, one of them jumps out as a great point of departure in looking at this book. To wit: You sit all the way through "Dead Man Walking" and at the end still want the guy to be executed.
I remember seeing the film when it first came out. At the end, I was sure Susan Sarandon's character had realized that the job of a nun is saving souls, not protesting political issues. It was no great shock to find over the following days that the rest of the planet viewed the film as a masterful argument against capital punishment. I am used to finding myself on the outskirts of fashionable sentiment and have no plans to move to the center. Works like Stein's reassure me that I am in good company. Intelligent, well informed people can disagree about political issues, spittle-flecked protestations of the left notwithstanding.
It really is okay to be a social conservative. Advocating reasonable limits on abortion for instance does not mean you hate women; it means you think children are a blessing and that they deserve at least as much protection as we demand for the cockroaches used in filming popular movies (see p. 204.) People like Stein, people who started out as beaded and sandaled hippies and metamorphosed into conservatives are open to accusations of being "wishy-washy," of having sold-out. But Stein makes the excellent point that holding lofty principles while one has no experience and few real responsibilities in life is the truly indefensible position. The things that seemed like such a good idea when you were waving a sign on campus suddenly look different when it is time to pay for them and see how they affect your own children. Most people will become more conservative as they grow older and take on more responsibilities. The question is whether those people will have the courage to lead in the face of the idealistic mob, yammering for ever more government.

neither Right nor Left.......2006-07-17

Many people will misunderstand this title, since wit and irony are no longer learned in schools and colleges. They will interpret the title literally and buy this book, eager to hear their favorite prejudices trumpeted once again. They'll be disappointed. Stein is not a right-winger. True, he says of the Democratic Party: "Morally corrupt to the core, preaches hope and decency; practices cynicism and racial and gender extortionism." (p. 76) But he also says of the Republican Party: "Composed largely of [...]/Neanderthals/lackeys, yet also a few of real character." (p. 76) The literal title for the book would be "How Leftist stupidity drove me out of Leftism."

The 1960s were a mixture of two points of view: Leftism (which was much the same as it is today: antirational, dogmatic, group-oriented, etc.) and Liberalism (which was for individual freedom, do your own thing, etc.) Most people absorbed some of both. But the two are fundamentally incompatible. For a Lefty, you do the RIGHT thing. Your own thing should BE the right thing. Only then may you do your own thing. (People are taught in school these days that THIS is Liberalism!!!)

So, a strain develops within the individual person between the two conflicting ideologies. Some people abandon Liberalism (by accepting the new definition). Others abandon Leftism. Harry Stein was one of the latter. It took years of little personal experiences, but gradually he began to ask questions (and that is always the beginning of the end for both Leftism and Rightism). "Indeed, many of us were soon startled to find ourselves tagged conservatives (and often worse) for holding firm to the values of old-fashioned LIBERALISM: a bedrock commitment to fairness and individual liberty." (p. 2)

People who are beginning to have doubts about the pervasive "wisdom" they learned in school/college and on the TV/radio/rock lyrics will find this book eye-opening. Those who want to get up to speed fast should read the new book While America Sleeps: How Islam, Immigration and Indoctrination Are Destroying America From Within. In it you'll find the New Ideology (which is NOT liberalism nor leftism) spelled out in detail along with how it enforces itself, how it spreads and how pervasive it has already become.

Growing Up.......2005-09-07

At first, I was reluctant to give this book five stars. I found the writing style very engrossing and stimulating. However, I was put off by the lack of organization in the book, which made it difficult to locate subjects that I wished to review again.

The high rating I finally decided upon applies to the honesty of the writer and to his accurate protrayal of past and recent events. A friend of mine went through a similar experience as this author. She was very liberal in all of her beliefs and actions, very pacific, very pro-abortion, very pro-feminist, and very nonconformist. She was all of this, until the day she had her first child. Was there an immediate change? No, but a gradual one as she learned that her previous beliefs did not fit with her new world.

She still will not pick up a gun to save her own life, but she would to save the lives of her children. She continues to fight for a woman's right-to-choose, but she advises her daughters to never have an abortion. She still fights for equal rights for women in the workplace but states that she feels more fulfilled as a mother than as a businesswoman. Finally, she now feels that what is right for a single individual may not be what's best for society as a whole.

How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (And Found Inner Peace)

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How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (And Found Inner Peace)
Harry Stein
Manufacturer: Delacorte
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000N57M4O

How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (And Found Inner Peace, Hardcover 2000)

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How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (And Found Inner Peace, Hardcover 2000)
Harry stein
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000USQWDG

How I Accidentally Joined The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (P)

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How I Accidentally Joined The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (P)
Harry Stein
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: B000OERCH6

Amazon.com

If you just stumbled into design, maybe via a hobby that grew into a career, and you want to improve your work without having to enroll in a degree program, this book can bridge some of the gaps in your acumen. Not really a primer on basic facts, Design Workshop is more like a guide to style.

The first chapter quizzes readers on mostly technical, basic details of design (like dpi), all of which can be found in Williams's previous publications (for example, The Non-Designer's Design Book). Readers will be dismayed, possibly annoyed, that the quiz answers are not provided. Even if not knowing the answers means that you need remedial help, it feels like a bit of a tease.

The next chapters show how to use stock images, or your own images, to increase the visual impact of your piece (basically through an increase in contrast). The best part of this section, and the book as a whole, is the "before-and-after" approach in the examples; they're like a series of makeovers. The captions effectively describe what was changed in the image, and how it improved the design.

The book applies a similar set of makeovers to various types of design projects: logos, forms, newsletters, tables of contents, etc. In the final section, seven designers, including coauthor Tollett, break down the process that they went through on a job of their own.

Self-taught graphic designers probably would make the best audience for this book, but designers who are of their own "school of thought" might find fault with some of the tenets that are put forth. Graphic design by nature is a subjective enterprise--at the mercy of "styles." What you get in this book is more of a "desktop-publisher style" (many of the drawings are clip art, for example). There's a lack of sophistication in the design of the book, as well as in the illustrations of posters, letterheads, advertisements, and other applications that are used as examples. On the other hand, this same open, naive look gives the book an inviting appeal, and makes it perhaps a bit less daunting than style guides, such as Robert Bringhurst's The Elements of Typographic Style, that are intended for die-hard professionals. --Angelynn Grant

Topics covered:

Style advice for design projects, including:

Logos
Business cards and letterhead
Invoices and forms
Advertising
Billboards
Web sites
Tables of contents and indices
Newsletters and brochures
Flyers

Book Description

Learn design theory and practical know-how from the award-winning author/design team, Robin Williams and John Tollett! Robin Williams introduced design and typographic principles to legions of readers with her best-selling Non-Designer's book series. Now she and designer/co-author John Tollett take you to the next level of creative design with practical advice and lessons in composition, visual impact, and design challenges.

Presented in Robin and John's signature style—writing that is so crystal clear, it's accessible to absolutely anyone—and illustrated with hundreds of full-color design examples, the ideas in this book tackle design theory, visual puns, and layout and graphics strategies for real-world projects. Developing designers will appreciate the authors' imaginative approach and well-chosen examples.

Discover practical and effective design principles and concepts—and how to apply them to virtually any project.
Learn why some designs are attention-getting and others are not.
Learn how to choose just the right look—corporate or casual, classic or trendy—for specific types of projects, such as business cards, letterhead and envelopes, newsletters and brochures, logos, advertising, and more.
Test your design acumen by comparing before-and-after examples.
Find a wealth of inspiration for your own design projects.
Gain insight into the design process by studying the work of guest designers, who offer their personal commentary and insights.

Customer Reviews:

Robin Williams Design Workshop (2nd Edition).......2007-09-26

Book has excellant information, good examples, and plenty of suggestions and recommendations. Easy to understand with many design images.

Design workshop book review.......2007-09-19

The book is an excellent tool to assist in text layout for various documents, ads, marketing pieces etc. Helps the reader to understand the reasons and components of what makes a layout eye apealing

A Worthwhile Workshop.......2007-05-06

Not as compelling as her Non-Designers Design Book, but useful and inspiring nonetheless. I find this book useful when trying to solve design problems in my own business.

Joe Okonkwo
www.ZootCreative.com

Very useful.......2006-11-10

I've always admired Robin Williams' design books. They're straight forward, practical, and well layed out, of course. What's important about Robin's books is that she consistently ties together several design principals and builds and connects to those principles in each of her books. She provides numerous examples and resources for you to build upon and she makes you feel that you can achieve the goals of good design. Her books are not written from an elitist or esoteric point of view. They're written for both design students and laymen who are interested in the principles of good and effective design.

Very helpful.......2006-11-10

I found this book to be very helpful and easy to understand. Examples of what to do and what not to do are very clear and provide many "aha" moments when you realize how much better a piece can look by following the tips/suggestions in the book. Essential reference book for any graphic designer from beginner to advance.

Average customer rating:

An outstanding, uniquely useful book
Web Design guide
Worn this one out
Some great information but not worth purchasing
awesome design ideas

Robin Williams Web Design Workshop
Robin Williams , John Tollett , and Dave Rohr
Manufacturer: Peachpit Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0201748673

Amazon.co.uk

Because "there's more to Web design than Photoshop and HTML," Robin Williams Web Design Workshop covers everything for the working Web designer including "how to survive dealing with clients."

Although Dreamweaver, GoLive, Photoshop, and other applications are mentioned (Flash even gets its own chapter), the book covers the gamut of Web design and technology issues rather than focusing on an individual application.

Each chapter is divided into sections, often no more than a couple of pages long. The chapter on backgrounds, the area of a Web page that seems to attract the worst design crimes, shows you how to avoid "the heartbreak of bad background design" in no less than eight sections.

In many books this subject would be lucky to get eight paragraphs; Robin Williams Web Design Workshop uses a clear two-column layout and plenty of real-life example screen shots to get the message across. Some pages consist only of captioned screen shots providing a great source of visual ideas.

There's a good balance between purely design-related issues and the technical stuff. Subjects like search engines, embedded fonts, DHTML, and forms are given a thorough overview, highlighting the main issues, and links to sources of more in-depth information are often to be found at the end of the chapter.

If you like to learn by example and see yourself more as a designer than a programmer, but want a working knowledge of current Web technologies from a book that you can read away from your computer, this is it. --Ken McMahon, amazon.co.uk

Customer Reviews:

An outstanding, uniquely useful book.......2006-05-27

Because web sites are made with computers, somehow it seems that the vast majority of authors of "how to make a web site" books focus almost entirely on the technical aspects, as somehow devoid of relation to the practical art of making sites that work.

This book is remarkable, because it is written from the point of view of working, experienced web/graphic designers.

As the authors make clear, making a web site is a lot more than just using a computer and making pretty pictures. They clarify what you really need to know about the entire process. It covers everything about the development cycle, from clarifying the site requirements with the client, to making thumbnail sketches, to practical, nitty-gritty details of how to make an interesting, "non-boxy" site.

If you want to really understand the entire process of developing effective, beautiful web sites for people as a business, this is the best book I have ever seen on the subject.

Web Design guide.......2006-02-25

Robin Williams does an excellent job of providing clear suggestions, good rationales, and lots of examples to make her point.

Worn this one out.......2005-01-05

Several years ago I met with the main designer at company that created the web pages for several pharmaceutical distributors in Canada. At the time, I was well versed in creating web pages using several of the professional programs including Dreamweaver, as well as writing code. The designer, however, said that they did all of their designing in Photoshop and then used a slicing technique in ImageReady before editing the site in Dreamweaver. I hate to admit it, but I had never heard of creating web pages that way, so I went home and began looking through all of my web designing books to see if I could find a description of the technique. Yes, I found it in this book.

I don't want to give the impression that this book is all about Photoshop, it clearly isn't. But, at least for me, the Photoshop information has been extremely useful! Though I do not design the majority of my sites using Photoshop, there are some that I could not have created as easily with out it. I have not used other applications that supposedly are similar to Photoshop/ImageReady, so I can't say if they can or can not do the things that Photoshop/ImageReady can.

Nevertheless, since the time I opened this book and took a real look, I have used this book more than any other web books on my shelf. Sometimes it is to simply look at the pictures to spark a new idea, sometimes it is to review a specific designing technique.

Honestly I do not think Robin can write a bad book.

Some great information but not worth purchasing.......2004-11-05

I borrowed this book from the library to see if it was worth purchasing. It has some great design tips and ideas but nothing that can't be found in other books in greater detail. The glossy color pages make it fun to browse through, but there isn't enough detailed information on the various design topics.

I skimmed through the book within two or three days and don't see it as an item I will bother to purchase for my personal Web design library.

awesome design ideas.......2004-07-31

This book is very focused on the design aspect, which makes sense, since it is titled "Web Design Workshop". Just don't expect to see any html or javascript in it. Still an awesome book though - very very good design advice for the web.

Robin Williams Web Design Workshop. (Book Reviews).: An article from: Technical Communication

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Robin Williams Web Design Workshop. (Book Reviews).: An article from: Technical Communication
Karla Saari Kitalong
Manufacturer: Society for Technical Communication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on August 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1376 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Robin Williams Web Design Workshop. (Book Reviews).
Author: Karla Saari Kitalong
Publication: Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: August 1, 2002
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Page: 359(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Robin Williams Web Design Workshop
Robin Williams
Manufacturer: PEACHPIT (LONG)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K2J1SK

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