You've caused me a great deal of woe, Jonathan. I've now bought another book -- which I swore I wouldn't do until I finished the Big Accusing Stack.

As long as this site causes just one person some woe, I am well satisfied.

I suspect you'll enjoy Voltaire's Bastards a great deal. By the way, it's a great companion book to Who Will Tell the People by William Greider. And vice versa.

I was in Vancouver this week, enjoying my egg and bagel at a little cafe, reading my free compliments-of-the-hotel National Post, when I stumbled on a reference to Saul. Ah! I thought. This is the ATR fave author.

Have you ever mentioned here at ATR that he's married to the governor general and chief of the Canadian armed forces? Puts him in a different [better?] light for me. As does this arcticle:
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=112f3648-8bf9-45a9-814f-29e06562fc96

Saul's book restored my sanity. I have been a fan of Saul since I discovered him about 10 years ago. Before I read Voltaire's Bastards, I thought that the reason I seemed to be out of step with prevailing opinion was that something must be wrong with me. Now I know that something is wrong with western civilization.

Saul's "The Unconscious Civilization" is a short book that makes many of the same arguments (about the economy) as VB's, but has a different take on the problem. It is informative about the NON-relationship between democracy and capitalism. As it is only about 180 pages, it is easier to encourage people to read that one, though "Voltair's Bastareds" is probably one of the top five books I have ever read in its scope and clarity.

However, I have been shocked to have several literate and educated friends tell me that Voltaire's Bastards was difficult for them to read (I give it as gifts). They had to think too hard for too long. I suggested nicely that maybe they were out of practice with meaty, hearty books. (I did not find the language or concepts hard myself.) To me it was a page turner and I have read the book about five times over the years (chapters here and there for review). It TOTALLY EXPLAINS WHAT IS WRONG WITH US OUT HERE IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION. And I have been seeing the consequences play out on the evening news ever since I read it. Saul is brilliant! It was a thrill just to see him mentioned on your blog!

If you have the inclination and the time, and wantto see saul at his brilliant finest, here's a link to an archived video of a speech he made last fall (which I attended) titled "In Defense of Public Education"

http://workingtv.com/main3.html (13th item down the page)

The man explains the issues involved in creating and sustaining the fundamentals of democracy, and why public education is the touchstone of real and effective democracy, better than anyone else i've ever seen try.

As a Canadian I'm proud that he and his wife have influential voices in Canada .. and that they continue to speak out in these oh-so-right-of-center times.

And oh, btw, his book "The Doubter's Companion - An Aggressive Dictionary of Common Sense" is also quite enjoyable .. and useful.