Author Archives: billmanzi

Book Review- Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus

Posted on March 26, 2016 by billmanzi

I read the first of the three Rick Perlstein books back in 2014. In this election cycle featuring the rise of Trumpism, and the seeming disintegration of the national GOP it might be time to take another look at this … Continue reading →

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Review of the Buddy Cianci Autobiography Politics and Pasta

Posted on February 15, 2016 by billmanzi

Right after I read this and posted my review on Goodreads Mayor Buddy Cianci passed away. I have placed the review here, as well as a video of Mayor Cianci talking about the book on WGBH. Good stuff from a … Continue reading →

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Review of Ben Bernanke "The Courage to Act"

Posted on December 28, 2015 by billmanzi

The Courage to Act: A Memoir of a Crisis and Its Aftermath by Ben S. Bernanke My rating: 4 of 5 stars A fairly dry, but very important book by the man at the helm of the Fed during the … Continue reading →

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Review of "The Prize" by Dale Russakoff

Posted on October 11, 2015 by billmanzi

The Prize: The High-Stakes, Big-Money Race to Save Our Failing Schools by Dale Russakoff My rating: 4 of 5 stars Dale Russakoff’s “The Prize” is such a good, and important book. It tells us the story of what happened after … Continue reading →

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Review of Michael Isikoff's "Hubris"

Posted on July 25, 2015 by billmanzi

My review of the really great book by Michael Isikoff on the invasion of Iraq, with a You Tube video featuring Isikoff discussing the book. Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War by … Continue reading →

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Review of Bismarck by Jonathan Steinberg

Posted on June 28, 2015 by billmanzi

Bismarck:A Life by Jonathan Steinberg My rating: 3 of 5 stars I enjoyed the book, although it was, in my opinion, light on the the great achievements of Bismarck in foreign policy. Bismarck was a truly monumental historical figure who … Continue reading →

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Barry Eichengreen on Greek Crisis- From The Conversation Blog

Posted on June 28, 2015 by billmanzi

Reprinted from The Conversation by Barry Eichengreen, Professor of Political Science and Economics at the University of California- Berkeley. Path to Grexit tragedy paved by political incompetence Barry Eichengreen, University of California, Berkeley Since our last episode, the crisis in … Continue reading →

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Review of Steve Rattner's "Overhaul" on Auto Industry Bailout.

Posted on June 8, 2015 by billmanzi

Overhaul: An Insider’s Account of the Obama Administration’s Emergency Rescue of the Auto Industry by Steven Rattner My rating: 4 of 5 stars A very good accounting of the events surrounding the U.S. Government bailout of the American auto industry. … Continue reading →

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Henry Kissinger "White House Years" is Reviewed

Posted on April 26, 2015 by billmanzi

The White House Years by Henry Kissinger My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book, due to length and level of detail, will not be for everyone. But it is a vitally important work for those who want to understand … Continue reading →

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Review of American Pharaoh: Mayor Richard J Daley

Posted on February 28, 2015 by billmanzi

American Pharaoh: Mayor Richard J. Daley – His Battle for Chicago and the Nation by Adam Cohen My rating: 5 of 5 stars A masterpiece that not only serves as a biography of Richard Daley, but shows us how the … Continue reading →

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