Zygmunt Bauman argues that the modern society we accept as normal and the highest form as civilization, contains the seed, soil and water of the Holocaust. He argues that the Holocaust is not an anomaly but a warning and sign of what we, as human beings, have become. The Holocaust would not have happened save for modern civilization. Technological know how is important, but not the only important factor.

Mass atrocity requires three things: that violence be authorized by a legitimate authority, that the violent actions be routinized, and that the victims be dehumanized. Bauman recounts the experiments of Stanley Milgram in support of his argument. I add that, after weeks of chanting "Kill, kill, kill" over and over, and of hearing the "enemy" described as "dinks", "slopes", "gooks", "japs", "women", "niggers" and "injuns", I was able to sit through a lecture on the "law of war" in which my medic class was instructed that one of our jobs would be to execute wounded prisoners. Yes, that's illegal, immoral, and something terrorists do. Military training works. (If you respond that "war is hell" and that such things are normal, think of the fuss we put up about how our prisoners are treated.)

Military training works because normal socialization prepares us for it. Society, Bauman writes, silences morality. Rather than supporting our innate morality, society replaces it, teaching us what is good and what is bad, who is good and who is bad. It divides the world into the "moral universe", relatively small, and the universe in which we are encouraged to to act with amoral abandon. Take, for instance, the example of "family values". The moral universe cannot shrink much further. Yes, we should obey the law, if practicable, but only until we change it to allow us to do what we want. We certainly aren't responsible for anyone outside the family. Family values? Christ pointed out that even the heathen support that.

The answer to the social design and engineering which created the Holocaust is, Bauman suggests, unconditional responsibility. We, each of us as a moral agent, are responsible for and to everyone regardless of whether we believe them to be good or evil. We and they are human. It's a tough sell, but Bauman's argument that the alternative led to the Holocaust and will lead to more similar atrocities is convincing.

Bauman makes his arguments without jargon, with style and passion. This is a most important and compelling book. If you're going to read only one book this year, make it this one.

Peruse any mega-bookstore for works on the Holocaust and you will likely find yourself in a section called "Jewish Studies" or "Holocaust Studies." This is indicative of a general attitude that the Holocaust was merely a gross aberration in the advancement of western civilization, that it is exclusively a Jewish problem or, at best, an anomalous eruption of the irrational latent in the German psyche.

In this stunning, bold, and original work, Professor Bauman challenges this conventional wisdom. The Holocaust is not the story of European civilization gone awry; rather it embodies the most salient principles of modernity itself. It was "horrifyingly normal."

The logic of self-interest, rational management, modern bureaucratic order, technological efficiency, the relegation of values to the realm of subjectivity, science as intrinsically instrumental and value-free: such are the values comprising the shared vision of western civilization set in motion during the Enlightenment. And Bauman identifies the sum of these values as the necessary (but not sufficient) cause of the Holocaust. The SS exploited the logic of rational self-interest by making the cooperation of prisoners a condition for self-preservation. Death camps utilized the applied technology of mass production and transportation. The Third Reich was the picture of modern bureaucratic efficiency. All of this was done by highly trained engineers, technicians and doctors within an ethical framework consistent with modernity's moral relativism. And each of these conditions is still present today. This is a sobering, thought-provoking study of the Holocaust and its haunting resonance with the values of modern thought.

This book explains "sameness" and "otherness", two powerful dimensions in contempt and values, so clear a five year old can get it. Zygmund also talks about doubt. An unpleasant state of mind seeking comfort and where this human machinery (doubt/comfort) is pushing most of us.

When it comes to the spate of books produced to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne, this is perhaps the best and most relevant, especially within the context of the Queen Mother's recent passing, since it looks at the British monarchy in its entirety; past, present and future.

The authors interviewed some 100 Royal Family friends, acquaintances, and members of their retinue, in an attempt to compose a portrait of their personal and public lives.

It makes for fascinating reading - authentic accounts from those who were there to witness history in the making, such as the day Queen Elizabeth II learned of her father, King George VI's passing. She cried upon hearing the news, "And then," according to her equerry-in-waiting at the time, Mike Parker, "she straightened up and she went in, to the desk she had been working at, and started to send all these telegrams off...."

The majority of the interviewees are British and there's a good deal of conjecture about different happenings, accounts that sometimes disagree; but it is this very conflict that makes it seem like you're there as events unfold through the various dispatches which provide enough detail to allow a clear picture to emerge.

We become privy to the inner workings of the monarchy. For instance, the King's many secretaries had a code for a multitude of contingencies, including his death. Sir Edward Ford, the King's assistant private secretary, reveals, "I got a telephone call from [Private Secretary, Sir Alan] Lascelles at Sandringham [House, one of the Royal Family's private residences], saying 'Hyde Park Corner,' because that was the code. He simply said: 'Hyde Park Corner. Go and tell [Prime Minister] Churchill, and the Queen Mary,' and he rang off."

The book includes a brief history of the monarchy, dating back to its establishment in 1066, with stops at notable milestones and interesting tidbits along the way. Queen Mary, for example, according to the Seventeenth Earl of Perth, John David Drummond, was "a very forceful character.... When she was visiting a grand house, she would like to see various things. And there was always a risk if she said: 'Oh, I like that; that's really something very nice.' It had almost reached the point that the host...felt impelled to send it on to her later."

Also covered is King Edward VIII's abdication of the Throne in 1936. The royal biographer Lady Langford divulges that the words "the woman I love," used in his abdication speech, referring to the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson, who would become the Duchess of Windsor, were suggested by then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Lady Longford also shares a story about how, when George VI became King, Princess Margaret asked her elder sister, "'Does that mean you'll be Queen?' And [Princess Elizabeth] said: 'Yes, some day.' And Princess Margaret said: 'Poor you.'"

We hear accounts of the difficulty involved in securing enough white horses for the service lords to ride on during Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1952; and memories of how the intense heat on the day of her father's coronation caused the boots of the bobbies, who lined the procession route, to stick to the tarmac. Reportedly, Winston Churchill opposed televising Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on the grounds that "people might watch the service while drinking beer!"

When the new Queen, in one of her first dictates, overrode the decision not to televise the celebration, sales of television sets soared in Britain.

It's possible that Sir Michael Oswald best sums up the awesome responsibility inherent in the monarchy when he says, "In a political job you can give it up. The Queen sees it that it's something she's consecrated to do, and to do for the rest of her life to the best of her ability."

As the Head of the Commonwealth, she commands a total of 1.7 billion subjects.

We witness salient points in the monarchy's chronicle, from the birth of Prince Charles, to his much-publicized marriage and eventual divorce from Princess Diana, to her imposing death.

Former Foreign Office official Ian Adams explains that the late Queen Mother exerted great influence when it came to the pairing of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

Many of Queen Elizabeth II's courtiers are interviewed and we get a sense of what it's like to live inside Buckingham Palace, with its 600 rooms; the "world's largest inhabited castle" - Windsor Castle; and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland; in addition to the Queen's two private residences, the aforementioned Sandringham House, and Balmoral Castle.

Remembering simpler times, when the beautiful young Princess Elizabeth became Queen, Admiral Sir Henry Leach suggests, "There was very much less scurrilous stuff floating round the media of the day...."

But starting in the late-1950s, the monarchy started to become the subject of criticism, and the authors don't turn a blind eye to this. There's talk of the struggle to find a suitable role for Prince Charles while he waits to succeed the Queen, with British Lord McNally saying, "I might be totally unfair to Prince Charles, but my impression was that beyond a kind of general look-around, there wasn't very much enthusiasm [on his part] for doing a specific job." A chapter in the book entitled, "The Heir Apparent: Who Is He?" examines in detail the issues that seem to surround Prince Charles, with part of it dedicated to debate about whether Camilla Parker Bowles will one day be Queen.

Lastly, there is a further examination of Prince Charles, with an eye toward assessing the future of the monarchy, centering on whether he will step aside and let Prince William succeed the Queen.

Regardless of your position on such matters, the authors present us with a captivating read and an inside look at Royal life.

Excellent, original and interesting - dare I say even entertaining. If you are interested in a bio of a woman deserving of respect, that is not of the tabloid sort on people best described as a dilettante,(can anyone say "Diana",)then take a look at this one. It is very, very good. Elizabeth may have had her role thrust upon her by an accident of birth, but she has handled it far better than most have in the past, and probably will in the future.

This is one of the very best biographies I've read on the Queen - a very fair and unbiased book with wonderful insights from people who really know the Royal Family. The people who are quoted are well known and not afraid to tell the truth even when it isn't complimentary. I'd highly recommend this book - it is like sitting down in your living room and talking to people about the Royal Family. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it hard to put down once I started.

Fantastic, I have been in moscow for 5 years and been working, meeting people and got the street-pulse. George Feifer's book is showing the russian's mentality with happiness and large respect. The russian people is a proud people who has been through some hard times and Mr Feifer lets you know how they got by. Today Soviet is Russia, but a lot is still the same, still true...The book is very up lifting, I lift my hat off to you George...

I think this book is great. Plus, George Feifer is awesome. He's a friend of the family and he's definitely one of the coolest guys I know. And coming from a teenager, that's a lot. Well, anyways, everyone should definitely read this book. You won't regret it.

This fantastic book offers a wonderful view of a young man experiencing life to its fullest--in Soviet Moscow. Extremely well-written, funny, and insightful, it shares its best qualities with those in Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye," Roth's "Portnoy's Complaint," and Kerouac's "On the Road." Reading this book will make you feel good. It is a book for everyone.

I have to agree with the two previous reviewers, Burgundy is a very special part of France, and a very special part of the world. It is worth seeing just for the vineyards alone, but there is so much more to Burgundy than just wine. If you're lucky enough to go there, take this book along. It will be an invaluable guide to the restaurants and hotels in the area as well as to the festivals, concerts, etc. And if you must stay at home, then this book is the next best thing to actually being there. The photos are gorgeous and the text informative. Five stars is not enough!

My sister and I recently toured Burgundy and even though we were born and bred in France, we saw the region anew. The photos in this book are lovely and for once, do a place justice. If you plan to travel to Burgundy, and may I suggest that you do, you certainly can't go wrong with this book as a traveling companion and tour guide.

France is a magical place and Burgundy is one of its most magical regions. The premier wine-growing region of France, Burgundy is also the center of fine cuisine, Romanesque architecture and lazy canals bordered by meadows of wildflowers. This book, with its more than 260 color illustrations, shows Burgundy at its finest. A region dominated by water, the book begins in the north and travels through all of Burgundy's four departments. From the Yonne, a land of peaceful river valleys and almost 1000 canals, we travel southward with the author to visit little Romanesque churches and learn how the Benedictine and Cistercian monks spread the Romanesque style. We finally arrive in the southernmost department of Soane-et-Loire and the city of Macon, the border to the Midi and the South, where we sample some of the finest wines in the world, such as Montrachet and Pommard. Burgundy is one of the most beautiful places on earth--unspoiled, unhurried and faithful to its past. Whether you plan to actually visit the area or are just dreaming of a visit, this is the perfect book to accompny you and your dreams and perhaps even make make them come true.

France is the most beautiful place on earth--bar none. But different regions of France have such different characteristics and there is a lot more to this wonderful country than Paris, Dijon, Nice, etc. In The Most Beautiful Villages of France, you'll discover gorgeous photographs of little, out-of-the-way towns and villages that will bring you new and unexpected delights. For those lucky enough to actually visit France, this book is definitely a must-have. For those who can only dream, there is no better way! In my opinion, The Most Beautiful Villages of Burgundy, The Most Beautiful Villages of Provence and The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany are equally well done. Don't leave home without them!

For those who would like to travel, to find somewhere in the world for living for a while, to take a rest, to walk with someone you love, you would just determine to choose that place once you've read the brief depiction and viewed those fantastic pictures in this book. The first time I saw that book was almost seven years ago, the images of those pictures/ photographs showing in this book could not help but drive me to that area through the time tunnel. I have been introxicated by the photos with the authors' brief description. However, I believe that the only way to have that kind of feeling is to visit this place following the guide suggested by the author. May be you could discover some other unbelieveable area within this romantic place in the world.

Although every picture is astoundingly beautiful, there is one of the home where Andre Breton lived that really takes my breath away. I find myself turning back to it whenever I need an escape. When friends come over, they always ask to see the books in this series. It is worth the price. Also, check out Most Beautiful Villages of Provence and Burgundy. I thought the Tuscany one could have been a little better, but still check it out.

This book was fabulous! I loved the fact that pictures of street signs were depicted in the book - which helped before we came upon them to know what they meant. I also liked the specifics on speed limits (and what repercussions to expect with traffic violations!)and other traffic laws that change at every border. We even used it to drive in Eastern Europe and were pleased with the accuracy of the author's information. I agree that motoring through Europe is the only way to go; the freedom is unbelievable! I'm disappointed to learn that this book - which seems to be the only one of its kind - is out of print.

This is easily one of the best travel guides I've ever come across. If you plan on travelling Europe by car, you would be crazy to not get this book. Even if you don't plan on driving, it is still a wise investment because of all the other travel information that it contains. It is well written and very informative. The author also makes a great case on why you SHOULD travel Europe by car. This book is a must have for European travellers.

This guide provides a wealth of information, and I agree with its premise that traveling Europe is best done via automobile. I also thought the physical make-up of the book was excellent. It was created in a way that allowed one to open to a page, and the book would stay open. This sounds of little benefit, but I was constantly referring to it as it lay on the passenger seat while I drove. Traffic signs, language translations, local customs - everything was covered. I loved the introduction detailing his first trip to Paris - funny stuff! He also addresses the myths associated with European driving. Buy it! You won't regret it.

Douglas MacGowan's book, Murder in Victorian Scotland..., depicts Madeline Smith's life and trial with a clarity and focus that allow the reader a glimpse into a bygone era. Using historical references and letters saved by the deceased to build the world of Madeline Smith and Emile L'Angelier, MacGowan takes his reader into the lives of these two figures in context of 18th century Scotland and allow them to come to their own conclusion regarding the historic trial and its rather odd verdict of "Not Proven". Overall, a fascinating look at another life, time, and judicial system.

Most mystery buffs relish the challenge of piecing together the clues and figuring out "who done it" before the author discloses the guilty party(ies). A smug satisfaction settles in after the reader wades through a complex set of circumstances and successfully solves the puzzle. Of course, the fiction author always reveals the answers by the last page. Not so in the true crime story related in "Murder in Victorian Scotland : The Trial of Madeleine Smith." We know that Emile died of arsenic poisoning, and that his secret lover Madeleine was tried for his murder, then released with the unusual verdict of "Not Proven." However, author Douglas MacGowan won't give us much more than that. His clever, 'diarist' style of chronologically detailing the available facts and surviving evidence puts readers smack in the middle of this intriguing story -- to decide for themselves what really happened.

Those who usually avoid non-fiction will likely find the saga of Madeleine and Emile as riveting as a blood and guts novel -- pondering clues and re-reading pages in an attempt to fit together pieces of the puzzle. Madeleine's letters to Emile offer a fascinating study in human psychology, through both her emotional missives to her lover, and his apparent responses which are implied in her references. Other characters are woven in, making us wonder if there is more to this tale than just an inappropriate love affair gone wrong. We get to glimpse a time and society where morals, laws and investigative tools were much different from those of today. Yet, it all boils down in the end to -- an upper class young woman carries on a passionate and secret love affair with a common man, who ends up dead by poison just as the woman plans to wed another of her own class. A timeless scenario. And, one that presents more questions than answers.

This book provides a rare chance for the reader to "rewrite" history with his/her own verdict...and to wonder about the author's own conclusion. Did she do it? Or not? Puzzling. Thought-provoking. Challenging. Terrific! A must read for historians AND mystery lovers!

In what was called "The Trial of the Century" in 1857, a young lady named Madeleine Smith was accused of poisoning a lover of a lower class so that she could marry a man her family deemed more suitable.

The subject of this case does not seem to inspire moderation of views, as earlier works seem to be nakedly pro or anti Smith. Unlike previous works on the case (and many books of this genre), the author resists the temptation to take a stand on the innocence or guilt of the accused. Perhaps MacGowan has enough faith in his readers intelligence to allow them to come to their own conclusions.

People who want to read a murder mystery in which the answers are handed to them at the end might want to read an Agatha Christie novel instead. Those that don't mind thinking for themselves, and getting a glimpse of the culture and justice system of the Victorian age will enjoy this book.

I offer many praises to Dr. Sami Aldeeb Abu-Salieh for writing this book and Dr. Sheldon Gosline for translating it into English. They have provided us with the first clear picture of Muslims in the West. Although much of the research is specific to Islam in Europe and Switzerland in particular, the conclusions are universal to all western nations. Dr. Aldeeb spent a lifetime studying this subject and his knowledge is totally evident. The translation into English of the original French and Arabic text was a massive task. It was undertaken with great care. If you are at all interested in the subject of Islam you must see this work!

This work is an outstanding compilation of Islamic and western law concerning all aspects of life. It is a subject that touches all of us since the tragic events of Sept. 11th.

Translated into English by Sheldon Lee Gosline, Muslims In The West: Redefining The Separation Of Church And State is accessibly written by Sami A. Aldeeb Abu-Sahlieh (Director of Islamic Law, Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, Lausanne) who drew upon his more than twenty years of personal and professional experience to examine the cultural, social, and political interactions of Muslims in Switzerland. Individual chapters address everything from conflicts of religion and the right to worship, to issues involving religious cemeteries and burial grounds. A very thoughtful and insightful work offering principles and wisdom that can be generalized to the Western world as a whole, Muslims In The West is an original and welcome contribution to Islamic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Monique Felix's inviting mouse illustrations in Robert Lewis Stevenson's My Shadow provides an inviting mix of rollicking rhyme and whimsical mouse illustrations. Kids will learn a new appreciation of the poetic style will enjoying the mouse's lively adventures.

This classic poem by Robert Louis Stevenson displayed by wonderful illustrations! Penny Dale's talent shines in the clear pictures, that re a joy to look at over and over again. It only made the poem better for me, and my entire classroom of 5 year olds!

MY SHADOW (illustrated by Ted Rand) is on our short list for best picture book. Our four kids all loved the pictures and, of course, the poem. I would recommend the book as a toddler picture book rather than a beginning reader--the pictures are beautiful and engaging and the poem is suitable for little children.

Ms. Bruce does an excellent job of portraying both Napoleon and Josephine with all of their human foibles and thus allows us to see them as people rather than just historical figures. The bibliography is a great reference tool and cites sources from both sides of the debate on 'Napoleon the monster/Napoleon the saint'. All in all an even handed account of one of the most noted marriages of the modern era.

I enjoyed reading "Napoleon and Josephine". It was entertaining and suspenseful like a soap opera. I couldn't put the book down. Evangeline Bruce brought out some interesting tidbits on Napoleon and Josephine. One example: the young and slender General Bonaparte, a newlywed, boldly kisses and fondles his wife while in the presence of his generals. On one such occasion during a meeting, Napoleon's open affections with Josephine forced one of his generals to move over to the window to give the couple some time alone. The "Epilogue" at the end of the book gives detailed information on what later became of indivduals such as Theresia Tallien, Barras, Napoleon's first love Desiree, and others. This is an excellent book!

Bruce brings to life the background behind Napoleon's meteoric rise and fall. The writing is lively and brings a different angle to the typical biographies of Napoleon.