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Reviews of See Sharp Press
Books and Pamphlets
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BOOKS
Alcohol: How to Give It Up and Be Glad You Did (second edition), by Philip Tate.
"This book is an insightful and practical approach to help the reader eliminate his/her alcohol or
substance abuse. . . . Not only does it teach how to eliminate and addiction, it also encourages
readers to participate in their therapy, and like any good therapy program of recovery, Dr. Tate
not only gives sound principles, but he also offers many specific ideas about how to deal with
the main unhelpful emotions . . . [This book] has the potential to become a classic on the
subject of substance abuse and treatment."
The Anti-Christ, by Friedrich Nietzsche.
"Bombastic, acerbic, and coldly analytical, The Anti-Christ exemplifies the muscularity
of thought that surrounds the Nietzsche legend. . . . This rich volume represents a profound
parting shot from perhaps the most significant philosopher of the 19th century."
Bi Lives: Bisexual Women Tell Their Stories, Kata Orndorff, editor.
Eighteen interviews with bisexual women reveal a vast range of backgrounds and adult
experiences, from childhoods in urban settings to youth spent on a southern Virginia farm,
from a woman currently married and monogamous as well as not very sexual to one who is now
nonmonogamous with both a woman and a man. "Susan," age 43 and an incest
survivor, regards her bisexual activities as reflecting
her need to please and be praised for being "hot."
Radical feminist political organizer "Lani" ponders
the philosophy of lesbian separatism and the hurt she
endured because of it. HIV-positive "Mary" had been
in an open relationship with a man, and both enjoyed
going to parties and "playing" before learning of his
HIV status (when interviewed, her health was failing,
but an epilogue reveals that later her viral load
diminished). Along with the interviews come
safer-sex guidelines and a bisexual resource list,
which round the book out as a valuable resource for
collections strong in sexuality issues and women's studies.
"The new book, Bi Lives: Bisexual Women Tell Their Stories, is another opportunity to
revel in our multiplicities . . . Bi Lives is a good addition to the growing library of
bi-related non fiction books. It gives an interesting view into bi women's lives and the
intricacies of life in general."
"It's about time bisexual women got some resources for their very own. Highly Recommended."
"A good 'beginner' bisexual books, Bi Lives focuses more on personal experiences than on
politics or theory. Women who don't know other bisexual women or don't have access to a bisexual
community will find the book particularly valuable. I would recommend it to women who are
just coming out as biseuxal, to those who are questioning their sexuality or to anyone who wants
to know more about bisexual women from a personal perspective. This book is an easy read and
quite accessible."
Consensus: A New Handbook for Grassroots Social, Political and Environmental Groups, by Peter Gelderloos.
"This is a very timely and handy book indeed. Includes chapters on the consensus process itself, techniques on how to make consensus easier, how to structure a meeting, awareness of group dynamics and how to teach consensus. Includes samples of dialogues with both workable and unworkable consensus processes. This book clears up a lot of misconceptions about consensus procedures by eliminating the errors that so many of us have fallen into. For the longest time, I thought that consensus was very difficult to achieve except in a small group [whose members] knew each other well. I discovered that previous attempts at consensus were full of mistakes that could be fairly easily corrected by the application of the techniques in this book."
Cuban Anarchism: The History of a Movement, by Frank Fernández.
Translation and Introduction by Chaz Bufe.
"An amazing book, starting with the importation of anarchist ideals during the mid-1800s and ending with an evaluation and criticism of Castro’s dictatorship.
"Cuban Anarchism . . . provides a broad view of the history of Cuban anarchism. It is especially valuable for the post-1925 period
. . . Fernandez rescues from oblivion the many anarchist activists, organizations, and unions seldom
mentioned in the existing literature on the Cuban labour movement. . . Fernandez's book has broken new ground."
"Cuban Anarchism: The History of a Movement, would be a welcome addition to any
anarchist's library. It's important not only as a history of Cuban Anarchism, but as a
cautionary tale . . ."
The Devil's Dictionaries, Second Edition: The Best of The Devil's
Dictionary and The American Heretic's Dictionary,
by Ambrose Bierce and Chaz Bufe.
Note: These reviews refer to the previous edition. We'll post reviews of the new edition when they become available.
"Such bitterness, such negativity, such unbridled humor, wit and sarcasm."
"This book is a compilation of selections from Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary [and] the
expanded edition of Charles Bufe's The American Heretic's Dictionary. The first
part of the book is an intelligent sampling of 'Bitter' Bierce's funniest definitions . . .
As amazing as it may seem, Bufe surpasses Bierce in the cleverness and incisiveness of his
satire. Some people may be offended by this book, but Bufe hits the target so many times, it's
hard to stop laughing."
"Remember Ambrose Bierce's classic The Devil's Dictionary? Chaz Bufe offers a worthy
sequel. . . . The quirky cartoons by J.R. Swanson nicely complement Bufe's cruel wit. Recommended."
"The genius of See Sharp Press was to cull the best of Bierce's Devil's Dictionary and add
Bufe's Heretic's [Dictionary] into one volume—you'll never be at a loss for a
droll definition again. Keep this on your desk for that emergency epigram or nicely worded insult."
The Drummer's Bible: How to Play Every Drum Style from Afro-Cuban to Zydeco, by Mick Berry and Jason Gianni.
"The Drummer's Bible is quite an undertaking, researched and written with care. There will certainly be things to quibble about — some might feel more time should have been spent on the train beat and less on the linear-funk exercise. Others could quarrel about the authors' connection of gospel and polka grooves, or their rather stiff odd-time performances in 9/8, 13/8, 15/8, and 19/16. Still this 'bible' delivers some four hundred notated drum grooves along with a historical perspective on each genre — noble and useful features indeed. It's comprehensive up to jungle/drum 'm bass and blas beats, and includes a recommended listening guide for further study. There's even klezmer, tarantella, odd-time over-the-bar polyrhythms, and something every drummer needs to know: how to play a proper Viennese waltz.
The Heretic's Handbook of Quotations: Cutting
Comments on Burning Issues (expanded edition), Charles Bufe, editor.
"The source for the best quotes—over two thousand in all—on topics ranging
from anarchism to the state, from law to freedom, from marxism to capitalism, from religion to
sex, from the arts to feminism, and a hell of a lot more. A timeless collection, this book
should be on the selves of every self-respecting radical."
"Most books of quotations are staid and slightly dull, worthy storehouses of conventional wisdom
and nicely polished phrases. The Heretic's Handbook of Quotations is different, as you might guess from the title.
Instead of the usual parade of familiar bromides from Shakespeare, Dickens and Winston Churchill, editor
Charles Bufe has brought together more than 2,000 quotations from socialists, anarchists,
feminists, awkward people and subversives of all kinds. The cumulative effect is like being nibbled to
death by a whole tribe of old moles of the revolution. . . . [This book] is enormous fun to dip
into . . . I enjoyed the book enormously . . ."
"The book is a far-reaching collection of timeless, provocative, politically astute quotations from a
wide range of people active in many walks of life. It is fun, informative, and more."
The Jungle: The Uncensored Original Edition,
by Upton Sinclair.
"Sinclair's 1906 masterwork has been read by countless millions — unfortunately, they only got part of the story. The standard edition that has been consumed by adults and assigned to students actually is an abridgment, cut by Sinclair in order to secure a publisher. The complete version was serialized in a Socialist publication, but no mainstream book house would touch it without butchering the manuscript. Sinclair later wanted to reinsert the expurgated material for a full-length book version but that never came to fruition. This See Sharp reprint presents the whole text, including five additional chapters as well as numerous snippets of social commentary and harsh descriptions of the meat industry, none of which has been available in previous incarnations. This title's esteemed place in American letters makes this essential for all libraries, especially at this affordable price."
"This is a revised edition of the classic by Upton Sinclair. There is a very good foreword by Earl Lee, a librarian at Pittsburg State University. The foreword and introduction give a lot of background as to why the original commercial edition of The Jungle was censored by the publishers, and a lot of information on the outcry caused by the novel, concerning the treatment of immigrant workers, and conditions in the meat packing industry in Chicago in the beginning of the 20th century. This new and enlarged edition, with much material that was left out of the original, comes at a good time, coinciding with the publication of Slaughter House Blues and Fast Food Nation, both of which discuss problems in the meat and poultry industries and the treatment of workers. If you have read the two above-mentioned books, this new edition of The Jungle is a must read. Recommended for all public, academic and junior through senior high schools.
Musical Instrument Design: Practical Information for Instrument Making, by Bart Hopkin.
"Despite the subtitle, readers will not come away from this book able to construct a working violin
or trumpet. They will, however, find instructions in making more rudimentary instruments
such as a driftwood marimba or coffe cuica. The book deals with the principles of acoustics and their relationship to instrument
design in depth. Most of the chapters are devoted to the design principles of various
instrument types (e.g., idiophones, aerophones, membranophones). Also discussed are some more unusual
instruments, such as the musical saw, whistle, and intonarumori. A helpful bibliography,
glossary, and source list for materials round out the text. Recommended for most music collections.
Overcoming Your Alcohol, Drug, and Recovery Habits, by James DeSena.
"James DeSena, Ph.D., is an authority on alcohol and drug addiction who has come to the conclusion that there are healthier and
more effective alternatives to the traditional Alcohol Anonymous and 12-Step treatments. Based on his personal experience and
research, he has written an excellent book, Overcoming Your Alcohol, Drug and Recovery Habits. "Bad medicine and faith
healers have harmed vulnerable people for ages," says the author, and he cites the way too many addiction treatment providers
often have their addicted patients returning time and time again without success. He says, though, that addicts can quit for good
and do so without therapists and others. Studies clearly show that nearly 80% of people who quit alcohol and drug addictions did so
on their own. His book takes a hard look at the addiction treatment industry and, at the same time, charts the path for those who
want to quit. I heartily recommend this book."
—Alan Caruba, Bookviews.com, March 2003
Resisting 12-Step Coercion: How to Fight Forced
Participation in AA, NA, or 12-Step Treatment, by Stanton Peele, Charles Bufe,
and Archie Brodsky.
"Although the book is oriented toward "treatment" stemming from court action related to
alcohol use and abuse, it will be of similar value to the even greater numbers of
"treatment" candidates created by the proliferation of drug courts and "treatment
legislation" such as California's Proposition 36. While it is surely a handbook for the
coerced, and a sourcebook for legal representatives of the coerced as well, drug policy
reformers and researchers should not be misled: the self-help manual format of
Resisting 12-Step Coercion is in many ways also an effective vehicle for some powerful
and penetrating analyses of what is wrong with U.S. substance-abuse policy today. The book
should thus also be read as a self-help manual by those in the drug-policy reform movement
in the U.S., showing them how and why the current "treatment not incarceration" strategy
is a big mistake. . . . The book's in-depth examination of the U.S. treatment
industry, its history, methods, and current status, as well as a thorough de-bunking of the
research which supposedly supports the treatment paradigm, should open the eyes of many to
what is surely an impending disaster."
"[T]he present volume is a good starting point for policymakers seeking a better solution
to a problem that consumes millions of dollars from accidents, crime, medical bills, lost
productivity, and countless broken lives."
An Understandable Guide to Music Theory: The Most Useful Aspects of Theory for Rock, Jazz & Blues Musicians, by Chaz Bufe.
"Quiet as it's kept, theory is what goes on while you are playing music. You don't have to understand theory to play music,
but if you do, you will have a better handle on what you are doing.
Now if you've been in music for a while and want to figure out what is going on, Chaz Bufe's
An Understandable Guide to Music Theory is a good place to start . . . It's cleanly laid out and
printed and easy to read. . . .
Probably the first question anyone considering this book asks is: 'Will it make me play better?'
Anytime you get a better understanding of what you're trying to do, play blues or jazz, big band
tunes or any other for that matter, you can't help but play better.
If you can read a treble clef, you can understand this book."
"Geared for rock, pop, and jazz musicians who want to zero in on the theoretical topics most
relevant to their chosen styles rather than tackling formal classical theory head-on, the $9.95
Guide crams a remarkable amount of information into 74 pages. Presuming little reader
knowledge beyond the ability to identify the notes of the staff, Bufe plumbs the melodic and
harmonic underpinnings of Western music, explains common compositional and improvisational
techniques, and even offers an orchestration primer. While he sometimes turns to rough aesthetic
generalizations in pursuit of brevity, Bufe's explanations are rarely dumbed down: you won't have to
unlearn them should you dig deeper at a later date. Not the most comprehensive approach to the
topic, but a very expedient one."
"Chaz Bufe has designed a book that does exactly what the title claims it does. This is an excellent
way for any musician to tie together any loose ends he or she might have regarding music theory.
The language is very easy to understand and the text covers most of the important points about the
subject. Musicians who may have had difficulty in a traditional music theory class will be
relieved to find that theory doesn't have to be so threatening. The theory covered and the
manner in which it is covered are most appropriate for jazz/pop/rock musicians. Much space is
given to chord structure, chord progressions, and chord/scale relationships as they relate to
comping, arranging, and improvisation. The book even covers transpositions and ranges for most instruments.
Terms like pointilism, hocketing, and canon may be a bit difficult to grasp in a traditional music
history like Grout. In this book they become quite accessible, especially when the examples
listed include pieces by composers like Charles Mingus and Paul Butterfield! An
Understandable Guide to Music Theory is an excellent resource for any and all musicians
who are insecure about their theory chops. It's extremely user-friendly without being condescending
to the reader. I highly recommend it."
PAMPHLETS
America's Taliban, by David W. Irish.
"All the spokesmen for the Christian right really need is a bit of rope and they will hang themselves with cackling pride, praising jesus even as the noose tightens—no help from the secular left necessary. At least, that's what David W. Irish was thinking when he compiled and categorized hundreds of damning quotes uttered by some of America's most tyrranical Christian fundamentalists in America's Taliban. Barely annotated with Irish's editorial [comments] the pamphlet exposes zealots like Pat Robertson and Pat Buchanan for the bogus bigots they are, using their own words as the most compelling evidence to condemn them. Irish's idea might seem ordinary or obvious, but his strained method feels fresh and is altogether convincing. As smart and analytical as Irish might be, he is wise to step back from the tempting but gratuitous sermonizing in which other writers indulge and let the fundamentalists simply speak for themselves, as they often do best. After all, some rhetoric, like 'Feminism was established to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society,' (from Rush Limbaugh's 1994 The Way Things Ought to Be) doesn't require any further explanation."
Anarchism vs. Primitivism, by Brian Oliver Sheppard.
"Anarchism Vs. Primitivism, by Brian Oliver Shepard closely looks at the fundamental conflicts between anarchism and primitivism. Exposes a favorite corporate media ploy of using primitivism to discredit anarchism, and discusses the illogical reasoning of the primitivists in regard to anarchist social philosophy. This is a badly needed examination.
Anarchism: What It Is and What It Isn't, by Chaz Bufe.
"Chaz Bufe has come out with two very similar booklets on anarchism: one entitled Anarchism: What It Is and What It Isn't, and the other You Call This Freedom? These booklets are designed for the newcomer to the anarchist movement — someone who is not yet aware of the history and theory of anarchism. Readers who are new to political movements will find the material easy to understand
Anarchist Society & Its Practical Realization, by Graham Purchase.
"This is a short, carefully written introduction to modern anarchist theory. It includes
sections on the failure of Leninism, the nature of government, anarchism and new technology,
anarchist solutions to the ecological crisis, and how anarchism might work on a global level.
Recommended"
The Art & Science of Billboard Improvement (second edition), by Billboard Liberation Front.
"A handy little primer on how to improve advertisements to reflect the message you want
to put out, including reconnaissance, lettering and layout, security, materials . . . and escape!"
Astrology: Fraud or Superstition?, by Chaz Bufe.
"The recent pamphlet by Chaz Bufe entitled Astrology: Fraud or Superstition? is a succinct and
to-the-point examination of the origins of astrology, the extent and reasons for its
current popularity, and its weaknesses and failings."
Bourgeois Influences on Anarchism, by Luigi Fabbri.
"Chantal Lopez and Omar Cortes [who wrote the introduction] rightly describe the pamphlet
as 'indispensable in avoiding present-day distortions of anarchist thought.'"
Christianity and Slavery, by Joseph McCabe.
"No serious scholar of Catholicism can afford to miss the [See Sharp Press] McCabe reprints.
Less serious readers may be entertained by his erudite asides and vituperative language."
"[One] of the great underground historical works of the period. . . . In this pamphlet,
McCabe pokes holes in commonly held misconceptions about the Church's involvement in
the slave trade, and the lies taught to cover it up historically."
The Crimes of Jehovah,
Mark Mirabello, author/compiler.
"This one-shot chapbook is all you need to fend off scripture-spouting fundies who are
bothering you. Quoting from the Religious Right's favorite text, the King James Version of
the Bible, Dr. Mirabello exposes Jehovah as a cruel, barbaric, violent, bigoted deity
obsessed with sex—especially when it comes to enormous cocks. Jehoavh is also big on
killing and mutilating women and children. . . . Jehovah orders his prophets to eat shit
sandwiches, rape women and practice cannibalism."
God's Hit List, Chaz Bufe, editor.
"Noted anarchist writer Chaz Bufe's latest pamphlet is a good Christmas present for your favorite Bible pounder. Quotes all the most hateful, vengeful parts of the 'Good Book's' Old Testament, revealing it as a virtual how-to primer in genocide, misogyny, child abuse, sexual repression and all around weirdness."
The Heretic's Guide to the Bible, Chaz Bufe, editor.
"Chaz Bufe illuminates the Bible's dark side. This gem of a pamphlet's an Absolute
Must Have for every seeker/demystifier of the 'Truth'!"
Horrors of the Inquisition, by Joseph McCabe.
"No serious scholar of Catholicism can afford to miss the [See Sharp Press] McCabe reprints.
Less serious readers may be entertained by his erudite asides and vituperative language."
"[One] of the great underground historical works of the period. . . . McCabe details—with
thorough reference to historical works of the period—the crimes of the Catholic Church . . ."
The Inefficiency of Capitalism, by Brian Oliver Sheppard.
"This is an easy-to-read introduction to anarchist ideas of economics that examines the role of capitalism as a productive process . . ."
"If you ask me, this is a topic that could fill volumes, but Sheppard does it justice in only 36 pages by offering a list of 10 (of the many) inefficiencies of capitalism as an economic system. Product duplication, price gouging, cost-shifting, planned obsolescence, and more— this accessible pamphlet is ideal for those who view the term 'capitalism' as an almost obsolete remnant of marxist debate. Since most economic critizues, even from radicals, focus on reforms or morality, Sheepard's approach is all the more important. He challenges whether capitalism can deliver the goods. 'The real world of capitalism,' Sheppard writes, 'is one in which cpaitalists demand state intervention on their behalf while opposing government intervention on behalf of their employees or the poor."
Judeo-Christian Degradation of Woman, by Joseph McCabe.
"No serious scholar of Catholicism can afford to miss the [See Sharp Press] McCabe reprints.
Less serious readers may be entertained by his erudite asides and vituperative language."
Libertarian Communism, by Isaac Puente.
"What distinguishes [Libertarian Communism] is the refreshing sense of optimism
and idealism."
Listen Anarchist!, by Chaz Bufe.
"[Listen Anarchist!] is sure to become one of the most bitterly hated, fought over,
and denounced tracts about Anarchism that has appeared in the last twenty years. The reason is
that Bufe comes right out and says what he has to say, rather than couching it in a lot of
dreary, boring, diffuse verbiage . . . Nobody can mistake his meaning; nobody can pontificate
on what he "really meant" to say, and for this reason you should read this pamphlet."
Pagan Christs, by Joseph McCabe.
"No serious scholar of Catholicism can afford to miss the [See Sharp Press] McCabe reprints.
Less serious readers may be entertained by his erudite asides and vituperative language."
You Call This Freedom, by Chaz Bufe.
"Chaz Bufe has come out with two very similar booklets on anarchism: one entitled Anarchism: What It Is and What It Isn't, and the other You Call This Freedom? These booklets are designed for the newcomer to the anarchist movement — someone who is not yet aware of the history and theory of anarchism. Readers who are new to political movements will find the material easy to understand
You Can't Blow Up a Social Relationship: The Anarchist Case
Against Terrorism, by anonymous Australian anarchists.
"There are probably few people who would not benefit from reading this pamphlet, small
but perfectly formed as it is and containing so many well thought out observations."
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