Revolution 1989 is the first in-depth; authoritative account of a few months that changed the world.At the start of 1989; six European nations were Soviet vassal states. By year's end; they had all declared national independence and embarked on the road to democracy. How did it happen so quickly? Victor Sebestyen; who was on the scene as a reporter; draws on his firsthand knowledge of the events; on scores of interviews with witnesses and participants; and on newly uncovered archival material. He tells the story through the eyes of ordinary men and women as well as through the strategic moves of world leaders. He shows how the KGB helped bring down former allies; how the United States tried to slow the process; and why the collapse of the Iron Curtain was the catalyst for the fall of the entire Soviet empire.
#283413 in Books Wilbert Rideau 2011-05-03 2011-05-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.80 x .90 x 5.20l; .86 #File Name: 0307277305416 pagesIn the Place of Justice A Story of Punishment and Redemption
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Redemption in Spite of Jim CrowBy O. H. Eaton; Jr.This book contains the story of the experience of one black man; convicted of murder he admittedly committed; who lived through the Jim Crow system of discrimination and mistreatment in prison in Louisiana beginning in the early 60's. Unfortunately; there are many stories like his from other Southern States. Our hero achieves redemption over 40+ years of confinement. I suspect he is one of the few that came out of that prison environment better than when he went in. I was particularly interested in his vivid description of the inmates in a Louisiana county jail. If the author were not a black man; his description would be less acceptable. However; I spent 24 years as a trial judge in Florida and his description matches my experience exactly. Conditions in Southern prisons have improved over the years; as the author explains in detail. However; there is still a long way to go. The ration of black inmates to white is still way out of proportion to the population and the failed drug policy in the United States has created a law enforcement industry that is going to be very difficult to dismantle if we are to address the drug problem for what it is instead of treating it as a war to warehouse addicts as prisoners.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. "Rideau is the rarest of American commodities - a man who exited a penitentiary in better shape than when he arrivedBy Casey MarieCapote-esque in its narrative; "In the Place of Justice" chronicles Wilbert Rideau's 44 year incarceration in the Louisiana penal system. Convicted at age 19 of capital murder in the Jim Crow South; Rideau's is a tale of overcoming both institutional racism and personal demons. He never shies away from the truth; including his role in his victim's death; which is a testament to his true journalistic integrity. As the NY Times Book Review stated; "Rideau is the rarest of American commodities - a man who exited a penitentiary in better shape than when he arrived."I recommend this book to anyone interested in the pitfalls of the criminal justice system; as Rideau lays out the problems facing the incarcerated - ranging from violence; substandard resources; and rape - without sensationalizing the facts or falling victim to outrageous hyperbole. This book is also interesting; as it follows the evolution of capital punishment from the Jim Crow era; to the Supreme Court's 1972 Furman ruling; to present day. "In the Place of Justice" is a must read for anyone taking civil litigation because it puts a very human face to statutes governing capital punishment and the appeals process.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A true story of an incredable heroe's journey that will keep you up reading all night.By Bonnie Jane Hall; Author of EarthShipsIn The Place of Justice by Wilbert Rideau; a Pulitzer Prize Winning Author; he does a masterful job of showing you the life he lived in an alien "storehouse of hell" because he was black; uneducated and a juvenile living in the South. A riveting story of a young man's strength of character and incredible endurance. Wilbert's hope for freedom blossomed after spending years on death row reading books where he gained insight into people and the nature of power and politics.I ordered the book for research and found a gold mine. A wealth of information about how the politics behind the American correctional system bleeds of corruption. The system is driven by money and power that results in a subculture of "human wreckage - tortured souls and destroyed lives."
