CiVIL WAR 2: my review as a reader

Civil War Two, Part 1: America Elects a President Determined to Restore Religion to Public Life, and the Nation Splits by Randall Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I almost never enjoy war books: not enough character development, too much like an action movie, too depressing, too formulaic/predictable, and/or lacking in psychological depth or insight. But I enjoyed the Hell out of Civil War Two.

It's not a "political book", in the sense that it doesn't take sides. You could enjoy and learn from this book no matter how you lean ideologically. It doesn't exaggerate the sympathetic or unsympathetic qualities of the characters on any side, and it's not anyone's fantasy of what "should" happen-- who should get blown up, who should win. It doesn't have an agenda of making you angry at anyone, or to preach to the converted. Instead, it simply asks: "What might happen if we have another civil war?" Professor Collins uses the best insights from history and the social sciences to depict a probable scenario.

The whole thing reads like a movie-- you can picture it shot by shot. HBO and Netflix should take notice.

View all my reviews

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two, Part 1

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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CIVIL WAR 2 Free ebook for limited time; Paperback Giveaway

The new novel CIVIL WAR 2 has just been released as a Kindle ebook and in paperback on Amazon.

What if America had a new Civil War, now? How might it play out?

I designed the covers (it's in 2 volumes) and drew all the maps. My dad, who happens to be an expert in the social science of violence, wrote it. But even though I can't help but be prejudiced, I wholeheartedly endorse the book on its merits as an entertaining work of speculative fiction, in the vein of 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale. It's also not biased in along a "liberal" or "conservative" slant. Instead, it's trying to ask scientifically, What might actually happen? --not what anyone thinks should happen.

CIVIL WAR 2 is available for FREE on Kindle Unlimited for a limited time (also at British Amazon, French Amazon, and German Amazon)...

...and we're giving away 100 sets of both volumes in paperback on Goodreads-- yes, despite what the widget says, winners will receive BOTH volumes!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Un-Depress (Yourself) #19

This is installment #19 of an ongoing list I've been keeping for several years, and now I feel the need to share. I am only including things like movies, books, TV shows, and songs on here-- if I included actual events and phenomena from reality, this list would never end and I'd never stop thinking about depressing shit. Unavoidably, some of the items on this list touch on depressing stuff from reality, and that's part of what makes them so depressing. I am also not devaluing the quality of any of these artifacts; many of them are quite good, even great: touching, well-made, intelligent, and so on; but nonetheless, they bum me out. I'm sure it's at least partly because of the high quality that they depress me so.
   And these choices are all subjective, of course. If any of these things happen to not depress you, maybe you're just having a less depressing life than I (wink, wink). Lucky you! Also, some of the items on this list were suggested by friends (Thanks, Larry & Bobby!).
   I've alphabetized the items in each sub-list. If I tried to rank them some other way, that would depress me further.
   Maybe this list will help you avoid some things that could depress you, too. Or maybe not. Enjoy.


More Movies to avoid

The Comedy - A creepily realistic portrait (starring Tim and Eric of Tim & Eric) of a spoiled hipster who may also be a sociopath. Very well done, but bleak as shit. You may know this person. He definitely exists.

The Time Machine (1960 version) -- In the future, the people you know will be dead. And other terrible things.

Zardoz -- I remember it as having one (another!) of those the-passage-of-time, you-will-die kind of things in it. And some other bleakness.

TV shows

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, "a beautiful and very depressing depiction of the massacre of hundreds of Lakota people by the U.S. government in 1890" (from "Native Actors Deserve to Be Seen" by Julia Jones, in Lenny Letter)

Flaked - I don't know why contemporary AA-heads in Venice (L.A.) should be a bummer, it just is. Also, they make it look like Will Arnett is the most attractive man around for miles.


More depressing stuff: Read Part 2 here.
And here's Part 3.
And Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12 
Part 13
Part 14 
Part 15 
Part 16 
Part 17
Part 18


As always, I welcome your suggestions for More Depressing Shit. Please comment, and I'll include any good suggestions in a future update.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two, Part 1

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Un-Depress Yourself 18: Avoid sad thingies, more

 This is installment #18 of an ongoing list I've been keeping for several years, and now I feel the need to share. I am only including things like movies, books, TV shows, and songs on here-- if I included actual events and phenomena from reality, this list would never end and I'd never stop thinking about depressing shit. Unavoidably, some of the items on this list touch on depressing stuff from reality, and that's part of what makes them so depressing. I am also not devaluing the quality of any of these artifacts; many of them are quite good, even great: touching, well-made, intelligent, and so on; but nonetheless, they bum me out. I'm sure it's at least partly because of the high quality that they depress me so.
   And these choices are all subjective, of course. If any of these things happen to not depress you, maybe you're just having a less depressing life than I (wink, wink). Lucky you! Also, some of the items on this list were suggested by friends (Thanks, Larry & Bobby!).
   I've alphabetized the items in each sub-list. If I tried to rank them some other way, that would depress me further.
   Maybe this list will help you avoid some things that could depress you, too. Or maybe not. Enjoy.

More Movies to avoid

Heaven Knows What https://www.netflix.com/title/80016426

The True Cost http://www.netflix.com/title/80045667

S'all for now.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two, Part 1

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

More depressing stuff: Read Part 2 here.
And here's Part 3.
And Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12 
Part 13
Part 14 
Part 15 
Part 16 
Part 17


As always, I welcome your suggestions for More Depressing Shit. Please comment, and I'll include any good suggestions in a future update.

Get Undepressed! the 17th (Things that say "Avoid me")

I recommend you see part 1 of my Depressing Shit series and read my original disclaimer here; now here's installment 16.

I'm only telling you about these things for your own good. Unless you have the problem of too much happiness and too little awareness of bad things, AVOID!


Books:
Streetwalkers by Scot Sothern
From http://www.booksoup.com/event/scot-sothern-discusses-and-signs-streetwalkers :
"Streetwalkers is a bleak, real examination of street prostitution in contemporary America by an artist and writer whose own illicit compulsions and literary muscle inform every page. This is the complete collection of Sothern's work from the "Lowlife" years as well as from recent shoots. In addition, included are his features from "Nocturnal Submissions," his online column for "VICE "magazine. With new work and previously unpublished stories, this 30-year project is now final and should continue to cause strong reactions from all who see it. (powerHouse Books)"

Thing:
Pictures of abused animals or euthanized pets
Jesus H. Et Cetera, I stumbled on some of these while innocently clicking on CUTE animal pics on Pinterest. Now I need to look at even more cute animals to undo the damage to my psyche. Yes, I know to always adopt and never buy pets from stores, breeders, and so on. I know not everybody has gotten the message yet, so I know some people post this stuff for good reason, but JAYZUZ! now I need a Xanax.
Got a Xanax for me, anyone?


And now, a picture of Turkey, who is alive and well.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two, Part 1

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Depress 16 (Go Avoid Things!)

I recommend you see part 1 of my Depressing Shit series and read my original disclaimer here; now here's installment 16.

I'm only telling you about these things for your own good. Unless you have the problem of too much happiness and too little awareness of bad things, AVOID!
 

Movies

The Sea Inside (Did I already list it before? You know how I like my bears: repeating. See http://www.refinery29.com/2016/01/101856/whats-leaving-netflix-february-2016#slide-52

Music

"The Living Bubba" by Drive-By Truckers
"Went Looking For Warren Zevon's Los Angeles" by Lucero

TV

Run (British series. Netflix reviewer said it was depressing, so that's all I need.)



...and I'm already building up more anti-recommendations for next time. (Why must there be a next time?!)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two, Part 1

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

More depressing stuff: Read Part 2 here.
And here's Part 3.
And Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12 
Part 13
Part 14 
Part 15 


As always, I welcome your suggestions for More Depressing Shit. Please comment, and I'll include any good suggestions in a future update.

Depress 15

I recommend you see part 1 of my Depressing Shit series and read my original disclaimer here; now here's installment 15.

I'm only telling you about these things for your own good. Unless you have the problem of too much happiness and too little awareness of bad things, AVOID!
 

Movies

We Need To Talk About Kevin- My man called it depressing, I didn't. We both thought it was an excellent piece of filmmaking. Its main effect on me was to make me ever so glad I don't have a pathological kid.

Welcome To Sarajevo- Hmm, no thanks. Or tanks.

Music

From Wikipedia:

"[David] Bowie also recorded the song "Bring Me the Disco King," which Bowie described as "a depressing song summing up the sad late Seventies with a Philip Glass refrain running through it."^[1] This track would not end up on the album, however, and would remained buried in Bowie's vault until its release on Bowie's 2003 album, Reality."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tie_White_Noise

Comedy 

(aka standup, comics)

Paul Mooney - ahh, white guilt. Maybe just I should avoid this. You? Go for it.

...and I know some other comics personally who happen to depress me, but I don't want to recommend you avoid them, 'cause they could use the publicity. Hey, I have conflicting interests!

So just beware all comics.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two, Part 1

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

More depressing stuff: Read Part 2 here.
And here's Part 3.
And Part 4! Are you depressed yet?!
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12 
Part 13
Part 14 


As always, I welcome your suggestions for More Depressing Shit. Please comment, and I'll include any good suggestions in a future update.

Depress 14 (Depressing Shit to Avoid series)

I recommend you see part 1 of my Depressing Shit series and read my original disclaimer here; now here's installment 14.

I'm only telling you about these things for your own good. Unless you have the problem of too much happiness and too little awareness of bad things, AVOID! AVOID!
 

Movies

The Good Lie
(Sudanese war orphans)
 
J. Edgar
(no likable characters; makes me think about how much I would have hated to be him; unpleasant overall)
 
Miss Evers' Boys
(Tuskegee syphilis experiment, racism. Could be under TV category, too, 'cause it was made for TV)

My Zinc Bed
(alcoholism, AA. Also a book!)

Sometimes In April
(Rwandan genocide)

Things We Lost In The Fire
(a "touching look at loss, addiction and recovery." Blech.)

This Is Where I Leave You
(Is this depressing? I have a feeling it might be. HBO calls it a comedy. I suspect otherwise.)

Yesterday
(AIDS in Africa. Did I already mention this 1? Still a bummer.)

Music

Neil Young, ‘On the Beach’
Read Dangerous Minds' post on "Neil Young’s ultra-depressing 1974 album ‘On the Beach’" here:
http://dangerousminds.net/comments/dance_troupe_interprets_neil_youngs_ultra_depressing_1974_album_on_the_beac?utm_source=Dangerous+Minds+newsletter&utm_campaign=f693fb8aa8-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecada8d328-f693fb8aa8-65858297

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two, Part 1

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

More depressing stuff: Read Part 2 here.
And here's Part 3.
And Part 4! Are you depressed yet?!
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12 
Part 13


As always, I welcome your suggestions for More Depressing Shit. Please comment, and I'll include any good suggestions in a future update.

Depressing Shit To Avoid, Part 13

I recommend you see part 1 of my Depressing Shit series and read my original disclaimer here; now here's installment 13.

I'm only telling you about these things for your own good. Unless you have the problem of too much happiness and too little awareness of bad things, AVOID! AVOID!
 

Movies:

About Schmidt
(my man G says it's depressing; I haven't seen)

Ararat
(haven't seen, don't wanna)

Maybe:
Beasts of No Nation
(think I might actually break my own rules and watch this one, 'cause, you know, Idris Elba. Has he ever been in anything bad?)

Blackfish (have I said that one already?)

Bunny Game (Thanks to Bobby Wilks for tipping me off to this.)

Maybe?:
Harry and Tonto (mixed  reports from Netflix reviewers)

The Road
from http://www.slashfilm.com/films-leaving-netflix-november-2015:
"John Hillcoat‘s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy‘s pitch-dark novel is one of the most miserable movies ever made, but it’s wholly intentional. By stripping the inherent romance, adventure and excitement out of the post-apocalypse, this film showcases a world dying with a whimper. The whole thing is essentially plotless, following Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee as an unnamed father and son duo on a episodic quest through a dead world, which means it can drag. Some sequences are better than others. But when The Road connects, it really connects. This is the best movie to watch if you’re ever having too good of a day."
[sounds like the book's no fun, neither]

Another Maybe, for some people:
Snowtown Murders (Definitely disturbing and would probably depress a lot of people, though, surprisingly, it didn't really depress me. I guess I'm too fascinated by the dead-on filmmaking and the eery crime-y-ness of it all.)

Una Noche (didn't watch, as I was warned that it was depressing by reviews on Netflix)

Books:

The Tears of Olive Trees (autobiographical, about Palestine. Yeesh.) 


More depressing stuff: Read Part 2 here.
And here's Part 3.
And Part 4! Are you depressed yet?!
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12 


As always, I welcome your suggestions for More Depressing Shit. Please comment, and I'll include any good suggestions in a future update.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two, Part 1

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

In REED Mag: NAPOLEON NEVER SLEPT: How Great Leaders Leverage Social Energy

From the current issue of REED Magazine:

Napoleon Never Slept: How Great Leaders Leverage Social Energy, by Maren McConnell-Collins ’98, coauthor (Maren Ink, 2015). Maren and her father, Randall Collins, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, investigate the common thread in highly successful individuals throughout history. They share their discovery that charismatic leaders motivate and are motivated by emotional energy. “Charismatic leaders set in motion positive feedback loops: people in the group build up a shared emotion; the stronger the emotion, the more they feel themselves in tune with each other, and the more tightly they focus together. And the more tightly they focus, the more their shared emotion pumps each other up.” More at www.maren.ink.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Civil War Two, Part 1

by Randall Collins

Giveaway ends May 24, 2018.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway