What is third wave feminism? Many people have asked this question while others speculate whether a third wave even exists in the first place. The various contributors of "Third Wave Agenda" attempt to answer these questions and more. Third wave feminism aims to incorporate the lessons learned from the second wave while simultaneously adapting to current social contexts. This phenomenon is highlighted by the following quote, "I consider feminism a quest that we continually redefine, rather than a doctrine that seeks to confine me" (p. 136)

Third wave feminism includes a departure from essentialism that plagued the second wave. Second wavers spoke of the experience of the woman (read: middle- to upper-class white heterosexual) that excluded many women. Instead, third wave feminism takes a multitude of forms which includes, rather than excludes, the very audience they are advocating for.

"Living in McJobdom" by Michelle Sidler was the essay that resonated the most for me. In this essay Sidler argues that the focus of third wave shouldn't be patriarchy but rather capitalism. Although the second wave succeeded in getting more women into the workplace, there is clearly more work to be done. Women continue to earn less and occupy less prestigious jobs than their male counterparts, not to mention the current stagnant economy and dismal job market.

Overall this book was insightful, although the editor's writing was unnecessarily dense and thick at times (but they are academics so I'm not surprised). Another good book on third feminism worth checking out is "Manifesta".

This book is an excellent combination of current 3rd wave feminist thoughts and how our modern culture has shaped them. No one's saying "I'm not a feminist but..." in this book; these are writers who are proud of their decision to support the evolution of the women's movement and to analyze how it has spread throughout our culture. Heywood and Drake bring together insightful essays, both humourous and thought provoking, with cricitism of pop culture icons. A great read for any one interested in where "feminist" has gone...and is going...since the 80's!

I'm certainly going against the grain with this review, but I felt the need to speak out. I very much looked forward to this book because Mr. Matchett does such an excellent job commentating on Formula One races for Speed Channel. His technical knowledge and articulate manner add a great deal to the broadcasts.

Perhaps I should be fair, in that I was expecting something more along the lines of what other reviewers have said about the book. Yes, there are some fascinating bits about the drivers he's worked with, and there are some humorous pieces as well (especially the part about Piquet's antics when Matchett had to stick his head down in the foot box with Piquet still buckled in). My complaint about the book is that it tends to go into great detail regarding the periphery of Matchett's journey into Formula One, and not enough into the technical acrobatics the mechanics have to perform, both in the garage and on the track. If you want to hear about the quaint little towns, the drives up the country on vacation, and the pub down the corner from Steve Matchett's point of view, then get this book. I feel it concentrates too heavily in these areas, and I was frustrated for it. Why, I recall perhaps the most compelling chapter wherein Matchett and crew are furiously chasing a hydraulics gremlin that is wreaking havoc with the car's variable suspension. He describes in excellent detail the agonizing frustration of checking each component, over and again with no success. Because of the enormous pressure the mechanics are under, this section starts to read like a suspense novel. In the end, though, after building us up to share the unbearable frustration he feels at the time, he doesn't let us know how the problem is fixed, or how the situation turns out. He just ends with saying something along the lines of "see how frustrating it gets?"

Frustrating, indeed.

As another reviewer has noted, this book is more about the peripherary of F1 than what really goes on in the pits. I was looking for a bit more technical insight into what goes into a winning F1 effort -- how, really, does a team go from also-ran, to winner, and back to also-ran in a few years -- but instead there was much more about the travel schedule, working conditions, and atmospherics. Matchett is a good commentator, seems like a likeable fellow and has written a plesant enough book, but the insight into F1 technology and team dynamics is only so-so.

Steve Matchett's "The Mechanic's Tale" is a great read. It cover's everything from his apprenticeship to his winning the WCC with Benneton. Matchett tells his story with an insider's view and with a lot of humour (I still smile thinking of his first experience using titanium). He also gives the right amount of technical information, so any average F1 fan should learn a thing or two about the cars, but it shouldn't bewilder any new F1 fans. This is a must-read for all F1 and motorsport fans.

It is a wonderful idea to make available recordings of great speeches. I hope we have more of this in the future.
In the case of older speeches, the selection is very good, considering the restraints of time, and the readers are uniformly excellent.
As for the modern speeches, it is a marvel of technology that we can hear these speeches as delivered. It is incredible that we can hear the voice of William Jennings Bryan. I can listen to Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" a thousand times and never tire of it! How I wish I could listen to the voice of Patrick Henry! But this selection is too heavily weighted to the modern, and many of those do not deserve billing as the GREATEST speeches of ALL TIME. Also, some of the modern speeches which are included are abridged, e.g. Reagan is cut off in the middle of a sentence, while lengthy and undeserving speeches are played out in their entirety.
Also, with only a few exceptions, the selection is almost entirely American. It is hard to understand why Jimmy Carter's lengthy speech on energy policy is included, while Pericles' funeral oration is not; or why only a small portion of a single Winston Churchill speech is included; why while Bill Clinton's complete 1993 pulpit address, in excess of 20 minutes, is included.
It would be helpful if the complete list of speeches were available to online buyers, as it would be to shoppers in a brick and mortar store.

I have listened to this collection twice now, both times with pleasure. Hearing the acutal voices of Amelia Earhart, Rev. Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill and Neil Armstrong made a deeper connection than simply reading their words. The collection showcases different subjects and many times contrasts opposing viewpoints of the ideas. This volume is a fantastic introduction to the moving ideals and sometimes sad truths that have influenced Western Civilization.