Since Amazon didn't provide an editorial review, here's the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this story is for you: "In the bestselling tradition of James Michener and James Clavell -- a magnificent saga of slavery, piracy, and revolution ... Barbados, 1648. The lush and deadly Caribbean paradise, domain of rebels and freeholders, of brigands, bawds and buccaneers. Where the flames of revolution exploded a full 130 years before engulfing the American mainland. And where a dark, enslaved race secretly practiced the mysterious religious rites of a distant continent while daring to whisper the forbidden word ... "Freedom" The sweeping tale of Hugh Winston, lusty, swashbuckling captain of The Defiance, and the lovely, tempestuous firebrand Katherine Bedford; two lovers trapped in a bloody pitched battle against the overwhelming forces of British tyranny. A story of love and betrayal, of slavery, war, and piracy in the exotic land that gave birth to the fiery American ideal of "Liberty or Death"

A must for anyone who follows the brilliant Dr. Sowell, this book collects a series of his essays and thoughts on politics, race, and common sense. As a special treat he has a section of quotes at the end with gems like "To me, the fact that I have never killed an editor is proof enough that the death penalty deters" and "There are only two types of food- Southern fried chicken and everything else". A reader would be hard pressed to ask for more.

The Moghul is an overlooked book that offers enough action, sex, violence and shady characters to keep you turning the pages until you sprain your thumb. During the reign of King James I, English Sea Dog, Brian Hawksworth, is sent on a mission by The British East India Company to try to break the Portuguese monopoly on trading with the sub-continent. Needless to say, the Portuguese do not consider this a great idea, and they do everything in their power to sink him at sea and assassinate him on land. As if India wasn't dangerous enough on its own with a drunken Moghul who allows his Persian wife and her brother, the Machiavellian Prime Minister, Nadir Sharif, to run the affairs of the nation.

Hawksworth has a weakness for Indian luxuries, wine, and beautiful women. Don't we all? But, in this nation of myriad plots and sub-plots, he learns that nobody is what they appear to be on the surface. Not even Brian Hawksworth. He sees both sides of the issues as he first becomes a Khan at The Moghul's court and then gets caught up in the rebellion of the charismatic Prince Jadar. The book provides interesting background on Hindu, Sunni, Shiite, and Suffi religious traditions and lifestyles, not to mention a look at how Christian traditions appear to pre-colonial Indians. (One wife? Barbarous.) King James, whom many of us revere for the translation of The Bible he commissioned, does not fare well at the hands of Hoover. However, from what I have read of Stuart history, Hoover is dead on.

In the long run, the book hangs on its characters. We root for the underdog Hawksworth, wonder what trick Nadir Sharif will pull next, admire the brains and beauty of the Queen and the exiled harem woman, Shirin, Hawksworth's only love interest (though hardly his only bedtime companion).

A rousing adventure tale that will satisfy those who loved Shogun.

I am italian and I have an italian edition of this book. It is really interesting because it contains a lot of historical information about how Zen came out from the meeting of different cultures. It is not boring and very informative, it also explain how zen can be applied to many life things from military to art.

On most days Thomas Sowell's articles are the only thing worth reading in my local newspaper. In a time where most news is unenlightening fluff, Sowell preaches common sense and personal responsibility. This collection of writings is Sowell at his best, covering topics ranging from the death penalty to Clarence Thomas.

Anyone who is even slightly aware of Sowell's work knows his particular disdain for the education establishment. The articles on this topic are the best ones in the book, in my humble opinion. Sowell reveals the American educational establishment as the sick fraud....Sowell is unique in his criticism because he has kept plugging away on this topic for years while others drift in and out of the debate.

Sowell also throws lightening bolts at the leftist demagogues that he refers to as "the Anointed". These are the people in the media, educational establishment and the government that are constantly undermining the rights of everyone else in the country through such trendy ideas as safety, political correctness and a host of other ills...I did give this book four stars. This in no way reflects on the quality of the essays, which are excellent, but is due to the number of errors in the text...

..., says Sowell in this book and, really, he is not.

Sowell exercises with mastery and skillfully his favourite "hobby": bashing without mercy the anointed ones (leftists, in the peculiar sowellian vocabulary), giving no truces to their dogmas (lies) on the political, economical, social, racial and educational scenes, dismounting all them one by one.

"Barbarians inside the Gates" is an excellent work, from a leading figure of the movement against political correctness' intelectual dictatorship, constituting ammunition of the highest quality to be employed in the counter-cultural war on leftism.

Thomas Sowell is one of the finest critical thinkers of our time. More than that, he is uniquely able to state his views in a manner that is both comprehensive and concise. Few authors are able to pack as much valuable analysis into each line as Thomas Sowell.

This latest collection of his provocative essays will challenge the presumptions and beliefs of many people, especially in America. Sowell has a special talent for slicing through fallacies, poor research, and "mushy" thinking, and getting to the truth in practically any controversy. He's logical, but at the same time he writes from a 'common sense' perspective that can be readily understood by everyone. Everyone except, perhaps, the "anointed ones."

Covering culture, economics, politics, law, race, and education, the essays in this book will challenge your understanding of the world, as well as your thoughts on how society should deal with the many issues it faces.

Conservative author Thomas Sowell writes in this small volume a little about what it's like to be a writer. He talks about his many battles with editors and his long struggle before he made it in the writing field. However, he barely mentions the art of writing. Really, his only advice is to use simple language, and to keep to a minimum number of words. Those are just basics to writing.

His philosophy towards writing is you need to be a bad writer for a while before you become a decent one, which is true, but there are ways to make one's writing better.

However, Mr. Sowell's personal history, his humor, and his criteria for citing sources makes this worth the price of admission. But keep other expectations low, and remember that this book is only about 20 pages.

I thank God I can get my money back on this book. If I want a book written like a women I will buy one by a women author

Ralph W Holbrook

This book is so poorly written I couldn't finish it.Tedious,cliche-ridden,predictable.

I can't decide whether this novel is inventive or just ridiculous. Documentary-maker Morgan James is 38 years old, enjoys tenuous employment, has relatively no family, has recently broken up with the first man she has truly loved in decades, and is desperate to have a baby. Oh, yeah, and she just happens to be infertile despite no medical cause. That's perhaps the most believable part of this novel.

Morgan is written as too much of a martyr, but does enjoy some moments of clever determination and a smart (and funny) mouth. Everyone else, however, is simply too one-note, which lends an unfortunate air of predictability. Hoover manages to keep you guessing what the real secret of the novel is, but the reader will be only one step behind him. The action sequences are able, if standard. What I found galling was the callous treatment that infertility received. Yes, Morgan can't conceive, and she regards adoption as a viable option, which is good. However, it's obvious that the author didn't research his subject too closely. All the thoughts and feelings evoked are those any Discovery Channel documentary relays. The actual mechanics of reproductive endocrinology are only meekly addressed, and when they are, it is so horrific and base, it borders on disgusting. Even the ending leaves you questioning what's really going on.

This is not a novel I'd recommend. Too many genres, poorly-written characters and an absolutely inane plot unite in this below-average thriller.