Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating...
Review: The main reason I decided to pick up this book is because I had heard so much about it. Essentially what I had heard was the William Pierce and his biographer, Robert Griffin had an immense problem finding anyone to publish it. And, once published, had an even harder time finding anyone to distribute it. This intrigued me because it would seem to confirm much of what Dr. Pierce has said in the past - namely that through subterfuge and censorship, a few special interest groups were trying to silence him. I work in the publishing industry and I decided to read the book and find out for myself. The book itself is a fascinating read. Dr. Pierce is a highly intelligent, highly articulate and extremely motivated individual. Even if you don't agree with the views of Dr. Pierce and his organization, the National Alliance, you will probably find him fascinating as an individual. Griffin approaches his subject matter objectively and fairly, and the reader is treated to a rare insiders look into the workings of a modern day National Socialist. What disturbed me most after reading this book, was that so many people and organizations would go to such tremendous lengths to keep this book out of the public eye. You have to ask yourself, "why"? Read the book and decide for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Story of modern White Nationalism and its greatest leader
Review: This book is an extremely fair and balanced approach to a highly controversial subject: The life and ideas of Dr. William Pierce, author of The Turner Diaries, and the ideology of the organization he leads, the National Alliance ... >Ever since the Oklahoma City bombing, all sorts of leftist hack writers have attempted to make a few bucks off sensationalistic exposes of the far-right, leading to the publication of a great many books of minimal merit, either literary or historical. This book is in a different class. The author is a serious academic who specializes in the study of the outer-fringe of American society. Thus, while he does not agree with Dr. Pierce and the Alliance perspective, he is also is not setting out to discredit and distort Dr. Pierce's ideas, but rather to make them known to those peope who, for whatever reason, find them to be a subject of interest.
Consequently, this book is simply outstanding as a primer on White Nationalist ideas, both for the would-be Aryan crusader and the simply curious. The author does an extremely good job spelling out the origins of Dr. Pierce's ideological take on our society and its place within the greater scheme of things. All sorts of influences on Dr. Pierce's intellectual and spiritual development are thoroughly detailed, from George Bernard Shaw, Oswald Spengler and Friedrich Nietzsche to Dr. Revilo P. Oliver and Adolf Hitler. Additionally, many people who's lives have intersected with Dr. Pierce, such as George Lincoln Rockwell and Robert Matthews, figure prominently in the book.
This is a very serious and meaningful work that all people with an interest in public affairs should read. While the ideas of the National Alliance are not yet very popular, there is no doubt that they are spreading at a very rapid rate in White society (outside of cosmopolitan Yuppie circles, in any event) and other than perhaps the excessively Utopian doctrines of libertarianism, represent the only rational and cohesive attempt to face squarely the reality of our difficulties and to seek solutions for them (Marxism, social democracy and liberal democratic capitalism having clearly out-lived their usefulness, assuming they ever had any, as we begin the 21st century).
If you want to have an advance look at what is sure to be one of the major Western political currents in years and decades to come, not to mention short-circuit the ludicrous propaganda of the media elite, who will tell you that Dr. Pierce is little more than a slavering "hater," rather than the highly sophisticated and philosophical thinker that he will surely impress you as being, then you must read The Fame of a Dead Man's Deeds.
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Summary: Eye-opener about a courageous man and eccentric genius.
Review: This is a rare book that no bookshelf should be without. Each page removes the cobwebs from your vision, removes the conditioned prejudice and hate from your judgements of what you will see in the end to be the life of a truly great man. A man whose greatness is in the tradition of the men who signed the declaration of independence. he is the real deal. An unsung hero of supressed truths and oppressed peoples (of a currently most unpopular flavor). You do not have to agree with everything he says to see that he is a great lover of truth, civilization, righteousness, justice, and all other good and natural things. Reading about William pierce is like reading a book about the building of the pyramids--because it is about a nagging, unbelievable, inscrutible aspect of our world That is both foreign yet strangely familiar. That aspect is racism--the widely held ideas about racial differences espoused by various racial groups. This is Backbone-of-a-great-library stuff. buy it for its tabloid-style controversial appeal, keep it forever for its universal truth and beautiful exposition of an unusual, controversial, and certainly courageous life. From a purely objective standpoint, it does not get more interesting or worthwhile to read than this, folks--whatever your background or political views.
Rating:
Summary: Astounding Objectivity
Review: This is a work of astounding objectivity, rare in these times of political correctness. I relished each aspect of this book. The author is clearly an intellectual of the "old school" and explained this biography in dazzling fecundity.
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Summary: The Real Dr. Pierce
Review: Two types of people should read this book: white racists and those who oppose white racism. The former will gain a cognitive understanding of Dr. Pierce and his world view, a view they have often come to by intuition and instinct alone. The latter will gain an opportunity to oppose what white racists actually believe rather than wasting their intellectual resources refuting the straw men fabricated by their enemies.Sun Tzu wrote, "know thy enemy," and I believe he did not mean "know the propaganda picture of thy enemy." During and after World War 2, the propaganda about Adolf Hitler convinced Americans that the Germans had fallen under the spell of a lunatic who threw himself on the floor in carpet-chewing tantrums of frustration. Historian David Hoggan records an anecdote about the 1943 Tehran conference between Stalin and FDR. When FDR foolishly suggested to Stalin that Hitler was insane, Stalin roared, "You idiot; could an insane man have come within a hair's breadth of destroying once and for all a great leader like me?" FDR obviously believed he could patronize Stalin with the propaganda Hitler, but Stalin knew better. When one reads the OAS file compiled on Hitler for Churchill's and Roosevelt's eyes only, a totally different picture from the propaganda version emerges. In other words, both FDR and Churchill knew better, too. There is no doubt in my mind that the secret ADL files contain a completely different profile of Dr. Pierce than the one disseminated on the ADL website and in the mass media. And the difference will be as great as the one of the carpet-eating Hitler and the highly intelligent and brilliant enemy leader kept secret from the public in OAS files. I doubt that the life and beliefs of Dr. Pierce, as recounted by Dr. Griffin, contain few surprises for Abe Foxman of the ADL or Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), but will be news to many of those who get their information from those gentlemen. Professor Robert Griffin, the author of this remarkable book, neither acts as an advocate for his subject nor sits in judgment on him. He writes from the perspective of a neutral observer trying to understand a fascinating natural phenomenon and permits the reader to do the same. Griffin allows Dr. Pierce the opportunity to respond and elaborate expansively to the most common objections made to his views, rather than limiting his responses to carefully edited sound bites. And although one may feel that the author is not wholly unsympathetic to Pierce and his views, Griffin will often confront Pierce as a devil's advocate. Of course, Griffin's approach to dealing with his subject was not sufficient to please those whose agenda is to disseminate a slanted view of Pierce. Objectivity, truth, fairness, and giving the subject ample time to respond to his detractors' arguments is not what the ADL, SLPC, and other Pierce opponents are looking for, as Griffin quickly discovered when he tried to find a publisher for his even-handed biography of Dr. William Pierce. Those who hope to discover evidence for Pierce, the southern redneck racist driven by a pathological, irrational hate for all non-whites, will be disappointed. Racist, yes; pathological and irrational, no. Griffin introduces his readers to the literature and the individuals who have influenced Pierce in his metamorphosis from tenured physics professor to self-appointed savior of the Aryan race. George Bernard Shaw's "Man and Superman" comes alive under Griffin's pen as he explores with Pierce his understanding of Shaw's idea of the "life force." Oswald Spengler, the author of "The Decline of the West," was a warning voice that Pierce took seriously. Griffin brilliantly examines Nietzsche's philosophy of the superman, as well as how Pierce understands that concept. How a highly intelligent mind was led to admire an individual with Hitler's reputation, while defending Hitler's policies, should be of interest to friend and foe alike. Of course, the Hitler that Pierce admires is not the cartoon Hitler that the TV-educated are taught to loathe. How about Pierce's relationship with American Nazi party leader George Lincoln Rockwell? Classics professor Revilo Oliver? Terrorist and former National Alliance member Bob Mathews? What is "Cosmotheism," a religion whose disciples regarded Pierce as a minister? Those who have read "The Turner Diaries" may wonder what goes on in the mind of an individual who created a novel so full of animosity toward other ethnic groups. Professor Griffin wondered, too, and asked some hardball questions. I believe you get the picture: this is a fascinating read about a fascinating individual with a fascinating world view. What you discover is the real Dr. Pierce and his views rather than the caricature disseminated by his enemies. Hate him or love him; after reading this book, at least you will be responding not to Pierce, the imaginary bogeyman in the attic, but to Pierce, the living, breathing, thinking man.
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Summary: William Pierce Up Close
Review: While I was reading this book, I happened to catch a program on VH-1 about White Power music. Several clips of an interview with William Pierce were shown, and this book was clearly visible on the bookshelf over Pierce's shoulder. The author, Robert Griffin, spent a month at National Alliance headquarters and read numerous writings and books in order to compile this encyclopedic account of William Pierce, the chairman and driving force of the National Alliance. Most books concerning Pierce or the larger White Nationalism movement are hopelessly biased or just plain inaccurate. This book is different because Griffin goes out of his way to provide a fair account of the topic. Griffin is a university professor in Vermont, and it is refreshing to see that at least some academics are still capable of doing unbiased work. I think that out of all of the books I've read concerning the White Nationalist movement, this is the best one available. Most accounts are extremely hostile to the movement because they are grinding ideological axes. This book is huge, running over 400 pages in length. Griffin not only conducts interviews with Dr. Pierce, he makes sure to read books that have influenced Pierce throughout his life. Griffin provides exegesis on several books and prominent figures of the movement. George Shaw's Man and Superman, Adolf Hitler and Mein Kampf, Revilo Oliver, Savitri Devi, George Lincoln Rockwell and William Gayley Simpson are all examined in minute detail by Griffin. Griffin shows how these influences are reflected in Dr. Pierce's writings and lectures. Specific chapters devote much space to Pierce's views on World War II and, of course, the Jews. Several legitimate questions are raised in the course of the book. Why do we not hear anything about how many Germans were killed after the war? About the treatment of German POWs in Allied prison camps? About the horrible mass murders in Katyn and Vinnitsa? Griffin himself realizes that he knows nothing about the number of deaths in WWII except the six million figure concerning the Jews. He had to go look up the estimates. Over 12 million Germans, 18+ million Russians, and one million Americans were killed or maimed in the war. Why is it that we don't hear about this? Pierce says that this is because the Jews control the mass media outlets in America, and that it is more important for the Jews to proclaim their victim status in order to extort money from Germany, the U.S. and other Western countries. Whether or not anybody believes this, the questions raised about WWII are interesting and will make you think. In short, the book details every aspect of Pierce's philosophy. The book also shows us the personal side of Dr. Pierce. Griffin shows us the dedication of Pierce to his cause, his marriages, his upbringing and education as a physicist, and his life on his compound in West Virginia. Griffin reveals how Pierce interacts with others and even talks about Hadley, Pierce's cat. Pierce admits that he is a loner and likes working on his own schedule and at his own pace. The guy is pushing seventy and still works 12+ hours a day. That is what comes across most strongly: Pierce believes in what he is doing and still has passion for his work. The book shows that Pierce, regardless of what anyone thinks of him, cares deeply for his race and devoted his life to that purpose. Pierce threw away a career as an academic for his battle. Not many people are willing to do what Pierce has done, no matter what the movement or issue. I'm glad to see this book got published. Griffin had so much trouble finding a publisher that he eventually had to make this available as an ebook. It was a bestseller on the Internet. Of course, once someone saw that a buck could be made, it got published. My only problem with the book itself is that there are a fair amount of grammatical errors and awkward sentences. At times, I had to reread a sentence to understand what Griffin was trying to say. Still, anyone with even a remote interest in this subject will find this book explosive. I suspect this will go through several printings and will be an authoritative volume for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: A Great book about a Great Man
Review: Why is it that people who have never read the book, have nothing to contribute to the reviews, are allowed to post things such as hoping that a car hits another person? Dr. Pierce was yet another person who didn't fit the liberal image of White Nationalists. Dr. Pierce had an IQ that was off the charts, and was capable of debating any subject a person could bring up, in any field. In this book, Dr. Pierce looks back on his life, and gives his view on issues and people associated with White Nationalism. Dr. Pierce did more for the WN movement in America over the last 25 or so years then any man not named David Duke. Even today, when I listen to the archives of his radio broadcasts, and hear that distincitve Hello that he started each broadcast with, I smile. Buy this book if you want a fair and balanced book about Dr. Pierce and White Nationalism.
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