Rating: 
Summary: Bold. Epic. Awesome
Review: In the Sovereign Individual, Davidson and Rees-Mogg take you on a sweeping journey of history and technology in demonstrating how institutions employing coercion on a mass scale(whether monarchies or states)have risen and fallen according to the demands of different technologies. In our not too distant future, microprocessing and the wide-spread dispersal of information technologies will lead to a massive devolution of power from the nation-state to "mini-sovereignties" while empowering individuals like never before. The implications are awesome for one of the most sweeping historical and economic changes(the information revolution)likely to happen--more so than what the industrial revolution did for agricultural society, and in a much quicker time frame. Many more individuals will have the opportunity to become truly sovereign, as assets and wealth are placed beyond the realm of political compulsion in cyberspace--a netherworld of total freedom. However, this is likely to provoke a furious nationalist/populist reaction against the new elite by those who are not as technologically and financially adept. Fasten your seatbelts!
Rating:
Summary: It even mentions the WTC...
Review: At the end of the second paragraph in the preface to the British edition, the authors say that "...modern society is vulnerable. As vulnerable as the plate glass towers of the World Trade Centre." Hmmm...
A startling sentence. Why haven't the flakes of the world adopted this book as a new mystical text to replace the obfuscation of Nostradamus?
Any book that has such tragic insights on the first page is worth exploring.
Rating: 
Summary: Exhaustive research data still leads to false conclusion
Review: There is a lot of good historical data in the book used to support a strong case. Worthy of serious consideration for the thinking man. However the book is also misleading. Anarchy will not take us through the door to a better world. Governments will fight back and hard and entrench deeper leading to one world government and a world dictator.Our present system c/w it's obvious flaws needs to be loved, appreciated and carefully guarded in spite of it's inevitable decline. The Taliban and terrorist activities will only serve to strengthen USA into a much greater super power.
Rating:
Summary: A must "re-read" after September 11th
Review: For those that have already read this fascinating book, it's time to re-read. The horrific events of September 11th will take on a different perspective. The U.S. strategy for retaliation against the terrorists can be viewed with a broader scope after you review the commentary regarding the fate of the nation states. Even our #1 enemy, ...gets several mentions in the book as representing the evolution of violence in the world. Great stuff. Unfortunately, more relevant than ever in these difficult times.
Rating:
Summary: bold assertations - cold realities
Review: I purchased 5000 shares of an underpriced north american steel company the other day at 50 cents and sold it at 80 cents three days later. From a sunny beach in a secluded area from my cell phone. I got it. I get it. Each day I receive - online - for free - technical commodity trading charts. Oh by the way - I know how to read charts - took a most excellent course. If you feel that big brother is not your best friend and that there is something more - read the book. If not for yourself - for your children. Take your time, it is worth it. The authors deserve much credit and probably received very little pay - but - some of us get it - thanks. PS. Do not allow yourself to feel negative when you read about possible downsides of things to come - perhaps the authors try a bit to hard to make you feel sick - remember this - you and only you can make yourself well. kh
Rating:
Summary: plausible.
Review: There is now more evidence to back this book up than there was in 1997, when I first read it. President Bush's current push for churches and other private organizations to be able to compete to get govt. dollars is based not only on religion but on economics- the welfare state is costly. Very many on the Right want to privatize welfare state, and I think they will succeed. Only an enormous increase in productivity due to tech could save the welfare state. Such tech is MANY decades off. Nationalism is propped up by politicians giving money to public to gain support. If the welfare state collapses, loyalty to country will collapse (many Rightwing authoritarian- sentimentalists wouldnt like to read that part of the book. . Case in point: the New Deal and Great Society are integral to US nationalism. A great point here is that the web gives the ability to anyone to be able to hide their race & gender to do business. I like that. If the price of diminishing racism in business is ending the welfare state and nationalism, its worth paying.
Rating:
Summary: Tides of Change 2000 edition
Review: Finally a stockpile full of ammunition words. I recommend this book as a must read for all the technical/business professionals, especially leaders of the Next Generation. In these pages, Sovereign Individual will confirm and clarify what we already know and thereby sharpen our weapon against the entrenched establishment of our previous generations. The question of can the impact on technology be frozen in the interest of geographical interests is answered most convincingly for those who understand modern technologies. For those who don't a firm warning is issued on attempting to freeze this evolutionary change. The will of man's unrepentant quest for freedom vs. social control is an unending philosophical debate. Sovereign Individual take's a economic and historical approach to this discussion reawaken by the latest and most profound revolution society has yet faced. True visionary's of the future will enjoy a breath of fresh air inspired by new ideas.
Rating: 
Summary: A Nightmare for Civilization
Review: An inside look at "The Plan" for what is now the accelerated destruction of civilization brought to us by a couple of guys with their hands in it. Are Lord Rees-Mogg and Davidson RIIA (Royal Institute of International Affairs)? They certainly look like RIIA / CFR types. Read and learn.
Rating:
Summary: Future Trends and being Financially Independent
Review: Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad recommends The Sovereign Individual as one of the must-read books for those who want to be Financially Independent. I like this book for its contribution to future-trend-watching. It ranks as one of the essential readings for those who want to be Financially Independent. James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg are experts at predicting future trends and tailoring financial strategies and self-reliant measures to protect oneself against the future. The Sovereign Individual is about self-accountability and taking action. The Sovereign Individual is not beholden to his government and looks out for himself/herself and his/her loved ones. The Sovereign Individual takes steps to ensure his/her physical safety, job/business and finances. This book challenges the concept of nationhood and all the propaganda fed to us. The concept of nationhood as we have come to known is a relatively young one and not necessarily a good one. Governments, spouting patriotism, can make use of its people for its own ends e.g. burdensome taxes, raising armies for wars, treating its citizens like low-classed employees - all for the benefit of a select elite few. A warning for the interested would-be reader. The Sovereign Individual is written in the typical Davidson/Rees-Mogg famed-style - alarmist, paranoid and hyberbolic. I urge the reader to see pass this style because there is much to be gained from reading this book. For the interested reader, I would also recommend The Roaring 2000s by Harry Dent.
Rating:
Summary: Useful to know, be it true or not
Review: I was enthusiastic about James Dale Davidson after reading his "The Death of Politics". Mr. Davidson is so different from the brainless Libertarian preachers. He's neither a remote-from-life storyteller like Mary Ruwart or a narrow-minded fanatic like Ayn Rand. Mr. Davidson doesn't moralize. (In fact, this book might help you realize why some of the extremist Libertarians' proposals are just plain stupid.) He's not ranting and raving and gnashing his teeth while whining over the tax money taken away by the Big Bad Government. He's analyzing human history with unbiased, cold rationality and explains you what's going on in the world with a killing logic that'll blast you off the chair. At least, that applies to the first half of the book. I don't know if Mr. Davidson got tired of writing, but somehow he loses his cold rational reason in the second half. First, he's getting emotional about his subject. Expressions like "rapacious governments" and "predatory taxes" start to disturb you again and again. Second, Mr. Davidson begins to widen his analysis onto things he hasn't got a clue about. His concept of languages, for instance, is incompetent and pitiful, even considering that he's an English speaker. I'm not going into details because that's not the purpose of this review. But my advice to Mr. Davidson would be to stick to the areas of his expertise. When you're good at something, it doesn't mean that you're good at everything. The book, as it is, is by no means convincing. After reading it, I have lots of questions I'd like to ask Mr. Davidson. Also, his writing style could be better. He could have cut the innumerable useless repetitions and given better arguments instead. Still, Mr. Davidson's theory is by far the most plausible explanation of the human history and the second most credible future prediction I know. After reading all the reviews on this page, you might be confused and wonder if Mr. Davidson's right or wrong. Well, that's not really the point. It doesn't matter if you agree with him or not - he'll bring connections to your attention you have never thought of before. It's not important if Mr. Davidson predictions prove to be right or wrong - they're one possible cause of actions that you should take into consideration while planning your future. "The Sovereign Individual" is something I call "a useful legend". It enhances your thinking, no matter if it's true or not. If you want to take your future into your own hands, your chances to succeed are greater if you are informed about Mr. Davidson's theory. However, if you're just another Libertarian cry-baby, this book might prove hazardous to your sweet black-and-white illusions. Finally, I'm sorry to tell you that the last chapter of the book really sucks. Can you believe that Mr. Davidson is actually starting to preach Christian morality? I thought I was going to subscribe to his newsletter, but now I'm not so sure about it. I consider it dangerous to take financial advice from people who are blinded by morality. So, I decrease my 5-star-rating by one star and close the book very confused.
| 
