Book Review

The book removes the shroud of mystery that surrounds the creation of a successful media proposal by examining in detail the critical judgment/creative abilities that are integral to the proposal writing process. In so doing, it also debunks the myth that not all people possess creative abilities by defining creativity as a natural, human attribute. Parsigian draws from best-selling author Harold Kushers conception of what it means to create: not to make something out of nothing, but to make order out of chaos, with creativity being the ultimate result of seeing connections between items in the chaos of random data, which then lead to an order and creation of a new idea. Parsigians approach is a step-by-step examination of proposal writing that takes the reader through all the questions involved in the process from defining the problem to selecting the proper audience and setting up the proper implementation strategy. The volume is user-friendly in that it doesnt just tell the writer what to do, it illustrates the steps through actual examples described by the pros in print and broadcast journalism, public relations, and advertising. And once youve written the proposal, you are not left to fend for yourself. Readers are offered valuable advice on how to achieve successful results in oral presentations. Tips range from organizing the presentation itself to key details of presentation style, such as dress, posture and status, eye contact, voice quality, and effective use of visuals. I examined this book from all angles looking for a weak spot, but found none. Proposal Sawy is a book that should and will find its way into the hands of communication pros, educators, and students. Kathleen A. Martinelli San Jose State University Ronald Dworkin Freedoms Law: The Moral Reading of the American
stitution Gh$c$e, MA:

Con-

Harvard

University

Press,

404pp.,

3 This is a book about the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution in the 20th century. Dworkin reviews controversial judicial decisions of major importance, including academic freedom, affirmative action, free speech, and pornography. In addition, his critical essays cover Judge Robert Bork, Judge Learned hand, and Justice Clarence Thomas. This book is a collection of those essays. The common theme is an ethical one. The U.S. Constitution in the 20th Century can only be interpreted in an ethical light. The Bill of Rights is a set of moral guidelines. The book has three parts: life, death, and rack; speech conscience, and se; and judges. Life, death, and race focuses on abortion, right to die, and affirmative action and the gag rule. The gag-more disciplined courtswas part of the Reagan revolution.
Summer

1997

193

In the press-on-trial chapter, Dworkin defends the Sullivan rule from the blockbuster 1964 New York Tinzes vs. Sullivan libel case. His defense takes place as he evaluates reckless disregard charges in the lawsuits involving Gen. William C. Westmoreland, of Vietnam fame, and Gen. Ariel Sharon, the Israeli troop commander in Lebanon. He points out that Renata Adlers New Yorlzer articles in 1986 were just as one-sided as the reports she criticized Time and CBS on Westmoreland and Sharon. The free-speech chapter also concerns the Sullivan decision, which the author believes needs to be revised. Among needed revisions are those mentioned by Anthony Lewis in his book Maize No Law, including the right of an unfairl! accused plaintiff to correct the record to restore reputation. The chapter on pornography and hate focuses on Indianapolis anti-pornography law, which did not allow for literary and artistic works, and on a 1991 free-speech drama in Germany involving Guenter Deckert, head of the ultra-right National Democratic party, who organized a meeting with American Fred Leuchter, who claims the Holocaust never happened. Catherine McKinnons Only Words recommends banning all pornography to take the chains off of women. Dworkin opposes censorship of such peoples opinions. On academic freedom, Dworkin recommends that it be redefined. The essays of Ronald Dworkin are interesting, education, and thought provoking. He provides deep insight into complicated social issues. The legal material is presented in an organized and easy-to-understand way with no noticeable grammatical errors that plague some books today. A few photographs would have given additional historical perspective to these commentaries. The essays on Learned Hand are bonuses for the reader that make this a nice book to have in a collection. William A. Mulligan California State University Harvey C. Mansfield MachiaveLli-s Virtue Chicago, IL: University $29.95, 1996

of Chicago

Press,

371

pp.,

Except for the original first chapter, this book is a collection of articles and essays previously published over a span of 29 years. The repetitions thus entailed reinforce the authors teaching and gradually immerse the reader in concepts and terminology that may be unfamiliar and often challenging. Harvey Mansfields careful scholarship is apparent here. Clear too is his admiration for Niccolo Machiavelli, as revealed in his lnajor works, The Prince, and the lesser-know Art of War, Discourses on Livy and Florentine Histories. In all of these works, says Mansfield, the prince who is described and advocated, is in fact Machiavelli himself. Not in the sense that his bold acts seized
194 \()I. 23, No. 2