Slightly off topic (actually, much off topic re: the Philippines, but
right on topic re: Empire);

but last night there was a terrific 2-hour special on PBS called
something like "The Ascent of Money" --written and hosted by Niall
Ferguson, that I recommend to all on the LIST who wish to know more
about the current Empire that is oppressing us all.  They said at the
end of the program that it is available on-line; and probably they
will be showing it again, so keep your eyes open for it -- I learned
so much more about the money empire behind all of this mess than I
knew before.  It is one helluva scary documentary.

Ferguson is quite the rising star (he looks pretty youngish, in fact,
which surprised me), and he comes off brilliantly on the show.  I'd be
interested to hear any views LIST-members have of his books; I have
not read any of them yet, to be honest.

A partial list of his books includes the following:

Ferguson, Niall (2008). The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of
the World. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 978-1846141065.
Ferguson, Niall (2006). The War of the World: History's Age of Hatred.
London: Allen Lane. ISBN 0-7139-9708-7. (also a Channel 4 series[18])
Ferguson, Niall (2003). Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British
World Order and the Lessons for Global Power. New York: Basic Books.
ISBN 0-465-02328-2.
Ferguson, Niall (2005). 1914. Pocket Penguins 70s S.. London, England:
Penguin Books Ltd. ISBN 0-14-102220-5.
Ferguson, Niall (2004). Colossus: The Rise And Fall Of The American
Empire. Gardners Books. ISBN 0-7139-9770-2.
Ferguson, Niall (2003). Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World.
London: Allen Lane. ISBN 0-7139-9615-3.
Ferguson, Niall (2001). The Cash Nexus: Money and Power in the Modern
World, 1700-2000. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 0-7139-9465-7.
--

Harold K. Bush, Ph.D
Saint Louis University