Advance Praise for
Toys, War & Faith: Democracy in Jeopardy
"I salute William C. Gladish who dares to speak out, to right unmitigated, monumental wrongs, knowing that powerful forces will oppose him vigorously. Yes, corporations have been instrumental in making America the great nation that it is, but the author unmasks their unbridled power and proceeds to make America an even greater nation, its citizens better served."
—Major General Jack Kidd, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) & Author of Prevent War
"Bill Gladish's story is grounded in personal responsibility, something he embraces unflinchingly and with healthy measures of courage and conscience. These elements provide the backdrop for his view of global events and his solutions for many of the seemingly intractable problems faced by humankind, from pervasive corporate greed and power to our children's dubious future. Read, and learn from this extraordinary man's deep understanding. Share his life's experiences, too. You will be a better person for having done so."
—Ray Anderson, Chairman of the Board, Interface Carpet, Inc. & Author of Mid-Course Correction
"I tell you this, only to impress on you how impossible I found it to put down this book. Mr. Gladish is a Man for All Seasons: an inventor, a warrior, and a writer who faced down the enemy and is still fighting for his rights and ours. Don't start this book unless you have time to finish—it will grab hold of you and keep you enthralled to the last page."
—Doris "Granny D" Haddock, Political Activist & Co-author of Granny D
"Battling Sadam Hussein turned out to be the easy part for Gladish. It's when he came home and found himself at war with Tyco Toys, Inc. that he really learned what hell is like...and what it means to fight for democracy."
—Jim Hightower, Former Texas Agricultural Commissioner, Author, & Renowned Political Gadfly
"This brilliant book is an absolute must-read for anybody who wants to understand how American democracy has been imperiled by the actions of huge corporations...and what we can do about it. A fascinating and illuminating story."
—Thom Hartmann, Best-selling Author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight
"Toys, War, & Faith deals with one of the most important issues of our times with a clear, honest candor. Unless we learn to harness the greed driving contemporary commerce democracy is in danger."
—Bill Kovach, Chairman, Committee of Concerned Journalists
"Riveting—a must read book. William Gladish has brilliantly used his military background and skirmishes with the toy industry to create an important work. This is an absorbing, well researched, easy to read book with an important message. His is a call to action, with a plan, on how we can stop and reverse the spread of global corporate greed that is destroying the environment and our democracy."
—Jack A. Brill, Co-founder, Natural Investment Services Inc., Former U.S. Navy Director of Quality Assurance (San Diego) & Author of Investing with your Values
"Bill Gladish's book, Toys, War & Faith, does a superb job of cutting right to the heart of a major challenge in our civilization. This can all be viewed from the standpoint of Kohlberg's excellent (and universally respected) research on moral development. God bless Bill Gladish and the people like him who are willing to fight corporate greed, they are the conscience of the world!"
—Lt Col David Grossman, U.S. Army (Ret.), Founder of Killology Research Group & Author of Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill
"Gladish offers an evocative personal story of war and the domestic culture that feeds it. The reader will connect in a new way to the terrible images now filling our TV screens."
—Dr. Charles Derber, Professor of Sociology, Boston College & Author of Corporation Nation
"William Gladish's insightful book makes it clear that conservatives and liberals alike should be outraged at the corporate take-over of American democracy. The values of greed and profit that guide corporate behavior are at odds with the values that ordinary people (across the political spectrum) believe in—and what the planet needs to survive. Read and be enlightened."
—Dr. Sut Jhally, Professor of Communications, University of Massachusetts & Executive Director, The Media Education Foundation
"Toys, War & Faith is an interesting, exciting story of a patent struggle, the unlevel playing field on which individual patentees must play, and the unfair concentration of power in large corporations. Toys, War & Faith provides much food for thought and constructive action. I strongly recommend it for anyone with an interest in society."
—David Pressman, Patent Attorney & Author of Patent It Yourself
"Toys, War & Faith confirms what many of us have known: global corporations have hijacked American democracy—their reach is unbounded and their influence is pervasive. William Gladish's book provides us with the background we need to make informed choices and take appropriate action to stand up to the Goliath of corporate power."
—Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian, Dean of Religious Life, Eliot House, Mount Holyoke College
"Even if one doesn't find military aviation and legal confrontation fascinating, the second part of this book is a wonderful gift to us all. I will be sure to buy a copy for myself—and several others for my friends and associates."
—The Rev. Dr. J. John Keggi, Episcopal Priest, Society of Ordained Scientists
"Gladish's first-hand encounters with a major corporate power sounds as a wake-up call to our complacency. In telling his story he is well aware that it is no anomaly, that it has serious implications for our Americans way of life. We need to wake from our slumber, or living out our democratic ideals and moral values will be smothered by 'business as usual'."
—Rev. James Mulligan, Executive Director, Earth Ministry
"The book documents the complicity of both major corporations and the U.S. government in the subversion of democracy in developing countries. Gladish offers us a hard-hitting critique of many pernicious practices and activities of large and powerful American corporations. He concludes the book with a heartfelt call for action, and identifies some practical resources available to those prepared to challenge corporate power."
—Dr. David O. Friedrichs, Professor of Criminology, Scranton University & Author of Trusted Criminals
"This book will make any American angry and proud. Angry at how huge corporations run roughshod over people, but proud that patriotic Americans like the Gladish family are stepping forward to help lead the fight against the big business monarchy dominating our nation, the King George Incorporated of the 21st century."
—John Stauber, Co-author of Toxic Sludge Is Good For You & Trust Us, We're Experts!
"Every individual who has taken a product to market knows that it's an uphill battle. But William Gladish's experiences with Tyco Toys were so mind boggling that he questioned all of corporate America. Long before the greed of Enron, WorldCom, Adelphi and other top executives were exposed, Bill Gladish wrote all about it. If you wondered when and how America's corporate ethics took a nose dive, you'll wonder no more when you read 'Toys, War & Faith.'"
—Joanne Hayes-Rines, Publisher, Inventors' Digest
"William Gladish's book is urgently important and keenly insightful...Among the things I found most enlightening were...the proliferation of global capitalism and megacorporations...the profligate misuse of natural resources by modern industry...insight about life on the Air Force 'firing line' in the Gulf War and being 'up against the wall,' viz., Wall Street and the USA, Inc. Read it and reflect."
—Dr. James Aldridge, U.S. Air Force Historian
"In a forthright and razor sharp critique, William Gladish has thrown down the gauntlet—challenging today's politicians and citizens to reclaim their nation from global corporations."
—Colonel Joseph Adamo, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
"Although I carried the book out on the road with me and started to read it whenever I could, it became apparent that I could not put the book down until I had finished the last page...a splash of fresh water in the face to all of us."
—Captain Gary Spradlin, American Airlines