Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Three Must Read Book Suggestions and Reviews

Here are some must reads suggestions for today's climate, even if you are not generally into politics or reading non-fiction. I would highly recommend them if you have not already read them.  I am reading both Arguing with Idiots right now as well as What Americans Really Want... Really.  And I refer to American Progressivism a lot.

What Americans Really Want...Really

5.0 out of 5 stars Insight into our priorities and desires, September 15, 2009

Review by:  Steve Adams, MA

As the owner of a small business, I'm looking for insight that will help me understand my clients and make decisions that will help my business grow, especially in our current economy. I pre-ordered this book based on the strength of Dr. Luntz' previous book, Words That Work, which offered some great tips on how to communicate more effectively. While he and I are on different sides politically, his new book does not seem to have any party affiliation (the first quote he uses is from JFK!). His writing style is engaging and entertaining, and fairly balanced as well. 

I found the chapter on jobs and work ("I Can't Get No Satisfaction") to be the most interesting. Not only does he talk about what workers want from their employers, he also turns the tables and discusses what employers expect from their employees. Putting both in the same context is revealing, highlighting the areas where the two sides are out of synch. The aspects of an employer that Luntz lists as being important to employees are valid when customers look at a company as well. 
His analysis of the "2020 Generation" was an eye-opener. The picture Luntz paints is of a large group of consumers who think and act (and react) so differently than their predecessors, so the old way of thinking no longer applies. Luntz' interviews and focus groups sounded like they were painful for the media executives to observe, yet they produced some good advice on how to appeal to this segment. 

The chapter on politics was useful, although I might have read it differently than then author intended. I found value by looking at the voters as consumers and government as the product. The "lessons" section at the end of the chapter is as relevant to a business, or to any interpersonal relationship, as it would be to an elected representative. 

The old joke is that a consultant is someone who looks at your watch and tells you what time it is. Luntz is effective in this role - to me, his identification of our priorities show what people around me are thinking, which is a valuable lesson to learn.

What Americans Really Want...Really, Frank also gives some common sense solutions to changing the tide and what is wrong in America.

1.  Have Dinner with your family/kids and talk

2.  Take your kids to church... let them see that there is something bigger than themselves and the government.

3.  Check your kids homework at least 3-times a week. Be interested and know what is going on in their school.'

4.  Take at least a 1-week family trip a year with your kids without electronics (for everyone).  No texting, video games or even cell phones, except perhaps one for you for emergencies.

5.  Demand the Truth.  Where were you?  Who were you with...

6.  Make sure your kids are all enrolled in a Team Sport or Scouting.  Learn the values of teamwork, sharing, winning and losing. 

Things that used be common sense and common place!

-------------

Arguing with Idiots - A Book Review By Jay Taylor of The Patriot Update

Glenn Beck’s new book Arguing with Idiots is quite an amazing book. When you first pick it up you know it is unyielding. It is very solid: coming in at 2 pounds 6 ounces. This is not your typical non-fiction book where the author goes on about various topics. Flipping through it, you immediately notice that it is different—it has more in common with a textbook than with a popular novel. Sure there are topics and chapters, but there are also many practical examples, charts, pictures, graphs, quotes, sidebars, and much, much more.

The book is divided into 12 chapters and also includes a “How to use this book” and “Citations” section. Each of the twelve chapters thoroughly discusses a particular topic that is extremely relevant in today’s political culture. Here’s a brief look at each one:

Chapter 1: In defense of Capitalism – Giving the free market a fair shake
Goes through all of today’s economic arguments with a humorous “Adventures in Capitalism” throughout.

Chapter 2: The Second Amendment – Ammunition to defend your rights
Gives you all the facts to refute every absurd argument to take away your gun rights.

Chapter 3: Education – Readin’, writin’, and futility
All the reasons why the dumbing down of America is occurring.

Chapter 4: America’s Energy Future – Cars, corn, carbon, and controversy
This will quickly become your one stop spot for countering the insanity of environmental wackos.

Chapter 5: Unions – When is America finished paying her dues?
Discusses how the unions have gone too far and really aren’t for workers anymore.

Chapter 6: Illegal Immigration – The Chapter Americans just won’t write
Should be easy enough to understand, since the key word is “illegal,” but Beck spells it out anyway.

Chapter 7: The Nanny State – Saving you from yourself, one right at a time
Shows that the more the government takes care of you, the more your rights are taken away.

Chapter 8: Owning A Home – Waking up from the American dream
Describes why the dream should be earned, not given.

Chapter 9: Economics 101 – Smaller government, bigger wallet
Demonstrates that government is the problem, not the solution.

Chapter 10: U.S. Presidents – A steady progression of progressives
A concise history lesson of the power grab of our commanders in chief.

Chapter 11: Universal Health Care – Why a paper cut may soon be fatal
Gives pages of examples of what government run health care has already done around the world and what it will do here.

Chapter 12: The U.S. Constitution – Lost in translation
Another (much-needed) history lesson containing plenty of examples of where today’s politicians have it wrong.

The bottom line is that this book is going to be a best seller for many weeks. It is informative, well laid out, and extremely fun to read. In fact, it would be easy to mistake the book for lighthearted reading if it wasn’t dealing with such serious issues. The reference material is invaluable and will give you a quick guide to today’s hot topics. Arguing with Idiots is a coffee table book that you’ll want to share with others. Liberals are going to hate it and you can be sure their criticisms will be loud. The volume of an argument doesn’t make it valid though. Be sure to get your own copy so you can see for yourself. You won’t regret it.

----------------

American Progressivism

Synopsys:  American Progressivism presents some of the most important essays and speeches from the leading figures of national progressivism. Students and scholars of American political thought and development, American politics, American history, the presidency, Congress, and political parties will find this reader to be an invaluable resource on the characteristics of progressive thought and the role of progressives in the development of the American political tradition.

In today's political climate, this book really is a must read to understand and connect the dots of what is going in our country.  Below is a review of the book in parts that I put together months ago

Related Resources:

The Ghost of John F. Kennedy

U.S. Presidential Libraries

Do You Know What Freedom Is?

No comments: