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egcoast2coast's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
norahbringer's review against another edition
4.0
I'm glad I finally got around to reading this book, which I've been meaning to do for months. I knew a lot of the things that I think are meant by Gore to be shockers, but some of it was new...He spends a great deal of time talking about the transition from reading our news to getting it from radio and now TV and (predictably, yes) thinks the internet gives hope for the future. It's a little freewheeling and occasionally feels like it's wandering but is overall a good read for the politically minded. I definitely wrote "yes!" in the margin more times than "huh?"--a good sign.
kristianawithak's review against another edition
3.0
Reading 'current event' books years after they were written is still interesting, but it makes me feel behind the times.
stephen11's review against another edition
4.0
The first couple of chapters were amazing! I really enjoyed how Gore explored the aspects of fear and psychology in overcoming our reason.
I liked the section about the 3 parts our lives: reason, faith, and passion/emotion. And how fear, which would be part of passion, is so strong as to overcome our ability to reason effectively.
How fear is used by governments, Bush/Cheney, and tyrants, in effective propaganda to control the people, to manufacture consent of the people.
How TV is basically a harmful one-way form of communication, detrimental to a robust 2-way marketplace of ideas which is essential to a healthy democracy. Compare one-way TV to 2-way forms of communication like the printing press and the internet.
At times, Gore let his left-wing politics shine through a bit too much for my taste, but overall he surprised me with his excellent writing skills and extensive research.
I liked the section about the 3 parts our lives: reason, faith, and passion/emotion. And how fear, which would be part of passion, is so strong as to overcome our ability to reason effectively.
How fear is used by governments, Bush/Cheney, and tyrants, in effective propaganda to control the people, to manufacture consent of the people.
How TV is basically a harmful one-way form of communication, detrimental to a robust 2-way marketplace of ideas which is essential to a healthy democracy. Compare one-way TV to 2-way forms of communication like the printing press and the internet.
At times, Gore let his left-wing politics shine through a bit too much for my taste, but overall he surprised me with his excellent writing skills and extensive research.
trin's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent account of How We Are Screwed. Gore presents his case for what he thinks is wrong with America, the essence of which is that reasoned discourse has all but disappeared. Not only is the average person uneducated about the world (the statistics about the percentage of Americans who still believe that Saddam Hussein was behind the September 11th attacks are truly frightening), but our elected officials don't even debate issues anymore, instead focusing their time and efforts (and tons of money) on television campaign ads. No wonder the country sits immobile and lets the Bush Administration tromp all over the constitution.
Anyway, this was not a pleasant read—I spent most of the time gripping the binding more and more tightly and getting angrier and angrier. It is an important book to read, though—though I worry of course that most of the people who do read it will be, how shall I say, the choir? That's the real question, I think—how can we reach out to those people who don't necessarily agree with us, who are not necessarily so well informed? Gore thinks the internet might hold the key. I don't know. I just don't know.
Anyway, this was not a pleasant read—I spent most of the time gripping the binding more and more tightly and getting angrier and angrier. It is an important book to read, though—though I worry of course that most of the people who do read it will be, how shall I say, the choir? That's the real question, I think—how can we reach out to those people who don't necessarily agree with us, who are not necessarily so well informed? Gore thinks the internet might hold the key. I don't know. I just don't know.
msewidan's review against another edition
4.0
كتاب جيد جدا وخاصة انه بيعرض الصورة الحقيقية لامريكا من نائب وسيناتور سابق, وبيتكلم عن تجوازات حكومة بوش مع الشعب الامريكي ومع دول العالم كلها, وبيتكلم عن عدوان امريكا على العراق
عنوان الكتاب ساحر بحد ذاته
عنوان الكتاب ساحر بحد ذاته
kimball_hansen's review against another edition
2.0
The first and last part of the book were interesting when he talks about the influence of television and the internet. Had it been left at that I'd given it another star. But he chose to repeat himself on a number of occasions about his opinions on the war in Iraq (which he states as facts) and how much he hates George Bush (apparently he's still very bitter because he lost the election and won't just let things go until he's dead). I didn't care for his Global Warming theory either. But what irritated me the most was how hypocritical his political stances are. Only once did he admit that both political parties may be wrong. The rest of the 1000 times he attacks the Right Wings and comes off as arrogant, holier-than-thou and extremely judgmental. All I could think of while reading this was how is Obama or the Democrats any different than what he's saying? I'm surprised I finished it this book. I had to really force myself. The long-term effects of developing greater Willpower through reading it will prove more beneficial to me than anything written in the actual book itself.
Al Gore should have had the title of the book as The Assault on George W. Bush - Why one proud man is still bitter after losing the election 7 years ago.
I liked the narrator of the audiobook [a:Will Patton|1004238|Will Patton|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1431656803p2/1004238.jpg].
Al Gore should have had the title of the book as The Assault on George W. Bush - Why one proud man is still bitter after losing the election 7 years ago.
I liked the narrator of the audiobook [a:Will Patton|1004238|Will Patton|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1431656803p2/1004238.jpg].
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
This book got me fired up about how Americans for the most part only get biased knowledge thanks to the corrupt media and how Bush is making certain documents which are supposed to be public information into private access only type things, reducing corporations' accountability for their harmful actions. Can't remember the examples, but there were many.
One hope for the future is that the explosion of the Internet and blogs will allow everyone to have their say, unlike TV where the media says what the corporations who own them pay them to say.
One hope for the future is that the explosion of the Internet and blogs will allow everyone to have their say, unlike TV where the media says what the corporations who own them pay them to say.