The Assault on Reason

Fighting The Calculated Fear Tactics Used In Our Political Discourse (2008-12-15) Rating: 5/5
As the study of marketing gets smarter and more accurate so to does the language used to manipulate. Al Gore does society a favor in challenging the use of these tactics by partisans who insert calculated fear responses into political discourse. The effectiveness of the responses might have been responsible for closeness of the 2004 election. Also in this book the former Vice-President also goes on to recap his work with global warming as well as pointing out the countless moral crimes of the Bush administration. The Assault On Reason is a must read for any citizen concerned with the coming onslaught of these new viral marketing practices. If the electorate is shocked into accepting false information then how can they ever make educated decisions?
If only the American people knew back in 00. (2008-12-09) Rating: 5/5
Every journalist or aspiring journalist should read this book. An excellent outline about our government's change in direction for the last eight years but an even more exceptional insight into the way media is represented and used in our political process from the time of our founding fathers to today.

Gore brilliantly covers the manner in which debate and reason about issues confronting every American citizen is lost or can become lost due to the way media is used in our democratic process. As a professional "technologist" for over 20 years I found his final chapter an excellent example of how "unconnected" we are from facts and reason even in such a connected world of cell phones, email, text messaging and of course the internet. Yet he still believes how our democracy can advance via reason and debate through all of our advances in full duplex communication options available to us today beyond just the simplex of TV.

His concept of the "Marketplace of Ideas" and all of the famous and profound quotes from history helps to underscore the importance of reason in society, government and in the political process. A well organized and very intellectual book with purpose that makes the reader, after reading it, come away with facts, insight and ideas. Truly a book that ultimately does give something back to the reader beyond any curiosity or entertainment value, knowledge.


Hope for the world? (2008-11-25) Rating: 5/5
I read this book a number of months ago, almost right after it came out.

When I read it, I realized what a brilliant thinker Al Gore was. However, at the same time, I was saddened by his observations on current culture. The US is anti-intellectual and as long as they are more up on "Dancing with the Stars" than what is going on in the world, there is little hope for the world.

The "media" doesn't really help at all either, MSNBC, CNN, FOX, etc., are all simply infotainment rather than solid news. The only exceptions are Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow.

Unless and until people begin thinking for themselves, the country and maybe the world are doomed.

So - the central messages I got from the book.

1. The Media is attacking reason
2. People are allowing it to happen
3. People need to wake up.

I hope that 3 happens, and the election of Obama and the trouncing of the Republicans gives me hope, but I am not overly hopeful for the world.

Excellent condition (2008-11-06) Rating: 5/5
The book was delivered sooner then I expected. Was delivered in better condition, then described. I will definitly purchase from this seller in the future.
Spot-on Analysis, Sometimes Cumbersome Prose (2008-10-31) Rating: 4/5
Gore presents an extremely thorough and well-reasoned analysis of the threats to our democracy posed by the willful manipulation of public opinion for political gain. The book is also a stinging and accurate indictment of the Bush Administration. I wish I shared Gore's optimism that meaningful public discourse can be restored to its proper place in our democracy. I hope he is right and I am wrong about our future course.

While generally well written, the book is not an example of economical prose. At times points are made in a round-about or long-winded fashion, and many of the quotes from great thinkers from the past, while interesting, are not altogether necessary. Don't be put off by this complaint! The ideas expressed in this book are extremely important and desperately need to reach a wide audience.