The Assault on Reason Audiobook By Al Gore cover art

The Assault on Reason

Our Information Ecosystem, from the Age of Print to the Age of Trump - 2017 Edition

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The Assault on Reason

By: Al Gore
Narrated by: Will Patton
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Now with a New Preface and Conclusion: "Post-Truth: On Donald Trump and the 2016 Election"

What has happened to our country and how can we fix it?

We are in the midst of a deepening crisis for our democracy. After the strangest election cycle in modern American history, it is important that we address the grave threats to our way of life that were glaringly revealed in this campaign. In The Assault on Reason, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Vice President Al Gore examines how faith in the power of reason - the idea that citizens can govern themselves through rational debate - is in peril. Our democracy depends on a well-informed citizenry and a two-way conversation about ideas, but our public sphere has been degraded by fake news and the politics of fear, partisanship, and blind faith. Now updated to investigate the rise of Trump and post-truth politics, The Assault on Reason is a call to rebuild the vitality of American democracy by restoring the nation's information ecosystem so that we can start making good decisions again.

Listen to more by Gore.©2007 Al Gore (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc. Diplomacy International Relations Politics & Government Thought-Provoking Iran Socialism Russia Capitalism Information Systems

Critic reviews

"This book shows a fiery, throw-caution-to-the winds Al Gore, who...has decided to lay it all on the line with a blistering assessment of the Bush administration and the state of public discourse in America." (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

"Gore’s faith in human nature is braver and sharper than (the cynics).... This book isn’t about him; it’s about the republic whose freedoms depend on increasing reasoned debate and reducing intimidating noise." (The Boston Globe)

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I had listened to this before, soon after its release, on CD. It's disconcerting at first hearing a familiar actor's voice reading Al Gore's words but the actor comes accross as believing the words he reads. Though I never really got used to it I soon learned to tune out the oddness. The book itself is extremely well reasoned, and well presented. I will probably listen to it again in a year or two,

Worth repeating

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Al Gore, who certainly is not a fan of the Bush Administration, provides facts and sources of the conclusions he draws. This is not a hard book to understand, but reader should be open minded and willing to absorb -- although he/she may not like the material being presented. Then again -- just because we don't like what is being presented does not that it's not the truth. Sometimes the truth is very difficult to swallow.

Book based on facts

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The prologue and epilogue (so to speak) speak directly to the 2016 election and much about how we arrived at this point. An excellent read (listen) and I will listen a couple more times too!
So if you are perplexed as to how the heck all of this craziness is even allowed to happen, then you must read this!

VERY timely! Even though was originally © 2007

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This book was a great way to get into Gore's head....and to better understand not only where he is on the key issues, but what his guiding philosophies are.
Although he has an ax to grind, it's a pretty clear and straight on treatise on where his head is at versus Dubya.
My only disappointment was that Gore did not narrate the book.

inside his head

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An extraordinarily articulate and sensible book. The World needs a man like this. A President who believes in Natural Selection? Think of the possibilities!

The book makes an excellent analysis of the effects of fear and TV upon reason, clouding judgment.

Seriously, maybe it's a good thing he wasn't President in 2000. If he had been, he couldn't run today, when we need him more than ever.

Why can't this man be President?

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If i were a US Citizen, i would vote for the democrats after reading this book!

Mostly Republican Bashing!

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Former US Vice President Gore made practical, scientifically based points of discussion that were not only relevant when he wrote and published but Are relevant in the today of 2023. This highly recommendable book will stand the tests of time far better than many of its contemporaries.

Relevant Today

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This is the civics lesson that could save America. If all the voting adults who were not sufficiently educated by our failing system were to read this book it would transform politics and probably lead, in the short time we have left, to the nomination of Al Gore to lead our nation out of this mess. The former VP's towering intellect and hope-filled heart are just what we don't have. His communication skills - the care with which he selects his words - are what it takes to fix clearly in our minds what a tragic mistake it was to elect George Bush, and how urgent it is, with still more than a year of such "leadership" ahead, to sweep the wrongheaded "values" away and restore our ideals. Will Cather is the ideal reader, too; you can hear Gore's sincerity, pain and passion. It's a masterpiece, but of course that's why those who need to hear it would never bother. What a shame!

America's Missing Saviour

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(If your blood pressure can stand it)

If you are on the liberal side of the aisle, this book will raise your blood pressure.

If you are on the other side of the aisle, it will also raise your blood pressure.

It is Political, Partisan, and Polemic.

But if 5 Percent of it is true (and I’m betting it is), then you’d better know about it.

I’ve just finished it and find it a “must read” for anyone, either side of the aisle, who has an interest in our country, its political situation, and its future. What Gore says must be answered, by politicians on either side of the aisle, and us as citizens.

Well narrated, although that audio may have suffered a bit from Audible’s high compression.

Important: but it may raise your blood pressure)

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The title of my "review", short as it is, and the title of the book say it all.

This book is a must read for everyone. The book should be read especially by all who have thier heads imbedded in the partisan sand.

It is a wonderful explanation of the science of HOW we can be manipulated, as well as the application of that knowledge to do just that.

Great book.

Fred

Must read!

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