No, They Can't

Why Government Fails - But Individuals Succeed

By: John Stossel

Narrated by: John Stossel

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The government is not a neutral arbiter of truth. It never has been. It never will be. Doubt everything. John Stossel does. A self-described skeptic, he has dismantled society's sacred cows with unerring common sense. Now he debunks the most sacred of them all: our intuition and belief that government can solve our problems. In No, They Can't, the New York Times best-selling author and Fox News commentator insists that we discard that idea of the "perfect" government - left or right - and retrain our brain to look only at the facts, to rethink our lives as independent individuals -and fast.

With characteristic tenacity, John Stossel outlines and exposes the fallacies and facts of the most pressing issues of today's social and political climate - and shows how our intuitions about them are, frankly, wrong:

• The unreliable marriage between big business, the media, and unions
• The myth of tax breaks and the ignorance of their advocates
• Why "central planners" never create more jobs and how government never really will
• Why free trade works - without government interference
• Federal regulations and the trouble they create for consumers
• The harm caused to the disabled by government protection of the disabled
• The problems (social and economic) generated by minimum-wage laws
• The destructive daydreams of "health insurance for everyone"
• Bad food vs. good food and the government
• Intrusive, unwelcome nanny sensibilities
• The dumbing down of public education and teachers' unions
• How gun control actually increases crime

. . . and more myth-busting realities of why the American people must wrest our lives back from a government stranglehold.

Stossel also reveals how his unyielding desire to educate the public with the truth caused an irreparable rift with ABC (nobody wanted to hear the point-by-point facts of ObamaCare), and why he left his long-running stint for a new, uncensored forum with Fox. He lays out his ideas for education innovation as well and, finally, makes it perfectly clear why government action is the least effective and desirable fantasy to hang on to. As Stossel says, it’s not about electing the right people. It’s about narrowing responsibilities. No, They Can't is an irrefutable first step toward that goal.

©2012 JFS Productions, Inc. (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Another Great Book by Stossel

If you liked his first book, "Give Me a Break", then you are probably gonna really enjoy this one as well. Lots of specific examples, with great common sense logic based arguments. Plus, Stossel is his own narrator, and I enjoy the measured, even way he speaks, so that was another plus.

An Informative Listen

I thoroughly enjoyed Stossel's skeptical view of government that uses real stories from news and his own experience to be examples for why individuals and the free market are be better options to big government.

Stossel's right on target again!

Would you listen to No, They Can't again? Why?

Yes! It's worth repeating just in case I missed or forgot some points.

What does John Stossel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like his delivery, on TV and this audio book. I'm glad he read it himself.

Common Sense

What did you love best about No, They Can't?

This book is full of common sense! If you like Stossel you will know what I mean, If you have never heard him before, open your mind for a few hours and you will see that most of what he says is common sense.

Have you listened to any of John Stossel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listen to another one of his books called: "Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity". These books compare well to each other.

Any additional comments?

Have an open mind while listening to this book.

This book should be govt policy

Great narration. Worth every penny. The content is interesting and well researched. Politicians should grab a copy.

If only more people read this book

Any additional comments?

People do not realize how much they are lulled into believing that big government is good government (both Republicans and Democrats). Finally there is someone looking at our country without politically tinted glasses. A real eye opener. Both Tea Party and Occupiers will find this book enlightening. If everyone read this book our country would be a lot better off.

I will be assigning this book to my students

I teach college economics and I will be assigning this book to my students in the future. John Stossel doesn't disappoint as a writer or narrator. I think this is the best new book out there that uses good (as opposed to bad) economic theory to describe some of the most controversial topics in present day politics. Most people don't understand economics, especially the general public. Even many who are authoring books on the economic crisis, health care, and various other important topics do not seem to have ever had basic economics. John Stossel covers all the big topics while sharing his life experiences. These experiences have taught him one of the most important lessons in economics - things are not always what they seem. Once you understand basic economics, things start to look completely different. You start to see reality rather than fantasy. Kudos, John.

Stossel at his best

What made the experience of listening to No, They Can't the most enjoyable?

Stossel's direct way of speaking is a breath of fresh air.

What did you like best about this story?

His discussion of how seemingly plausible ideas fall to pieces when implemented by a central government.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Intuition vs experience.

Every American should read this!

read this book. we'd all be a lot better off if you did! Do it!

Awesome!!!

What did you love best about No, They Can't?

Common sense. I didn't know I was a Libertarian until I listened to this book. Great narration by Mr. Stossel. Never bored.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, listen to it in pieces to let the concepts sink in.