The Assault on Reason

I mostly agree with Al Gore's criticism of the Bush administration (and I am not a registered Democrat). That said, the book is distinctly partisan. Never do the Democrats come in for any meaningful criticism in the book, notwithstanding that there is much to critisize. They were not the innocent, uninformed bystanders they claimed to be on the Iraq war. The voted for the war because they thought it was politically expedient to do so. At one point Gore criticizes a Republican Congress for holding up Clinton's judicial nominees, but neglected to mention that the Democrats did the same thing to Bush. So, if neutral analysis is what you want, this may not be your book. But if you want to read (or listen to) a book that raises a number of fair concerns about the Bush administration, then I think you will find it worthwhile.

It's too bad Al Gore himself didn't read it. He's a much more credible speaker when the material is intellectual in nature. The narrator sounded like a actor from a wise-guy film or a detective from a pulp fiction novel. He also had that annoying tendency to prounounce Iraq with the "I" raq sound instead of the correct "E"raq enunciation.

The arguement itself was very well developed, with Gore taking us through the founding of the nation and educates the listener on the principles behind which the US was founded. His version could use a few clarifications, such as the fact that the US constitution borrowed so much from the French, but that can be forgiven. His ending message returns to the environment, but it is not necessary for a listener to be an environmental activist to be interested in this book. An interest in the new developments in terms of political power in the US is sufficient. Overall, a remarkable achievement for a politician.

While he does toot his own horn Gore makes a case for electing an intellegent person to the White House. Bush and his people have has hurt this country in many ways. Government by fear, lies and fake religion is not Democracy. Gore seems to be the only candidate or potential candidate that can bring the US back to being the country it used to be.

Gore pulls no punches. He outlines why our society is faced with the curent loss of civil liberties and prestige in the world. He presents a solid case for the lack of citizen involvement and lays out suggestions and ideas that we all need to consider to take control of our democracy back from the power-money elite that are stripping our nation of its prestige, wealth, civil liberties and democracy. Well read and highly recommended.

An extraordinary book. Part research text, part civics lesson, part critique, Vice-President Gore goes back to the views of our founding fathers when they drafted our constitution and applied modern social science research in today's era to show how our government has become what it now is, or more accurately, how we as a people let our government become what it is today.

Gore doesn't spare feelings. Like your therapist, he points out the good and bad in crystal clear language backed up with the research of today. Some of the research Gore alludes to may toughen the read for some, but it's built carefully to drive home the points he so clearly makes:

1) Modern communication has lost it's two-sidedness and in doing so, prevented the debate of our issues in order to come to the best solutions to our problems.

2) Unscrupulous individuals, gaining power, have exploited this situation to put in place their own agendas for their and their friends own benefit.

3) How to fix? Reestablish this two-way communication (he suggests internet communication) and go back to our founding fathers' premise that we are a nation of laws, not of individuals, and no one from you and me up to the President himself is above the law.

Regarding the recording, the reader is a bit sloppy at times in his phrasing, the music at the end is a bit much, and the chapter breaks don't always match the actual breaks. But overall, it is a good presentation.

This should be required reading for everyone.

Although Gore sits on the opposite side of the political spectrum, he has approached this critique from an objective and academic perspective. Both conservative and liberal will gain from pondering the points made here. Excellent use of the written/spoken word to awaken the populace from its slumber.

I have always been a conservative republican. But, the older I get, the more I realize that the opinions I have are not my own. They have been instilled in me by others, especially my parents. At this point in my life I prefer to listen to as many diverse opinions as possible before considering if I should form my own... In most cases I now find it pointlessly stupid to even bother with an opinion... They are not who I am... But excuse me please... the book... It's not half bad... Quite a bit of Bush bashing..as expected..but overall I would still recomend it. Gore touches on many unexpected issues and Will Patton is a good narrator...

I really enjoyed listening this audiobook. I think Gore has hit the nail on the head with his analysis of the current assault on reason in the United States. While I think Gore's bigger agenda is a critique of the Bush Administration, I think his basic premise is dead on in this book.

I recommend this book to everyone! While originally disappointed that Al Gore did not narrate this book, I did enjoy hearing Will Patton perform on the side of the good guy.

I am interested in seeing how this book brings Americans to action.

Al Gore has done a remarkable job at helping me to understand in laymans terms just how awful this administration is and has been since its inception. The American people trusted this man because of what they thought he was, not what he truly was. It angers me so much that here we are almost 8 years since the Lewinsky debaucle and it seems so petty compared to the disaster this country has truly become not only to its own people but to those who live outside this country. We have to get back to the way it was. But without a leader whose interest is truly the American people as Clinton and Gore were, even HW Bush was a better man, we will never recover. In this book Gore gives us hope, but the American people have towake up and smell the coffee. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who always believed that Gore would have made a much better President and even those who thought he wouldn't, intelligent he is not egotistical.