Don't Think of an Elephant!

Know Your Values and Frame the Debate

By: George Lakoff

Narrated by: George K. Wilson

This New York Times best seller is the authoritative guide to comprehending what happened in the 2004 elections and understanding how progressive thinkers can wrest control of America's political dialogue away from the conservatives who have it now.

Author George Lakoff, who has become a key advisor to the Democratic Party, asserts that the Republican Party has enjoyed recent success because of the way it expertly "frames" the issues. Using carefully chosen terminology like "tax relief" and "family values", conservatives have cast themselves in a positive light and convinced many Americans to vote against their true beliefs. Now Lakoff shows how progressives can beat conservatives at their own game.

Regardless of your political beliefs, Don't Think of an Elephant! will surely open your eyes to the reality of the modern political landscape.

Foreward by Howard Dean. Introduction by Don Hazen.©2004 George Lakoff (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"[Lakoff's] writing is clear and succinct, and he illuminates his theories through easy-to-follow examples from current politics." ( Publishers Weekly)

A start to seeing the whole picture.

Overall the book is a worthwhile read. it provides a better understanding of the progressive and conservative viewpoints. However there is a bit of the straw man fallacy regarding the portrayal of certain conservative ideas and values, but nonetheless a good read.

Good Read

Really helped me to understand politics. Words are VERY important and the left has not yet caught up with the right in creating great frames for our issues. This book explains both why and suggests how to change it.

Everyone needs to read this

If you want to live in a country with better values that will propel us into the future, you need to read and shout about this book.

Dated View of the Progressive Party

While there are some good points on framing the author’s view of the progressive movement aged like milk in the hot sun. He try’s his best to jab at conservatives but more so highlights to continued problems of progressives. I won’t say it was a total waste but it sadly highlights what so many professors in higher institutions believe and thus a major problem in so many of these institutions today.

A tremendously insightful book

This is a popularized version of George Lakoff's superb POLITICS AND MORALS, which was an attempt to explain the fundamental differences between the moral vision that informs both parties. Members of both parties can definitely benefit from the book, either by affirming one's view of things, or by causing reevaluation. Lakoff explains that the views can be best expressed in terms of how each side views families. Democrats tend to operate with a "nurturing parent" model of morals and politics, while Republicans tend to operate with a "stern father" model. I personally believe that this has extraordinary explanatory power in describing the difference between the two parties. Indeed, if you listen to almost any member of the GOP, you will see a host of concepts that flow from a "stern father" model. It explains why Republicans consistently fight any effort on the part of government to help Americans, prefering instead to force individuals to take complete responsibility for their lives. It explains conversely why Democrats tend to support legislation that helps those who may temporarily in need of help. The GOP is trying to force people to stand on their own two feet, while Democrats realize that sometimes people need help getting back on their feet.

The other major aspect of the book is Lakoff's concern that Democrats (his affiliation) have done a terrible job of "framing" political issues, and using the moral model he has articulated and noted in my first paragraph, he wants to show Democrats how he can reframe issues themselves, and not merely allow the GOP to frame every issue.

Republicans might disagree with Lakoff, but I think his "stern father"/"nuturing parent" distinction is astonishingly insightful. Many conservatives will embrace the concepts that attach to a "stern father" model (it certianly describes, for instance, the work of GOP kingpin James Dobson). I heartily recommend this book.