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141st out of 148 books
—
100 voters
The Battle: How the Fight between Free Enterprise and Big Government Will Shape America's Future
America faces a new culture war--one that threatens our long-standing culture of free enterprise. Free enterprise embodies the values that define us as a nation: individual liberty, equal opportunity, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance. But the recent economic crisis has distorted these values, leading many Americans to forget the evils of socialism--which, as Arthur C. B...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
July 5th 2011
by Basic Books
(first published May 4th 2010)
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Short review: I do not recommend this book (go ahead and read if you want, as I believe in freedom of choice, but don't say I didn't warn you). This book takes some interesting data from recent scientific studies, and then wraps/twists it in ideological name-calling nonsense. I would go as far to describe it similar as a modern-day social Darwinism argument.
Long review: So before Christmas, I was driving home from work one Friday night, turned on the radio (happened to be on NPR since I listen t...more
Long review: So before Christmas, I was driving home from work one Friday night, turned on the radio (happened to be on NPR since I listen t...more
Brooks provides historical, economic, and political arguments for the application of policies that promote a free-market system and lauds America for its success because of its application of free markets in every-day life. Parts of the book become a little too politicized in a right vs. left mindset, but the overall message of his book is the strength of America is built upon free market values where everybody has the opportunity to work and make something of themselves; America is equal opport...more
I agree with author Arthur C. Brooks that “America faces a new culture war!” His book states this battle will define the values of this nation for years to come and it up to us to choose a side in this battle. I am part of what Mr. Brooks calls the “70 percent majority” not the “30 percent coalition.” The 70% is a group of people that believes in Free Enterprise and the Freedom of Opportunity not big government and socialist type entitlements. Regardless of which side you are on, the book does a...more
It's nice to read something short after months of Atlas Shrugged.
I guess it's silly to be surprised by the tone of a book titled The Battle, but sometimes (most of the time) the tone was too much for me to bear. If you can get past that, and don't mind reading the phrase "30 percent coalition" five times per page, there's a lot of good stuff on free enterprise and happiness here. Instead of the book, I'd probably recommend just reading the Washington Post article version of the book: http://www....more
I guess it's silly to be surprised by the tone of a book titled The Battle, but sometimes (most of the time) the tone was too much for me to bear. If you can get past that, and don't mind reading the phrase "30 percent coalition" five times per page, there's a lot of good stuff on free enterprise and happiness here. Instead of the book, I'd probably recommend just reading the Washington Post article version of the book: http://www....more
I feel like I should add a caveat to this. Arthur Brooks is the President of the American Enterprise Institute, and I am working directly for him. Part of my responsibilities is to read all his books. So, this isn't one that I'd normally read, but I'll be neck-deep in conservative ideology for the next 4 months...not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but it's not something (nor is reading this type of book) that I would willfully do of my own accord.
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I liked Brooks' book Who Really Cares?, largely because he had a lot of primary data behind his claims, and because he seemed uninterested in political cliches. I also liked Brooks when I heard him speak in person. However, in The Battle he's predictably partisan (as the subtitle indicates). The financial crisis was all because of government. And so is sadness.
This book does a great job of describing the chioce we are facing as a country: free enterprise or big government. It also points out where many of the supposed benefits of big government have been shown to be cataclysmic failures. Mr. Brooks works from facts, analyzing trends and results. His conclusions are very interesting.
Jun 20, 2011
Joseph D. Walch
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
public-policy
This is a good primer on how to reframe the political discussion of values to influence culture towards a more responsible citizenry with a consequently more limited government. It was worth the read and the small amount of time that is required.
Extremely biased us-vs-them conjecture backed up with ill-formed arguments relying mostly on irrelevant data, baseless accusations, and manipulative use of bs statistical data. Read like an unedited rant by any random guy on the internet.
This book ought to be required reading for all college students. It was a great eye opener to learn where our country has been and where this presidency is taking it. We all better wake up!
I'm not sure I'll agree with much, but it seems like it's important to understand various point of view about the direction our government is going. And he seems less annoying than Glenn Beck.
Oh dear. The big print is a dead giveaway. But once more academics are part of a left-wing conspiracy to make citizens ... ummmm ... think a bit more.
It was OK, not earth shaking but spot on regarding the fight between big government and free enterprise. Take heed business people!
I didn't enjoy the first chapter at all...mainly because it reminded me of everything that's going wrong in the government right now, specifically in how it relates to the economy. But after that, it got better. For me, the author related what it means to be an American, the idealist American...you know, that hard-working, build-your-own-success-story kind of American. And I found that I was feeling patriotism for my country again...(too bad it's not lasting...).
And it gave some practical advice...more
And it gave some practical advice...more
An important book that presents compelling arguments for all that the left finds offensive.
It was interesting about the middle of the book but than got repetitive and boring. More reflection of Atlas Shrugged in modern times but not well researched. More reference to third party research and studies. Would not read such titles unless it is better researched, and edited. Most of what read is what I already know and have had discussion with family and friends. America has dysfunctional government. Lives of normal people are at stake while Government is preoccupied in self preservation o...more
The lines are drawn, the smoke is clearing. Where will you be when the day is done?
Nov 16, 2010
Jeff Raymond
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-nonfiction,
read-politics-current-events
4 stars for ideas, 2.5 for execution. A very short, but concise, book on what's really fueling the current political climate and how free market advocates can fight the battle. I get a feeling that a lot of these books hitting the market these days are geared more toward Tea Party types with no political experience. That might be why this felt so unnecessary to me.
An interesting book with an emphasis on the moral case for free enterprise.
This book should be called Atlas Shrugged for Dummies. It is a very well written, short, concise argument as to why capitalism is morally superior to socialism in every way. Only 130 pages. Very quick read.
70/30 concept. 70% believe in free enterprise, if that is the right wording to use. Though I do believe I want my kids to be free to pursue any vocation they can create for themselves, so I must fall into this 70%.
The 30% are those who want more government control. Statism.
This little book was certainly enough to motivate me to be more encouraging with our children's bread business.
The 30% are those who want more government control. Statism.
This little book was certainly enough to motivate me to be more encouraging with our children's bread business.
Looks like it's time to move to Europe...
i saw this guy in an interview on book tv and the interview was much more riveting then the book... plus. he's preaching to the choir... still have a little crush on the guy.
Asserts based on surveys that the right occupies 70% of the political spectrum and that happiness if best earned and not given.
May 10, 2013
Ismael Schonhorst
marked it as to-read
Mar 26, 2013
Robert
marked it as to-read
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