book data
97 ratings,
3.89
average rating, 27 reviews
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published
September 16th 2008
by Simon & Schuster
binding
Paperback, 349 pages
isbn
1416590560
(isbn13: 9781416590569)
description
As the practice of democracy becomes a lost art, Americans are increasingly desperate for a restored nation. Many have a general sense that the "...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 303)
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avg 3.89
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
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Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone, and everyone concerned about our eroding constitutional rights!
THIS book is an absolute MUST read ASAP!! Detailing accounts of our great country, as it slips away towards a fascist state, abusing, and infringing on the god given rights of our citizens. This book, is not only Naomi Wolf's second warning, and wake up call to our eroding rights, but it also is a guide to action, which the citizens can follow to take back our country, rights, and liberties!
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Read in December, 2008
I am SO thankful Ms. Wolf wrote this book. Her previous work, End of America, left me so depressed and scared, that I really needed this one. This book is the uplifting response to End of America -- it's like "Ok, I told you the dangers we're facing, now I'll tell you what you can do about them."
Mind you, it's not all butterflies and rainbows -- we still face some serious issues. But this book is less doom-and-gloom feeling.
***********************************...more
Mind you, it's not all butterflies and rainbows -- we still face some serious issues. But this book is less doom-and-gloom feeling.
***********************************...more
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1 comment
Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
All Americans
Drop everything and read this before it's too late.
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After touring in support of her previous book End Of America Wolf decides to find more ways that an average citizen can participate in the democratic process. She attempts to figure out how to run for senate, to stage large political protests, to get a congressperson to pass an actual bill, etc. It was very disturbing-in fact I had trouble sleeping when reading this book. When you understand how truly disenfranchised we are it is difficult to remain hopeful for our democracy. The last third ...more
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3 comments
Read in November, 2008
recommends it for:
Every American voter
Excellent. This picks up where the author's previous book, 'The End of America,' left off - it re-covers some of the same ground, but offers more in the way of solutions and inspiring examples.
Ms. Wolf dedicates the final section of the book to explaining law-abiding, Constitution-respecting methods that any person or group can use to defend civil rights, civil liberties, open and honest government, and the rule of law. This should be taught in civics classes to every high school student ...more
Ms. Wolf dedicates the final section of the book to explaining law-abiding, Constitution-respecting methods that any person or group can use to defend civil rights, civil liberties, open and honest government, and the rule of law. This should be taught in civics classes to every high school student ...more
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02/15/09
Michal
added it
Read in November, 2008
General cheerleading and practical advice for free thinkers who want to effect political and societal change. An interesting section focuses on how to promote one's ideas and causes known,with good step by step instructions on how to create a blog, useful for general purposes not just political.
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Read in January, 2009
This book was a great reminder on the true meaning of a democracy; goverment for the people by the people. The author did a great job of laying out our basic rights based on the constitution and explaining them in simple terms. She also gave great ideas on what steps we as citizens can do to exercise our rights and take back our country.
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Read in November, 2008
I give this one a C+. There was too much WWTJD (What Would Thomas Jefferson Do). The Founding Fathers developed an incredible framework and we have strayed too far from it. I agree with that premise. I felt like Wolf wanted everything to go back to exactly what was written in the late 1700s. Facts are the world has changed.
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Read in December, 2008
Incitement to get involved with American democracy, and the very real hurdles that are in place, both personal and systemic. I don't agree with everything Wolf has to say, but I appreciate the strong case for not giving up, not being a passive citizen, but not diving into hyperbolic statements that clutter many books on civic action. There is definitely a place for usual images of 'revolution' in terms of anarchist/anti-authority groupos and positions, but there rarely seems to be anyone advoc...more
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10/10/08
Marty
marked it as to-read
A must read during election season!!!
Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XgkeTanC... If you think you don't have time to watch the whole thing fast forward to the 8th minute.
Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XgkeTanC... If you think you don't have time to watch the whole thing fast forward to the 8th minute.
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Read in November, 2008
an easy-to-read, informative guide to being a good citizen. many of these things should be learned at an early age...
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Read in January, 2009
This book is alright for those who are less informed but more motivated than myself. The first couple sections of the book document the beliefs that drove the American Revolution and defined the writing of our Constitution, and demonstrated ways in which these ideas have been co-opted and perverted over the last few decades. Well researched and persuasive writing, but nothing new to anyone that's read even a little bit of Noam Chomsky or even Glenn Greenwald. The last section is an oversimpli...more
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Read in March, 2009
"Give Me Liberty" starts off promising enough - it purports to re-look at the original ideas of the founding fathers and compare them with the state of the country today, and how far we've strayed from their democratic vision. True enough, and had Wolf fully developed this theme could have produced an more interesting and informative book.
The first half of the book looks at several aspects of our current democracy and various obstacles that exist to its flourishing. Wolf m...more
The first half of the book looks at several aspects of our current democracy and various obstacles that exist to its flourishing. Wolf m...more
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Read in November, 2008
If you haven't picked up this book--- go and get a copy. Now. I'll wait for your return.
This book is inspiring, no nonsense, and paves a path for YOU to become involved in our nation's democratic processess.
If you don't participate, you can't complain about the current state of the US. This book is not for arm-chair activitists. Imagine your community, your state, your country's potential progress if YOU (yes, YOU), got up and participated. Just imagine that--- over the last ...more
This book is inspiring, no nonsense, and paves a path for YOU to become involved in our nation's democratic processess.
If you don't participate, you can't complain about the current state of the US. This book is not for arm-chair activitists. Imagine your community, your state, your country's potential progress if YOU (yes, YOU), got up and participated. Just imagine that--- over the last ...more
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Naomi Wolf is my friend's mom, so I got to hear her speak and was really inspired by it. The good news is that it's an amazing book that inspires you to lead protests, form "democracy commando groups," run for senator, and leak to the press, and then shows you how to do it. The bad news is that a teen can't really do any of that. Still, it was inspiring and I plan to become active in as many ways as I can.
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05/04/09
N8te13
is currently reading it
So far it is a review of our rights as citizens. It does touch on the side of overthrow however. It has some good information and it is nice to see the constitution and history play its role in this handbook.
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Read in January, 2009
If you listened up in history class, you don't need to read this. It seemed like a great read at first, but it turned into a mess of Naomi Wolf's personal experiences. I read the first half so, it could've turned out to be a great book. Oh, well.
Personally I found it disappointingly unnecessary.
Personally I found it disappointingly unnecessary.
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03/02/09
Jenni
marked it as to-read
why: Steve's been reading and I'm intrigued, also came up on the SHG list as people answered: "What are you reading?"
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Read in December, 2008
Naomi Wolf presents a disturbing message: that our democracy is in crisis unless we, the people, take it back from those who would continue the fascist shift that she discussed in The End of America (also a must-read). When I heard her speak several weeks ago, she said The End of America is the bad news; Give Me Liberty is the good news, i.e., what we can do about it. And it won't be easy. Each of us will need to make our choice whether to give up our complacency, stand up and speak up in any wa...more
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quotes from this book
"It has been said that each generation must win its own struggle to be free. -Robert F. Kennedy"
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