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America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin delivers an intimate and personal look at the woman behind the public servant. In her #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Going Rogue —the bestselling nonfiction book of 2009—Palin gave readers a look at her upbringing, her dynamic career, and her candidacy next to John McCain for the Vice Presidency of the United States. In America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag , this inspirational follow-up, her reflections on faith, family, and patriotism will read like a bible of American virtues for anyone hoping to understand the truths that lie at the heart of the nation.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2010
62 people are currently reading
876 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Palin
20 books108 followersGovernor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009 and the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee for the 2008 United States presidential election.
http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
February 17, 2016
Please allow me to open this review with an account of something that happened here on Goodreads. On a discussion thread someone posted something insulting/degrading about Christ. I said nothing. As the discussion went on however another person asked why the poster had been personally insulting not only to Christians but about Christ. At this point I did answer that it was because people had come to expect that Christians would "suck it up" when we are insulted. I did say to the "insulter" that he/she might consider whether they would say the same type thing to worshipers in other faiths, Islam for instance. His response to me? It was short. He called me a racist. When I pointed out that there are Islamics of all races he simply responded that I was, "still a racist". At this point I saw what I was dealing with. The charge can simply be assumed about anyone who's a Christian or politically conservative. (By the way I've posted no picture of myself nor mentioned what my race is. I guess he/she could/can "just tell".) ***I originally reviewed this in 2012. Since that time I have posted a photo of myself so, you know no more guessing.***
So, what does that have to do with this book? I am constantly astounded at the level of hate I run into against Sarah Palin. The very mention of her name can cause supposedly sane human beings to begin to foam at the mouth and shoot steam from their ears.
Now, while there are times in this volume that I disagreed with her even times I shook my head and thought her quite incorrect, on the whole I do agree with most of her stances. I find that what she says is largely simply straight from the shoulder common sense.
Whenever she opens her mouth in the press there is a chorus of voices attempting to shout her down, scream how ill informed she is, how she "lacks intelligence". When she pointed out that the health bill had "death panels" in it there were shrieks...except it not only did have a form of death panel, it still does. By the same token when Nancy Pelosi said we'd needed to, "pass the bill to see what was in it". No one in the mainstream press raised an eyebrow... Which was the more ludicrous statement?
This book is just what the title says. It's reflections on America. What is the make-up, the background the heart of our country...and it's people. I found it mostly very interesting however there are parts where her "view through the eyes" of a mother and a grandmother tends to overwhelm the point she's making. While I raised 2 children and love them dearly Ms. Palin makes the point herself in the book...most of us/I can't quite identify as much in the reminiscences she has about her own beloved children and grand child. So while I applaud her and her feelings...those parts of the book I found a bit slow. Maybe moms and grandmoms won't so much...
So, I like the book, I like the lady and I find her quite intelligent (even if you don't want to believe it she functioned as governor of our largest and one of our most prosperous states). While I disagree with her occasionally I think (again, on the whole) that she's a sensible levelheaded person... I humbly suggest you try reading the book before you decide you don't like it or you disagree with it.
Just a thought.
So, what does that have to do with this book? I am constantly astounded at the level of hate I run into against Sarah Palin. The very mention of her name can cause supposedly sane human beings to begin to foam at the mouth and shoot steam from their ears.
Now, while there are times in this volume that I disagreed with her even times I shook my head and thought her quite incorrect, on the whole I do agree with most of her stances. I find that what she says is largely simply straight from the shoulder common sense.
Whenever she opens her mouth in the press there is a chorus of voices attempting to shout her down, scream how ill informed she is, how she "lacks intelligence". When she pointed out that the health bill had "death panels" in it there were shrieks...except it not only did have a form of death panel, it still does. By the same token when Nancy Pelosi said we'd needed to, "pass the bill to see what was in it". No one in the mainstream press raised an eyebrow... Which was the more ludicrous statement?
This book is just what the title says. It's reflections on America. What is the make-up, the background the heart of our country...and it's people. I found it mostly very interesting however there are parts where her "view through the eyes" of a mother and a grandmother tends to overwhelm the point she's making. While I raised 2 children and love them dearly Ms. Palin makes the point herself in the book...most of us/I can't quite identify as much in the reminiscences she has about her own beloved children and grand child. So while I applaud her and her feelings...those parts of the book I found a bit slow. Maybe moms and grandmoms won't so much...
So, I like the book, I like the lady and I find her quite intelligent (even if you don't want to believe it she functioned as governor of our largest and one of our most prosperous states). While I disagree with her occasionally I think (again, on the whole) that she's a sensible levelheaded person... I humbly suggest you try reading the book before you decide you don't like it or you disagree with it.
Just a thought.
February 21, 2011
A tough book to finish,and I imagine most who buy it do not, no matter their side of the political divide. What I find fascinating about Palin is her eagerness to put other people's word in her own mouth, and her inability to originate a single thoguht of her own.
I read this to "see what the buzz was about" and discovered that it was about 15 minutes too long. If you're a fan of the woman, you've heard all this. If you aren't it will drive you up a wall.
The thing is, I admire the woman's tenacity and ambition... I just wish she had the imagination and brio to go with it.
I read this to "see what the buzz was about" and discovered that it was about 15 minutes too long. If you're a fan of the woman, you've heard all this. If you aren't it will drive you up a wall.
The thing is, I admire the woman's tenacity and ambition... I just wish she had the imagination and brio to go with it.
December 18, 2010
I finally got mine autographed!
July 9, 2012
A version of this review originally appeared in the December 2010 issue of the George C. Marshall high school newspaper Rank & File.
This review is crossposted from my book blog.
"America By Heart," Sarah Palin's memoir-cum-manifesto is wearying, to say the least. The first half of the book is a diatribe on the correctness of political conservatism, and the latter half is a torturous discussion of the power of prayer in the United States.
The conservative section is seeded with arguments on how the U.S. is "exceptional," while the power-of-prayer portion is laced with anti-abortion messages every other page. For better or for worse, Palin's voice comes across very strongly in her writing. It is difficult to focus on the content of a book when said content is mentally delivered in the grating voice of Sarah Palin.
On the other hand, Palin does express some ideas that are reasonable at their root. However, she generalizes enormously and applies her opinion to the U.S. as a whole. The very survey Palin cites to support her claim that the "influential academic and legal elite" are out of touch with prayer and by extension the people, states that more than 40 percent of Americans don't pray at all.
This trend stretches throughout the narrative. The book is essentially Palin presenting her own take on conservative ideology, and while many disagree with conservatism, it does have a certain amount of grounding in logic. This logic transfers to Palin's dialogue, but fails when she tries to stretch it further than it can reach.
Palin's disconnect between the perceived and actual severity of an issue affects both her social and political views in the book. She uses phrases such as "the left" and "the liberal media" like blunt instruments. In this sense, Palin's writing is couched in black and white. She by turns ignores the possibility that she could be incorrect and acknowledges issues that put both the Republicans and Democrats in the wrong. The middle ground, however, is rarely discussed.
But enough about political bias. Stripped of politicization, many of Palin's thoughts have merit. Should we respect our troops? Yes. Does the US have great potential for enacting good in the world? Yes. Does faith create morality? In most cases, it does not hurt.
Palin's opinions are polarizing, to say the least. Nevertheless, underneath all the controversy and idiocy there is some respectable content worthy of being known by heart.
That doesn't make it a good book, though.
This review is crossposted from my book blog.
"America By Heart," Sarah Palin's memoir-cum-manifesto is wearying, to say the least. The first half of the book is a diatribe on the correctness of political conservatism, and the latter half is a torturous discussion of the power of prayer in the United States.
The conservative section is seeded with arguments on how the U.S. is "exceptional," while the power-of-prayer portion is laced with anti-abortion messages every other page. For better or for worse, Palin's voice comes across very strongly in her writing. It is difficult to focus on the content of a book when said content is mentally delivered in the grating voice of Sarah Palin.
On the other hand, Palin does express some ideas that are reasonable at their root. However, she generalizes enormously and applies her opinion to the U.S. as a whole. The very survey Palin cites to support her claim that the "influential academic and legal elite" are out of touch with prayer and by extension the people, states that more than 40 percent of Americans don't pray at all.
This trend stretches throughout the narrative. The book is essentially Palin presenting her own take on conservative ideology, and while many disagree with conservatism, it does have a certain amount of grounding in logic. This logic transfers to Palin's dialogue, but fails when she tries to stretch it further than it can reach.
Palin's disconnect between the perceived and actual severity of an issue affects both her social and political views in the book. She uses phrases such as "the left" and "the liberal media" like blunt instruments. In this sense, Palin's writing is couched in black and white. She by turns ignores the possibility that she could be incorrect and acknowledges issues that put both the Republicans and Democrats in the wrong. The middle ground, however, is rarely discussed.
But enough about political bias. Stripped of politicization, many of Palin's thoughts have merit. Should we respect our troops? Yes. Does the US have great potential for enacting good in the world? Yes. Does faith create morality? In most cases, it does not hurt.
Palin's opinions are polarizing, to say the least. Nevertheless, underneath all the controversy and idiocy there is some respectable content worthy of being known by heart.
That doesn't make it a good book, though.
December 12, 2010
WELL.
america by heart is so much more aggressively christian and angry and uninformed than going rogue, it's hard to believe it was "written" by the same "woman." in hindsight, going rogue was actually pretty centrist and palin definitely played to all sides. NO MORE, AMERICA. she is able to effectively marginalize gays (by not mentioning them!), women (with sloppy definitions of feminism!), disabled (shilling her son!), scientists (i can't really even get into this right now because i'm still reeling, but it has to do with god and the sun and where the center of the universe is!) and even lowly fans of Juno ("A European move might have had Juno get her abortion in the opening scene and then spend the next hour and fifteen minutes smoking cigarettes and pondering the meaning of life. It would have been depressing AND boring.").
how i can tell it's the same ol sarah from going rogue, though? this unrelenting crazy no chronology style (this may have actually been written in descending angriness order) suits her, for sure, and the BLOCK QUOTES. pages and pages of block quotes would go by, seemingly antecedentless. one of the block quotes was from the onion, even. some were about the ground zero mosque (guess whose side she's on?).
though palin has clearly taken a dive into deep glenn beckism, i still feel obligated to recommend this. i think it's really easy to forget (the lamestream media makes sure of this) how fucking insane these people are, and what they actually think, and how their defense of freedom is actually a terrifying attack. you will not read another book this year that is so against education, and once you get into the ideas more, you'll start to pretty clearly see why.
america by heart is so much more aggressively christian and angry and uninformed than going rogue, it's hard to believe it was "written" by the same "woman." in hindsight, going rogue was actually pretty centrist and palin definitely played to all sides. NO MORE, AMERICA. she is able to effectively marginalize gays (by not mentioning them!), women (with sloppy definitions of feminism!), disabled (shilling her son!), scientists (i can't really even get into this right now because i'm still reeling, but it has to do with god and the sun and where the center of the universe is!) and even lowly fans of Juno ("A European move might have had Juno get her abortion in the opening scene and then spend the next hour and fifteen minutes smoking cigarettes and pondering the meaning of life. It would have been depressing AND boring.").
how i can tell it's the same ol sarah from going rogue, though? this unrelenting crazy no chronology style (this may have actually been written in descending angriness order) suits her, for sure, and the BLOCK QUOTES. pages and pages of block quotes would go by, seemingly antecedentless. one of the block quotes was from the onion, even. some were about the ground zero mosque (guess whose side she's on?).
though palin has clearly taken a dive into deep glenn beckism, i still feel obligated to recommend this. i think it's really easy to forget (the lamestream media makes sure of this) how fucking insane these people are, and what they actually think, and how their defense of freedom is actually a terrifying attack. you will not read another book this year that is so against education, and once you get into the ideas more, you'll start to pretty clearly see why.
September 24, 2019
Sarah...oh Sarah. 🤦🏻♀️
From reading the synopsis, it came off as a book about the American people she came in contact with on her book tour. Alas it was not about that; but in fact about her personal views and bashing anyone that has a different view.
I’m a moderate myself and don’t find myself leaning toward any party, but how exactly does one woman have so much hatred for the other side ESPECIALLY; a woman who refers to herself multiple times within this book as a “Christian woman”.
This was definitely hard to finish with the entire book bashing the Obama Administration, having a 45 min (I listened to her audiobook) temper tantrum about Christianity with not being able to discriminate against people and the ongoing chapters about abortion.
So out of touch with reality and it’s sad...
From reading the synopsis, it came off as a book about the American people she came in contact with on her book tour. Alas it was not about that; but in fact about her personal views and bashing anyone that has a different view.
I’m a moderate myself and don’t find myself leaning toward any party, but how exactly does one woman have so much hatred for the other side ESPECIALLY; a woman who refers to herself multiple times within this book as a “Christian woman”.
This was definitely hard to finish with the entire book bashing the Obama Administration, having a 45 min (I listened to her audiobook) temper tantrum about Christianity with not being able to discriminate against people and the ongoing chapters about abortion.
So out of touch with reality and it’s sad...
February 1, 2011
I really tried to be objective about this but it was hard...Palin writes just as she speaks, she does not mince words but she also lacks a certain aspect of professionalism I expect from politicians. Plus she relied to heavily on excerpts from other peoples writings/speeches to form her opinions and explain her thoughts. I expected more but then I should have known better...
December 27, 2010
Another great installation in a growing body of work by an incomparable woman. You may not agree with all her positions (and I don't), but you cannot argue that she is a woman of principle. She has done more to save this country and to further the equality of women than most of the so-called feminists. I enjoyed seeing this glimpse into her world, and will be awaiting more from her.
October 30, 2022
Theme: Family- Faith- Flag.
Love her or not, Sarah Palin put together an interesting audiobook that stressed patriotism, religion, and conservative values that are on the rise. The resurgence of traditional values in America is echoed in Palin's audiobook that was written shortly after her unsuccessful VP run and her enthusiasm comes through in her own narration of this book.
Love her or not, Sarah Palin put together an interesting audiobook that stressed patriotism, religion, and conservative values that are on the rise. The resurgence of traditional values in America is echoed in Palin's audiobook that was written shortly after her unsuccessful VP run and her enthusiasm comes through in her own narration of this book.
May 25, 2011
I read (and actually enjoyed) Palin's first book just to find out more about her and where she comes from. I like to know where people are coming from ESPECIALLY when I don't agree with them.
This book was a complete disaster. It was misrepresented as her own feelings on family, God, values, and patriotism. Not only was it contradictory from one sentence to the next, it was also more of a scrapbook of OTHER authors'/politicians'/speakers' works with a couple of paragraphs by Palin herself to connect the excerpts. She somehow managed to simultaneously praise and insult Americans. I personally do not fit the description of "American" that she referred to over and over (meaning, I do not wear cowboy boots, go to church, carry a gun, and vote republican)and as much as I tried not to assume, I am left with the impression that she is somehow calling the rest of us UN-American.
This book was a temper tantrum between two covers - a poorly written and formatted one at that. She attacks the Obama administration two pages into the introduction. While this is her right and the feeling of many in the U.S., it was not what we were lead to believe the book was about and, sadly, it was a harbinger of what was to come in the rest of the pages. In fact, this book was riddled with attacks on everyone from liberals, the media, Obama, and now even feminists and Hollywood. She says we shouldn't label and yet she is the first to slap labels on people like "liberal feminist" and "lamestream".
Had this been more of a manifest of her personal beliefs and values or even a clearer mission statement for herself in politics I would have been the first to 5-star and reccomend the book. I love it when people talk about their faith and their family and pride in country. I love seeing when people have that deep down passion. However, what ruined this book for me was the personal statements and expressions of belief sandwiched between the words of others and the completely hateful accuastions against anyone who believes otherwise.
AND YET..there were moments of brilliance. Even as one of those liberals she tears down, I agreed with a lot of what she had to say and was even moved by a lot of the patriotism she expresses with her own words. She did a great job describing what makes America difference and a special place to live as well as what makes Americans as a group have an etirely different mindset than those who live in other countries. I respect nearly everything she has to say about raising children and being respectful of our own rights as PEOPLE not as Democrat/Republican.
I get Sarah Palin. I really do. I love what she has to say on a lot of levels, even though I DO NOT agree with her politically. I just have to say that, as far as book writing, she should have stopped at the first one. This one was difficult to follow, insulting to anyone who differs her own opinion, and utterly unhelpful to her. I would only reccomend this book to those who have a system of beliefs identical to hers in every way.
Regardless of my own feelings on the book, it is great to see so many other reviews of those who LOVED the book and found it inspiring. Those are the people she knew she would reach. I agree that she is a fantastic leader and hero if your cause mirrors hers. So she wrote a book I didn't like, I'm still highly interested to see what is on her horizon in politics....
This book was a complete disaster. It was misrepresented as her own feelings on family, God, values, and patriotism. Not only was it contradictory from one sentence to the next, it was also more of a scrapbook of OTHER authors'/politicians'/speakers' works with a couple of paragraphs by Palin herself to connect the excerpts. She somehow managed to simultaneously praise and insult Americans. I personally do not fit the description of "American" that she referred to over and over (meaning, I do not wear cowboy boots, go to church, carry a gun, and vote republican)and as much as I tried not to assume, I am left with the impression that she is somehow calling the rest of us UN-American.
This book was a temper tantrum between two covers - a poorly written and formatted one at that. She attacks the Obama administration two pages into the introduction. While this is her right and the feeling of many in the U.S., it was not what we were lead to believe the book was about and, sadly, it was a harbinger of what was to come in the rest of the pages. In fact, this book was riddled with attacks on everyone from liberals, the media, Obama, and now even feminists and Hollywood. She says we shouldn't label and yet she is the first to slap labels on people like "liberal feminist" and "lamestream".
Had this been more of a manifest of her personal beliefs and values or even a clearer mission statement for herself in politics I would have been the first to 5-star and reccomend the book. I love it when people talk about their faith and their family and pride in country. I love seeing when people have that deep down passion. However, what ruined this book for me was the personal statements and expressions of belief sandwiched between the words of others and the completely hateful accuastions against anyone who believes otherwise.
AND YET..there were moments of brilliance. Even as one of those liberals she tears down, I agreed with a lot of what she had to say and was even moved by a lot of the patriotism she expresses with her own words. She did a great job describing what makes America difference and a special place to live as well as what makes Americans as a group have an etirely different mindset than those who live in other countries. I respect nearly everything she has to say about raising children and being respectful of our own rights as PEOPLE not as Democrat/Republican.
I get Sarah Palin. I really do. I love what she has to say on a lot of levels, even though I DO NOT agree with her politically. I just have to say that, as far as book writing, she should have stopped at the first one. This one was difficult to follow, insulting to anyone who differs her own opinion, and utterly unhelpful to her. I would only reccomend this book to those who have a system of beliefs identical to hers in every way.
Regardless of my own feelings on the book, it is great to see so many other reviews of those who LOVED the book and found it inspiring. Those are the people she knew she would reach. I agree that she is a fantastic leader and hero if your cause mirrors hers. So she wrote a book I didn't like, I'm still highly interested to see what is on her horizon in politics....
December 16, 2010
I found this book to be a great motivator to stick to things even when they are hard, to have the love of country that our founding father's had and to stand up for the things I believe, and to have faith in our God who will always be there for us. I wasn't a big Sarah Palin fan when I started this book, her voice annoys me and she's a little cheesy at times, but I think she's one tough cookie and I admire her for her dedication to America and her family values. I think this book gave me the boost I need to stop hiding my head under the covers and avoiding the difficult (and at times uncomfortable) discussions we should all be having if we are going to get this country moving forward again.
June 17, 2011
I read this book because I'm doing research on the tea party. It's nowhere near as bad as I expected. There are some interesting musings on America's colonial and postcolonial times. However, throughout the book, there is an underlying fear of complexity, and an embracing of simplicity, which I found annoying, even when "Palin" (the book was coauthored by a professional writer) was telling me something I didn't know. She's unable to consider things in a nuanced way, unable to be fair to anyone who disagrees with her. Her discussion of modern politics is one in which all evil is on one side, all good on the other. While some of her points against "the left" have merit, she far too often substitutes quick sound bites for argument. Some of her facts are wrong, too. And nowhere does she lay out an original idea for taking the country forward, or even too many ideas. Cut taxes. Stick to the Constitution. Worship God. Be exceptional, America. It will all work out. I read it at the same time as the Armey/Kibbe book and Rand Paul's book, and the Palin book is easily the worst of the three. Rand Paul actually makes arguments, and Armey/Kibbe actually point out the complexity of some of the tea party positions. Palin's book is only for those who already agree with her, and need to be reinforced in their existing beliefs, never challenged. It's not boring, exactly--the prose isn't bad, and a few of the stories are worth telling. But overall...meh.
August 11, 2012
Read full review here: http://wordwearyreviews.wordpress.com...
I did not expect to be viciously attacked for my political beliefs when I read Palin’s reflections on “Family, Faith, and Flag,” but I certainly was. In fact, the entirety of Palin’s introduction is an entirely misguided, misinformed, and logically flawed assault against American democrats (lumped in with communists, pages 5-6), American college graduates (called the “cultural elite”), and, in general, Americans who don’t agree with her/her party’s policies (called “unpatriotic,” page 23, as well as a bunch of other nasty stuff).
Even though I was insulted by her rude, anti anyone-but-a-Republican remarks, I made myself read them so that I could know what she thought. I wouldn’t let myself review this book unless I did. Because I believe in being respectful to people in all my dealings with them, in this review I’m not going to angrily rant about Republicans, or people who believe differently than I do, like Palin rather disrespectfully ranted about liberals in her America.
I did not expect to be viciously attacked for my political beliefs when I read Palin’s reflections on “Family, Faith, and Flag,” but I certainly was. In fact, the entirety of Palin’s introduction is an entirely misguided, misinformed, and logically flawed assault against American democrats (lumped in with communists, pages 5-6), American college graduates (called the “cultural elite”), and, in general, Americans who don’t agree with her/her party’s policies (called “unpatriotic,” page 23, as well as a bunch of other nasty stuff).
Even though I was insulted by her rude, anti anyone-but-a-Republican remarks, I made myself read them so that I could know what she thought. I wouldn’t let myself review this book unless I did. Because I believe in being respectful to people in all my dealings with them, in this review I’m not going to angrily rant about Republicans, or people who believe differently than I do, like Palin rather disrespectfully ranted about liberals in her America.
February 2, 2011
I was surprised that while reading this book I kept nodding my head in agreement. While many people criticize her choice of life and her intelligence, she really did the work and research to produce a well written book.
I found myself reading this book in 2 days. The references to the founding fathers and her knowledge of some of our more profound presidents gave hope towards a better future for tomorrow in America. She loves Ronald Reagan (I mean who doesn't) but she used his speeches, as well as other such as Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson to drive her point that America needs to remember its tradition and foundations.
Her revelations on Faith and God in America were very useful and insightful for those looking for a place where religion can exist in America.
I found myself reading this book in 2 days. The references to the founding fathers and her knowledge of some of our more profound presidents gave hope towards a better future for tomorrow in America. She loves Ronald Reagan (I mean who doesn't) but she used his speeches, as well as other such as Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson to drive her point that America needs to remember its tradition and foundations.
Her revelations on Faith and God in America were very useful and insightful for those looking for a place where religion can exist in America.
November 28, 2010
This book was wonderfully uplifting because in it, Sarah has included quotes and in some cases whole sections of speeches and documents which is a good reminder of the values on which our country was built. I think that all too often people are forget what makes our country great and I like being reminded that we are blessed to live in a country with the freedoms and rights that others on the outside covet.
November 11, 2012
If I took a shot every-time she mentioned God I'd be dead
October 18, 2021
This loser makes Dan Quale look like a damn Nobel winning. I can't believe her "spunky," folksy attitude, accompanied by her astonishing idiocy, appealed to so freaking many people. Or, I would have said that until the past couple of years when I was honestly and rarely dumbfounded to see over 70 Million "Americans," commit treason in supporting and/or acting in or engaging in or approving of a murderous, violent attempted overthrow and coup of an American legally valid -- dittohead's lawyers (some soon to be disbarred) and arguments were laughed out of too many dozens of courts to count -- 70 freaking Million americans voting in support of a rabid fascist, with 80%+ of US evangelicals showing their TRUE colors finally, which is murderous white christian nationalism and a lust for power to turn american into a genocidal "christian" theocracy -- hilarious because with over 1,000 "christian" sects, barely any of them can agree on what is or is not "christians" so which one exactly would be the winning sect to become the official American christian Taliban?
And here we have one of their early poster children, bizarrely popular with evangelical female voters, understandably popular with many evangelical male voters because most j*cked off to her "awesome" t*ts while they undoubtedly watched that video of her hiking with her posse while where that stunning tight white t-shirt. Knowing many people in the evangelical community, the few I got to open up to me in honesty admitted to be ashamed that so many fundie men supported her for that reason. In part because many fundie men could recognize an attractive face with the IQ of a pumpkin when they saw it, despite some of them likely having IQs of that of your standard paving stone.
Sarah Palin isn't smart or competent enough to write even a page about anything -- particularly if you go by her public appearances in which she verbalizes usually nothing of value because that's where her IQ leaves her -- so while I typically might suggest people who aren't fans or supporters of an "author" still pick up a book for good laughs, I can't and won't even do that for this one because most would likely get a feeling of barfing a quarter of a way through and it's actually not very funny when put into context of what we've seen recently from americans formerly believed to be your "average" or "common" american -- treasonous insurrection. If people don't like that term, assertion or anything else, I beg them to logically challenge it with reason and legal legs to stand on because screaming that it's a "Revolution" despite the fact not one person could define WHY there was a Revolution, against WHOM specifically (the evil Democrats and minorities -- while Nazi-loving fascists have been in charge for years?), etc., and WHAT they wanted exactly (as captured on film from many dozens of people, that would be literally EXTERMINATION of everyone Not Like Them, meaning first progressives, Dems, liberals, "Antifa" -- hahahahaha!!!! -- as well as "immigrants," minorities, atheists' all religionists not a christian and i have no doubt at some point, those claiming to be "christian" who aren't the RIGHT xian! The judges of which shall be whom..." Franklin Graham? I know his family, his sister Anne, kids, nieces, nephews -- one famous one has been a good friend of mine for decades -- and my family has been friends with the late Billy Graham's family since the 1950s and unless he hid it very well, Billy was never a Hitler, Stalin, etc., loving anti-democracy/American dynamo, so Franklin's lust for power is personal and dangerous and I'd imagine entirely support by palin and her ilk. she, almost certainly unable to spell "bible" though likely able to quote some of it, followed by a liar claiming to be (support as long as they keep voting for me...) christians (white nationalist evangelicals) who has famously had a copy of Mein Kampf on his nightstand for years but is unable to name his favorite bible verse when repeatedly asked by the press -- because he's never read the bible and according to this own camp is barely literate anyway... These are the leaders of the party I grew up in, of the party I worked hard as a Reagan-supporting volunteer for far too many years, the party allegedly enamored with Reagan but which would be first in line to throw him out of the party now -- I mean RAISING taxes at least half a dozen times???
Okay, I'll stop. Too much ranting, too large a personal diatribe, too subjective, offending too many people. So I guess if you're already a fan of hers, you might like the book. If you aren't, just stay the heck away because it's not funny -- it's inane and it represents just how low a once "grand" party has fallen -- it no longer exists at all. Worst book in history.
And here we have one of their early poster children, bizarrely popular with evangelical female voters, understandably popular with many evangelical male voters because most j*cked off to her "awesome" t*ts while they undoubtedly watched that video of her hiking with her posse while where that stunning tight white t-shirt. Knowing many people in the evangelical community, the few I got to open up to me in honesty admitted to be ashamed that so many fundie men supported her for that reason. In part because many fundie men could recognize an attractive face with the IQ of a pumpkin when they saw it, despite some of them likely having IQs of that of your standard paving stone.
Sarah Palin isn't smart or competent enough to write even a page about anything -- particularly if you go by her public appearances in which she verbalizes usually nothing of value because that's where her IQ leaves her -- so while I typically might suggest people who aren't fans or supporters of an "author" still pick up a book for good laughs, I can't and won't even do that for this one because most would likely get a feeling of barfing a quarter of a way through and it's actually not very funny when put into context of what we've seen recently from americans formerly believed to be your "average" or "common" american -- treasonous insurrection. If people don't like that term, assertion or anything else, I beg them to logically challenge it with reason and legal legs to stand on because screaming that it's a "Revolution" despite the fact not one person could define WHY there was a Revolution, against WHOM specifically (the evil Democrats and minorities -- while Nazi-loving fascists have been in charge for years?), etc., and WHAT they wanted exactly (as captured on film from many dozens of people, that would be literally EXTERMINATION of everyone Not Like Them, meaning first progressives, Dems, liberals, "Antifa" -- hahahahaha!!!! -- as well as "immigrants," minorities, atheists' all religionists not a christian and i have no doubt at some point, those claiming to be "christian" who aren't the RIGHT xian! The judges of which shall be whom..." Franklin Graham? I know his family, his sister Anne, kids, nieces, nephews -- one famous one has been a good friend of mine for decades -- and my family has been friends with the late Billy Graham's family since the 1950s and unless he hid it very well, Billy was never a Hitler, Stalin, etc., loving anti-democracy/American dynamo, so Franklin's lust for power is personal and dangerous and I'd imagine entirely support by palin and her ilk. she, almost certainly unable to spell "bible" though likely able to quote some of it, followed by a liar claiming to be (support as long as they keep voting for me...) christians (white nationalist evangelicals) who has famously had a copy of Mein Kampf on his nightstand for years but is unable to name his favorite bible verse when repeatedly asked by the press -- because he's never read the bible and according to this own camp is barely literate anyway... These are the leaders of the party I grew up in, of the party I worked hard as a Reagan-supporting volunteer for far too many years, the party allegedly enamored with Reagan but which would be first in line to throw him out of the party now -- I mean RAISING taxes at least half a dozen times???
Okay, I'll stop. Too much ranting, too large a personal diatribe, too subjective, offending too many people. So I guess if you're already a fan of hers, you might like the book. If you aren't, just stay the heck away because it's not funny -- it's inane and it represents just how low a once "grand" party has fallen -- it no longer exists at all. Worst book in history.
June 15, 2011
I was hesitant to review this book since Sarah Palin has the same effect on her detractors that a red cape has on a snorting, enraged bull. The fury Mrs. Palin elicits is matched only by the clawing,grasping defense her supporters offer each and every time she says or does something foolish. This woman, like her or hate her, is a sort of political lightening rod: she attracts tremendous amounts of energy from both sides of the political spectrum. I would also suggest that Palin is a bit of a Rorschach test as well: people see what they expect to see; their perceptions of her have much more to do with their own worldview than they do anything objectively true about the subject of their attention. Candidate Obama had a similar impact on people, although not nearly as strong.
I read Palin's first book Going Rogue a year or two ago, and I liked it: it was her view of the 2008 election, and I thought it offered an interesting take on what has become, unfortunately, an exercise in mass stupidity: a Presidential election. It was a lot of inside political baseball, a bit of an autobiography, and a fairly quick and light read.
America By Heart is a very different sort of book. Palin lays out her political and cultural philosophy, talks at great length about her experiences traveling around America, and is quite honest about her family's difficulties (especially her eldest daughter's pregnancy and subsequent work promoting abstinence). I found myself nodding in agreement with much of what she said, since--like her--I am a God, Flag, and Family sort of guy. There was only a bit of politicking in the final chapter; nothing you wouldn't expect from a conservative Republican with Libertarian leanings. Palin highlighted some great Americans as examples of the civic virtues she was discussing. She also referenced a lot of great books, speeches, and incidents in American history. She is also a woman of deep and pervasive faith. I may disagree with the details of her theology, but I admire the depth of her beliefs. All in all, enjoyable stuff.
I have no idea if Sarah Palin will run for President. If she does, it is unlikely that I will vote for her. While I have some friends who believe that character makes up for a lack of relevant experience or pertinent background knowledge, I tend to look for a certain profile in those for whom I vote, especially for POTUS. Sarah Palin does not fit my profile (fewer and fewer candidates do). With that said, I like Sarah Palin. I have, from the beginning, thought that her treatment at the hands of the media was unfair, and often times cruel. I have always been most struck by the response from so-called feminists who seem startled into an incoherent rage by the fact that she has a large family, a successful career, and--gasp!--didn't abort her later-in-life Down's Syndrome baby. Liberal women absolutely hate her; it is both sad and pathetic to watch. [I could make a somewhat off-topic segue here about what modern feminism has become, but I will leave that for another day].Likewise, I can only wonder how MSNBC would fill the 30% of their broadcast time that they dedicate to covering Sarah Palin were she to retire to private life.
So, love her or hate her, Sarah Palin has become a player in our nation's political scene. If you have been kind enough to read this lengthy review, you are either chomping at the bit to tear my head off for saying that I like her("Ole! El torro!!") or smirking because I just don't understand how wonderful she is, and, really, I'm such a RINO anyway. Regardless. I enjoyed the book.
I read Palin's first book Going Rogue a year or two ago, and I liked it: it was her view of the 2008 election, and I thought it offered an interesting take on what has become, unfortunately, an exercise in mass stupidity: a Presidential election. It was a lot of inside political baseball, a bit of an autobiography, and a fairly quick and light read.
America By Heart is a very different sort of book. Palin lays out her political and cultural philosophy, talks at great length about her experiences traveling around America, and is quite honest about her family's difficulties (especially her eldest daughter's pregnancy and subsequent work promoting abstinence). I found myself nodding in agreement with much of what she said, since--like her--I am a God, Flag, and Family sort of guy. There was only a bit of politicking in the final chapter; nothing you wouldn't expect from a conservative Republican with Libertarian leanings. Palin highlighted some great Americans as examples of the civic virtues she was discussing. She also referenced a lot of great books, speeches, and incidents in American history. She is also a woman of deep and pervasive faith. I may disagree with the details of her theology, but I admire the depth of her beliefs. All in all, enjoyable stuff.
I have no idea if Sarah Palin will run for President. If she does, it is unlikely that I will vote for her. While I have some friends who believe that character makes up for a lack of relevant experience or pertinent background knowledge, I tend to look for a certain profile in those for whom I vote, especially for POTUS. Sarah Palin does not fit my profile (fewer and fewer candidates do). With that said, I like Sarah Palin. I have, from the beginning, thought that her treatment at the hands of the media was unfair, and often times cruel. I have always been most struck by the response from so-called feminists who seem startled into an incoherent rage by the fact that she has a large family, a successful career, and--gasp!--didn't abort her later-in-life Down's Syndrome baby. Liberal women absolutely hate her; it is both sad and pathetic to watch. [I could make a somewhat off-topic segue here about what modern feminism has become, but I will leave that for another day].Likewise, I can only wonder how MSNBC would fill the 30% of their broadcast time that they dedicate to covering Sarah Palin were she to retire to private life.
So, love her or hate her, Sarah Palin has become a player in our nation's political scene. If you have been kind enough to read this lengthy review, you are either chomping at the bit to tear my head off for saying that I like her("Ole! El torro!!") or smirking because I just don't understand how wonderful she is, and, really, I'm such a RINO anyway. Regardless. I enjoyed the book.
January 25, 2017
I picked this book up for the sole purpose of entertainment, as well as to find out if Mama Grizzly and I share any similarities in our belief. And I will say, it is a well written book. Mrs. Palin is very passionate about her beliefs.
Here's where my praise ends. Every paragraph in the book presented the same format. The first sentence of the paragraph I'd nod and say "ok, I'm with you Sarah." Then she'd take the most obscure part of the first sentence and run with it. My nod turned to furious fist shaking and by the end of the paragraph I'd be all "how on earth did we get here? So wrong!!!! (Insert a few expletives)." Then she'd start over. I have low blood pressure thank goodness, or my doctor would probably tell me to stop reading this book at the risk of rupturing a blood vessel.
Besides the adventures in blood pressure this book provides (hey, can I count that as cardio?), what frustrates me most about this worldview Mrs. Palin presents is that it is so simplistic. The world is an incredibly complicated place and for her to paint it in a cutesy folksy light is naive and frankly, just plain dangerous. I know this book is a more of a meditation on her beliefs, but I truly hope she is made of more substance than this, especially if she is planning on getting back into the political arena.
My biggest beef with the book (besides the reference to Port Washington, Wisconsin, which she charmingly calls a "fishing village") is the denouncement of anyone who disagrees with her with the word "liberals." I can hardly give credibility to anyone on EITHER end of the political spectrum when they speak this way. Immediately dismissing someone with a label instead of engaging in a conversation is completely unproductive and further polarizes people towards their political positions. And it's just plain rude to take cheap shots at President Obama in print. It reminds me of a petulant child saying "I hate you!" to a parent. Saying "I disagree with his handling of something," is productive, but just lolling over and over comes off as bitter and spiteful.
So there's my meditation on Mrs. Palin's meditation. I appreciated her candor in her writing and it was a hoot to listen to her audiobook. The accent alone was well worth the trip to the *gasp* library (another liberal institution). And having gotten to know her a bit, I'm sure she'd be fun to have a beer with. I'd even buy! But no, I'm just an Obama-lovin' liberal, so I'm probably not worth the consideration.
Here's where my praise ends. Every paragraph in the book presented the same format. The first sentence of the paragraph I'd nod and say "ok, I'm with you Sarah." Then she'd take the most obscure part of the first sentence and run with it. My nod turned to furious fist shaking and by the end of the paragraph I'd be all "how on earth did we get here? So wrong!!!! (Insert a few expletives)." Then she'd start over. I have low blood pressure thank goodness, or my doctor would probably tell me to stop reading this book at the risk of rupturing a blood vessel.
Besides the adventures in blood pressure this book provides (hey, can I count that as cardio?), what frustrates me most about this worldview Mrs. Palin presents is that it is so simplistic. The world is an incredibly complicated place and for her to paint it in a cutesy folksy light is naive and frankly, just plain dangerous. I know this book is a more of a meditation on her beliefs, but I truly hope she is made of more substance than this, especially if she is planning on getting back into the political arena.
My biggest beef with the book (besides the reference to Port Washington, Wisconsin, which she charmingly calls a "fishing village") is the denouncement of anyone who disagrees with her with the word "liberals." I can hardly give credibility to anyone on EITHER end of the political spectrum when they speak this way. Immediately dismissing someone with a label instead of engaging in a conversation is completely unproductive and further polarizes people towards their political positions. And it's just plain rude to take cheap shots at President Obama in print. It reminds me of a petulant child saying "I hate you!" to a parent. Saying "I disagree with his handling of something," is productive, but just lolling over and over comes off as bitter and spiteful.
So there's my meditation on Mrs. Palin's meditation. I appreciated her candor in her writing and it was a hoot to listen to her audiobook. The accent alone was well worth the trip to the *gasp* library (another liberal institution). And having gotten to know her a bit, I'm sure she'd be fun to have a beer with. I'd even buy! But no, I'm just an Obama-lovin' liberal, so I'm probably not worth the consideration.
December 31, 2015
I took a bit of time to think about this book, and to try to separate what I thought about the book and the writing from how I feel about her personal politics. It is rather obvious that Palin did not write this book to win over new fans, but instead to reinforce her current base of support; this is, of course, her prerogative, although I think it is a missed opportunity. She does not bother to offer new insight into her positions on various topics; instead, she attempts to make her points not by expounding her own ideas but by referencing other peoples' works - quite literally, on nearly every other page. She has pigeonholed her work into a specific point of time with constant tear-downs of specific contemporary politicians, including multiple references to "our current president", which may not provide much clarity or support for her arguments for any future readers. There are also broad generalizations about "many liberals" in every section, and how they are apparently responsible for the government's faults. The writing is not entirely unreadable, and if you enjoy Palin as a speaker you will likely not be disappointed. I am not necessarily one of those people, and I found the writing to be somewhat repetitive and a bit condescending, especially as a person that is often on the other side of the issues she discusses. The closest I came to what I might call "enjoying" this book was in the chapter about family and her kids, and her "mama grizzly" spirit. Of course, it then devolved into how "many liberals" are eroding away the fabric of the American family, and it became business as usual.
In short, I did not find this book to be illuminating regarding the basis of Palin's politics, but rather a list of who she believes is to blame for the government's failings and why. It has a rather more negative tone than I might have expected, many of her arguments as phrased will not hold up much past this coming year, and I wish she would have written more of her own words instead of borrowing those from others. I appreciate that she is a strong personality and a strong woman on the national stage, but I was disappointed in what I found in this book.
In short, I did not find this book to be illuminating regarding the basis of Palin's politics, but rather a list of who she believes is to blame for the government's failings and why. It has a rather more negative tone than I might have expected, many of her arguments as phrased will not hold up much past this coming year, and I wish she would have written more of her own words instead of borrowing those from others. I appreciate that she is a strong personality and a strong woman on the national stage, but I was disappointed in what I found in this book.
January 26, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised by this newest book from Sarah Palin. First of all, I don't think the title really does the book justice. "America by Heart" said to me that this was going to be some sentimental paean to a Norman Rockwell ideal, and "Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag" had me thinking of Norman Vincent Peale. That is not this book at all. Instead, this is a thoughtful and concise reflection of American community and values. She refutes the concept that America is not exceptional. She reaffirms the core American principle of the sovereignty of the People. She calls out the indefensible proposition that a feminist must also be a liberal. She reflects on some of the challenges she and her family have faced. All in all, a well-written, intelligent book from one of today's prime political movers & shakers.
I do think the book would have been even better (hence the 4 stars instead of 5) if she had omitted some of the anti-Obama paragraphs. I understand why she is taking digs at Obama: she might run against him in 2012. But she was making many of her points without needing to bring Obama into the discussion. That makes it more difficult for people who think Obama is doing pretty well to buy into her main points, which really don't have much to do with Obama himself. Intelligent readers can make the appropriate inferences on their own.
In summary, it seems that every potential Presidential candidate writes a book that explains who they are and what they believe. America by Heart is well above average for the genre. Take out some of the Obama references, and this book would be worth reading 50 or 100 years from now because a lot of what she writes about is timeless.
I do think the book would have been even better (hence the 4 stars instead of 5) if she had omitted some of the anti-Obama paragraphs. I understand why she is taking digs at Obama: she might run against him in 2012. But she was making many of her points without needing to bring Obama into the discussion. That makes it more difficult for people who think Obama is doing pretty well to buy into her main points, which really don't have much to do with Obama himself. Intelligent readers can make the appropriate inferences on their own.
In summary, it seems that every potential Presidential candidate writes a book that explains who they are and what they believe. America by Heart is well above average for the genre. Take out some of the Obama references, and this book would be worth reading 50 or 100 years from now because a lot of what she writes about is timeless.
December 30, 2010
Very interesting!
All politicians have agendas and Sarah Palin is no exception. What I got from reading this is: we should be proud of the USA. We do not owe anybody any apologies for our country. America is not a perfect place. We have made mistakes and allowed some terrible things in our history, but given the sordid historical record of virtually every other country on the planet, we are doing pretty well.
At home, President Obama continues to reject American exceptionalism and this has translated into a lack of faith in the American people. There is no other way to describe a government who won't trust an individual American to control our own health care, control our own business (sink or swim) decisions, plan for our own retirement or even spend our own money in a way that we see fit. What our current leaders don't seem to understand is that American greatness and success begins at home.
Sometimes we are so divided in party politics: Republicans -- wars, deficits, etc. Democrats -- welfare, taxes, etc. that we fail to see the big picture -- to do what is good for all of the citizens of this country (or as close as we can come) and not just for the political groups who help put our politicians in office or the people who are not even citizens or do not have a green card!
I agree with Sarah Palin in that we need to get back to the basic old-fashioned values that have made this country great ... hard work, honesty, integrity, thrift and courage. In this book, Palin reflects on family, faith and the flag. If you want to find out the down & dirty, check out this book!
All politicians have agendas and Sarah Palin is no exception. What I got from reading this is: we should be proud of the USA. We do not owe anybody any apologies for our country. America is not a perfect place. We have made mistakes and allowed some terrible things in our history, but given the sordid historical record of virtually every other country on the planet, we are doing pretty well.
At home, President Obama continues to reject American exceptionalism and this has translated into a lack of faith in the American people. There is no other way to describe a government who won't trust an individual American to control our own health care, control our own business (sink or swim) decisions, plan for our own retirement or even spend our own money in a way that we see fit. What our current leaders don't seem to understand is that American greatness and success begins at home.
Sometimes we are so divided in party politics: Republicans -- wars, deficits, etc. Democrats -- welfare, taxes, etc. that we fail to see the big picture -- to do what is good for all of the citizens of this country (or as close as we can come) and not just for the political groups who help put our politicians in office or the people who are not even citizens or do not have a green card!
I agree with Sarah Palin in that we need to get back to the basic old-fashioned values that have made this country great ... hard work, honesty, integrity, thrift and courage. In this book, Palin reflects on family, faith and the flag. If you want to find out the down & dirty, check out this book!
September 26, 2011
I was anxious to read "America By Heart," Sarah Palin's second book. I like Sarah Palin, although I don't think she'll ever be President, since the media has "Dan Quayled" her. I liked her first book, "Going Rogue," which told her story. I didn't enjoy this one as much. It reads more like a series of editorials or campaign speeches. There are personal glimpses into Palin's life, but those are pretty fleeting. And a few caused me to roll my eyes a little: "(Daughter Bristol) engaged in an uplifting, family-oriented show called Dancing with the Stars to challenge herself in a new, fun way." I'm sure it wasn't to become famous or rake in some cash. And, yes, when I think of "family-oriented" shows, DWTS is the first one that pops into my mind! :)
Mostly, this book is a series of (admittedly inspiring, at least to me) chapters on why America is great, why Christianity is still important in America, why conservatives shouldn't despair, etc. But there are also many, many long (1 page+) excerpts from speeches/writings of the founders, Martin Luther King, past Presidents, etc. I don't know about you, but when I reach a long excerpt like that in a book, I tend to think blah blah blah and skip it. In this book, that habit would cause you to blah blah through a third of the book.
Eh, I'll give it a C+ just because I still like Sarah.
Mostly, this book is a series of (admittedly inspiring, at least to me) chapters on why America is great, why Christianity is still important in America, why conservatives shouldn't despair, etc. But there are also many, many long (1 page+) excerpts from speeches/writings of the founders, Martin Luther King, past Presidents, etc. I don't know about you, but when I reach a long excerpt like that in a book, I tend to think blah blah blah and skip it. In this book, that habit would cause you to blah blah through a third of the book.
Eh, I'll give it a C+ just because I still like Sarah.
January 2, 2011
I loved that this book celebrated concepts I, too, value: family, faith, and flag. I love that Sarah talks about how we can and should cherish parenthood, and that every child has the right to be welcomed and loved in our world and our families.
I also appreciated this book's focus on faith--especially how important it was in the founding of this great country. As we move away from faith, our country is increasingly in jeopardy. Yet, remembering the divinely inspired principles the founders used to establish this republic will help us as a nation remain free and able to contribute to the world in positive ways.
I also loved all the stories and reminders of patriotism in this book. They were wonderfully uplifting. Reading this made me proud to be an American! Sarah has included quotes and in some cases whole sections of speeches and documents which are good reminders of the values on which our country was built. I think that all too often people are forget what makes our country great and I like being reminded that we are blessed to live in a country with the freedoms and rights that others on the outside covet.
Do I agree with everything Sarah says and does? No. But, is she a woman of conviction, character, and courage? Yes! Would I recommend this book? Definitely!
I also appreciated this book's focus on faith--especially how important it was in the founding of this great country. As we move away from faith, our country is increasingly in jeopardy. Yet, remembering the divinely inspired principles the founders used to establish this republic will help us as a nation remain free and able to contribute to the world in positive ways.
I also loved all the stories and reminders of patriotism in this book. They were wonderfully uplifting. Reading this made me proud to be an American! Sarah has included quotes and in some cases whole sections of speeches and documents which are good reminders of the values on which our country was built. I think that all too often people are forget what makes our country great and I like being reminded that we are blessed to live in a country with the freedoms and rights that others on the outside covet.
Do I agree with everything Sarah says and does? No. But, is she a woman of conviction, character, and courage? Yes! Would I recommend this book? Definitely!
March 24, 2021
I wasn’t expecting to love this book, but I was really expecting something more. It was so vague and superficial.
Palin seemed to only write to one audience, instead of realizing opposing viewpoints may be interested in what she had to say and having facts ready to back her up. Another irritating aspect of her writing was referring to “Americans” wanting this or that or “Americans” believing this or that. This general lumping of everyone who resides in America as having the same views as her leaves her looking naive.
Palin seemed to only write to one audience, instead of realizing opposing viewpoints may be interested in what she had to say and having facts ready to back her up. Another irritating aspect of her writing was referring to “Americans” wanting this or that or “Americans” believing this or that. This general lumping of everyone who resides in America as having the same views as her leaves her looking naive.
June 14, 2011
I wish I could write a book that is basically a compilation of quotes from other writers and speakers and market it as my own work. This was a real disappointment.
January 12, 2013
I actually read this book. It gets two stars because it has some LOL moments. It's also going on my Politics of the Family syllabus in two places!
March 29, 2014
Because a local bookstore when out of business I was able to buy several books for a dollar. This was one of the ones. Sarah Palin is a very interesting person. I admit I had never heard of her until she was nominated as a VP candidate. I agree with her on almost all the things (policies) she says, however there is something about her, which I cannot put my finger on that makes me not like her 100%. This book is a good one to help to get to know how she feels on lots of issues. I have some quotes below that I enjoyed reading.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States when men were free. ~President Ronald Reagan
As usual, the Gipper absolutely hit the nail on the head. The difference, with our Constitution, is those three little words: We the people.
It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter [the Declaration of Independence]. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers. ~President Calvin Coolidge
It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the veteran, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin will be draped by the flag. ~a poem Sarah's uncle e-mailed to her
When WW II ended the United States had the only undamaged industrial power in the world. Its military might was at its peak - and we alone had the ultimate weapon, the nuclear bomb with the unquestioned ability to deliver it anywhere in the world. If we had sought world domination who could have opposed us? But the United States followed a different course - one unique in all the history of mankind. We used our power and wealth to rebuild the war-ravaged economies of all the world including those nations who had been our enemies. ~President Ronald Reagan to then-Soviet premier Leonid Brezhnev. It was written shortly after Reagan had just gotten out of the hospital following the 1981 assassination attempt. (this is just a portion of the letter)
Having a family gives you a gift that you might not recognize at first. It teaches you that the sun doesn't rise and set around you. It forces you to realize something that will take you far in life, if you let it: It's not about you. In our house, we pitch in and help each other out. Whether it's work, or school, or sports, or competing in the Iron Dog snow machine race, it's a family goal. If it's important to one of us it's important to all of us. And if it challenges one of us, it gets support from all of us.
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. ~Helen Keller
... we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. ~President John Adams wrote this letter to the Massachusetts militia in 1798, at a time when the United States was on the verge of war with France.
The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time. The hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them. ~President Thomas Jefferson
The same week that Congress submitted the Establishment Clause as part of the Bill of Rights for ratification by the States, it enacted legislation providing for paid chaplains in the House and Senate. ... The day after the First Amendment was proposed, the same Congress that had proposed it requested the President to proclaim "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed, by acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many and signal favors of Almighty God." ... President Washington offered the first Thanksgiving Proclamation shortly thereafter, devoting November 26, 1789, on behalf of the American people "to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that is, that was, or that will be ..." thus beginning a tradition of offering gratitude to God that continues today. ... The same Congress also reenacted the Northwest Territory Ordinance of 1787, 1 Stat. 50, Article III, of which provided: "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." ... And of course the First Amendment itself accords religion (and no other manner of belief) special constitutional protection.
... Nor have the views of our people on this matter significantly changed. Presidents continue to conclude the Presidential oath with the words "so help me God." Our legislatures, state and national, continue to open their sessions with prayer led by official chaplains. The sessions of this Court continue to open with the prayer "God save the United States and this Honorable Court." Invocation of the Almighty by our public figures, at all levels of government, remains commonplace. Our coinage bears the motto, "IN GOD WE TRUST." And our Pledge of Allegiance contains the acknowledgment that we are a Nation "under God." ~Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia from one of his famous dissents, in a case in which the Supreme Court ruled that the Ten Commandments could not be displayed at the McCreary County Courthouse in Whitley City, Kentucky.
Although the Pledge of Allegiance has been around since 1892, the words "under God" weren't added until 1954. They were added by bipartisan legislation after the minister at President Eisenhower's church said, in a sermon in which the president was present, "There [is] something missing in the pledge, [something that is] the characteristic and definitive factor in the American way of life." According to an article I found from that time, Congress was deluged with mail in favor of the change. Churches, veteran's groups, labor unions, and newspapers all got behind it. Not surprisingly, Congress approved the change by a unanimous vote.
Ronald Reagan made this point in the way only he could in his famous "evil empire" speech. Lost in all the hoopla over the American president using these words to describe the Soviet Union is the fact that Reagan's speech was devoted mostly to exploring the faith in American life. The difference between our system of government and the Soviet system - one acknowledges God and the other doesn't - has significance beyond religion, Reagan reminded us. The way the two countries treated faith, he said, had direct consequences for how they treated their people. Where there was God, there was freedom. Where He was not recognized, there was tyranny.
In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for divine protection. - Our prayers, Sir were heard & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor.
To that kind of providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? ~Benjamin Franklin beseeching his fellow delegates at the Constitutional Convention
That night and the next morning virtually all of the participants watched, in their hotel rooms, the address to the nation by the President of the United States concerning the murderous attacks upon the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, in which thousands of Americans had been killed. The address ended, as Presidential addresses often do, with the prayer "God bless America." The next afternoon I was approached by one of the judges from a European country, who, after extending his profound condolences for my country's loss, sadly observed, "How I wish that the Head of State of my country, at a similar time of national tragedy and distress, could conclude his address 'God bless ______.' It is of course absolutely forbidden. ~Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia telling of hearing of the 9/11 attacks when he was in Rome attending an international conference of judges and lawyers
Fifty-seven years earlier [this was written in 2010), in 1944, another president - a Democrat president - had prayed with America in its time of need. On the evening of June 6, 1944, as Allied troops battled and died on the beaches of France following the Normandy invasion, FDR led the nation in prayer.
Here is what Roosevelt said:
My Fellow Americans:
Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen. ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944
As you can see there is a lot of history recorded in this book. If you are a Flag waving American then you will enjoy this book!
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States when men were free. ~President Ronald Reagan
As usual, the Gipper absolutely hit the nail on the head. The difference, with our Constitution, is those three little words: We the people.
It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter [the Declaration of Independence]. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers. ~President Calvin Coolidge
It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the veteran, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin will be draped by the flag. ~a poem Sarah's uncle e-mailed to her
When WW II ended the United States had the only undamaged industrial power in the world. Its military might was at its peak - and we alone had the ultimate weapon, the nuclear bomb with the unquestioned ability to deliver it anywhere in the world. If we had sought world domination who could have opposed us? But the United States followed a different course - one unique in all the history of mankind. We used our power and wealth to rebuild the war-ravaged economies of all the world including those nations who had been our enemies. ~President Ronald Reagan to then-Soviet premier Leonid Brezhnev. It was written shortly after Reagan had just gotten out of the hospital following the 1981 assassination attempt. (this is just a portion of the letter)
Having a family gives you a gift that you might not recognize at first. It teaches you that the sun doesn't rise and set around you. It forces you to realize something that will take you far in life, if you let it: It's not about you. In our house, we pitch in and help each other out. Whether it's work, or school, or sports, or competing in the Iron Dog snow machine race, it's a family goal. If it's important to one of us it's important to all of us. And if it challenges one of us, it gets support from all of us.
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. ~Helen Keller
... we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. ~President John Adams wrote this letter to the Massachusetts militia in 1798, at a time when the United States was on the verge of war with France.
The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time. The hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them. ~President Thomas Jefferson
The same week that Congress submitted the Establishment Clause as part of the Bill of Rights for ratification by the States, it enacted legislation providing for paid chaplains in the House and Senate. ... The day after the First Amendment was proposed, the same Congress that had proposed it requested the President to proclaim "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed, by acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many and signal favors of Almighty God." ... President Washington offered the first Thanksgiving Proclamation shortly thereafter, devoting November 26, 1789, on behalf of the American people "to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that is, that was, or that will be ..." thus beginning a tradition of offering gratitude to God that continues today. ... The same Congress also reenacted the Northwest Territory Ordinance of 1787, 1 Stat. 50, Article III, of which provided: "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." ... And of course the First Amendment itself accords religion (and no other manner of belief) special constitutional protection.
... Nor have the views of our people on this matter significantly changed. Presidents continue to conclude the Presidential oath with the words "so help me God." Our legislatures, state and national, continue to open their sessions with prayer led by official chaplains. The sessions of this Court continue to open with the prayer "God save the United States and this Honorable Court." Invocation of the Almighty by our public figures, at all levels of government, remains commonplace. Our coinage bears the motto, "IN GOD WE TRUST." And our Pledge of Allegiance contains the acknowledgment that we are a Nation "under God." ~Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia from one of his famous dissents, in a case in which the Supreme Court ruled that the Ten Commandments could not be displayed at the McCreary County Courthouse in Whitley City, Kentucky.
Although the Pledge of Allegiance has been around since 1892, the words "under God" weren't added until 1954. They were added by bipartisan legislation after the minister at President Eisenhower's church said, in a sermon in which the president was present, "There [is] something missing in the pledge, [something that is] the characteristic and definitive factor in the American way of life." According to an article I found from that time, Congress was deluged with mail in favor of the change. Churches, veteran's groups, labor unions, and newspapers all got behind it. Not surprisingly, Congress approved the change by a unanimous vote.
Ronald Reagan made this point in the way only he could in his famous "evil empire" speech. Lost in all the hoopla over the American president using these words to describe the Soviet Union is the fact that Reagan's speech was devoted mostly to exploring the faith in American life. The difference between our system of government and the Soviet system - one acknowledges God and the other doesn't - has significance beyond religion, Reagan reminded us. The way the two countries treated faith, he said, had direct consequences for how they treated their people. Where there was God, there was freedom. Where He was not recognized, there was tyranny.
In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for divine protection. - Our prayers, Sir were heard & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor.
To that kind of providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? ~Benjamin Franklin beseeching his fellow delegates at the Constitutional Convention
That night and the next morning virtually all of the participants watched, in their hotel rooms, the address to the nation by the President of the United States concerning the murderous attacks upon the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, in which thousands of Americans had been killed. The address ended, as Presidential addresses often do, with the prayer "God bless America." The next afternoon I was approached by one of the judges from a European country, who, after extending his profound condolences for my country's loss, sadly observed, "How I wish that the Head of State of my country, at a similar time of national tragedy and distress, could conclude his address 'God bless ______.' It is of course absolutely forbidden. ~Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia telling of hearing of the 9/11 attacks when he was in Rome attending an international conference of judges and lawyers
Fifty-seven years earlier [this was written in 2010), in 1944, another president - a Democrat president - had prayed with America in its time of need. On the evening of June 6, 1944, as Allied troops battled and died on the beaches of France following the Normandy invasion, FDR led the nation in prayer.
Here is what Roosevelt said:
My Fellow Americans:
Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen. ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944
As you can see there is a lot of history recorded in this book. If you are a Flag waving American then you will enjoy this book!
March 18, 2011
From a reader of memoirs stand-point, she “quoted” historical figures too often and asked too many rhetorical questions. Evidence is well and good until it starts taking up pages where you could be saying your own words, as that should be the point of writing a book. If I wanted to read pages and pages of John F. Kennedy or Calvin Coolidge I would read their work.
Her chapter on “feminism” attempted to define feminism with a definition that even a junior in college could tell was incoherent. Strikingly, she discussed the idea that Susan B. Anthony was pro-life. Recently, I found an article that mentioned the Susan B. Anthony List, and I researched the organization further. So, if there isn’t any documentation that Anthony was pro-choice, then you can spin her to be pro-life? If we’re using that logic, I get to say Jesus was a raptor.
I like memoirs. I like hearing about people’s lives (sometimes) and how they got from point A to point B. From Argumentation & Debate, I learned that you need read a little about everything in order to constructively discuss it. Listening is definitely more my M-O, but good discussions are something to be relished. Do not construct an opinion on having only read one-side of an argument. As difficult as it was for me to read something like America By Heart, I’m glad that I furthered my opinion straight from the source. Primary sources go a lot further than hearsay and gossip.
And if that doesn’t work for you, then there is Sun Tzu’s quote from The Art of War:
Know your enemy.
Her chapter on “feminism” attempted to define feminism with a definition that even a junior in college could tell was incoherent. Strikingly, she discussed the idea that Susan B. Anthony was pro-life. Recently, I found an article that mentioned the Susan B. Anthony List, and I researched the organization further. So, if there isn’t any documentation that Anthony was pro-choice, then you can spin her to be pro-life? If we’re using that logic, I get to say Jesus was a raptor.
I like memoirs. I like hearing about people’s lives (sometimes) and how they got from point A to point B. From Argumentation & Debate, I learned that you need read a little about everything in order to constructively discuss it. Listening is definitely more my M-O, but good discussions are something to be relished. Do not construct an opinion on having only read one-side of an argument. As difficult as it was for me to read something like America By Heart, I’m glad that I furthered my opinion straight from the source. Primary sources go a lot further than hearsay and gossip.
And if that doesn’t work for you, then there is Sun Tzu’s quote from The Art of War:
Know your enemy.
February 22, 2013
People tend to misjudge political figures, such as Sarah Palin herself, and think that their lives consume of travelling around the country to make speeches and appear on national T.V. for debates. But, what Americans don't realize is they're human beings, just like everyone else. Most of them, if not all of them, have families and go through life's constant struggles that we all go through.
Sarah Palin did an excellent job showing that in this book she wrote. Being an Alaskan native, Palin has a husband, children, and even grandchildren, and she made it clear through her writing that her family mean everything to her. Even though she didn't win the election to be Vice President, Palin hasn't lost sight of her true values and what this country means to her.
Reading the title and who it's written by, people will most likely not want to read it. I, for one, wasn't sure about reading it if it was going to be only about her political career. But, I can guarantee that even if you don't like reading about politics, this book will still be an excellent choice for you to read. You will have the opportunity to see the United States through someone else's eyes, but you will also have the chance to see life in a whole new perspective.
Sarah Palin did an excellent job showing that in this book she wrote. Being an Alaskan native, Palin has a husband, children, and even grandchildren, and she made it clear through her writing that her family mean everything to her. Even though she didn't win the election to be Vice President, Palin hasn't lost sight of her true values and what this country means to her.
Reading the title and who it's written by, people will most likely not want to read it. I, for one, wasn't sure about reading it if it was going to be only about her political career. But, I can guarantee that even if you don't like reading about politics, this book will still be an excellent choice for you to read. You will have the opportunity to see the United States through someone else's eyes, but you will also have the chance to see life in a whole new perspective.
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