In The War on Success, New York Times bestselling author Tommy Newberry argues that the Obama administration is not only attacking entrepreneurs and small business owners, it’s launched a fundamental assault on the very concept of success. By denigrating all the qualities that make success possible—self-reliance, ambition, hard work, the pursuit of excellence—the administration is setting the stage for Big Government to step in and “guarantee” everyone’s success through socialist-style redistribution. Brash, direct, and unafraid, The War on Success tells you what’s at stake: nothing less than the survival of the American Dream.
Tommy Newberry is the founder and head coach of The 1% Club, an organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and their families maximize their full potential. As a pioneer in the life-coaching field since 1991, he has equipped business leaders in more than thirty industries to work less, earn more, and enjoy greater satisfaction with the right accomplishments. Tommy is the author of "The 4:8 Principle," "Success Is Not an Accident," "366 Days of Wisdom and Inspiration," and numerous audio programs, including the best-selling "virtual coaching" series Success Is Not an Accident: Secrets of the Top 1%. Known for his blunt, highly practical, and no-nonsense coaching style, Tommy has earned the title of America's Success Coach. His passion for developing the whole person is clearly evident throughout his live workshops, keynote presentations, books, and audio courses. Tommy's annual Couples Planning Retreat takes world-class planning tools into the family realm, showing husbands and wives how to design a more balanced, simplified, and enriching life together. An avid goal setter, Tommy has earned certification as an emergency medical technician and PADI rescue diver. He has also earned a black belt in the Korean martial art of choi kwang do. Tommy lives in Atlanta with his wife, Kristin, and their three boys.
A conservative tantrum. Only a quarter through it so far (will update the review and rating as I go), and so far we've covered how America is the best country on earth in it's star spangled glory, how we'll soon join Europe in a steep decline and be 'just like them' (and as someone who has been in Europe and worked with Europeans and European companies, makes me scoff out loud. Most Western European countries have the highest standard of living in the world, are the happiest countries in the world, and give their citizens the best foundation for success). And then it's a bigger rant on participation trophies, how Americans don't know how to win anymore, etc etc.
We are not the country we were in the 1700's. The wealthy are not only in power because they 'pulled themselves up by their bootstraps', but because of the amount of loopholes that exist to give the rich even more money and tax the rest of the country in interest. Newberry talks about the importance of a free market and a level playing field, where the talent, ambition, intelligence and work ethic can give some a shot at success. This I agree with. But what is his definition of success? Whoever makes the most money? Success to me is creating an incredible product that millions can buy, or writing a novel that will go down as a classic, creating a medicine or scientific breakthrough that saves lives. This is success, and to give our children those kind of tools for success, to make sure that we push for their highest potentials, we have to give them the tools to get there. We want to close the loopholes that literally rip off millions of Americans and ensure more livable circumstances so that more can achieve success and greatness, contributing to all. Those who complain of socialism already benefit from socialism--social security, for one.
Probably the most problematic line I have come across is "we worship the earth and not it's creator". First of all, you've lost me at God--we live in a country where there is a separation of church and state. And second of all, you've chosen to completely ignore 97% of the scientific community's consensus on the seriousness of global warming. Regulations exist for a reason, unless we want to end up like China, where most people wear face masks due to the amount of smog. We're not the vast country full of potential that settlers found hundreds of years ago, sea to shining sea of land where we committed vast genocide on 7/8's of Native Americans for good ol' American prosperity. The country cannot sustain our population if we continue our population increase and our standard of living. Fact. Please do not ignore facts for blind patriotism.
This book was an interesting political analysis in that while it does discuss political events in America, its focus is on American Virtues (or lack thereof), which drive these events. The book chronicles the unfortunate trend away from those virtues that drive success and toward those which foster mediocrity. It also offers hope that these virtues might be regained if we fight for them. As Ronald Reagan said, "Freedom is never more than one genreation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the blood stream. 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 where men were free.
Newberry identifies six American virtues that are currently under attack: Limited Government, Individualism, Free enterprise, Fiscal responsibility, private ownership, and the Constitution. The war is lead currently by the Obama Administration and his statist allies. This group, for a variety of reasons, is intent on replacing these virtues with attitudes that work against our long term individual and national success. Newberry calls them "statitudes" for statist sponsored attitudes. One is the "Fairness Statitude" where the desire for fairness goes beyond consistant rules for participants, to rigging and fixing the system to ensure an equality of outcome that stiffles any struggle to succeed by being better, by standing out. A second statitude is "Victimitus" described as an inflammation of the grievance gland which, if not treated rapidly... can permanently immobilize individuals and even entire groups. A third statitude is Envy. It is nothing new to mankind, but in America has been given new intensity by the current administration's appeal to class division and class warfare. Envy shoots at others but wounds itself. Envy expresses itself in a desire to punish and tax the successful. But the problem, as I have recently heard it stated is that if you keep getting more people sitting in the wagon than are pulling it, eventually the wagon doesn't go anywhere. And with 47% of the American people paying no federal income tax, that's where we are rapidly heading. A fourth statitude is political correctness which Newberry says "erodes our culture from within, as the citizens of this nation sheepishly censor themselves and surrender their freedom of thought, speech and expression."
Newberry then leaves this line of thought to discuss the history of the variously called progressive, liberal, secular-socialist, social democracy, socialist, liberal-fascist movements in the United States.These movements are not reaching a pinacle in the Obama Administration. In the end he notes socialism's destruction and failure as a successful way of organizing human productivity.
"Socialism" notes Winston Churchill, "is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy; its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Newberry then lists and discusses the charactoristics of creation and the Creater that rule out successful socialist governance. Foundational in this is that man is sinful, and will thus naturally often do the wrong thing. Because this is true, America and its Constitution was founded to check this nature, and to as much as possible to overcome it. Those on the left, ignore to their folly this fundamental fact, preferring to naively believe that social pathologies are a result of the system, and if, only the perfect system could be devised, all these problems would disappear.
The final part of Newberry's book aims to give strategies for restoring American virtue.... courage, responsibility, integrity, and self-discipline. He also includes principles and habits to align ourselves with ntural law, leading to optimism and a return to American virtue if we heed his call to action.
A book I really enjoyed. I really do believe that American exceptionalism is the spine that brought America to where it is today, and it’s under attack. The one thing I wish this book would have done better is present both sides of the argument. Coming from Tommy Newberry, who is most known for his studies on entrepreneurs and what makes them successful, this book presents current issues in government, politics and culture in a conservative, even religious, light. I recommend this book to those who want to see how I see many of the issues today. Check it out!
Tommy Newberry should be read by all freedom loving Americans. It is not a personal attack on Obama, but instead, attack the policies that he is trying to pass. In fact, he admires that Obama has been able to live the American dream. Please read this book and pass it on to a friend or foe.