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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
This book is funny and eye opening and undoubtedly true as far as it goes. And yet... I wish the author had presented examples from both sides. I felt beaten over the head with "people on the right are (mostly) stupid and ignorant, and people on the left are (mostly) intelligent and well read."
The author's theory about the rise of stupid politicians describes three stages: 1) Stage 1 politicians try to hide their stupidity, 2) Stage 2 politicians admit their intellectural shortcomings to show they are ordinary people just like us, and 3) Stage 3 politicians purposely appear stupid to get elected. The author presents Donald Trump as the prime example of a Stage 3 politician. But Donald Trump does NOT try to appear stupid. Just the opposite. He's a throwback to Stage 1. I'm not sure how this validates the author's theory about how stupid politicians have multiplied, unless he switched from analyzing politicians' views to analyzing the voting public's views. Maybe the general population has gotten stupider (I tend to agree), but his three stages of acceptance don't support the premise.
People vote the way they do for a variety of reasons. Smart people and stupid people exist on both sides of the aisle. The author oversimplifies things by presenting virtually all Republicans as stupid but likeable, while presenting virtually all Democrats as smart but beset by bad luck, arrogance, or a hostile press.
There are nuggets of truth in here, and I laughed out loud many times, but the biased presentation taints what could have been (dare I say it?) an intelligent analysis of recent political events.
The author's theory about the rise of stupid politicians describes three stages: 1) Stage 1 politicians try to hide their stupidity, 2) Stage 2 politicians admit their intellectural shortcomings to show they are ordinary people just like us, and 3) Stage 3 politicians purposely appear stupid to get elected. The author presents Donald Trump as the prime example of a Stage 3 politician. But Donald Trump does NOT try to appear stupid. Just the opposite. He's a throwback to Stage 1. I'm not sure how this validates the author's theory about how stupid politicians have multiplied, unless he switched from analyzing politicians' views to analyzing the voting public's views. Maybe the general population has gotten stupider (I tend to agree), but his three stages of acceptance don't support the premise.
People vote the way they do for a variety of reasons. Smart people and stupid people exist on both sides of the aisle. The author oversimplifies things by presenting virtually all Republicans as stupid but likeable, while presenting virtually all Democrats as smart but beset by bad luck, arrogance, or a hostile press.
There are nuggets of truth in here, and I laughed out loud many times, but the biased presentation taints what could have been (dare I say it?) an intelligent analysis of recent political events.
funny
informative
medium-paced
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Elicited some giggles. I found the parts about Regan and the mythology that’s been created around him very interesting.
dark
funny
informative
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
informative
medium-paced
funny
informative
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
I didn't know much about the author before, and I had hoped it would have equally ripped apart politicians of all walks... I'm still glad I read it and learned a few things.
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced