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henrik_w's review against another edition
4.0
A short and quick read. The best parts from it in my opinion: the “strict father” model that conservatives use versus the “nurturing family” model that progressives use – very enlightening. Also, how thoroughly conservatives have been able to frame a lot of issues – for example, the concept of tax relief (instead of looking at what you get for your money).
“Frames trump facts” and “the private depends on the public” are two another good points from the book. However, I had hoped that it would contain a lot more practical advice on how to use framing to your own advantage. There is a very good chapter at the end, with a lot of examples of how to respond to conservative talking points. But I would have liked more on that. Still, good and eye-opening.
“Frames trump facts” and “the private depends on the public” are two another good points from the book. However, I had hoped that it would contain a lot more practical advice on how to use framing to your own advantage. There is a very good chapter at the end, with a lot of examples of how to respond to conservative talking points. But I would have liked more on that. Still, good and eye-opening.
arielrichardson's review against another edition
4.0
I had Lakoff as a professor at Berkeley, but even before he was my professor his ideas changed the way I understood the world, especially my parents.
samferree's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
This book came out more or less exactly when I became more politically aware in high school, and though I only just read it in 2023 I have noticed the lessons, observations, and recommendations Lakoff makes herein start to gain traction and then eventually become common wisdom in political messaging. Having worked at an environmental advocacy organization in the 21st Century pre-teens, I remember Lakoff's work being presented as "new and meaningful" and watched as it's worked very well for those who took the lesson and others who ignore it crash and burn. Lakoff's Strong Father vs. Nurturing Family model has to be one of the most useful and succinct analogies for the conflict between conservativism and progressivism in contemporary Anglo-American politics I've ever encountered. I say Anglo-American because it seems that Americans may have inherited this notion from the UK since Thatcher summed up the conservative take pretty well when she accidentally articulated the idea in a 1987 interview, "...who is society? There is no such thing! There are individual men and women and there are families and no government can do anything except through people and people look to themselves first." I also recognize the Strong Father model in Jeffersonian libertarian individualism that has been a pretty consistent theme throughout American history; progressivism, I think, is harder to trace as an intellectual force, but it seems to be a basic notion of "we are all in this together" that has its origins in communitarianism, labor solidarity, pluralism, unionism, New Dealism, and constitutionalism.
ikahime's review against another edition
5.0
Want to understand how to manipulate language in order to benefit your own political adgenda? This is a must read for you, my friend!
bpol's review against another edition
5.0
The examples may date this book, but it's a good dive into how those on the political left in the US have been terrible at articulating their values those on the right have been very effective at framing the public debate. A must read for those interested in how our politics are frames by our values and why facts often don't make a difference in our public discourse.
steph_84's review against another edition
4.0
This book is for progressives who identify as progressives. If you don’t identify as progressive this book isn’t for you: as evidenced by many of the reviews by centrists and right-wingers who gave the book one or two stars!
It’s very important reading for anyone wanting to progress liberal issues, explaining how to frame issues and respond to the very-successful framing by conservatives so that their ideas seem like “common sense” to anyone not paying attention. I tweeted once that anyone who used the phrase “common sense” was probably a pushing a right-wing agenda. This book explains why that’s true... for now. It’s a good kick up the bum for progressives to be more strategic.
The downsides for me were:
1. There’s quite a lot of repetition. The editing could have been tighter. The ideas were interesting but in practice I got distracted by other books along the way rather than wanting to read it all in one go.
2. I know it’s by an American author but wow it’s really REALLY American. The assumption that Americans are superior to everyone else led to a fair bit of eye rolling and eyebrow-raising on my part, and I was alarmed at how even progressives were assumed to be pro-military. Most of the advice applies to other western countries, but not all.
3. The original book was written in 2004 but my version was updated in 2014 with a few notes throughout, which was an odd mix. For such a popular book I’d like to see a proper update with contemporary examples and ideas.
Irritating phrases aside, the Left really needs this book. We are losing the war and need to change strategies. I plan to implement these strategies and have already started talking to others about it.
It’s very important reading for anyone wanting to progress liberal issues, explaining how to frame issues and respond to the very-successful framing by conservatives so that their ideas seem like “common sense” to anyone not paying attention. I tweeted once that anyone who used the phrase “common sense” was probably a pushing a right-wing agenda. This book explains why that’s true... for now. It’s a good kick up the bum for progressives to be more strategic.
The downsides for me were:
1. There’s quite a lot of repetition. The editing could have been tighter. The ideas were interesting but in practice I got distracted by other books along the way rather than wanting to read it all in one go.
2. I know it’s by an American author but wow it’s really REALLY American. The assumption that Americans are superior to everyone else led to a fair bit of eye rolling and eyebrow-raising on my part, and I was alarmed at how even progressives were assumed to be pro-military. Most of the advice applies to other western countries, but not all.
3. The original book was written in 2004 but my version was updated in 2014 with a few notes throughout, which was an odd mix. For such a popular book I’d like to see a proper update with contemporary examples and ideas.
Irritating phrases aside, the Left really needs this book. We are losing the war and need to change strategies. I plan to implement these strategies and have already started talking to others about it.
k_b00kish's review against another edition
4.0
Short yet powerful book about the power of language and framing from cognitive theory. I will need to listen to this again, as it contains loaded lessons!
ezribex's review against another edition
3.0
Liked: this book uses science, it also gives practical advice
Wanted more of: cognitive science, economic theory
Think it would be good to put the practical advice in the final chapter into practice--sometime soon hopefully!
Wanted more of: cognitive science, economic theory
Think it would be good to put the practical advice in the final chapter into practice--sometime soon hopefully!