Soak Wash Rinse Spin

Book Description

Steve Tolleson's approach to design might best be described as scientific: it involves relentless research in which every element of a project—down to its letterforms—is subject to rigorous study through almost imperceptible permutations. The end results of this process are designs that are meticulously executed, sometimes cerebral, but never without emotion and wit. ?
Soak Wash Rinse Spin investigates the cycles of the Tolleson Design creative process through a textual and graphic layering of information involving four phases: research (the intake of as much information as they can gather), collaboration (with the client and with the other members of the creative team), visual exploration (the workbook process, which includes refinements and the examination of multiple options), and environmental influences (consideration of the ultimate purpose of the solution).

Customer Reviews:

good for designer.......2007-07-12

it's a little expensive but it's worthy when i got it. very good book for graphic designer.

W O W.......2005-03-15

This compilation of tolleson design work is just amazing. the book features a lot of their best works and is very inspirational. definately worth buying, and its expensive, in fact, its really affordable, making it even more worthwhile ;)

A superb collection of inspiring design.......2003-06-13

I was a bit concerned about buying this book after reading complaints about type size, but after some debating I decided to just buy this book and decide for myself... and I'm glad that I did. Sure the type is small and a bit hard to read. But there are only significant ammounts of type on the first twenty pages. The majority of the remaining 268 pages contain mostly images. Some pages contain no type at all, other than page numbers.

This one gets 5 well deserved stars. Forget the type complaints and pick up a copy of this valuable addition to any designer's book collection.

Beauty in Imperfection.......2002-07-22

Soak Wash Rinse Spin's typesetting forces you to stop reading after too few pages. You really want to dig in but are quickly demoralized into putting it down.

Sagmeister's, "Made you look" was studied in wonder over a 10 hour session immediately after opening the package. I had never heard of him and i was quickly converted into a believer, all other scheduled items became secondary. Long lines of sans serif tiny type are the only thing that stopped this book from having an impact of similar strength.

An unrelated note, within one week, the binding cracked.

One research misjudgement on my part was to assume the book was published very recently and included their newest projects (see tolleson.com) It was published in 2000 of course, some projects have glimmers of past trends.

Nothing compares to the sheer visual firepower Tolleson blasts with both barrels. There is a beautiful logic flowing with every peice and you feel drawn into the scientific precision of the studio's creative process.

A printer's eye glass would be a fun attachment to assist in reading this book, which despite it's flaws is a proud part of my collection.

What's the point of this size?.......2002-04-19

This is a portfolio of work that is always interesting and often beautiful. The approach is as stimulating as the work and, sadly, this is where the book is done a great disservice by the size of the type. It is simply too small to read comfortably and seems to invite its dismissal. Everything seems irrelevant- small type not intended to be read because it's not important. It's unnecessary and unforgivable- an elementary folly that made me question the whole book.

Average customer rating:

Soak Wash Rinse Spin
Steven Tolleson
Manufacturer: Princeton Architectural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N67FKO

Book Description

This sequel to Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art offers in-depth conversations with some of the most important cinematographers working in film, television and commercials today. It includes younger cinematographers who have recently made their mark as well as icons of this craft. The conversations cover all aspects of cinematography from pre-production planning to post-production, special effects, underwater photography, and second unit. Each interview gives a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the most popular shots in films and television were lit and captured.

Like its predecessor, this book explores the tools, trends, personalities, and professional achievements of contemporary cinematographers, highlighting the behind-the-scenes struggles of the business of making motion pictures. Each chapter delves into the personal challenges, political proprieties, inter-departmental interactions, and artistic achievements of the artists who bring scripts to life through their choice of cameras, lights, lenses, filters, gels, and other supporting equipment.

Interviews with prominent, award-winning cinematographers
Insight into some of the most popular and innovative movies today
Covers all aspects of cinematography, including post-production and special effects

Customer Reviews:

Still worth a look........2001-07-09

A follow up to the author's first book, this continues the style of the first and is every bit as good.

DP's interviewed are: 2nd Unit DP Mike Benson (Sliver, Volcano), Peter James (Driving Miss Daisy), Daryn Okada (Lake Placid), TV DP Neil Roach (Of Mice and Men), Commercial DP Ward Russell (Days of Thunder), Nancy Schrieber (Blair Witch Hunt), John Schwartzman (Pearl Harbour), Dean Semler (Dances With Wolves), Dante Spinotti (Heat), Ueli Steiger (Godzilla), and Vilmos Zsigmond (Bonfire of the Vanities).

Unlike the previous reviewer, I think this book is worth it. There are always going to be great DP's missed out (the author apologises for some who didn't make the first volume, due to unfinished interviews), but that just allows for future volumes. However he is correct about the cover ... the image shown here lists far more names than actually made it, and is different in that respect from the cover of my copy.

Don't judge a book by its cover (or a picture of it).......2001-02-08

Although relatively good, this book was overall dissapointing. Of all the cinematographers featured on the cover picture shown above, only a third of them appear in the book. What happened to the great DP's like Tak Fujimoto, Vilmos Zsigmond, Russell Carpenter, Laszlo Kovacs, Dante Spinotti, and Haskel Wexler to name a few?! The book does have some insight, but not enough to make it worth buying. Instead, I recommend you go for its predecessor, "Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art." Or, if you are looking for a REALLY good book on cinematography, try "Cinematography: Screencraft." Both Wexler and Sven Nykvist are there, as well as geniuses like Darius Khondji ("Se7en," "City of Lost Children," and "Delicatessen") and Janusz Kaminski ("Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan," and the upcoming "AI: Artificial Intelligence"). At least these two books will give you a more insightful and rewarding experience than this one.

Book Description

ow in its fourth hardcover printing, Define 'Normal' has become a word-of-mouth phenomenon. This is a thoughtful, wry story about two girls-a 'punk' and a 'priss'-who find themselves facing each other in a peer-counseling program, and discover that they have some surprising things in common.

Customer Reviews:

An Odd Friendship.......2007-05-31

Antonia's life looks perfect from the outside. She gets excellent grades in high school, dresses nicely, and has good manners. Teachers like her and she likes school; she plans on graduation early and getting an early start on college. Just underneath the surface, though, Antonia's life is not so easy. Her father is gone and her mother is severely depressed. Running the house and taking care of her two little brothers has become almost entirely Antonia's responsibility.

When Antonia's guidance counselor asks her to be a peer counselor to help other students through their problems, she reluctantly agrees. She doesn't really have the time, but she knows it will look good on her college applications and she wants to maintain her perfect student image with her teachers.

Antonia is assigned to counsel Jazz, who is as different from Antonia as anyone could be. Jazz dyes her hair weird colors. She is a punk who wears ripped clothes and leather. She has body piercings and tattoos and is friends with the bad crowd at school. She and Antonia seem to have nothing in common, and Antonia has no idea how to get her to talk about her problems so they can start solving them.

Soon, though, Antonia begins to realize there is more to Jazz than what she appears on the surface. When they finally start to talk, Antonia finds she is looking forward to the counseling sessions. And as she talks to Jazz, Antonia realizes she is working through her own family problems, too.

I really liked Jazz's character--she had a great deal of depth. I liked watching Antonia and Jazz develop such a nice friendship. The adults in this book were pretty lousy, though, from the school staff who seemed to treat the students unfairly to Jazz's parents who made her life difficult instead of accepting her as she was.

Normal Means Nothing.......2007-05-19

One of the books that I read this year was Define Normal by Julie Anne Peters. In this book there are two main characters that are complete opposite from each other. As the story goes on they discover that they have more things in common than they imagined. As I read the story, even I found many things in common with these two girls.
Elizabeth is a shy quiet girl. She is known to be a "loner" at school. Her life is very troubling, but she prefers to hide all of her emotions. Jazz is the opposite from her, or at least she thinks she is. At school she is known to be a troublemaker. Hanging around with the wrong kinds of people and having different "tastes" in clothes. Her parents are from a very rich society her "punk" style. The two girls have to peer council each other. They think that they are doing the other person a favor by counseling one another. The truth is a whole different story. They become friends, but in secret. Jazz doesn't want her friends to find out because of her reputation.
People tend to think that two different kinds of social groups can't mix. In this case, a "punk" girls and a "loner", this book proves them wrong. I learned that you can't judge a person by how he/she looks. There is a lot more to a person than what we see on the outside.
I have never read a book that made more sense. This is a common problem that kids face, wondering what will happen if they talk to "that person" Not only is this book interesting to read, it has a moral. You have to have patience with a person until you find out their true personality. I recommend this book to kids who are in middle school. That's where these problems occur most often. I hope tat reading this book will change how a person thinks and feels.

Cate's Review.......2007-05-07

Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters
In Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters, Antonia's life at home and school is falling apart. Her only comfort is the thought of doing peer counseling at school - but that's until she finds out she is supposed to counsel "Jazz" Luther whom Antonia thinks is beyond help. But through the peer counseling program Antonia and Jazz learn things about each other that they never thought could be possible. As they grow closer together, something happens that shatters their friendship and they will have to learn to forgive each other and their families to remake their friendship.
Define "Normal" is a wonderful book about the true, very similar personalities of two people who, at first glance, seem extremely different. Julie Anne Peters does a great job captivating middle school readers who like realistic fiction, with the unexpected turns of the plot and the description of the characters, Antonia and Jazz. At the end of the book the reader will feel like he or she knows the characters because of the vivid way the author writes about how they dress, talk, and act. Define "Normal" is a great book and middle school girls will enjoy reading it.

this is one of the best books i've ever read!.......2007-03-09

this book is about two girs who seem completely different from each other, and find out that they have lots more in common than they think.Antonia is participating in the new peer counseling program in their scool.She then finds out that her peer is going to be Jazz luther,a punker,and druggie,and a freak.But then they find out that their family has a crisis,and that crisis will help them build a strong friendship.These two girls will now have to struggle to help each other survive their own famimy.Will Antonia be willing to trust someone like Jazz? or will she just go on with her normal life? but it really depends how you define normal.

Don't judge a book by its cover.......2006-12-08

Like most people who first pick up "Define 'Normal'", I was taken aback by the cover (specifically the picture of that weird person on the upper right with the black lipstick). I started reading the first page and I was hooked by the easy-to-read writing style.
I love the book "Define 'Normal'" because as you read, the picture on the upper right doesn't seem so strange anymore.
When I read the first few chapters and about Antonia's perspective on the peer counseling, I unconsciously assumed that Antonia had no problems at all and was a perfect little angel, and obviously took her original perspective on Jazz. Getting further into the book, I realized that although Jazz has her share of problems, it seemed more like Jazz counseling Antonia!
I would recommend this book to any teen who is skeptical about the cover picture. (warnings: vivid pictures of Antonia's mother's medical condition, infrequent but salty language.)

Average customer rating:

Adult Children of Normal Parents
Berman
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Discovering normal: A parenting program for adult children of alcoholics and their partners

Average customer rating:

Discovering normal: A parenting program for adult children of alcoholics and their partners
Irene Rubenstein Bush
Manufacturer: Children of Alcoholics Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Adult Children of Alcoholics | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006OUP5A

Average customer rating:

The Last Exit to Normal
Michael Harmon
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0375840982
Release Date: 2008-03-11

Book Description

It’s true: After 17-year-old Ben’s father announces he’s gay and the family splits apart, Ben does everything he can to tick him off: skip school, smoke pot, skateboard nonstop, get arrested. But he never thinks he’ll end up yanked out of his city life and plunked down into a small Montana town with his dad and Edward, The Boyfriend. As if it’s not painful enough living in a hick town with spiked hair, a skateboard habit, and two dads, he soon realizes something’s not quite right with Billy, the boy next door. He’s hiding a secret about his family, and Ben is determined to uncover it and set things right. In an authentic, unaffected, and mordantly funny voice, Michael Harmon tells the wrenching story of an uprooted and uncomfortable teenaged guy trying to fix the lives around him–while figuring out his own.

Average customer rating:

Adult Children of Normal Parents
Jennifer Berman
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OAJVSS

Customer Reviews:

Two words...Nth Man.......2004-07-14

Having become part of Project:Pegasus security The Thing and Quasar hope to bring order to the World but all goes wrong when Thomas Lightner, the once evil Blacksun corrupts the minds of Deathlok and Thundra to get the parts needed for The Nth Projector. The Thing learns of this too late as he, Wundarr The Star Child turned Aquarian, Quasar, Giant Man 2 and Thundra are thrust into battle against villains like Klaw, Solarr and even Lightner himself as The Nth Man. This Graphic Novel set the stage for Squadron Supreme: Death of a Universe and the Imus Champion/Squadron Supreme storyline in Avengers vol. 3 #5-6 and Avengers/Squadron Supreme Annual of 1998.

Product Description

This book includes the best and most durable examples of the unique ragtime style the music of Scott Joplin, James Scott, Joseph F. Lamb, Tom Turpin, Charles Hunter, and others most are in their original forms, though some have been arranged for easier playing.

Customer Reviews:

Why have kids on the cover?.......2006-11-10

Less than a year ago, with a half century looming not far ahead of me, I mentioned to a piano-instructor friend of mine that I wished I had studied piano as a child because I'd always wanted to play Ragtime. His response, of course, was why not start now. With weekly lessons and a lot of practice, I'm at last starting to achieve that aim. The arrangements in the "Joy of Ragtime" are accessible enough for the beginner, but complex enough to make the music fun, challanging, and interesting. Too often piano music for beginners is vapid and banal. The "Joy of" series lets you play real music while still learning the instrument.

Book Description

A dive into pin-ups of the past. Surrounded by sand and surf, these lovely ladies evoke a gentler time of dress and illustration.

Average customer rating:

Swimsuit Sweeties
Artist Archives
Manufacturer: Collector's Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MZPS5U

Average customer rating:

Why they are "special"

The Mammoth Book of Special Forces: Over 30 Missions of Ultimate Danger Behind Enemy Lines, from the Attempted Assassination of Rommel to the Iraq War

Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Iraq | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books
General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
General | Science | Subjects | Books
History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Mammoth Book of Special Ops: The 40 Most Dangerous Special Operations of Modern Times (Mammoth Books)

The Mammoth Book of True War Stories (Mammoth Books)

Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team

Masters Of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces

Ultimate Risk: SAS Contact Al Qaeda

ASIN: 0786714271

Book Description

Fully up-to-date, this riveting collection includes the most recent operations into Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia, and features the entire range of special forces from SAS, Commandos, and Rangers to Navy SEALS and Paratroopers. Among the legendary “behind the lines” operations of the Special Forces from their formation in 1940 onwards are the Green Berets in Vietnam, the Royal Marine Commandos in the Falklands, the SBS in the Aegean in WWII, and US Navy SEALS in the Gulf War. The Mammoth Book of Special Forces contains thirty true and graphic accounts of the most heroic missions ever undertaken behind enemy lines.

Customer Reviews:

Why they are "special".......2007-05-29

This one of two military history books I recently re-read, the other being The Mammoth Book of Special Ops. This volume was edited by Jon E. Lewis and consists of eyewitness accounts and/or analyses of "30 missions of ultimate danger from behind enemy lines" that extend throughout the 20th century, from T.E. Lawrence's "The Revolt in the Desert - Special Force Operations, Arabia, 1917" until Eric Bailey's "Fighting Fire with Fire with Fire, 22 SAS, Afghanistan, 2002). Of special interest to me is the fact that the same core principles of special operations (i.e. special ops) that are evident in most (if not all) of the 30 accounts can be traced back in time at least to ancient Troy. As Lewis observes in his brief but remarkably comprehensive Introduction, "...what did Odysseus do but use `specially trained, equipped, and organized' forces to gain entry into Troy by concealing them inside the Wooden Horse?" Specifically, exceptional preparation, focus, stealth, ingenuity, resourcefulness, and teamwork as well as highly specialized skills and speed of execution when conducting operations behind enemy lines.

Of course, which accounts are of greatest interest will vary from one reader to the next. Those that I found most fascinating include:

"Cockleshell Heroes"
(Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment, France 1942)
Patrick Pringle
Comment: According to Pringle, this was the problem to be solved: "Something had to be done about the German ships at Bordeaux. They were sailing regularly to and from Japan. They were running the Allied blockade, taking out prototypes of German weapons and equipment - and bringing back rubber and other raw materials vital in war. Either the ships should be destroyed in the harbour, or the port itself would have to be made unusable." Pringle's account of is of Operation Frankton and a raid led by then Major Herbert ("Blondie") Hasler. FYI, the cockleshell was a canoe that Hasler co-designed with Fred Goatley to meet the mission's strict specifications.

"The Attack on Rommel's HQ"
(11 Scottish Commando, North Africa 1941)
Richard Arnold
Comment: Under the command of Lieutenant Geoffrey Keyes, six officers and fifty-three of other ranks were delivered by submarines to attack Rommel's headquarters (at Beda Littoria, halfway between Tobruk and Bengaz) and either kill or capture him.

"Eagle Claw"
(Delta Force, Iran 1980)
Ian Westwell
Comment: The objective was to rescue 56 U.S. nationals who were held as hostages in Tehran. The group was led by Colonel Charles Beckwith. The Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (i.e. Delta Force) was Beckwith's "brainchild" and established in 1977, inspired by the British 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (i.e. SAS) with which he served in 1962-63.

"Interrogation"
(SOE, France 1944)
Bruce Marshall
Comment: According to Marshall, the Special Operations Executive (SOE) was formed in 1940 as an amalgamation of various British secret service department, and charged with the co-ordination of `all action, by way of sabotage and subversion, against the enemy overseas.'" In this account, Frederick Yeo-Thomas (his code names "Shelley" and "White Rabbit") parachutes into France to coordinate the Resistance groups and, only four months before D-Day, is captured and interrogated by the Gestapo. And then....

As this review is composed in the U.S. on Memorial Day, 2007, I am especially grateful for books such as this because they help me to understand and appreciate even more the courageous women and men as well as their missions that demonstrate what is "special" about special forces.

Average customer rating:

Well done - concise - very readable

What a great Book

BRINGING AMERICA TO ITS SENSES

agree with disappointment so far

For those who take America seriously

Getting America Right: The True Conservative Values Our Nation Needs Today
Edwin J. Feulner , and Doug Wilson
Manufacturer: Crown Forum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Political Doctrines | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Conservatism | Political Doctrines | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Heritage Guide to the Constitution

Strategery: How George W. Bush Is Defeating Terrorists, Outwitting Democrats, and Confounding the Mainstream Media

Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America

America: The Last Best Hope (Volume I): From the Age of Discovery to a World at War

Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy

ASIN: 0307336913
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Book Description

Where did we take a wrong turn?

That’s what proud conservatives are asking. The era of liberal dominance is finally over, but sometimes you wouldn’t know it. Government spending is out of control, huge waves of illegal immigration endanger our security and our American identity, more and more Americans look to Washington for the “quick fix,” the government grabs for more power at the expense of our liberty, American businesses are fleeing overseas, and terrorism threatens us more than ever.

How do we deal with these crises when our leaders refuse to? By following Edwin J. Feulner and Doug Wilson’s unique and practical six-point plan: specific steps that every one of us can take to put America back on course.

As conservative leaders—Feulner as president of the nation’s preeminent think tank, The Heritage Foundation; Wilson as chairman of America’s leading conservative news and community website, Townhall.com—the authors know that what will rescue us now are the things that have always made this nation great: free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, a strong national defense, and the rule of law. We must demand accountability and a return to our core principles.

Getting America Right reveals:

• Stunning real-world examples of government run amok, and how it hurts you

• The politicians who are selling out, and the brave souls who are fighting for what’s right

• How to restore fiscal discipline among Washington’s pork-addicted pols—Feulner and Wilson identify ridiculous programs we should slash now

• The blueprint for getting the federal government out of our way and out of our pockets

• The threats Washington is ignoring, and the steps we must take at home and abroad to ensure our security

• What you can do to hold politicians accountable

What is at risk if we fail? Nothing less than the freedom, prosperity, and security of ourselves and our children and grandchildren. We must get it right—each and every one of us. And we need to start today. As Newt Gingrich writes in his foreword to Getting America Right, “The blueprint for our action—yours and mine—is contained within the pages of this remarkable book.”

Also available as an eBook.

Visit GettingAmericaRight.com for more resources to join the fight to put America back on track.

Customer Reviews:

Well done - concise - very readable.......2007-09-10

This author has a strong but easy style of writing that blends perfectly with his topic. He delves fairly deeply into what happened to Republicans in the late 1990's and early 2000's. They lost their rudder, they got power drunk, and they abandoned their principles. An receipe for destruction.

The author does a very good job of juxtaposing the current Republicans with the "Reagan Era". As I was reading, I could not help but think about the 80's, Ronald Reagan, optimism, and some people in government actually getting along - Ah for the good 'ol days of Tip O'Neil and Reagan beating each other up and then having drinks at the White House.

The author highlights and exposes what seems to be a significant dimunition of class in both parties over the last 10 years.

Well done and an easy, compelling read.

What a great Book.......2007-05-14

It is the best horror book I have read in years. Every page scared the hell of me; I could not believe what politicians have done to this great country over the past one hundred years. I am now ready to declare open season on all politicians and offer a bounty for their hides with a special bonus paid for RINO hides. I certainly pray it is not too late win back the United States of America from the NEOCOM left.

BRINGING AMERICA TO ITS SENSES .......2006-06-18

This little book is packed with information about America's tilt to the left which has led us off course and is jeopardizing our future. I learned so much about how Washington really works and it was not very encouraging. You will be astounded at how our tax money is being spent. You will be dismayed at how our national unity is being eroded. You will be angered at how politicians sell out our military for personal gain. You will be sickened at how American citizenship is being devalued and how even illegal aliens are voting in our elections.

The only way we are going to retain our position of strength in the world is if citizens get involved and demand change in Washington. This book is a call to action for Americans who love their country. Legislators must be held accountable for the mess we are in and we must make them understand that we will no longer tolerate the back room deals, the favors to the special interests, the pork barrel spending, the namby pamby immigration policies and citizenship requirements. If Americans continue to be apathetic, things will go on as usual in Washington and the people will be the losers. Every American should read this book and then make their voices heard.

agree with disappointment so far.......2006-05-04

I am disappointed and I haven't even read it yet. If anything Steve has written and quoted out of the book is correct then it is just another case of the blind leading the blind. Please read his review and decide for yourself. I still plan to buy the book but as with everything else I will take it with a huge chunk of salt. Sounds to me like the so called "Conservatives" have just put out another book to "unbiasedly" support their positions and make it easier to swallow by the masses. There is no such thing as a conservative any more. If you want to get back to constitutional government, go check out the Libertarian party and view their positions. They come the closest to truly supporting a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The rest of them are still just self serving and don't want to let go of their power and your money.

Dan C

For those who take America seriously.......2006-04-27

"Getting America Right" is a political, not a partisan, book.

It sets forth the vision of its authors for a six-point plan that they believe would put America back on course. Of course, what America's course should be is a legitimate topic of debate.

All too often, though, that debate degenerates into noisy, angry diatribes in which both facts and logic are quickly lost in a cloud of name-calling.

Here, without a partisan tone, the authors lay out what they clearly label conservative views of what the nation --- more appropriately, the citizens of the nation --- need to do in order to alter the course of the United States.

Each of their six points is set forth in essentially neutral terms. They give profuse examples of what they think is wrong and then propose remedies. No partisan sniping. No name-calling. Exposition and argument (in the classic sense) to make their point. I wish every book on political issues took the approaches of these authors. Political discourse would be greatly improved and we all might become more civil as we address the problems our nation faces.

The authors pose six questions:

1. Is it the government's business?
2. Does the measure promote self-reliance?
3. Is it responsible?
4. Does it make us more prosperous?
5. Does it make us safer?
6. Does it unify us?

Each question is addressed by first setting out problems perceived by the authors (i.e., the waste engendered by a 60,000 page tax code; the inequity of a woman with a $5 million annual income paying less in taxes than people earning $50,000). They then set forth their proposed solution. And finally, they set forth the counter-arguments raised by opponents of their views and explain themselves.

It's a terrific approach, clearly Socratic and not given to ad hominem.

I would hope that Americans of all political persuasions, but who are motivated by their concern for the future of this nation not only read this book but discuss it as well.

Jerry

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