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Summary: Ten things I liked about "Ten Things you can't say .."
Review: 1. Elder's use of examples to support his positions -- his chapter on "media bias" has more than a dozen excellent examples which prove the true colors of influential, high-profile media members.2. Elder's attack on Republicans who "talk the talk" of small government, but fail to "walk the walk." 3. His criticism that many whites are too cowardly to criticize counterproductive behaviors among blacks, behaviors the same people would not tolerate among members of their own family or peer group. Hypocricy and double standards are repeatedly identified and ridiculed. 4. Numerous commonly held assumptions are shown to be bogus and/or critically unexamined; contrarian viewpoints are too often underreported. 5. The historical evolution of how we reached our politically incorrect, "government-is-always-the-best-answer" political and social climate is often traced and explained. 6. The book is well-written, easy to read, hard to put down. 7. The author clearly shows why and how the "victicrat" mentality and rhetoric harms the very people its proponents supposedly want to help. 8. Elder's identification of illegitimacy and lack of fathers in a staggering percentage of black households (and an alarming percentage of all households) as THE No. 1 problem in America. 9. The book's celebration of "common sense" reforms and its understanding that "old-fashioned," and time-tested values of hard work, perserverance and personal responsibility are the best cure for what ails our society. 10. That so much of what Elder says in his book is considered controversial and heartless by liberals is reason to frown. On the other hand, the fact so many people have purchased this book and endorse its common-sense message is reason to smile and (to borrow a phrase from Elder's philosophical opposite, Jesse Jackson), to "keep hope alive!"
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Summary: Mr. Elder is a courageous voice in America
Review: Larry Elder is not just any libertarian. He's not afraid to tackle the big issues; especially those that deal with race. This book is not only well-written and witty - it's backed by hard facts and reasoned thinking. Any rational and open-minded person would find this book convincing. It's also a great read for libertarians, to give them new ammunition and facts. Larry Elder is going to take a lot of heat for this book from the liberals, particularly so-called black leaders. His criticism of them is scathing while accurate, not to mention a long time coming. This book is the best piece on race relations in this country I have ever read
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Summary: "Toe-Tag" Liberals Have Nothing to Fear from Elder.
Review: Larry Elder's arguments would have been more persuasive if he had tempered them with a little compassion. While he makes good sense on such issues like legalization of drugs, his take on health care and the minimum wage leave me wondering if all libertarians are so cold-hearted. No insurance? Go to an ER--who cares if you have to wait hours for treatment. The insured rich get better health care because they deserve it. Health care is not a right guaranteed under the Constitution, in Elder's view, so the government is not obligated to make sure that all Americans have access to good health care. The book reads like a series of soundbites from his radio program. Poor writing, poor editing, no apparent fact-checking--beware if you want to use his arguments to slap down us "toe-tag liberals."
Rating: 
Summary: Superb!
Review: Hey Larry, A friend just called me to discuss your superb and well written book (The Ten Things You Can't Say In America). He and I were saying that your book should be required reading at the high school and college level. Larry your classic presentation would simply allow our youth the opportunity to absorb a different slant on a major issue that society continually faces, especially black students. Your book Larry, is one that would generate healthy debate and disussion. Your book presents a clean, intelligent and fresh view of how to address our country's sensitive racial tensions that never seem to diminish, media bias, which is real and very destructive and the glass ceiling, which I think some glasses has been shattered. Larry your publications deserves a place on every bookshelf of every American who cares about life, humanity, self-respect and truth.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, just wonderful.
Review: This was was an excellent and informative reading. Elder backs his views with hard facts, making them more convincing. Though there are a few mistakes, don't let them diminish its quality like some of the other readers have. As always, read with an open mind.
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Summary: Could have been book of the year....but
Review: Larry Elder is known for being a staunch conservative, an uncommon thing for an African-American. He has taken critcism for this, and in a segment of the book he explains why this criticism is ludicrous. This is where Elder is at his best, explaining why it makes perfect sense for African Americans to be Conservative or Liberal. He brings up point after point proving his beliefs in many of the chapters. At times, Elder speaks about racism in general and this is where he shines, but when he starts talking about media bias, and the glass ceiling the book slows down. Don't get me wrong Elder has put together a great piece of political reading, but he is at his best when he writes about racism and the community's problems not the government's problems. My advice is to skip chapters 3, and 4. A side point, do not read this book if you don't have a moderate amount of political knowledge.
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Summary: A Book that actually interested me in Politics
Review: Wow. I live at a small Army base in Italy, and our book store is some what limited. I saw this book up on the shelves (right next to the O'Reilly Factor) and decided to give it a shot. Within the first three chapters I realized that I must be a Libertarian. All of the points that Mr. Elder makes are clear, concise and well backed with fact. More importantly, for the first time, I heard someone else intelligently discuss issues from the same view point that I discuss them. It's a shame the media only shows Democrat-Republican politics, because this movement is going to grow with a lot of voters, like myself, who are displeased with big government, media hysteria and the self-aggrandizing B.S. of Washington. Heck, I work for the Government and I'll tell you, bigger is definately not better. Open your mind and Mr. Elders book, and you'll feel, like I did, that some one is on the right track, that maybe we'll get the government we deserve.
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Summary: finally, somebody who makes sense
Review: I checked this book out from the library and enjoyed it so much that I went out and purchased it just so that I could pass it around to my friends. Mr. Elder tackles the subjects that we tend to shy away from in polite conversation so as not to offend. He presents the Libertarian point of view which argues that the least government is the best government. He abhors the culture of victimization and entitlement which weakens us all. I found his viewpoints well argued (even those that I did not agree with fully). I highly recommend this thought provoking book.
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Summary: Ten things you can't say???
Review: I guess the premise of this book is things you can't say, but these things ARE SAID on talk radio every second of the day and night [and on into the wee hours of the morning too]. It might be better to put it as "10 things you better not say in public if you still want to have friends". So, the reasons these things are said on talk radio is to get listeners angry and to call in and argue about it. Now, this doesn't mean these 10 things are untrue, and that is why one must read this book to determine that. The old saying "don't discuss politics or religion with friends" is the basis for my view here -- [better to read this one with no one else seeing you do it to maintain those relationships though].... Many of the things discussed in the book make sense, but sometimes making sense doesn't matter. Some are certainly questionable "Blacks are MORE racist than whites????"... More racist than slavery??? I think equally racist is possibly the fair view [two wrongs don't make a right], but the author has cover here as he is black. This book may go to the other extreme of what it questions, and that may be a problem here. The reality is there must be something in the middle that makes more sense -- and something this author would hate to admit. Regardless, this is good reading and brings into focus another viewpoint to consider. Read it with our history in mind, not with this "we are starting this all over from scratch now" theory and you may have fun with this book. Just don't admit you agree with it to your friends!!!
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Summary: Please check the facts
Review: I purchased this book with only a perfunctory knowledge of Mr. Elder and his views. I consider myself an independent Republican and do not need to validate my beliefs through radio talk show hosts or other political pundents who agree with me. In fact, I think it is important to seek out people who have opposing views in order to debate and confirm the merits of your opinion. That said, I was looking forward to a book that took on some of today's most discussed topics and offered a fact-based argument for solving many of these problems. Unfortunately, the editors and fact checkers let me down. For example, when Mr. Elder is discussing race based admissions to colleges, he makes reference to Cal State Berkeley, a nonexistent institution. As a resident of California, Mr. Elder should know that the university in Berkeley is the University of California. A technicality maybe, but one that should have been corrected in the editing process. When Mr. Elder is discussing the existence or nonexistence of a glass ceiling, he refers to the merger between First Union Bank of North Carolina and Bank of America in California. These companies never merged. Bank of America did merge with Nationsbank of North Carolina. Again, maybe not the biggest error, but one that should have been caught. My case here is to suggest that while Mr. Elder makes a well reasoned argument against many of today's most sensitive issues, he loses some effectiveness by misquoting facts. If no one is verifying even these simple references, who is checking the accuracy of other claims and statistical references? Read the book, but don't use it as your only source of evidence in an argument with your Democratic/Liberal friends.
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