It's My America Too : A Leading Young Conservative Shares His Views on Politics and Other Matters of Importance

Rating:
Summary: Shocked!
Review: I was extremely surprised. In "It's My America Too"; Ferguson quotes people from Britney Spears to Ronald Reagan and also offers statistics with absolutely no footnotes, bibliography, or index! He makes bold claims about everything from obesity to sports to Hilary Clinton and to our youth-obsessed culture with nothing to back him up.
It is simply a book of one college kid's ideas; which is fine, just don't look to it for direction to turn our nation around.



Rating:
Summary: An inspiring, entertaining book on how to take back America
Review: Whether or not you agree with him, you must admit that no young person is more passionate about what believes than Ben Ferguson. His dedication to moral values accompanied by his passion and hard-hitting wit has launched him into national syndication, making him America's youngest nationally syndicated talk show host. Everyone who's familiar with his exciting radio show will encounter his same uniquely humorous yet passionate style in his new book It's My America Too. Ferguson writes that the purpose of the book is "to encourage everyone to help take back what is rightfully ours." Inspiring and reassuring, Ferguson's clear message is a stimulating encouragement to the regular people who lack representation and feel that their leaders no longer share their values.
Ferguson argues that the issues that shape and define America's future are often left up to the self-serving politicians who sometimes do not have America's best interests at heart. Thus, he offers his ideas on how we may take back America and how we can send an important message to those in Washington who seek only to advance their position and power.
With passion, humor, and a fresh, vibrant perspective, Ben offers his views on multiple issues ranging from homeschooling to gun control to abstinence. Moreover, he resists the temptation of simply rehashing the old arguments we've already heard, and incorporates his own unique brand of common sense conservatism into his conversational-styled tome. The end result is an informative, passionate, and entertaining book that is a must read for anyone who is concerned for the next generation of conservative thinkers. The writing is so articulate and lucid that even the kids would enjoy this entertaining discussion of the issues and be would no doubt be inspired to have a voice.
The thing that inspired me personally was Ben Ferguson's comfort in who he is and what he believes. He is comfortable in his conservatism and is not afraid to back up his opinions with facts and common sense. This is an especially encouraging message to frustrated conservative college students who are assaulted, suppressed - and sometimes even burned in effigy - by half-baked professors and loony student activists who abhor open debate.
Moreover, Ferguson is never afraid to break from the Republican party when he feels that they are wrong - another illustration of his independent thinking and dedication to America's values. For instance, he argues that America must shoulder the some of the blame for Anti-Americanism seen in the world today - a view that many Republicans reject. Surprisingly, Ferguson even points out that Republicans would be wise to learn a thing or two from Bill Clinton.
Considering the degree of polarization in America today, no one can deny that America is at a cultural crossroads that will determine the fate of our great country. Thus, some conservatives may dismay that the current decline in American culture might spell the doom of America if allowed to continue by the upcoming generation. Yet, there is always hope, and Ben Ferguson and others like him are the embodiment of that hope. By appealing to young voters and inspiring upcoming conservatives, the refreshing, optimistic leadership of Ben Ferguson may be precisely what conservatives are looking for to steer America back in the right direction. For too long have regular people been left out of the issues that affect them, and Ben is leading the way to help us find our voice once again and take back what's ours. After all, "It's our America too."


Rating:
Summary: Nothing Original
Review: Ben Ferguson has emerged as one of the newest conservative talk radio hosts and, perhaps unsurprisingly, he is able to draw attention to himself in an already saturated field largely due to a gimmick: in a demographic which is heavily liberal and left of center, he has come off as a strong voice in favor of the right. This is, however, more than a little self-serving for his entire political projection is predicated upon the fact that his views are important and relevant because he is just a young, "average guy" and as such is just like everyone else in the under 30 demographic. However, the fact that he butresses such neocon issues as school prayer (and never attended public school), gun ownership (despite never mentioning a single statistic), and supports the war in Iraq (though apparently not so much that he's ready to volunteer for duty quite yet) is more than enough to offset such supposedly "fresh" and novel ideas as informed criticism of the republican party.

Rating:
Summary: Did he have an essay due?
Review: The biggest problem with "It's My America Too" is that it's horribly written. Ferguson often sounds like he's writing a paper for one of his college courses, and needs to get to a certain word count to get a passing grade. Didn't he have an editor?

Putting that aside, there's not much here to recommend. Ferguson contradicts himself a few times (saying how he dislikes blanket generalizations about conseratives [page 47] even though he does the same thing with "liberals" throughout the book.

He makes several factual statements without offering his source of information, particularly in the gun control chapter. His ideas are hardly novel; anyone could listen to talk radio for a week and hear pretty much anything Ferguson says here.

To be fair, I agree with Ferguson's take on parents who homeschool their kids for the wrong reasons (the author, who never attended public school, still manages to malign it), and it's nice to see a conservative criticize the "with us or against us attitude" that preceded the war in Iraq.

Still, Ferguson's writing, combined with his tired (and dishonest) "conservatives have it rough" argument, make "It's My America Too" a tough read.

Rating:
Summary: A refreshing read amidst a heavy political season
Review: Ben Ferguson is the youngest personality to explode onto the American political scene, and he has much to say. Involved in talk radio since the age of thirteen in his native state of Tennessee, Ferguson now hosts a nationally syndicated program. His wit, knowledge and natural expressive ability arm him with tools for success. IT'S MY AMIERICA TOO is a generous supply of information for Ferguson's target audience: the youth of his generation and the cynical elders who have lost faith in the government that serves them. He reminds readers that elected officials can be removed by a vote when actions do not follow expectations.

The 22-year-old is a product of a childhood that has prepared him well for a public life. He fell in love with radio at an early age and has become more impassioned ever since. But he credits his parents with implanting a high moral code and value system in him. Home-schooled, he credits his mother as his teacher and spiritual guide in his formative years.

Early on, he questioned adults about moral, ethical and political subjects. Celebrities like Rush Limbaugh and Ken Hamblin inspired him in his quest for his own talk show. He offers no excuses for his conservative beliefs in all phases of life, from celibacy to work ethic, from leadership to foreign policy decisions. He wants to educate his generation to make informed personal and political choices. He strongly defends lowering the voting age to sixteen; his argument leans on the fact that younger teens reside with parents who can influence them with active discussion, while older youths become more interested in preparations for the adult workaday world.

IT'S MY AMERICA TOO is broken down into major sections. "Son of the South" explains who Ferguson is, what shaped him, and why he is a passionate American patriot. Dubbed an odd duck by public standards, his personal triumphs result from a strong family ethic that values each person within. Careful to remind their son that public radio success can make one egotistical, Ferguson's parents grounded his ego with humility and thankfulness for his gifts. Tennis inspires him perhaps only second to radio.

Part II, "Telling It Like It Is," discusses gun control, God in our lives, affirmative action, obesity in America, older Americans, and lack of patriotism. He surmises that people, not guns, kill. Affirmative action is an overused concept. Fat Americans use food to satisfy emotional appetites. Elders are shoved under the rug and given scant lip service in politics. God's force should be fundamental, not an annoyance. Americans exhibit attitudes that fuel anti-Americanism.

"A Political Virgin" is Ferguson's section for his generation. He advocates celibacy before marriage, lowering the voting age, community and national service, NASCAR as a national passion, and teaching children better by heeding to lessons learned from the generations previous.

"Heroes and Anti-Heroes" is an excellent few chapters on the type of leadership that living in today's difficult world demands. Ferguson admires Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, and fragments of Newt Gingrich's career. He decries Bill Clinton but admires him as a consummate politician who knows how to reach voters on a personal level.

In all, Ferguson's book is entertaining. His optimistic outlook is tempered with warnings to his generation to become more politically active and, above all, to love America with unflinching loyalty. IT'S MY AMERICA TOO is a refreshing read in a heavy political season.

--- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad

Rating:
Summary: I want to feel important too
Review: didn't find anything new in this book
same old stubbornness
however, could blame only myself for spending money on it
what else did I expect?

Rating:
Summary: Trying to avoid stereotypes by showing that he is one
Review: I'm a 19 year old democrat who spends a great deal of time studying politics...for fun. I picked up this book to see if my views could be changed by another young man who actually had a book published. I was dismayed.

I don't know how to put this except that it seems that this kid hasn't had any difficult ordeals in his life. He's sheltered and proud of it! He stands by a bunch prinicipals which don't hold any real value for most Americans. Absolutely none of his arguments were new (espeacially the ones against gun control) and he supports leaders such as Rumsfeld and Bush simply because he can relate to their good old southern values, even calling Bush a "hick" he can be proud of because he knows how to speak to a man about fixing a tractor (but he's sure good at dividing a country and destroying the people of Iraq).

The book is simple to read because it offers nothing new to anyone who actually has the desire to read it. A young middle school student might be able to appreciate it, but they are going to be quick to realize Ferguson is a child of homeschooling (oh! but he does play tennis!) and not someone they can relate to at all.

I might not have a radio show, or book, but the only people who can use a role model like Ben Ferguson are the ones who tune into Fox News for thier nightly return to conservative comfort.

Rating:
Summary: A Refreshing Outlook
Review: It's My America Too was a such a delight to read. It is a book that anyone, at any age, can pick up to read and be able to understand exactly what Ben Ferguson believes in. He gives the reader a clear, precise picture of how he sees America and where he believes America is going. He sticks up for his generation when it sometimes appears no one else is. He has strong moral values that are portrayed in each and every chapter. His strong beliefs and moral conservatism is exactly what Americans need today. People need to be re-inspired. People need to remember what real American values are. It is nice to hear for once who a real hero is and who kids today should be looking up to.

This is truly a great book that all parents should read then give to their kids to also read. What a great way to get parents and kids talking together about politics and currents events occurring in our society today.

Rating:
Summary: More Like 2.5 Stars, But He Gets the Doubt of the Benefit
Review: To his credit, Mr. Ferguson doesn't devote the entire book to endless flag waving and backing every neo-conservative cause there is. He speaks out against "freedom fries" and New Gingrich, and offers praise for Bill Clinton.

Yet Ferguson shows that he is very much stuck in 1904 by proclaiming that no woman should be president because the leaders of certain countries wouldn't take a woman leader seriously. He seemingly forgot that certain countries, like Great Britain (our only major ally), the Philippines (twice), and Pakistan (a Muslim country!), have had woman leaders. Did male leaders not take Margaret Thatcher seriously? (They didn't at their own peril.)

While defending the South, Ferguson bashes the North, which only goes to reinforce each region's stereotypes about each other. (Hey Ben, to paraphrase you, it's our America too!) He could have gone where few on either side have gone by reaching out to those of different localities and political persuasions, but that's probably asking too much of him.

Ferguson writes like he talks, which makes for easy reading. I finished the book within two hours.

Rating:
Summary: A man of action!
Review: Unlike Rush I'm sure that this fine young man is certain to sign up for the military soon (USMC or US Army) and put his words into actions by supporting our troops in the Middle East with his fighting presence.