Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover (available in trade), 249 pages, 2003

Rating: 9/10

Reason for Reading: I liked Stupid White Men, as well as Moore’s documentary, “Bowling for Columbine.”

Synopsis: Moore explores post-September 11, 2001 America, and how the event has been exploited and lied about for political gain, including trying to justify the war in Iraq. He also looks at how America’s wealthiest have exploited not just other countries, but their fellow countrymen as well. He finishes up by arguing that most of America consists of RINOs – Republicans in Name Only, and how America needs to change it’s idea of ‘liberals’ to get rid of Bush in the upcoming election.

Why you should read this book: Taken in one sitting instead of scattered articles in newspapers, George W. Bush’s lies and misleading statements are mind boggling, as are the number of Americans who are led to believe them through a monopoly media. It’s only fair to let the other side speak (the side that is seen internationally – letting Bush speak for all Americans might be considered a public relations disaster), especially since Bush can only profit if the majority of Americans believe him. Whether you side with Bush or Moore, the book has the potential to rouse a politically apathetic country into taking notice of the men and (very few) women running their country and deciding for themselves if change is necessary.

Why you should avoid this book: Yes, occasionally Moore takes wild leaps of logic, providing fodder for people who oppose his ideas. Moore and his books are accused by some of being ‘anti-American,’ but these people obviously didn’t finish the book. Moore’s entire point is that it is not anti-American to think for yourself – after all, the people that control the government, businesses, and media outlets are multi-billionaires that claim to speak for the other 99% of Americans, and they didn’t make their money from the real average American’s dissent.

Opening paragraph:

At first, it seemed like a small plane had accidentally flown into the north tower of the World Trade Center. It was 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001, and as the news leaked out across America, no one stopped what they were doing. It was a freaky occurrence to be sure, but most of the country carried on with getting itself to work or school or back to sleep.

Fabulous quotes:

Maybe the reason Bush is still here is that he proved the old adage that if you tell a lie long enough and often enough, sooner or later it becomes the truth.
As the lies that led us into the Iraq War started to unravel and be exposed, the Bush administration went into survival mode with their only defensive maneuver: Keep repeating the lie over and over and over again until the American people are so worn down they’ll scream ‘uncle!’ and start believing it.
But nothing can hide this indisputable fact: There is no worse lie than one told to scare mothers and fathers enough to send their children off to fight a war that did not need to be fought because there never was any real threat at all. To falsely tell a nation’s citizens that their lives are in jeopardy just so you can settle your own personal score (‘He tried to kill my daddy!’) or to make your rich friends even richer, well, in a more just world, there would be a special prison cell in Joliet reserved for that type of liar.

These very Republicans you say you are one of want nothing to do with you. They have either downsized you, fired you, or they’ve got you doing the jobs of two or three people. They have taken your money in the stock market and made it vanish. They have pushed through tax bills that truly benefit only that top one percent. You aren’t going to see any real savings and, in fact, you are going to end up paying higher local and state taxes and see a noticeable drop in government services just as you start to hit middle age. They are spending your retirement money right now on boondoggle after boondoggle to make their buddies rich.

Also recommended: Fire and Ice by Michael Adams.

Also by this author: Will They Ever Trust Us Again?; The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader; Stupid White Men; Downsize This!; Adventures in a TV Nation.

Author’s website: michaelmoore.com

© Lisa Yanaky 2003-2007