And Deception in American History - Lies the Government Told You

Napolitano tells it like it is, sparing the typical fluff you get from the network news analysts. This book provides the insights and template for reversing the insidious government "creep" that is choking what's left of the American Dream. Patriots Unite! Before it's too late.

I basically had a love/hate relationship with this book. Some parts/chapters were right on the money (i.e. the free market, 2nd amendment, etc.) But some had me scratching my head.....such as the chapter on torture. If he thinks waterboarding--or even tying someone up--is torture, he needs to re-evaluate what constitutes actual torture. I also didn't care for his harsh treatment of Abraham Lincoln, using the word "tyrant" several times. In the biographies and accounts I've read in regards to our 16th president, this type of language is NOT what I would use to describe him.

So, some of Napolitano's arguments were spot on--with great explanations and detailed accounts on how this country has strayed from the actual meaning and interpretation of the Constitution. Some accounts quite frankly left a bad taste in my mouth. Having watched Napolitano (and being overall impressed with him) on FoxNews, I was a little disappointed in this book.

Judge Napolitano never ceases to impress me with his knowledge of history and his ability to give you the straight facts. There's no dancing around issues here; Napolitano starts out the book with criticism of one of the move beloved Founding Fathers, George Washington, for his acceptance of slavery (there is praise, too). I mention this because no punches are pulled for the sake of being agreeable; deceit and favoritism are not part of Napolitano's repertoire. This book serves up plenty of criticism for anyone who violates Natural Law or its protection under the Constitution, but that criticism is never generalized as an attack on a political party or group.

Judge Napolitano even attacks a few Constitutional amendments themselves, and particularly calls the 17th amendment the most "unconstitutional amendment" (if there were such a thing) for violating the separation of powers constructed by the Founding Fathers. Numerous historic court cases and power grabs are cited, and even the more famous examples are presented with rare respect for personal liberty. I appreciated the perspective and found myself learning a lot even about cases I was already familiar with. (Throughout the book, I was saying to my wife, "Did you know this?") The book is thoroughly documented with a long list of references at the end for those wanting to read original cited sources for themselves.

I've read a few books on the Constitution (Politically Incorrect Guide To, Who Killed The Constitution, Revolution: A Manifesto to name a few). While usually informative, nobody writes as well nor drills a point home as well as Napolitano. The book keeps a fast pace and focus on the subject of each chapter, with the details of cases presented as necessary without bogging down the central theme or pace. I found this book a pleasure to read. Napolitano has his opinions and doesn't hide them, and for those unfamiliar with "The Judge" he defends the Constitution as envisioned by (most of) the Founding Fathers. He is a great defender of liberty.

It's every bit as good and informative as his show "Freedom Watch" on Fox, which is high praise.

Napolitano's claim to be an expert on the Constitution is clearly false, unless he is being deliberately misleading here. I give this book two stars for the things he gets right: there are many times that our leaders prove themselves fallible & make poor or corrupt decisions. The first 60 or so pages cover this with fair competence and only a couple of out-there conclusions. Then, suddenly, his attempt to be evenhanded falls apart and he starts throwing out invective (calling Wilson & Roosevelt "pernicious little tyrants", comparing our present government to "1984") in a discussion of Senate elections. He continues to make his case on government deception, but even when his facts are solid, his arguments continue to be one-sided and his conclusions questionable. Anyone who read this book as an introduction to the subject would remain woefully uninformed. It's too bad that the author felt the need to misrepresent when the truth would have done just fine, and ruin a good premise.

The subtitle for the book is "Myth, Power, and Deception in American History", and with that subtitle you would think the book should be stashed away with the conspiracy theory books in the back of your local book store. However, that is not the case with Lies the Government Told You.

The book has listed in it, 17 "lies" told to us by our government, and goes into great detail in each of those chapters in explaining where the lie comes from, how it has been misinterpreted, how the media presents it, and the author, Judge Andrew P. Napolitano's take on the matter.

The lies that we have been told range from rights that have been granted to us in the constitution (all men are created equal), to political media slogans (the war on drugs), and even has a chapter devoted to one of the best satirical quotes from a U. S. President I have ever heard, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help".

Keeping with the book's tradition, I won't lie to you. The book takes a while to read, and can sometimes get confusing, especially to an average Joe like myself, but the author does try to keep things simple and intelligible. Some of the chapters made my blood boil when I began to think real hard on the subject, and many times I put the book back down as quickly as I picked it up! But, I am glad I had the chance to read it. It has opened up my eyes in more ways than one, and raised my blood pressure to boot.

Napolitano's "Lies" is a powerhouse book of law writing, as seen through the eyes of someone who has been on the bench long enough to know what makes constitutional law correct and can clearly show how the wrong-headed interpretations of several past courts are incorrect. The book's main points are informed by several court cases, legal decisions, and many constitutional snippets, in order to form a more perfect union of chapters.

The chapters detail one lie each, as told to us by the government of that time period. The largest lie, "all men are created equal" is one that most of us recognize from fifth grade history, but how many of us truly believe it? After reading this book, many will never view it quite the same again. History mavens may know that U.S. presidents are not immune from law, but a number of them ignored the constitution, most blatantly by owning slaves. Napolitano reveals these inconsistancies with a harsh hand, even forging into Lincoln territory with a machete, taking down this revered president for his wishy-washy views of slavery. He offers his critique of those who violate what he calls "Natural Law" and those protections we're afforded under the Constitution.

One of the most damning and scary lies is the one dealing with personal property and this chapter might have a more chilling effect if it weren't for the fact that after the case of Kelo vs. the City of New London, 47 passed laws to limit the power of eminent domain. Thankfully, I live on one of the strongest states in that regard and pity those who live in the states who have still failed to change their laws.

Those not into constitutional law and politics may not find this book enjoyable. The book goes very deep into various tenents of the constitution with a plethora of information on each case that tested it's mettle and that is clearly not entertainment for many. However, this book is not meant to entertain but to inform and it does so with a bolt of lightening.

In many parts, Napolitano's writing style is difficult to take and is better suited for the courts than public fare. His syntax can get bogged down by run-on sentences and many had to be dissected before their meaning was clear for me. As well, he fails (in many places) to weave his central theme back into his writing so that we're clear as to WHY these are lies and what truths should replace them. This may be because he's so close to the subject that, while it's clear in his mind, he's failed to make it clear in his writing for the rest of us. That said, the book should be required reading for every senior in high school due to it's strength and resolve to make this country stick to it's founding sentiments instead of warping our constitution to fit the whims of the day.

Judge Andrew P. Napolitano notes in his Conclusion that "two philosophers claim we are ripe for being plucked into the baskets of the deceivers." He adds that to those in government who lie and perpetuate previous lies "want to dominate us" -- "the Natural Law, the Constitution, the laws of the land be damned." His Lies the Government Told You: Myth, Power, and Deception in American History seeks to educate Americans about those lies so that the electorate can come to the ballot box with clearer understanding of both the history and the current state of our bureaucracies, our elected officials, our courts, and their damaging policies.

The author divides his book into discussions of seventeen lies such as "The Federal Reserve Shall Be Controlled by Congress" or "Judges Are Like Umpires" or "Your Boys Are Not Going to Be Sent into Any Foreign Wars." He considers the ways the right of individuals to bear arms has been abridged by legislation and judiciary fiat. He points out why the phrases "every vote counts" and "we are winning the war on drugs" as well as "we don't torture" aren't true. He covers why the Constitution does not apply uniformly during good or bad times and why America does not have a free market.

The Foreword by Congressman Ron Paul states, "One of the important lessons Judge Napolitano teaches is how many shared premises there are by advocates of big government from both the right and the left." Indeed, LIES THE GOVERNMENT TOLD YOU is bipartisan in its criticism of government efforts to control more and more of citizens' lives. The judge writes plainly that "no matter how you slice it, the two-party system in this country ensures that we more or less maintain the status quo." He insists later in his text: "We will need a major political transformation in this country to rid ourselves of persons in government who kill, lie, cheat, and steal in our names."

LIES THE GOVERNMENT TOLD YOU is an ambitious volume that passes along a great deal of information from a mainly libertarian viewpoint. Some chapters transition from one subject to another better than others though, and a few times the topics within a chapter aren't as clearly presented as they might be. However, this is a very useful overview, especially for Americans who know something is fundamentally amiss in their government but need and want specifics.

Honestly, I find Judge Napolitano's books very disturbing. I've always had a hard time reading his books. His purist view of the constitution leaves no room for compromise. But that's his point. Napolitano's crusade is a wake up call warning us of the slow death of the boiling frog (sorry for the mixed metaphors).

In Lies the Government Told You, Napolitano lays out his case with examples of the many ways the American federal government lies, stretches, and spins to make its case for war, taxation, and giving up property and liberties.

His message is very tough to swallow, regardless of your political views. Conservative readers who are prone to agree with him will find his message unsettling, because it includes "blame" and "personal accountability" for allowing these compromises to occur. Liberal readers who disagree with him will find his message even more annoying, because it leaves no room for an evolving interpretation of the constitution.

As always though, Napolitano is unapologetic as he bludgeons the reader with his stark case.

No matter which side of the political spectrum you call home, I encourage you to take a chance and read what Napolitano has to say. If we allow ourselves to have opinions, we owe it to ourselves to examine all sides--as hard as that may be.

Napolitano's "Lies" is a powerhouse book of law writing, as seen through the eyes of someone who has been on the bench long enough to know what makes constitutional law correct and can clearly show how the wrong-headed interpretations of several past courts are incorrect. The book's main points are informed by several court cases, legal decisions, and many constitutional snippets, in order to form a more perfect union of chapters.

The chapters detail one lie each, as told to us by the government of that time period. The largest lie, "all men are created equal" is one that most of us recognize from fifth grade history, but how many of us truly believe it? After reading this book, many will never view it quite the same again. History mavens may know that U.S. presidents are not immune from law, but a number of them ignored the constitution, most blatantly by owning slaves. Napolitano reveals these inconsistancies with a harsh hand, even forging into Lincoln territory with a machete, taking down this revered president for his wishy-washy views of slavery. He offers his critique of those who violate what he calls "Natural Law" and those protections we're afforded under the Constitution.

One of the most damning and scary lies is the one dealing with personal property and this chapter might have a more chilling effect if it weren't for the fact that after the case of Kelo vs. the City of New London, 47 passed laws to limit the power of eminent domain. Thankfully, I live on one of the strongest states in that regard and pity those who live in the states who have still failed to change their laws.

Those not into constitutional law and politics may not find this book enjoyable. The book goes very deep into various tenents of the constitution with a plethora of information on each case that tested it's mettle and that is clearly not entertainment for many. However, this book is not meant to entertain but to inform and it does so with a bolt of lightening.

In many parts, Napolitano's writing style is difficult to take and is better suited for the courts than public fare. His syntax can get bogged down by run-on sentences and many had to be dissected before their meaning was clear for me. As well, he fails (in many places) to weave his central theme back into his writing so that we're clear as to WHY these are lies and what truths should replace them. This may be because he's so close to the subject that, while it's clear in his mind, he's failed to make it clear in his writing for the rest of us. That said, the book should be required reading for every senior in high school due to it's strength and resolve to make this country stick to it's founding sentiments instead of warping our constitution to fit the whims of the day.

In a bold, sometimes sensational argument, the Judge who so eloquently and thoughtfully deconstructs every statist argument in the zeitgeist on his excellent show "Freedom Watch," tackles the very ideological heart of those statists in "Lies the Government Told You." This is an explosive book that expertly showcases Napolitano's strong understanding of case law and common sense.

No political party is safe, no Founding Father is safe, and certainly no modern politician or judge is safe when Napolitano breaks out his gavel and lays down the truth of constitutional liberty. If you don't want your historical sensitivities challenged, this is not the book for you. Judge Nap lays into Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, Woodrow Wilson and FDR, and of course, George W. Bush and Barack Obama in order to uncover the deception that is so clearly presented when one takes their partisan, nationalist blinders off.

From governmental stand-bys like "All men are created equal" to the hilarious, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help," Napolitano reveals the government's statements for what they really are: lies.

The author is consistent throughout except for one instance. Napolitano rightly rails on W. Bush for attacking Iraq preemptively and without authorization from Congress, but then criticizes FDR for not preemptively attacking Japan prior to Pearl Harbor and welcoming a slaughter in order to usher the US into WWII. Either it was wrong to preemptively attack or it wasn't. Sure, FDR could have maintained patrols in the Northern Pacific to keep tabs on the Japanese fleet, but showing restraint shouldn't be condemned. There are seemingly infinite damning criticisms of FDR from a constitutional standpoint, but this should not be one of them.

Otherwise, this book is excellent. It is an eye-opening, no-holds-barred defense of liberty in a world of deceitful government bureaucrats.

Judge Andrew P. Napolitano notes in his Conclusion that "two philosophers claim we are ripe for being plucked into the baskets of the deceivers." He adds that to those in government who lie and perpetuate previous lies "want to dominate us" -- "the Natural Law, the Constitution, the laws of the land be damned." His Lies the Government Told You: Myth, Power, and Deception in American History seeks to educate Americans about those lies so that the electorate can come to the ballot box with clearer understanding of both the history and the current state of our bureaucracies, our elected officials, our courts, and their damaging policies.

The author divides his book into discussions of seventeen lies such as "The Federal Reserve Shall Be Controlled by Congress" or "Judges Are Like Umpires" or "Your Boys Are Not Going to Be Sent into Any Foreign Wars." He considers the ways the right of individuals to bear arms has been abridged by legislation and judiciary fiat. He points out why the phrases "every vote counts" and "we are winning the war on drugs" as well as "we don't torture" aren't true. He covers why the Constitution does not apply uniformly during good or bad times and why America does not have a free market.

The Foreword by Congressman Ron Paul states, "One of the important lessons Judge Napolitano teaches is how many shared premises there are by advocates of big government from both the right and the left." Indeed, LIES THE GOVERNMENT TOLD YOU is bipartisan in its criticism of government efforts to control more and more of citizens' lives. The judge writes plainly that "no matter how you slice it, the two-party system in this country ensures that we more or less maintain the status quo." He insists later in his text: "We will need a major political transformation in this country to rid ourselves of persons in government who kill, lie, cheat, and steal in our names."

LIES THE GOVERNMENT TOLD YOU is an ambitious volume that passes along a great deal of information from a mainly libertarian viewpoint. Some chapters transition from one subject to another better than others though, and a few times the topics within a chapter aren't as clearly presented as they might be. However, this is a very useful overview, especially for Americans who know something is fundamentally amiss in their government but need and want specifics.

Honestly, I find Judge Napolitano's books very disturbing. I've always had a hard time reading his books. His purist view of the constitution leaves no room for compromise. But that's his point. Napolitano's crusade is a wake up call warning us of the slow death of the boiling frog (sorry for the mixed metaphors).

In Lies the Government Told You, Napolitano lays out his case with examples of the many ways the American federal government lies, stretches, and spins to make its case for war, taxation, and giving up property and liberties.

His message is very tough to swallow, regardless of your political views. Conservative readers who are prone to agree with him will find his message unsettling, because it includes "blame" and "personal accountability" for allowing these compromises to occur. Liberal readers who disagree with him will find his message even more annoying, because it leaves no room for an evolving interpretation of the constitution.

As always though, Napolitano is unapologetic as he bludgeons the reader with his stark case.

No matter which side of the political spectrum you call home, I encourage you to take a chance and read what Napolitano has to say. If we allow ourselves to have opinions, we owe it to ourselves to examine all sides--as hard as that may be.

This is an outstanding study of the lies perpetrated against the American people by their government from 1776-2010.

Judge Andrew Napolitano is an excellent historian, Constitutional scholar, and all around analyst. This work is terrific on many levels. The author does not have a politically correct or partisan bone in his body. He is equally comfortable pointing out the deceptions of Republicans and Democrats. Any reader who is very in love with either of the major political parties will be squirming a lot, as he clearly shows that lying by our 'leaders' is a longstanding and bipartisan affair and those in power use a double standard. As the judge writes in the introduction, 'The government lies to us regularly, consistently, systematically, and daily on matters great and small, but it prosecutes and jails those who lie to it.'

Lest there be any confusion about the author's view of official lies, here is his take on that point: 'It is morally reprehensible for any government to lie to anyone over whom it has lawful authority.' As the reader may well imagine, with that standard, there is no shortage of material for him to discuss.

In addition to the lies discussed, Judge Napolitano does a great job of educating readers on topics such as why the 17th amendment damaged our protections, the oft repeated lies about gun control, and incredibly disastrous governmental 'initiatives' such as the Federal Reserve, Social Security, and the FDA.

There is a lot of discussion of untruths perpetrated on the people by leaders including Presidents Wilson, Roosevelt, Lincoln and George W. Bush. Some of those who have been misinformed about Lincoln's 'greatness' may be surprised to learn about some of his 'issues'.

Besides all of the policy arguments (which are outstanding), he even throws in some great food for thought on the damage of retirement in general (see Lie # 9).

This is a book that should be read by all current and future voters. Younger people have an even greater stake in learning about these abuses as they have the longest to suffer the consequences. I would encourage everyone to read this terrific book.

There is often quite a difference in the approach of American authors, and those from other countries, when it comes to critical works on US politics. With this in mind I started reading Andrew Napolitano's book Lies The Government Told You and was hooked from the first page.
Well researched and comprehensibly written, he leads through 17 chapters each dealing with different aspects of how the US government has been bending, often even breaking, the laws it should abide to. Taking the reader from the Declaration of Independence straight into the present, it will be shocking for both American and international readers, to see that far too often certain words, even laws, aren't worth the paper they've been written on. The author knows what he's talking about, and he's not afraid to voice it, despite the fact that the government itself can't be amused about his assessments.
While I found the chapters "All men are created equal", "Every vote counts" and "America has a free market" the most compelling, I also appreciated learning more about other areas of personal and economic freedom. While I personally don't agree with everything Napolitano writes (Europeans simply have a different approach to carrying weapons), he undoubtedly did a fantastic job with this book.
In short: A highly informative book for everyone who dares to question the truths the government offers, but also for those who simply want to dip into US history!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

We recently received a letter from the "government" stating they were considering taking a house we own because they needed it for some government project. Since we had been planning on fixing it up to sell, and considering it had been vacant for 25 years before we bought it, we were surprised. I was shocked to discover that the government could just "take it" because they wanted it but gave us no explanation of what it would be used for or if we were even interested in selling it. We were told to expect a visit from someone who would evaluate it's worth in the next 4 weeks. That was 6 months ago and we are still waiting for that person. In the meantime we are at a standstill and afraid to do any renovations and only taking care of the lawn. According to the judge here, the Supreme Court of Michigan permitted the government of the City of Detroit to wipe out an entire community in order to let General Motors build an assembly plant. I figure if they can do that we will have no say on our property. (I figure we will still be waiting on them 10 years from now.)

This book has a lot of cases like this and regarding lots of other cases of other injustices throughout history. Some are major injustices and some seem minor like the girl on the subway getting arrested for eating a french fry. I'm baffled over that one. Is eating on subways prohibited? Is eating one french fry that big a deal that you can get arrested for it!!! The judge even covers how our tax money is abused, our natural rights (like defending our homes).

I like this guy because he comes right out with it, no matter how many toes he steps on. The book is easy to understand (in other words, you don't have to be a lawyer to read it). You'll like it and be glad there is people like the judge who is willing to tell you the truth about what's really going on.

Judge Andrew Napolitano is a nationally recognized expert on the U.S. Constitution and he has some important things to say about this document and its lack of respect among our governing elite. The U.S. Constitution is supposed to guarantee freedoms and sharply limit the size and scope of government, but as this book shows, politicians have shredded the U.S. Constitution throughout history, based on their acts and deeds. These violations have not occurred just once or twice- they are a regular part of life, and this is why many have suggested that the U.S. Constitution is essentially a dead document. This book examines some of the common myths that many individuals hold dear and politicians exploit for their own gain as they pretend to uphold liberty while slowly eroding basic freedoms.

Violations of the U.S. Constitution form the basis for several of the lies examined in this book, but the author broadened the scope of the book to include other things as well. Some examples here would include the idea that every vote counts, that your body is your temple, that the United States doesn't conduct torture, etc. With each lie, the author points out several examples from history, demonstrating how government officials have said one thing and done another and how, sadly, the court system took the side of the government. It hasn't happened every time, but it has happened enough to warrant criticism. If the U.S. Constitution is supposed to protect freedom, it needs to be followed more closely and with fewer exceptions.

Lies the Government Told You is a critical and some may say the book is a little extreme in that it condemns any violation of the U.S. Constitution, for any reason. For example, since the inalienable right of free speech isn't protected one hundred percent of the time and is only protected, say, ninety percent of the time, then the right is under attack and doesn't really exist. That seems to be the basis of the criticisms in this book. The author's position seems to be that, if we don't enjoy a specific freedom all of the time or very close to one- hundred percent of the time, then that particular freedom is a myth. I can see where he is coming from, but using this means of analysis, it is doubtful that any true freedoms exist, since there seem to be at least small limits on everything.

This book spreads its criticisms far and wide and I like that it takes jabs at both Republicans and Democrats for their persistent lying and continuous violations of the U.S. Constitution. The book divides its bashing equally, providing many examples from members of each of the two dominant political parties, showing how they flagrantly violate the very document they have sworn to uphold. Some of the political targets are expected, but others may surprise readers. The negative portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, for example, and others whom history usually holds in high regard, will raise eyebrows and provoke debate among many who read this book.

The fact that government officials lie is nothing new and this book is a good history lesson about the many falsehoods and half- truths that our government leaders tell us every day. These lies have been exposed dozens of times, but politicians continue to promote them and pretend they are true; swearing to uphold the U.S. Constitution and individual freedoms while chipping away at these rights with each law they pass.

Now we all know that politicians lie when they run for office, but does the government also mimic those elected official's disregard for the truth? Of course, when the heads of the government lie, the rest of the body follows in their footsteps.
Judge Andrew P. Napolitano provides us a sample of the "biggest lies" the government tells in his new book about the "Myth, Power, and Deception in American History." Congressman Ron Paul provides additional insightful history in an introduction to the volume.
In this 350-page tome the author and legal scholar details 19 of the biggest fibs the U.S. Government has told to the American citizens. Number one is the lie that "All Men Are Created Equal." Others include the following: "All Men ...Are Endowed by Their Creator with Certain Inalienable Rights:" "Every Vote Counts:" "Everyone Is Innocent Until Proven Guilty: "The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed:" "It's Only a Temporary Government Program:" "I'm from the Government and I'm Here to Help:" and several others with the last one discussed titled "America Has a Free Market." Some of those individual chapters also discuss other related monster lies told by Uncle Sam. The reader is going to be surprised by how often the exacting instructions of the U.S. Constitution have been, and still are being totally ignored.
In Lie #9, "It's Only a Temporary Government Program" one example is taxation, a second example is Rent Control and the third example is Social Security. That particular chapter is summed up with a section entitled "FDR's Legacy of Lies." That bit about FDR is going to shock and awe a lot of big "FDR Was Our Savior" fans.
This reviewer found one of the more interesting chapters to be "Lie #6--The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed." That important right of the people was so accepted by the founders of our nation that it passed with almost no debate. It was just so obviously a key to freedom that nobody thought it would ever prove controversial. "George Washington called the Second Amendment the teeth that gave the Constitution its bite."
"Essentially, the right to keep and bear arms is a restatement of the ancient natural right to self defense: it recognizes not only the right to protect oneself from criminal conduct, but also from a tyrannical state or federal government." That's why the government wants people disarmed. Once disarmed they will be easier to enslave.
Every reader will naturally have different lies and topics that particularly appeal to them. This reviewer believes that within the next two years "freedom of speech" and "every citizens right to keep and bear arms" will be severely attacked by our own federal government. These two amendments were considered by the nation's founders to be the two most important freedoms necessary for the citizens to keep control of their government. They are the keys to every American's freedom. It's a battle that Americans must be prepared to defeat in advance at the ballot box. If the government still continues to govern against the will of the vast majority of the people it may result in another American Civil War or Revolution. Let's hope that fear proves unfounded although Thomas Jefferson and the other founders of the country voiced concern that "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." The paragraph that contains the above quote wasn't referring to wars against outsiders, but about protecting our freedoms from our own government. It's worth Googling to read in its entirety. Jefferson's warning begins with, "God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion."
This is a fascinating read by the man who was the youngest judge ever appointed to a life-tenured judgeship for the New Jersey Superior Court. He returned to private practice and began television broadcasting in 1995. One of the most surprising things about this book is that readers, who love parts of the book, won't necessarily agree with all the good judge's opinions. I totally disagreed with some of his opinions even though I loved many of his points. The book is clearly written, well documented and thought provoking. It's not bogged down in a lot of legal or academic jargon. It can also be easily read in separate parts because some of the government's lies are more current and relevant to individuals based on their own individual experiences.
It's nice to read the clearly explained "Cliff Notes" version of important legal opinions and their history by a universally acknowledged Constitutional Scholar.

I'm a huge admirer of Judge Andrew Napolitano and was delighted to be offered his new book for a Vine review. Lies the Government Told You is no quick read, because the judge goes into detail about the myriad of things we learn in school that are not true all the way to Constitutional amendments that are troublesome. And he does it in detail, so be prepared to move through this book a few pages at a time.

The best summary of Lies the Government Told You comes straight from Judge Napolitano's website.

"The government's lies have become our country's heritage, passed down generationally and accepted over time as status quo. We allow our leaders to regulate, under false pretenses, every area of our supposedly free lives: What we eat, how our money is spent, how we protect ourselves. The basic tenets of living in a free society-the primacy of the individual and limited government-are violated routinely and with little objection from those most affected."

"Judge Napolitano traces the deterioration of American freedom year by year, event by event, from the birth of the U.S. government to the economic and military crises of today."

Judge Napolitano sets out to expose lies the public has bought into and which the government perpetuates. As a Constitutional lawyer, Judge Napolitano knows whereof he speaks. You will find his book both fascinating and inforgettable. The judge is bi-partisan, so lies and hypocriscy on both sides are exposed as he writes of seventeen perpetuated by the government of the Unites States.

One of the most troubling to me is the "Takings Clause" of the fifth amendment, whereby the government can, by right, seize your property, even if you've paid it off, for "public use." (Lest you think I kid, this is going on right now all over the country!) Don't miss the story of the federal Reserve which is not Federal but was an organization started by an elitist group of bankers.

The judge discusses the origins of Populism and Progressivism and shows how they affect our current government, and subsequently, us. FEMA and its ill-preparedness for disaster response is yet another target in his well-written tome.

You will learn about the founding of our country, events such as Pearl Harbor and the General Motors bailout and you will see the lies exposed and also the disrespect the current administration holds for our Constitution. If you hold views similar to Judge Andrew Napolitano, I urge you to add the masterful work to your library. And if you don't, why not educate yourself by reading an unbiased report from a Constitutional scholar?

Two thumbs up on this one.

"... And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
- Francis Scott Key 1814

Judge Andrew P. Napolitano minces no words when he boldly enumerates 17 lies that the government of the United States of America manufactures and continues to perpetuate to its citizens. he traces its roots from the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 to the present Obama administration. he supports his claims by mentioning, detailing and cross-referencing historical records, court decisions, state and federal laws, reports and other anecdotal evidence.
if the bastion of democracy and the champion of freedom could allegedly get away with these lies, what then can one say of other governments whose democratic principles are modeled after those of the United States? what does one do now? what options does one have? where does one go or turn to if the institution that he relies on to protect his rights is the very same one that denies and infringes upon them?
corruption in government and other institutions is certainly a world wide phenomenon. despite what history has repeatedly shown and taught us, we have never truly learned its lessons.
indeed with power comes great responsibility. it is a responsibility to preserve the truth and not twist nor conceal it, to create and not destroy, to promote life and not a culture of death.
this book and its contents is certainly an eye-opener for me. though i am taking everything with a grain of salt, it is still disturbing to say the least. truth, they say, is stranger than fiction but after reading Lies The Government Told You, i amend that to truth is really scarier than fiction.

Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy of Lies The Government Told You from Thomas Nelson through BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Judge Andrew P. Napolitano, in the book Lies The Government Told You, writes about the founding fathers and the history of the United States and all the mistruths that were conveyed by the nation's leaders to consolidate power by the federal government. The book starts with the biggest lie in American history, that all men are created equal, and explains how when Thomas Jefferson wrote these words in the Declaration of Independence he was the owner of over 200 slaves, and the majority of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, were slave owners as well. In subsequent chapters he writes of the lies that took the nation to war, steals the people's money and property, and slowly erodes the constitution and the freedoms that the founders envisioned. One of my favorite chapters dealt with the presidential election of 2000, and the lie that every votes counts. The book was a real eye opener to me and helped me to understand the current state of the country and the issues that divide our nation. The most enlightening chapter was about the Federal Reserve system and how the economy is controlled by a few bankers who are not beholden to the best interest of the country and have no accountability. Throughout the book various judicial rulings and court cases are used to explain how the constitution has evolved throughout history and how politicians used fear and national emergencies to gain additional power and erode American's freedoms. The one thing I didn't like about the book is the way it is written from a biased, conservative perspective, and vilifies the New Deal and the progressive movement. The most disturbing account that the book tells is how FDR provoked the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and prevented the military from preventing the attack. For this one remarkable revelation the entire book was well worth reading.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Lies The Government Told You by Judge Andrew P Napolitano is a well written book that pulls no punches. He takes you through some of the most believed lies through the ages and disproves each and every one of them. I won't go through them all here because that would defeat the purpose of getting the book and reading it. However, if you feel that you know the American government, after reading this book, I can tell you that you really don't.

One of the biggest lies told is that Abraham Lincoln fought to end slavery. That isn't quite true. It may be the way your American History teach wants you to think of it, but its not. Did you know that before the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, Lincoln had issued a Preliminary Proclamation on September 22, 1862 that stated that he would abolish slavery in the south if they continued to attempt to secede from the Union. Lincoln only saw abolishing slavery as a means to an end. He did it because he felt that by abolishing slavery in the south, the freed slaves would join the ranks of the Union army to fight against their masters. When the Emancipation Proclamation was released, it only applied to the Southern states. Slavery was not abolished in the north by this action.

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson, a big proponent against slavery in his time had 200 slaves at the time her wrote the famous line "All men are created equal"? Apparently, he really didn't believe what he wrote. He had proposed many laws in order to free the slaves, yet he didn't do it himself until he passed away. In his will, he had written in to free 5 of his slaves upon his death. Really? 5 out of 200?

Apparently, our country was founded on politicians lying to us and it continues to this day! I really suggest reading this book as it will open your eyes to the lies that this country was founded upon and still continue on today.

Judge Napolitano's new book is a scathing and unapologetic denouncement of the deceptive tactics the government employs on its people. He exposes 17 lies that the government would have you believe in order to advance its own agenda. For example:

Lie #1 "All Men Are Created Equal," Lie #8 "The Federal Reserve Shall Be Controlled by Congress," Lie #11: "We Are Winning the War on Drugs," Lie #17: "America Has a Free Market."

He devotes a chapter to each of the 17 lies and irrefutably shows how the government has diminished our civil liberties and continues to do so today. He is impassioned in his writing, but he maintains an honest, unbiased and even-handed treatment of the subject matter. He steers clear of conspiracy theories or conjecture, and sticks to just the straight facts you and I *need* to know about the government. It is of such importance that it has the ringing endorsement of Congressman Ron Paul.

Napolitano shows that some deception may not be as innocuous as they seem. Take for example, the government's claim that the FDA's mission is to protect public health. Is it? In reality, the FDA not only has an atrocious track record, it is an inefficiently run bureaucracy that costs taxpayers billions of dollars annually. More appalling still is that the FDA routinely bars the terminally ill from receiving new or experimental drugs that promise to save lives simply because these drugs have not been "FDA approved." Does the FDA really have our welfare at heart? Are we going to let the FDA control what we can or cannot put into our bodies?

Take another example: Ostensibly, the Federal Reserve is a government agency, but in essence, it is a privately owned entity (regardless of all the hoopla asserting otherwise). Its designation as being a "Reserve" would lead one to reasonably conclude that the American dollar is backed by gold. Nothing is further from the truth. The monetary system the government uses is a fiat money system, which means the money *isn't* backed by gold. Napolitano explains how such a system constitutes an "invisible tax" by the government.

Napolitano presents these and a myriad other examples of how our civil liberties are being infringed upon. His book is thought-provoking and an eye-opener to the way the government operates. It shows that knowledge is indeed power, and that blind allegiance and apathy is the antithesis to freedom. The message in this book is perhaps best embodied in one of Thomas Jefferson's greatest quotes: "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

Judge Napolitano's political book, "Lies the Government Told You", outlines seventeen different lies the government has been feeding Americans over the course of history. Are all men created equal? Does every vote really count? Are you truly innocent until proven guilty? Many Americans are unfortunately sucked into believing these falsehoods. The media, and almost every politician, want you to believe that you live in a free society where you can control your own circumstances, but it is simply not true.

Napolitano dissects each lie into a very organized and understandable way, and is careful to give both sides of the argument. I was impressed at how he called out both Republicans and Democrats, stating that both have repeatedly lied to Americans for centuries. But, there were some parts that left me confused and unsure about the validity of Napolitano's sources. Almost every source was secondary and he relied too much on opinion articles. For instance, Napolitano describes FDR and his supposed part in allowing and even provoking the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbor. All so he could have a legitimate excuse to join the war. Napolitano's only source is a book devoted to the topic, yet it is written by a conspiracy theorist. Maybe it did happen, and maybe it didn't, but I would have liked to see more concrete evidence.

All in all, I really enjoyed the book, even though it did get me a little hot-headed at times. It even inspired me to write this post here, based on the social security scam. A definite must-read if you enjoy raising your blood pressure! :)

"Lies the Government Told You," by Andrew P. Napolitano, is definitely a book worth reading. I'm not a fan of big government. I know the government doesn't tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in all situations. But when I read about all the circumstances in this one book, I realized how untruthful the government can be. Of course, some issues need to be covered up (for awhile) for the sake of security. And we all know that history has revealed some pretty inhumane events that have occurred right here in the good ol' USA. But after reading this book, even I'm shocked!
Napolitano is a student of the Constitution and history and tells it as it is. I thought the book would favor one party over the other, but Napolitano is fair and unbiased as to what the facts are. He covers seventeen lies from "All Men Are Created Equal" to "Everyone Is Innocent Until Proven Guilty" to "We Don't Torture" to "America Has a Free Market. He shows excellent examples of how the government lied or just didn't tell the truth in each case. I've read many political books and most are biased and tend to bash one party or the other. This book is fair and full of facts - lot just opinions.
Everyone should read this book so that we can all listen to what the government is telling us and "translate" if necessary. How can this all be changed? I don't really know if it can. And that's the scary part.
Read Napolitano's "Lies the Government Told You" with an open mind. If you get nothing else out of this book, you'll understand the Constitution better and get some terrific history lessons. But I think you'll also wake up and want to help change our government. I just hope there's a way before it's too late.

First a warning; By reading this book you may get yourself on a list from some law enforcement agency. The elites do not like it, when they are exposed and Judge Andrew Napolitano exposes them greatly hear. This is a very important book, and much of what is n it I had heard, or read (in newspapers, books and see case law) before. What thy Judge does is line it up in order with what our rights are (such s Free speech, the right to Bear Arms, The Right to be Secure in our own Person, Protection from unlawful search and seizure, Innocent until Proven Guilty, The Right to Due Process, etc., the Bill of rights) and how the Government has been violating them really from the beginning. From the Hypocrisy of slave owners and big government types such as Alexander Hamilton, all the way up to the modern Democrat and republican parties; as well as Judges law enforcement, and state governments (all violating our Natural or fundamental rights in countless ways). Much of what's in this book will make you angry, and it should. The Judge shows that After the declaration of Independence there has been a war of freedom vs tyranny there has been a "transfer of Power from the people, as envisioned by the founding fathers, to the government." If It were possible, I would want this, to be a text book and I would hope that every student in the USA reads this. In the conclusion the Judge outlines where we should go from hear and I would say, If you love freedom read this book.

Lies the Government Told You by Andrew Napolitano

This book goes through a number of lies that the government has been feeding us for decades, if not centuries. It covers everything from Slavery, to Property Rights, and just about everything else in between. This book is not about Democrats or Republicans and who is right or wrong, it is about how we have become so disillusioned by the process of government that it is much easier to accept what the government tells us instead of doing the research for ourselves. This book gives you the information, but unless you want to fall into that trap of being told what is right and wrong again, you need to take matters into your own hands. Judge Napolitano gives starting points so that anyone can go and research what he is saying for themselves.

This book opened my eyes and made me mad. It also sparked a good number of conversations around the house as we found out more information and then researched more for ourselves. If people want change to take place, one of the key things we ALL have to do is research what is really going on. Lies the Government Told You is a great starting point to get one fired up to want to research this information. I think it's time we stop taking the government's word and make sure what is being told to us, is the truth and if not...we need to take a stand. I will be sending a copy of this book to my brother and a few other members of the family.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"Myth, Power, and Deception in American History"...

We all know, and most of us have been raised to believe that we live "in the land of the free and the home of the brave", so I ask you this question? Is it okay with you, if our politicians lie a little, if you know, tell a little "white lie", bend the truth, and trade yours and my freedom for those lies? Obviously things are sounding kinda bleak, so take a moment, sit back and relax and read, Judge Andrew P. Napolitano's book, "Lies the Government Told You".

With Judge Napolitano's wealth of knowledge on American History, law, and his background in politics, on top of his great passion for above all our American "freedom", you will find yourself well-educated, after having read his book. We are living in a time, that every American should take note and realize the importance of our freedom, and what really is going on within our government. I would highly recommend this book to anyone desiring to want to learn more about what is really taking place within our government and country. Things that most people have no knowledge of, that have been handed down for many generations.

As per FTC guidelines, I must state that I was given a review copy of the book, "Lies The Government Told You"` from Thomas Nelson Publisher's to read for review. My opinions are expressly my own, and are in no way made positively or negatively, due to receiving a review copy.

To understand libido dominandi one need only read WE, 1984, Brave New World and then reflect of the past 50 years.

But, to grasp crucial specifics, one needs to read and re-read Lies The Government Told You. For the great majority of us, these Lies were inculcated while we were so supremely moldable, during the very years the same government held us and our parents captive. Our parents via compulsory education laws and us children via government schools.

These lies became such a deeply ingrained part of us they functioned as filters distorting our understanding of what we were seeing! Surely, the government isn't doing-blank! (Fill in one of the Judge's seventeen examples.)

Thank you, Judge Napolitano for providing us with such a clear and reasoned guide. Now, every time I hear some employee of government mouth one of these mantras, the reasoning in your chapters will ring loud and clear and my mind and I will think: Sophist, "...a person who reasons adroitly and speciously rather than soundly...".

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

There is supposed to be a tension between the government and the people.

I worded it that way on purpose, there is no "it's people" with the government of the United States. There is supposed to be a tension between the government of the United States of America and the citizens of the United States of America.

The United States of America is unique in that respect among nations. While all governments are responsible and accountable for their actions for and on behalf of their citizens, the United States of America is unique among nations in that, at least in the founding documents and according to common belief, it affirms that accountability and responsibility.

The government of the United States of America has traveled far from it's original constitutional moorings, and it is important that We the people not forget the correct alignment of the spheres of responsibility in a worthwhile culture.

I don't follow some of Judge Andrew Napolitano's ideas and philosophies, but my disagreements are more in details than in nature and essence, and in principle there is truly little I can disagree with.

It is a sad thing when even people who firmly believe in the original intent and the founding essence of the United States of America feel sick when they recognize the truth of where we are versus where we believed, hoped, and honestly thought we were.

And it is a good thing when someone stands up and courageously tells the truth without pulling punches.

Lies the Government Told You should be required reading before election day, before tax day, anytime we hear "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

The tension between We the People of the United States of America and the government of the United States of America is necessary and the superior strength and push should always come from We the People because the government attracts to itself people with the lust to dominate.

And it's the power and pressure of the people who are the first, the last, and the only bulwark against the tyrants, petty and powerful, soft tongued and flagrant.

So purchase Judge Andrew Napolitano's book Lies the Government Told You, and let's put the government of the United States of America back in it's place, back on it's heels, back on it's butt, back on it's back, until its submission to We the People is total and complete.

Never use one source as your sole reference for anything if it can be helped.

That said, this book does a good job of making the average person aware of things they probably didn't learn in school, or are not aware of today. It also points out a lot of stuff that quite frankly, a lot of us have been talking ourselves blue in the face about for years. Napolitano lays out how it got to be this way. The book is not like reading a newspaper or a text message, and some of it can be dry reading. People easily distracted, or who don't like to read, may find it challenging to give the text the attention needed. It could have been more entertaining to engage average readers, but not everything is about entertainment.

I think it is worth your effort, especially if you don't know a lot about the historical events he discusses, or if you only got your history out of a high school text book. You may stronly agree or disagree with Napolitano's opinions and interpretation, but he does bring major problems to your attention. If you don't know the problem is there in the first place, there is no way you can solve it. If you are not a fan of the author or his political views, you probably won't like it. I think however for most Americans who do not have in depth, detailed knowledge of history, this is a good starting point for the events described to begin awareness and your own research.

What an eye-opening book! This is neither a liberals vs. conservatives nor Democrats vs. Republicans book, but a book about how our constitution has been distorted and eroded by every generation that gains power. Judge Andrew Napolitano clearly explains what the constitution says and how our presidents and elected officials created laws that are clearly unconstitutional.

Do we really have property rights when it can be confiscated for "public use" by the government? I thought one of the most surprising facts is that in the original constitution Senators were not voted in by the general population. They were chosen by state legislators, not to be representatives of the people, but ambassadors of the state. There are heartbreaking instances, including an innocent man being executed because the appeals court refused to hear new evidence and a governor who refused to grant a pardon.

We have seen our rights eroded over time that we think has happened in our lifetime, but in fact, it has happened all throughout the history of the US. One right, one freedom after another slips away, and we just accept it.

The book is nicely referenced and annotated for each section. Congressman Ron Paul wrote the forward to Lies the Government Told You and it gives the perfect introduction to Judge Napalitano's work. I highly recommend this interesting and informative book.

I admittedly don't know much about government and history but try to stay open-minded about people's beliefs, so I requested this book to review in order to learn more about our government and how certain ideas and thoughts have evolved over time. "Lies the Government Has Told You: Myth, Power, Deception, in American History" is a compilation of what Judge Andrew Napolitano believes are 17 lies the government has told us. He believes these lies have brought us war, fear, power, loss of innocent life, loss of liberty and loss of property.

This book does a great job of explaining things from an outsider's view, not taking one political side or the other. While all of the "lies" didn't pique my interest, there are several that really got me thinking. For example, Lie #7 is "Your Body is Your Temple" and the subheadings are The Oreo Police (discussing the establishment of laws banning transfat), Criminalizing Marijuana (discussion of how marijuana was made illegal in the U.S. and the medical marijuana use issue), The Right to Life (discussion of experimental drug availability), and Who's In Charge Here? (discussion of forced medical treatment). Regardless of which way you believe on these issues, Judge Napolitano does a great job explaining each "lie" and how they have evolved over time.

Overall, it took me some time to get through the book as it can get dry during some of the points. However, I liked the book and believe it is a great history lesson on each topic presented. Even if you don't agree with Judge Napolitano's take, you'll still take something valuable away from it after reading.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

After reviewing the book, I am not at all surprised to see that the judge has, yet again, done his homework. Whether you agree or disagree with his relatively conservative positions, you must admire the research he has done to support them. He goes after both liberal and conservative with an equal degree of ferocity when he feels pressure needs to be brought to bear on their actions. He also appears somewhat libertarian on his view of government in general. The good judge makes frequent reference to "natural" laws, these being laws that are inherantly innate in all of society. This opposed to man made law, which is law imposed upon us by our elected legislators. The judge interprets the Constitution literally. He abhors judicial interpretion that he feels circumvents the original founding fathers' intent. This is not, in my opinion, a bad thing, but there are an equal number of people who feel the Constitution is a living document and must be adaptable to the times. And therein lies the rub.

The seventeen lies that he speaks of in his book are interesting in nature and again, well documented. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Constitution of this country and how it has been "modified" over the years by our government.

Judge Napolitano is always worth listening to or reading, and this is no exception. There are the usual libertarian ideals in there, so expect the drug legalization argument, for example. Likewise, there are many stories of people wrongly arrested. Some of the things he highlights are downright scary, however. We all know that we aren't innocent until proven guilty anymore, but some of these examples were surprising. One case involved a person who was carrying too much cash. Seriously, too much cash. He had pooled money with others to buy a truck, and he was pulled over while driving to buy the truck. It didn't matter that he had done nothing wrong, he was treated as a drug dealer, and his cash was confiscated.

This segues into the asset forfeiture laws, which are an abomination. So much of the government overreach Judge Nap talks about is of they type where ordinary behavior is criminalized. Likewise, he cites cases where "actual innocence" is not a defense on appeal.

The book is well written, and it will keep you awake at night better than Stephen King!

Lies the Government Told You, written by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano, is a book written for those interested in government and civic affairs as well as for those who cherish the rights given to us through our Constitution and desire that our government and the laws and regulations they put into order truly protect and honor our rights. Once you begin reading this book, you won't be able to put it down until you've turned the last page!

Although dishonesty and politicians are often assumed to be inseparable, that ought not to be the case. In this book, Judge Napolitano brings to the reader's attention a variety of ways where the American people have been deceived in order to bring awareness of the truth behind the laws and heart of this land - whether the famous line "All men are created equal," to the more current Patriot Act, which robs Americans of freedom in their personal lives and homes under the pretense of patriotism and heroicness. Even though I am not the most informed regarding current and past government affairs, I found this entire book to be riveting as a gleaned from a Judge with a passion for history, freedom, and governmental integrity. If only we could elect more officials like him!

*This book was gratefully received from Thomas Nelson at no cost in exchange for my agreement to post this review.

Judge Andrew Nepolitano provides a very interesting account of US history and looks at the way in which those in power have tried to spin it. From the obvious account such as racial inequality to the torture in present day Iraq. Lies the government told you tries to sort through the deception and does a very good job of taking both sides to task. The book is very face paced to read and really delves into the constitutional arguments behind much of his subject. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of the 17th amendment being unconstitutional for violating the separation of powers clause. In addition to the 17th amendment one of my favorite government quotes is explored here in the chapter entitled "its only a temporary program" which looks at all the programs that have become permanent especially during the New Deal. Much of the blame often does not lie with those who enacted them but those who followed who decided to make the law permanent. Overall this was very well done and fun to read for those who are looking for something different and unexpected for those who are tired of the normal droll fox news books. This is intelligent, insightful, and well done giving the reader a sense of history, law and articulate thought.

Whenever I listen or read commentary by Judge Napolitano I find my IQ rising. The eloquence of his words concerning Natural Law increases my dopamine level and provides a type of spiritual awakening like no other author. It is as if Judge Narragansett of "Atlas Shrugged" has come into the flesh and now dwells in the real world.

What I liked most about this book is the simple message that politicians have ignored the Constitution, grown government way out of its original limited scope and lied about it. This is a plain realty which is tremendously frustrating to argue against considering the pro-statist zeitgeist pushed by those in power and their supporters.

The book covers a divergent variety of topics; political, economic & legal in its historical span of seventeen lies told from America's founding to the modern day. The discussion explains how these falsehoods erode our natural freedoms and have been perpetrated by all political parties in their lust to dominate. I found myself in a rage with the examples of how the government has unlawfully accused, convicted and imprisoned innocent citizens to maintain its power. One wonders how long a civil society can continue with this march toward totalitarianism, perhaps this book can be one of the impetuses that will prevent that.

Americans want to believe that their politicians will truly do what is in the best interest of the country and its citizens. Unfortunately, as Judge Napolitano tell us, they often don't. Politicians love power and will do almost anything to keep it or get more of it. Truth is one of the first casualties of most successful politicians.

I don't agree with all of the examples Napolitano comes up with in his book. He has strong opinions, which are fine, but occasionally he will come down on what I would consider the wrong side of an issue. Nonetheless, it is rare to read any book where you agree with everything the author has to say, particularly books written by political pundits. This book does serve the public interest in that there are too many people who seem to think that not only can the government run their huge bureaucracy efficiently (they don't), but should take over the private sector as well. Reading this book will be a powerful antidote for that kind of worldview.

If you are the kind of person who believes that government will always do the right thing and that politicians want to help you more than stay in power, then you really need to read this book. It will be an eye-opener.

. . . I find this book refreshing - what Napolitano says rings of truthfulness and sincerity - and it is informational and full of common sense. I sometimes wonder if I can possibly be right; would our government purposely lie to American citizens and put our young soldies in harm's way so they can collect power, money and control? Napolitano assures me, yes our government can. I find this horrific and unsettling, but Napolitano opens the flood gate to information and knowledge that citizens must be armed with if we are to even attempt to protect ourselves.

Napolitano does not take sides in this book. REpublicans, Democrats and even the Constitution are fair game. He (I believe) is speaking from his heart and addressing the topics that are so important for us, as citizens, about which we must know.

On one hand, this book is heartbreaking, on the other hand it is essential. I wish all citizens from any party would read this enlightening volume.

Judge Andrew Napolitano has put into writing what many of us have long suspected...our government has been lying to use for years about almost everything it has ever done. If you think our government is crooked and power hungry, you will realize just how crooked it is when you read this book. Lies The Government Told You is scary as hell to be truthful. I didn't find a single thing that I disagreed with. It's almost unbelievable how far our Nation has moved from the Constitution.

While I don't watch much news anymore (I find most so called "journalists" to be either too frightened or too stupid to ask real questions that actually matter) I see enough to keep up with the major stories. I was glad to see Napolitano mention the failure of the national media as well in the book. This book will really open your eyes to how broken our government is, not just because it's virtually bankrupt, but because it fails to uphold the constitution and protect the very citizens that fund it. You will also learn that the Federal Reserve isn't a "federal" entity. It's a private corporation that controls all our money with little or no oversight. There used to be a joke that if Alan Greenspan happened to comment how nasty a rainy day was, the stock market would drop fifty points. It doesn't sound far-fetched when you realize how much power the Federal Reserve actually has.

I wold love to see this book as required reading in any government class. It truly does open your mind to the countless ways we as citizens have failed to protect our own freedoms by allowing such actions to occur time and time again. If you can still vote for most politicians after reading this, I can only hope they have also read the book. All Americans should be both shocked and ashamed at our government for these lies. We should remember these actions the next time we vote, though another big problem is the lack of choices on the ballot. Let's be honest, how many times have you voted for the lesser of two evils?

I highly recommend this book for everyone. If millions read it and understand how far we have fallen, maybe there is still hope that we can get our government and our constitutional rights back.