Why the World Needs American Values to Triumph - Still the Best Hope

Dennis Prager applies an unbiased approach to asses each of the 3 reigning ideologies in today's world. Any serious person will conclude easily that there is but one choice if America and the world is to survive.

Praeger makes excellent arguments for why liberalism is a failed concept in every way possible. Nothing liberalism has ever tried to accomplish has benefited anyone. Praeger's book fully explains this without making the reader mad about it.

I read this book based on Dennis's recommendation (on his radio show) and my need to understand why the United States is moving so rapidly to the Left. The the words insightful, educational and thought provoking describe this excellent work. Thank you Dennis.

if you want to understand the mindset of the progressive, whether professional politician or regular voter, this book is a must read. In his typical clear fashion Mr Prager defines the worldviews of the political classes in America and illuminates their objectives.

Dennis Prager has a finely honed talent for giving value-driven insights with absolute (and convincing) clarity. He is my age, the difference being that he has devoted his life to the distinctions betyween good and evil; right and wrong.

I've listened to Dennis Prager's radio show since 2006 and am very familiar with his viewpoints regarding American Exceptionalism, Leftism in politics, education and the media, and the issues of Islamism that trouble most thinking Americans, so there weren't any real revelations to me. However, Prager does a very good job in laying it all out with arguments as to why Leftism has failed socially and economically, and why Islamism is a real threat to the free world's future. Most people have been indoctrinated in Leftist pap and propaganda their whole lives and it starts to sound 'normal' after awhile, but Prager dismantles the general foolishness of Leftism that is hard to refute if one is honest in really thinking about it. The same is true of the dangers of Islamism where the media won't accept much criticism of all things Islam, and we ignore it at our peril.

The goodness of America that was taught in our schools in the 40's, 50's and 60's until students (don't trust anyone over 30) took over the education system, and who now permeate all levels of education from K-12 and into the universities of America, and who have dumbed down real education and replaced it with leftist nonsense, is well explored and analyzed. Prager correctly resurrects the importance of getting back to believing in America.

This book is a good, thought provoking read with well documented sources and footnotes as to how we can get back on track. Read it with an open mind and you might be surprised that you learn a few things and actually start to see much of Leftism as damaging the thread of the American Experiment. Recommended.

I downloaded this book to Kindle this morning and have completed about a third of it. I listen to Dennis' radio show most days and this book is an amalgamation of all that one has heard from him over the years. I'm glad that Dennis wrote this book so that his insight and critical thinking can spread to those who are not familiar with his ideas. The die hard Leftists will never be converted to conservative thought, but many who vote Democrat every election, when exposed to these views, will have second thoughts about continuing to vote for Democrats. The war of ideas between Right and Left will never end; but the Right must be vigilant in winning as many battles as possible (and doing so in a way that does not use the ad hominum). Nobody articulates the differences between these ideologies better than Prager. If Romney can articulate these views he will be our next president.

This book seems to confirm many of my fears concerning "leftist" viewpoints although it does go a bit far. The primary reason for the four star review is the book's clear support of "American Values" as opposed to "left" or "islamic". I'm so tired of "political correctness" to the detriment of truth. I'm so tired of the "OK" for destroying Christian values while supporting all others regardless of the morality of their position.

This is a book that should be read by anyone who has doubts as how the world should move forward. Explains consisely why the free enterprise system is the only one that helps everyone. Buy it & digest.

Excellent background to build upon for understanding and confronting the greatest evil ideology ever to threaten and attack Civilization. Author is brilliantly inspired, highly experienced, well prepared and impressively proficient. Excellent reading.

I had never read anything by this author. I learned a lot about his opinions and his definitions for various political terms. I got it for a book club meeting which unfortunately we had to cancel. But in general, I found many of his assumptions to be "generalizations", which he himself voices as a characteristic of this type of writing. Although I did not finish the book, I was disappointed in his style and did not get what I expected from this book.

I am a graduate student at Penn State and have been looking for a book like this to help me stand against the Marxist/leftist thoughts in my classes. Most people in my classes are almost remorseful to be American and act as though every other country is somehow more noble and better than ours. This book explains why American values are the greatest elements to build a country, and why we should strive to restore our values within our country & share our values with the world.

Dennis Prager makes a lot of political sense. I just wish he could have been more concise and organized in his presentation, however. His message is important and impactful. Too bad so few will wade through it ,in my opinion, because its a book every concerned citizen in this country should read for its thought-provoking analysis whether you agree with everything he states or not.

For basic content I'd give it five stars. It's only redundancy and muddled organization that drops it to a "3" for me.

Dennis Prager writes well, so the book is easy to read. I certainly do not agree with many (or most) of Prager's assertions about the "Left Wing," He is so very sure of himself, and seems to allow no areas of gray in his descriptions of Left Wing beliefs. I have not yet reached the part where he describes in detail the Right Wing/Conservative/"American Value" beliefs, but I suspect they will be just as dogmatic and unnuanced as the descriptions of the Left.

I fully agree with the thrust of the book. However, it was very repetitive. As usual with Dennis, he had several very good points, but they were repeated over and over. (a liberal tactic---say the same thing over and maybe someone will accept it as fact?)

The points are well made, but it should have been better edited with an eye to reducing the wordage by at least a third.

Dennis Prager's book "Still The Best Hope" is a wonderful book for how the left operates and provides many suggestions about why it operates that way. What is doesn't do is provide a look at how the right operates and why it operates that way.

This book is often brilliant and provocative. The problem is that it defines a set of left wing values held by a small number of people. My feeling is that one can learn a lot from this book but expect to be let down in the logic department from time to time.

By considering the conflicting values of the left and the right, Dennis Prager has a wonderfully original way of looking at our national political divide as well as several differences between US and European values.

According to Mr. Prager, some examples of values on the right include personal responsibility, liberty, religious values and a foreign policy geared toward American ethical values rather than realpolitik.

Leftist values presented in this book include support for financial redistribution as a means of achieving equality, government largess, US disengagement from geopolitical conflicts and the belief that logic can be used to make better laws than can Judeo-christian values. Prager rightly identifies problems with governments that rationalize enactment of terrible laws and he believes that this doesn't happen as often in the US because of its unique religious value system.

What Prager fails to examine is that there are probably very few Americans with left wing values but many with right wing values. Right wing views on gun control, gay rights, abortion, climate change, taxation and approaches to the national debt are held by many, if not most right wing types. The views of the right are translated into policies during right leaning administrations and for decades later, through Supreme Court nominations by Republican presidents.

In contrast, how many supporters of the Democratic Party are vested in leftist views? My guess, although it's personal and anecdotal, is that there aren't too many people outside of a small number of college students and hippies who are interested in an overreaching government, the transfer of wealth from rich to poor, support of Hamas and Hezbollah over Israel and a preference for non-violence as opposed to killing Osama Bin Laden.

Unanswered in this book is how Mr. Prager would categorize most people who are not right wing. Most don't want redistribution of wealth but they might agree with Warren Buffett that billionaires should pay the same tax rates as their secretaries. Is that left wing? Is it left wing to consider climate change to be possibly influenced by human activity and for governments to encourage fuel conservation until this issue is sorted out? Is it left wing to hold the view that Planned Parenthood detects a lot of cervical cancer and shouldn't disappear because of right wing views on abortion? Is it left wing to believe that oral contraceptives should be covered by health insurers like any other medication? Is it left wing to hope that the US, which spends more on military than the next ten countries combined, might be better served by spending 'only' as much as the next nine countries on the list and using the savings to pay down the national debt?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, are Tea Party devotees who are older than 65 willing to let the US cut Medicare and Social Security, which amount to half the budget? If not, are they in fact left wingers who believe government largess should be solely aimed at their needs?

When Prager divides the world into left wing values vs. right wing values, he doesn't consider that there are numerous true right wing believers in this country but not too many left wing commie pinkos who want the government to tell its citizens how to behave. This is where his thesis breaks down.

On the positive side--and the reason I gave this book three stars-- I learned a lot about values versus feelings, entitlement versus gratitude, the differences between Europe and the US with regard to a number of issues, the concept he borrowed called "cutflower ethics" (which I will consider with my own children) and finally, the detailed chapter on the problems inherent in Koran-based societies.

I recommend the book because of its provocative nature and pearls of wisdom, as long as the reader can avoid the fact that left wing values as described by Prager are not held by too many people today. Another reason to read the book is for an open minded person who is not right wing to better understand right wing values explained in an intellectual and elegant fashion.

I believe in American values and the principles in the Constitution, however, sometimes I am frustrated in my ability to communicate these values during social conversations. If you feel the need to better articulate yourself discussing the American System, then this book is for you!
Dennis Prager spent many years crafting this book because he thought it was important to define “leftism”, alluding to it as a somewhat “stealth religion”. The left receives much of its’ support because the mainstream media and academics (he really attacks the modern university system) present leftism as the “normal and accepted way to think”. He exposes that leftism is not presented as an overall ideology – normally speaking more about goals than about values. Dennis Prager says it is even more important to define and advocate Americanism because many people, my wife and I included, do not articulate these values or advocate them enough in social situations (probably our fear of being politically correct). He reminds us that few countries around the world advocate for Americanism
(thus the title Still The Best Hope), and in the United States, leftists who don’t share American values dominate the press, universities and the educational system. The core of this book is the systematic contrast between leftism and American values. He cites dozens of examples in which the values asserted by leftism conflict with American values, and why leftist values are less likely to increase goodness in the world.
Most interesting for me was his discussion regarding why most Americans want to believe that liberal America and conservative America can be united (major allure of Obama’s campaign 2008). However, he believes there are two Americas, not rich and poor; economic status plays little role in this division. This possibility of unity is based on the false premise that the two have essentially the same vision for America, - that Left and Right share the same ends -and therefore really differ only in their ways to achieve that vision. This is not the case. Right and Left differ in their visions of America, not just having different roads. Calls for unity among Americans that transcends Left and Right are either naïve or disingenuous.
If you want better articulate your conservative values and why they are important to our nation’s future, this book is a wonderful resource. P.S. Check out his awesome online resource, Prager University (prageru.com) , full of amazing 5 minute educational videos, we’ve learned so much from them.

I wanted to give this book 5 stars the moment I read this title. Like Mr. Prager, I believe strongly in American exceptionalism and consider the American values as detailed in the book to be superior to both Leftism and Islamism. Sadly, even though I agree with the book's overall thesis, I don't think Prager did a particularly great job at writing it. I have 3 main criticisms as follows.

1) Prager blames too many things on Leftism. It's one thing to blame the Leftist welfare state for racking up huge budget deficits, incentivizing bad behavior, and eroding individual freedom and responsibility. It's another thing entirely to argue, as Prager does, that the Left is also responsible for the degradation in arts and classical music as well as the increased amount of profanity on television. I thought these latter accusations were much less credible and not well supported with evidence. They felt more like cheap shots than solid arguments and undermined his thesis as a whole.

2) Prager uses too many straw man arguments. Quite a bit of the book consists of him making unsubstantiated assertions of the positions he thinks the Left holds and then knocking them down. More than once, I felt that these positions were not a fair representation of what many Leftists believe. For example, he argued that secular nonreligious people would necessarily believe that there is no objective right or wrong, and that religion is necessary for morality. He recalled a conversation he had with Sam Harris, where both men agreed that the modern academic left had a poor track record of defending Islamists and communist dictators, as evidence. What Prager seems not to have realized is that the very existence of someone like Sam Harris who 1) is an atheist and 2) applies a same standard of objective moral behavior to everyone suggests that religion is neither necessary nor sufficient for morality. There are many atheists (this reviewer included) who just don't see the evidence for the existence of a God, yet still try to live moral lives.

3) Prager's writing lacks concision. The first half of this book features one rant after another against specific instances of Leftism, mostly with the same assertions made each time. These were rather dull and tiring to read after a while. Prager also spent what I thought was an unreasonable amount of time on Islamism and why it is not superior to American values. I doubt anyone who would read this book needs to be convinced of this assertion.

In short, just like how America has not always succeeded in spreading its values to other countries, I think so too will Prager's book fail to convince anyone who does not already agree. The good news is that you can do better. Regardless if you are a conservative looking to reinforce his beliefs or a liberal looking to understand how the other half of the country thinks, I would suggest reading any one of Thomas Sowell's books, particularly "A Conflict of Visions" and "Wealth, Poverty, and Politics". Sowell's books are much more cogently written and better researched.

This book explains why the American Value System is superior. In fact, this book explains precisely what the American Value System is. Of course, conservatives will read this book with great enthusiasm. Conservatives will nod their head in agreement and simply enjoy the clarity of Mr. Prager's arguments. The intended audience for this book includes our liberal Democrat friends, relatives and neighbors. It is hard to imagine intelligent, open-minded and thoughtful readers of this book not being deeply affected by the ideas presented here. I believe that if every American who usually votes Democratic did read this book - the political landscape would change one reader at a time as the book is read and absorbed. I wish every member of our government would read this book. I wish every member of the media would read this book. I wish every religious leader in America would read this book. I wish every high school student with a thirst for knowledge would read this book. That is my dream of things that never were and me asking, "Why not?"

What makes Dennis Prager excellent is his effective use of logic. He is not the typical bombastic talk show host who overwhelms with the force and vehemence of his rhetoric. Mr. Prager, instead, calmly and methodically lays out his arguments. The strength of his evidence is sufficient, there is no need for shouting. Still the Best Hope is a much needed book for our times. While so many are pointing their fingers at our failures as a country, decrying the need for radical changes in a variety of programs and methodologies in an effort to solve the issues facing us, Mr. Prager claims the opposite.

The United States is an idea and an ideal. Unlike any other country in the world, we are composed of fundamentally different people who coexist under the umbrella of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Regardless of race, religion or ethnicity – all are accepted into the mix, into their own adventure in attaining these privileges and securing them for the next generation. The crux of the ideal is opportunity. This places a responsibility on the individual to put forth the effort, accept the possibility of failure and continue to strive.

A mindset has emerged and convinced those who have not, yet, succeeded that they bear no responsibility. It is not their fault, therefore a systemic change must be made to “help” them succeed. In doing so, we begin to give to our children what they have not earned, and in turn we get entitled adults unwilling to work for what they believed they are “owed.” Equality becomes the goal – regardless of the cost. This discourages greatness and emboldens the mediocre.

Still the Best Hope is an attempt to remind us that the ideal of America is a beacon on a hill. That a failure to live up to the ideal is a result of our unwillingness to do the work ourselves. Our belief that some one is coming to help or save us, absolving our responsibility. The truth is – no one is coming! No organization or legislation will fix what is broken. These serve only to attain more power for the few who regulate and administer these agencies.

The ideal can be realized ONLY through the individual efforts of citizens. It is the obligation of each of us to care for our own, to look out for each other, to work tirelessly, to help those in need (to help themselves, not to create dependence) and to hold ourselves and those we place is positions of authority accountable. We must be actively engaged and stop passively waiting for a savior to emerge. No one is coming!

We have the best blueprint imaginable for creating a nation that provides every individual with the opportunity to thrive. That is our obligation: to reduce obstacles, to mitigate discrimination and malfeasance. To provide the tools and resources that motivated individuals can use to succeed. We already have all of these things in place – we simply need to understand and effectively use what already exists (schools, court systems, political agencies, public health and safety). With accountability these agencies can be run as intended and better serve those for whom they were created and not those who govern. It all lies before us. Examine history and current events and it is easy to see the America is Still the Best Hope for showing the world how a civilized country can provide safety and opportunity for all.

Dennis Prager, a radio talk show host, lays out the arguments he has been making for 30 years on radio in one cohesive book, Still the Best Hope. He believes the world has three worldviews from which to choose: Leftism, Islamism, and Americanism. Writing in three sections in order to focus on each worldview separately, he dissects and dismantles both Leftism and Islamism. His critique of the Left is particularly insightful. But his promotion of American Values is where his originality is so needed.

He defines Leftism as a secular religion with its own creeds and dogma. All humans need something to believe in and when you reject God, Leftism has to make do. Being a very materialistically focused worldview, material equality is its highest goal. They believe the government can lead us to their view of nirvana in which all experience equality of outcome. They reject facts they don't like for wishful thinking and desire to will into being their own form of reality. Too often, truth can make people feel bad, and the left is wholly feelings-based. The left succeeds because it appeals to feelings and promises the impossible. Many people would rather believe in a beautiful lie than confront hard and unfair truth. Unfortunately, basing one's worldview on falsities has led to the most barbaric outcomes as reality has the unfortunate ability to keep making itself known. Only totalitarianism can keep hard facts at bay and only for a limited time.

The other worldview competing for the hearts and minds of the planet today is Islamism. Prager states, "There are a number of serious moral problems within the Muslim world: the lack of liberty, the treatment of women the imposition of Sharia on Muslims and non-Muslims, the use of violent punishments for non-violent offenses, and an abandonment or reason, among others." For these reasons, Islamism is obviously not the path of more liberty and freedom.

Finally, he defends Americanism. He elaborates on all three elements of what he calls, The American Trinity: E Pluribus Unum, Liberty, and In God We Trust. All are found on every American coin, which makes it a helpful reminder. It is these values we are in danger of losing and in the process we will lose what makes America great and ... exceptional!

Having listened to Dennis Prager for years, I didn't find much new in the book, but I did enjoy getting all his thoughts in one place. This is a great resource for anyone wanting to concisely explain Americanism vs. Leftism or Islamism. He documents each claim with one or more examples. For anyone not immersed already in Dennis Prager's thoughts, this book would be a real eye-opener.

Having just finished reading this book and having listened to his radio show many times, it is clear that Dennis Prager is one of the most thoughtful media personalities in our culture. Agree or disagree with him, his ideas and/or his conclusions, there is no denying that he clearly delineates with example after example the differences between competing ideologies which are dominate in this country and world today.

He is very objective when he comes to enumerating these differences as well. He makes no judgement on individuals who hold such values (he constantly states how there are both wonderful and awful people on both sides of the political and ideological fence). What amuses me are the many people who consider themselves "liberal" or "leftist" who deny these differences exist. When questioning them further, I often find that they object to the differences because they do not BELIEVE in the final conclusions that these "leftist" ideas lead to. Ultimately they object because they have not thought through their own belief system(s).

One of Dennis' favorite lines (and mine is well since I've adopted it) is, "I'd rather have clarity over agreement." He is very clear in his speech and in his writings of how he thinks. This should be mandatory reading for anyone who truly cares about the future of humanity, especially in the United States.

I liked this book so I gave it 4stars. But I agree with some of the 3 star reviewers that the book is too long and not well organized. I further disagree with his characterization of what exactly are " American values?" He calls them : liberty, in God we trust and E Pluribus Unum. I agree with his first value, liberty. I agree with his second value a belief in God , particularly a belief in the Judeo christian values,but not Judeo-Christian theology( see pages328,and page 338). But I do not understand where his e pluribus unum comes in or how that is an american value. I agree that the US has and should become a melting pot and that immigrants should become americanized and speak english. But there is more to american values than what he said,with the phrase --e pluribus unum-- so I think he is on the right track , but he needs to give that subject more thought. However, I liked his definition of Islamist and Leftist views and so I believe every american should read the book and come up with their own thoughts on the subject of American values. Then perhaps, we as a nation, could form a political consensus upon how to solve the nations current problems of: lack of jobs, entitlement and budget deficit issues,as well as our social, educational, military (islamist terrorism) , and foreign affairs problems we and our allies face in the 21st century. The author does not give an indication of how many leftists make up the Democratic Party , or how many Republicans hold American values? We need to determine how many people believe what, in order to frame a poltical consensus to solve our problems. Without an educated public who believes facts based upon scientifically demonstrated realtity and not propoganda or fantasy beliefs taught to them by others , no poltical compromise will be possible.
terry jennrich

If high school and college students read this one book, the left would be in serious jeopardy of losing its influence on young people. Still the Best Hope is an articulate presentation of the goodness of American values in how they have benefited America but also the world. In making the case, Dennis examines Leftism and Islamism and shows why neither are compatible with American values and why they should be rejected. As anyone who listens to Dennis knows, he always makes his case fairly and with reason and respect. In a sense, this book is a summary of major themes of Dennis' radio show over the years. My favorite part of the book was the final part which defines American values with the concept of the American Trinity--Liberty, E Pluribus Unum, and In God We Trust. As Dennis points out, these uniquely American ideals will not survive unless Americans understand them and advocate for them. This book does just that. In making the case for Liberty, E Pluribus Unum, and In God We Trust, this could be one of the most important books to be written in years.

The left-wing ideology dominates Western media and culture. When someone tells you that they're apolitical or center, it usually means that they're a leftist. Leftism has become mainstream. What we call 'world opinion' is left-wing opinion.

Dennis Prager is probably the biggest decoder of this ideology. He has mastered the ins and outs of this ideology very well. This book is essentially an encyclopedia of leftism. Prager defines what they believe and compares it to other ideologies fighting for world domination (Islamism).

The best thing about this book is that it is full of examples. Almost every point the author makes about the left or Islamism is backed up by examples. The way he connects facts, anecdotes and events is magnificent - as a result, you get a book full of wisdom.

The Lefties are going to really hate this book. You see, almost everything the Left hates or denigrates or minimises, such as God, freedom, personal responsibility, small government, family, hard work, patriotism, and so on is defended in this important new volume.

American Jewish conservative and social commentator Dennis Prager here does a terrific job in defending America, and showing how the Left is wrong at just about every turn. Indeed, he actually believes that America - with all its faults - is still worth defending and championing.

He also notes that there are three competing ideologies today: Islamist, Leftist, and American, all of which are incompatible with the other. Thus this book performs three major tasks: it affirms all that is great about America; and it defines and critiques the radical left; and it looks at Islam and the threat it poses to American values.

As to American values and the American vision, he says three core values undergird America: "Liberty," "In God We Trust," and "E Pluribus Unum". His chapter on "The American Trinity" may be the highlight of the book. Liberty is of course at the heart of what America is all about.

It is its overwhelming passion for freedom that has drawn people from all over the world - even at risk of life and limb. "More people from more countries have immigrated to America in order to be free than to the rest of the world's countries put together."

And as he rightly states, liberty and big government are fully incompatible: "Individual liberty exists in inverse proportion to the size of the state. The bigger the government/state, the less liberty the individual has. The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen."

The religious foundation of America is also essential to understand. All the founding fathers - even those who were more or less deists - knew that the new republic would never work without God and religion. It was inconceivable to them to talk about America succeeding without faith and morality.

"What the Founders did regarding God and liberty was as unique as it was brilliant: they substituted God (and moral religion) for a powerful secular or religious state and they tied liberty to God." And all of them were preoccupied with the Bible, and believed in a God who was concerned about the nations, and judged then when necessary.

Finally, the American vision has always been about "from many, one". America was the great melting pot which took people in from all over the world. And those who came liked America and its values, and were happy to integrate into it. While the left champions diversity, America has always championed diversity in unity.

In his analysis of the left he rightly states that it is "both a way of understanding the world and a value system. It is, in fact, a form of religion, albeit a secular one." It ultimately favours looking to government and politics for meaning, purpose, and solving every problem.

Instead of looking to self reliance, or drawing on faith, the Left want to drag the state into every issue. Utopia is to be created here and now by means of politics. "For the Left, politics is the way to transform the world; for conservatives, politics is primarily the way to stop the Left from doing so."

The Left, says Prager, emulates, and wants America to be like, Western Europe, with its statism, welfarism, secularism, pacifism, moral relativism, victimisation, sexual anarchy, and egalitarianism. It despises America's religiosity, exceptionalism, love of limited government, self-reliance, morality, nationalism, patriotism, and free markets.

And the Left is always about change - even change for the sake of change. That is why they call themselves "progressives". The status quo is always taboo, and change must always be engaged in, in the attempt to find an elusive utopia on earth.

"The conservative view is that the best is the enemy of the better and attempts to create utopia usually destroy much of what is good in a society. That is why conservatives marvel at how good America is while Leftists seek to `transform' it."

And as he correctly observes, "The Left is animated largely by feelings. ... The feelings-based nature of liberalism helps explain a liberal and Left phenomenon - how much more likely people on the Left are to say that they feel `offended' when confronted with views with which they differ."

This is seen in many ways. Our schools for example are awash with moral relativism. "What has supplanted belief in the existence of moral truths are feelings about what is moral. Many children have been raised to ask, `How do I feel about it?' rather than `Is it right or wrong?'"

Islam is another major ideology, and Prager - although optimistic of moderate reformers prevailing one day - notes how radically it differs from American values. The separation of church and state - properly understood - is of course a primary feature of America, but it is completely lacking in Islam.

He notes how fundamentally different Christianity is from Islam. For example, Christians do not pose a threat to non-Christians, and Christian America has no similar body of religious laws like sharia (Islamic law). And while religious violence has occurred in Christianity's history, it is the exception to the rule, and not the norm, as in Islam.

The threats of militant Islam and militant leftism must constantly be monitored, identified and resisted. America has never been a perfect nation, but it has been amongst the most free, the most democratic, and the most prosperous nations ever to exist.

And given how often and how regularly it goes to the defence of freedom around the world (at very great cost), and offers tangible aid and assistance to those nations suffering in various ways, it really is a nation worth defending - warts and all. Such pro-Americanism may not be a popular thing to do today, but Prager has really pulled it off, doing just that.

In sum, a brief review cannot do proper justice to a detailed volume of over 400 pages. It is hoped that the quotes I provide and the summary I offer will tempt the reader to get the book and enjoy it, learn from it, and be encouraged by it. It deserves a very wide reading indeed.

Dennis Prager has written a book that is especially needed for these troubled times. His clarity and ability to see where the United States now stands as a Nation, where we have been, and where we are headed is well researched, organized, and one of the best pieces of writing released at this time of American History where such ideas are sorely needed. The Nation in many ways seems directionless to many of its' Citizen's, and although we appear to be still standing on our own, that position could very easily slip from our grips if we don't take heed, and that particular heed is clearly defined and elucidated in this book. For anyone interested in taking the words of John F. Kennedy seriously, and I am referring to "Ask not what your Country can do for you, but what You can do for your Country", this book poses the actions and ideals to maintain and achieve such continuing goals.

I'm about half way through the book. Those on the left should read this book. It will help you understand your oppostion--see, in reality, we are not a bunch of slow-witted racist homophobes being led by idealogues. There are sound, coherent arguements behind our opposition to things like global warming hyseria. Prager believes in clarity, so if you are seeking the stilted language of the pseudo-intellectual, you won't find it here. If you are a devoted Prager listener, there is a lot of review material. It's great to have the sources and references on these topics that Dennis returns to regularly on his show. I'm enjoying the book and will update this review soon.

The Left side in politics (usually Liberal/Democratic) has a very dangerous ideology, but it feels good, yet, it has terrible consequences. I was going in that direction; being brain washed by media, politicians, free thinkers until Mr. Dennis Prager rescued me, Literally!
By the way, the Left ideology is not just in America and Europe, it is all over the world even in the Middle East and Africa. People look at it as the ultimate. I may not agree with the author in every thing, but overall, it makes perfect sense.
Can't thank you enough, Mr. Prager.
I found this book in public Library and got it on audible, it is so true and full of real facts.
Always remember, when you cannot argue intellectually, you start calling people names like bigot, racist, homophobic, islamiphobic, sexist, close-minded,...etc the list never ends!

this book is well-written, thought-provoking, convincing, current & relevant. an important summer read. he puts into words concepts & feelings of patriotism that have been all but lost as of late. definitely one you'll want to have on your shelf so that you can flip it open & reference particular points later, the layout makes it easy to be able to flip back & find a particular topic. an essential addition to every american's collection. you will want to rush thru your reading so that you can lend it out to others. essential.

Still the Best Hope, is the Statue of Liberty in hardcover. No other book combines such sharp insights into America's current state. No other book is at once so deep and so sensible, so succinct and so comprehensive, so American and so universal. In this extraordinary book, Dennis Prager, argues that the global social and political crisis of the 21st century is really an intellectual crisis. That is, a battle of ideas between American values and their alternatives. There is nothing partisan or one-sided about his argument. He makes his case fairly, lucidly, and persuasively. His book moves with a kind of worried grace probing the difference between liberal and conservative thought, and he has something urgent to teach the people on either side. Prager's sweeping analysis is a grand tour of American values. And the power these values have to light a torch of hope and liberty in a dark world.

While I have listened to Dennis' show for several years now, I am pleased that his book provides insights that he hasn't fully fleshed out on his radio program. I have starred and underlined several passages to go back and re-read.

This book is excellent for understanding the value-system of the Left. I strongly urge anyone who is looking to understand how to articulate the difference between the Right and the Left to purchase and read this book.

This book is a thorough and comprehensive explanation of the current major world views influencing humanity. Dennis Prager covers the origins of each, as well as, the future implications for the dominance of each. It is very well researched and referenced, giving it a great deal of authority. One of the most important things Prager does is give us a concise and brilliant explanation of American values that we need to bestow to the next generation if we our to prevail. Still The Best Hope gives the reader both encouragement and trepidation regarding how the human race could progress or regress in the coming century. I rarely read a book twice, but I plan on reading this one again, because it is so deep and compelling.

This book is clear and easy to read. It explains in detail things about Leftism that many of us intuitively know, but are not able to articulate well. Dennis never makes a generalization without at least one and usually more compelling examples. He also explains in clear language what it is that makes America exceptional. I will be buying this book for my grandson's Bar Mitzvah present. I highly recommend that before you send your son or daughter off to college, you make this book mandatory reading. After all you are paying for their college education, so you have every right to do so.

A timely, pithy, riveting review of the 3 governing options in the world today: Leftism (currently comprised of Progressives or Socialists), Islamism, and Americanism. This text is unique in its comnparative approach presenting two different roads to Hell and one path to prosperity on this Earth. Buy this book. Read it. Re-read it. Share it with open-minded significants as I have. Thanks to Mr. Prager we cannot plead ignorance and claim that we haven't been warned. Our future depends upon our clear understanding of our options and then choosing, I pray, Americanism. KEA

A critically important read for all thinking people. It is a deep but readable combination of a poly sci and philosophy book that realistically addresses the underlying concepts and weaknesses of socialism and compares our American values in detail to the reasoning of the Left in every arena. His analysis is so well done that it will aid the Independents and Conservatives in grasping the big picture and in appreciating the inherent benefits of America's values.

I have been an agnostic all my 77 years. This is the first book that I have ever read that makes sense to me why the Founders included "God fearing" as an essential concept underlying the U.S. Constitution.

I have listened to Dennis Prager for years and consider him one of the wisest men in the world. Not gruff or argumentative, this is a well written book that gradually takes you step by step to the present state of insanity.

This book is worth purchasing multiple copies of so it can be shared with others. Personally, I got one audio and two hard copies. You can start at any section and begin to learn.

Every parent needs to get this for their children because they are the ones at risk. The Prager University is always a gret place to send your children,[...].

If you would really like to be impressed with wisdom and foresight, check out what the great commentator Paul Harvey had to say in 1965: [...]

The first thing I did this morning was brush my teeth and then I downloaded Dennis's book onto my kindle. I didn't finish the book yet, but from what I covered so far, I am more than pleased. In his usual articulate and clear style, Dennis spells out exactly where we are standing as a country, our biggest threats, and above all how we can fix that by implementing American values on us and the rest of the world. Still the best hope brings real practical "hope and change" to discussion, but not, in the words of Barak Obama, to "fundamentally transform the country", rather, to restore it's values that were designed and created by our founders.
I truly hope and pray that this book will have a positive effect in November. ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT!

The liberals obviously dislike this book because it speaks of VALUES and AMERICA in the same sentence. This book explains why Americans must keep itself the powerful nation it's always been. Unlike the politics and personal agenda of Obama and his "administration." Easy to read and well written it makes real Americans think about where our country is heading if we keep on this Liberal course.

Mr. Prager is so brilliant at clearly articulating the differences between between traditional American values and those of the left, as well as Islamism. This book should be required reading for all high school & college students. Unfortuantely, the people it would most benefit would be those who would never read it. I've already given in to my 25 y.o. daughter to read. It is great! Thank you Dennis Prager!

Scan Prager's brief table appearing before the index. That short Addendum titled, Leftism-Americanism Differences tells us exactly what those differences are. If those differences either set your blood to boiling or set your mood to calmness, you'll get something from this book.

Prager is thoughtful and well researched. I enjoyed reading thought provoking material from someone who's not on rant. I finished the book thinking how wonderful it would be to see Prager debate our illustrious politicians on the air, live. I think it would be a kin to shooting ducks in a barrel.

This is an amazing book that opened my eyes on the danger of the left to America and the world as a whole, it made me appreciate and understand American values deeply, and I walked away with a treasure trove of knowledge historically, politically, and about morality, thank you Mr Dennis for changing my life.

Dennis Prager is a genius and a great man to look to for political perspective! Im 36 years old and live in Marin County California. I was raised liberal and had my conservative awakening about 6 years ago. Im convinced that inside every liberal there's an American conservative dying to get out ! I only wish there were more conservatives as articulate and interesting as Dennis Prager!
I pray that the American value system will make a comeback.
Great book! Must read! and Please Teach your kids what it means to be an American!
God Bless!!

I've been waiting for this book for a number of years. I loved Dennis' previous book, Think a Second Time, but it badly needed to be updated from 1994. I bought the autographed edition of Still the Best Hope (which I rarely do for any book). This new book is simply outstanding and extraordinarily well-documented and researched. This book should be required reading in ALL American high schools, period.

Black students need to know, for example, that "every vote against the 1960 Civil Rights Act came from Democrats." That is a record from which the Democrat Party cannot run away. This record alone shatters the oft-bought Leftist tripe that Democrats are somehow "for" blacks while Republicans are racist.

Students of all colors and creeds need to understand why America is exceptional, and why the world needs American values; there is no one who explains this better than Dennis Prager.

One thing that makes Prager & his writing is he is not a radical conservative. He represents what most American conservatives & moderates think. I don't agree with everything he write, but he offers the best explanation & reasoning to the importance of American values. This is one book I think every American should read no matter what ideology you identify with.

This is a review of a book that I have yet to finish (just downloaded it last night). However, I feel qualified to comment before finishing it only because, like many others, I have been listening to Dennis Prager's radio program on a daily basis for a few years. In other words, the contents of this book are basically the theme of his show with only a few exceptions (The Happiness Hour, Male/Female Hour, Ultimate Issues Hour).

Having skimmed and scanned the book thoroughly, I see a well-organized, well-documented presentation of what Prager believes to be the three alternative values systems available to the countries of the world: Leftism, Islamism, and Americanism. He strives to show why the last of these is the only viable option (hence the word "hope" in the title)for the community of nations to achieve some semblance of economic and moral stability.

I would like to leave it to the reader to see whether or not he has made a compelling argument. Dennis Prager champions the idea of clarity, mentioning its importance and practicing it regularly on his radio show. This book, I believe, bears the same underlying principle. For this reason, you can expect a lack of ambiguity in the text.

My one complaint. Dennis often says on his show (and I am sure in this book, too) that our failure as Americans to educate ourselves and our children on the nature of American values is the reason we are currently engaged in a national battle with Leftism. This is partially true. However, I feel he leaves out something else, something more vitally important. As Americans, we cherish freedom, but this freedom can only be maintained if we are responsible people. A simple example: eat responsibly and the government will not have any reason to come up with new regulations for our diets, regulations that do not work anyway. Prager would agree with this. And yet, he almost never touches on the truth that Americans are reducing their own liberties by not living self-controlled lives. I wish there were a chapter devoted to this point in the book, not to mention a good hour or two every week on his program.

That said, I agree with what others have said about the book. It is philosophical treatise of sorts, wonderfully crafted and solidly researched. You will be hard-pressed to find such an articulate expression of why the American values system is still our best hope.

If I had to recommend just one book about politics, values and how the world works, I'd recommend this one.

Prager's gift for clarity makes heavy and complicated topics surprisingly easy to read and understand.
Most people coast through life without giving much thought to the issues of this book, if they all read it, none of them will ever be the same.

This is an eye opener like non other, backed with 400 footnotes, it's the Best Hope to create informed citizenry and improve the world, one good person at a time.

Receives - - FOUR MINUS - -

Why would a European read Prager's book? Well, to find out more in depth how the "American Right" thinks (if one can put "the Right" in one box). In contrast to how (in box)" the (American) Left" thinks, something we are far more familiar with, since mainstream media and most universities in both US and Europe are dominated by Leftists. Which book of many? Chance enters, and since Prager's book received a lot of attention and praise in America, that was my choice.

Leftism:

Leftist ideology spans from democratic socialism to extreme communism. As Prager's points out, it is important to understand that Leftism is not only a value system, but a fundamental way of understanding the world. Many Leftists let their ideology direct their lives, and some are willing to kill for it. I add that the latter is exemplified by Marxist-Leninist revolutions with its political cleansing (in contrast to ethnic cleansing and racial cleansing).

In my view this part of Prager's book is the best and most thorough one. I believe Prager has a correct understanding of what Leftism is, and what motivates the Left. I have held similar views about Leftism myself for three decades. I have often reflected about what the differences but especially the similarities between Marxism and Leftism are. Are "ordinary" Leftists just watered out Marxists or uneducated "secular" quasi-Marxists? Prager has opened up for me that the connection between Marxism and Leftism may not be Marxism (or Marxist-Leninism), but wishful thinking. After all, both Marxists and Leftists in general have in common a root in both utopianism and in wishful thinking. What Prager does not consider is the "division of labor" that seems to exist between the two "groups". Most ordinary Leftists may be naïve individuals that mean well (good intentions), but hard-core Marxists and Marxist-Leninists certainly don't. They have a hidden agenda as history proves. They crave the revolution, and in order to destroy capitalism they plot, and they plant elaborate lies and false theories about different causes of why things are as they are, that naïve more uneducated Leftists pick up and believe in.

An example of the religious character of Leftism is the term adopted by Hillary Clinton when she was First Lady: "the politics of meaning". Prager writes: "This term was highly meaningful to the Left, but meaningless to conservatives, [because] conservatives do not look to government and politics to find meaning. They look instead to their own lives." This shows the different - and dangerous - nature of Leftism. This is familiar to me. I want to be "left alone". Norwegian socialists want to control and run my life for me, and tend to claim that I'm a fascist if I refuse and explain why (when I was a conservative student in the late 1970s, Marxist-Leninists told me I was on "their liquidation list").

Prager's explanation is that "...with the collapse of God-based religion on much of the Left, Leftist religion has filled the meaning void." I believe it could be correct that for true Leftists, a "new" secular religion fills a "meaning void", but I disagree with his claim that all humans need a religion. However, many people seem to need one. So if a higher education or some "cultural development" for many leaves a God-based religion out of the question, a secular religion can "step in" and fill the "meaning void" for those experiencing one. Realistically, this is a correct description of true Leftists. For we should consider that one of the most essential characteristics of Leftism (After Marx) is the need to have Utopia created here on Earth, now! Prager states: "Politics becomes the vehicle to achieving this... For the Left politics is a way to transform the world; for conservatives, politics is primarily a way to stop the Left from doing so." We experience the same in Scandinavia, but there are not many true conservatives left. However, libertarianism has entered Scandinavia in the 1980s, and now there is at least some libertarians (although some have lost contact with reality and become anarcho-capitalists).

This shows the fundamental difference between not only Leftism and conservatism, but between Leftist and non-Leftist political ideologies in general. True Leftists are never, ever going to leave you in peace to live your life as you yourself considers best. They demand "the right" to create their version of society, using you and me as guinea pigs, in achieving their goal (thus: the Kantian principle not to use other people as mere means to achieve goals are broken by the Left). I do not need to comment on the Lefts tendency to continuously and viciously demonize any opposition to their plans for Americans. You know that just too well by experience.

Now, pointing to abuse of truth, reason and language alone is not enough to make a book interesting. Prager's book is interesting because he "connects the dots". Often he offers intellectually satisfying explanations of why Leftism must be as it is. Why Leftism cannot accept opposition. Why they constantly are "at war". To give just one example: To conservatives (and libertarians) the highest political value is liberty. Liberty demands, to be feasible, the in practice smallest possible state (government). For the Left, however, material equality is the highest political value; even the highest moral value. Therefore, when it really comes down to it, liberty is not held in high esteem by the political Left, as Prager excellently demonstrates. Why? Because demanding liberty is 'to throw a wrench in the machine' that will create material equality. And since a fundamental aspect of Leftism (connected to utopianism) is intention-based wishful thinking, Leftists subconsciously believe humans in general indulge in intention-based wishful thinking. So for the Left the "conservative cry", in Prager's words, "for liberty is little more than a cover for preserving economic inequality." So how can the Left not be at war with "the Right"? Left-wingers believe they "know for certain" that conservatives are human beings with bad intentions. Although claiming that good and evil does not exist, still they often claim that conservatives are evil.

I can confirm that this part of Prager's analysis can be transferred to European conditions without any changes. When I studied cultural and economic geography in late 1970s and disagreed with textbooks claim about "unjust" material inequality, other students would interrupt me and claim something like "just because you are the son of a rich ship company owner or something, etc...." Ship company owners was often used to describe the "very rich" (in derogatory terms) at the time, because they were about the only group left in Norway who owned considerable wealth, since they could "flag out" their fleet. It was impossible to discuss with radical students because instead of listening to arguments they instead tried to figure out the class background of their adversaries, absolutely sure that would reveal "who they really are". When I told my parents were "lower middleclass" coming from the working class and from ordinary farmers and sailors, they quickly changed their story and claimed I was "mystified" by "bourgeois propoganda" and that it was time for me to "wake up and understand what my real interests are". The idea that they could be mistaken in their beliefs were alien to them.

Islam

Reading Prager has also confirmed my own understanding of what Islam - Islamism - is, and the danger it represents.

The American value system

The major part the book's final section treats the 'In God we trust' part of the American value system (50 of 90 pages). Although interesting, for me this part of Prager's book often stand out as unsubstantiated assertions, because fundamentally the claim is that only if moral values are God-given are moral values "objective". The problem here is Prager's assertion that "secular moral values" can be nothing more than personal preferences, thus leading to moral relativism. Prager seems to claim that all of us in time will end up as moral relativists unless we believe in God. Well, I certainly don't believe this is happening to me, and I don't believe in God (as an agnostic I neither deny the existence of God).
Now, moral relativism constitutes an essential part of Prager's argument against Leftism, and I believe most non-Leftists are against moral relativism. I certainly argue against this absurd Leftist hypothesis.

I believe Prager is mistaken. It is not so that not believing in God must lead to moral relativism. Essential knowledge: Cultural neo-Marxists put together the hypothesis of moral relativism with the specific aim of destroying Western capitalist societies from within. The aim was moral deterioration and a breakdown in people's trust in capitalism. They did this because they discovered that empirical findings refuted an essential part of Marxist theory, namely historical (dialectic) materialism. They realized that the working class in industrialized countries would not start the long hoped for proletarian revolution Marx had promised (and hypothesized). So they had to come up with a new plan to undermine the West. Cultural relativism is part that that evil plan. So when Prager essentially spreads "the same rumor", although for very different motives, those who simply don't believe in God, receives the same message from two different and mutually exclusive parts of society. The terrible result could be an increased belief in cultural relativism.

Finally: All Prager says about liberty is correct and well, but unsatisfactory from the point of view of a political philosopher. Too little space is dedicated to liberty, and instead of giving a clear definition of liberty, Prager is satisfied with applying liberty to different areas of life in the form of a list (political, religious, free speech, etc.). He does have important things to say, though, like this, which you should mind: The bigger that state, the smaller the citizen. I also have to add that too many places Prager backs up his assertions by cherry-picked examples that suit him.

If you want to preserve America, you need to be able to articulate what it is and understand what you are defending it from. To that end, this book is a must read. I do not read many political books, and this book is much more then merely a political book. It is distilled wisdom--it is truly life changing.

This book is crucial for any American, especially people currently in American education. It seems that many get the wrong message of Americanism and conservatism. Many just see conservatives as bad people who mean poorly for society. I think it is vital for people to recommend this book to as many people as they can.

This book is your typical "low-brow" repetition of old ultra right-wing talking points. There is nothing new in it. Prager is preaching to the choir, there is nothing in it that would hold up in a debate. Basically the left is bad in everything they do and wrong in everything they believe and the right wingers, only those who uphold Christian morals, are the Messiahs of the world. He hates big government unless it pays for stuff he likes, he hates feminism and argues that men are discriminated against, he states that DDT bans caused the lives of millions (which is fiction), he rants about the evil leftist media and Hollywood, and on and on the typical right wing hysteria. What is missing in his arguments are facts, when facts are lacking, his favorite go to is "common sense" not studios acquisition of facts, he rages against intellectuals and universities, he argues they are places of indoctrination and not of knowledge. He commends Dr. Martin L King for his faith but fails to mention that Dr. King was very liberal. The book is full of strawman arguments and stereotypes. For example he implies that all of Western Europe is comprised of lazy welfare states. It wasn't worth my time!

Boy! If you need a lot of attention, merely publish a negative, asinine review here, like Shade's. Yes, I had to look up the word, asinine -- for correct spelling. I haven't needed to use that word, before. I didn't go to college, like evidently Shade did. Shade is a liar, and he knows he is a liar. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It is the one ability every human has, that none of the other speicies' have. If you served in the military, as I did; if you paid all of your taxes, as I did; if you are over 70 years old, as I am, you don't need to read Prager's book. Hopefully, like me, you will buy the book, send it to your 34 year old daughter, demanding that she read it, cover to cover, before you deposit anymore money into her account, like I did. That's what the $150,000 I spent on her liberal college education got me -- a stipend receiver without portfolio, like Shade probably is.

This is the best explanation and contrast of the American value system I have ever read. It teaches you things you simply won't learn from anyone else and it is backed up by hundreds of footnotes. Must reading for anyone from high school and up.

I've listened to Dennis since his Religion on the Line show 25 years ago and was a big fan back when he was on KABC in the 90's. He was conservative in those days but not in your face about it and when Dennis (then as now) can be gotten off politics, he's quite enjoyable - sometimes even wise - in his discourse. Unfortunately, the price of going national on his talk show was apparently to go political and in the last decade or so, Dennis has become a real right wing ideologue. The evidence is all over this book which I delayed reading for a long time since I knew I would find it frustrating and did. There's so very very much I could write in response but will confine myself to three points.
1) The idea that the left is essentially un-American because it does not reflect the values and beliefs of the Founding Fathers, whereas conservatives do (hence "American values" and "leftist values") Such as the Founder's isolationism - which Dennis rejects. Such as their acceptance and even support for slavery - which Dennis rejects. Such as the horror with which they - apart from Hamilton - would regard the size and influence of Wall Street and big corporations - which Dennis may occasionally criticize but would never dream of using the power of government to break up as he would the dismantling of big government. Such as equal rights for women and blacks - which would have been rejected by the Founders but, I assume, Dennis supports. Dennis, of course, would argue we've evolved since then and today the Founders might think differently, but that's the point. Our transition from an agricultural economy far from the world to an urbanized, mass society that has become the center of industrial civilization is why "leftist values" have become "American values", from Teddy Roosevelt onwards, many of which Dennis accepts whether he admits it or not.
2) Dennis's double standards. I could go on forever on this, but let me point out just one. Dennis goes on and on (and on his radio show on and on and on and on etc.) about how credulous the left is, how they'll believe all kinds of crap if it accords with their ideological preconception and Dennis Is Absolutely Right. It's True! That's the way ideologues think, on the left but ALSO ON THE RIGHT! That's what Dennis only rarely notices. As in Obama wasn't born in the US. Obama is a secret muslim. Obama hates America. Clinton deliberately let the Benghazi attack happen A military war game in the south west is a rehearsal for an attack on Texas. Sharia law is about to take over America. A recent poll said 13% of Americans believe Obama is the anti-Christ. Since about 40% of Americans call themselves conservative, can we assume one out of three of Dennis' listeners believe Obama is the anti-Christ even as he tells them how credulous the left is?
3) For all of Dennis' dumping on Europe, you would never know northern Europe is doing fairly well (especially Germany) where the welfare state he hates is most highly developed. The problem appears to be less "leftism" than the Meditteranean culture of southern Europe where no one pays taxes and crony capitalism rules.
I'm sorry to say that this book is way too schematic for to be a convincing picture of the real world of contradictions, ironies, local peculiarities, shades of grey, the stubbornness with which real peoples and cultures resist being put into cookie cutter categories - all arguments a real conservative might make. But Dennis is less a conservative than a right wing ideologue. When I recently read David Brooks book on the importance of character, I thought this was a book Dennis Prager could have written. When he's off politics, he sounds like this. Instead, Dennis wrote The Best Hope. How sad.

This is where it's at! It is easy for politicians like Obama to side-track arguments on this or that, but Still the Best Hope: Why the World Needs American Values to Triumph subsumes instances. It is a higher level in a logical sense.

Let me give an example. Take some politician and all the public things he has done and said. Now apply values to each. Some will pass muster amd some will not.
In other words, you are applying a superordinate operator to instances.

I applaud this book.

A great book. Perfect gift for a recent college graduate. Dennis Prager offers an intellectual defense of American exceptionalism and explains why America is needed now more than ever before. A must read.

This guy is a complete lunatic. The absolute blind bias makes it impossible to expand anyone's perspective. You will either read this because you already agree with what he has to say and seek validation or general agreement with your own perspective and opinions... OR.... you will adamantly oppose nearly every sentence of this one sided, dogmatic, horribly researched book full of wild accusations and belittling comments. In this collection of ridiculous mentality indoctrination, Mr Prague attempts (and in some cases is successful, Im sure) to even further polarize our political landscape by asserting that there is only ONE way to think that will result in a successful America. This sort of primitive thought is far more problematic than helpful in current American culture and politics.

Dennis Prager believes himself to be an intellectual and a moralist when he is neither. He is only intellectual to someone who has never met a real scholar. His manner is pleasant and civil, but his thought is nasty and threadbare. He is violently anti scholarship, constantly attacking college and university education, something right out of the classic fascist playbook deliniated by Dr. Lawrence Britt. Most of his arguments begin with " the left says..." and are based on a straw man premise. The left is apparently anyone who does not entirely agree with him. He claims to be a moralist, yet is quite comfortable with waterboarding. He claims to care about people, yet airs cigar ads on his program. He constantly touts Prager University which is dedicated to two beliefs: that education is only about profit and that cheap, jejune five minute on line courses are substitutes forfour years of real scholarship. His writing style is simplistic, preachy, and poorly reasoned. Save your money. If you really want conservative literature try something by Russell Kirk or William F. Buckley. Those two were true intellectuals.

In a time when this Country is hopelessly polarized between the ideologies of left and right I find it distrurbing and frustrating that there are few individuals of Mr. Prager's intelligence trying to coalsece the nation around a common theme that brings both sides together and moves the nation in a positive direction. Instead what we get is more one-sided rhetoric that stokes the fires of intolerance and forces the sides further apart. Mr. Prager's book is well written and thoughtful indeed, but he is guilty of the exact same devices that he criticizes, but only from a right-wing perspective. The same basic structure of this book could easily be stripped and re-written from a left-wing perspective. When are we going to stop this one-sided vs. the other condemnation and find some common ground where both sides respect each others differences and compromise for the greater good.

Right-wing radio talk show host, author, and provocateur Dennis Prager's (dp) latest book, which he calls "Still The Best Hope", is so crammed full of endless hype within its 400+ pages that it is extremely difficult to elucidate its failings without writing a review of equal length. But for those who wonder whether it is worth their time to wade through such a mountain of hype, this review will attempt to point out some of the distorted views to be found there.

The first layer of hype you will encounter involves the question of whether one needs to buy this book. The answer is no. Save your money or donate it to your favorite charity. For, if you listen to any random hour of dp's radio show, you will hear him repeating the same themes, using exactly the same language, and citing exactly the same examples as he does in his book. In other words, you don't need his book if you want to be blanketed in his hype. Just tune in to his show. It's cheaper and has the added advantage that you can easily change channels when you've had all the hype you can stand. With the book, you may feel compelled, as I did, to keep slogging on in order to allow him his due. On the other hand, listening to his show also means you have to listen to him hype his book, tell you how important it is, tell you that you ought to buy copies for your friends, etc. on nearly an hourly basis. You choose your poison.

The basic premise of the book is, "There are three ideologies competing for the allegiance of mankind" and that "This competition shapes much of the present world, and the outcome will shape humanity's future." And if that weren't simplistic enough, dp goes on to explain those three ideologies and that competition, which is where the next layers of hype are added to the mix. dp defines those ideologies as Islam, Leftism, and American. But "American", as dp uses it, is nothing more than the hype term which dp has stand in for his own brand of ultra right-wing, neo-conservatism with a rigid Judeo-Christian morality at its core. It's one thing to adhere to such an ideology, and dp may be my guest, but it is pure hype to call it "American". He spends less than 1 1/2 pages dismissing China and its millennia long culture and traditions and nearly billion and a half population. They are not a significant or important part of this competition, as dp sees it. He makes no mention of India and its likewise millennia long culture and traditions and similar population. That's it; nearly 3 billion of the world's people belonging to cultures expressing values and practicing traditions which pre-date America by thousands of years, and they don't matter to dp. Because his world view is saturated in hype.

In probably the longest section of the book, dp details his views of what it means to be a person of the Left, what values and beliefs inspire people on the Left as dp sees it. Here the hype flows so fast and thick that it is really quite difficult to keep up or to take dp seriously. His presentation of Left views and beliefs is so shot through with deception, which he achieves through distortion, illogic, and a kind of paranoid hysteria about the Left, that there may be more hype in this portion of the book than in any other. A few examples will suffice to support this point of view, but the truth is one might turn to any page in the section on the Left and find numerous other examples.

On page 45, dp provides this bit of hype, "Thus in Norway, one of the most Left-wing democracies, the maximum sentence allowed is 21 years in prison. Anders Breivik will be released from prison by age 53." The deception or distortion which dp engages in here is that several news sources have reported, "If he is still considered dangerous after 21 years, his sentence can be extended in 5 year increments for the rest of his life, which is a likely outcome . . ." (Time 8/27/12), and "Breivik smiled with apparent satisfaction when Judge Arutgen read the ruling, declaring him sane enough to be held criminally responsible and sentencing him to 'preventive detention', which means it is unlikely he will ever be released . . . that confinement option can be extended for as long as an inmate is considered dangerous to society." (NYTimes 8/24/12) One would think that dp would have also seen these news reports. But describing Breivik's sentence accurately would not have served his agenda. Thus, we're left with dp's hype.

In a particularly shameful bit of distortion on pages 62 and 63, dp quotes Howard Zinn's response, when asked on dp's radio show if North America would be better if Europeans had never come there, "I'd have no way of knowing" and "we have no way of knowing what would have happened". Yet on the very next page, and a facing page at that, dp distorts Zinn's very clear statement as, "maybe the world would have been better had there never been a U.S." Surely dp, a man who claims to value "clarity over agreement" knows the difference between "no way of knowing" and "maybe".

In a similar vein, on page 70 dp offers his "American" values of Liberty, E Pluribus Unum, In God We Trust as the same as the founder's values and then refers to comments made by Michael Moore that "capitalism is an evil system". dp then concludes that for Moore, "as for most Left-wing believers, those who lived before them are morally and intellectually defective. Nobody can come up with a good system of governance." The conflation of "capitalism" (an economic system) with "a good system of governance" (presumably a democratic republic) is, again, hype and distortion. Surely dp must know the difference between an economic system and a system of governance, wouldn't you think?

On page 77 dp writes, "one can revere youth or wisdom, but not both", which, as opinions go is just fine, but there is no obvious truth inherent in the statement. Why may one not revere youth AND wisdom? It is hype to consider them mutually exclusive, or that one negates the other. And on the same page dp offers, "thus, the 1960's and 70's in America saw the end of required courses at universities. 18 and 19 year olds would choose what to study." As one who attended university, as did many of my friends, during the mid to late 1970's, I can assure dp that his statement is simply hype and distortion. Even in my liberal arts double major, I had required courses to take throughout my four years. Which universities is he talking about that ended required courses?

Not surprisingly, one finds much hype of the distorting/deceptive kind when dp discusses Global Warming. One example, from page 156, has dp stating about Global Warming, "there is considerable doubt about whether it is doing so to world-endangering levels", then asking "Why else would the global warming alarmists have renamed Global Warming, 'climate change?'" dp is clearly not an unintelligent man, yet my 12 year old nephew knows the conceptual difference between "global warming" and "climate change", knows that the one, "global warming", induces the other, "climate change". Is it possible that dp is more ignorant on this topic than a 12 year old? Or is this just more of the distorting hype he traffics in?

Often dp's hype makes it difficult to follow his logic. He writes on page 44 that "the reason for the foolishness of Leftist ideas is . . . its rejection of the basic book of wisdom of the Western world, the Bible . . . ". then, in the next paragraph he writes, "in the Judeo-Christian world, the irrational is overwhelmingly confined to theology and religious life". Somehow, for dp, the wise book at the foundation of Judeo-Christianity results in the irrationality of their theology and religious life. Perhaps dp finds wisdom in irrationality, or finds irrationality to be wise. Or perhaps his hype simply runs ahead of his logic.

Another bit of dp logic difficult to follow is when, on page 82, he writes that the "Left is animated largely by feelings. Though it prides itself as intellectual (and most intellectuals are on the left), Leftism primarily appeals to emotions . . ." So apparently, in the dp world, most intellectuals are animated largely by feelings. If the Left-wing intellectuals are animated by feelings, I shudder to think what animates the non-intellectual Right-wing. And doesn't dp contradict himself, illogically, when on page 226 he writes, "given how feelings-based Leftism is, it is difficult to ascribe 'more thinking' to the Left." If dp is correct on page 82 that "most intellectuals are on the left", then how can he also be correct in saying "it is difficult to ascribe 'more thinking' to the Left"? Unless, for dp, intellectuals don't think, or thinking is not an activity of the intellect. More hype from dp which makes no sense.

In several places dp condemns the Left for engaging in a kind of hysteria where issues like Global Warming, regulating environmental toxins, etc. are concerned. Yet, curiously, dp seems oblivious to his own paranoid hysteria where the Left is concerned. Or is it just more hype yet again? On page 104 he writes, "If you are a serious student, you can learn a great deal at a university. But its primary purpose remains graduating secular Leftists." I am unfamiliar with any university in this country which has stated its primary purpose as"graduating secular Leftists". From what depths of paranoia in dp can such a notion have developed?

On page 162, on the topic of Global Warming, dp states "It is too early to state definitively that what we have here is another expression of Left-wing hysteria. We do know that if we enact the Left's prescriptions to dramatically slash carbon emissions, the Western world would experience a severe economic depression, government power would greatly expand, and individual liberty would contract." So, too early to know if the Left is being hysterical but here are the economic, political, and personal catastrophes that we (i.e., the all-wise, all knowing dp) KNOWS will happen should certain policies be enacted. In a footnote on page 188 and on page 195, dp claims that, "leftism not only poisons institutions, it poisons individuals" and "if something is good for America . . . it is probably bad for the Left and the Democratic Party." Here, with no support for his opinion, dp assures us that Leftism is poison and the Left only promotes policies which are bad for America. Yet, laughably, according to dp, it is those on the Left who are hysterical.

In the final section of the book, dp ostensibly discusses what he considers the "three primary values of America" (Liberty, In God We Trust, and E Pluribus Unum), values he says he discovered one day on U.S. coins in his pants pockets, and which he claims are not shared by Leftists nor Muslims.

Maintaining that Liberty is not a Leftist value is hype that is easily dispensed with. dp does that for us in the silly little addendum, "Leftism-Americanism Differences", which begins on page 395. On page 396, beside the heading "Trinities", dp gives "Liberty, God, E Pluribus Unum" for those holding "American/Conservative Values" while for those holding "Liberal/Left Values" he gives "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". This is one of the rare instances in the book where dp actually makes sense and I find myself in agreement with him; both conservatives and liberals hold Liberty as a value. The differences may be in their respective hierarchy of Liberties, but I think it safe to say that most human beings on the planet value Liberty, whether on the Left or the Right, whether American or not.

This fact does not stop dp from spewing his hype however. Page 312, "The U.S. was the first free country." Not really for Africans, non-believers, the indigenous population, nor women. Page 313, "A major difference between America and Western Europe: liberty animates America; economic equality and economic security animate Western Europe." dp doesn't bother to consider that one cannot truly have Liberty without economic security, and Liberty is severely compromised when economic disparity becomes so great (as it is currently in the U.S., and has been growing for the last 30 years) that the country becomes a nation of haves and have-nots. No one on the Left argues for "economic equality". The Left's argument is against the severe economic disparity which exists. dp apparently fails to see the distinction.

In a 50 page section which runs from pages 322 to 372, dp attempts to persuade that the founding fathers held "In God We Trust" as a value by quoting various founders' thoughts on religion, God, and spiritual expression. From these 50 pages it would appear that dp believes, and wants his readers to likewise believe, that the value he calls "In God We Trust" was embraced by the nation's founders at its inception, and continued to be embraced in an unbroken line by subsequent Americans until the nasty Leftists undermined it with their equally nasty secularism. What dp does not explain in those 50 pages is how the motto did not become an official motto of the U.S., passed in Congress, until the mid-1950's, nearly 200 years after the founding of the country, due to the rampant McCarthy era paranoia and hysteria at the thought of unwitting Americans becoming exposed to godless Communism. Nor does dp find space in those 50 pages to acknowledge that nowhere in America's founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, does the motto he claims as a founding value appear. In fact, nowhere in either the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence does the word "God" appear, and, while the terms "Nature's God", "Creator", and "Divine Providence" are found in the Declaration, it is as if the authors of that great document were at deliberate pains to avoid using the singular, unqualified term "God" as that might too strongly imply support for the Judeo-Christian theology that they emereged from and which dp works overtime to claim is a fundamental American value/motto.

Here we see the hype which dp employs to support his dogmatic views, and why he must find his "American Values" on the coins in his pockets rather than in the nation's founding documents. For if dp were to embrace the values of the Declaration and Constitution, he would have to acknowledge the "pursuit of happiness" value, and then how could he continue to deny that happy state of marriage to same sex couples?

On the third and last "American Value" considered by dp, "E Pluribus Unum", either his understanding is so warped that one has to question his ability to think or he's shoveling a whole heap of hype. In the first place, as with "Liberty", dp's contention that "E Pluribus Unum" is valued exclusively by Right-wing Americans but not by those on the Left, one has only to look at the Summer 2012 newsletter of the ACLU. I think one can be certain that dp has only disdain for the ACLU, yet, on page 11 of their newsletter, in an article by Executive Director Anthony Romero, he writes, "Our nation is 'out of many, one'- e pluribus unum. we must never allow it to become a nation where anyone can be stopped and detained . . . because of the color of their skin . . ." Were "E Pluribus Unum" NOT a value embraced by the Left, could Anthony Romero have written what I've quoted above?

Then dp labors to distort the meaning of "E Pluribus Unum" to fit his own ideology. On page 373 he writes, "At first the pluribus in E Pluribus Unum referred to the thirteen original colonies . . . motto adopted to help forge those many colonies into unum, one nation. But from the beginning, the phrase came to refer to the many peoples who made up America. That is why the motto was retained after America united as one country." So far, so good. But these few phrases are the only time in the section where dp deals honestly and logically with the historical roots and meaning of the motto. For next, page 375, dp delivers this conclusion in defiance of all reason, "Finally, E Pluribus Unum, with its rejection of tribal, familial, ethnic, and blood origins, made possible the essential American value - the individual. The individual matters most, not any group and not any family to
which the individual belongs."

E Pluribus Unum is not so difficult to comprehend or interpret, except perhaps for those who, like dp, suffer from the limitations which their monolithic, monochromatic ideology imposes upon them. E Pluribus Unum quite clearly does not celebrate the individual per se, rather the single group with which many individuals identify. There are two parts to the E Pluribus Unum equation, "many" and "one". But dp, so fixated on his Right-wing views, only recognizes the "one" portion of the equation, misinterprets it to celebrate "one person", or "the individual", and largely dismisses "the many" races, ethnicities, genders, spiritual practices, political ideologies, etc. which those "many" bring to the great stew which is America. It is simple, really. E Pluribus Unum celebrates the "many" (diversity) which can cohere into "one" (group). Both parts of that equation must be present and, I would argue, celebrated for it to work. Historically, that would mean many states gathering to form one country. Surprisingly, dp gets that part right in the few hype free phrases of this section. Logically and rationally it follows that this "of many, one" would extend from individuals to family (many to one), families to tribes (many to one), tribes to nations or states (many to one), states to countries (many to one, and the meaning of the motto for America), until finally - horror of horrors! - countries to world (many to one). And here is the crux of why dp's hype machine must work overtime to distort the logic of the motto in order to celebrate the individual. Were he intellectually honest, dp would have to acknowledge that the logical extension of E Pluribus Unum (many nations to one world) is much more in line with Leftist beliefs than with his own. In the words of John Kennedy (from Robert Dallak's "An Unfinished Life", page 626) in a speech before the Irish Parliament in early summer of '63, "Modern economics, weaponry, and communications have made us realize more than ever that we are one human family and this one planet is our home." True in 1963 and even more so as economics, weaponry, and communications have advanced and developed since.

It has been my intention to help those readers wondering if it is worth the time and expense to purchase and read "Still The Best Hope". In citing many examples of dp's distorted logic, unsupported conclusions, and near paranoid hysteria at those things (values, belief systems, scientific consensus, etc.) he disagrees with, I conclude that a better title for his book is "Still The Worst Hype". The examples I've chosen are not the most egregious nor complex; rather, I've chosen the simpler ones, those easier to quote, understand, and explain. The fact is, there isn't a page in the book which doesn't provide at least one example, and more often than not several. Many of his distortions, conclusions, and paranoia are complex, concealed by his rhetoric, tricky to apprehend by a quick or superficial reading. My particular examples are to give the potential reader a taste of dp's techniques and methods to forewarn the reader of what to expect.

This is not a serious book. Don't waste your time or money on it.

It's ironic how Prager routinely criticizes the left for its narcissism, and then he turns around and writes a book about how wonderful the U.S. empire is. As some of Prager's radio guests have made abundantly clear, the ruling elite of this country have long been doing evil things both domestically and abroad, and they have inculcated their authoritarian values through their ownership and sponsorship of the mass media. As documentaries like "The Corporation" point out, Big Business even goes so far as to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on marketing campaigns to manipulate children to demand various products and disrupt family relations. The Corporation

The corporate state of America is spreading its horrible media Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, food system Food, Inc., transportation system The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream, weapons, and other unhelpful industries around the world.
One of Prager's guests from several years back, Howard Zinn, has documented how we hardly have a history to be so self-congratulatory about, except when it comes to the efforts of ordinary people to make progressive change here in the belly of the beast. A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present While another guest of Prager's, Chris Hedges, has been sounding alarms as to how America's elite right-wing establishment is moving us ever closer to fascism. American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America

Prager is often critical of the government, but doesn't take on that aspect of big government that causes so much suffering around the world, the military industrial complex. As Republicans like Eisenhower pointed out, war profiteers are robbing this nation, diverting its scientific intelligence, and enriching a crooked few. Why We Fight

Most people who like Prager's views aren't interested in exploring alternative views. I suspect they have careers in the corporate aristocracy of the warfare state; but, for those who want to know what progressive politics are really about, I'd recommend the author and radio host, Thom Hartmann, who has been working for decades to advance the values of this country that would actually benefit the world. Rebooting the American Dream
I would also recommend that people also at least visit the website of "YES! Magazine." I think they'll find that the right-wingers have not been very honest when it comes to progressive movements. Yes!

Wow.....The Conservative talk show hosts love to make money off the American people with bad books. Just look at Hannity, Levin, Palin, they love to steal from people with
boring material that has no meaning. Don't waste the time or money on the Prager book. This book is a bust

Author Prager believes that the only way to make a better world is is through the American value system. This does not, however, include 'Leftism.' As for Muslims, Prager believes Islam can be reformed with American values. Nonetheless, 'there are currently three (incompatible) ideologies competing for the allegiance of mankind' says Prager in the Introduction's first sentence.

That statement, however, is easily disproved - eg. China and Confucian values don't exist? (Prager does subsequently reference China's authoritarian-capitalism model, but dismisses it because 'there is no ideology involved.' Actually, China's government is far more pragmatic and data-oriented than either Leftists or Rightists - that's one of its major strengths. Regardless, its purportedly having 'no ideology involved,' an ill-founded statement because China obviously has different values compared with the U.S. about the priority of individual freedom vs. the common good. Further, Prager's point notwithstanding, many nations are looking at China's success as a guide - claiming it is not 'competing for the allegiance of mankind' is simply delusional.

Prager also contends 'only Americans do not proselytize.' Why then, are both Republicans and Democrats constantly trying to involve our government in the affairs of others, especially China, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela, and many others to promulgate 'human rights?'

Continuing, he tells us that 'Leftism is a religion because those who believe in its tenets often do so as fervently as religious Jews, Muslims, etc.

How would Prager classify 'Rightism' differently when it just as enthusiastically ignores compelling scientific evidence on evolution, Einstein's Theory of Relativity, Global Warming, etc. and mindlessly oppose stem-cell research, protectionism, and homosexuality, and adamantly asserts that 'government can't do anything right' as a rationale for no-new taxes - despite obvious evidence to the contrary (eg. the contributions of public health greatly outweigh those of modern health care, winning WWII, putting a man on the moon, supporting research and assistance programs that have made American farmers the most productive in the world)?

The bulk of Prager's book is taken up with his version of what Leftism and Muslimism mean, leaving only the final chapter to tell us why 'The American Trinity' (his version of Rightism - aka 'American Exceptionalism') is both preferable and infallible.

However, turns out that 'American exceptionalism' as defined in the 'real world,' is the theory that the U.S. has a world mission to spread liberty and democracy. It's also funny to point out that this term was first used in 1929 by Joseph Stalin to chastise a faction of the American Communist Party.

Regardless, the sooner we stop deluding ourselves that eg. America is a shining city on a hill, God's anointed people, and other fantasies, the better off we'll be. Those needing evidence to do so need only look at our world-leading government and trade deficits, inability to get along with much of the world's Muslim populations, world's highest (and economy-weakening) health care system, floundering K-12 education system, deteriorating and inadequate infrastructure, enormous funds wasted on military, Homeland Security, and government surveillance of our citizenry, having caused the recent world-wide 'Great Recession,' and our paralyzed, bought-and-paid-for government.

. . . written with the same pompous, overbearing, and self-infatuated style which Prager displays daily on his radio show. No doubt this book will produce many a wet dream for the ardent and unthinking Prager acolytes after tucking themselves into bed with their superior American values. But to anyone who wastes precious time with this book and reads thoughtfully and critically, the paucity of ideas and the convoluted presentation of reality will be laughable when it's not simply annoying and childish.

To unpack Prager would take some time as he is very adept at presenting a veneer of intellectualism which masks a nearly virulent ideology, rigidity of thought, absurd and unfounded assumptions (about the Left, gays, Muslims, or anyone else who challenges his ideology and thinking), and a deep commitment to spreading his propaganda across this great country of ours. So, let's deal with just a couple from his latest book.

In Prager's simplistic reductio ad absurdum there are only three, that's right THREE, philosophies in all the world: Leftism, Islam, and Americanism. By Prager's definition, then, people left of center cannot represent true and proper (by Prager's lights) American values. He nominates these three as religions even though, with the exception of Islam, they involve no gods, no canonical texts, no elaborate and formalized rituals. But then, that is no matter to Prager as he willingly distorts words, concepts, and people in order to fit his narrow vision. Let's face it people, America has always been expansive enough and generous enough to contain conservative AND liberal values. If E Pluribus Unum is an American value, then surely Leftism and, yes, even Islam (horrors!!)can find their place among the many which make up this one great nation. But not if you're Prager.

Speaking of mottos and values, why won't Prager tell you that the original intention of E Pluribus Unum was to indicate that out of many states (the original thirteen) one nation could be forged (with a central, federal government)? Instead he chooses to interpret this phrase from some singular conservative perspective, insisting that his is the only true and proper interpretation. To do otherwise would require a discussion of the dynamic tension and conflict between a strong federal government and individual states no doubt intended by the founders. But Prager would not like his readers (nor his listeners) to consider such facts as they run counter to his ideology and propaganda. As for In God We Trust, how can this be considered an original American value when it only became codified on U.S. currency in the mid 1950's? Prager will jump through hoops, and have you jumping through them too, in order to explain to you how this is so.

In this book, Prager will tell you many things. Most all of them are distortions of reality, baseless interpretations of facts, inaccurate suppositions all run through the hard right-wing filter which is Prager's mind. For those who like that sort of thing, like to have Prager's thinking substitute for their own, this book will be a reassuring sop. However, for those in search of some Clarity and Truth and Critical Examination, they will not be found here.

It is no accident at all that Dennis Prager locates his version of America's values on its money. For Prager and right wing conservatives of his ilk, money, and its many variants, eg., wealth, no taxes, elimination of programs to aid those less fortunate, etc. is the only value.

Thank you, Dennis, for all the excellent work you continue to do to CLARIFY and distinguish between leftism and liberalism. You truly should consider running for office. If only the politicians you support were as articulate as you are in stating your positions and calling out evil for what it is...