250 Ways to Make America Better [Paperback]

George Magazine Editors (Author), Carolyn Mackler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 7, 1999

Destined to incite controversy and conversation
from the White House to your own house, the 250 best insights on improving our country--from the editors of George magazine


250 Ways to Make America Better is a selection of essays, cartoons, thoughts, and poems from an all-star cast of Americans. From Ice T to Isaac Stern, Joan Rivers to Rob Reiner, Stephen Ambrose to Mo Vaughn, 250 writers, humorists, entertainers, educators, executives, and, yes, even politicians all say how they would make America better. Radio commentator David Brudnoy maintains that politicians should be forced to be celibate for their entire terms of office; rap titan Sean "Puffy" Combs stresses the importance of the presence of God in American life; cartoonist Roz Chast draws a triptych suggesting we should blow up all the shopping malls, send a certain outspoken conservative into outer space, and bring back chocolate-flavored Life Savers. The political voices in the book run the gamut from William F. Buckley, Jr., to Senator John McCain, from Dr. Joycelyn Elders to Dick Armey. Part inspiration, part information, this book is a fascinating, humorous, and revealing look at the endless possibilities for im
proving life in America.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Brought together under the aegis of hip political magazine George, 250 famous citizens of the United States share their thoughts on how to make the country a better place. Some of the proposals are succinct, such as rap superstar Puffy Combs's call for "the presence of God in the lives of more Americans." Other contributors, like political analyst Dick Morris or entertainer Connie Stevens, have entire wish lists. (And yes, that's Amazon.com's own Jeff Bezos, squeezed between Senator John McCain and John McLaughlin, urging parents to read--and discuss--the Declaration of Independence with their children.) Some of the sharpest work comes from the cartoonists, including Ted Rall, Roz Chast, Tom Tomorrow, Dan Piraro, and Tom Toles. And then there are the satirists--Eric Bogosian's suggestion to detonate some nukes to give America a transformative "near-death experience" is probably the most outrageous, though Michael Moore's insistence that corporations should fire their employees and rely on cheap prison labor is a strong runner-up. The mixture of thoughtful and silly responses in 250 Ways to Make America Better provides a unique snapshot of the concerns of U.S. citizens at the end of the 20th century.

From Library Journal

YA-As the late John F. Kennedy, Jr., explains in the introduction, this anthology pulls together 250 "...intriguing Americans' suggestions on improving this country....From moguls to moviemakers, right wingers to rabble-rousers, cartoonists to convicts to cookbook authors, we envisioned a convergence of ideas as diverse as the great drama of public life in America." And that is exactly what this thought-provoking and delightful book presents. Where else can you find Rita Mae Brown, Pat Boone, George McGovern, Pete Seeger, Chuck D., and Dr. Ruth all gathered together in one tome, all offering advice about what's good for this country? The short essays-one to two pages in length-are well written, succinct, and, for the most part, sincere and insightful, even if sometimes controversial or impractical. Some entries will surprise readers, as seemingly superficial celebrities offer profound suggestions for improving our land. Teens will be initially attracted to entries by Sean "Puffy" Combs and Ice-T, but will find themselves hooked on the format and also interested in the juxtaposition of inspiration and irreverence, humor and truth that these widely divergent pieces offer.
Becky Ferrall, Stonewall Jackson High School, Manassas, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Villard; 1 edition (June 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375750126
• ISBN-13: 978-0375750120
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,954,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carolyn Mackler began telling stories when she was four, by speaking into a tape recorder or having her mom write the words while she drew the pictures. Now she uses a computer, and she doesn't attempt to illustrate anything. She's written six novels for teenagers. Her most recent novel, THE FUTURE OF US, was co-authored with Jay Asher. It has just been optioned by Warner Brothers for a major motion picture.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Simple-minded and depressing, August 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: 250 Ways to Make America Better (Paperback)

One would expect "George" Magazine to come up with something more thoughtful than this - but then again.... The editors asked 250 activists, celebrities (former 1950's bathing beauty/actress Esther Williams wants the USA to investigate the JFK assasination AGAIN (! )), and assorted individuals to come up with suggestions which would make the USA a better country. The results are depressing because of their simple mindedness, cliched and PC-like platitudes, shallowness, and the over-reliance on entertainment figures to fill this volume. Some of the suggestions here border on the grotesque. Some are so transparently cynical or sarcastic that they contribute to a deepening sense of malaise about the awful state of civic involvement in this country. Less than a dozen suggestions here are truly practical and would have any noticeable effect if put into practice - a dismal result. My guess is that the editors knew that few in the USA today would buy a book featuring truly thoughtful and well-educated contributors - so, bring on those rap artists and movie stars! A sad commentary on the state of the nation and the mental state of those who presume to be watching over the political process.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Both superficial and inspiring, June 6, 2001

By 

Robin Orlowski "political activist" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 250 Ways to Make America Better (Paperback)

While the criticisms of this book are completely valid, I think it is an interesting change from politicans and political candidates being the sole dispensers of such theories.

Is this what Plato intended his "Marketplace of Ideas" to become? Problaly not, but I enjoyed reading some of the entries and actually found myself nodding in agreement with their suggestions. For instance, I was shocked that Maddona and I share some of the same political beliefs (you would not guess it if we were standing together because I am more grungy)

Because this book avoids mention of PACs and big donation, the stars are not special interests or big money in this book, but citizens who also want government fixed.

Granted, some of them are superficial and hence depressing, but I seriously doubt this is what Mackler and Kennedy intended. Both wanted to demonstrate that politics can be relevant and fun--without a degree in political science, law, public adminstration or another field. Just because I was facinated by the nuts and bolts of government, did not mean that others were affected the same way.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Different points of view, March 10, 2001

By 

Erin O. (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 250 Ways to Make America Better (Paperback)

George magazine asked 250 Americans from a cross section of America's elite (comedians, activist, politicians, actors and actresses, rappers, entrepreneurs) to write about how they would make America a better place. The writings are sometimes comical, insightful, sarcastic, and often eye opening.

The suggestions range from improving education to becoming a vegetarian. Other ideas are taking mass transit because driving causes pollution and requiring men to wear lipstick.

In all, I enjoyed this book. It made me think about my daily actions and how I impact America, as well as how America impacts me.