Customer Reviews

Hope

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

An entertaining vision of what would happen if a candidate from outside of the conventional two party political mainstream became president.

A billionaire entrepreneur with a libertarian style philosophical streak on govermnent runs as a third party candidate, and through a series of chance occurences is elected president.

It is a viewpoint broadening vision of what could be -- somewhat along the lines of L. Neil Smith's "Probability Broach."

Especially in these dark political & socioeconomic times, this appropriately-titled book shed a beam of light on what COULD be if things were to turn around. As always, L Neil Smith delivers an entertaining story that carries a strong message of rational self-determination and the celebration of embracing one's personal freedom.

I finished this book in two days and was ready for more.

I've read most of the current (and not so current) libertarian literature and this is among the best.

I like this book better than "The Mitzvah", but "The Mitzvah" is certainly worth reading. It is much better than its reviews would indicate and it introduces you to some of the characters in "Hope".

I'm very ready for the next book from these authors.

This novel is not only great fun, but it very thought provoking as well.

Alexander Hope is a retired billionaire businessman turned college history professor. He is a libertarian and ardent advocate of liberty. Some of his students convince him to seek the nomination of the 'Free Libertarian Party of America' for president. Due to some very unusual circumstances, he ends up winning the presidency.

Once in office, he is on a mission to reduce government and introduce liberty to people's lives. He is willing to do whatever it takes including some actions that will likely shock most readers. Hope is such a radical libertarian that it is likely almost everyone will be bothered by one or more of his positions. Most of the solutions here would undoubtedly do a great deal to restoring freedom to the lives of American citizens. If we actually had a situation like this, the turnaround that would be experienced would be amazing. It is a very fun book to read, at least for one who is a libertarian philosophically. I suspect that statists would not appreciate it nearly so much.

In spite of the entertainment value, the book does have a few problems. Some of these appear to be deficits that the authors have regarding our system of government such as the fact that impeachments originate in the House, not the Senate. Another one that jumps out is an error regarding the number of members of the Senate.

There are also some problems with formatting and run on words that may only apply to the Kindle version, which is the way that I read it.

Besides the problems cited above, the story has a few things that make the storyline unrealistic, even if a hardcore libertarian were elected to the presidency.

In spite of the flaws, I really enjoy this book. It has a lot of value in being thought provoking and showing some of the possibilities of freedom. I do hope that the authors will work on touching up the problem areas for future editions as this has some real potential to open the minds of those who have been dulled by the big government onslaught of the last few decades.

I'm a big fan of author L. Neil Smith and his novels with a pro-liberty theme, but this book was a disappointment.

The basic theme is a history professor at a small college becomes the Libertarian Party candidate for president after being drafted by his students. Through a freak set of circumstances, he winds up becoming President. He then proceeds to turn the establishment upside down by using his powers as President to eliminate many government programs and laws that he believes to be unconstitutional and against a libertarian view of the Bill of Rights.

What I found disappointing about all this is the breezy way things were done, mostly by executive order. In many instances, it's just not believable as the President doesn't have that kind of power, or would certainly be impeached for trying to use it that way.

An example, about half way through his first term, he gets on television and announces that Social Security is bankrupt and therefore he is ending it. Any claims for payouts that citizens are due may be deducted from future income taxes due. That's it! OK, first, I don't think the President alone has the power to do this, especially as Congress set up SS and surely had budgeted the money. Secondly, I'm sure that the millions of seniors who depend on SS as their primary source of income will be greatly comforted by the knowledge that they do not have to pay income taxes in the future, as they wheel their shopping cart from the soup kitchen back to their cardboard box home in the alley next door.

There are many instances of situations similar to the above. Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of reducing government and getting rid of programs and institutions that are not specifically called for in the Constitution, but there's a path of how you go from here to there, to honor commitments made to millions who depend on them. For instance, he could have announced that the Federal government will begin selling off land and assets to to pay off those seniors as he dismantles SS.

At some point in the book you realize that this isn't fiction, it's poorly a thought out fantasy. I would have liked to have seen the authors write a book promoting liberty and less government, but in a much more realistic manner. I wanted to leave the book thinking "What if...?" Instead I left the book thinking "Bull...."

THis book was a delight to read.
Imagine someone believing that freedom is more than a slogan. That your constitutionally guaranteed rights meant something. Imagine that someone of moral character ran for office, and won. If that intrigues you, read this book.
It is not only a good book but a blueprint for freedom from your government and the tyranny of democracy as currently practiced.
I recommend everyone read this book, if only to get back the dreams that made this country what is was.
Good read, good plan, great ideas.

Buy this book.

One of the things I like so much about L. Neil Smith is that he has a recurrent cast of characters that show up in his books. His North American Confederacy books are so enjoyable because of his inclusion of our fan favorites.

In this way, Hope is a "follow on" book to The Mitzvah. Different story line, with a few familiar faces. Aaron Zelman's hand, of the JPFO, is clearly evident as well.

This book also answers the questions of "How do we get from here, back to a Constitutional Republic", and "How much opposition will we face doing it". An enjoyable read that is very well researched and certainly should open a few eyes to exactly how far from our National Ideal we really are.

If you don't enjoy it; give it to your "Pizza Driver". He will see the insights that you missed.

This is Smith's best work, since "The Probality Broach" {1980}.

A must read. This is a president we can all be proud of. One that understands that the Constitution means what it says and obeys it. This is what we need in a president. One who is not afraid to do the right thing and have some actual integrity.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a fun and easy read but had a powerful message. I plan on buying several more of these books and giving them as gifts.