Customer Reviews

Joined at the Heart: The Transformation of the American Family

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

I was shocked and truly disappointed when the Gores decided not to run in '04. However, I was also disappointed in this book of theirs.

The Gores write about how the 'family' is changing, but they don't really define what `family' is. In other words, what is essential to 'family' which cannot change? What is necessary? Are college roommates 'family'? Are co-workers 'family'? Are people who ride the bus together 'family'? I think the Gores fail to make a distinction between the `family' and `community' -- possibly in the hopes of being all-inclusive. As a result, they're political correctness ends up turning the entity of the family into a watery, vanilla mush.

An additional disappointment was that the Gores make very few suggestions/recommendations on how to improve or strengthen the family. They site statistics and problems, but no answers. That's frustrating. They spent an entire book on the subject, but don't have any solutions?

The Gores explore many ways in which the idea of family is being redefined. However, I wish they had explained why some of those changes are 'bad' and some are 'good'. That is, day-care is viewed as bad, but alternative family make-up is viewed as good. What are they using to determine their what the family should be? Is it personal preference? Is it unchangable principle? Is it polling data? This is unclear.

In short, this book is little more than a few personal experiences and some general observations. It could have been so much more.

Are you kidding, this vomit should be banned from the reading list of any sentient human, especially American humans. Their portrayal of "family" is a joke. These folks are disfunctional at a basic level and they're merely trying to turn political noteriety and a liberal TV media soapbox into cash, while people still remember their names.

After reading such widely-divergent reviews, I had to see what was really "stirring the pot" here. The book was curiously disappointing; I kept hoping for more substance, something more than easy platitudes about what the American family means. Is this the place that the family-oriented Mr. and Mrs. Gore have come in their lives, a place where there are no fresh ideas or solutions? While some of the descriptions were intended to be and did appear tender, I was bothered by the selectivity, thinking of the families whose stories weren't represented here. (Actually, I was more impressed by the sincerity of the Tipper Gore who stood up to big record companies in the name of family values to stop profane and violent lyrics, than the one who co-wrote this book.) Unfortunately, this effort seems to straddle between being for family values and an apologia for those who would erode the standards that "family values" require. I didn't hate it, but it didn't engage me either.

Al Gore and his fawning wife aim to create a portrait of the family as a way of establishing his street cred should he decide to (hopefully, for the benefit of his Republican benefactors) run for president again. Simply put the book is a naive, sentimental and sentenetious ode to piousness. The piousness to which I allude here is not piousness in the religious sense, but rather piousness to Democrats' ideals: equality, egalitarianism, sentiment, romance, et cetera. While his views on homosexuals are admirable and slightly interesting, so much of his words are strained and so much of his prose is calculated that the book ought not be called 'Joined At the Heart', but, rather, ought to be a play on Jack Welch's 'Straight from the Gut': 'Straight from a Political Consultant.' If you have ever heard a spin doctor try to contextualize a flippant remark made by a politician (think Ari Fleischer covering up for a gaffe by Paul O'Neill) you will have an idea of the mess that is this book. It tries to appease every constituency except that of the far right and offend none and in doing so devolves into a depressing mediocrity that is at the abject center of Democrats' listlessness in recent elections. Save yourself the money and buy a book by Dr. Seuss if you want insight into the nature of the world.

I read the book with an open mind, but in the end, I could not escape the conclusion that politicians do not make the best sociologists. As for organization and logical presentation of materials - It was not stellar and there was way too much political drivel and platform pushing to really qualify the book as a resource about family. On a side note, I was surprised to learn that a book claiming to be an all encompassing book about family did not refer to, quote or use any information from Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family. Seems he meets all the requirements as an expert on the family. The book was just too political for my leisure time reading.

This was a wonderfully refreshing book. It's so important to teach our children tolerance in this day and age where there is too much competition, warfare and discrimmination. I hope my son Ryan reads this book some day and realizes that what the Gores are saying is not just politically correct garbage as the extremist republicans would say. The message in this book is similar to what Ghandi meant when he said "All men are brothers." In elementary school, my son got an award for friendship and tolerance. I would hope some bigots and racists in this country who fail to see we are all one family would start to get it. Jesus commanded us to love one another.

This book took guts to write, and I'm proud of the Gores.

This is a book that describes the essence of family. It is about being there for each other. It is about loving through bad and good times. It is about a bond that cannot be broken by miles or time, and it goes beyond blood. That is the message one receives upon reading this very introspective book. It also gives a closer look at the Gore family, and the love Al and Tipper shared with their own children. So many times those on the right in this country who beat their Bibles, try to preach to people that they corner the market on family, love, and morality. They only show their intolerance however, by attacking a family man and real Christian like Al Gore, who sees Christ's message of loving thy neighbor as thyself and puts it into action. A family is a mother, father, and children, yes, but it can also be an Aunt, an Uncle, or a friend. Anyone who gives us the love and support we need, and nurtures us through the important days of our lives, is our family. Al and Tipper Gore weaved this theme well in their book, Joined At The Heart, and they touched mine.

First he invents the internet, and now he writes a book. If you thought his first book was out there, you really won't believe this one!!

I see that as of today, ..., Al's book is ranked 50,034 on Amazon. Seems a little high. This is a tricky book, because, although it's a good non-narcotic substitute for sleeping pills, when you dip into the well of Al Gore's mind, you have to be careful not to slip over the line into narcolepsy. Incredibly boring stuff, by a true stiff. I skimmed the first few chapters in the bookstore, and found myself nodding off still standing. You just gotta admit that Al is a powerful writer...better than Sominex!

That was sarcasm...

I read through a little more than half this book when one thing became clear - Mr. Gore wrote this book not for the message, but for the face time it would get him in trying to make another run for the White House. There are a number of good books available about the family. I suggest you get one of them rather than this one.

I swear, the five star reviews shown here were authored by Al or Tipper.