Customer Reviews

The Power of the Vote: Electing Presidents, Overthrowing Dictators, and Promoting Democracy Around the World

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Not only did the book offer incredible insights into the country's political process, it brought to life many of the moments in history that I grew up with, and particapted in. A great book!

How can Democrats win the Presidency? From the middle? From the left? Doug Schoen, who is as smart as they come, stakes out his position and takes on all comers. Great read.

Not often do you get to go behind the scenes with one of the top political strategists and pollsters. But in 'The Power of the Vote', Doug Schoen takes you on his journey through the politcal world that he lives in. He does this with insight, rigor, and an easy writing style. It doesn't matter if you're from a Red state or a Blue state; you'll come away with a deeper and broader perspective of the political process.

Shoen's memoir reveals his life long love of politics but also gives an in-depth account of the political process at home and abroad. Passionate about the Democratic process, The Power of the Vote is also testament to his commitment to the Democratic party. A must read for anyone who wants to see a Dem in the White House!

Even at 367 pages, I found this book to be a fun and relatively quick read. The stories are very entertaining and what I liked most was being able to go behind the scenes and see many of the campaigns from the eyes of a true political expert.

Doug Schoen wasn't always the expert, but you can tell by his early year stories that he always loved politics. I think anyone who has ridden a New York subway will love the story of him posting flyers on the D train at 16 years old (and then getting caught).

I found this book extremely valuable to understanding why polling is critical in a democratic society, and more importantly, as a community and business leader, why it is imperative that I listen to my fellow citizens and customers.

Since most people read non-fiction books for the benefit they bring (rather than pure enjoyment), I've identified a few points that might help you.

Here are a couple of my favorite strategies Doug has learned over the years and which have brought him and his clients great wealth, recognition, the power to win elections.

** The absolute best secret to winning elections (and winning customers) is to actively listen. The modern polling process, which Doug and his partners created, has become an essential part of American and International politics. They started with a homemade PC and literally rocked the world by speeding up the process and targeting the right people. This process, properly administered, has even toppled dictators. Now that is proactive power!

** Knowing how to ask the right questions, is knowing who will win the election. There is a universal principle that says "what you ask for, you will receive." Similarly, in polling it is very important to know the right questions to ask and who to ask them to. Very often it is the "swing" voters that determine an election, so it is critical that you know who they are don't ignore them. Doug reveals who he thinks they will be in 2008.

** If you understand how politics really work, you'll be able to know which candidates are genuine and who you can trust. The right kind of polling can cut through all of the clutter and the back-stabbing politics and find out what candidates really believe. Media polling can leave you in the dark sometimes, give you the wrong bias; however the modern method Doug recommends will empower us.

I interviewed this author on Inside Success Radio for three reasons: 1) I believe that speaking with an author is the best way to know a book is genuine, 2) it gives the author an opportunity to summarize the main points, which creates a type of "Readers Digest" version of the book, and 3) during an interview you often get additional "golden nuggets" that aren't found in the book.

Here is a golden nugget that heightened my respect and admiration for Doug Schoen even more.

When I asked Doug if there were any Inside Success Secrets to winning elections, this was his answer.

**

Doug Schoen's Voice: "I think there are a couple things Randy. The Power of the Vote offers a number of inside success secrets. First you have to be proactive. You have to take the message to your constituency or your customers. You can't sit back; you have to frame the message. You have to be aggressive and you always have to stay on the offensive.

Second, you have to constantly understand how people are reacting to your message so it's an interactive process where, it's not only a question of doing the research; you have to understand how effective you are in communicating your message. You have to respond very quickly if the opposition develops a counter message or attacks you. Once they attack, you need to engage in that interactive process so you understand how the two competing messages are appearing.

Once you get that and once you understand how the messages are competing with one another you can determine how to refine or reshape your message, so if there's a core inside success principle, its be proactive, stay on the offensive, be responsive and demonstrate to your audience that you understand their concerns, you're reacting to them, you're responsive and that you're ahead of them not waiting for them to come back to you with their concerns.

That, I think, is the ultimate message of The Power of the Vote."

***

I've tried to identify who might not enjoy reading this book. Although not easy, this book is probably not for the person who is closed-minded and who thinks politics, voting, the democratic process, etc. don't work. Or, who feels that the hard liberal left, or the hard right, is the only way to go.

However, if you're proactive and want to enjoy the benefits that come from successfully listening to your voters and customers, I believe you'll enjoy this book and get a lot out of it.

The rating I give this book is based on a combination of how much I believe a proactive person might enjoy reading it and how much it might help you to be more proactive in this particular subject.

This book easily earns 5 stars.

Dr. Proactive Randy Gilbert, producer of "Inside Success Radio"

An important, thought-provoking book!!! Doug Schoen obviously loves and intimately knows about politics. In this book, he skillfully informs us about the inner workings of the political process in a perceptive and entertaining manner. I not only enjoyed reading it, but I feel much smarter for having done so. It's as close as I've ever come to a behind the scenes look at the political process; I'll never again be able to look at political campaigns in the same way. A must read for anyone who cares about the future of our country!

What an inside look at the power of sophisticated canvassing of people's opinions and the leverage provided to those politicians sensible enough to use these findings. A quick, very insightful history review, both here and abroad, with a strong message that perhaps there is a much better way to change the world that using military means. Fascinating career.

A very interesting read. Schoen does state the nature of the American electorate, in that we tend to be a middle-of-the-road people who do not seek radical changes in our system and thus avoid extreme candidates at the polls. Of course the criticim is that Republicans and Democrats have become to alike, but ideological leaders would only lead to more division and thus are less effective in delivering much needed change.

If the life of a political pollster/strategist could be turned into a novel, this would be it. "The Power of the Vote" is a fast-moving, take your breath away account of getting people elected, and getting a few bumps along the way. Planning to study political science? Don't bother. Politics is about people and their needs and perceptions. Read this book, and get a job working in a shoe store. Between the two you'll learn more than in any college course.

From the subways of New York to the streets of Venezuela,"The Power of the Vote" is the story of the rapid evolution of modern polling and its impact on domestic and global politics, policy and government as seen through the unique life experience of Doug Schoen.

A totally accessible, entertaining and thought provoking read filled with crisp analysis of events and implications for the future; a "must read" for anyone who believes in democracy and the power of the vote!!!