A Prayer for America (Nation Books) [Paperback]

Dennis Kucinich (Author), Studs Terkel (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Nation Books | Publication Date: October 22, 2003

When Congressman Dennis Kucinich delivered his speech, "A Prayer for America," to the Southern California chapter of Americans for Democratic Action, it electrified the whole country. In his speech, Kucinich—a 2004 presidential candidate—warned against an America that had discarded the constitutional liberties integral to its identity: "Let us pray that our nation will remember that the unfolding of the promise of democracy in our nation paralleled the striving for civil rights. That is why we must challenge the rationale of the Patriot Act. We must ask why should America put aside guarantees of constitutional justice?" A Prayer for America collects Kucinich's essays and speeches. It represents his holistic worldview and carries with it a passionate commitment to public service, peace, human rights, workers' rights, and the environment. His advocacy of a Department of Peace seeks not only to make nonviolence an organizing principle in our society, but to make war a thing of the past. A Prayer for America includes an introductory essay from Kucinich that reflects on his political journey from his election as the youngest mayor of a major American city to his role as a dynamic, visionary leader of the Progressive Caucus of the Congressional Democrats.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1977, aged 31, Kucinich was elected "Boy Mayor" of Cleveland. Now a U.S. representative from Ohio, he is one of the most interesting and unusual members of the Democratic presidential field for 2004. His strong, even radical positions on workers' rights, the environment, health care, foreign policy and defense give him a good claim to represent "the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party" and to challenge the business-oriented centrism promoted by the Democratic Leadership Council. A thoughtful explanation and defense of Kucinich's views would be an important contribution to the national debate. Unfortunately, this hastily assembled collection of speeches doesn't fit the bill. Short on logic, analysis and detail, these addresses, delivered to such friendly audiences as labor unions and peace groups, are filled with applause lines that may work as oratory but make tedious reading. Intriguing notions like the proposal for a Department of Peace end up sounding half-baked; would it really make sense for such a department to address social ills as diverse as spousal abuse and police-community relations along with international diplomacy? At times, policy issues vanish altogether in a blur of New Age rhetoric ("Spirit merges with matter to sanctify the universe. Matter transcends, to return to spirit"). The result is a book that will disappoint all but hard-core fans and supporters of Kucinich.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

He may forever be known as the "boy mayor." Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich first gained national attention in 1977 when he was elected mayor of Cleveland at age 31, the youngest person ever to lead a major American city. Controversy dogged and defined him from the outset and has informed his political career from mayor to state senator to Ohio's representative in Congress. It was, perhaps, inevitable that he would join the field of fellow Democrats wishing to challenge the present administration by announcing his candidacy for the presidency. To groups such as Service Employees International and Southern California Americans for Democratic Action, and on issues as diverse as national health care and international nuclear disarmament, Kucinich has shared his personal and political beliefs, which are now collected in a series of impassioned speeches and eloquent essays that serves as a poetic polemic challenging current conventional wisdom. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, Kucinich's views raise pertinent political questions and offer one candidate's solutions for change. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Nation Books; Wrap Has Heavy Shelfwear edition (October 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560255102
• ISBN-13: 978-1560255109
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #584,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS GUY IS UP THERE WITH GHANDI AND KING, November 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Prayer for America (Nation Books) (Paperback)

I was absolutely amazed at the level of sophistication and honesty which can be found in Dennis Kucinich's eloquent speeches. I never imagined I would ever encounter a politician with so much integrity, humanity and wisdom. His words are inspiring and eloquent and best of all empowering. He is teaching America not to give in to fear and not to resign ourselves to the corporate domanance of our civil institutions and government. Long before anyone else was speaking out against this administration Kucincich was loudly rejecting the entire premise of preemptive attack, the patriot act and the blood thirsty arrogance of the neo-con junta. Particularly in the speech "Prayer For America" which every person in this country should not only read but see on video. This speech was given a relatively short time after 9-11 when dissent in the country was almost non-existant. It made him an overnight hero not just of the progressive left but of all those who could see through the lies and deceptions being peddled to us not just by the White House but by every major news outlet in the country including the not so liberal NY times. Kucinich is even more outspoken than the Nation who actually published the book. If they don't want to loose their entire readership I suggest they endorse him officially. they are after all supposed to be left of the democratic party. To be true to the position they have carved out for themselves they should have endorsed him a long time ago. This has made a lot of people question The Nation's integrity despite their involvement with this book. This man is clearly going to become president of this country and will probobly be one of the best we have ever had. It's time the people of this country started to realize it.

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspiration for Americans, November 2, 2003

By 

Herbert Vaughan "brynfechan" (STAMFORD, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Prayer for America (Nation Books) (Paperback)

These essays and speeches by Representative Dennis Kucinich provide an introduction to his spiritual message to the American people and to the programs he is recommending for future government actions. These progressive initiatives include establishing a Department of Peace,a universal health care program that extends Medicare to all Americans, reduction of the wasteful military budget that has lost track of over one trillion dollars as estimated by the GAO. This progressive program is one that will lift America into the ranks of nations with true democracy and possesion of the "four freedoms.This book should be read by all Americans, regardless of political views

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a Congressman willing to stand up to Corporations, October 18, 2003

By 

Concerned Citizen (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Prayer for America (Nation Books) (Paperback)

Read this book if hope that America can once again have a government that can't be bought. Unlike 96 US Senators, the author had the courage to turn down corporate PAC money and vote against H-1b(the visa program that has displaced hundreds of thousands of tech workers since 1998).