Real Change: From the World That Fails to the World That Works [Hardcover]

Newt Gingrich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 18, 2007

Gingrich compares the America of today, characterized by a broken health care system, lagging education, and declining economy, with the hope of tomorrow--a unified America marked by a market-based health care system, incentive-driven education, and a dynamic economy.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Are you fed up with bickering politicians, self-satisfied bureaucrats, and a government that never seems to address the real problems facing our country? Can we create a government that is small, efficient, and responsive--from the state house to the White House? Is that kind of real change even possible? Newt Gingrich, architect of the Contract with America, says it's time for citizens to demand results from our elected officials. In this revealing and exciting new book, he shows how America can achieve transformational change--from a government of bureaucratic failure to a government that can meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. As a first step, Gingrich busts the pernicious myth that America is divided between conservative red states and liberal blue states. As Gingrich points out, the American people are united on almost every important issue facing our country--including immigration, taxes, defending America, and freedom of religion. The real division is between red-white-and-blue America and a fringe on the left. Red-white-and-blue America believes overwhelmingly--by majorities of 70 percent or more--that we need a change in course. But our politicians aren't listening. Gingrich reveals why the Democratic Party can't deliver real change and why the Republican Party won't. He provides answers and a step-by-step, issue-by-issue toolkit for building a better America--the safe, innovative, and dynamic America we all want. What will take us from the world that fails to the world that works? Real change--the kind of change that happens when politicians drop their own agendas and respond to the will of the people. Newt Gingrich shows us how we can make real change a reality.

From the Back Cover

Real change requires REAL CHANGE

"We're standing on the edge of a potential golden age for America. Advances in technology, science, engineering, and medicine hold the promise of benefits our parents couldn't even dream of. If we make the right choices now, America will enjoy a level of prosperity, safety, and freedom unknown to previous generations. But if we make the wrong choices, we will suffer the very serious consequences of a set of challenges we choose to ignore. . . . We the people can force real change and can secure the kind of future America and our children and grandchildren deserve."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 310 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing; First Edition edition (December 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596980532
• ISBN-13: 978-1596980532
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (94 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

151 of 166 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last someone is making sense...., January 16, 2008

By 

Robert Busko (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Real Change: From the World That Fails to the World That Works (Hardcover)

All I can say is its about time someone wrote a book that isn't a down in the mouth, whimpering review of how bad it is. Newt Gingrich shows us how we can grab a future we'll be proud to leave our children and grand-children in Real Change. Let me also say that Real Change doesn't attempt to only Republicans, but makes arguments that should appeal to all Americans regardless of your political leanings.

Why hasn't someone else shouted out these solutions? As another reviewer pointed out, most of us are not divided as a people. We all want the same things: affordable healthcare, education that educates, a healthy economy, and a national defense system that separates our friends from our foes. This is what Newt Gingrich says we can have.

To get the country we want we need to hold our elected officials feet to the fire and demand real change. Make them serve us, the citizen and not some special interest group, including the well organized and politically saavy illegal immigrants. Notice, I said "illegal." I have nothing against immigrants who come into the country the way my grandparents came in....legally. Politicians need to know we want progress and will not accept the status quo.

If you're tired of hearing the doom and gloomers, then Real Change is for you. Pick up a copy and you'll find yourself engrossed. This is a real page turner.....really.

I highly recommend Real Change by Newt Gingrich.

Peace to all.

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Visionary Plan For The Future, February 6, 2008

By 

S. Peek (Rocky Mountains, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Real Change: From the World That Fails to the World That Works (Hardcover)

Unlike the typical negative political rhetoric, Newt Gingrich has composed an amazing roadmap for positive change.

Virtually everyone is aware of the myriad of problems facing the United States today. There are problems with illegal immigration, high taxes, high energy prices, a failing Social Security system, spiraling health care costs, a divisive war, pathetic performance by government at all levels (e.g. Hurricane Katrina relief) and many others. Many are good at pointing out the challenges; few are good at providing answers. That is not the case here.

The former Speaker of the House stands alone at the top in terms of innovative ideas that could lead us to a very bright future. Everyone, regardless of political affiliation, should read the ideas in this book. Whereas almost all politicians focus on short term changes to gain political advantage, Gingrich concentrates on meaningful long term solutions.

One of his points is that America is not rigidly divided into red and blue states. He contends that there are core issues upon which the vast majority of Americans agree. He supports this with polling data. He has put together a platform featuring many of these consensus issues.

Not only would this approach help to unite Americans again, these ideas, if enacted, would make things immeasurably better for all. Some of these are as follows: Overhauling the Social Security system before it goes bankrupt, replacing the current air and railway transportation systems with much more effective ones, redesigning health care payment and delivery with 21st century technology to replace the 1950s model currently in place, reigning in an out-of-control judiciary, and many others.

Clearly, our big problems will require bold new solutions. Gingrich has proposed some of those and has shown a way that we can provide incentives to entrepreneurs for many more. We can either keep doing things the way we have been (like all of the presidential candidates would do with slight variations), or we can create a brighter future. Albert Einstein said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results." That is the way our system has been functioning. It is time to do something different.

I could go on and on about this book. It is so packed full of ideas and wisdom that it is hard not to do so. I will not do that though. I do recommend that you buy it, read it, and share it with others.

39 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, issues raised and solutions suggested..., January 20, 2008

By 

C. Paul (Tulsa, OK USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Real Change: From the World That Fails to the World That Works (Hardcover)

"The American people are stunningly pragmatic." - from this book, and one of many observations that need to be communicated and understood.

The only disappointment is that the appendices might have been many more in number and more detailed.

This book may be the Common Sense (Thomas Paine) of our time. The government is broken, in fact corrupted, and the author provides the facts to back up his premise that the bureaucracies at all levels of government are neither of or for the people but rather are working to perpetuate their own existence, destroying America in the process. Then, instead of stopping with gripes about where we are, concepts to address the problems are identified and discussed.

The first chapter of this book alone is worth the money and time invested and should be required reading for every taxpayer who is tired of watching our greatness and goodness be put in decline by loud but small fringe groups with narcissism rather than safety, security and prosperity for the whole be the agenda.

Other discussions of note include our failed judiciary, the problems with our education system, real environmentalism, and a thoughtful discussion of immigration that finally addresses the desire of most Americans to welcome immigrants, asking only that they abide by our laws. Perhaps this will resonate with Washington which apparently believes that only citizens should be subject to the economic brutality of the IRS and that a blind eye can be turned to illegal status of many immigrants. The solution is in rigorous law enforcement and implementing a viable guest worker program to satisfy the majority of law-abiding citizens and help our economy and our immigrant brothers and sisters.

This book both inspires the reader to seek real change to move government to a model that works, and causes concern that the need is urgent, and the alternative, continuing down the path of the status quo, is foreboding.