Customer Reviews

Stand For Something: The Battle for America's Soul

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am no right winger but I decided to pick this book up on the strength of some of the comments which were on the back of the book. Still, I expected it to be a classic right wing Republican manifesto. While it is conservative, it also holds some valuable insights for all of us. I particularly enjoyed the section on the pop culture - so many times I get so frustrated by what passes off as entertainment.

ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING! It all might have been said before but Mr. Kasich does it the best, and with feeling. I enjoyed the book so much I gave it to my son on his graduation from university. I hoped it would help him navigate today's treacherous world of deceit, dishonesty, parsing, obfuscating, and lying which have all in some form or another become virtuous!! Like Bill Bennett, John Kasich believes in America and its moral compass. He points out time and again the virtues of integrity and character; something sorely missed by many of our so called leaders today.

This is a must book for young men and women starting out in today's work force. So much of what was taken for granted in the past and taught in both our Churches and schools has been relegated to the trash heap of old ideas in lieu of the almighty bottom line! Mr. Kasich is right-on in all his assessments and ideas. Today's young men and women should listen to John Kasich for he speaks the truth. And the Truth is something in short supply in today's America!

I certainly do not regret buying and taking the time to read this book. It is a relatively quick read (lots of white space between and around the lines). For me the best and most important chapter dealt with the corruption of politics, and I include some memorable quotes from there below.

The books reads rather blandly and inoffensively (typical of Presidential Hopefuls writing "please get to know me" books but I have to say that after putting down this book, I felt that the author had indeed made his point: he is a decent man who stands for core values, and believes in a balanced budget to boot.

Memorable points from the political chapter, alone worthy of buying and reading the book:

Reagan Republican who echoes President Carter's "malaise" concerns by saying "there's a feeling of hopelessness out there."

p 21. "Good politics shouldn't be about us or them"

On page 75, after starting off by saying that politics should be about saving the world, he says "We haven't seen middle ground for so long I am no longer certain it exists."

Both these comments tie in very well with the newly launched Unity08 movement to use the Internet to field a split party presidential team for 2008, and the new non-rival Citizens-Party (wing for each existing party to have "dual membership") which will be launched shortly to field not just a mixed party presidential team, but a coalition cabinet committed to electoral issue as the non-rival issue for all, and a balanced transparent budget with public intelligence and dialog driving public policy in the future, instead of party line politics or special interest money (the author addresses both).

On page 77 he directly slams the Bush II administration is noting rather pointedly that we need leaders who represent our core values and are not simply committed to winning and holding power at any cost.

On page 94 he specifically identifies one of the times when Dick Cheney broke his word, and one gets the feeling that the author is intimately familiar with the propensity of the sitting Vice President to lie and break his word to one and all.

The books by Tom Coburn on Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders and by Joe Klein on Politics Lost: From RFK to W: How Politicians Have Become Less Courageous and More Interested in Keeping Power than in Doing What's Right for America as well as Norman Cousins on The Pathology of Power - A Challenge to Human Freedom and Safety are much more detailed and sophisticated than this book, but in his own way the author has told a simple elegant personal story about politics lost to party corruption and special interest money, and I respect him all the more for this chapter.

In comparison with the chapter on politics the chapters on sports, business lack of ethics, loss of religion to Paris Hilton and sex on TV, loss of discipline in education, and the loss of culture as celebrities fail to walk the wholesome road, are straight-forward.

The book ends with a general but rather bland "call to arms" asking each of us to believe in the greater good and act accordingly.

Bottom line: good guy, leader, "must have" on any coaltion ticket to save America from the Republican and Democratic extremists that are killing the Republic.

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL BOOK. IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO PUT DOWN. THE ARTHUR JOHN KASICH HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB TAKING A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT ISSUES LIKE GOVERMENT, FAITH, AND SPORTS AND BUSINESS AND SHOWING THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES THAT CAN BE LIVED BY AND IN THE LONG RUN YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF FOR STANDING BY THEM. I FEEL THIS PUBLICATION CAN SHOW THAT THERE IS A RIGHT WAY TO GO IN LIFE THAT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE ALL THE BETTER. THIS BOOK WOULD BE GREAT FOR A GRADUATION GIFT, A BIRTHDAY GIFT, OR SOMETHING NICE TO SEND TO A SOLDIER SERVING OVER SEAS.

I am aligned on a lot of issues with John Kasich but found the book frustrating. He preaches the need to "take a stand" but, in the same breath, stresses the need for compromise in politics. He decries our fascination with celebrity but is unapologetic about relying on congressional hearings and media stories about athletes and movie stars who behave poorly as though that is a worthwhile use of tax dollars or public attention. He laments our loss of faith but has no compulsion to argue persuasively on behalf of his God. And, in the end, his advice for how to turn things around amounts to "Do the Right Thing." When our politicians stop spending our money investigating one another and hauling Americans before Inquisition-like hearings before Congress to grandstand for their constituents on minutiae, maybe politicians' constituents won't be so mad and congressmen won't be so publicly committed to a certain course that compromise is all but impossible. This book had the feel of trying to position another platitude spouting politician for another run at the Presidency. To burden Mr. Kasich with the expectation that he have all the answers is not fair, but, if one is going to write a whole book on what most of us already know, some demonstrable solutions and actions would be helpful.

John Kasich has always been the man who has stood up for the people. He has shown the guts and the temerity to stand up to unpopular issues simply because he believes they are the wrong thing for the government to do. Although many people stop to take credit when something goes well. John Kasich is already working on the next thing on a never ending list. This book should be a must read for anyone considering public service!

I purchased this book for my grandmother. This book has exceeded her expectations.She is encouraged to know that people in political arenas have the backbone and the desire to stand up for the principles and morals of America. She highly recommends this book to all who are concerned about America's future and want to know how to make an impact in today's society.

I skeptically purchased "Stand for Something" - expecting political indoctrination from Mr. Kasich. Instead I was surprised, pleased, and inspired, to discover a book that impressively defines how (ideally) we should live, work, and think.

The author eloquently explores the principles that make Americans proud, strong, and enduring. He states "shared values" ... like integrity, personal responsibility, compassion, and forgiveness (passed down from generations) are the cornerstones of our existence.

While lamenting a litany of concerns with America, a friend once said: "Somebody needs to do something!" This marvelous read epitomizes the answer: That somebody could be me, it can be you, it should be all of us.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope many will purchase it and be influenced by the author's down-to-earth-practical advice. Reading it will remind one and all: It is immaterial who is making the mistakes, what matters most --- is that they are corrected.

Reggie Johnson, Success-Tapes.Com

A book on moral values from a politician might seem odd at first, but Kasich acquits himself well. The chapters on government, sports, and popular culture are well-written. Jimmy Carter writes that America's values are "endangered," and Kasich drives that point home.

It's nice to see something make a big splash that simply talks about good old-fashioned values in this increasingly degenerate world. BUT... it's hardly original. LDS church (Mormon) president Gordon B. Hinckley wrote "Standing For Something" several years ago with exactly the same premise. And almost exactly the same title. Hmmmmm... Kasich should have done his research first. Granted, as the leader of one of the fastest-growing religious organizations in the world, Hinckley may not be quite as hip, but his points are vastly more inspired than Kasich's.