The World According to Gore [Paperback]

Debra J. Saunders (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1893554147 | ISBN-13: 978-1893554146 | Publication Date: August 1, 2000

The man who would be President, Al Gore, claims he invented the internet. He also claims that he and Tipper inspired Love Story. And he says that after his sister died of lung cancer he promised to fight smoking "until his last breath," although he continued to cash checks from the family tobacco holdings for years after. In The World According to Gore, nationally syndicated columnist Debra Saunders goes in search of this man who seems always looking for the truth about himself. Saunders concentrates on the ideas, which Gore has tinkered with throughout his career in an attempt to build a worldview. "Whether posing as the eco-guru battling 'consumptionism'," she writes, "or the social theorist with a 'Livability Agenda' calling for federally sanctioned communities, or attacking the automobile as the scourge of civilization, or proposing universal pre-school, Al Gore is, for all his supposed woodenness, a unique figure on our political scene. Fascinating and funny, this search for Al Gore deconstructs his carefully constructed image with wisdom and insight. Illustrated with family and political photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Debra Saunders devastating portrait of our vice-president and his world. The Gore disconnect is as odd as Ivana Trump's facelift. -- Weekly Standard, August 7, 2000

About the Author

Debra J Saunders

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Encounter Books (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893554147
• ISBN-13: 978-1893554146
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,042,663 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goredom, August 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The World According to Gore (Paperback)

This is a well-written book that lends insight into the evolution of Gore, and what kind of president he might be. Rather than just chronicling his life, or merely pointing out his special interests or hypocrisy, it actually adresses his ideas, some of which are quite extreme. The book also illustrates how some of his ideas have already been proven not to work, and have been abandoned by the communities that tried them. Then there's his "livability agenda," which he is willing to impose on others, but not himself. As a Democrat who will probably vote for Gore anyway, I nonetheless think this is an important book to read.

25 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Overview and Biting Commentary, August 9, 2000

By 

S. Hayward (Mclean, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The World According to Gore (Paperback)

Since Ms. Saunders is a columnist, its no surprise that she has succintly summarized Gore's thinking on issues and his record of flip-flops. While she's no fan of Al's, any Gore supporter should think about her observations, and what response could be made to them. Her accounts of his political expediency ring true. She also gives good references for her assertions. Besides, the book is a fun read.

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, But Too Partisan, March 24, 2002

By 

The Orange Duke "orangeduke" (Cupertino, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The World According to Gore (Paperback)

Truth to tell, this book suffers a bit due to the author's partisan bias. It is possible to attack Gore without tarring him with the standard `Big Money Liberal' label that Republicans imagine is so devastating. Still, the book is definitely worth a look, especially by those who may think highly of the former Vice President. When the author is on target, especially when making The VP out to be a hypocrite and a flip flopper, she is devastating. These are the best reasons to distrust the man. Whether or not you agree with Gore's stated policies, the fact that he seems to change to suit the whims of fickle popular opinion should give you pause. I was disappointed that Gore's ties to big business were downplayed, but it's to be expected from a Republican critic. The book is very readable and quite well written. If Al Gore bubbles back up in 2004 I expect this book will bubble up as well, and it should.