Radical Middle: The Politics We Need Now (Hardcover)

by Mark Satin (Author) "SLOWLY AT FIRST, and now in growing numbers, from kitchen tables to nonprofit organizations to corporate boards, Americans are turning away from the politics of..." (more)
Key Phrases: middle thinkers, middle educators, postethnic approach, Progressive Policy Institute, Four Key Values, New Age (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Condemning what the author sees as the divisive partisanship and polemical half-truths of liberals and conservatives alike, this militant but muddled manifesto urges left and right to unite behind a "politics of creative problem-solving." Satin, publisher of the Radical Middle Newsletter, pushes a poll-certified grab bag of public-private partnerships and wonkish policy nostrums pitched explicitly at professionals (a.k.a. "knowledge workers" or "the creative class") whose only political identity is that of "caring person." The result is a confused, ad-hoc program that aims to achieve great public purposes without aggrandizing government or alienating special interests. Some proposals, like affirmative action based on poverty, not race, represent a fresh take on important issues. Others, such as his energy policy, which is largely a hodge-podge of minor tax incentives for fossil-fuel alternatives, are half-measures. The boldest initiatives—a universal health-care plan that uses tax credits to subsidize individuals’ purchase of private insurance, a universal jobs program that offers employers tax credits for hiring workers—channel their largesse into massive state subsidies to the private sector. Satin’s often glib analyses of policy issues will not satisfy knowledgeable readers, and in his de-politicized politics of caring, real conflicts seem to be ignored rather than confronted.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
I think this is one of the more important reads of the last five years . . . and it's easy to read. -- Tony Trupiano, Michigan Talk Radio Network, July 20, 2004

Makes a lot more sense than . . . the many braying pundits at the edges of the national parties. -- Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2004

Mark's life is the story of the second half of the 20th century. . . . [Finally] Mark arrived at the radical middle. -- John Batchelor Show, ABC Radio Networks, April 14, 2004

Must-reading for those who are trying to find a ray of sanity in our present political climate. -- Tucson Citizen, March 18, 2004

Passionate, popularized, and personalized, with frequent asides about Satin's [activist] background. . . . [A] fresh and often original voice. -- Michael Marien, Future Survey, April 2004

Satin . . . draws his ideas from the best of what both the left and the right have to offer. -- Nancy Beardsley, Voice of America, July 27, 2004

Satin does a good job in laying out . . . "third way" policies concisely, and his advocacy is more than welcome. -- Ed Kilgore, Washington Monthly, June 2004

This book is moderate in tone and intelligently reasoned -- shockingly so. -- Baltimore City Paper, February 25, 2004

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (March 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813341906
• ISBN-13: 978-0813341903
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #571,240 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A message of hope..., August 16, 2004

By	Sandra PWassilie (Seward, AK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ostensibly about politics, Radical Middle is more than that. I appreciate that Mark Satin dares to go beyond the labels and finger pointing to offer us a framework from which we might evolve a new way of managing issues in the public arena. He cuts to the chase of those problems that currently daunt us, problems like declining energy supplies, disengaged youth, random terrorism, and more. He helps us by introducing us to the best ideas of the current thinkers and policy makers in these different arenas, synthesizing and reporting on these ideas in clear, easy-to-read prose.
What makes his discourse particularly engaging (and courageous) is the way Satin relates his personal experiences and evolution of thought to the issues. I like the message of hope he weaves into the description of challenges we face as a society, national and global, and the encouragment we can be involved in meeting them.
I recommend this book to any activist, public official, business leader, parent, teacher, student or person who truly desires a safer, kinder, more humane world.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly impressed, greatly needed, September 25, 2004

By	Stan Perrin "pragmatic transformationalist" (McHenry County, Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Radical Middle" is several things: The title of Mark Satin's new book being reviewed here, the title of his newsletter, the title of his web site and the name of an exciting new political concept.

I have followed Mark Satin for a long time, having been a charter subscriber to his previous newsletter, "New Options" and to his current "Radical Middle" newsletter. And I have read two of his previous books in addition to "Radical Middle."

Because of occasional disagreements with some specific content from the current newsletter, I was ready to be skeptical of Mark's new book. But instead, I must admit that I am highly impressed. I believe the book does a thorough job of explaining the Radical Middle concept to readers, regardless of their background, political leanings, or even newsletter subscriber status. In each book chapter, Mark expanded upon past "Radical Middle" newsletter articles and included more nuances and detail, which help to flesh out and explain his positions better.

While there were still a few points where I winced, there were many more knowing smiles and nods. In fact, in some cases I found that my position was not that far away from Mark's after all, once I finally understood his position more fully. And even where there remain points of disagreement, I commend Mark for creating, thoroughly explaining and maintaining his voice and his ground.

I should also state that I had my wife read the education chapter. She is a former full-time teacher, and currently does some substitute teaching. She had not read any of Mark's past books, newsletters, web site, etc., so had a fresh perspective. And she loved the chapter, agreeing with Mark's central thesis that quality teachers are what great education is all about.

The resource lists at each chapter end are also very useful, and I recommend readers to pursue some them to follow up with your own investigations of issues. I am doing so.

Overall, I deeply respect how Mark has utilized all his varied life experiences in coming to a mature, organized synthesis of ideas.

And in our polarized times, the Radical Middle political concept is exactly what we need to grow from concept to full-fledged reality.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've got to be good to make it look easy, March 8, 2004

By	David Thaler (New York City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am both smarter and kinder for having read it. This book is written by an intense, strong willed, hard at work, very smart person with a sense of humor (irony, humbleness) and a good heart.

Most important, he communicates with small words and clarity the process that he uses to get to his proposals. He teaches his hard-won skills of compassionate yet sharp analysis without ever saying so. As a reader, I can't help but pick up a little of his skill and am doubly grateful for his work product- i.e. the specific proposals on political and social issues which I often but not always agree with- and for his honest teaching of how to seek truth in the political and social realms. Together, these qualities make the book so valuable.