Don't Think Of An Elephant!/ How Democrats And Progressives Can Win: Know Your Values And Frame The Debate: The Essential Guide For Progressives (Paperback + DVD edition) (Paperback)

~ George Lakoff (Author), Howard Dean (Author), Don Hazen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ever wonder how the radical right has been able to convince average Americans to repeatedly vote against their own interests? It's the framing, stupid! Don't Think of an Elephant! is a pithy and powerful primer on the language of American politics."
-Arianna Huffington, syndicated columnist and author of

Fanatics & Fools: the Game Plan For Winning Back America

Product Description

This DVD/Book package is the essential toolkit for all progressives.

The DVD features a lively interview with George Lakoff, television news clips, and illustrative graphics. This is a must-see media tool for everyone who wants to better understand and communicate progressive values. Includes "How to Debate a Conservative,""Know Your Values," and much more. Each DVD includes a summary card of key points.

The book, Don’t Think of An Elephant!, is the antidote to the last forty years of conservative strategizing and the right wing’s stranglehold on political dialogue in the United States. This best-seller explains how conservatives think, and how to counter their arguments. Lakoff outlines in detail the traditional American values that progressives hold, but are often unable to articulate and provides examples of how progressives can reframe the debate.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea Green; Pap/DVD edition (January 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931498822
• ISBN-13: 978-1931498821
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #494,058 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last -- a clear understanding of Republican rhetoric, August 13, 2005

By	Walt Cherry (Dearborn Hts, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

George Lakoff's thin book cleared away the fog and let me see why Republian words that confuse ME are appealing to so many voters. Why FACTS don't win elections. And showed me ways to "REFRAME" my ideas and present them with effective, value-based wording. One of the most important books I personaly have ever encountered. I found the DVD a valuable addition -- it clearly summarizes the book, reminds me of the primary points, and is a great way to present these core ideas to others. This great tool will help progressives compete more effectively in upcoming elections.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Academic writing style but extremly helpful concept., February 24, 2006

By	backstad (Fitchburg, WI United States) - See all my reviews

Several friends recommended this book to me to help me understand the incredible success that conservatives have had in "framing" the debates. In particular, the neocons have caused us to abandon the term liberal, label the Dems as "tax & spend" and sucessfully install the rhetorical title of policy issues without regard to their accuracy. For example, "death tax", "Leave no Children Behind", "Clean Air", Healthy Forests", etc., have almost the exact opposite effect of their titles.

Also, they seem to be successfull in getting even Democrats to believe their propaganda disinformation war. For example, Dems believe we "have no policy", "nominated two ne'er-do-wells" for president, and that we are "hopelessly devided" and too "politically correct" to ever win anything but dogcatcher.

Whew! Do you need a purgative to expell the toxic reality we have swallowed from these sophisticated marketing masters of spin? I certainly did. And thank goodness George Lakehoff has given us just that in his book about these fixed mental paradigms. Read it! Pass it on! We must learn the nature of Karl Rove, et al, and their win at all cost strategies.

I have purchased multiple copies for family and friends. All report finding the book to be helpful and heartening, reminding us that Democrats are the party of people who care about the welfare of others. Get the blindfols off and start working with the simple truths Mr. Lakoff has given us. I am hopeful that all the people can't be fooled all the time - but it obviously takes each of us to work for understanding and then fight against demogoguery.

Thank you Mr. Lakeoff!

P.S. Watch out for you-know-who tricksters who will write reviews to damn the book through faint praise. Sadly, supporters of this administration are not above dirty tricks.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I hated this book, May 8, 2007

By	Gerbilz3 (Ventura county, Ca) - See all my reviews

I am a progressive, and I hated this book. I have no intention of reading it again, and if it wasn't for the fact that this book is required reading for my English class, I would have never read it. You are probably asking yourself, if I hate this book so much, why did I give this book the grade I did? Well, for a simple reason. While I hated this book, it accomplished what it set out to do. It showed me better ways to convince people to my side of the argument (which is why my English teacher assigned it for his Critical Thinking class). That is the entire purpose of the book, to teach other people how to present an argument, and how to convince people to your side of the argument. Read it if you want to have a better idea of how to present an argument. Don't bother reading it if you want to learn more about the Progressive agenda, the book is way too biased, and you'll end up thinking all conservatives are evil, and that everything is one giant conspiracy made by the conservatives.