In, "No, They Can't," Author John Stossel has assembled an impressive array of supporting research. But the book is common sense and self-evident truth. It just gets more intense the longer you read it.
Of course, as good libertarian subversives always do, Stossel utterly robs that warm fuzzy feeling from those whose faith-based belief systems encompass various denominations of intentional ignorance:
Leftist political ideologues,
those who have verbalized, "I'll never use algebra in real life,"
people who believe that government is the source of all wealth, because government prints currency;
and those who pimp government as a giant nipple for government-dependent voting blocks to suck on.
The overall theme I came away with was, "Government is not a source of goodness. Government is a thing. People are sources of goodness. Government uses fear to gain compliance to what's best for everyone, whereas individuals make decisions based on what they want."
"No, They Can't," is curiously devoid of any reference to religion, which is the basis of the free-market economy. Filmmaker Michael Moore is made fodder several times. But the book is not truly dangerous.
Stossel uses language not of an academic, such as Hayek, but of an educated, experienced, nuts-and-bolts commoner regurgitating long established truths for todays generation. He wants people to decide what they want, and then he tells them how to get it; so they'll be happy.
A novel approach I had not seen is employed. Stossel proposes that every market transaction ought to be win-win, where I have something that you want more than what you have that I want, so we trade, and we're both happier.
The writing is good; easy to comprehend and useful information presented using proper rules of grammar. The editing is flawless. The layout doesn't leave the reader bored. Each chapter flows well into the next. It's well-designed as a book; it's not just a series of essays bound together.
The prose are not preachy, but are presented as a product of personal and informed opinion developed during Stossel's career in journalism. The reader is not pinned in the corner. John does his readers the courtesy of leaving an escape route, other than book burning, for those who just can't handle the truth.
Some heavy ideological blows are dealt, but no KOs are delivered to possible critics. It's a safe, productive and entertaining read for practically anyone, man, woman or child; but is especially wholesome for teens and early twenty-somethings.
When I saw the book's title, "No, They Can't," and John Stossel was the author, I didn't even open the cover. I knew it was going to be good! I grabbed it and bought it. You literally can't put it down. I always wanted to know a bit more biography of Stossel, and he briefly covers some of the liberal-media barriers he's had to deal with over the years.
The binding is perfect. The book stays on the page you're reading without having to hold it there. Kindle does that with every book. But, just like the printing press, Kindle is probably a passing fad.
"No, They Can't," is a current, timely, accurate glimpse into our times. But unlike almost every other book written during the last thirty years, it doesn't suck! Bill O'reilly and Glen Beck are sensationalistic amateurs, unable to hold a candle to John Stossel's triumph in, "No, They Can't."
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Many are not enhanced by a degree and their talent may be overlooked.
It's about time. I have been forced to learn these lessons through trial and error. I was born in 1929. We were a working class family in a pottery town in OH. We were allowed to be in a class back then. in grade school, I failed nearly everything a family tradition. After all I had no expectation of higher education. Mom took me out of school at15 as I was too big to be in school. I entered the USMC for WWII. Best thing I ever did. They trained me to do a job. Wow a revelation. I stayed in the service after a brief break. NEXT was USAF. I took the high school and college GED tests and on the strength of that. (extremely high scores) I became a pilot and retired as a Major. Still no degree. Not even high school. Despite my excellent combat record I could never become a regular officer. No college even though I was placed over my fellow officers with masters degrees. one of my friends had done his thesis on curing hogs. We never did any of that in Vietnam. I finally gave up and graduated from an unaccredited law school. with a degree I never would have done these things.
Top reviews from other countries
Douglas Stevens
Excellent perspective by Stossel
Reviewed in Canada on July 9, 2023
Luigi Rispoli
No they Can't di John Stossel.
Reviewed in Italy on February 20, 2013Christian Agersund
Yes government is a no go.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2014
