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| The Revolution: A Manifesto | 
 enlarge | Author: Ron Paul
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $21.00
Buy New: $11.55
You Save: $9.45 (45%)
New (49) Used (17) Collectible (6) from $10.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  708 reviews
Sales Rank: 123
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.9
ISBN: 0446537519
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.931
EAN: 9780446537513
ASIN: 0446537519
Publication Date: April 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
The Work of a Statesman April 26, 2008
19 out of 22 found this review helpful
All he does is tell the truth, and in so doing forms a blistering assault on the charade that our political system has become. Ron Paul is that rarest thing - a political figure possessing a coherent core philosophy that he understands, can exposit and explain clearly, and sticks to with utmost fidelity. In short, Ron Paul is a true statesman. Andrew Napolitano is right to call him the Thomas Jefferson of our day. His political philosophy is the one our nation was founded upon and the one which used to demarcate the Right from the Left in this country so many years ago. Traditional conservatives like John T. Flynn, Garet Garett, Henry Hazlitt, Robert Taft, and even Russell Kirk, were its champions in the 20th century. These days, sadly, the Right in general and the Republican Party in particular are very nearly indistinguishable from their worst counterparts on the Left: chock full of sloganeering mountebanks and ambitious lovers of state (remember when conservatives were distrustful of government? Not so the crop of neocons and militarists that plague us now). Paul pulls back the curtain and exposes their intellectual and moral bankruptcy. The same sort of mindless partisan lock step that once drove more thoughtful souls like Albert Jay Nock and Garet Garrett to make common cause with those from the "other side" such as Charles Beard and Harry Elmer Barnes, is today responsible for the coming together of a dizzying coalition of people from vastly different backgrounds who have simply had their fill of the status quo. As Paul reminds us, freedom unites people rather than dividing them.
Paul makes his case for a return to original principles with eloquence and an abundance of historical references. It is downright laughable to imagine any of the typical candidates from the party machines trying to write anything like this. I doubt if a single one of them would recognize the names Bastiat, Cobden, or Mises.
This is a short book, almost a pamphlet in the old fashioned sense, yet there is an extraordinary amount of wisdom within. It manages to touch on virtually everything important and the fundamental truths it contains can ignite a revolution as Thomas Paine once did with his little firestarter. Nothing like this has been written in a long time (besides the obvious similarity to Goldwater's 1960 manifesto I'm reminded of Flynn's "Decline of the American Republic", 1955) and nothing is more desperately needed today. May the ideas that Ron Paul has launched back into the light spread like wildfire, and let us begin to repair the damage done to the fabric of America before it's too late. Thank heaven for a man like Ron Paul.
A Manifesto of Freedom, by a Modern-Day Tacitus April 28, 2008
19 out of 21 found this review helpful
The ancient Roman historian Tacitus (ca. AD 55-120) is noted for his skepticism in the face of the increasing centralization of power he witnessed during his life. In this book, Ron Paul explains in greater detail than is possible in a stump speech how the greatest threat to our Constitution and our Republic does not come from terrorists hiding out in caves in Pakistan, Mullahs in Iran, or oil-rich despots in Latin America, but from our own government.
When Dr. Paul went to Google to do a Q&A session last summer, a young Google employee prefaced his question by commenting that he was impressed with the way the Congressman always substantiated his points by referring to historical examples. All of us who have taken notice of this quality, all too rare among politicians, will be well satisfied with the good Dr.'s latest offering.
Throughout the seven chapters of this primer on American liberty, Dr. Paul reminds us why we can't help but admire a man who is a living illustration of the supreme importance of studying the past. I was particularly struck by the way he argues for the legalization of drugs, a position to which I was a reluctant convert. He cites St. Thomas Aquinas to make the point that not all vices should be regulated. He goes on to relate the bizarre story of James Munch, the veterinarian whose testimony before Congress in the 30s convinced that body to impose exorbitant taxes on marijuana, and who was subsequently named the chief government "expert" on narcotics.
If the story of Dr. Munch is a foray into the just-plain-strange, then at other points, Paul relates anecdotes that can only be described as sobering in the extreme. Prominent among these is the one in chapter 6 (about monetary policy), where he tells the story of how Alan Greenspan privately stood by the contents of 1966 article he had written in support of a gold standard, but then publicly distanced himself from the views expressed in the very same article.
The whole book is superb, from the chapters on foreign policy and the Constitution, to the one dealing with economic freedom, which for me was by itself worth the price of the entire volume. But it is only the beginning. A reading list at the end points to other resources in "the scholarship of liberty." My only complaint about the book is that the claims made in it aren't backed up with sources. Dr. Paul's many detractors will no doubt find part of it to quibble with, and the lack of documentation will make it harder for lovers of freedom to parry their attacks.
That small criticism notwithstanding, I heartily recommend this appropriately sized manifesto. If you've been impressed with the transparent integrity that Ron Paul constantly displays, and want to find out more about the core convictions that drive him, I know of no better place to do it. I can't help but think that Tacitus would agree.
multi-functional!! April 29, 2008
19 out of 22 found this review helpful
I'm a very enthusiastic Ron Paul supporter, so of course I had to buy several copies of the book along with the audio version. Having the audio allows me to listen to his common sense while I work, while also broadcasting those ideas in my shop to all of my daily customers, hence spreading the message effortlessly. An additional instance occurred as I witnessed my daughter(she's nine) listening to the audio cd's in private with her earphones, while reading along; a great way to expand her economic vocabulary!
Like most Ron Paul supporters, I have heard most of his speeches and read most of his policy papers, and assumed his book/audio would be a re-hashing of those ideas. Boy, was I wrong! The book is fresh and reads quickly and is packed with examples and anecdotes. I recommend everyone to buy this book/audio; one set for themselves and another for a friend or loved one.. free shipping for the pair!
Easy To Read and..... Common Sense April 29, 2008
19 out of 22 found this review helpful
I have been a long time Amazon customer. And this is my first ever review( okay, I do like my Juicer)..Why?. The time is NOW to listen to what Ron paul has brought to the table for many, many years. I was like a kid at Christmas. I was not expecting this book until early May. I was so exited when the Amazon Box appeared on my Porch. I jumped in to it right away. I plan on getting some more copies to send out as gifts. It does not matter what side of the Politcal Spectrum you side with. This book is for EVERYONE. I am a fond reader of American History/Revolution Books. If you add History, Politics, Liberty, Freedom and Common Sense(Paine), you get it all in this great book. Enjoy
Dr. Paul Answers His Critics..... April 22, 2008
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
This is fun book to read. I plan to re-read this book. Ron calls out his opponents on their positions, without getting personal. You still know who he is talking about. Great insight on the campaign. The chapter on civil liberties is very important. Buy extra copies this book will make a great gift.
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