With more than 2 million members, MoveOn is at the cutting edge of a new model for political activism. In their first-ever book, they take their message offline with MoveOn's 50 Ways to Love Your Country: How to Find Your Political Voice and Become a Catalyst for Change, in an effort to jumpstart an even broader civic dialogue and inspire all to become involved in our political process. With introductions by Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Gail Sheehy, David Fenton, and the MoveOn staff, MoveOn's 50 Ways to Love Your Country is a political call-to-action guide that includes 50 essays from MoveOn members across the country. Each essay is a compelling personal story with action items and resources. Simple ideas are illuminated, such as "Vote, No Matter What," about a dying man's wish to cast a ballot, as are more dynamic actions, such as "Start a Petition," which chronicles a couple's quest to protect endangered wolves in Alaska. For those who feel powerless or overwhelmed, angry or apathetic — or just want to do something, but don't know how — MoveOn's 50 Ways to Love Your Country answers the question so many people are asking, "What can I do?"
Fifty members of the online activist group MoveOn.org provide tips on how to take political action in this inspiring audiobook, which is impressive not only because of the breadth of its suggestions, but also because 42 of the 50 contributors lend their own voices to the recording. Although this makes for an uneven listening experience, as not all of the contributors possess velvet voices, it drives home the audiobook's message: that people of all ages, races and income levels can make a difference. The essays--which cover everything from starting an online petition and hosting a political salon to writing letters to congress and organizing a political book club--each end with a set of "action tips" summarizing the steps the writer took in achieving his/her goals. The most useful component of this audiobook, however, may be its enhanced CD features. Those with access to a computer can browse these "action tips" and link directly to any Web sites mentioned in the material. Based on the Inner Ocean Publishing paperback. (June)n Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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November 02, 2005: Evidently, 'Dave,' a self-described 'hard-working American,' has conservative leanings. Although the people in the stories may be working toward goals that Dave would not share, the book is about self-empowerment and how to take an active role in the form of government we have, which people such as Dave love to brag about, but which cannot succeed without the active participation of its citizens. I'd suggest you re-read the book without the filter of your own political views, but I doubt you could do it. I, for one, am sick of the mindless flag-waving and 'We Support the Troops' stickers that do nothing but support the companies that manufacture the stickers, Dave. And I'd bet you have one or more on your vehicle.
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September 09, 2005: This is a very biased book from a very biased organization, MoveOn. As usual, they make simplisitic generalizations that the poor and liberal are so much smarter and better than the middle-class (eveyone who is not 'poor' must be rich apparently) and conservatives. Their view, and the book's view, is that you either agree with them or you're wrong. It's time for MoveON to stop their whining and lying to the the American people and MOVE ON!