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Add Your Voice To The Fight
American Gaslighting explains the threats facing our nation, the tools used to divide us, and what we can do to stop it. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Because I see a coordinated attack on our American identity that is intended to divide our citizens and pull the country toward leftist ideology. Leftism leads to socialism and eventually totalitarian government. These types of governments never end well for its citizens. Now is the time to stop self-censoring and speak against leftist ideology before it’s too late.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about the American Constitution?
Without question the most common misconception about the Constitution is that it can be reinterpreted with the times. This is the concept that the Constitution is a living document, which originated as a progressive idea during the Wilson era. This idea is very dangerous as it can create an erosion of our rights and legislation from the judiciary or legislating from the bench as it is commonly called.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Accurate interpretation of history. Slavery was not an American invention. It existed for thousands of years prior to America’s founding. It’s no surprise that this evil found its way to the shores of the New World. No race has clean hands in the perpetuation of slavery. It’s not just an American legacy.
Secondly, because of our bedrock values enshrined in our founding documents, America was able to self-correct and reverse the evil of slavery. America had to first win its independence before it could even entertain abolishing slavery. Along the way a series of compromises with slavery proponents had to be made in order to preserve the Union until no further compromise was possible.
Lastly, America is not systemically racist, but systemic racism is still practiced with fervor by the Democrat Party. The Democrat Party history is one of complete resistance to abolishing slavery, to oppression of black people in the post-bellum South, and then institutionalizing government dependence as a means of exerting permanent control over large swaths of our black citizens. The Democrat Party has fully embraced woke and leftists ideology.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
Truth and justice exist independent of the source. Simply because our Founders were flawed does not invalidate the gift of liberty they gave to all Americans. Treasure America, strengthen our Republic and add your voice to the fight before it’s too late.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
Pervasive propaganda paints America as systemically and irredeemably racist. Americans are being purposefully deceived into believing that our American Constitution is a relic of the past and must be reinterpreted with the times. They are being conditioned to “burn it down.” What will replace it? The answer should concern every freedom-loving American. The book explains the threats facing our nation, the tools used to divide us, a retracing of how we arrived at our current situation, an assessment of who is most culpable for our present state, and what to do to stop it. American Gaslighting exposes the psychological techniques that are particularly effective against people who don’t routinely exercise critical thinking skills. American Gaslighting sets the historical record straight. It is a vital read for informing every American that receives only a steady diet of America-hating propaganda.
American Gaslighting
American Gaslighting: How America is Being Systematically Taught to Hate Itself by Daniel A. Shyti is an eye-opening book that focuses on the current state of America, how to view the political developments from a different perspective, and a side of the country that not many people have knowledge about, or understand. The author references how modern changes have brought progress, unexpected challenges, and possible erosion in some areas of the country.
I found Daniel A. Shyti’s book illuminating and enjoyed how he brings a new lens to American politics while presenting some intriguing viewpoints on current events, including racism, socio-economic issues, equal rights, and many recent changes to laws that have impacted the lives of many Americans. The author also examines what he considers to be the hypocrisy of certain forms of media, which may appear to support the public while perpetuating a sense of self-loathing.
While some of the topics the author covers in this book are subject to controversy and criticism, he presents the information with a balanced and open mind that is commendable. The author remains relatively neutral throughout the book while tackling complex topics using personal views, facts, and research. The tone of the writing felt authentic as the author goes the extra mile to engage readers, even with unpopular viewpoints and options.
American Gaslighting: How America is Being Systematically Taught to Hate Itself is fascinating. The author does an impressive job of using real human stories and references to historical facts and research. Readers interested in politics and sociology in America will find this thought-provoking book to be as informative as it is illuminating. Readers will be drawn in by the straightforward ideas and message.
Pages 274 | ASIN 0989708462
License to Loot
License to Loot: How Racial Injustice, Able-Bodied Americans, Illegal Immigrants, and the Opioid Epidemic Split America by Pascale Batieufaye discusses issues that impact the United States from a different perspective or lens. The author covers a wide range of contemporary problems, including the mismanagement of resources, the government’s role in protecting Americans, and other societal issues that impact all areas of life, including education, health, drugs, crime, and controversial subjects.
Pascale Batieufaye is straightforward about the topics discussed in this book and does not shy away from speaking his mind. He covers subjects that are often not openly discussed without backlash, and he offers long-term solutions to addressing problems in America, which may or may not be successful. Realistically, many of the issues facing Americans today do seem to have an easy solution, especially where there are multiple problems impacting numerous communities.
The author begins the book with an in-depth discussion of the opioid epidemic and how this crisis impacts Americans directly and indirectly. Batieufaye dives into how this epidemic extends to involve the pharmaceutical industry, economics, and individuals who suffer from addiction. There is further discussion on homelessness, debt, tax evasion by corporations, and many other factors that shape the world Americans live in.
My favorite part of the book is the second part, which tackles one of the most important questions every reader will ask: How do we improve America? The author covers a wide range of political points, including the various administrations, their faults, and how many governments do not face the consequences of their actions when they fail, and he readily applauds their successes.
License to Loot: How Racial Injustice, Able-Bodied Americans, Illegal Immigrants, and the Opioid Epidemic Split America is a rich and layered read that provides a lot of content to digest. It’s an important learning experience, from a socio-economical point of view.
Pages 194 | ASIN 1954647026
Shadows Of The Acropolis
Shadow of the Acropolis, by Richard Lyons, is the second volume of the series “DNA of democracy” and focuses on subjects such as equality, independence, and American history. He focuses on the most important political figures and acts, going from the acropolis to the evolution of society and how our government has failed to sustain liberty ideals. The difference between what should be and what happens in society is quite unsettling, and the aim of the book is to reflect on how things went and how they are going, thinking about what will happen in the future.
Lyons writes in a straightforward way, starting from Greek society and slowly getting to today’s situation. He analyses each society’s characteristics in a trip through the world and through different eras.
As a reader keen on details, I appreciated the presence of the illustrations, which might look funny or cute at first but gain importance as one reads the book. They are all satirical images, and their symbolism grows as the chapters continue. For example, in the author’s opinion, the octopus representing the administrative state might look cute at first but then seems increasingly corrupted and wicked, just like society’s evolution.
Furthermore, the author addresses the reader directly, asking questions and trying to get the latter to stay active while reading. Finally, the use of illustrations helps readers grasp the concepts and splits the book into three parts, focusing on three different aspects.
Shadow of the Acropolis, by Richard Lyons is an eye-opening look at the historical background of what Lyons calls a “hybrid nation,” which will catch most readers’ attention. This book is insightful for those who are keen on history and politics. I would like to end this review with a quote from the author: “- The State seeks to amputate the DNA contained in our history, in our founding ethos and separate us from the heroes who made America a free and independent democracy devoted to the rights of humanity.”
Pages: 441 | ASIN : B0B9V86BHJ
The Forgotten
The Forgotten by Barbara Dorger is a deep dive into one of the most tragic events of modern American History- 9/11. Countless volumes have been written about this awful day, but Dorger has taken a different approach than any other book.
Dorger approaches 9/11 with an often overlooked perspective, that of the aircrews who were serving that fateful day. Dorger was a flight attendant on the day of the attack, and in her book, she gives us a fascinating insight into how it would have been for the crews of the planes that went down that day.
For most of the book, Dorger focuses on the perspective of flight crews and other aviation workers before, during, and after 9/11. However, Dorger isn’t just focused on the attack itself but on the failures within her industry that let it happen. She then highlights the plight of the aviation workers who, through layoffs and downsizing post-9/11, were left out in the cold as their industry struggled to recover.
Later on, in the book Dorger widens her scope. She gives brief but detailed histories of the major intelligence agencies involved in investigating 9/11 and airline security procedures and regulation/ deregulation. In addition, she interviews flight attendants who had served on the flights leading up to 9/11 that had had the future bombers onboard. In these chapters, Dorger paints a troubling picture where their airlines and government counterintelligence ignored front-line flight workers’ concerns.
This is not to say that Dorger’s work is all finger-pointing. She also highlights the heroism and good that came from the day. In addition, she spends time praising other countries’ responses to the tragedy, and the solidarity America received from its allies.
But at its heart, this book is a tribute to the flight crews who lost their lives that day. She highlights how her colleagues, even when they knew they were going to die, kept their cool and stayed professional. Their cool heads helped prevent other hijackings that day. The Forgotten isn’t for everyone. But for anyone wanting to learn more about what happened during 9/11, The Forgotten is worth a read. Dorger’s years of experience in the industry and thorough research shine through.
Pages: 228 | ISBN : 1664183329
Shame Is The Word!
Gorilla In The Closet shares your experiences working in EPA and how the agency has gotten to the point they are at, and what needs to be done to correct the path and restore public confidence in the agency. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Reconciling my service as a naval officer and Vietnam Combat Veteran and the rejection I faced by my own generation upon my return to San Francisco Bay in 1969; and, fast forward, reconciling my service as a Presidential Appointee in EPA doing groundbreaking work and being again attacked by my own generation and those in congress who didn’t agree with me resulting in being marginalized. Also, even in 1981-83 my Vietnam Service meant nothing to them. After my forced resignation from EPA, I was completely marginalized by society. I couldn’t get a job. Shame is the word! I had to write this book to put both of these experiences in perspective, knowing in my heart, I had served honorably. I no longer feel shame but on a very personal level, heroic.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about the purpose of the EPA?
People don’t think about EPA at all. It is never discussed at the kitchen table. It is just another bloated federal bureaucracy and EPA has earned this non-reputation owing to its political nature, the structure and revolving door of leadership where there is no continuity or strategic thinking and attitudes of many in federal service. Congress was initially responsible for this state of affairs followed by EPA employees in their hierarchical attitude towards governance. Ergo, top down with limited real forward progress on environmental protection; in having all the answers but not knowing what the question is. In the past 52 years, EPA has retreated from a hopeful perch in our society, a social experiment if you will, to a mundane agency whose reach and effectiveness is limited. It is grossly mismanaged. All this can change and the book does more than leave bread crumbs to follow in how to do this! I offer legislation that is comprehensible.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
WE LOSE OUR DEMOCRACY IF WE DON’T HOLD OUR GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR LEADERS (LIKE ME AT EPA) ACCOUNTABLE. My profile of EPA, it’s anatomy and detached behavior, is a metaphor for almost all federal governmental agencies. Our future as a society in the face of Climate Change, rests with all of us. EPA plays a vital but limited role; but, less so than your city and county governments where there is real accountability and where they annually balance their budgets. Local politicians know the value of a dollar and they feel strictly accountable to their constituents. I hope my book sparks a focused bottom-up attack on climate change by asking the Environmental Elite to set aside their personal ambitions in the Beltway, and turn inward to their members and mobilize them to implement nationally funded local programs that reduce carbon emissions and better prepare for and manage the worst climatological effects using land use and police powers. Ironically, Reagan was on to something when he said, “Government (meaning the federal government) is the problem”. We can do better and by rebooting of EPA as an independent commission driven by engineering, technological and scientific values and goals, it can become the new NASA on which humankind that inhabits planet earth may depend for its very existence.
Author Website: gorillainthecloset.com
GORILLA IN THE CLOSET
An eye-opening memoir for those interested in government service, politics, academia, environmental history, and environmental engineering.
Eric Eidsness, an environmental engineer and former EPA Assistant Administrator for Water appointed by President Ronald Reagan, diagnoses the EPA’s missteps over the decades leading up to today’s crisis of confidence. He proposes a solution that will reconfigure the EPA into the agency it was meant to be.
GORILLA IN THE CLOSET
In Gorilla In The Closet, author Frederic A Eidsness Jr. dissects and delves into the the ins and out of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide a better understand of the agency and to outline the dramatic restructuring that is needed to reestablish confidence in the agency. The author is deliberate in making this a nonpartisan issue, and develops a plan that I think both sides can get behind. Readers will see how both the Democratic and Republican parties want something for the agency that won’t enable it to properly do what it was meant to do.
The author has extensive knowledge of the EPA as he was a critical member of the agency and was involved in the ‘Sewergate’ scandal; which involved the head of the EPA at the time. The authors expertise is on full display throughout the book and provides significant insight that makes this book both informative and captivating.
There is a lot of information to take in, but readers who follow politics or government policy, even a little, will be able to understand the book. as the author does a great job of explaining things in detail. Those deeply interested in politics will be enthralled with this book as it gives readers a behind this scenes look at an agency in the midst of a scandal. Frederic Eidsness Jr. also shares a bit of history about the EPA, sharing information about its infancy back in the 70s, well before it became infused with politics.
With any book on politics I’m always wondering which side of the aisle the author falls on. The great thing about this book is that the author is able to remain nonpartisan throughout, focusing only on what will make the EPA better. I’ve learned that politics has shaped the EPA up to this point, but the author makes it clear that there is a path forward that can make the EPA better; which conveys a feeling of hope.
With the anecdotes, expert opinions, behind the scenes look, history and critical analysis of the agency the author is also giving the reader an understanding as to why the agency needs to be revamped before then delving into details on how to improve it. The guidance is clear, and the path forward is well defined in this informative book.
With climate change being a prevailing contemporary issue I feel Gorilla In The Closet is very relevant today. This is an enlightening book that provides a blueprint to make significant changes to an important agency at a critical time in history. The author tackles the subject with intelligence and a matter-of-fact tone that is refreshing.
Onward, At Last
Onward, At Last by Kevin Howard is a thought-provoking exploration of modern social issues and shows how we can improve humanity and our interconnected societies. We analyze these issues through a series of commentaries divided into five volumes. Each chapter has a catchy title and is quite short. The arguments are always illustrated by current and historical events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the direct consequences of climate change, or the history of America’s economy. Howard’s main thesis is that he believes in “universal oneness”.
The strength of the book is that it takes inspiration from several religions and is quite inclusive in that respect. This illuminating book also provides rationale that is backed up by numbers or historical facts, ensuring the information is grounded as well as insightful. The author also raises an interesting issue in education where he sees a lack of preparation for children and teenagers becoming adults.
While the length of the chapters make consuming the information very easy, I would have liked to have taken a deeper dive into some subjects and taken more time to fully shape an assertion or commentary. The reader should be aware that, although the book offers answers, the examples and politics mentioned are centered around the United States.
Onward, At Last is a stimulating read that highlights contemporary societal issues and provides some answers. I recommend this book to readers in search of meaning in life, or to someone wondering how humanity can unite, or to anyone that wants to understand how we can improve if we join forces. I was able to find hope for society in this book, given the current events occurring around the world.
Pages: 196 | ISBN : 1639886303
LITERARY TITAN 