Dialogues (Tr)

Jerry Brown is that rare thing - an ethical politician. Read this book to get some insight into the otherwise private nature of an influential figure. Read how Mayor Brown served with Mother Theresa in Calcutta and decided to save a city rather than "monitor" government at the state or national level. Courageous and noble man.

This book was excellent in the contents and it is full of interesting thoughts and ideas, expressed by a selected assortment of 18 people that inspired Jerry Brown himself. In the book, he gets to interview each one of them in a sort of dialogue that engages these peoples ideas. Most of the topics deal with social and political criticism, well founded by the way, and it is very insightful into looking beyond the reality of everyday life, what are the larger mechanisms at work, what are our limitations, what are the problems, what are the underlying issues, etc. It tends to uncover many assumptions and should provoke in the reader much thinking on issues that affect us all in today's society, from religion to environmentalism to capitalism.

The book is vintage Jerry Brown. The various people with whom he holds discussions on a variety of issues builds a consistent humanistic position with regard to the current situation in the United States. These are views that come from "reading between the lines" with regard to what is happening in our country--and in the world. The discussions are truthful, impactful, revealing and very intellectual in nature. The dialogues will open up your mind to events and conditions, even if you disagree with the stated positions. And, the discussions should make everyone more aware of what is happening around them, particularly in the areas of the economy, the environment, politics, social agendas and military research.

Jerry Browns' loss of the presidential election seemed? "Believable." I trusted him then, and very much wanted him in office. Maybe he should have said less about what was real concern, "i think it frightend off voters, unable to cope." The U.S. was just not ready for anything right or just. I watched J.Brown on book tv last night and thought of nothing but regret, "or shame" that his campaign did not win. However i am very much glad that he is now going to prove something about city government and probably leave a historical example for the future. "If we can ever trust another politician, i hope it would be Jerry Brown! He addresses all our most critical concerns, and this "american life" in which we take so much for granted will not be possible for much longer i think, unless we listen to people like Brown. This materialism is going absolutely NO-WHERE and we'd better straighten up. The unfortunate opinion i have is that he's right entirely, but that America will not learn without being delt a very disaterous lesson. "Jerry Brown" has sense, listen to what he says! Or are you too greedy? -C.Underwood