The Real Stars: In Today's America, Who Are the True Heroes?

I have always been fond of Ben Stein for his keen intellect, sharp wit, and his refusal to conform to convention to further his career. This book is a collection of columns he has written over an almost 30 year span which contribute to defining his viewpoint that America is the greatest nation in the world. He is both eloquent and humble in his presentation, and makes it clear that Americans as a whole enjoy unparalleled freedom and prosperity because of the sacrifices of the men and women of the US military forces. The theme of gratefulness to the fine members of the armed forces is the focus of this book, although he often contrasts the banal trivialities of Hollywood as a backdrop to make clear that US citizens as a whole are less appreciative of the real heroes than in the false celebrity idols so common in Hollywood. Ben Stein is a brilliant economist and son of economist Herbert Stein who taught Ben the necessity of hard work, honesty, integrity, humility, and respect that have made America strong over the centuries. Ben clearly loathes self-importance: I cannot imagine how he deals with living in a culture that is essentially based on self-absorption. The individual columns in this book are all interesting and absorbing, but I particularly enjoyed reading about Ben's encounter with Major Black, a member of the still-existent band "Rose Royce" (remember "Car Wash"?), who I found to be inspirational in his outlook (as did Ben). I also liked the essay on Nixon: it's easy to criticize Nixon, and less popular to defend him. Here Ben shares insights on his former boss without whitewashing his faults. I found his treatment fair-minded and interesting. I very much appreciated his article on an "employer's bill of rights" in which he called for employees to actually do a day's work for a day's pay, a character trait that is fast disappearing in our entitlement-minded world. Of all the columns in the book, though, the single most important is "How to Ruin American Enterprise" (beginning on p. 93), in which Stein explains what has made the US great and what the greatest dangers to the US are going forward. Everyone would be advised to read this before the next election. There are two columns in the collection that seems a bit misplaced, one on Elvis' death, and one on Frank Sinatra. I understand the points Stein is trying to convey in each of them, but don't really think they enhance the overall thematic whole of this particular collection. This is a wonderful and vital book from one of America's leading thinkers. Ben Stein is quiet, understated, self-deprecating, and sharp as a tack. I recommend this collection to everyone without reservation.

As a soldier currently serving in Iraq i found this book a real "chin lifter". the points stein makes really makes you watch you television differently or read a magazine in a new way, because sure it might be entertaining for the moment, but how does it make it or them a "star". when in fact if it wasnt for i and every other service member in our armed forces they would be able to live the way hollywood lives or do the things they do. let alone be "stars". truely a real good book. i wish every service member could read this, it is a great moral enhancer! Reese

Inspired by Stein's "Nick and Jessica" column - a column that was copied and pasted and forwarded to millions of e-mails across the world. Stein has collected a series of columns from the years 1978-2006, mostly from the 1998-2005. Topics range from Elvis and the celebrity culture to Richard Nixon to current foreign policy to the widows and orphans of fallen soldiers to the deaths of his parents. Often profound and usually very funny, Stein usually has a gentle wit and tries to put a gentle spin on things. But, 2 or 3 of these essays demonstrate that Stein can be cutting (however, his cutting observations are correct) and those are all of the more powerful since they stand out from the norm. Although this is a relatively short book, Stein's essays about his parents are worth the price of the book all by themselves. If his comments about his father ("My Father's Estate) don't bring a tear to your eye your soul is in serious trouble. Ben Stein - a Hollywood insider, a political insider and, more importantly, a guy that does get it - he understands what's really important in this life.

I always enjoy Ben Stein's writing. He always finds a way to get his ideas across with immediacy and in a way that involves both our heads and our hearts. This book is a collection of a few dozen of his columns and articles from the past couple of decades. I remember enjoying many of them in their original publications (and on e-online). Having them bound and available on my bookshelf is very nice, because several of the columns are worth referring to again and again. The title of the volume refers to the real people who should matter more in our lives than they often do. Stein always writes movingly about his gratitude for America and for the men and women of the military who make all the blessings of freedom possible. He always pleads for us to pay more attention to them, to pay them more money than we do (and send their kids to college on a scholarship), and especially to take care of the families of those who are killed or wounded terribly doing the brave things we asked them to do for us. The other stars for Mr. Stein are his father and mother. Not so much because his father was Herbert Stein, a famous economist and advisor to the Presidents Nixon and Ford, but because they were caring parents who were fabulous examples of how life should be lived. I know my parents are among the most important people in my life. His columns about losing them are deeply touching. Partly because I lost my father in the same year Stein lost his, just s few months earlier. Both our mothers had passed previously and we both know how the world changes once your parents have passed to immortality. His columns reporting on the shallowness and foolishness of Hollywood are wonderful stuff. For example, the exasperation he has with a network executive who won't even consider his game show because of the success of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" is exquisite. Her thinking is that if there were another game show on it might confuse the audience. Imagine if there were no game shows on and someone pitcher this woman "Millionaire". She would have likely passed because there were no game shows on and that meant the audience didn't want game shows. Now, Stein is also grateful for the opportunity Hollywood provides and writes well about that, too. He is never simplistic in his praise or criticism. Good humor has a complexity to it that enriches us along with the laughter. His column on being mugged and robbed in his own garage is also compelling reading, as is his visit with a sick little angel Little Rock Arkansas, his reverence for the heroic military service of his father-in-law, the visit he paid to the battlefield of Shiloh, and a visit he made to the Hadamar extermination facility that the Nazis used to rid themselves of "useless eaters". There is a lot to read and think about in this wonderful little book. I recommend it to you and know you will find much to enjoy. Frankly, it is writing that will make you feel better about life and help y

The articles in this book span about twenty years and are humorous, encouraging, touching, sad and factual. Especially uplifting are the articles pointing out that our military men and women and their families are the "true heroes" and the "real stars' in America. Not the Hollywood actors and actresses and Mr. Stein includes himself in this category. Mr. Stein makes some fun of himself, Hollywood executives, and corporate executives although he is clearly not as well off as most of those in Hollywood and also doesn't have a lavish life style. He also helps us make some fun of ourselves as employees, as fans of stars and fans of material things that are clearly not as important as your family, how you live your life and how you serve and think of others. Mr. Stein writes about his late father, Herbert Stein, and how he and his wife lived modestly in Washington, D.C. and how they taught Ben and his sister good values such as hard work, caring for others, and so on. The articles written in the book just after his father's death are also very poignant as he reflects on the times they had together. Mr. Stein has great respect and love for the people serving in our military and their families and this is much reflected in the articles. He also has admiration for young children who have gone through much pain and suffering with terminal cancer. These different articles are tender stories of real people told with love and respect. A very uplifting and moving book. Highly recommended.