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Book Review, © Copyright 1997, Jim Loy
Steve Allen is, of course, the famous comedian. The first part of this book is an amusing (and amazing) account of how stupid Americans are becoming. And the last part gives 81 pieces of advice on how each of us can become smarter.
You and I see and hear stupidity (dumbth) all around us. But, it is amusing to hear Mr. Allen recount tales of people who can't spell (for example, "the Girl Scotts"), don't know simple words (for example, marmalade), and don't know facts that we thought everyone knew (for example, that there is an organization called the United Nations). We even read that Gregory Peck played the title role in Moby Dick. And these people can't seem to get it straight, no matter how long you try. It is all amusing, until we are reminded that some of this stupidity can have very unpleasant results (mistakes in hospitals and on our highways).
Of course you and I would never be stupid (well, you wouldn't). But, we can do our own part to make America smarter, by trying to be smarter ourselves. Mr. Allen gives us 81 ways to improve our thinking. An example is his rule no. 19, "Concede ignorance when your are ignorant." He lists ways to identify weaknesses in your thinking, and ways to improve your thinking. There is plenty of good stuff here.
A friend of mine was making an international call, from Bozeman, Montana, to Paris, France. And the international operator, somewhere in the USA, thought that Montana was in Canada. Not lately. I suppose all sorts of people have never heard of Montana. But, an international operator?
Does it happen elsewhere that construction on a school building does not begin until school is in session?
To order this book, click Amazon.com (goes directly to this book).