George Lakoff's Don't Think Of An Elephant, Know Your Values and Frame The Debate is a must read for all who are wondering how Democrats can compete in elections where "values" trump economic self interest and security. The book is basically a field manual on how to use metaphor and words, and the importance of holding the framing of issues rather than responding. He takes on invididual policy issues (taxation, abortion, foreign policy, etc..) and shows how Democrats need to frame their values, beliefs and patriotism to present a more moral and traditional alternative.
But going beyond politics, this book is an excellent primer on "how to argue and debate 101." I would recommned this to book to just about anyone; Democrats who are seeking the "values" message, Republicans who want a peek of what is coming, and anyone who often wonders why they never seem to get their point across.
The book is not very long, only 117 pages and in paperback. It is very well written. While Lakoff is a Professor of Cognative Lingusitics at UCal Berkely, the book is not written in the academic style, rather very accessiable and straightforward. However, his "strict father model" and "nurturing parent model" of conversatives and liberals may very well lead you to his more expansive work "Moral Politics."
This book is the first of three books I would recommend to Democrats, or anyone else interested in US political discourse. I will review the other two at a later date.
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Thanks for the review Alan. I was pretty impressed with Moral Politics, though I did think at times the analogy of the parent models was a bit thin. Still, on a broad level it hit all of the right notes. It will be interesting to see how the Democrats embrace his message (or sadly, do not).
It will be a measure of the success the party has weaning itself from centralized control by K Street types (no offense) and looking nationwide for more dynamic political operatives and strategies--something the GOP has whipped their butts at for years now.
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