Book Review: Assault on Reason by Al Gore

In some ways the premise of The Assault on Reason by Al Gore is very similar to the last book I read, Why We Read What We Read. Both books argue that Americans have lost their ability to think critically and that is partly because we don't really know how to read anymore. The authors of WWRWWR lay the blame for this problem at the feet of the educational system. Al Gore argues that this is partly the result of our society's increasing reliance on television and other non-print media for all our news and information. He points out that our lack of critical thinking skills and willingness to accept whatever we are told has led to this administration's ability to stretch the truth (or lie, depending on how nefarious you think this administration is), expand executive privilege at an alarming rate, and irreparably damage our country's reputation and position in the world. Yes, the words seem strong but in Gore's view, and in the view of many other citizens, things are just that dire.

I am no fan of the Bush administration but for me the most compelling parts of this book were not the parts outlining the administration's faults. Rather, I found the parts examining the actions, or inactions, of society as a whole to be more interesting. The beginning section of the book talks about the "vicarious traumatization" that television can produce. Research indicates that the physical effects of watching trauma on television are the same as if an individual has actually experienced the traumatic events directly. I know, read it again...I had to.