Published May 2007
9 CDs - Approx 10 hrs
Read by Will Patton


This is one of the most inspiring and refreshing book I have been exposed to.

At least once a week, I think how much better the country and the world would be if Al Gore had become president after he did win the popular vote in 2000.

This book is further proof you can't keep a good man down.

The book isn't for everyone -- but I wish everyone would read at least one chapter.

Related links:
algore.com
current.tv
Would that hurt....?
the speech

I don't think my 1st journal entry expressed my enthusiasm enough. I do believe this book, along with the Live Earth Concert, changed my outlook.

What I got out of it was inspiration to do more to make the changes I want. A lot of little actions do add up, while just complaining about the way things are gets us nowhere.

There is a part near the beginning that I found a little slow, but after that it picked up and engaged me a lot. (I found myself talking about it with other people, etc.)

So...I want to share this audio.


Audiobook Ring!
I ask that you move it along after no more than 3 weeks, as this is a new release & others are waiting. [US only.]

Participant List:
bakerwhencan - CA
KateKintail - VA
rosepetal - IL
majoanna - NY
azuki & Macaufan - FL
smilingheron - OR
MicheleReads - OH
CollegeLady - CA
...then back to me: gnissorckoob - FL

Then out again to...
keno-mom
ariesgirl29
then back to me, gnissorckoob

8/16 - mailed today to bakerwhencan
usps.com tracking # 0306 2400 0001 3468 8205

Arrived today. I'm looking forward to hearing this. Thank you gnissorckoob.

Sorry for having this longer than planned.

This was different than I expected it to be. The premise and the information are very interesting in the beginning. I was especially interested in Gore's addressing the impact of media. As it went on, I found it to be more political than I expected. I found that interesting too, but wary of the political intents that are actually addressed in the book! I listened through Chapter 8 and felt I got the gist.

So now it's off to the next reader! I mailed it today.

Thank you very much for including me here. I am glad I "read" it!

I received this in the mail today! I'm in the middle of a Hornblower novel on CD at the moment. As soon as I finish that, I'll start on this. I'm really looking forward to hear what Gore has to say in this book. I wish it were Al Gore reading the book, but maybe I've just been spoiled after two Obama audio books? ;-)

Thanks for including me in this ring!

Fascinating. The only major drawback for me was that it took me a while to get through it because it's not something you can just casually listen to. I had to really concentrate and think :-)

First, I wanted to type up a quote from the book that says a lot about how I feel after listening to this: Thomas Jefferson once wrote that whenever the people are well-informed they can be trusted with their own government, that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice they may be relied on to set them right. He also said if a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization it expects what never was and never will be.

Second, I really enjoyed this. It's slow and a bit dry in places, but I love Al Gore and it's really fascinating to hear everything he covers in this book. I actually made notes as I went along...

Television- I watch a LOT of tv, so I started to feel guilty when he talked about the shortcomings of the medium as one-way communication. The talk about tv-created memories and emotions was something that shocked me, though.

Fear- I loved his discussion of fear and how it factors into human nature so strongly. Naturally, he applied it to Bush administration tactics, which makes me sad for our nation. I liked his discussion of Bush creating his own reality and legality (interesting insights and parallels drawn).

Government- A lot of the book was about the structure and intentions of government (which was interesting to hear, coming from a former vice president who's participated in multiple branches of government). I especially liked the discussion of the forefathers' writings and intentions when creating the government (and analysis of the current situation, in contrast).

Bush- To be honest, I'm no fan of the current president, but it didn't come across as Bush-bashing so much as presenting facts... facts that make Bush look bad. It pained me to hear the parts about the administration using media and marketing ploys like fear tactics to push the war on the people (using the people). The fact that people in power use human weaknesses/poverty/fear to gain more power makes me feel sick inside; I know that's just human nature, too, but that doesn't make it any easier to hear examples of it. The extent of the deception and secrecy as well as blatant violations of the law... what more can I say? *sigh* Makes me want to do something, though... and I think that's the point of this book!

Environment- I'm glad he touched briefly on the subject of the environment, even if it's just within the context of other issues.

Judicial branch- on disc 8, he mentions George Mason University Law Dept... I work at GMU and am listening to the CD here at work! But I work for a nonprofit housed at GMU... not at the Law Dept... still, it caught my attention, naturally, and I wanted to mention it. Eep.

It's up to us- I thought his discussion of participation was incredibly interesting. The ways to participate... as well as the ways people view participation are very eye-opening. I loved his argument for neutrality and glad he addressed the internet & internet communities as one viable solution, even though it's not without its drawbacks (digital divide).

The beginning made me sad and depressed... the middle more-so but with anger thrown in... and the ending brought me back up to feeling informed and empowered (ugh, I hate that word, but it's true). Thanks so much for letting me listen to this book! It was quite an experience :-)

I PMed rosepetal yesterday and will PM a second time if I don't hear back soon.

As of a few minutes ago, it's on its way to rosepetal in IL!
DC# 0307 1790 0000 8771 6057

Received the audiobook and plan to start on it this weekend.

I was afraid that this book would be boring but found it to be incredibly interesting. I'm glad I had the chance to listen to it. It's brilliant! Thank You for sharing this audiobook with me.

I will be mailing it on Monday to msjoanna.

DC#: 0306 2400 0001 1786 8068

This has arrived in NYC. I'm in the midst of another audio right now, but will start this one next. Looking forward to it.

Update 11/30/07: I'm about half way finished. I should be finished early next week and will pass along then. Sorry to keep these slightly longer than the three week period.

Thanks so much for sharing this book with me. The book is incredibly thoughtful and reasonably well-written. Overall, I would have liked more optimism and focus on the internet as a new medium for two-way communication and political involvment. There was a bit of this at the end, but I wanted to hear more. I didnt' think that the points about the danger of television as a medium for reasoned debate was compelling. I also was expecially interested in the sponsorship of conferences for judges. I think this sort of pernicious and insidious work id the most dangerous attack on our system. Similarly, this administration has packed so many civil service jobs (that don't turn over with an administration change) with political appointments that I'm quite concerned about the ability of the next administration to remedy the problems across government agencies that have become prevalent during the past eight years.

I'll be mailing this tomorrow to azuki.

Thanks for passing the book along! I found it waiting for me when I returned home from my holiday vacation. I am listening to another audiobook now but will start on it soon enough.

I thoroughly enjoy the book; while in general, I have heard of or read about most of the idea somewhere before, the presentation is very nice and contains additional information to what I know already. Such a shame he didn't make it to be our president.

I am a bit disappointed as most of the information mentioned in the book are widely available public knowledge. There is a lot of attack on the Bush administration, which are true and well deserved.

I've mailed it today to the next person.

Received yesterday here in Oregon - thank you! I'm copying this into iTunes so I can listen on my iPod. That way I can also send it on its way sooner! I am interested in the book, AND the nine CD's seem a little daunting...
I've PM'd MicheleReads for her address so I can send it on...

MicheleReads said she'd have to pass on the ring for now...so I've PM'd CollegeLady and will send it on when I get the address...

And back to me, after traveling cross country and back -- twice.

I'm so glad to have shared this with the appreciative journalers above. I plan to place it in the Unitarian congregation's audio library unless another bookcrosser requests it soon.

Mailed today to keno-mom in Texas. Hi, keno-mom.
DC# 0305 2200 0000 0681 5572

Hi G, Thanks for starting the ring up again. Arrived yesterday. I started the first CD, but I have to stop every so often, the past eight years have been so bad for our country, the sadness is overwhelming.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to the next person in the book ray. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks g for letting me in on the ring. Only 178 days till November election, thank God!

I got this in the mail a couple weeks ago and had it in the car listening to it and am almost done. I am going to PM to send back to gnissorckoob shortly! Thanks for letting me join!

Mailed back to gnissorckoob this morning - thanks for sharing!

Back home again, loking nicely traveled in its smashed box.  Glad it has gotten around so much.

I will probably re-listen to it on my upcoming trip.  (Just had a conversation about how all the gov't mis-management wouldn't have happened in a Gore Presidency. But, as someone once said. "A lot of little actions do add up, while just complaining about the way things are gets us nowhere"!)

Sending back out to bookcrossing land via Carlissa's all-CD audiobook box (Round #3) to find the 11th journaler.

I was so excited to see this in Carlissa's CD Audio bookbox. I have the book, and I've read through more than 50% of it. Since I'm always in the car, it will be great to listen to this.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

putting in carlissa's cd audiobook box

came back in round 5 of my audio bookbox. looks like this one has made the rounds, so I may release this somewhere or find someone to send it to.