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 enlarge | Author: Howard Fineman
Publisher: Random House
Category: Book
List Price: $25.00
Buy Used: $8.18
You Save: $16.82 (67%)
New (47) Used (36) from $8.18
Avg. Customer Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 109893
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.7 x 6.7 x 1.2
ISBN: 1400065445
Dewey Decimal Number: 973
EAN: 9781400065448
ASIN: 1400065445
Publication Date: April 22, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Was Okay June 9, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book seems to be intended for a rather uneducated crowd. Much of this book was redundant to me and read as an an overly simplified summary of our past. He too often tried to interpose the past into today's society and with too many streches. I'm not ruling out the value of such books, just be careful when judging what it is you want to take away from a book before making this purchase.
 Fineman's finest June 5, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Thirteen American Arguments is suitable for people from all academic backgrounds, whether a political scientist, a chemical engineer or a children's author. Howard Fineman intertwines many historical concepts while portraying a unique perspective on the American political system. Since this book was released just this spring, there are recent events that us as citizens can relate to which pulls the reader into the action. The message Fineman illustrates is difficult to refute, but it fosters the growth of arguments.
 Biased Liberal Banter May 31, 2008
2 out of 10 found this review helpful
The book boasts an unbiased description of "American Arguments," but it is quite clear where the author stands on the issues. I put this political propaganda down after a short time reading and am extremely angry at myself for supporting this author with my $13.
A curious book May 20, 2008
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
Most of us know Howard Fineman as the the sober and sincere commentator on political programs such as "Hardball" and "Countdown". Fineman's comments are always great to listen to and his insight is terrific. Unfortunately, as a writer, he's not very readable. This dry, short book is an unfortunate slog and one wonders what the purpose of the book is...his time could have been better spent reflecting on the state of affairs in this country and around the world as they are today.
The premise for "The Thirteen American Arguments" seems more of a ploy to sell books, based on the number of the original thirteen colonies. Indeed, the cover reflects that linkage. But the content of the book has no central core, gets things wrong (how could any editor have missed the written Nixon impeachment gaffe?) and ultimately gets mired down in prose that seems endless. This is not your summer beach book.
I like Howard Fineman but I'll stick to his tv appearances. Perhaps someday he will write a book about the Bush years and tell us what he saw along the way....he's very good at that. His real gift is current events, not history.
 Conceptually Promising, but Factually Failing May 17, 2008
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
As a high school government teacher, this book intrigued me as a vehicle to stir debate in my classroom. After the first couple of "arguments", I began thinking about contacting Mr. Fineman about the possibility of creating a textbook version (or at least a supplemental piece). However, once I got to the Presidential Power chapter, my enthusiasm for Fineman's work began to wane. I still like the concept and accept the thirteen selected arguments as important conversations our nation needs to undertake.
But...
After overlooking the poor writing and author bias (even though he is a respected journalist supposedly reporting on arguments that are perpetual), what ultimately piqued me enough to write this review was the two glaring factual inaccuracies in Ch. 9.
First, the War Powers Resolution was a joint resolution, which requires the President's signature to become law, not, as Fineman asserts, a [simple or concurrent] resolution that merely expressing the opinion of the Congress. In fact, the War Powers Resolution was vetoed by the President and then passed over the President's veto with a 2/3 majority vote of Congress.
Second, Fineman continues his Nixon rant by saying that "For the first time in more than a hundred years, the Congress impeached a president..." This, too, is factually incorrect. The House Judiciary committee began the proceedings for impeachment, but Nixon resigned before the full House could vote to impeach, let alone move to the trial process in the Senate. The first time in more than a hundred years that the House did impeach a president was with Clinton in the 1990s, making him only the second to be impeached (the other was A. Johnson).
In summation, what started out as a book with great potential, ultimately falls apart because of the lack of proper fact checking by the author/editor/publisher. As a leading journalist for a leading news magazine, this effort by Fineman makes me doubt his competence to report the news accurately and fairly.
I would still recommend browsing the books chapter headings in the bookstore as a way to begin discussion, but don't waste your money actually purchasing it.
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