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 enlarge | Author: Peter Schweizer
Publisher: audible.com
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $10.49
You Save: $9.50 (48%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  25 reviews
Media: Audio Download
ASIN: B001CA5WAA
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 But are the surveys reliable? August 3, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The argument of Makers and Takers is that conservatives have it right, behaviorally, and liberals are deeply troubled. Thus, it will give heart to the right and dyspepsia to the left, though it is written in the spirit of bemused interest, not in that of an angry screed. The core of the argument is built upon survey research. If the survey research is accurate, this is a significant book, for it traces a large number of behaviors which, it is argued, characterize those of each broadly-conceived political persuasion. Schweizer argues that behavior and ideas are closely intertwined and proceeds, he believes, to demonstrate it here.
With all turning on the reliability of his evidence, there is a consistent attempt to correct for potential survey errors. For example, conservatives are more happy with their incomes than are liberals. That could be, of course, because they make more money. However, Schweizer is careful to point out, in this case, that the liberals skew toward the negative, while the conservatives skew toward the positive when, in fact, they each make the same amount of money. Conservatives are likely to see the book as successfully and scientifically confirming their intuitions, while liberals are likely to see it as little more than polemic and propaganda. It all comes down to the reliability of the survey instruments themselves. Schweizer certainly takes them seriously, but how broadly accepted are they by dispassionate social scientists? I believe that it is a shortcoming of the book that he does not go to great pains to assure his readers (with hard evidence) that these survey instruments are reliable. There is also a great deal of anecdotal evidence, but that is notoriously slippery, though it does make for an interesting read. Unfortunately, since the book is written for a popular audience it is unlikely to be reviewed by survey research experts and be validated or dismissed. That is too bad, since the subject is so important. On the other hand, a popular audience will find it to be an interesting and engaging use of statistical information (particularly those who are conservative).
 Better than average conservative propaganda ... August 3, 2008
4 out of 9 found this review helpful
Schweitzer's characterization of Liberal arrogance and self-absorption is right on the mark but the "facts" used to support some of his conclusions are a little thin. He relies heavily on anecdotal evidence and polling data that reeks of subjective bias, then he interprets it out of context.
Particularly annoying is his contention that Liberal attitudes toward child rearing are selfish and civically irresponsible, as if propagation of an individual's genes isn't the ultimate act of self interest. If he wanted to prove that point, he should have looked at adoption statistics ... or maybe he did.
Schweitzer does a good job of deflating the Liberal version of conventional wisdom but in so doing relies on a few conservative myths. I suppose it would be asking too much for a touch of balance.
 A fascinating and insightful read August 1, 2008
14 out of 20 found this review helpful
Anyone who is not a liberal has noted how they continuously heap praise upon themselves for their moral superiority, while at the same time demonstrating a priggish hostility to those who disagree with them. In this fascinating book, the author undertakes to examine the liberals' mindset, contrasting their words with their deeds. Everything is covered here, from helping the poor (who actually gives the most of their own income to the needy), to just plain being happy. Want to understand the real, bedrock differences between conservatives and liberals? Read this book!
Overall, I found this to be a fascinating and insightful read. The author does an excellent job of comparing and contrasting people's words with their actual deeds, drawing on many public and private sources, including many surveys and scientific studies. I think that this is a very interesting book, and I cannot recommend it enough!
Good, but could have been better July 25, 2008
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
It's been anecdotally the consensus for awhile that conservatives are generally happier, more family-oriented, and so forth than liberals, but until Schweizer's book, no one had bothered to amass the necessary statistics on the matter. MAKERS AND TAKERS does our understanding of American society a considerable service in this.
There are two areas where Schweizer's tome could have been improved. First, its self-congratulatory tone would be off-putting to a liberal -- and it's liberals who would benefit most from absorbing and pondering the objective information it offers. Second, Schweizer had the opportunity to score a grand slam by extending his treatment to FAKERS: persons nominally self-supporting, but whose positions are mostly or wholly sinecures that demand little from them. The distribution of political allegiances among such persons -- government workers; featherbedded workers in unionized industries; marginal employees in public schools; and the like -- would be illuminating whether or not it confirmed Schweizer's larger thesis.
All the same, MAKERS AND TAKERS is informative in its objective data and thought-provoking in its implications. Four stars.
Don't read if you are a strong LIBERAL. July 17, 2008
2 out of 8 found this review helpful
Great recap of some differences between liberals and conservatives. The former will not enjoy it as much as we did!
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