A good book for parents to read and the rest of the nation.

Three things America is the greatest country ever - nonsense W really made a mess of everything-true The US needs a 3rd party-no kidding

This is a good book that explains the current state of the US economy and the many problems we as a nation face. I am not a big fan of Thomas Friedman, but this book seems to be more written by Mandelbaum with anecdotes from Friedman's life. The book covers many different subjects and offers up some solutions that may or may not work, but at least they are attempts to fix the situation our country is in.

A better title for this book should be "That was Never Us". Or maybe how "G.W. And Company Used Us". As a famous college business student once quipped, "Where you going to build it, Fantasy Land?" Creating a factitious past is no way to approach the future. But this doesn't seem to stop"Tom". Condeming the War in Iraq and let slip by the Vietnam mess is more of same petty politics, left v right. These guys in the last chapter look toward a 3rd political party. This may be the only valid prediction in the book. Truth is the evolving 3rd party will not be of these old scool thinkers liking. If anybody is still into the old politics of this country, this book will add ammunition to the left wing, as both left and right Neros continue to play their old sheet music.

I had considered Friedman's books and TV commentary 'one note' comments, but this book is different. It is part a pep-talk and part a chide on how we have sought to be 'average' [if that in America] and the world is passing us up [though I'm sure other countries chide their people]. The authors point out some of the things we need to do to produce more [services and manufacturing] and strong education policy---not just academic subjects but show how to get back to the creative spirit of a Gates, Jobs, etc.. Also make sure the children and adults are 'really' prepared for the new reality of present not to mention the future. They point out we will fail if we just want to 'get by' until retirement or deatth---and if we ALL don't change that 'getting by' may not be that pleasant a life.

"We need to study harder, save more, spend less, invest wisely, and get back to the formula that made us successful as a country in every previous historical turn." Friedman What happens when a nation's politics are controlled by people who are proud of being ignorant?