Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame th...
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Product Description
Donit Think of an Elephant! is the definitive handbook for understanding what happened in the 2004 US election and communicating effectively about key issues facing America today. Author George Lakoff has become a key advisor to the Democratic party, helping them develop their message and frame the political debate. In this book Lakoff explains how conservatives think, and how to counter their arguments. His years of research and work with environmental and political leaders have been distilled into this essential guide, which shows progressives how to think in terms of values instead of programmes, and why people vote for their values and identities, often against their best interests. Donit Think of An Elephant! is the antidote to the last forty years of conservative strategizing and the right wingis stranglehold on political dialogue in the United States
About the Author
George Lakoff is a Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley, and is a founding senior fellow at the Rockridge Institute. He is one of the worldis best-known linguists. Since the mid-1980s he has been applying cognitive linguistics to the study of politics, especially the framing of public political debate. He is the author of the influential book, Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think (2nd edition, 2002).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Lots of useful information, concisely written and very good value. I would recommend this book irrespective of your political colour as the ideas presented are valid for all parties, and indeed are useful in debates on any subject. The information is of particular relevance to minority groups who have to battle against stereotypes.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
George Lakoff is a big hitter in the world of linguistics and cognitive science and has been for somne years. Latterly he has tried to apply his academic knowledge to political discourse.
This short book was as I understand it produced in the wake of Bush's re-election as a guide for Democrats and other progressives on how to talk politics, and was quite a big thing in US politico circles when released. It is based around the interesting idea that the split in American politics is fundamentally a different conceptual understanding of America as a family. Republicans and the Right subscribe to what Lakoff describes as a 'strict father' model, whereas Democrats and progressives believe in a 'nurturant parent' model.
Lakoff argues that we principally think in terms of frames, and that different political visions also seek to present ideas within different frames. So, in his big example, Republicans talk about 'tax relief' rather than 'tax cuts', because the former suggests that tax is an affliction, that whoever brings relief is a hero, and whoever tries to stop the hero is a villain. Lakoff argues that there is no point fighting your opponent on their own ground. Once a frame - like tax relief - is in place it is effectively part of the wiring of the brain, and very hard to shift. We will ignore or seek to undermine information that doesn't fit the frame (known as confirmation bias in other areas). Therefore what you have to do instead is establish alternative frames that get across your view of the world.
It's an interesting idea, and personally I think there is some merit in the central ideas. However when it comes to applying these insights in practice the advice seems a bit more speculative. Lakoff is obviously a smart guy, so I am torn between thinking he has just left out all the reasoning behind his suggestions in order to produce a short guide for campaigners, and thinking perhaps a bit more theorising needs to be done. For example, the section at the end on how to debate with Conservatives, whilst a useful list of pointers on how to conduct yourself could have been written by anyone. Maybe people need to hear such guidance from an experts in order to accept it?
A couple of final points. First, I went for the version of the book that come swith a free DVD. This is worth a look (it is only 25 mins long) because, to my knowledge, you just don't get this kind of thing in the UK. Also it does serve to remind you of that old line about being divided by a common language - the presentation is very cheesy by British standards. Secondly, if you find Lakoff's ideas interesting I would strongly recommend Metaphors We Live By. This is a non-political book, but a really fascinating look at how we use metaphors to understand. If he could apply that level of insight to politics he really would be onto something.
This short book was as I understand it produced in the wake of Bush's re-election as a guide for Democrats and other progressives on how to talk politics, and was quite a big thing in US politico circles when released. It is based around the interesting idea that the split in American politics is fundamentally a different conceptual understanding of America as a family. Republicans and the Right subscribe to what Lakoff describes as a 'strict father' model, whereas Democrats and progressives believe in a 'nurturant parent' model.
Lakoff argues that we principally think in terms of frames, and that different political visions also seek to present ideas within different frames. So, in his big example, Republicans talk about 'tax relief' rather than 'tax cuts', because the former suggests that tax is an affliction, that whoever brings relief is a hero, and whoever tries to stop the hero is a villain. Lakoff argues that there is no point fighting your opponent on their own ground. Once a frame - like tax relief - is in place it is effectively part of the wiring of the brain, and very hard to shift. We will ignore or seek to undermine information that doesn't fit the frame (known as confirmation bias in other areas). Therefore what you have to do instead is establish alternative frames that get across your view of the world.
It's an interesting idea, and personally I think there is some merit in the central ideas. However when it comes to applying these insights in practice the advice seems a bit more speculative. Lakoff is obviously a smart guy, so I am torn between thinking he has just left out all the reasoning behind his suggestions in order to produce a short guide for campaigners, and thinking perhaps a bit more theorising needs to be done. For example, the section at the end on how to debate with Conservatives, whilst a useful list of pointers on how to conduct yourself could have been written by anyone. Maybe people need to hear such guidance from an experts in order to accept it?
A couple of final points. First, I went for the version of the book that come swith a free DVD. This is worth a look (it is only 25 mins long) because, to my knowledge, you just don't get this kind of thing in the UK. Also it does serve to remind you of that old line about being divided by a common language - the presentation is very cheesy by British standards. Secondly, if you find Lakoff's ideas interesting I would strongly recommend Metaphors We Live By. This is a non-political book, but a really fascinating look at how we use metaphors to understand. If he could apply that level of insight to politics he really would be onto something.
2 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I waited only 6 days to receive the book - and I live in Denmark. Great deal:)
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