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George Lakoff

Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate Paperback – 1 Jan. 1990

by George Lakoff (Author)

4.5 197 ratings

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The All New Don't Think of an Elephant!: New York Times Bestseller: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate
£9.65
(944)
Only 10 left in stock (more on the way).

Don't Think of an Elephant! is the definitive handbook for understanding what happened in the 2004 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. He outlines in detail the traditional American values that progressives hold, but are often unable to articulate. Lakoff also breaks down the ways in which conservatives have framed the issues, and provides examples of how progressives can reframe the debate. Lakoff's 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 programs, and why people vote their values and identities, often against their best interests. Don't Think of An Elephant! is the antidote to the last forty years of conservative strategizing and the right wing's stranglehold on political dialogue in the United States. Read it, take action and help take America back.

Print length

144 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Chelsea Green Publishing Co
Publication date

1 Jan. 1990
Dimensions

13.65 x 1.02 x 21.27 cm
ISBN-10

1931498717
ISBN-13

978-1931498715
See all details

George Lakoff
944
Paperback
£9.65
£3.74 delivery
Only 10 left in stock (more on the way).

Product description

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 worldís 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).

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chelsea Green Publishing Co; First Edition (1 Jan. 1990)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1931498717
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1931498715
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.65 x 1.02 x 21.27 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 621,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 184 in Government & Politics References
- 296 in Conservatism
- 568 in Elections & Referendums

Customer reviews:
4.5 197 ratings

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George Lakoff

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George Lakoff is Richard and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1972. He previously taught at Harvard and the University of Michigan. He graduated from MIT in 1962 (in Mathematics and Literature) and received his PhD in Linguistics from Indiana University in 1966. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Don't Think of an Elephant!, among other works, and is America’s leading expert on the framing of political ideas.

George Lakoff updates may be followed on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+. Find these links, a complete bibliography, and more at http://georgelakoff.com

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

197 global ratings

5 star		71%
4 star		14%
3 star		10%
2 star		2%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

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William Podmore

Very good study of how we should conduct debates

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 January 2013

Verified Purchase

This is a fascinating primer on how to conduct political debate. Lakoff advises us to know our values and know our facts.
For example, he points out that taxes are wise investments for the future - schools, colleges, hospitals. It follows that privatisations - foundation hospitals and academies - are thefts. Tax is paying your dues, your patriotic membership fees. When the ruling class opposes taxes, it is actually opposing investment.
Through budget cuts, the government privatises the soft left, who become a type of charity, spending their own money on what the government should be doing.
Lakoff advises us on the proper standards of behaviour to use in debate: don't shout, don't abuse, don't complain, don't whine, don't plead, don't act like a victim. Don't be, or sound, angry or weak, unpatriotic or elitist. He urges, "Hold your ground. Always be on the offense. Never go on defense."
Inconsistencies are revealing. For example, when the British government backs Al-Qaeda in one place (Syria) and opposes it in another (Mali), this proves that the real agenda is not Al-Qaeda or terrorism at all, but about something else, usually control of resources, particularly oil.
He suggests that we visit the website [...] for more examples of framing debates.

6 people found this helpful

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Don't think of US politicians

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 July 2012

Verified Purchase

It's a pity this book focuses so much on US politics and politicians because there is a better book, for a wider readership, lurking within these pages. I'm interesting in US politics so thoroughly enjoyed this and have been made aware of a number of linguistic issues. Some of the analysis is quite cynical, but it is about politics ...
Short and easy to read with clear summaries of the main points. It's easy to see why this has been such a huge seller. Everyone should read it, especially if they don't have a clear idea of what a spin doctor does.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Damo inc.

The greatest political psychology book in the world

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2016

Verified Purchase

Honestly, campaigns cost millions. Trump/Clinton, Milliband/Cameron, campaigns filled with calamity. If they'd spent £6 on this book it would have told them everything they need to know about the power of narrative and how to influence thinking. Truly mind blowing. Takes NLP concepts, and puts them in a political frame. The best book I've probably ever read.

One person found this helpful

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Yvonne Fast

The book one must read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2013

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This is a great book and should be read by everybody!!!! I can highly recommend it. Georg Lakoff is a genius and has not only found the cause of today's main problems, but also the solutions to them. It is amazing what one can do with the use of languages.

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Mrs Sally Roberts

Don't think of an elephant: know your values and frame the debate

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 December 2012

Verified Purchase

I am particularly interested in E. Goffman (and others) who have formalised and named Frame Analysis within social interaction. Despite the title, this short book examines the Conservative political scene within America, but much of its message can be thought provoking for the individual where ever and in whatever situation they find themselves.

3 people found this helpful

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3rd i viz

Important insights

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2014

Verified Purchase

Smart book, easy to digest, with profound lessons for anyone interested in progressive politics. Will be looking at Lakoff's Moral Politics next.

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sanyata

weak, weak, weak. how lakoff ever got big is beyond me

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2011

Verified Purchase

there is basically ONE point in this entire book:

- how you talk about a thing influences how that thing is thought about

according to author, at the heart of american politics is the struggle between the severe father (republican) and the loving mother (democrat). the republicans have been framing the debate these last years and democrats have been merely responding.

according to author, democrats should seek to re-conquer the agenda (duh!) by defining themselves as progressives (self-righteousness - yuck!) and by committing to pooling $100 million a year into some government programme he wants. as to how this government programme is supposed to avoid the usual inefficiency of government programmes, is NOT adressed

One person found this helpful

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sue jones

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 February 2016

Verified Purchase

Love the book and an absolute bargain!

Helpful

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