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Title: Straight Shooting: What's Wrong With America and How to Fix It by John R. Silber ISBN: 0-06-016184-1 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: October, 1989 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $22.50

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Average Customer Rating: 3 (3 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: When philosophers are educators
Comment: John Silber's credentials speak for themselves: he is a renowned philosopher and able administration, who has transformed Boston University into an educational powerhouse. In this book, Dr. Silber tackles what he thinks is wrong with America: a preoccupation with material affluence and a degradation of moral and spiritual value.

For one, Dr. Silber proposes the (re)introduction of ethical teaching in schools. More, he calls for ethical considerations in all professions. At the heart of his discontent is the general tendency to abstain from rigorous debate and critical thinking. He is thus very careful to add substance and facts to his arguments, which makes his book an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. Regardless of whether one agrees with him, Dr. Silber's criticisms and recommendations need to be taken seriously by those interested in the connection between a country's educational system and its society.

The weakest parts of the book are those that deal with foreign policy. His chapter on Central America has little to do with the book's topic ("what's wrong with America") and more to do with the fact that Dr. Silber has served on President Reagan's National Bipartisan Commission on Central America. The conclusions of his chapter on foreign policy appear, with hindsight, to be largely incorrect, though no author could ever be blamed for failing to anticipate the end of the Cold War.

More than a decade after its publication, many of this book's recommendations might seem outdated; but what remains is the well articulated link between the health of a county's educational system and its society.

Rating: 1
Summary: Who gave the maniac a pen?
Comment: John Silber is the one and only deranged psychopath who runs Boston University. I'm not sure how he managed to find the time to write this pointless trash when his day to day work requires protecting BU students from the horrors of visitors after midnight, watching his staff polish the ceiling of his BU funded palace and repressing the true needs of a student body that pays a rediculous amount of money to attend wonderful Boston University. Don't give this prick the satisfaction of buying his "book". He's got enough money as is.

Rating: 4
Summary: Incisive Observations
Comment: Although parts of this book are no longer topical (published 1989), there are some enduring truths here. Dr. Silber is a knowledgeable critic of America's educational structure, and advocates revision from age 3 (educational pre-school) through college (teach substantive subject material to Ed students, not touchy feely soft subjects).

Silber cites more sources, with less pedantry, than any writer I can recall. Pithy, relevant, readable.