Won't Get Fooled Again: A Voter's Guide to Seeing Through the Lies, Getting Past the Propaganda, and Choosing the BEST LEADERS

Written by veteran actor, director, and producer Joseph H. Boyett, Won't Get Fooled Again is an unabridged audiobook on CD decrying horrendously incompetent leadership in America, as evidenced by debacles in Iraq and the inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina. Examining what causes ordinary people to vote for or follow bad leaders, and what can be done to stop it, Won't Get Fooled Again comes to the resounding conclusion that the American populace desperately needs to become better informed and more demanding of its representatives. Key insights include why effective leaders are necessary, how to tell if a leader is authentic or simply saying whatever the public wants to hear, the top four red flags that a candidate's vision is problematic, and why so-called "wishy-washy" or "flip-flopper" candidates can make the best leaders (for one thing, they're more flexible and more willing to consider alternative options, especially when a given situation changes). An enthusiastically recommended audiobook for all American citizens, carrying a much-needed message about the critical importance of civic responsibility. 7 CDs, 8 hours.

Boyett, Joseph H. Won't Get Fooled Again: A Voter's Guide to Seeing Through the Lies, Getting Past the Propaganda, and Choosing the Best Leaders. AMACOM: American Management Assn. Jul. 2008. c.304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8144-0931-2. $24. POL SCI Verdict: Boyett has written a sophisticated, coherent guide to understanding and deciphering the complex psychological dynamics of the leader-follower relationship. This timely work also provides cogent strategies to help voters make more informed decisions. Recommended for all public libraries. Background: Boyett, a Ph.D. in political science, fuses his wide-ranging political knowledge with his experience as an international leadership consultant to produce a weighty, well-researched book designed to help voters become better, more astute followers. He rigorously examines the personality traits and psychological makeup of leaders and provides useful insights into the development of their "vision," values, and other key leadership components. Perhaps most important, Boyett details how intelligent followers should employ a healthy skepticism and view all information with a critical, inquisitive eye. In one of the most helpful chapters, he demonstrates ways to brandish these heightened critical powers on opinion polls by instructing voters to consider how the questions were framed, who conducted the poll, and whether the "margin of error" is listed.--Dennis J. Seese, Jefferson-Madison Regional Lib., Charlottesville, VA