Official Review: Mr. President, Say What?! by Tom Law

[1ditzyrn]

While I am open to reading political nonfiction, it would have to be something written well that doesn't come across as if I am watching CNN and hearing correspondents argue back and forth. Thank you for your honest review. I must say that, given your comments about the "ranting" feel, I don't think I'll be reading this one.

[EvaDar]

While I am open to reading political nonfiction, it would have to be something written well that doesn't come across as if I am watching CNN and hearing correspondents argue back and forth. Thank you for your honest review. I must say that, given your comments about the "ranting" feel, I don't think I'll be reading this one.

I definitely understand. I was hopeful about the book and ended up being disappointed. Thanks so much for dropping by.

[FictionLover]

While I found some of Dr. Law’s essays to be interesting, after a dozen or so, I began noticing quite a lot of overlapping material. The titles changed, but the topics and the critiques were being repeated from slightly different angles. The essays “Respect,” “Letting Go,” “Counterpunching,” and “Retribution,” all discuss the president’s tendency to be thin-skinned and impulsive. This collection would have been served by significant editing for content, punctuation and grammar; I noted ten errors of varying types in the first twelve pages of the book.

I think one of the most difficult things to do, in fiction and non-fiction, is to take a viewpoint and build a compelling narrative around it. People respond to emotion and that is usually achieved by having a relate-able character. In non-fiction, if the author is not using other people as examples, then he is the character. Maybe his experience is just not coming through.

For example, I read a book called Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy, which was about 4 women and their roles in the Civil War. I found it fascinating but not preachy because while the author was relating the stories of each woman (2 were Northern supporters and 2 were Confederate supporters) it was their views of the politics and the happenings of the time you were seeing, not the author's .

One of the women shot a man in her house (not during a battle) and was like, "Die Yankee scum." She got away with it, too.

[Manang Muyang]

Doctors and lawyers rarely agree but are two of the most influential types of people in the planet. We usually do as they say because we don't know half of what they are talking about. I wonder if Dr. Law is a pen name. If it isn't, I admire the man for his daring. But it's not exactly unpresidented, as Trump would say.

[EvaDar]

While I found some of Dr. Law’s essays to be interesting, after a dozen or so, I began noticing quite a lot of overlapping material. The titles changed, but the topics and the critiques were being repeated from slightly different angles. The essays “Respect,” “Letting Go,” “Counterpunching,” and “Retribution,” all discuss the president’s tendency to be thin-skinned and impulsive. This collection would have been served by significant editing for content, punctuation and grammar; I noted ten errors of varying types in the first twelve pages of the book.

I think one of the most difficult things to do, in fiction and non-fiction, is to take a viewpoint and build a compelling narrative around it. People respond to emotion and that is usually achieved by having a relate-able character. In non-fiction, if the author is not using other people as examples, then he is the character. Maybe his experience is just not coming through.

For example, I read a book called Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy, which was about 4 women and their roles in the Civil War. I found it fascinating but not preachy because while the author was relating the stories of each woman (2 were Northern supporters and 2 were Confederate supporters) it was their views of the politics and the happenings of the time you were seeing, not the author's .

One of the women shot a man in her house (not during a battle) and was like, "Die Yankee scum." She got away with it, too.

This was fairly nakedly the author's viewpoint. The narrative was just so repetitive that it became tiring and predictable. I appreciate you dropping in and sharing your thoughts.

[EvaDar]

Doctors and lawyers rarely agree but are two of the most influential types of people in the planet. We usually do as they say because we don't know half of what they are talking about. I wonder if Dr. Law is a pen name. If it isn't, I admire the man for his daring. But it's not exactly unpresidented, as Trump would say.

Indeed. Thank you for stopping in, Miriam Molina!

[JR Mercier]

I usually stay away from any political read. I will give this one a skip because of the overlapping material and the rating. Ranting just gets on my nerves. But thank you for your well written and honest review!

[EvaDar]

I usually stay away from any political read. I will give this one a skip because of the overlapping material and the rating. Ranting just gets on my nerves. But thank you for your well written and honest review!

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my review. Appreciate it.

[gen_g]

I laughed a little at the part about "ill-fitting suits", LOL! It's a pity that the content was repetitive, although I assume that he has a few salient points. Thanks for the lovely review, Eva! (:

[EvaDar]

I laughed a little at the part about "ill-fitting suits", LOL! It's a pity that the content was repetitive, although I assume that he has a few salient points. Thanks for the lovely review, Eva! (:

He actually had some very valid points, but they are the same points being made for two years. He kind of went on a weird rant about the president's weight and exactly how his suits don't fit and why he didn't exercise. Thanks so much for checking out my review.

[inaramid]

Definitely a catchy title. While this sounds very cathartic for the author (and, as you said, for readers who share the same viewpoint), it doesn't sound very conducive for a healthy political debate. (Otherwise, what will set it apart from the rants you see in social media?)

[Ashiyya Tariq]

The author could have delivered much more through this topic. I like political thriller and hope the author would make it more appealing in the next edition by overcoming the current shortcomings of this text. Great review.

[EvaDar]

Definitely a catchy title. While this sounds very cathartic for the author (and, as you said, for readers who share the same viewpoint), it doesn't sound very conducive for a healthy political debate. (Otherwise, what will set it apart from the rants you see in social media?)

Exactly. It was an example of what isn't working very well right now in political discourse. Thanks so much for checking out my review and sharing your thoughts.

[EvaDar]

The author could have delivered much more through this topic. I like political thriller and hope the author would make it more appealing in the next edition by overcoming the current shortcomings of this text. Great review.

Thank you for reading my review. I appreciate it.

[jcoad]

I can turn on CNN if I want to hear the same ranting over and over again. Not even sure I would be interested if there was more original thought. I feel bad you had to be subjected to the book but I appreciate the honest review so I can make sure I avoid!