Dumbth and 81 Ways to Make Americans Smarter

by Steve Allen

Dumbth (pron. dum-th) a tendency toward muddleheadedness, or willful stupidity appearing in all segments of American life.Updated, expanded with 20 new ways to think better, and highlighted with a new introduction, this is Steve Allen's humorous and provocative examination of contemporary thought or lack of it in our society.When it first appeared nearly a decade ago, "Dumbth": and 81 Ways to Make Americans Smarter was hailed by critics across the country as the book that would wake up Americans to their tendency toward poor thinking. Labeling the ineptitude phenomenon as "dumbth," Allen has probed the depths of mass ignorance in thinking, speech, and actions for more than thirty years as he observed increased inefficiency, shoddy workmanship, bad service, and an overall breakdown in the capacity to reason. Today, while politicians and school boards play into the popular foolishness by proposing use of "dumbed down" texts and a street language called "ebonics" to reach students, Allen urges another kind of education.Allen explains the problem of fuzzy thinking in detail, and optimistically proposes many simple yet necessary remedies to "dumbth" in the 101 rules for good thinking, reading, writing, speaking, and, most importantly, reasoning.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology, Education, Humor

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best-known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He graduated to become the first host of The Tonight Show, where he was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. Thereafter, he hosted numerous game and variety shows, including The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, The New Steve Allen Show, and was a regular panel member on CBS' What's My Line?

Allen was a "creditable" pianist, and a prolific composer, having penned over 14,000 songs, one of which was recorded by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting, others by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Les Brown, and Gloria Lynne. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his song The Gravy Waltz. Allen wrote more than 50 books and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Reviews

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- One must wonder what Allen would have to say today about the "dumbth" on display in 21st century society. The stupidity he observed and commented upon in the late 1970s and early 1980s surely can't hold a candle to texting while driving, YouTube rapes, and Facebook fights. The mindless TV shows Allen mocks, such as "Gilligan's Island," look like great art when compared to the Kardashians.

Allen's commentary, while normally spot-on, does occasionally get a bit haughty at times. For example, he puts down food service workers for being unfamiliar with marmalade. However, I am of the opinion that it's a far greater problem when food service workers don't know what food is served in their own place of employment. One can't expect everyone to be familiar with all foods, but a server should at least be expected to be familiar with what's on the menu they're offering.

In the 20+ years since this book was published, we have gone from "dumbth" to Idiocracy. There's not much to do about it other than those who are aware of the problem attempting to educate and improve themselves.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Allen is no doubt the very definition of a Renaissance Man, yet the ideas that he suggests are very simple to follow. I am happy to say that I have taken more than a few of his suggestions to heart, and shame on me for not practicing more. The people that Steven intended to reach are most likely NOT the people that would pick up this type of instruction manual. We must learn to humble (umble?) ourselves, in order to open our minds to new ideas, ideas that challenge the Ego and our set in ways.
Here's to hope.
Pick it up, it is a great guide to learning to develop the tools for critical thinking.

[Rob Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allen was very impressed with himself, and this book mostly illustrates that. There were two types of people in the world: Steve Allen and the 6 billion idiots he was forced to share the planet with. Steve Allen's ability to entertain was legendary, but between his ears there may have been a degree of loathing for those who laughed at his antics.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, however, I get the feeling that the people that this book is intended for aren't the ones that are going to actually read it. Still, Allen had some great suggestions for improving one's thinking abilities and all.

[John Bails · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical advice. Straight-talk about the state of our thinking or lack of it. How can you question 'talk' news if you believe what you hear and don't verify. How can you have a philosopy? How can you make a decision.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book has some good points, unfortunately the people to whom it would be most useful are the same type of people who would think themselves above taking the suggestions.

[Jena · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I read the original version of this work, "81 Ways To Make Americans Smarter.")

I had high hopes when I began to read this book. Its premis is that Americans are getting dumber, and sadly, I have to agree with the assessment. For several years, I've had the idea that American potential is still present, but it's our realization of it that is in a state of erosion. So I was eager to learn about the author's suggestions to counteract the problem.

The first third of the book is filled with arrogance, a pompous entertainer whining about "affronts" he has suffered at the hands of "ignorant" people. One waiter's faux pas was so aggregious, I fear to write about it! He dared not know what "marmalade" was, so that poor Mr. Alan had to wait five or ten extra minutes to get his meal!
OH THE HORROR! . . . THE HUMANITY!

In another example of "ignorance", a lady used her own vehicle to pick him up at an airport, to ensure that there would be no mix-ups with limousine service. She had to double-park, to hurry inside the airport and make contact with him, and when she and Mr. Allen came outside, the car was gone, towed away. Instead of acknowledging the effort that was made by this lady on his behalf, Allen simply recounts it as an example of "inefficiency."

Then there was the assertion that Americans who live in rural areas are less intelligent than their counterparts who live in cities. It's a disturbing conclusion, but I would have had much more respect for the claim, if Steve Allen had cited any studies or experiments that could lend factual strength to his statements. As it was, the assertion just came across as the opinion of an elitist snob.

For a book that claimed to champion logic and objectivity, there was a distinctly anti-Reagan theme running throughout the work. The book was written in 1989, so criticism of Ronald Ragan may have been at a high point, but I would have held the author in much higher regard, if he had endeavored to cite examples of "dumbth" in the political party he supported. Allen reminds us that it's all too easy to criticize what you don't like, but the "logical adult who reasons well" will make an attempt to draw conclusions from fact, not prejudice, or pure emotion.
Too bad he doesn't take his own advice.

The "81 rules" for making Americans smarter were good ones, if mostly common sense. "Read the classics." "Keep a diary." "Visit more museums, aquariums, and planetariums." I did find it somewhat interesting that while he ranted and raved against the evils of television and "current popular music", several of his rules for increasing the intelligence of Americans revolved around these mediums. However, he did at least briefly acknowledge this irony at one point in the book.

If the first third of this book hadn't been included, it could have easily qualified as a three or four-star read for me. But it was so full of bias and opinions, contrary to what the author claimed to champion, it gets two stars.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been working on Dumbth and 81 Ways to Make Americans Smarter for almost a week, now. Discovered it at the library while looking for another of his works recommended by blergeatkitty.

The first 100 pages or so are a bit depressing & anecdote-filled, focusing on examples of "dumbth" -- "aggressive ignorance combined with the at least temporary ability to think properly" -- and how it's what's wrong with society.
The remainder of the book details the 81 ways that Americans (in particular) can fight dumbth in themselves as well as society in general. Most of the suggestions are a common-sense: learn more about the brain, memory and logic, examine your superstitions/prejudices/beliefs, develop humility & the ability to admit you are wrong/ignorant. etc. Worthwhile information that we do need to be reminded of at times.

I find it a bit ironic that the book has quite a few typos - takes away a bit from the message, despite not being Stevarino's fault. I'm looking forward to comparing this book to Everything Bad is Good For You by Steven Johnson, which I have on hold at the library.

Notes and Quotes
- Musical recordings vs sheet music -- contributes to illiteracy/dumbth
- Compares turn of 19th century immigration's effect on schooling: vocation > academic --> current influx of Hispanic/Asian immigrants. More important to teach them job skills than receive liberal education.
- First sign of weakening intelligence = inefficiency (? Not sure I agree with this)


"It is odd, of course, that in the later half of the 20th century, so much is being written about intelligence when, at the same time, there is no clear consensus as to what it is."

"We may have skyscrapers, but we are still so ignorant and superstitious that we will not permit their 13th floor to be labeled as such."

"Perhaps the public school is neither capable of being, nor intended to be, parent, psychiatrist, sociologist, and medical doctor to the youth of America."

RE: smoking - "Another relevant factor establishing dumbth is that so much is risked for so little gained."

"But we should all be would-be intellectuals. If we were, some of us would reach that happy state."

Rule #14: "Beware of thinking that because you are bright and quick-minded, you therefore reason well".


Further Reading
Language Awareness - Paul Eschholtz (not at library)
Science & Sanity - Alfred Korzybski (not at library)
The Natural Science of Stupidity Paul Tabori (not at library)
Aha! Insight - Martin Gardner (other books by him at library)
An Exaltation of Larks - James Lipton (Viking, 1968) (not at library)
The Art of Deception Nicholas Capaloi (Viking, 1987) (not at library)

Page 259 - list of books on reason & brain function

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like many of allen's auggestions, however i still feel a need to roll me eyes at some of his rhetoric and his presentation. He still comes across as a pedantic snob with average creative awareness. Ironically... he criticizes the entertainment medium wherein he gained his fame. He also immodestly suggests some of his completed work as a platform for others to think better. I like the conceptual ideas of the book. I liked more than a few of his suggestions for better thinking (like realizing our own perception bias, compassionatly realizing the variation in experience, not taking tv, books, radio...at face value, etc)

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

These types of books are fun as long as you don't fit the profile of the dumb American. Seriously, a person can really get arrogant thrills pointing out the stupidity of others. It's easy to do, but I think we need to be careful in our global environment.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got no joy from reading comedian Steve Allen's pompous review of stupid Americans. It wasn't funny; it was a rant. His suggestions for getting "smarter" were also dry --good advice from your grumpy uncle. Bleh. I'd rather read the Darwin Awards and come to my own conclusions...

[Francisco Villa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid promotion of reason and reasoning.

[Peter Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very scary but it is worse now.

[Teji · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting discussion of the erosion of critical thinking skills and some suggestions for ways to constantly exercise and improve our ability to reason.

Quotes:

"In April 1978, the New York Times arrived at the sobering estimate that 'as many as one out of every five adults do not possess the minimal reading, writing, and calculating skills necessary to function in modern society." p40

“…part of the problems is that we think very poorly. But how could it be otherwise when few of us have been given any instruction in that difficult task? / Do schools teach us how to think? They do not. They teach us what to think.” p41

“But can it not at least be said that by watching television people know about more things today then they did fifty years ago? Indeed it can, simply because more things are brought to their attention. An unfortunate result of this process seems to be that, as time passes, they know less and less about more and more until, at last, they will know almost nothing about almost everything.” p53

“…as FitzGerald puts it…The idea that academic education might be made universal and therefore democratic had very little appeal—and not unnaturally since the high-school teachers would have been incapable of putting it into practice. The ideology of the teachers, however, merely reflected the fact that the community at large had no interest in providing intellectual training for the mass of high-school students; its concern was to train skilled workers for industry…Of necessity, FitzGerald observes, the city schools became generalized social-welfare agencies, offering courses in English, home economics, and health care to adults as well as children. The educationalists thus had some reason to assume that the goal of education was health, vocational training, and citizenship training rather than academic studies.” p59

“It is the fundamental and massive shift from basic academic requirements to a vast array of electives which seems to be the most direct contributor to the achievement decline in both schools and colleges.” p62

“Concludes the Los Angeles Times: Electives in and of themselves are not bad, of course. When used to supplement or enhance knowledge gained in a basic history or English course they provide for both a more sound and complete education than could otherwise be obtained…But when they are used in a wholesale manner to replace basic courses, as they increasingly are…then their worth is at the very least questionable…” p64

“In today’s classroom, according to the Los Angeles Times, there is a hesitancy on the part of the teacher to demand excellence…Such factors further erode academic standards. Many students graduate from high school with a high grade-point average and proceed to college, where they promptly experience the shock of being placed in remedial instruction because they cannot read or write adequately.” p64

“A case can be developed for the argument that, on some level below the conscious, we are, as a people, choosing to become dumber, and more insensitive because the world has come to seem too dangerous and complex.” p65

“How much worse might have been the accident at California’s San Onofre nuclear facility, where in November 1977 it was discovered that a 420-ton reactor vessel had been installed backwards? After several such incidents, the plant was closed down.” p115

“I’m finding that people have a very strange attitude about their jobs and its something that I hadn’t noticed until recent years. They seem to feel that the basic reason they receive their salary checks is because they are physically present on the job the required number of hours. The idea that the check is given to them because of the work they do doesn’t even seem to occur to them. They feel no guilt at all about the high number of mistakes they make, and not matter how badly they foul up certain details of their work— in some instances costing their employers large amounts of money— they feel that that had no relevance at all to the work situation and they are still perfectly entitled to the payments they receive.” p144

“…so much of what passes for mental process in human experience is a matter of the rationalization of bias, prejudice, fear, anger, desire, or hope, whereas pitiably little can be accurately descried as disinterested reason.” p151

“Another thing we must do is initiate a broad campaign of public support for gifted children. / It would be a very peculiar state of affairs if our society took the position that children who are found to possess remarkable musical aptitude were, nevertheless, not to be given any special consideration or instruction. And it would be literally unthinkable if we argued that young people blessed with superior athletic ability should not be encouraged to develop their gifts…But when it comes to students who are intellectually superior, we are remarkably careless, if not indifferent.” p161

“The steady erosion of intelligence in the American population is having painful results in the marketplace; I have not met an employer in the past two decades who did not complain about the difficulty in hiring good help…” p163

“…the serious problems of our society do not exist as a series of more or less separate issues. They are all part of a large, ugly machine, the parts of which are interconnected. It is the height of social stupidity for the white, affluent descendants of former peasants and menial labors to say, ‘If they want something, let them work for it,’ when there are not jobs for 8 percent of America’s workers, of any color, and when our poverty-stricken neighborhoods, rural and urban, are producing millions of young people largely unqualified to accept even the lowest-paying jobs that are available. Education is obviously important as a means of uplifting the human mind and spirit. But it also has a profound impact in the context of social and economic considerations.” p165

“…we are going to have to focus on the fact that, except for a few geniuses, we have no more striking natural gifts for reasoning than we have for playing the piano, performing sophisticated mathematical procedures, or painting the Mona Lisa. Instruction is always required.” p166

“Recognize that you have personal prejudices…To speak plainly, to be guilty of prejudice is to act stupidly. The stupidity may, of course, take a variety of forms. In one form we simply adopt an attitude or belief from our parents, friends…without ever subjecting it to even the most casual critical analysis. In another form, we may imagine that we have reasoned out our biased view on the basis of empirical experience, whereas we may actually have committed the common error of formulation a principle on the basis of insufficient evidence.” p193

It is this tendency of each of the world’s peoples to see themselves in complimentary terms, and to see others as either inferior or as the “enemy” that makes it so shocking when one travels overseas and for the first time learns about the attitudes of the world’s various peoples…Many people have little interest in the truth for truth’s sake. What they are interested in is being right, in winning.” p197

“Be aware that your opinions, assumptions, and beliefs are often affected by peer-group pressure…Dr. Richard Crutchfled, at Berkeley, California, has demonstrated this by an ingenious test. Using 600 subjects, he first divided them into…groups of five, and then sent the five individuals in each group into five separate closed booths. / Once inside, each subject observed that the cubicle was marked by the letter “E”. At this point, each erroneously assumed that the booths of his or her other colleagues were marked A,B,C, and D. / A simple question was flashed on the wall of the booth. Before answering, the individual was able to see the answers apparently given by [the other subjects]. In reality, however, the first four answers—all the same—were supplied by the operator; which was incorrect. In most cases, [the subjects] knew the correct answer but was led to believe that his four associated had given an answer that disagreed with his own…up to 45 percent of those tested immediately mistrusted their own judgment and decided to go along with the majority. / When another factor was introduced—the complimentary suggestion that the four other subjects were doing fine—it was found that adherence to majority opinion would go as high as 90 percent! / The questions involved were all reasonably simple. It was not lack of knowledge that weakened the confidence of the subjects in their answers…You may think this is nothing but an interesting psychological experiment and that it has no personal application to you. If so, you have missed the point. / Anyone with the power to control channels of public communication can bring to bear he force of pressure toward conformity that this test reveals.” p201-202

Concede ignorance when you are ignorant…But not all men and women have been equally to blame for their failure to admit specific gaps in their personal knowledge. No, it is the failure of those in power to behave so felicitously that has done much of the damage…That every authority figure who have ever lived has had vast blanks in his supply of factual information is clear enough. The question we must ask is, ‘Why, in the face of such palpable ignorance, was it ever thought necessary to deny the obvious, to suggest instead that the ruler, general administrator, bureaucrat, was at least approximately, all-wise?’ / We shall find half the explanation, in my opinion, in the human ego, so feeble, even among the strongest of us, that at certain times the concession of any imperfection is simply too painful an act.” p217

“All of us know very much less than we assume we do…Nor is there anything basically wrong with making assumptions, guesses, about things, as long as we do not mistake our assumptions for facts.” p218

“But many people do argue…about things they cannot possibly be sure of. Again, what these people often do is make a guess about something, or just accept what somebody else tells them, and then, once they have formed an opinion or belief, they become very fond of that opinion, mostly because it is their own. And they will defend it vigorously. If you contradict their opinion, they may feel that you are attacking them personally.” p229

“…no one of us— however intelligent— has the time to investigate personally the truthfulness of very many of the statements we hear. That is so, and there is not a great deal to be done about it. / Still it is necessary to do a certain minimum of things: First, we should be as careful as we can about accepting information.” p236

“…because the leaders cannot concede their ignorance, and because we ourselves do not want them to, it has therefore been common for countless ages for leaders— both political and religious— to make preposterous assertions, to issue the most absurd ultimatums and commandments, simply because if they told the truth at a moment of crisis they would have had to say to their followers, ‘You know, actually, I haven’t the slightest idea how we’re going to handle this problem, but I’ll have a meeting with some of my advisors and see if we can come up with something helpful by Thursday.’ / To have communicated with the masses in so sensible and truthful as fashion, however, would have scared them to death.” p237

“…what is required for the fair, rational functioning of a democratic society…is an intelligent population. This is not to say that every citizen must be a scholar. But once the general level of intelligence falls below a certain minimum requirement, social chaos will result…But even the best leadership will have sharply limited powers if those they seek to lead do not understand what they are talking about, just as the greatest military tacticians and generals would achieve a sorry war record if they were given only poorly trained, ignorant, and apathetic troops to command.” p238-239

“The emotions— even the negative ones of fear and anger— can fuel creative thinking. They rarely stimulate the reasoning process; or, if they do, they make reason subservient, ultimately forbidding it to control the development of an argument. For the emotions, as such, have no interest whatever in the truth.” p377

“But does not such an ideal as respect for truth run the risk of cutting across lines of loyalty to nation, church…and other affiliations? Yes, it does—and there is some sad irony in the fact. But if from time to time, as in war, for example, we feel obliged to place ourselves in opposition to the truth, then, by God, let us do so knowingly. This is, obviously, an exercise in relative morality…I argue that if we are to commit such offenses against the driving ideal of truth, then it should be done in an attitude of sad, even tragic cynicism, rather than the sort of mindless fanatical certitude that, ever so willing to be convinced of the rightness of a cause, will so casually proceed from lies and distortions to infringements upon freedom, to cruel invective, to violence, and, in the end, to mass murder. Christ, how many hundreds of millions more will have to be slaughtered before this simple lesson is grasped.” p432

[Kevin Beary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this over a year ago. At the time I wrote up a full page in my intellectual journal (a notebook page that I eventually file in a looseleaf binder) - This happens to be one of his suggestions coincidentally

Anyway , seeing the page reminded me I read this book , thus the update. As I re-read my full page list of to-do`s and Steve Allen reccomendations , I realized how much this book influenced me because over a year later I am still attempting to add the various "ways to think better" to my repertoire of self-educational weapons. Little things like picking up logic games and puzzles , reading books on the brain , educational field trips (museums , zoo etc;) , listening to classic music such as jazz or classical , shut off the T.V and do something intellectually stimulating. All these things I have done within the last month (last 7 yrs or so actually) without actually recalling the call to arms of Steve Allen , and his advice to avoid the dumbth that pervades America.

I found his anecdotes very amusing and the his advice on how to avoid lazy thinking such as always check your premises , be realistically skeptical , avoid assumptions , be aware that there is not alway one answer and other self-evident truisms.(Is that redundant ?)

Worthy read for those who seek intellectual selfp-improvement and for those who don`t seek it but should.

http://www.kasualkafe.com

[Craig Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

From vignettes of the author's personal observations and experiences, along with those events shared by others directly with him, Mr. Allen lays out a compelling perspective that stresses continued life-long self-education in many aspects of life, culture, society, arts and sciences.
Of The "101 Ways to Reason Better..." I found several that were markedly on-point with my own views and perspectives and personal habits, and hope to be able to mine a few more for additional 'pointers'.

Some of my favorites (paraphrasing):
#48 - if something is printed in a book, magazine, newspaper, or appears in a television show as 'fact', it does not follow that it is automatically true. [Shout out to Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason"]
#52 - rethink your religion
#58 - become familiar with the scientific process and current understandings of the complexity of life and the universe.
#80 - delve into the histories of our nation, our species, our world.

[Rayette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting -- about the "dumbing down" of America.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Points for skepticism, deductions for arrogant smugness.

[Chuck Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think TV is the culprate.

[Fredric Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago, when the problem of Christanic Republicanism wasn't as bad as it is today in the United States and abroad. And make no mistake: Republicanism is a world-wide, global problem, and the stupid among us are getting ever more stupid.

One thing that has happened since the author wrote this is that lead in the environment has been on the decline with the abolishment of leaded gasoline and leaded paint, so humanity around the world saw an increase in intelligence which peaked and now, thanks to religion and Republican genes expressing globally, intelligence is once again on the decline.

Steve Allen himself was an extremist Christanic Republican, he came out openly and in public as an advocate of government-mandated censorship of television of things that he and his fellow cultist did not like, so he suffered from the same problems that he recounts in this work.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know why I wanted to read this book, but yet at the same time, I am not sure it was exactly what I wanted to read. The late Steve Allen, certainly felt he knew a lot about a lot of things. Perhaps, these things worked well for him, but I am sure I am not alone in thinking that a lot of his suggestions, were a little bit out there. I did get a few good take aways and there were a few things I agreed with, but in the end, a lot of what the book had to say, was not my way of thinking at all. This book is also dated, so keep in mind when reading it, it is the mindset of the 80s and earlier, so it is hard to relate on that level as well. Life is so different now and I am sure Mr. Allen would really have a lot to say about society at this point in time. Not sure I would suggest this book, mainly due to the fact that is outdated in a lot of ways.

[Caseyfast · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shows that Steve Allen is a renaissance man who is informed on many topics, especially dumb, stupid and irrational behavior. The first half of the book provides so many examples, I almost forgot the book's theme was about thinking better.

The 101 Ways to Reason, enumerated in the book's second half are familiar, and Steve amplifies them with almost too many anecdotes and examples. He is a wordy writer. That said, I have always admired Steve's many talents, his originality and his appeal. If the reader takes the time to plough through this book with an open mind, then the reader will benefit.

[Beth Grant DeRoos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book years ago after meeting Mr. Allen at a local get together for secular thinkers. Why I like and recommend the book in 2023 is because the topic is so relevant for our times when so many people either lack common sense or simply lack critical thinking skills!

Will even note that two recent books that address the same issue would be Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters by Steven Pinker and Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational by Michael Shermer.

[Libraryassistant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably 3-1/2 rounded up because I’ve always liked him. I did skim over some of the first half— what he observed in 1989 as the progressive loss of ability to reason/think in America. Sadly, all of these problems still exist and have likely got worse, not better.
His 81 ways to become smarter do offer some very valuable ideas. Some seemed slightly repetitive— perhaps he wanted to reach this definite number of 81? But I was amazed how many were things I have been taught in the process of studying the Bible— like having humility, recognizing and admitting when you don’t know something, read, become actively interested in others, have some control of your emotions, etc.

[Phil Wujek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off light with good humor that is really Allenesque! There is much here that I would put on a college level read. Certainly not a easy read or one that you should read in bed. Very thought provoking. The saddest part is that things may have even gotten worse since this was written in the late 90s.

[Frederick Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember when I read this book, probably a few decades ago. It's a bit dated, but it's still thought-provoking.

It's too bad Steve Allen isn't around to write a new book for the tRump era, which would horrify him as it does to anyone with a shred of critical intelligence.

[LJP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, well written. Brings to light the serious lack of thinking ability in our country and how it affects everything.

[Steve Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

You read that right. Dumbth is a term TV entertainer Steve Allen made up to put a name to what he perceived in 1989 as the great national crisis of our time: stupidity. Allen ticks off a list of everyday annoyances that he says wouldn't happen if people were trained to think sensibly and rationally, and he lists 81 ways people can improve their mind and sharpen their critical thinking skills. This sounds like a worthy effort, and certainly the crisis Allen sought to address has only gotten about a hundred times worse, but unfortunately the "serious subject" Steve Allen has none of the charm of the funny one. The text is overwrought, plodding along using paragraphs where a few good sentences would make the point. I think Allen was rather proud of the serious Steve, but honestly he's no fun at all.